Off to Space for the day, oh no I meant Epcot.

The park of the day today was Epcot.  Not everyone's favourite park I know but actually by the end of the day I felt that it was becoming one of mine.  I fed and watered the beasts, they do like their cooked breakfasts and it does save the moans about 11am......."Mum I'm hungry".  We were up, washed, fed and watered and out of the front door by 8.30..............amazing.  In fact we arrived at Epcot by 8.50....that toll road is great!  No one else seems to use it as they trundle down the 192 instead in and out of the traffic and stop start at the traffic lights.  Well for 1 dollar 25, the toll road is our choice.

Epcot was supposed to be a relatively quiet park today according to the Busy Day Guide, even Daniel is now starting to quote The Dibb.  Sure enough it wasn't too bad at all.  Now as soon as we got through bag check; weird guy checked us in this morning, not a word was spoken and creepy eyes.  Sarah gathered our Disney cards and off she raced to Soarin' whilst I was in charge of getting the remaining troops over to Test Track.  Now this was a ride I had done once in 2011 and not sure how I was going to react to it again, seeing as 1. it had been changed and 2. it goes fast on the track at the end. However I had to try it at least once I suppose.  Sarah reappeared with our Soarin' tickets in her little paws, excuse the blurriness of the photo but she was so excited!!  So off we went to the new and updated Test Track.  This one caught Daniel's imagination as he could design his own car electronically and see the design come to fruition on screen and be tested around the track.  He and Martin worked on one design and Sarah and I worked on another; it fills the time and is an enjoyable exercise.

Daniel and Martin's design

Sarah and my design

That kept us busy for quite some time and filled in the space whilst we waited for our turn on the ride.  Now I can't say I enjoyed it as I always get a feeling of trepidation whilst waiting for a ride to begin, especially when it has been changed somewhat since my last visit, however I have to say once I had completed the circuit I felt better and did choose to go back on it later in the day.......but as they say.....that's another story.

So from our journey around the track we next headed to Mission Space - the green channel, as I didn't fancy the motion sickness inducer....no thanks.

  

We all enjoyed this ride and took our assigned roles seriously.......not. Coming off here we headed to Club Cool to let Daniel taste some good old Beverley, but it was not to be as it didn't open until 10.30 and we still had 15 mins to go.  Told you we were early!  Decided that before heading to Soarin' we would disappear inside the well know ball at the front of Epcot and learn about technological changes of the world narrated by Judi Dench.  Pretty much a walk on, nice little ride up a steep hill and back done again from the beginning of time until the present day.

Soarin' was next .  I often think why I look at the warning signs for some of these rides.  No wonder they make me nervous- motion sickness, fear of heights etc.  I try not to think of some of them now...... Soarin' hadn't changed, still went flying over the Napa Valley with the smell of oranges, Palm Springs where you almost get hit with a golf ball and the hidden Mickey flies at you, San Francisco, the only time I get to see the Golden Gate Bridge, Yosemite and all the other Californian sights.A great trip in about five minutes.  Then off for a relaxing, no stress induced trip on Living on the land - a gentle boat ride......  Time for a refreshment break was needed. 

We did head off eventually to Club Cool and we did get Daniel to taste the Beverley and yes he did think it was disgusting.

Once we had visited this side of Epcot we really thought we should make a journey into the World Showcase as we had visited a bit when we were there two years ago but not extensively. 

First stop was to get a Phineas communicator that Sarah wanted to do, we had to follow this around to complete an assignment.  We chose to go through Norway and it was a bit lengthy at times taking us back over our footsteps in very hot weather..............grrrr . However we completed our assignment and eventually got to ride Maelstrom.....Martin chickened out as he "didn't want to get wet".  No it was nothing like

the other day, maybe a droplet or two....

Next stop was China for lunch...........................  We had decided on the Lotus Blossom Cafe even before we came out on holiday.  My friend Michelle asked why only three photos of lunch?  Well Martin doesn't eat lunch with us, he always just has a drink, but that doesn't stop the rest of us.  He usually goes back to the villa at the end of the day and pigs out on snacks... please don't feel sorry for him....he does eat.

Shrimp Egg Roll and Rice

Beef Noodle Soup and Strawberry smoothie

Orange chicken and rice with mango smoothie

Once we had filled our faces we were happier again and had a ride around Mexico with Donald Duck and back for our second ride on test track with our trusty fast pass tickets.  As we walked back we felt that ominous rain drop fall on our arms.  Martin decided to nip to the rest room before queuing - this fact is important!  You will see why.

Off we went again once he had returned to queue for round two of test track.  We got through fairly quickly with our tickets and designed more cars 

Sarah and Martin's

Daniel and my car

This is where things took a turn for the worse- due to inclement weather and the fact that Test Track goes outside...... it was suspended...... for over an hour.  We had those tickets in our hands, were we going to lose our space....no never.  Those around us disappeared, did we?  No, we held strong. We sat down, we nodded off, we pulled funny faces, we yawned.

Some of us got tired.

 We even played Angry birds on our phones and eventually we got on the ride again.  We must have got through a cloud free window because about ten minutes after we got off the ride, the heavens opened again, lightning flashed and the thunder roared.  It was time to go home!!!

On route home we had to stop off for some supplies, the troops keep eating......but did we want to venture out into this.....

We braved it, did a shop, came home and showered to warm up again ready for going out later this evening for a meal at our favourite restaurant.

Sarah had always said the steaks at Longhorns were in her words "amazing".  I know their ribs are but I thought a steak was in order for this evening.  A good meal was had and it was a lovely evening.  No foodie pictures this evening..............I forgot before everyone tucked in, but we did have a lovely family evening.

A "do not take my photo" photo!