Walt Disney World 2017 - October 18 Day 1: EPCOT

But before we could meet them at the Parks, we had to check into our hotel. I chose the Port Orleans Riverside mostly because it was nicest on-site hotel that I could afford. But like everything at Walt Disney World, it was huge. This means we had to walk like a mile from the lobby to our room. But I had been preparing all month, making sure to hit my 8,000 steps goal every single day. I needed to build up some endurance.

In 1997 we went to Walt Disney World as a family. That was the only time I had ever been there. For years Mom had been talking about going back, dropping it into conversations that had nothing to do with Disney or travel. I picked up on the not so subtle hints and conspired with James and Jenny to take her there for her 60th birthday. So we should have gone in 2015... but it didn't actually happen until October of 2017. Not sure why exactly, but I think it had to do with saving up money and planning the whole trip. Things fell together when Aunt Susan and cousin Joey (who go seemingly twice a year) chose a date and let us tag along. This ended up being the best case scenario as she's an expert, but also gave Mom an adult to hang out with when her kids got to be too much. So she took care of planning the parks, fast passes and activities/dining while I booked the hotels and coordinated the financial details. And thanks to James' constant traveling for work, he took care of the flights with frequent flyer miles. So early on a Wednesday morning I said goodbye to Korben Dallas and we hopped a flight to Orlando and the happiest place on Earth.

There's going to be a lot of pictures of this adventure. I'll put that right out there on the first page. Some will be accompanied with a story or humorous anecdote, while others will just speak for themselves. I just really liked the way these ones of Spaceship Earth looked and I still do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James booked us in Delta Comfort Plus, so we took advantage of the complimentary cocktails, which earned us frowns from Mom. Wouldn't be the first time, won't be the last time. But that frown eventually turned upside down as we approached our destination.

James lives in South Carolina, so he met us at the Orlando airport. Neither of us had any delays and everything worked out beautifully as we arrived nearly at the same time. Mom was happy that we were all together and on vacation no less. We grabbed our bags and then headed on to the Magical Express shuttle. Aunt Susan and Joey were already there and waiting for us, so we were anxious to meet them at the Parks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aunt Susan and Joey were already at EPCOT when we arrived, having taking an earlier and more direct flight than we did. She purchased this Disney photo package where people in the parks take your picture and then later you get to download them, which is where I got a lot of the pictures that I'm going to be sharing with you during this adventure. The pièce de résistance at EPCOT is Spaceship Earth, which is just inside of the gate and would be the first thing that we experienced inside of the Disney parks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I chose purple as my magic band color and I decided that every time I scanned it to enter a ride (the Fast Pass was loaded on there), enter a theme park, or open the door of my hotel room, I was going to yell out "PURPLE DRIZZ!!" Don't ask me what it means. But I do know that it was going to get annoying very quick. Spaceship Earth is a slow moving tram ride that moves through the sphere and through time as it shows how human communication has helped to create the World we know. It's like a history lesson, but more fun. Some rides can be educational.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is very common for theme park rides to take your picture at some point during the ride. On this one Joey told me to do the "dab" thing with him, only he got cut out and replaced with a cartoon. So I look like an idiot by myself. Jenny and Mom fared a little better, but still ended up looking weird.

 

 

 

  

 

Home

 

 

Up next was Test Track, where I made the Purple Drizz mobile while waiting in line. This ride didn't exist the first time I was here, so it was a real shock when it left the building and went outside. I wasn't prepared for how fast this ride was. That was a real nice surprise.