We didn’t have to get up quite as early to catch the Epcot bus the next morning. Our breakfast wasn’t until 9:15. When we got off the bus, we headed for bag check with a less chatty but still polite checker. I found a CM and asked where to go for advance dining reservations. He said something like, “Go around to the right.” We went as far right as we could around the crowd assembling at the rope and found a young CM, who said she didn’t know anything about ADRs, made no effort to find someone who did, and basically blew us off. This was fortunately the only pixie-dust-deficient CM we encountered on the trip. The rest were great. Julie then politely muscled her way to the front of the crowd to ask another CM what we needed to do if we had a breakfast reservation in 15 minutes. He told her we would be fine if we wait till rope drop; nothing would start without us. When the ropes dropped, we headed right for World Showcase. We passed Spaceship Earth and saw big crowds already lining up. We made it to Norway and found Akershus Royal Dining Hall. There also appeared to be a sign pointing to the gift shop across the street saying we must check in there for the Storybook Breakfast. But the gift shop CM sent us back outside. It took a little bit to figure out that the arrow on the sign was meant to be pointing toward the podium right next to it, not across the street. Not the first time we would be misled by arrows on a sign. Anyway, after registering, we were told to line up by the door and wait for our name to be called. The wait was a bit long, and we were seated well after 9:15, but we finally got in. Right away we were told that we would meet Belle and get our picture with her before sitting at our table. Belle was stunning in her yellow gown. Both kids got their picture with her.
Then we were taken to our table. Ariel headed our way before we could go get our food from the buffet. Lovely in sea foam green, she looked just like her hand-drawn counterpart. She admired Jacqueline’s shirt, which was a Little Mermaid shirt she had gotten for her birthday. No Photopass photographer, but we got pictures with our own devices. Then I visited the buffet, looking for things Jacqueline would eat. I left off the exotic cheese and fish. There were plenty of pastries. Then I filled my own plate, trying a few new things. The eggs, bacon, and potatoes were waiting for me when I returned. Snow White visited our table next and, out of the four, acted the least thrilled to meet us. Alice was next, followed finally by Cinderella. I got pictures with all of them, and Jacqueline got all their autographs in her little book, which she also got for Christmas. Everything we ate was wonderful.
After re-watching our videos, I realized I got the sequence wrong on the princesses’ visits. Cinderella was actually first. Ariel was last. Everything else was accurate.
We decided to ride Spaceship Earth next, since World Showcase wouldn’t officially be open for a few more minutes. I was impressed by the animatronics, and the future stuff they did with our pictures was funny. Next, I wanted to get Captain Eo out of the way. This is something I had wanted to see ever since 1986 when I first read about it in Bantha Tracks newsletter. I had heard it was bad (and not in the good sense) but I wanted to see it anyway. Crowds were small. The updated 3D effects were quite good. The film itself was full of 80’s era Lucasfilm effects and sets, as well as music and dance sequences that were pretty representative of Jack-o at that time. It was also short – mercifully so, some might say. Back in the 80’s I probably would have loved it, but I can now see why so many on the disboards want this gone.
By the time we got out, World Showcase was open. We started with Canada. Jacqueline started whining about wanting to go back to the hotel. When she settled down, we moved on to UK, where a very good Irish street band was playing. We visited Crown & Crest gift shop. We looked at hats, but none of them struck our fancy. Jacqueline picked out a soccer ball she wanted. We bought it and had it sent to our room. Jacqueline had never expressed any interest in soccer before, but we bought it because, hey, Disney!
As we moved on to France, we saw a line to meet Aurora. Of course, the minute we got in the line, a CM ran up and said she was closed but would be back at 1:30. So we looked around France some more. We found the entrance to the Impressions du France movie. The kids and I found a place to sit while mom did a little shopping nearby. She came back with two perfume samples for me to smell. Wonderful, and wonderfully expensive. Didn’t buy any. Then it was time to watch the movie. The 3-screen panorama setup was truly impressive, and the images showed me a France I never knew existed. When we got out, we JUST had time to get back in line for Aurora. The same CM approached us again. I feared he would kick us out of line again. I wonder if he was really supposed to but maybe let us be the last of that group just because he remembered us. Either way, the line was cut off after us. Jacqueline had her autograph book ready, and Julie and I had our photographic devices ready. Aurora was beautiful and sweet and reminded me a little of my cousin Lisa.
