Day 3, Part 3 - Post-Race
I've always said my vacations are an endurance challenge, but this was the first time a vacation actually *included* an endurance challenge. Nonetheless, if I'm awake and upright, I like to be on the move. I'll sleep when I'm dead.
So, we got back to Pop while DW got DD down for a nap. I took a nice, long, hot shower and got dressed into some warmer clothes as it was still pretty chilly. I then set out for the gift shop in hopes of finding a Red Bull or some kind of energy drink because, darn it, I was finally going to see IllumiNations if it killed me. Unfortunately, there was no energy drink, but I did call my mom and talked to her and my daughters back home about the race.
After DD's nap, we got ready to go to Epcot. I don't remember when exactly when we got there, but I know we didn't have a ton of time before our 4:15 ADR and there was no way we were missing that. We first headed over to Under the Seas with Nemo and friends before our 3:30 FP for the Frozen ride started. But, then after Nemo let out, disaster struck.
I received an email stating the Frozen ride was down for an undetermined amount of time. I actually swore under my breath and quietly showed my phone to DW. She just looked at me. We had been talking up the Frozen ride to DD for a while now and promised she'd get to see Anna and Elsa. Now, we weren't quite sure what to do. The email did say we could try to use the FP again later if the ride started up again, which I assumed it would.
I quickly checked the wait time for the Anna and Elsa meet and greet and found it was only 15 minutes (it would be 25 minutes by the time we got in line). This was a far cry from the 2-3 hour waits during our last trip, which my older daughters fortunately passed on.
The 25-minute wait ended up being closer to 40 minutes. For a good 15 minutes, the line simply did not move. I don't know what the hold up was, but it got to the point where I told my wife I might have to go ahead to Ohana without them to grab our table at Ohana.
Ultimately, that proved to be unnecessary and DD finally got to meet Anna and Elsa. She was thrilled.
(These are photopass photos, not mine)
After the meet and greet we zipped down to the monorail, which had to be fairly comical to watch since I could barely bend my left knee. DW and I would later remark over the next day and a half that you could tell who had run the marathon just by the way they walked. Lots of sore folks out in the parks!
The monorail quickly got us over to the TTC and we walked the rest of the way to Poly. I guess I never realized how big that property is because we had to ask four people where the main lodge was. Fortunately, we made it up to Ohana with time to spare.
While DW and DD waited for our table, I went up to the bar and grabbed my first victory drink. I don't remember what exactly was in it, but it was a bunch of alcohol in a pineapple. I'd just run a race, darn it, it was time to treat myself! I think it was called a lamu lamu. Anyway, it tasted good, but wasn't very strong.
By the time I got my drink, DD and DW had already been seated and were noshing on some bread. I quickly joined in. Our server brought a plate of noodles, mixed vegetables, wings and dumplings. I LOVE the wings and noodles and my wife can't get enough of the dumplings. DD tried a bit of everything and ate really well.
Then a server came by with steak, chicken and shrimp. I'm the only one in the family who eats shrimp and it was delicious. The steak was also really good, but the chicken was AMAZING. They must have done something different with the recipe since our last trip since I barely touched the chicken last time. All in all, I ate a TON.
After dinner, we walked (OK, DW might have had to roll me, like that girl that turned into a berry in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) back to the TTC and took a monorail back to Epcot. Once inside, we met up with DW's cousins from Connecticut and her cousin's husband. They were down for the half and full, so one cousin didn't get to do a race. But, they were happy to meet DD for the first time.
After milling around in one gift shop, we split up so the cousins could go to California Grill for dinner. DW then looked around in MouseGear, but didn't find anything to her liking. I checked my Lines app, found that the Frozen ride was up and running and we headed over there again.
Our FP from earlier in the day were honored, but there was still a good 15 minute wait to get on the ride. That said, the wait was well worth it. The ride was really good and really well done. Everyone enjoyed it (even if my photos didn't turn out all that well).
Of course, Disney had learned the value of dumping you out into a gift shop after a popular ride, so we checked out the Frozen gift shop for a bit. DD found an Elsa dress and fell in love, so we picked that up for her.
After shopping, DW and DD had hit their limit and they headed back to Pop. Despite being chilly, tired and sore, I was determined to see IllumiNations on this trip. I hung out in Norway for a bit and drank my second victory drink, a Norwegian beer. Not too shabby.
After watching part of the Star Wars fireworks from Norway, I made my over to Italy. I had read up on the Disney Tourist Blog on top locations for shooting IllumiNations and Tom recommended the Italy Isola, with the catch that it's almost occupied by a private party. Well tonight, it was open, so I staked out a spot!
It was pretty chilly waiting for the show to start with the temperatures still pretty low and wind blowing in. I tried to post to the Marathon 2017 board to see if anyone was up for an impromptu meetup, but the Internet wasn't cooperating. Sorry gang.
But, the show finally started and it was totally worth the wait (about 5 years in my case). I loved the show and there was a group of guys in their 20s that kept ooohing and aaahing during the show, which was funny.
Oh, and I got a few shots I was really happy with! Here are a couple I'm really happy with.
IllumiNations is probably now my favorite nighttime show to shoot. One, it's a great show. Two, there are tons of locations to shoot from, so I know each of the next few visits will be different. Third, since it's on the water, it addresses one of my aforementioned issues with Disney photography: people stepping in front of my shot right before the show starts.
I'm also endlessly entertained that this was the time I got to see IllumiNations. During our last two trips, we skipped it because we were all too tired. This time I saw it on the day I had been up since 2:45 a.m. and run a marathon!
Anyway, after the show I grabbed my final victory drink, a bourbon lemonade slushy from the America pavilion and wandered around the World Showcase for just a bit, waiting for the bus crowds to die down. It was my own mini-DATW.
As I was getting ready to leave the park, I realized there was a short wait for Soarin' and I got in line since I hadn't seen the new version yet. It was AMAZING. Highly recommended.
After that, I left the park and took the bus back to Pop.
Next...Our Last Day.