We spent our fifth day in Orlando at Epcot. Epcot is divided into two parts- Future World and the World Showcase. The Future World section only has a couple of really good attractions, but the World Showcase is really neat. Bryton really enjoyed the Finding Nemo ride and Larry and I really liked the "Soarin'" ride. On "Soarin'" you get on this hang glider thing and there is a rounded screen underneath you. The hang glider goes up and the screen below shows scenery from different parts of California as seen from the air. The way the screen is and the way the hang glider moves makes it really seem like you are hang gliding over California. They blow air on you as well to make it seem more realistic and at certain points they pipe in scents like when you are flying over orange groves and you suddenly smell oranges, or you smell pine while going over a tree topped mountain, and the smell of the ocean at the beach. We loved that ride. We also went on the ride we hated the most of the whole trip here at Epcot, "Mission Space". Some people really like it, but it made both Larry and I so sick we could barely function! They have two lines when you go in- one for a more intense experience, and one for a less intense one. We chose more intense thinking it would be like "Disney intense", which isn't really intense at all. BAD, BAD decision. I really knew I had made a bad choice when we actually got into our seats and they mentioned the motion sickness bags in front of us if needed! I looked up and yep- actual barf bags! Immediately I am thinking "Oh noooo- what have I gotten myself into?" You go into these small, clausterphobic feeling "spaceships", and there is a screen in front of you that simulates a rocket launch and slingshot around the moon. You feel extreme forces that are supposed to mimic forces astronauts go through in training. I guess that the way they make you feel these forces are with extrememly fast upside down spinning. I only felt it actually spin twice, but supposedly it spins the whole time and you are supposed to keep your eyes on the screen to feel what they want you to feel and not the spinning. Even what they want you to feel is not very good! The forces pushing down on my body got so extreme that I felt like I couldn't breathe. There was one point where you go through an asteroid shower that didn't bother me so much, but Larry said he started to sweat and really almost threw up. So, I will NEVER go on "Mission Space" again and do not recommend it to anyone who has ever even gotten a twinge of motion sickness on anything! Our friends really liked it however, so maybe we are just wimps.
After seeing all we wanted to see in Future World we headed over to the World Showcase. This area is made up of about 10 different areas that are each made to look like a different country, complete with authentic restaurants, shops, shows, performers, and some rides. They also hire people from the different countries to work in each area so it seems more authentic. We spent hours in this section exploring each country. We had dinner at Edo Japan, a steakhouse in the Japanese section. Yum! We also had cream puffs and chocolate mousse for dessert from the French village. It was interesting looking at the shops with food, clothing, and trinkets from each country and learning about different parts of the world. Bryton slept through most of this as it didn't hold much interest for him, however he was awake for some of the Japanese girls in one of the Japanese stores to go completely gaga over him and he loved the attention. We told him a few Japanese words to say to them and he actually did pretty good! The girls went nuts over that! We ended the evening with a fireworks display, and then headed home exhausted but happy!
Bryton and Hayden waiting to go on"Finding Nemo"
In the Canada section
I'm not sure why I am making this face here or what was apparently grossing me out. Also not sure why Larry is taking a picture of it- But hey, Bryton looks cute!
In "Great Britain"
Wearing a bobby hat
With Tigger and Pooh- They had Disney characters scattered throughout the World Showcase in the countries where their stories take place or came from- Alice in Wonderland and Pooh and Tigger in England, Aurora and Belle in France, etc...
In "France"
"Morrocco"
"Japan"
I look crazy here!
Eating dinner- That painting behind Bryton makes it look like he has crazy black hair streaming out behind his head!
The view across to the rest of the World Showcase
"Italy"
The famous "golf ball" lit up in the background
"Germany"
"China"
On a boat ride in "Norway"
Just playing around
Watching the fireworks with a major chocolate mousse mustache!
