Fun Moments in Travel - Episode 3

The fireworks at Epcot are spectacular and hands down the best fireworks I have ever seen.  When we travel to Disney, these fireworks are my number one draw.  I enjoy every single second that I get to see them so you know if I miss them voluntarily, it has to be a big deal.

As one of our Epcot days was winding down, we were just about to meander down to the fireworks show when Mom friend suggested that now would be a prime time to go see Soarin' because everyone would be at the fireworks.  I was immediately in - how many times do you get to see Soarin' without a line, even with the Fast Pass?  We had about 20 minutes before the rides were going to close so we hustled over as fast as our exhausted legs could take us.

15 minutes to go and there was a character meet and greet with several characters and only a few people in line.  Mom friend said we could do a quick stint there before hitting Soarin' so we altered our route to get there.  As we were standing in line, my daughter realized we hoodwinked her.  She said something like, "How much longer . . . wait . . . is this Soarin'?!?"  Mom friend and I couldn't get over the look on her face when she realized what was going on.  When she found out we were in line for character pictures, she wasn't happy but she tolerated the detour and moved it along by refusing to get her picture taken with a few characters (she was not into characters on this trip).

We sped through and made it up to the building where Soarin' was housed.  Of course, we had to go around the hall, down the stairs and though an entire weave of hallway (where the line normally would be) to the entry doors.  On the way down the stairs, Dad friend stumbled down a few of them but continued on his speedy pace and I lost it, slowing my roll due to hysterical laughter.  We managed to make it and got to sit in the top middle row with no one else in the section.

While we were "waiting to board," we hit up a conversation with the cast member and then talked it up a bit more with a few of the crew members inside, even getting a group picture with them!  When the ride ended, one of them came over to us and said that were going to do one more run since another family came in once this one had started and said we could stay and do it again if we wanted to.  Well, of course!  It was simply magical.

When we got out, the majority of the crowd was gone as the fireworks had finished.  We took our time leaving, noticing the little details at the end of the night that are usually missed.  Leaving the parking lot was super easy and we were soaring on cloud nine as we headed home with a memory of complete happiness (maybe minus the character pictures).