Lazy start today…even for us. We don’t leave our room until after noon. The bus is uncrowded as is the park entrance. We are continually rewarded for being late, so we will most likely stick with our current M.O. It’s difficult to do, but we force ourselves to bypass all of Future World and head directly for World Showcase. We are unable to resist Club Cool however and step inside for free soda and AC.

We’re heading for more firsts. First “first” on the list takes us to Canada. The doors of O’Canada are beginning to close and we dash in to watch. I normally avoid this attraction because I have been under the impression that strollers are not allowed. This is not the case and I wheel in with ease. There is ample room to move about and enjoy the film without disturbing anyone else in attendance. The kids are amazed with the 360-degree movie and I’m able to enjoy the virtual tour.

There is a Kidcot Fun Stop at the exit so we ask for our masks and sit to color them. The three young CMs here are totally absorbed in one another and do nothing to enhance anyone’s experience at this spot. I feel a bit like a bother to them.

We proceed to the United Kingdom. It seems natural to grab some fish and chips while we’re here. There are no shaded tables available nearby so we take our grub to the courtyard and eat curbside. There is a bored PhotoPass photographer here taking numerous candid shots for us. The kids burn off some extra energy in the maze then we walk into the Toy Store for another Kidcot Fun Stop.  Half of our group colors masks and the other half explores the toys.  The CM from outdoors is stationed in here with the characters and ends up taking more shots of the kids indoors.

We move onto France and notice Aurora with no line.  We stop over for a quick visit then head into Impressions de France.  It’s another first and I love it!  Hannah wants to see it again. We’ll definitely be back, but not today.  We stop for Kidcot and I purchase a Marie magnet.

We Kidcot again in Morocco where I’m motivated to take lots of photos.  The area is beautiful.

We plan to fly in and out of Japan as it’s probably our most-visited area in World Showcase.  We fail though.  I blame the drummers and the candy lady.  I’m photographing the drummers as the candy lady walks out and I follow her over to her stand.  Hannah believes she’ll be receiving candy here.  I’m nearly positive that she won’t.  Candy Lady usually selects people directly in front of her that have been waiting longest.  This is fair…I’m fine with that.  I decide we should move on in hopes of avoiding a melt-down from Hannah.  It doesn’t work and she cries all through the gift shop and into the Tin Toy exhibit.  I end up having to quiet her with a threat to leave. She knows I mean it.  It works instantly and we receive our Kidcot stamp and origami frog before moving on.

Kidcot, photos and a little wine for me in Italy.  And for me…a little wine goes a long way!  I love the taste of my Spumante from Asti!!

We stop briefly to view the train village before entering Germany.  Once again, we Kidcot and I photograph.  Sadly, I finish my wine here.  We park our butts on a bench to regroup.  Two women walk up and ask to sit next to me and of course…there’s plenty of room on “my” bench.  I see their 1st time visitor badges and am compelled to strike up conversation.

They’re from Wisconsin, arrived when I did and will be leaving when I leave as well.  I’m warm and fuzzy from the wine so words flow from my mouth freely.  At some point, I see one of the ladies hand a candy eagle to Andy.  I get nervous thinking that Hannah will start crying again when she sees it, but I end up crying isntead.  They are gifting the eagle to us as they’re certain it won’t survive the flight home.  The Magic is alive!!  I embarass myself with teary thank yous and explain what had happened in Japan.  It’s time now for us to head to dinner at Cape May so I thank them once more and we’re on our way to the Beach Club Resort. I really wish I had taken a photo of these two women.

Now Germany is about as far away as you can get from the International Gateway so we hoof it over pronto. We stop briefly in China, Norway and Mexico to take photos and to get the remaining stamps and charms for our masks. I’m determined to get a complete set this trip.

Once we arrive at the Beach Club lobby, I place Andy in charge of the two little ones while I get in line for restaurant check-in. The three of them sit in front of the cartoons and should be fine there for the few minutes I’m gone. Heck, I’m only a few feet away. When I get back to the kids, there’s no Jonah. He is nowhere to be seen. I scan the lobby quickly in every direction and immediately decide to grab a CM to help me. I run to the front desk and proclaim that I’ve lost a one year-old and run off to continue my search.

This little guy is very quick on his awkward legs, is quite strong for his age and has a misguided sense of independence. He could be anywhere.  I notice Andy running out the lobby doors towards the pool area, then notice Jonah a short ways ahead of him. The little shit made his way outside!!! I don’t know if he received any adult assistance or not, but he found a way to get out the big double doors. Yikes! Ordeal over…but I’m close to spent.

We wait only a few moments before being seated. First thing we notice is the paper covering and crayons on the table. We get busy and begin to decorate. I leave Jonah with Andy again, but this time he’s strapped into a high chair. He’s enjoying his chocolate milk and crayons so it seems safe for me to go fill plates. Hannah comes with me to “assist”. Once I return, Andy goes up for his dinner. Hannah and Jonah devour their Mickey Mouse macaroni and cheese in seconds. When Andy returns, it’s time for me to fill my own plate. I grab a bowl of soup and return to the buffet for my plate of hot food. While loading up, I hear a familiar cry and exit the buffet line prematurely. Jonah had lifted the paper table covering and spilled an entire soda in my spot on the table. Everything is soaked. I can either laugh or cry at this point. So much has happened in such a short time span. I make the obvious choice and sit down in my sticky mess to laugh. Karmina cleans us up and the rest of the dinner is just peachy.

I have to say that I don’t like the layout of the buffet; it seems inefficient when crowded. I truly enjoy the fare however and that’s what really matters to me. After desserts, we load up the stoller and head to the Beach Club Marketplace. I’m still hoping to find boxed Mickey macaroni and cheese. Maybe this will be the place to get it. They serve it on the buffet, but there’s none in the Marketplace.

We head back to EPCOT…back to Italy for Amaretti di Saronno cookies and then to watch Illuminations. Andy and I get into a bit of a tiff so our plans change. We decide to skip Illuminations and go back to our room instead. We find a place to sit (and stew) and people watch in Morocco then head out of the park still a little angry with each other.

Before making it to the exit, the anger fades and we opt for one last ride on Spaceship Earth. All four of us love this ride and get to stay on for a second time around. Very cool, but this means that we are now leaving the park with EVERYONE else. I’m not looking forward to what lies ahead at the bus stop. Luckily we are at the beginning of the stampede and an empty bus is awaiting our arrival. We load like pros and the driver takes off immediately. We arrive home without a hitch. At the resort, we don our swim suits and head to the Calypso pool for a quick dip, a short stroll for photos…then sleepy heads off to bed.