Today we went back to EPCOT, and we were very excited about this day. We spent the morning at the resort and planned to head out after naps. We chose to wear our annual Disney T-shirts that Jacqui always picks out and personalized for us (again, so lucky we have her). It is always so fun when we are all together wearing them. We were also very excited to bring the whole family back to EPCOT at night, as we really did love it so much.
We were able to ride on Spaceship earth and Imagination. All of our children also really like the Journey to Imagination ride with FIGMENT, the lovable dragon.
This is one of the rides I really remember from when I was young with my family. So I love this ride too, and am glad I get to continue to go on it.
The main reason for our return to EPCOT was for our Character Meal and to see the Candlelight Processional. We had dinner with Mickey and friends at the Garden Grill. I loved that the meals were served "Family Style" on large platters, it made it feel like it was as close to a family Christmas dinner as we were going to get (even though we were eating catfish and cupcakes). We were visited by Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale, more than once actually. It is great that the kids get to have loads of hugs and pictures with all of the characters they love.
The meals grand finale was to decorate your own cupcake, and of course eat it. Disney thinks of everything, and they certainly know what kids like, that's for sure.
I do believe their was a cupcake decorating contest, but I'm sure it ended in a 5 way draw.
It was so nice to come out of the restaurant to clear skies (there had been a risk of rain) The sun had set and the moon was full, it really set the scene for the evening to come. We had to stop at Hudson favorite stomping ground - the Nemo display. Which was great because it offered us the most fabulous view of the EPCOT ball with the moon overhead.
We walked over to the American Pavilion to watch the Candlelight Processional. It is a beautiful presentation and tradition at Disney, where a celebrity Narrator does a reading of the Christmas story along with a Mass choir all holding candles and an orchestra. Our narrator for the evening was actress Marlee Matlin. It truly was a moving performance. The music was amazing, and the part that touched me most about the show, was the sign language and the interpreters. Marlee Matlin, as most know is hearing impared. She signed all of the readings and her interpreter then spoke for us. There was a very beautiful interpreter signing to the music and she was literally singing with her hands, it was lovely. There was a very large hearing impared audience sitting in front of us, and I cried when they all started "sign singing" to Silent Night, I had never seen anything like it.
This was my favorite night! Laughs and tears, the best mixture.
ReplyDelete