I thought it would be a brilliant plan. After work, I’d run over to Epcot for their Food and Wine festival and get some dinner. Earlier that day I was able to get a discounted conference ticket ($75) for Epcot, a steep admission just to get dinner. I was also able to snag some last minute fast passes, one for Turtle Talk, another for Mission Space, and lastly one for the premium viewing spot for “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth”. It would be the first time going to Epcot (or Disney World for that matter) since I was 4 years old. (A lot had changed since then.)
As I entered I was so mesmerized by the Spaceship Earth and stopped to take photos. I started at it as I walked around, barely taking in the mass amount of people also entering Epcot. I quickly headed over to the Seas to take in the aquarium and Turtle Talk. I then waited over an hour for Soaring. I was starving at this point, but knew the lines for Soaring wouldn’t die down, and that it was worth the wait. (It was.) When I exited Soaring, it was time for my Mission Space fast pass, but I was hungry so I decided to “quickly walk the World Showcase” to get something to eat. I had over an hour before the fireworks started. I figured walking the Showcase would take maybe half an hour, leaving another half hour to leisurely go on Mission Space and maybe the single rider line of Test Track.
By this point it had already gotten dark, and I just didn’t have a good sense on how big the lake was. As I started to walk around, I realized I had made a big mistake. EVERYONE also had the idea to get dinner at the Food and Wine festival. 20-40 minute lines stretched from each food vendor. I had made a list of which vendors had food (and drink) I’d be interested in. But I stubbornly didn’t want to wait in line. So I pressed on. As I walked I started to realize that each “Country” had its own little tucked in area, and that simply walking by it I wasn’t really experiencing anything. I walked faster to get around the crowds and my hunger narrowed my focus to looking at the shortest lines.
I did stop at the massive Japanese department store, marveling at some Sailor Moon merchandise before wistfully wondering if Pocky could make an entire meal (not since High School…) but I pressed on. At one point I saw no line for a Funnel Cake vendor (probably as it wasn’t a special Food and Wine vendor) and quickly grabbed one. It had taken me almost 45 minutes and I was just now halfway around the lake! The fireworks would be starting soon! I attempted to eat the funnel cake while running (horrible plan, powdered sugar went everywhere.) So I forced myself to stop and scarf down the funnel cake. The minutes ticked down until I knew I wouldn’t be able to get into the fireworks viewing area. But as I was rushing I noticed the Germany Food and Wine vendor didn’t have a line, so I rushed up and got myself some delicious ice wine and a sausage roll (which I had gotten 2, delicious but small!)
At this point I was trying to make a mad dash towards the front of the lake. I had a slight idea of where the fireworks viewing area was, but couldn’t really place where I was in relation to it. I remember running up to an employee, I’m sure my eyes were crazy and wild as I approached. “Please…I have fast passes, where do I go for the fireworks.” It was the end of the night, the young woman had probably worked a very trying shift. She just smiled and pointed behind me. Slowly she said “Do you see those lights?” I looked where she pointed hundreds of lights of all kinds were in that direction. I made an assumption and said “Yes”. She smiled again and slowly spoke again. “That’s it.” I could tell she was being a little sarcastic, but I thanked her anyway. I had to laugh at myself, I probably did look crazy, hold a glass of wine in one hand, trying not to spill it as I ran through the crowd. A few dodges of people with double strollers and a sprint and I made it into the viewing area with just a few moments to spare. I never did make it to Mission Space, but man that fireworks viewing area was perfect! But man, I wish I had known how big of a lake was there, I totally mistook how much time I had!
Travel Missteps is an every-other week series on how sometimes part of the journey is making mistakes and getting lost.
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