Cooley family returns to EPCOT
My fifth trip to Walt Disney World, my third as a father, and the first without my father on this Earth proved to be the most difficult trip I have ever endured during the first week of June. However, there were too many magical moments to dwell on the difficult parts. Suffice it to say that it is just becoming too hard to grow older and travel with a disability. Nevertheless, our first day in Walt Disney World took place at Epcot. We enjoyed a character dining experience at the Garden Grill, which offered a fantastic breakfast: scrambled eggs, bacon, cheesy potatoes, sliced steak, cinnamon bread with caramel glaze, and the one delicacy no breakfast at Disney would be complete without—Mickey waffles. My mother was kind enough not only to pick up the tab for the $60-per-person breakfast, but to pay for the entire trip. She is the true Mickey Mouse of my life, one whose generosity knows no bounds and the one person who can make magic happen out of the worst situations. I’m so happy that my sister and her husband were able to join us on this trip from Charleston, South Carolina. The loss of my father last October left a huge hole in the trip, as I believe he was trying very hard to hang on so that he could join us. I know he was there in spirit and that he was responsible for some magical things that happened on the trip, not to mention our safety to and from home. Our Garden Grill breakfast would have been something he truly would have enjoyed. He and I were the only two members of the family who really loved breakfast food, and one of the things I missed most about this trip was not being able to have breakfast with my dad. Mom, Bella, Emily, and I enjoyed our breakfast in the company of Mickey Mouse in his brightly colored overalls, as well as Chip, Dale, and Pluto. They were all wonderful and brightened our day considerably, as only Disney characters are able to do. After the meal, Bella and I met with Mickey again at Epcot, as well as Minnie and Goofy. In meeting with Mickey, I asked him the same question I always do: Did he know of any good property in Walt Disney World for my family and me to live? He pointed to Spaceship Earth, suggesting that I could live in the giant ball that serves as the emblem of Epcot. I could definitely get used to that. I also enjoyed riding The Seas with Nemo & Friends, despite the fact that the 45-minute wait took more than an hour before we boarded the seven-minute ride. Still, it is a favorite of mine, and every Disney ride could be its own movie. This one, for example, serves as a sequel to Finding Nemo, in which Nemo is lost again and his father, Dory, and all their friends embark on an undersea journey to find him. Two rides that I exceptionally enjoyed at Epcot were Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Both were favorite experiences. After enjoying lunch at the San Angel Inn Restaurante, a favorite Mexican dining spot that we have enjoyed throughout all of our Disney trips over the last 27 years, I was finally able to board the wheelchair-accessible Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros. This ride represents an all-time favorite film of Bella’s and mine, and riding it together through a virtual tour of Mexico—including the Mayan pyramids and vibrant beaches—was a wonderful experience. We viewed whimsical blends of live-action travel footage and classic hand-drawn animation as we searched for Donald Duck with José Carioca and Panchito Pistoles. Donald, of course, spends his time wandering around Mexican tourist attractions, taking photographs and enjoying the sights. The finale features Audio-Animatronic figures of the Three Caballeros performing their original theme song. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure was a fantastic ride as well, even though there were more twists and turns than I expected. Knowing that a fast-paced attraction such as this can be made fully wheelchair accessible leads me to believe that any ride in Walt Disney World could be made accessible with the proper effort. The four-dimensional ride shrinks you to the size of a rat and guides you through Chef Gusteau’s famous Paris restaurant as you help Remy prepare his masterful meal. You travel through giant physical sets and massive screens that make you feel as though you are on a roller coaster, even though you are not. You can feel the heat from burning ovens and even get splashed with sprays of champagne during the adventure. I also thoroughly enjoyed Reflections of China, a 360-degree documentary that showcases panoramic views of the wonders of China. Narrated by an actor portraying the ancient Chinese poet Li Bai, viewers are taken on a tour of the Chinese countryside and historic landmarks, including the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Terracotta Army in Xi’an, and scenes from Hunan, Guilin, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. The 2003 film is soon to be replaced by an updated version. I was glad to see this one before it disappears forever. In addition to the six characters I mentioned earlier, Bella was able to meet Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh, and the two lady mice from Cinderella, Suzy and Perla. While we did not break our record of three dozen character meet-and-greets this time, twenty-three is not a bad number. I am most thankful to have spent the day with my sister. Our childhoods are highlighted by two trips to Disney World, and we had a great time reminiscing about the past and being grateful for our consistently close relationship throughout our lives. We laughed and cried over memories of our dad, which was a great help to me. I am very thankful for her. Stay tuned next week to hear about our adventure at Disney’s Hollywood…