Crumbs, Constellations, and the Crooked-Shod Waltz

If you’re gonna do Disney, you might as well go big — and by day three, we were all in, neck-deep in Epcot with our shoes barely holding together and a blister count worthy of its own FastPass. But that morning began on a high note, quite literally, with my dad’s first-ever Skyliner ride into a park. It was smooth, breezy, and didn’t involve half-sweating through a crowded bus, so we called that a win.

We swooped into Epcot ready to hit Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, but the ride had other plans. Shutdown. A small tragedy, at the time. But the croissant rescue mission that followed? Divine intervention. We found ourselves camped out in France, splitting a perfectly messy ham and cheese croissant, flaky enough to leave crumbs in our shoes. We washed it down with sips of bubbly and that kind of people-watching you only get when kids are wiping whipped cream on five-dollar t-shirts.

Cheers to a laid-back moment in front of La Crêperie de Paris, with a bubbly drink in hand and kids darting by in the warm afternoon light.

Fueled by pastry and optimism, we marched over to Frozen Ever After, hoping for redemption in the form of Elsa and animatronic snowmen. It delivered, as always. That big snow creature at the drop — still gets me every single time. And seeing my dad grinning like a kid again made it even better.

Everyone looks like they're having a blast on the Frozen Ever After ride, hands up and smiles all around in front of that big, friendly snow monster.

We laughed our way to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind next, strapping in like seasoned space cadets. It started with the usual blast of music and whirling stars — until everything went dark. I mean pitch black. No soundtrack, no visuals, just wind and screams bouncing through the void. Terrifying? Kind of. Hilarious in retrospect? Absolutely.

Luckily the cast members handed out Lightning Lane passes like space candy, so we stashed it away for our evening comeback. Meanwhile, we limped toward nourishment and actual seating, pretending blister Band-Aids were a revolutionary technology. By the time we made it to Canada, we looked like background extras in a zombie film — hobbling but determined.

The payoff? Next-level filet mignon, fluffy pretzel bread, and cheddar cheese soup worthy of a slow clap.

A mouthwatering spread at Le Cellier, with a perfectly cooked steak and some deliciously cheesy bread on the side. Looks like Sunday lunchtime was a definite foodie win!

Re-energized and borderline food-drunk, we backtracked with purpose to meet one very important bear. Pooh. The OG nap king, honey enthusiast, and Christopher Robin’s best sidekick. We got our photo, our autograph, and my heart completely melted. I swear those whimsical details in the UK pavilion make you forget there’s a whole world of theme park chaos just one step away.

A charming little corner with topiary Winnie the Pooh, looking like he's about to float away with his red balloon. The building behind adds a nice touch of storybook magic.

We couldn’t leave without introducing Dad to Figment, so we did the full sensory chaos tour, laughed a lot, and then exhaled our way into Living with the Land and The Seas with Nemo. The aquarium was a calm, blue bubble of peace, and that Hidden Mickey? A little reward for those still paying attention.

We found ourselves captivated by the fish swimming gracefully above a hidden Mickey, a little underwater magic moment amid the aquarium's serene blue hues.

The blister count may have risen, but so did our morale.

Eventually, we returned for our much-deserved redemption arc on Cosmic Rewind. This time? Pure bliss. Full visuals, music blasting, swirling galaxies like technicolor confetti. It was everything we’d hoped for the first go.

Everyone's hands are up on the Guardians ride, with big grins and a backdrop of swirling galaxies. Looks like pure excitement and a bit of space-themed magic.

We skipped the stomach-churner that is Mission: SPACE (you're welcome, digestive system) and instead strolled World Showcase for the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. It was Dad’s first time, and we went all in — biscuits and gravy, cereal milkshakes, things that sound like a dare in the Florida heat. Regrets? None.

Somewhere near the UK we stumbled across a wall of plush corgis and laughed harder than we should’ve. Maybe we were punch-drunk on carbs and heat.

An adorable lineup of plush corgis fills the shelves, just waiting to find new homes. Looks like a cozy, playful spot that catches your eye while wandering around.

We circled the World one last time, heat fading into golden light, watching tiny garden trains chug along their miniature track, marveling at the layers of magic that never quite wear off no matter how many times you visit.

The day closed with us perched along the lagoon, chips and salsa in hand, quietly waiting as the sky dimmed and the crowd held its breath. And then — fireworks. The kind that thump in your chest and paint the water in reflections so beautiful it feels a little unreal.

A peaceful night captured with the iconic torii gate framing Spaceship Earth, glowing beautifully across the water.

Three days, a hundred steps past comfortable, and still grinning. Epcot closes the trip like only Epcot can — with food, stars, nostalgia, and just enough crazy to make you want to do it all again tomorrow.