Day 4: Epcot

If Shane had his way, every day with Grandma would look like this:

Only his dad is the Electronics Police and prefers mornings to look like this:

In Florida, outdoor pools are open in November. We splashed around and took the water slide every day except the first. Shane even found a friend Tuesday.

They talked their heads off at each other.  She was 8 years old and from New Jersey. They both liked Angry Birds, Power Rangers, and animals (She was more of a PetCo girl, and Shane preferred PetSmart).

Seriously though, I did my best to keep that iPad out of Shane's hands (and was very successful). I told him we were on vacation to have fun and make memories; Not to do what could be done on a toilet.

For our final day in Orlando, we went to Epcot.

The rides veered toward high on theme and low on adrenaline, but this time with education added in.

We floated through a hydroponics and food laboratory, soared across famous landscapes, cruised through the history of the written word, and wandered around an aquarium after chasing Nemo. My phone died, or I would have pictures of all of them!

And those were only the rides.

Fountains and mirrors. Oh my!

Epcot did have one activity that was truly unique and awesome. Carrie and Shane signed up as OWCA agents!

They were given missions to look for clues around the park.

They got into it. They got "let's push pass this giant crowd of people streaming out of a concert because we're on the hunt" into it. Grandpa and I let the crowd pass.

Which was extra funny, because the mission objective was behind Grandpa. We found it eventually.

Then came the next cool part.

Carrie pushed a button on her phone and we saw Perry!

He was trapped! We had to follow clues including getting a golf ball out of a phone booth.

Next we had to drop it in a vase at a store to be analyzed.

I don't want to give too many spoilers, but Doofenshmirtz's plan was foiled in the end. A window may have flooded.

Now I know how to keep my son and wife entertained for hours at Epcot. I don't know who was more excited.

Our next mission took us to France.

Home of acrobats who stack chairs!

Carrie and Shane did not let any distractions deter them from helping their favorite Platypus.

Except chocolate. Chocolate will definitely distract those two.

But they were on the trail 90% of the time!

A satellite popped out of a lamp shade to fix Major Monogram's email.

I loved how Disney took random bits of fluff and decoration and gave them a dual purpose. It really made the park interactive.

It was cooler than any ride.

We got to see Perry zip line between roofs. Come on!

If Disney food was cheap, I could have, no would have spent the whole day chasing mission objectives from country to country and eating regional fare.