Thursday July 10th 2025

It took two tries, but I finally got my fish and chips at Disney’s EPCOT. The Yorkshire County Fish Shop at the United Kingdom pavilion serves a pretty good simple fish and chips meal. It took two visits to EPCOT before I made it to the back of the park for my dinner.

Late afternoon on Wednesday I drove to EPCOT for exercise and fish and chips. Based on the morning weather forecast I thought it would be a fine evening. My first indication of a deviation from that plan came in the EPCOT parking lot. All of the parking cast members were missing. When there is lightening in the air you have to find your own parking space. Looking to the west the reason was obvious. Threatening black clouds with flashes of lightening filled the sky.

I got into the park before the rain started. Believing that it was only going to be a quick storm I rode the Space Ship Earth ride. When I emerged about twenty minutes later the storm was dropping rain in sheets. I hurried into the Connections quick service restaurant and then the Creations Shop gift shop for another waiting out the storm sequence. After about an hour I took a few moments to check the forecast and the radar on my phone. It didn’t look anything like the morning forecast. Moderate to heavy rain was forecast through about 11PM. My decision was to use a small window of lighter rain to head back to my car and home. By the time I got to my car I was soaked. Most of it came from sitting in a puddle on the parking lot tram, which I only rode to stay out of the rain.

This afternoon I repeated the plan successfully. The weather cooperated and I managed to get my three plus miles of exercise and a good meal of fish and chips. The park wasn’t too busy. I even managed to get a seat at a table to eat. I was prepared to use the top of a garbage can for a table as I often have. Even though it was dry, I didn’t stay for the nighttime fireworks. I prioritized getting home with simplicity over entertainment. The state is doing nighttime paving on US 27 outside my base camp. The later you are the worse the delays and difficulties. Trying to see going in and out of the massive construction lights seemingly aimed right at you can be a challenge.