Blurry but Beautiful (taken after the Light Parade)Well we went to Walt Disney World last week. I know, I know, it is all fake but, I love it there. I love how clean everything is and how helpful the staff is and how easy it is to walk from France to Japan to buy some chopsticks. I love how there are workers from all over the world. I love the light parades and the fireworks shows and Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios where movies are played off sprays of water. I try hard NOT to think of the energy usage, the few and difficult to find recycling bins (don't forget to write your letter Emily) and the expense of it all. I was amazed that they now allow people to bring in small coolers with their own food and beverages.
The temperatures were just perfect; in the mid 80's during the day and mid 60's at night. We saw Herman's Hermits play (Peter Noone looks and dances pretty good for his age) and the Beatles played (or people who looked and sounded like them 40 years ago). I also saw the Ventures while the rest of the family was riding Mission Space (I avoid any ride that comes with a complimentary vomit bag).
The International Garden Show was going on. Huge beds of blooming flowers, at least a hundred amazing topiary statues and hedges of booming honeysuckle were everywhere. For some reason we never took one picture of all the flowers. They were both beautif
ul to the sight and delightful to the nose.We even ( Emily endured) went on a wonderful garden tour of the plants used to make tea and herbal teas while in "Great Britain". We learned how to make all tea decaf, if you don't know shoot me an email and I will tell you the secret!
Mrs. Potts
Twinings had a great shop.
The reason we went to Disney was to see Rachel's band perform. Here they are marching through the Liberty Square area of The Magic Kingdom. Rachel said she had never been so hot in her entire life-it was a little warmer that day, closer to 90˚.
We were so excited we forgot to take any other pictures as they marched by.Our band was one of three bands that marched that day before the Disney afternoon parade. We sat next to a family from Ohio who's son was in the first band, so it was fun to compare school and band stories with them. Sad to think that a whole year of planning went into this and they passed by in a matter of seconds.
The t-shirts are based on that credit card commercial and say:52-Hour, Round Trip bus Ride to Florida $236
3 Nights Lodging $200
16 Meals Enroute & In Florida $210
Medieval Times Dinner Show $46
3 Days Admission to Disney Parks $135
Souvenirs $175
MARCHING DOWN MAIN STREET USA PRICELESS
We didn't carry our camera with us very often. To be honest we were exhausted most of the time. The parks opened at 7AM and several nights were open to 3AM. These odd hours were the BEST times to be there as it seemed every one of the four parks was VERY crowded.
This is one of our favorite photos; Jeff after riding the Hollywood Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios. (So hair really does stand straight up when one is frightened)
We enjoyed many rides several times. Even I loved Soarin' and the Big Thunder Railroad. Jeff said he would never ride Rock n' Roller Coaster again.
Since our last visit, the sit down 3-D shows seem to have more movement, smells and sprays of water in the face. "It's a Bugs Life" has pressure on the seat backs so it feels like bugs running by your body. During the ride Soarin' you can actually smell the orange groves and sea spray. I was very pleased I was able to "soar" without throwing up. I did have to shut my eyes once or twice.
This photo was taken after the Safari Ride at Animal Kingdom. We did see lots of animals, but the bus went so fast that it was hardly worth it. I guess they want to make it exciting and bumpy but I would rather see the animals for more than a second or two.Another problem, at least for me, was the distances between things. It must have been 3/4 mile between our room at Pop Century and the bus stop to take us to the parks. Then the drop off to the parks was another 1/2 mile before the entrance gate. The first few days I thought I was going to die. Even Emily and Rachel complained about painful feet. Pop Century staff host a Hustle Dance and Lesson every day at 6:00. Not too many guests join in... we are all too tired!
Food is so expensive at Disney World that I felt we could save money if we bought the food plan. I think we saved but we also seemed to be eating all the time. I had to make reservations 3 months ago and tried to pick out the "best" places.
Jeff, Emily and I really loved Boma at the Animal Kingdom Resort. Just entering the lobby of the resort is an experience. It is Disney, so they tried to make the restaurant look like an African savanna, with thatched roofs, huge rocks and stick fences. It is a large buffet with lots of things with mango, yams, things we had no idea what they were. We found "fufu" tasty and I loved a radish cucumber salad. The meats were roasted over wood fires. Yup, the wood fires were visible. Almost all the desserts contained alcohol. I forget the name of the dessert Emily loved but she went back several times for more! Many little kids, without supervision, at the buffet loading up plates full of desserts . I wondered if their parents were aware of the alcoholic content. One little tart I had really tasted strongly of brandy. Perhaps the parents felt it was a way to help their children get to bed? Wish there was a Boma in Fond du Lac as we would eat there often.
Another of our favorite places to eat was Tusker House at Animal Kingdom. Again it it is Disney and designed to look old like a rundown African tourist lodge. I think we all saw something like the building in the movie "African Queen". We enjoyed our lunch so much ( chutney, couscous, curry, samosas) we went back another day with Rachel for breakfast. The buffet is set up in what looks like a marketplace.Unfortunately, Micky, Daisy, Donald and Goofy, straight from their safari, showed up at Breakfast. Many of our meals also came with "Characters" and by the end of our stay we would just smile and say we didn't need any photos! Please notice how short all the characters are, poor Emily complained as she had to slouch in every photo. We think this is so the characters photograph well with children? But, lots of adults are having photos taken too. Maybe working for Disney causes one to shrink??????
Our last morning was spent at the fancy Grand Floridian. Mary Poppins signed her book for us. Nice lady but has funny feet, they point out rather than straight forward.
On our last full day at the park we had lunch with Cinderella in her castle. THIS is a VERY BIG DEAL with dozens of little girls going to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique to have their hair done for the event. Most girls arrive in costume. We did not. Well, actually Cinderella didn't eat with us either, she sat downstairs and had her picture taken with every guest. We all received a FREE 5x7 photo of the castle, another FREE 5x7 of the girls with Cinderella and several 4x6 copies --- All Free! ;-)
The food was amazingly good. I had a pasta with grilled vegetables and fresh vine ripened tomatoes. (Oh how I can't wait for more vine ripened tomatoes) Rachel had some kind of puff pastry thing that she liked. I think Emily had Salmon and Jeff ordered a sandwich. But our meal kept being interrupted with all these princesses. We wonder where all the princes are. I would have liked a few pictures with Prince Charming and I really like that guy from Mulan, what is his name again? Emily and Rachel received wands and wishing stars. It was fun.
Oh I almost forgot, we spent one day at SeaWorld. The highlight for Rachel and Emily was feeding the dolphins. Well, maybe it was looking at all the manatees up close. It was amazing to see all the manatees eating romaine lettuce.
Wonder how they find romaine in the wild?We we amazed at all the baby seals, some just days old but didn't think to take a picture of them.
We also had a great time petting the sting rays.
Yes, the flowers were pretty at SeaWorld too.
I'm sure I forgot some important fact that some member of the family will remind me of. I think we all had a great time.
Thanks for sharing all the great pictures and commentary! Makes me want to plan a trip. But I know all that walking would do me in!
ReplyDeleteYes, I do know how to make all tea decaffeinated. I teach that little technique in my tea classes - fun that you learned that!
Loved the pictures of all of you! Jeff does have great hair, doesn't he?
All the workers in the Twinings shop were from England- the tour guide was such a nice young man. But it was warm that day, what I really needed was a large glass of ice tea during the tour.
ReplyDeleteWe have MORE photos, I didn't post all the ones of Pooh, Tiger, Alice and Eeyore. It really became rather nuts.
Make all tea decaf?! Bah! I might ask you for the answer just so I can be careful, and not do it accidentally! ;)
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a good trip though. I'm going to send a link to this post to my sister, who works at the other Disney park. I'm sure she'll find a tale from FL interesting.
Bryan, We actually mentioned your sister several times during our trip as we wondered what her job was. We thought she was acting/singing?
ReplyDeleteI read that Disney laid off another 1900 "cast members" between the two parks last week. Maybe that is where all the princes went... laid off? Tiger was everywhere--I would pink slip a few Tigers.
We were told that caffeine is released during the first 30 seconds, so put the tea in almost boiling water for 30 seconds,then remove the tea and put into new water. Throw out the first water. Flavor was released later on but I can't remember the specifics. Is that what you teach Jackie?
On the other hand, if one just needs a fast jolt of something, I think you could put several tea bags in a small amount of hot water, wait for 30 seconds and gulp it down. One doesn't need to steep for a caffeine fix.
I was driving to town when I suddenly realized Bryan that your sister could be a tigger. If so, I am so sorry that I said there were too many tiggers in Florida.
ReplyDeleteIf she is a tigger, doesn't it get really hot in there?
No worries. My sister isn't a "tigger". She runs rides and helps with crowd control along the parade route. So far, they still need those people, and she happens to be one of the better ones (as indicated by awards her teams have won).
ReplyDeleteI think I'm safe from ever accidentally brewing decaf, as well. I'm more the kind of person who will forget to take the bag out until twenty minutes later. I end up with everything those leaves have to give swimming around in my mug.
Wow. What a huge trip. I am exhausted from reading about it. It sounds wonderful, though. Glad you all enjoyed yourselves! It looks like Em could have lost her hand to that dolphin!
ReplyDeleteSorry, it does look like Emily's hand is down the dolphin's throat.
ReplyDeleteThe "dolphin feeders" were instructed to hold the fish with one hand high up in the air. Then, before giving them the fish, pet/scratch under the dolphins mouth- that is what Emily is doing in the picture. I guess if you give the fish first, the dolphin runs away and you don't get to 'pet' it. Pretty much similar to some dogs and cats I have know. I think it might even apply to men!