Disney - last installment

OK, the last post.

Well, for Disney at least.

This is all about the Magic Kingdom and the resorts and like that. Totally boring.



There were yelps of joy and excitement when we first saw this! Cinderella's castle! The kids thought it was pretty neat, too.


We walked all over the place - Main Street USA, Toon Town, and all the other corners. And back at night for the fireworks. Henry crashed at dinner and slept on a bench ate the restaurant.

And, of course, I am a big fan of the mouse. Saw Steamboat Willy again. Pretty racy stuff for its day, might even cause an eyebrow or two to lift today.

Or that might be my dirty-old-man side coming thru.

I took the little boat back to the Polynesian (nap time) while everyone else kept going on the rides and through the exhibits and just having fun.


This is the monorail - holding up quite well as a "modern" means of transport. Started running around the time we were all to Disney the first time (circa 1981). Anyone else feel old yet?

The Magic Kingdom resorts are : the Contemporary (monorail goes right through it), the Polynesian, and the Grand Floridian. They are all on a lake with the Magic Kingdom on one side. Watching the nightly fireworks from across the lake is pretty cool.

This is the Grand Floridian from the water.

This is the lagoon we overlooked Our room was on the second floor, about even with the top of the sailboat's mast.

See?

Worked out quite well. We were near most things and didn't have to go too far for anything. We also seemed to hit a good stretch for smallish crowds. The wait times were short, and Jason made sure we had quick passes for all the favourite, must-do rides. I, for one, was over-ridden; roller-coastered out.

And here is the inevitable lobby shot. I know you were all waiting for it.

The plants and ponds and water falls were really quite nice. I just wish they hadn't rubbed our noses in the fact they can grow real orchids with ease.

And so we wave a fond fairwell to a great trip.
It WAS a great trip; everyone had their own fun and super fun together.

Disney round 3 - Epcot

We went to Epcot a couple of times. These pictures span both days (in case the people who were present at the time find their memories and these pictures and notes are out of synch).

The sun was out with some warmth. Definitely warmer than Toronto. And we don't usually see palm trees in TO.

There was a fireworks display one evening, so back we went in the dark. Pretty cool place then, too.

Hannah and Jack had fun, ate some stuff from a McDonalds place.

And got really cold and tired by the end of the evening after the show.

Nan & Grampa waved goodby as they headed to the monorail, then we went for dinner in a Moroccan place.

This is not a water fall, it goes UP.

Water rise?

Dana looked like this quite often.

But she has some truly great pictures of all this. Mine are from different angles.

On another day, Penny and I walked around the lake with the various international displays.

The Canadian bit has a quite good 360 degree movie of all the Canadian stuff, and the restaurant is maybe the best on the Disney property. But very expensive and make reservations about 6 months ahead.

All this in the Chateau Frontenac mock-up.

Good pictures and some interesting stuff from other countries. We dropped in to Norway and China.

More later.

Disney round 2 - Hollywood Studios

So, here we go with another splash of Disney. We went to the Hollywood Studios park.


And we all had a great time. I am a big fan of much of Disney and there is a lot to see beyond the stuff that interests the kids. But I won't bore y'all with that.















The kids had a super time. There were many occasions when this picture could have been taken. I don't remember exactly what triggerred this, but the gang was certainly into whatever was going on.









Hannah had a big thrill: a High School Musical 3 show right on the street in front of us, AND she got grabbed to go dance on the street with the actors. How good is that? Well, check the face!

For some reason, Jason thought we, he and I, should go on the haunted hotel elevator ride. Hey, why not? Well, now I know why not.

The whole thing is based on a Twilight Zone episode. Spooky, lots of background set-up, through the basement into the old service elevator, raised hands to make sure you are belted in and not carrying anything. Then, after some more suitable delay, atmosphere and stuff, straight drop for 13 floors. Followed by repeated random ups and downs, say 4 floors, then 9 floors, then 7 floors, then the full 13 agains, then ... You probably get the picture. They took our picture at some suitably inappropriate time. I think I was screaming "Oh, (some short word)". Great fun.

Finally, spot the Canadians. The weather was cool, but the kids in the pool are not becoming hypothermic, and the guy in the short-sleeved shirt is not uncomfortable. It was probably between 12 and 15 degrees C.

Now take a close look at the lifeguard. Many times, I have gone skiing with less clothing than that!

Disney - round 1

No posts since December???

OK, we went to Disney World (Orlando) with Dana, Jason, Hannah, Jack and Henry. Super time, cold weather, didn't matter. 7 days with passes for everyone to get into a park per day. Pick a park, then go in and out of that one as often as you want. Pick a new park the next day (could be the same as yesterday).

Here we are, last day after a movie (Slumdog).

We stayed at the Polynesian Resort, one of the Magic Kingdom resorts, so we were on the monorail quite a bit.

This is going to take more than one post to cover. So, in no real sequence, The Animal Kingdom park.

Another shot had Dana & Penny looking at a map. Really concentrating. Not looking too happy. This one is better.

Off on safari. Lots to see. Penny liked it so much she went a second time, then we (she and I) wandered through a trail with more animals. The gorilla and Thomson gizelle are from the walk.

Hannah really liked the bird show. But there were birds all around - like this one at lunch, a few feet away.

More tomorrow. Maybe get a bit better organized.