Well really it all started with a man that created a certain Mouse, but Walt Disney wanted everyone to remember that this place really did have small beginnings.
Greetings everyone, from sunny, hot and humid Orlando...
Back to Disney info... Walt himself formulated the plan for Disney World but never saw it become a reality. Walt passed away in 1966 and Disney World opened in 1971.
This place really is fabulous, it's spread over 42 square miles and has 4 Theme Parks, 2 Water Parks and numerous hotels within the complex. Once you are in 'The World' you can get around on the supplied transport and that is a combination of buses, boats and monorails. We were even picked up from the Orlando Airport by the Disney Magic Express coach service.
We were here for 7 nights / 6 days. What we didn't realise though was that last weekend was a holiday weekend so there were LOTS of people here. Saturday we went to the Magic Kingdom, being that we had been here before we were able to pick and choose our rides and happily wandered around the park just watching people. For the 'happiest place on earth' there were lots of not so happy families around. Children wanting to go in one direction while parents go in another, lots of tears and pouty bottom lips to be seen! In the meanwhile we enjoyed yet again the Pirates of the Carribean ride, the Jungle Cruise, the Enchanted Tiki Room, the Haunted Mansion. We avoided It's a Small World as Paul did not want the tune in his head for the rest of the day.
We also went to the Hall of Presidents, a ride where Stitch is a naughty little prisoner that causes mayhem and you get sprayed with water etc, then we went on the Carousel of Progress, a vintage Disney ride, created by Walt Disney for the 1954 World's Fair - very cool indeed.
We completed the day with dinner at the Grand Floridian (the best) hotel in the World and then returned to the Magic Kingdom for the fireworks. A great day and a LONG day.
Sunday, we went to the Animal Kingdom, a great experience yet again, but phew the heat! It was 89 deg with 100% humidity! And with all the crowds we gave up at 3.30pm and returned to the hotel to cool down. Before doing this we went on several rides, did the 3D experience called 'It's tough to be a Bug' and the safari. Unfortunately the animals were all a little lethargic with the heat too, so we saw many resting and sleeping animals.
Monday was a designated R & R day, that can be interpreted how you like but for me that meant shopping at Downtown Disney. We took the boat down there at about 11am and ended up having dinner at the Rainforest Cafe before returning to the hotel about 8pm. Paul loved it!!!
Tuesday we went to Disney Hollywood Studios, probably the smallest of the theme parks but plenty of rides to do, all based around movies and a really good diorama of Walt Disney and the creation of Disneyland and Disney World.
Final theme park was Epcot yesterday, another full on day, took in lots of rides and wandering around the different international sections of the World Showcase. To top things off there is an International Wine and Food Festival on at Epcot at present and little old NZ even has a stand there offering Villa Maria Wines to accompany Bay Scallops and Kiwifruit Meringues. We did not indulge, instead we headed to Morrocco for dinner for Couscous and Baklava. We topped off the day by staying for the fireworks display that is always awesome at this park because of the huge area they have in the middle (a lake) for launching the rockets required for such magnificent displays.
Well today has been our last here, we're off to the airport at 9.30am tomorrow. So we've taken it realtively easy, we've been back to Downtown Disney for a few last minute things and then we've packed and now I am doing this final update.
So that's it, USA 2008 over and done with! I cannot believe it has been 3 months since I have been in NZ?! Well, when we get back home I will no doubt be launching into planning the next trip - sucker for punishment that I am!!!
Bye for now
Jodi