DisneyWorld includes four theme
parks, Downtown Disney, a boatload of hotels and resorts, a wedding pavilion,
golf courses, and a transportation system (bus and monorail) that connects most
of it together.
It's massive.
If you're staying at a Disney
resort or hotel, you can use Disney Magical Express to get to and from the
airport. It's a tour bus with little tvs that will tell you about some of the
theme park attractions. I had all carry-on, but they'll take your checked bags
directly to your room when you arrive. Oh, and Southwest flyers - they'll print
your boarding pass for ya'. Oh yes. Disney knows what it do.
I stayed at the Old Key West
Resort, a collection of condos and vacation homes surrounding a golf course. It's
so big, I was driven to my room in the concierge golf cart. There are several
bus stops in the resort, so when you want to get to Downtown Disney or EPCOT
center, just go to the nearest bus stop and wait for your bus. Which is like
riding a city bus. Only it's clean. And they call it a motor coach.
EPCOT
I spent most of my time on the science-y
side (there's also a side with country-themed pavilions) After two rides (an
exploration of human's innovation, narrated by Dame Judi Dench and an ode to
imagination featuring Eric Idle), I thought, The British have invaded. Again.
But then I went on a space
mission ride narrated by Gary Sinise. There are two versions – one that doesn't
spin (green) and one that does (orange). The orange version can be so intense
for some, there are barf bags. On the ride.
Despite having eaten half a
pretzel, I took the orange.
Though I didn't feel any spinning,
I did, however, follow the directions – keep your eyes open and face forward. Fighting
my initial impulse to close my eyes probably made all the difference. Super
fun. I recommend it.
The fireworks show, however, was
disappointing. Not the fireworks themselves – they were cool. But there was a
giant globe that seemed to float in air (cool) and stop at point that was
difficult to see from where we were standing (not cool). If you're going to
tout your show as being visible from all vantage points, then please make sure
all vantage points are equally spectacular.
After the initial barrage of
fireworks (and fire – mmm, heat!) there was a lot of talk. Something something
something, we're all human so we shouldn't hate each other, something something
something, images on the cool globe keep changing something something something
ooh, fireworks, more talking, peace on earth, something something something hey
the globe is opening! That's cool. More fireworks are they going to bring back
the fire again? 'cause I'm cold. More talking something something something
fireworks fireworks the end.
Underwhelming. Perturbingly uncharacteristic
for Disney.
Disney Hollywood Studios
I saw three of the six live shows
– Fantasmic (basically the same as what you see in Disneyland), Indiana Jones
Epic Stunt Spectacular (not bad) and Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show
(my favorite). It was all about stunt car driving. They literally burn rubber, and
they show you some of the tricks. Geek!
Only go on the Studio Backlot
Tour if you need to take up 40 minutes until your next thing. The best thing
about it is the end, where you can go into the AFI Film Institute thingy and
see costumes and props from various movies.
Walt Disney, One Man's Dream, an
interesting movie that's not too rah rah. I wanted to get my hands on classic
Mickey Mouse cartoons after I had seen it.
The Great Movie Ride puts
favorite movie scenes and genres on animatronic display, with some bearable cheese
from the guides. I was pleased that the Wizard of Oz Munchkin Land display
included the frowny one from the Lollipop Guild.
Star Tours is always lovely, we
skipped the Tower of Terror, and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is,
literally, a blast.
If I ever go back to Disney
Hollywood Studios, I want to eat at the 50's Prime Time Café. The Dick Van Dyke
show was on a black & white tv in the waiting area. And to the left was an
area that looked like a 1960s family room. Totally geeked on the décor.
Magic Kingdom
For those of you who know
DisneyLand by heart, Magic Kingdom will throw you for a bit of a loop. Things
are in the wrong place, or not there at all. And there are things that are
there that aren't in DisneyLand.
Now, the Lands are all in the
right place. But there's no corn dog cart. There's no Scary Adventures of Snow
White, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, or Matterhorn. It's Prince Charming's Carousel
(not King Arthur's), Cinderella's Castle (not Sleeping Beauty's), the
Tomorrowland Speedway (not Autotopia), and Liberty Square (not New Orleans'
Square). The Winnie the Pooh ride is in Fantasyland (not Frontierland), and
Pirates of the Caribbean is in Adventure Land (not New Orleans' - er - Liberty Square).
A bit disconcerting.
But they still have the Swiss
Family Robinson Tree House, the People Mover, and Walt Disney's Carousel of
Progress (which I didn't get to go on, but will go back to Florida just so I
can understand why my friend thinks it's so horrendous. I predict I'll love
it.)
They're adding a Snow White Mine
Ride (rollercoaster) and some sort of Rapunzel thing (we saw the tower). Oh,
and Peter Pan has fast passes. Genius. Whadup, DisneyLand?
Most importantly, there is a
place in Liberty Square that sells funnel cake. I know, right?
Animal Kingdom (Resort)
We had dinner at Sanaa, in the
Animal Kingdom resort. While waiting for your table, you can go out on the
patio and watch animals chilling. Wildebeasts and warthogs and what not.
The food is Indian-inspired. The
waiter asks if anyone has food allergies, and then the chef comes to discuss with
the allergy prone what can and cannot be eaten.
It's a cool place. The food is
good. They sing the Stevie Wonder version of Happy Birthday and know how to end
it. They make sure the food doesn't kill you. They have five types of Rooibus
tea. And you can watch animals while you're waiting for your table. Using night
goggles when it's dark.
Yep. I need to start planning my
next trip.
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