This trip was born out of the simple desire to have some fun. That and the fact that Disney was opening Galaxy’s Edge, a Star Wars themed area. During a Christmas gathering at my parent’s house in 2018 Rhonda and I had a talk with my brother, David. We proposed taking him and his two children, Leigh and Logan, on a vacation. The trip would occur in the winter of 2019/2020 with a date and length to be set in the future. The trip would be to Orlando with a heavy emphasis on Walt Disney World. He was surprised and gratefully accepted our proposal.
Dates were set in the spring and planning began in earnest. Accommodations were acquired and the beans were spilled with the kids over the summer. They now had something fun to look forward to. As fall came the flights were booked and a final itinerary planned. In January the park passed were acquired and some ride and restaurant reservations made. Disney FastPass comes free with the park passes and some rides can be booked thirty days ahead of time. Restaurant can be booked even earlier, which I didn’t realize. We managed to make some good plans and then all there was to do was anticipate the adventure.
Day 1 – Sunday, February 2nd
Rhonda and I are flying down separately from David and the kids. We have a direct flight from Richmond to Orlando on Spirit. We have never flown Spirit and did some investigation before booking the flight. They are a very low-cost carrier that provides most services a la cart. They are the only carrier flying directly from Richmond to Orlando so we figure we can deal with the extra hoops to get there quickly. We have paid for the “big front seat”, as Spirit calls them, since we know the coach seats are small and do not recline. The seats are in what would be called first class on any other airline but is just the front of the plane for Spirit. The seats do not recline, but they don’t need to as they are large and comfy. The flight is problem free and quick. We arrive in Orlando at about 2:30 in the afternoon. We have a couple of hours to kill before the Iowans arrive. We fetch our checked bags and then look for a place to wait in the main terminal. We grab a table at the Macaroni Grill on the outside rail with good people viewing and settle in.
David and the kids are flying from Des Moines to O’Hare where they will catch a connecting flight to Orlando. We heard from them when they were in the empty Des Moines airport early this morning. We have kept each other update to date on statuses and we know they made it on their second flight. David has flown very infrequently and for the kids this will be their first plane trips. About the time they are supposed to land we settle our bill and proceed to an area near where the trains connecting the gates to the main terminal arrive. In short order we get an excited text stating “Palm trees are real!” This confirms for us they are on the ground. This trip will be loaded with a lot of firsts for the kids, David, and even some for us. Enjoying the excitement of Leigh and Logan’s new experiences through their eyes will be a wonderful aspect of this vacation. Before too long we see them amongst the passengers disgorging from a recently arrived train. Enthusiastic hugs are shared as Team Malake meets up to start our Florida adventure.
After collecting their checked luggage, we all proceed to the Hertz area to pick our rental. I am going to be driving a red minivan this week. It fits everyone and all our bags very comfortably. I haven’t driven a minivan in many years, but I readjust to the large size quickly. Soon we are driving away from the airport and heading to our lodgings. We are staying the Marriott Imperial Palms just east of Disney World. We stayed at this property each time we brought our family down to visit Orlando. The three-bedroom villa with kitchen with provide enough space for everyone in one suite and allow us to save some meal expense by having the kitchen. The drive is about half an hour and is filled with excited chatter. The navigation in the van takes us to a side entrance that is gated but once there I recognize where we are and make it around to the front entrance. Soon I am parked and getting us checked in. While waiting the group hops out of the van to enjoy the warm weather and lovely landscaping of the property. Logan gives the nearest palm tree a hug as a way of making his acquaintance with this tropic climate, which is new to him. We have told him geckos run around the grounds, so he is on the prowl to spot one.
Once I have the room keys in hand, we take the short drive back to the building we will be staying in. We in the middle on the second floor. We burst into the room and begin to explore. The villa is as Rhonda and I remember it. While we are not in the same unit, the floor plan is the same. Rhonda and I are staying in the master bedroom. That leaves two other rooms. One has a queen-sized bed and the other two double beds. David nobly volunteers to sleep in the same room with Logan on a double so Leigh can have a room to herself with a queen bed. The screened in balcony off the living room area overlooks a small lake on the golf course. There is a simple fountain in the lake that provides a soothing background noise when the door in open. Everyone gets themselves unpacked and settled into the space we will be staying in for the next week. The next order of business is provisions.
There is a shopping complex not far from the Marriott where we can get dinner and some groceries for the week. Dinner is at Chevy’s Fresh Mex, a location Rhonda and I have been to the last two times we have been down to Orlando. It is nice that is it still open and we can continue the informal tradition. Conversation at dinner is excited with anticipation of the week to come. I go through the detailed itinerary including the FastPasses I have already booked and restaurant reservations we have. I stress that we are not locked in and can be flexible with many things. I also mention that our final day is still up in the air. We have five day passes from Disney, but I have left the final day open so Leigh and Logan can decide later in the week which park they want to revisit. After dinner we walk across the parking lot to Gooding’s Supermarket. We stock up on breakfast items for the week along with some drinks and snacks for late nights. Back in the room after the groceries are put away, I crack open a bottle of Scotch I brought along and David, Rhonda and I sit for a dram and to unwind from the day’s traveling. We chat about the week to come as the kids get ready for bed. It will be an early day tomorrow.
Day 2 – Monday, February 3rd (Hollywood Studios)
The crew is up before the sun today. This will be our earliest start all week and the reason is the Rise of the Resistance attraction at Hollywood Studios in the Star Wars area. The ride has only been open two months and is packed every day. It routinely is completely booked for the day fifteen minutes or so after the park opens. It is not part of the FastPass program and you have to book a boarding group through the Disney Park app after you have entered the park. Since the park opens at 7:00am today, that means we need to be in line to get through the gates well ahead of that. Blurry eyed, but excited, we are up and breakfasting before six, which is when we want to be leaving. The drive to the park is short as I had checked the best route before leaving Virginia. We arrive without problem and see by the number of cars streaming into the lot that we are not the only crazy ones here for rope drop, as it is called, when the park opens. The eastern sky starts to brighten as we stand in the security line. Excited chatter fills the chilly air all around us. Once through security the lines move briskly through the entrance gates and we are in. The throngs of early birds are all milling around the old Hollywood themed area at the front of the park. We walk down the street and find a space to call our own and wait. Everyone is clustered in this area because the rest of the park is not open yet. People are spread all over, gathered in small groups and the energy in the crowd in palpable. Soon a voice comes over the PA system announcing that “Rise of the Resistance is now open.” I, along with many others within site, turn to my phone and try to book a boarding group for the five of us. Success! I give a little hoot of triumph and let everyone know our group number. I hear similar cheers from all over the street as people get their assignments. I will check my phone a little later and find that by 7:15 all of the boarding groups will be taken. Then by 7:20 the standby groups will all be full.
With the first task of the day done we decide what to do first. Since the park has just now opened any attraction we head to will likely have a short line. We decide to walk down the street towards the Rockin’ Rollercoaster. What better way to start the day then with a rollercoaster? It will certainly wake you up. The attraction has an Aerosmith theme and their music plays as you ride. The story of the ride is setup well as the line winds through some recording studio antiques on display before you get to where you are looking into a studio where a projection of the band rehearsing can be seen. The manager rushes in and states they are late getting going to a performance. The band points to the crowd and tells the manager they have to bring us along. Soon we are all shuffled to an alley behind the studio where our “limo” awaits. The coaster is a good one. It is very fast and smooth. Vibrant billboards and road signs flash by as the coaster streaks through the dark. There are a lot of banks and a few corkscrews after a rocket-like launch. It is a good ride that everyone enjoys even though Logan is less than enthusiastic about going upside down. Leigh turns out to be quite the thrill seeker and I can see that she is going to have a lot of fun on this trip.
We decide to stroll towards the opposite side of the park and see Black Spire Outpost. That is the name of the settlement represented in Galaxy’s Edge, the Star Wars area of this park. A lot of construction and change has taken place in the park since Rhonda and I were last here ten years ago. Some of the work continues. The Great Movie Ride located in the Chinese Theater is being replaced by Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Train, so that area is cordoned off. There is still some work being done is the small area where Muppet Vision 3D is located too. That attraction is being refurbished and so is closed right now. I am gratified to find it still exists and wasn’t a casualty to expansion. Close at hand are the remains of the New York street that was part of the backlot tour that used to exist but is now gone. At the end of the street we can see a wide tunnel with a Star Wars feel to it. The sides are grooved and there are a few things stuck to the walls that remind you of what you would see on the buildings in Mos Eisley. The entryway has the effect of visually separating Galaxy’s Edge from the rest of the park. We pass through and the tunnel lets out into an open area that represents the hideout of the Resistance. The wide path is constructed to resemble mud with tracks from humans, aliens, and droids imprinted in it. There are a few small landing pads nearby, whereon sit full sized star fighters. We stop by an X-wing to take a few pictures. A couple of us have loaded the application on our phones that allows us to interact with this world. There is a scomplink in some equipment next to the landing pad, and we play around for a bit trying to decode some transmissions on our phones. After a bit of playing our eagerness to see what else lies ahead has us continuing down the path towards Black Spire Outpost.
Entry into the settlement completes the immersion into the world of Star Wars. Black Spire Outpost is surprisingly large and the path diverges allowing you to continue into an open-air market or pass around through other buildings and shops. Nothing of the “real” world or the rest of the park is at all visible above the trees and building, maintaining the illusion that you are someplace else. Disney’s magnificent attention to detail is on full display here. We stroll through the open-air market which is a feast for the eyes. We admire all the small details that have no purpose other than to add to the texture of the experience. Things like aged and streaked walls, blaster marks, signage in Aurebesh, parked speeders and other discarded equipment sitting in dusty corners. We arrive at the top of some stairs near the antiquity shop where the center piece of Galaxy’s Edge sits. Before us in a small depression sits the Millennium Falcon. David and I are gleeful! This is exactly where we wished we could be since we first saw the movie back in 1977. There is another ship parked on a roof trying to get its engines started. The eponymous black spires can be seen over the buildings on the town. Everywhere you look the vision is complete. One truly feels they are in the Star Wars universe in this spot.
One of the goals that Leigh had set for herself this day was to hug a stormtrooper. As we admire the scene around us a pair of troopers on patrol comes striding up the street. She stands in their path with arms open wide hoping to catch an embrace. She is met with an outstretched arm motioning her away and a sharp rebuff, “Negative!” Crest fallen she rejoins our little group as the troopers continue down the street. Rhonda will try this same maneuver later in the day and also fail being told to, “Maintain the perimeter!” Logan will antagonize a stormtrooper who will corner him and issue a stern warning. We will have an encounter with Kylo Ren, who is being escorted by two troopers later in the day. Kylo will barge his way through the crowd barking, “Clear the way!” Rhonda will comment as the trio passes that Kylo is rather rude. One of the escorting troopers will look her way and nod very emphatically. Rhonda, David, and I muse on how challenging yet fun it would be to portray these troopers. Challenging because of having to maintain character and also wearing what must be a hot costume in the Florida weather. Fun because of being allowed to interact with the guest and help bring Galaxy’s Edge to life.
After admiring the Falcon and the scene in which it is set we proceed to Oga’s Cantina where we have a reservation this morning. We find the cantina just beyond the Falcon and check in with the hostess. We stand in a small line with other folks that also have reservations and wait for space to become available. Those that approach without reservations are politely told to maybe try in the evening. The wait is short and soon we are being escorted inside past the droid detector. The interior is a replica of the cantina in Mos Eisley from the very first Star Wars movie. The major difference being that instead of Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes providing music, Rex the droid is acting as a DJ. Rex is RX-24 who used to be the pilot of the shuttle on the Star Tours attraction. We are fortunate to be shown to the bar where we will have a great view of everything going on in the cantina. We order a variety of drinks and a cinnamon roll. The drinks are all distinctive, delicious and fun. Logan orders the classic Blue Milk. Leigh’s drink comes with a cookie on top, and David’s drink appears to be boiling the whole time he’s drinking it. Rex gets the whole cantina singing along, which is a great experience for everyone. The back bar itself is a riot of machinery and containers. Parts of it remind you of a mad scientist’s laboratory with churning and bubbling liquids of all colors. We even notice a light saber hilt being used as a tapper. Disney has once again done a great job of bringing the movies to life and immersing its guests into a fantastical land through attention to detail and creating a convincing atmosphere.
Having sated our thirst, we head back out the street and continue on to the part of Black Spire Outpost dominated by the First Order. Kylo Ren’s shuttle is parked here at the end of the street and lets you know who is in charge. We decide to return to Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities while it is still relatively early so David can purchase a light saber. We pass back up a street we haven’t been down yet, which is where we run into Kylo himself, as previously mentioned. The shop has limited space and thus we have to wait outside for a period of time. Once inside there is a line to approach the counter where all of the legacy sabers are sold. There is no lack of things to look at while you wait. The entire space is stuffed with artifacts like a crazy Star Wars antique shop. There are weapons, helmets, armor, mounted heads, droid parts, and all manner of paraphernalia drawn from the Star Wars universe. The biggest item that looms above you as you enter the door is a stuffed wampa. You don’t notice him until you come in and turn around to look at the balcony. With his arms outstretched he looks like he is lunging at the unwarily visitor. The space along the lower walls is where the merchandise for actual purchase is kept. There is a caged area where Dok Ondar works counting his money and taking orders. Dok is an audio animatronic Ithorian. People know the Ithorians as the hammerhead creature from the Mos Eisley cantina. There are aquariums containing a dianoga and a sarlacc as well. Reaching the counter, David is a giddy as can be as he selects the light saber he’s been saving all year for. He will have to wait to play with the whole thing until he gets home as he decides to ship the blade to his house instead of trying to transport it on the plane. In the meantime, he is the proud owner of Luke Skywalker’s light saber from Return of the Jedi.
We decide to return to the front gate and get a locker that we can use to store David’s hilt and the jackets we want to shed as the day warms. As we make our way back through old Hollywood we stop in a few stores looking for mouse ears Leigh would like to purchase. She does find some with a big puffy bow on them that are exactly what she was looking for. She also purchases an autograph book for use this week. Feeling peckish and knowing our big meal of the day is still a few hours off, we decide to grab a light lunch. We do this at the Dockside Diner, next to the lagoon. This is a take-and-go window with some tables under umbrellas scattered nearby. One of the group’s snacks is a big chewy pretzel which is, of course, shaped like Mickey Mouse. While we sit, rest our feet and recharge for the afternoon I received a text notifying us that they are ready for our group to board the Rise of the Resistance.
We return to Galaxy’s edge and check in and the front of the ride. Since the ride is controlled by boarding groups right now we walk through a mostly empty queue that winds its way through forest and into tunnels. We are glad we do not have to wait through the entirety of what would be an enormous line. We do have some line to wait in nearer the front where it is passing through tunnels that are part of the Resistance base. There are lockers and storage cabinets filled with arms and equipment that create the feeling you are someplace real and also set the stage for the experience to come. The Rise of the Resistance is a twenty-minute attraction unlike any I’ve previously experienced. We will progress through multiple interactive stages of the story. We begin in a command center with BB-8 and a hologram of Rey addressing us as new recruits of the Resistance. From the briefing room we walk outdoors and into a shuttle that will take us to a secret location to rendezvous with General Organa. The shuttle has only standing room and everyone has a nearby rail to grip. Once the doors close we are standing in a motion simulator. We feel the ship launch and can see through the cockpit to the view beyond of the planet shrinking in the distance. Soon our flight is interrupted by an attack and we are eventually captured by a star destroyer during the ensuing battle. The opposite door opens and we are escorted by First Order soldiers into the hanger of the star destroyer. There are full size TIE fighters docked on the walls, a platoon of storm troopers watching over us, and you can see the stars beyond the opening of the hanger. The New Order troops march us down a hall and line us up in groups for interrogation. Further down the hallway of the star destroyer we come to a room where we are loaded on a transport to be taken to our detention center. We sit in these transports which are trackless cars for eight people each. After the door to the room closes, we receive a message from Finn stating that they’ve reprogrammed the droid driving the transport and they are going to try and get us to an escape pod. Here’s where the fun begins. We race around the star destroyer dodging life size AT-ATs, and troopers shooting at us. The blaster shots that miss us make holes in the wall, which is a nice effect. At one point we are stopped in a dark room and Kylo appears and tries to use the force on us to keep us from leaving. We break away and finally make it to the escape pod. As the transport enters the escape pod and locks into place, we find ourselves on another motion simulator. We have a wild ride as we escape the star destroyer and finally make it to our destination. As we exit the escape pod, we are back outside and amongst a couple Resistance ships, including Poe’s X-wing. It was quite the adventure and I can see why it is the most popular attraction in all of Disney World.
Logan is excited about the Resistance after the ride, and he and David stop at a kiosk so he can get a Resistance jacket. Rhonda and I wait to the side, next to the undergrowth by the path. We hear the noise of birds and creatures moving through the vegetation. We quickly realize these are coming from hidden speakers for the sole purpose of adding to the atmosphere of the world we are in. This is just another example to the fine attention to detail that makes Galaxy’s Edge so immersive. Logon proudly dons his jacket, and we decide to give Smuggler’s Run a try.
Being so new there is no FastPass option for Smuggler’s Run either, but at least you don’t need a boarding group. Thus we know we are in for a bit of a wait in line. Fortunately, Disney has made the line interesting. It winds through a mechanic’s shop, where they are working on what looks like a pod racer engine. You hear the chatter of the unseen mechanics conversing as they try to start the engine and fail few times. Even though it is new, everything looks old and dusty. The paint is worn and oil and grim can be seen streaking the walls and rails. There is the bottom part of an R2 unit that the shop’s mechanics are using to store tools. The line winds up and along the back of the landing pad, so you get a nice view of the whole Millennium Falcon outside the windows. Eventually, we get to a room where Hondo Ohnaka addresses a group of us and asks if we will take the falcon and deliver some cargo for him. The large group in the room is broken into smaller groups as we proceed through to the interior of the Falcon. The cockpit crew will be six people and we are each given a card with our assigned roll. We take a few pictures of the hologame table and the lounge of the falcon. Soon our group is led to the cockpit for our adventure. Leigh and Logan are at the front piloting. Rhonda and David are in the middle row as gunners. I and a random sixth person are in the back row as engineers. This is not a static ride; the whole cockpit is a motion simulator. What happens is somewhat controlled by the pilots while the gunners and engineers also have a part to play. We are frantically pressing buttons and turning levers trying to help complete the mission. Leigh and Logan are trying to steer us in the right direction while the gunners go for enemies and the engineer try to keep the shields up and the ship from falling apart. It is like a video game combines with a motion simulator ride. When it is all over, we find out we didn’t do too well. Hondo comes on the screen and tells us that all the damage we did to the Falcon will come out of our share and that we are actually going to owe him money. It was good time none the less and we are all smiles as we exit the ride.
We need to start heading towards 50’s Prime Time Cafe for our 3 o’clock reservation. We decide to exit the opposite end of Galaxy’s Edge through the First Order area and see what Toy Story land looks like. Once again, a large tunnel through a berm separates the two worlds, providing a visual barrier. The Toy Story area is enchanting. The only thing detracting from the charm is the hordes of kids, which is somewhat ironic. I suppose it is to be expected that all the families with young children will spend most of their day in this area. The world is constructed as though you are toy sized. Huge blocks and tinker toys line the pathways and a huge lunchbox serves as a food stall. Slinky dog zooms by as a roller coaster while the green army men march down the street. We see Woody, Bo Peep, and Buzz greeting kids along the path as well. Soon enough we find ourselves back in the Hollywood and Vine area a little ahead of our reservation. The staff at 50’s Prime Time Café gets us checked in early and we relax in the living room. The nostalgic décor is lost on the kids. While going to the restroom I peek into the neighboring restaurant which shares the facilities. I see Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck interacting with the restaurant patrons. I alert Leigh who is excited to spot the animated celebrities. Before long we are escorted to our table in the kitchen where “Uncle” Caleb will see that we are properly babysat and well fed. Our dinner is comprised of a variety of classic comfort food served in generous portions that would do Donna Reed proud. Leigh and Logan still find room for dessert.
After such a big meal we are looking for something more sedate, and decide to take in the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, which is right next to the restaurant. They are seating the next show as we approach, so our timing is fortuitous. Although the show hasn’t changed since Rhonda and I had seen it many years ago, the others seem to enjoy the antics. The stage is huge and outdoors since this is really an amphitheater. The show is likewise a big spectacle complete with the flying wing airplane, so it is appropriately named. After the stunt show we decide to give Star Tours a go. This attraction has been in the park since it opened and I am happily surprised they have updated it. While the premise of being on a Star Tours shuttle is the same, the pilot and copilot are now C-3PO and R2-D2. The story line takes place in the same era as Galaxy’s Edge and it pits the First Order against the Resistance. During the ride Logan is picked out as a Resistance spy, of which he is appropriately dressed for in his new jacket.
Our only FastPass for the day is the Tower of Terror and our time is approaching. We take the casual stroll to the opposite side of the park. Logan decides he does not want to ride the Tower of Terror so he and Rhonda, who knew the whole time she would not be riding it, will wait together. They will have a little adventure with a squirrel as they wait. In his quest for handouts from the guest seated in the area, he bravely gets very close to the people. At one point the squirrel jumps up onto the planter next to Rhonda and sniffed around within 6 inches of her leg. Finding no morsels to nibble he moved on to the next bench. Leigh, David and I enjoy our ride. The FastPass is a great boon as we walk right by a really long line. The Tower of Terror was one of the first rides I remember telling a complete story and setting the atmosphere so well prior to even getting on the ride. It has lost none of its appeal through the years and remains a thrilling experience. After the whole group is reunited, we see we have an hour or more before the closing show. The sky is darkening and I am interested in seeing Black Spire Outpost at night. Thus we once again turn our feet towards the Galaxy’s Edge. It seems to have some magnetic pull for us.
Galaxy’s Edge gains an air of mystery in the dark. The spires themselves are lit in blue and jump out in contrast to the black sky. Various lights in doorways and on control panels add some magic to the scene. Once we arrive at the Millennium Falcon we see the wait for Smuggler’s Run is pretty short as the crowds are beginning to thin out. Leigh, Logan and David want to give it another try. Rhonda and I decide to return to Oga’s cantina to wait. We have no problem getting into the cantina, and enjoy a couple of adult beverages, which are a rarity inside the Disney parks. After we get back together we find out the Norwalk crew had a good run their second time. A French couple was piloting the ship, and the crew actually turned a good profit. We spot Chewbacca as we are leaving the outpost. We had seen Rey earlier in the day but she and Chewbacca are the only Resistance people we saw. The closing show is Star Wars themed, as to be expected. Images and movie clips are projected on the buildings surrounding the Chinese theater. These are combined with fireworks and a light show. The show is all Rhonda and I expect a Disney closing show to be, stunning, flashy and exciting. The others are greatly impressed. Rhonda and I look at each other as if to say, “Just wait until you see the show at the Magic Kingdom.” We stay silent so as to not detract from their current enjoyment or spoil the surprise of what is to come.
The day finishes with a long walk to the car, stopping to retrieve our belongings out of the rented locker along the way. Once back at our suite David, Rhonda and I enjoy a night cap of scotch, as the kids ready themselves for bed. David opens the box containing his treasured light saber hilt very reverently. Luke has always been his favorite of the Star Wars heroes, and to be able to hold his light saber brings out the little boy in him. It has been a very long but very exhilarating day. It was a great way to start our week here in Florida.
Day 3 – Tuesday, February 4th (Epcot)
The day today does not start as early as yesterday. We have the time to enjoy a good breakfast and get fueled up for our exploration of Epcot and the World Showcase. This will be a slower paced day contrasting nicely with yesterday’s high energy. We arrive at the park mid-morning. The Epcot portion of the park is undergoing major renovations. The central area around and behind Spaceship Earth is all being worked on and is inaccessible. Thus getting from place to place often takes a longer walk then you expect. Test Track is also closed for refurbishment. We will be spending most of our time in the World Showcase, so these will not be big problems.
After we get past the construction area, we are on the wide walkway that connects Epcot to the World Showcase. It is a pretty scene with water on either side surrounded by flowers, with additional flowers in beds in the midst of and along the walkway. We notice a lot of chalk artwork on the boarders of the walkway. Along the right side are a couple dozen or more portraits of the Disney princesses. We stroll along the rope admiring the work that will be washed away with the next rain. On the left side is a long, forced perspective drawing taken from the movie Moana. Leigh sits in the appropriate spot with her hand lifted and assumes the role of the toddler Moana sitting in the ocean discovering her connection with the water. When we reach the World Showcase lagoon we are presented with a view of all the countries represented here. The distinctive architecture and famous landmarks make each country readily recognizable. This fills the first time visitors with excitement for the discoveries to be made therein. We turn right toward Canada and the replica of Chateau Frontenac we can see over the trees. We notice that many of the kiosk and shops are not yet open. It seems the park figures most people will begin their day in Epcot which is near the entrance. That means the walkways are mostly empty which pleasantly provides for better viewing of the picturesque scenes that surround us. The Victoria gardens in Canada are particularly lovely as are the English gardens in the UK.
As we cross the bridge from England over to France, we see Mickey and Minnie on the path coming from the rear gate serviced by ferries from the hotels. Leigh gets very excited at the opportunity to meet the iconic couple that symbolizes the Disney franchise. We back track a little and turn down the path so Leigh can get in the short line to meet Minnie. While she and David are in line, Rhonda hops into the store at hand to purchase a big Disney pen Leigh can dedicate to autograph use. While waiting Mickey and Minnie are escorted away for a short break. Mickey is ever the gentleman, escorting Minnie by the arm to and from her greeting spot. After a short break Minnie returns, and Leigh gets her first character autograph. Minnie is pleased to see the mouse ears Leigh is wearing have a bow that matches her own. Mickey is still on hand, and Leigh and David jump into the line to meet him as well. It is fitting that the first two autographs in Leigh’s book are the two characters that started it all. While Leigh and David are in line I, Rhonda, and Logan sit on a bench in the shade. We are entertained by a large ungainly bird bathing in the lagoon and drying his wings on the shore and also by the guest arriving through the nearby entrance. Rhonda and I notice the behaviors of Mickey and Minnie in how they communicate and pantomime. They also work particular poses that you recognize from animation stills into their repertoire as pictures are taken. Leigh is giddy after her encounters and with her new autograph book in hand vows to collect all of the characters’ autographs she can.
We make our way through France and on to Morocco. Morocco has always been Rhonda and I’s favorite pavilion. Walking though the archway and onto its streets you are soon separated from the bustle and vision of the crowds on the main walkway around the lagoon. We have lunch reservation at the Restaurant Marrakesh at 11:30. We arrive on time and are escorted inside the mostly empty restaurant. Rhonda and I are excited to introduce our companions to the distinctive cuisine of Morocco. To our great surprise Logan, who like many kids his age have a limited palate, eagerly devours his meal of chicken kabobs. He willingly tries other dishes on the table and is very animated in his praise of the food and the restaurant. Logan is not alone in his admiration for Moroccan cuisine. Both David and Leigh also immensely enjoy their meals. The kids are charmed by the way waiter pours David’s tea with a long flourish. As the meal winds down Rhonda engages the waiter and asks him if he would write something in Leigh’s autograph book. He enthusiastically complies, and as Leigh looks on with a beaming smile he scribes a salutation, his name and the English translation of what he wrote. This ritual will become one of the goals for Leigh as we make our way through the various countries in the showcase. She and Rhonda will approach someone in each country and ask the same favor. I should note for the uninitiated that the employees in each country here in the World Showcase come from the country itself. They are brought in by Disney on contract to work for a period of time and provide firsthand knowledge of their home country to the curious guest.
We stroll out of the Restaurant Marrakesh happily sated with our meal and experience. Immediately outside the restaurant is the market. We see a sign announcing that Jasmine is greeting guests. David and Leigh get in line, and David seems more excited than Leigh in the opportunity to meet the exotic princess. In the meantime, Rhonda, Logan and I browse the shops with their clothing, brassware and trinkets. Logan had remarked how he likes the Fez the waiter had been wearing. Thus we find one that fits Logan and Rhonda purchases for him as a souvenir. He will proudly wear this hat the remainder of our trip. He strikes quite the anachronistic figure in both a Fez and his Star Wars Resistance jacket. In the marketplace there is a henna artist. Rhonda decides to get a design on the back of her hand. The woman does lovely work that will decorate Rhonda’s hand the rest of the week. We spend quite a bit of time in Morocco soaking in captivating atmosphere of this distinctive pavilion.
We continue our journey through the various countries in the world showcase. We browse the shops and enjoy the entertainment we happen to stumble upon. Rhonda and Leigh work dutifully at collecting samples of foreign languages in her autograph book. Next to Germany is a large outdoor village in miniature, with model trains click-clacking their way through the scenery. There is a walkway that winds through and over this immense display. We notice a gecko sunning himself on the roof of one of the miniature houses. After seeing the first we begin to notice geckos everywhere, almost one on every building. We have a chuckle as we discuss how it is like a scene from some cheesy sci-fi B movie from the fifties. We finally make it to the last pavilion on our circuit, Mexico. We take in the boat ride in the that winds through the dark showing different vignettes of Mexico narrated by the Three Caballeros. Also while in Mexico, which is representative of an outdoor fiesta at night, we take the requisite picture of the kids wearing sombreros. After encircling the entire lagoon we find ourselves back in Canada where kids get their first experience with a 360 degree movie. We stop and listen to a band in England playing British rock from all eras while David, Rhonda and I enjoy a pint of Bass Ale. As we return to France Leigh has the opportunity to meet Sleeping Beauty and capture her autograph. There is an art festival going on in Epcot and there are several displays where you can put yourself into famous painting. The one in France allows you to be part of the festivities in Renoir’s Luncheon of the Boating Party. After the 180 degree movie in France we pop into a quick serve restaurant to get some sweet nibbles. Leigh wants to try some meringues which we share around the group along with tarts and small cakes. These are all enjoyed sitting outside next to the flowers in the courtyard.
Dinner is at Biergarten in Germany. Each time we visit Epcot with someone who hasn’t been here before there are two places we take them to dine. The first is Restaurant Marrakesh and the second Biergarten. The first for the food and atmosphere, the second for the fun. The restaurant looks like the square of a Bavarian village in the fall complete with a working watermill. It is decorated for Oktoberfest and communal tables are set in rings around a stage and dance floor. Beers in huge steins are brought to the table and all of the classic German fare you would expect can be found on the buffet. The band comes on stage and the entertainment begins as we dig into our hardy German meals. Very quickly the band is leading the entire restaurant in a toast. “Ziggy zaggy! ziggy zaggy! Oy! Oy! Oy!” resound from the walls as everyone hoists their drinks. This will be repeated several times during the bands’ time on the stage, as well as a favorite cry at random from us on this trip. After we have eaten we sit and simply enjoy the show. When a polka starts up Rhonda and I join the crowd on the dance floor and give it our best effort. No sooner are we back at the table taking a swig after our labors then chicken dance starts. We are surprised to learn that Leigh doesn’t know the chicken dance. Thus I drag her down to the dance floor to learn. Leigh is a good sport and dances along with me as her father laughs away from his seat at the table. Eventually the last of the apple strudel is eaten, the beer is drunk, and the band has completed their set. We roll ourselves out of the Biergarten and into the night.
Night time around the world showcase is quite beautiful. The evening is fine and the illuminated buildings reflect off the water of the lagoon. Germany also means chocolate, so we stop in the shop next to the restaurant to poke around. The wine shop attached to the sweet shop has apple schnapps that will make a fine digestive. Rhonda purchases three servings which the hostess expertly pours into schnapps glasses so full you cannot lift it without spilling. We have to bend over and sip the domed fluid before we can lift the vessel from the counter. The schnapps is excellent and Rhonda and I decide to take a bottle home with us. Logan wishes to go back to Japan to look for a souvenir, and this is where we head next. After we all shop for a short while, Rhonda, Leigh and I wait outside while David stays with Logan inside who is waiting for his purchase to be personalized. The full moon is rising and Spaceship Earth makes a lovely tableau as it passes through the tori gate at the edge of the water. It is getting close to show time so we walk back and find an open spot in front of Italy from which to watch.
The closing show at Epcot is always quite the spectacular. Recently, the show Illuminations, which had been running since the park opened, was retired. A new show is in the works and at the current time, they are performing Epcot Forever which is an interim show which looks back on the park’s history. The show still utilizes fireworks, lasers, lights, and a central LED globe that rests in the middle of the lagoon. A new feature that we hadn’t seen previously is people driving jet skies around the lagoon pulling illuminated kites. This is particularly effective during the sequence highlighting the Living Seas pavilion. Undulating lasers of blue and green cut through the smoke of the fireworks making it appears as if everyone is underneath the waves of the ocean. The jet skies pull illuminated kites shaped like fish and rays behind them as if the creatures are swimming about in this fantastical sea. The finale of the day is quite enjoyable even if it doesn’t measure up to the memory of Illuminations in my mind. Once the last firework has boomed and the pathway lights are turned back on we take the long walk back to the van. We spend a fair amount of time walking to where we think the car is to find out it is not. Finding one minivan in a sea of them can be challenging but we eventually correct our mistake and are riding to the villa. Rhonda and I are very pleased that Leigh and Logan have embraced the adventure of exploring new cultures and had a great time doing it.
Day 4 – Wednesday, February 5th (Magic Kingdom)
Today is going to be a magical day as we are headed to the oldest park in Walt Disney World, the Magic Kingdom. Getting to the actual park is more involved than just parking and walking to the gate. The very large Seven Seas Lagoon separates the parking lot from the park. We decide to ride the boat across the lagoon instead of taking the monorail around. This will add to the suspense and heighten the anticipation as Cinderella Castle slowly grows larger on the horizon during the crossing. We get on shore, through security, and stop below the train station to take the traditional photo in front of the floral Mickey Mouse. After passing through the tunnel under the train station we emerge onto Main Street, USA. The view of the idyllic street perfectly framing Cinderella Castle in the near distance is the perfect introduction to this Disney adventure that never fails to delight.
We have a FastPass for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride this morning. Thus our day will begin in Adventureland. We begin by visiting the Swiss Family Robinson tree house. When up in the branches above the buildings you can get a nice view of this portion of the park. While this attraction is more sedate, it provides a good illustration on how Disney creates its illusions. Through the mastery of attention to detail and anticipating how the guest will experience and interpret what they going to see. Once our exploration of the treehouse is completed we still have some time before our adventure with the pirates. At hand is The Enchanted Tiki Room. While this attraction is dated and kitschy, it maintains its charm and entertainment value. I am happy to see they have removed the updates that were present the last time we were here and the show has returned to its original script. The catchy main tune will stick with our group and be often repeated throughout the week and even after we get home. It is a short walk from the singing birds and plants over to the Pirates of the Caribbean. Once again the FastPass proves its worth as we walk by scores for people waiting in the conventional line for the pirate boat ride. This ride has been updated to include some things from the movies, including a few Jack Sparrows. Although Rhonda and I have been on this ride several times we still really enjoy this Disney favorite. We are delighted that our companions enjoyed it as well.
We stroll through Frontierland and Liberty Square and into Fantasyland, where Leigh sees that there is an opportunity to visit with Rapunzel and Tiana. She and David get into the lengthy line. Logan is stuck with Rhonda and I as we walk toward the new area of the greatly expanded Fantasyland. This is where we will find a Beauty and the Beast themed sub-area including Gaston’s Pub and Gaston himself. We find the line to meet Gaston to see it is moderately full. We are amused and somewhat chagrinned to see that everyone in line is our age and mostly female. It seems the mothers of the kids raised on Beauty and the Beast all like the conceited Gaston. Gaston struts onto the scene with a crooked smile and dashing air. The actor plays the roll perfectly. All of his bombast and conceit is on display as he greets each lady. The men are shuffled behind his bulging biceps as he has pictures taken with the women. At one point some fireworks are set off for a show by the castle and Gaston pauses the proceedings, shakes his fist at the castle and bellows, “Stop that! You are taking all the attention away from ME!” This brings a round of laughter from the surrounding admirers. We conclude our adoration of Gaston and meet back up with David and Leigh.
We have no dining reservations today only planning to catch what we can when we can. The hot reservation in the Magic Kingdom is the Be Our Guest restaurant here in the Beauty and the Beast area. I tried to get a reservation before the trip and couldn’t. Since it is close by we stop at the hostess stand to see if we have any chance of getting in for lunch. We find to our delight there is, though we will have a quite a bit of a wait. I think the restaurant will be worth the wait, so we give the hostess our name. Given how long it is before we need to return for lunch, we proceed to one of the best attractions in the park, The Haunted Mansion. Without a FastPass we have a little bit more of a wait and the spooky ambiance created starts to have its desired effect on Logan. The attraction has received a few minor updates since we were last here. The most noticeable of these is that the hitchhiking ghosts at the end have become much more varied and animated. The classic ride is enjoyed by all. Still having some time, the Little Mermaid ride, which is close to the restaurant, is taken in next. Afterwards our catch phrase will become a mash-up of two songs, “You’ve got to kiss de gurl…in the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room!” After the ride we return to the drawbridge that leads to the restaurant and Beast’s castle. We have a chance to peruse the menu as the line approaches the front door. There are sad looking gargoyles holding up the lights on the bridge leading to the massive lions guarding the door. Once again, the attention to details is setting the scene well.
Once inside the main doors, there is a line through an entrance hall flanked by suits of armor. As you wait you can hear the enchanted armor clearing a throat, whispering to each other and to the guests in the hall. Further on, there is a room with terminals where each party can place their order. We have a little a trouble with ours which requires the help of the attendant and then their manager to get it straighten out. Eventually we are lead by the overly apologetic manager to the dining room where our meals will be brought to us. All of the food is delivered by wait staff pushing trollies out of the kitchen. The enormous restaurant is divided into three themed dining rooms. There is the dim and spooky West Wing complete with a clawed painting of the prince, a storm outside the windows and a Rose under glass. The rose is truly enchanted and drops a petal every so often as it glistens and glows. Another room is themed as the Castle Gallery. It is bright and colorful with a larger than life Belle and Beast dancing in the middle of the room. The central dining room where we are seated is modeled after the ballroom. We are seated at a large round table near the center, underneath the immense and elegant chandelier copied from the movie. The large windows provide a view of the castle exterior with snow gently falling just outside.
While we are eating Rhonda and I notice that the faces of the cherubs on the ceiling look too varied and realistic to be mere whimsical characters. We draw the attention of the rest of the party to the faces. About that time the dining room manager came to check on our meal. We ask her about the cherubs on the ceiling. She remarks that we are very observant and that the faces of the small angels are in fact childhood pictures of the imagineers who designed the restaurant. She offers to show us other hidden details of the restaurant after we finish our meal, an invitation that we will take her up on. The menu for the restaurant includes the “gray stuff” which is declared to be delicious. We of course order some and the gray stuff turns out to be a delectable cupcake topped with silver/ gray whipped frosting. The dining room manager is close at hand and notices as we complete our meal. She takes us on a private tour of these dining rooms pointing out the hidden Mickeys and special features. She invites us to return during the dinner seating stating she will get us in despite there being no reservations left. We gratefully decline and she insists we at least return to meet the Beast, whose only appearance in the parks is in this restaurant during dinner. We will take her up on this offer and our wonderful lunch is concluded with her taking a group photo of us in front stained-glass window showing Belle and the Beast dancing.
Recharged for the afternoon, we are ready to tackle Big Thunder Mountain. Walking to the roller coaster we skirt along the waterside boardwalk instead of the street due to a Country Bear Jamboree taking place in the street. We have a FastPass and are once again able to bypass the longer line. Everyone has a great time on the classic roller coaster, so much so that we get back into the conventional line to ride it again. After our second go around I describe how much fun it is to ride at night and the group vows to return after dark. Leigh has an accidental encounter near the Frontierland train station with Chip and Dale, who are dressed in their cowboy attire. We decide it is time to visit Tomorrowland on the other side of the park, where we haven’t been. We don’t want to wait in line for Space Mountain, so instead visit the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor show. The Laugh Floor provides a good time, and Logan has the joke he submitted while in line used in the show.
On the path from Tomorrowland to the Cinderella Castle is a meet and greet with Merida, from Brave. She is one of Leigh’s favorite characters, so she and David get the long line. While the rest of us wait on a nearby park bench, Rhonda takes the opportunity to check the charges on our Visa we are using on the trip. While doing this she finds a $952.64 charged from the day before that should only have been $12.00. She spends the entire time Leigh is in line plus some more on the phone with Capital One trying to resolve this matter. This took up a good hour and will have no resolution on this day. In fact it will take a few phone calls over the next two day before we finally get a full refund. The difficulty is that we purchase something from a kiosk that was run by a franchisee instead of Disney itself. We have some time before returning to meet the Beast which we spend browsing the shops on Main Street. After meeting the Beast at Be our Guest another classic is on tap. Leigh and Logan goad David into joining them for a literal spin in the Mad Hatters Tea Cups. Rhonda and I watch from the side encouraging them to spin their cup faster each time they circle by. Evening is starting to come on and we decide to find a light supper. We stop in the quick service restaurant, Pinocchio Village Haus, which is here in Fantasyland. Full dark has arrived after our meal, and we make our way back to Frontierland to get in another ride on Big Thunder Mountain. The parks at night are always magical. The soft lights from the windows and doorways cast an inviting glow. The twinkling lights in the trees and trimming some buildings evoke fireflies and stars. When the shadows come out, they provide a little mystery that promotes curiosity instead of trepidation. It is probably my favorite time to be in any of the Disney parks because of the emotion it evokes in me, and the fact I could just stroll all evening and bask in the wonderfulness. For the moment we are not strolling but standing in line for Big Thunder Mountain. We discover some fun distractions the park has added to make the line less boring. One of these is a series of cranks and plungers you can use to set off explosions in the landscape of the roller coaster. The ride is as fun as we had anticipated and it seems this roller coaster is the group’s favorite attraction in this park. The time for the fireworks show is approaching so we can’t take our fourth ride and have to start making our way towards the middle of the park.
We hope to find a nice vantage point close to the Crystal Palace at the end of Main Street. Things are a little different and there is much more crowd control present in the large area in front of the castle. This is likely due to the latest version of the show which utilizes images projected on the castle itself requiring better site lines to enjoy it. Like herded cattle we follow the flow of people being guided to different areas to stand, and we find ourselves near the front and middle of the large roundabout in the center of the hub. Unfortunately for Logan the press of people will make it impossible for him to see anything much below the top of the castle. The show itself is quite long and varied with music, lasers, fireworks, and the animated scenes projected on the castle. These projects change the color and design of the castle to match the characters that are singing and dancing with the music as it changes from tune to tune. The fireworks themselves are well synchronized with the music and appropriate to what is being shown on the castle. The finale is quite spectacular and a wonderful finish to the day’s entertainments.
The unfortunate part of the Magic Kingdoms separation from the parking is that it creates bottlenecks when everyone is leaving at once. The throngs gathered before the castle and Main Street slowly shuffle out the gates and to the ferry docks and the monorail station. We want to take the monorail back so that the Norwalkers have an opportunity to ride this iconic mode of transportation. The wait is long and the masses shuffle their way forward as each train passes through the station taking as many as it can hold. Another long walk awaited us as we make our way from the monorail drop off point to the parked van. At least there is the day to talk about all the way as we recap our favorite sites and experiences. Tomorrow is a day off from the parks so we will have a chance to slow down and recharge after these three full and exciting days of discovery and fun.
Day 5 – Thursday, February 6th (Cocoa Beach)
We are in no particular rush this morning, so everyone takes their time getting going and eating a good breakfast. Since we have the time, Rhonda takes the opportunity to cook up breakfast, which consist of scrambled eggs, bacon and toast. In a week full of firsts today will hold a significant one for Leigh and Logan. The day off from the parks is not only a nice break to recharge but also an opportunity for them to see an ocean for the first time. After everyone is well fed and ready to go, we get in the van for the drive straight east to Cocoa Beach. The drive to the coast will take about an hour. Prior to the trip I did some searching to find a nice public beach as a destination. With the address of Lori Wilson Park plugged into the navigator and the iPod providing Disney music the Malake caravan heads east.
Rhonda and I have a good chuckle when we arrive at the lane leading to the beach parking and see that the road is named, I Dream of Jeannie Lane. This being to location the show was supposed to take place. We avail ourselves of the nearby restrooms with large changing areas so the kids can put on their swimwear. Everyone gets their sunblock on in the shade of the trees. When ready we walk the path through the sea oats, sea grass and saw palmettos until the ocean is in view. We follow the path that has turned into a boardwalk down to the beach where it ends. Given that it is a weekday, there are not many people enjoying the shore. It’s a nice location given that most of what we can see is natural vegetation, sand and surf. The sand itself is fairly fine and clean. There are a few hotels and condos visible, but they are a little ways distant and do not spoiling the immediate surroundings. Wandering down towards the water we find a likely spot to drop our bags and take off our shoes. We brought a couple of towels from the villa to sit on. Finally prepared we proceed down to the water line to dip our toes in the Atlantic.
The kids are quite thrilled with the experience and Leigh proceeds further and further until breaking waves douse her completely. Logan is more cautious in his advance but does wind up with a salt bath all the same. We while away the morning in customary beach pursuits. Logan builds a sand castle complete with the obligatory moat with a little aid from his father. Some of the parapets are topped with shells found nearby. We do quite a bit of simple beach combing looking for interesting shells to take home as a memento. Mostly we enjoy the sun and the sound of the surf despite the wind’s occasional attempts to sand blast us away. As the morning wanes Rhonda spends a little time on her phone looking for someplace appropriate for lunch. She finds a restaurant with the name Longboards Tiki Beach Grille. Upon pulling up a map she sees that is actually at the nearest hotel that borders the park. After the best shells have been found and the rising surf begins to wash away the sand castle we decide it is time for lunch. Instead of walking directly there over the beach, we return up the path so the kids can change clothes and everyone can wash the sand out of their toes. Near the car we spot a large tortoise basking in the sun close to the path. It is a nice chance encounter that provides a good exclamation point to our time at the beach.
Our time along the shore is not quite done though as the Tiki Grille next door is located outside with a nice view of the ocean. The menu is your standard beach bar fare with a few added twists. Rhonda and I want to provide a couple more first and surreptitiously order some conch fritters and alligator bites. When the appetizers arrive at the table we don’t tell the rest of our party what they are. We simply ask them to give each a try. Logan does not enjoy the conch, but the alligator is a hit with everyone, even after they learn what it is. Lunch is a relaxing and enjoyable experience with the sound of the surf and the wind adding to the ambiance. The conclusion is to take some uneaten chips down the path from the restaurant to the beach in order to feed the greedy gulls. Rhonda and the kids walk out onto the sand and she shows them how to hold up the tasty tidbit so the seagulls can snatch it from her grasp. The large birds can be a little intimidating and it takes some nerve to complete the exchange without twitching and scaring the bird away. Once the birds have been fed the happy company returns to the van for more music on the ride back inland.
We drive to Disney Springs in order to make a visit to the Lego store located there. Disney Springs is an enormous outdoor shopping and entertainment complex on the eastern edge of Walt Disney World. It was formerly Downtown Disney with a lot of nightclubs geared for an adult crowd. The space has been remade and expanded to have more family appeal. Rhonda takes the van to make a trip to the grocery store in order to restock a few items. David’s family and I find our way into the large shopping complex to see what we can see. For a Lego enthusiast like Logan his first visit to a Lego store is like a pilgrimage to Mecca. There is a dizzying array of kits and custom pieces which give him far too many options to choose from. He does eventually settle on something and makes the purchase with a little help from his Dad. The troop also visits a Disney store with a focus on Star Wars merchandise. We stop in a few shops where Leigh is looks for a hoodie with “Florida” on it, but has no luck finding anything that is unbranded. After some long traffic delays, Rhonda eventually returns and picks us up in the parking ramp. We make a stop at one of the numerous tourist trap souvenir shops to see if we can find the desired hoodie. We have fun browsing the shop and making fun of the many kitschy items. Leigh finds a hoodie that fits the bill, and we head back to our suite. It’s a relaxing evening with games and a home cooked meal.
Day 6 – Friday, February 7th (Universal Studios)
Today we are headed back to the parks, but not back to Disney yet. Universal Studios is on tap and we are up and out in order to arrive close to park opening. The hours at Universal are shorter than Disney, so we want to take advantage of the whole day. Since we are only spending one day at one Universal park there was no advantage to buying tickets ahead. Thus after the long walk through the overly large parking ramp and the City Center, we arrive at the ticket booths. The line is fairly short and we soon have our passes to the park in hand. Universal Studios is a much different experience then Disney. The Imagineers at Disney create a complete experience with a lot of charm and depth. Universal is more of a collection of disparate thrills wrapped in a thinner veneer. The exception to this is Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley, which is the newest area of the park, so perhaps they are starting to catch up.
The park is a large loop around a central lagoon. We begin the day working our way clockwise starting in the New York area. There is quite a bit that has changed since our last visit, reflecting every park’s desire to evolve. The first thing we try is a hit. There is an indoor roller coaster with a theme based on The Mummy movie from 1999. Rhonda and Logan wait while Leigh, David and I give it a try. The theming once inside the ride is well done and the roller coaster itself very good. Leigh is discovering her thrill seeker nature and is all smiles and excitement after the ride. Given the short line we acquiesce to her pleas of, “Let’s do it again!” The second ride is as good as the first and I guess that we will be coming back in the afternoon. Diagon Alley is next on the agenda, which should be just up the road from where we are. As in the movie the entrance is hidden and when we reach the Men in Black ride we realize we have passed it by. Coming from the opposite direction we happen to notice one of the two hidden entrances and make our way into the world of Harry Potter.
The magical world of Harry Potter has a certain amount of whimsy about it. Universal has done a good job of representing this in the way everything from the architecture to the set decorating is a little off kilter and fantastical. Being hidden from the rest of the park this area is able to submerse you into this imaginative realm. Diagon Alley is fairly sizable with a couple of roads leading around the various shops and attractions. The dominating feature is the full sized dragon sitting atop Gringott’s Bank. The dragon has ruined some of the fourth floor during its landing and is perched atop that broken masonry. The large wings are splayed out from his sides as he sits crouched as if ready to launch himself in the air. Periodically the dragon will belch large plumes of fire out over the street, warming the gasping spectators below. Park guests, some in robes and some not, can be seen standing in front of shop windows waving their wands in particular patterns to prompt a response from the displays therein. Being able to interact with the make believe world is another aspect of evolving the guest experience providing more depth.
This interaction extends to various pictures and items on display in the queue for Escape from Gringotts. This is the major attraction in this area which Leigh, David and I very much enjoy. The rides combines thrills and storytelling as the guests are seated in a small, open railcar that swoops around the caverns of the bank. At various points along the journey the railcar will pause and video screens will come to life in the doorways and the holes in the wall to show you the larger world beyond. Actors from the movies portraying their familiar roles will pass through these spaces as if you were witnessing the events of the story taking place. Many times the riders are addressed directly, as if they are somewhere they are not supposed to be. It is a marvelous example of a multifaceted ride that immerses the guest into the experience. While the three of us were in Gringott's line, Rhonda and Logan purchase a famous Butter Beer. Opinions are split amongst our group as to whether they like it or not. For myself, I enjoy the drink which is a sort of butterscotch cream soda topped with a thick sweet froth. A little does go a long way, though. We do some shopping and get an interactive wand for Evan and the requested Gryffindor t-shirt for my Dad. Universal has done a wonderful job with Harry Potter’s world and it is easy to see why it is the most popular and busy section of the park.
It is time to introduce the Norwalkians to the Men in Black: Alien Attack ride. This was our favorite attraction on our previous visit and Rhonda and I think they will have a lot of fun. It is the combination of a thrill ride and an arcade game, pitting two cars of riders in a competition to gain the higher score. The queue leads you through MIB headquarters in a nice setup for the adventure. You hurdle through the streets of New York shooting at aliens popping up from every corner of the scene. They come out or doors, windows, garbage cans, cars and anything else they can find to hide behind. Their eyes change colors when you hit them with your small weapon so that you know that you can sight in on your next target. As expected the kids do pretty well at racking up their scores. Given that the line is so short they will take several journeys hunting aliens. After a couple of goes Rhonda and I sit outside as the spinning gets to be a little too much. At one point while Rhonda and I wait on a nearby bench a pair of ducks comes wandering by looking for a hand out. Leigh is infatuated with ducks and the best we can do is to snap a picture for her to admire as they pass under our feet.
Lunch is the next order of business and we decide to walk to the Hollywood section of the park to dine at Mel’s Drive-In. The walk there takes us through Springfield, which has been built since our last visit. All of the notable buildings from the Simpsons TV show are represented here. They are constructed exactly as they look in the animated show. Seeing Moe’s Tavern and Lard Lad Donuts sitting along the road as if lifted from the screen is a little surreal. I stop for a few pictures, but we don’t venture in to any of the buildings. Mel’s Drive-In is a popular spot and we have a little bit of a wait to get our food order and get a seat in this crowded restaurant. This diner is modeled after the Mel’s of fame in California. It has replicas of the two cars that drag raced at the end of American Graffiti parked out front. The malt shop fare is quickly eaten as we all were quite hungry and we want to make way for the next hungry diners to have a place to sit down.
Not wanting to attempt any motion simulators or roller coasters right after lunch we decide to take in some more sedate attractions. We fill our afternoon with the Horror Make-Up Show, and then give ET, Shrek, Twister, and The Jimmy Fallon race through New York a try. The results are hit and miss with Shrek being a bad experience for everyone. Logan has decided he does not like motion simulators and will avoid those the rest of the trip. The Horror Make-Up Show turns out to be the most fun of the batch. Return visits to our favorites, the Revenge of the Mummy and MIB fill out the late afternoon. There is a Mardi Gras parade this evening, and we find a spot along the curb in the New York section, close to where we had our last ride on The Mummy. The sun is setting by the time the parade starts the brightly lit floats in garish colors help paint a vivid display with the streaking hues of the sunset filling the sky behind them. The parade attendants keep a sharp eye out for anyone stepping out into the street to pick up beads. A stern warning will brush you back in place. The dash of the children to collect the fallen beads has to wait until the parade is passed. The park closes relatively early and we find way to the exit along with the throng of parade watchers. We did not have any dinner in the park and David, Leigh, and Logan stop at a Cold Stone Creamery in City Walk to get ice cream. Once in the van Rhonda will order a small pizza from a Pizzeria Uno, which we picked up on our way back to the villa. While the day was enjoyable, Rhonda and I decide this will probably be our last visit to Universal Studios. The park has more of a minor league feel when compared to the major league experience which is Disney. The day is concluded with some games at the dining room table and an early retirement in preparation for our day at Animal Kingdom.
Day 7– Saturday, February 8th (Animal Kingdom)
Rhonda and I visited the Animal Kingdom last in 2004. The park has added a couple new areas and many attractions since then. Thus we are anticipating our return visit as much as our first time companions are. We try to get out early and to the park at rope drop so we can try and get to Avatar: Fight of Passage first thing. That ride is the second hottest attraction in WDW and all of the FastPasses were gone when I tried to get one. We are walking in from the parking lot as the gates are opening. I can see on my phone application as we enter the park that the line has already exceeded an hour. I will see wait times up to three hours for the ride through the day. That is definitely not how I want to spend my time in the park.
The Animal Kingdom is a very lush park. The spaces along the paths are full of plants and flowers. Animal displays line the paths in some spots and you have the feeling of walking through the forest all the time you are here. I will actually take a number of flower pictures in the park because of some of the unusual and lovely flora they have growing here. One of the first displays of color we will see is a flock of macaws flying just over head between the trees. While the flight is staged by park personnel, seeing a couple dozen brilliantly colored birds like winged rainbows flying against a green background is quite spectacular. The Tree of Life is the central feature of the park. It is an enormous artificial tree several stories high that sits in the middle of an island, in the middle of the park. The bark of the tree is sculpted with depictions of all manner of animals in relief all over its surface.
Inside the trunk of the Tree of Life, in the lower levels, is a movie theater presenting a 4D movie, It’s Tough to be a Bug. The line that winds around the tree on enshrouded paths is practically empty. It gives you a good chance to see all of the artwork present on the Tree of Life from different angels where the foliage opens up to allow it. 4D movies were all the rage a couple of decades ago, and this one holds up well. Using the characters from A Bug’s Life, the movie is a comical bug public service announcement introducing different insect species. The audience gets sprinkled with water, enveloped in fog, and assaulted with stink bug smell. The seats hold surprises too and a wasp stings you and grubs crawl under your bottom. It is an enjoyable show and a good start to the day.
Being a duck, which I mentioned Leigh is infatuated with, Donald Duck is an autograph Leigh has been seeking. She is in luck as we see a sign announcing his appearance in the Dino World area of the park. As we head that way we see Kevin from the movie Up. This character stands very tall and is a treat. She vocalizes as in the movie and has a long neck which is very animated. Controlling the neck and head must be quite the feat for the person who is wearing the suit. It must be mechanical as the neck is much too long and flexible to be an arm. All in all I am very impressed with Kevin and enjoy watching her interact with the children nearby. We find Donald and Leigh is delighted to make the acquaintance of her favorite duck.
A new feature of the park since our last visit are two different self-guided animal walks. One is the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail and the other the Maharajah Jungle Trek. These trails lead you through the forest and past enclosures containing animals following the theme of Africa or Asia, respectively. The large enclosures are blended into the environment fairly well. Along the Gorilla Falls path is an aviary that you walk through. There are many pheasants of different varieties and colors included amongst the birds. Since they tend to stride along the ground they draw the attention of many guests. Park staff are on hand to answer questions about the birds and keep them safe from over enthusiastic children with inattentive parents. The walks do a marvelous job of presenting the various animals in something akin to their natural habitat while giving the impression that you are just taking a walk and running into them. The big hits of the African themed walk are the namesake gorillas and the hippos. The Asia trek’s monkeys upstage the very popular tigers. This morning we take the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail. It is definitely a step up from the normal zoo.
After our walk with the gorillas we take the Kilimanjaro Safari. The safari is the star animal attraction of the park. Disney has constructed an African safari in a space that takes up half of the park’s footprint. All of the animals you would expect on a safari are here, giraffes, zebras, lions, rhinos and the like. Some mingle together, while others, like the lions, are separated by cleverly hidden ditches and barriers. You ride in vehicles that drive a long, rutted dirt road that winds through the different areas. These are normal gas-powered vehicles that are free roaming so the drivers can pause for animals that are crossing the road or too near the vehicles for their safety. It is quite the remarkable experience that is created. It has a degree of randomness as the animals wander about and sometimes are not readily visible. The variety and numbers of the animals is also surprising large. Today we are fortunate for the fair weather has most of the creatures wandering about in full view. The guide explains what is what and imparts interesting information about the exotic fauna. We slowly cruise around and the guide also has the driver pause from time to time so everyone on the vehicle can get a good look at the animals living here. This is a wonderful experience that our whole party thoroughly enjoys.
One of our two FastPasses for the day is for Expedition Everest. It is a roller coaster in the Asian area of the park. We are all excited to try it out except for Logan. Leigh, Rhonda and I decide to ride while David and Logan wait. The premise is that we are riding on a train that is beginning to encroach on yeti territory in the Himalayas. The ride is well themed and exhilarating. At one point when winding through the mountain you to come to a spot where the tracks have been ripped up and then the train begins to go backwards. The direction gets reversed again so you are going forward when in the dark being blasted by cold air. The yeti makes an appearance just before the big drop and bank. Leigh is ecstatic afterwards. She uses Logan’s FastPass and she and David take the ride together. She would ride this coaster all afternoon if given the opportunity. Honestly, I would like to ride it a few more times, but there is a lot to see and as I said earlier we don’t want to spend all our time in long lines.
We find lunch nearby at the appropriately named Yak & Yeti restaurant. It is a quick serve establishment, which means you approach a counter to order food, and then pick it up and take it to an open table. The menu has some nice items with Pan-Asian flare. The weather is perfect and Rhonda finds a nice table outside for all of us. The ambiance adds to the dining experience as it resembles a large house turned into a hotel and restaurant in Anandapur, India. After lunch we take the Maharajah Jungle Trek I talked about earlier. This afternoon we also ride the rustic African train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch to see some of the fauna and conversation activities located there. The park’s veterinary station is also in the remote Planet Watch area as the park is quite a serious zoo in addition to being a theme park. The day has been full of fun and educational adventures teaching us about the world we live in, but now it is time to get more fantastical.
The newest region of the park located near the front is Pandora – The World of Avatar. Disney has created an area that looks like the world of Pandora from the movie Avatar. It is quite beautiful being covered with all of the strange species of plants and flowers of unusual designs and lovely colors. The floating mountains are here above your head creating quite the scene. We have a FastPass for Na’vi River Journey, which is a boat ride into the nighttime world of Pandora. As you ride along the river you are presented with tableaus of the Na’vi in festive activities amongst the bioluminescent forest. After the boat ride we find some drums built into the roots of a large tree and have a little fun banging on them. Shortly afterwards some of the cast members arrive on the scene and put on a little show using the myriad percussion available. We plan to come back after the sun sets to see this world at night, as it should be quite stunning. Dinner is at the Rainforest Café at the front gate of the park. There wasn’t any other reservation available, and the kids haven’t been to one previously. The interior is fun, but the service appalling. You can tell the establishment is not run by Disney. The food is good, but that is about all that can be said of our dinner there.
The sun has fallen while we dined and the enchantment of the park at night has returned. This is especially true of Pandora. The waterfalls and fountains are lit from underneath making the water shimmer. The plants glow and pulse presenting a scene quite different from daylight. Lights like a field of stars light up on the pathways. Black lights are used in many areas and Rhonda’s daisy dress takes on a wonderous look as the white daisies pop and glow in the dark. Disney has done a fantastic job of presenting the nighttime world of Pandora. We wander and enjoy just being out in the lovey night amidst the enchanting world of Pandora. As the park begins to close we reflect on the wonderful day on our way out. There is one major discussion left that we take up as we drive back to the villa. We need to decide what to do with our final day in Walt Disney World. We leave it to the kids to decide which park that they want to return to now that they have been to all of them. Rhonda and I are proud of the kids’ selection as it is not what might be the obvious one. They choose to return to Epcot and the World Showcase. They really enjoyed the exploration of different cultures and want to go back to Morocco for the last meal. Their desire to continue to learn and discover instead of simply riding rides is admirable.
Day 8 – Sunday, February 9th (Epcot)
Morning dawns on our last day. Florida favors us with another fine day weather-wise. When we arrive at the massive parking lot for Epcot, we take better note of where we park than we did on our previous visit. Here at the end of the week the feet don’t recover as quickly as they did the first few days and those long walks at the end of the day can get laborious. Leigh’s autograph book is burgeoning with signatures from Disney characters and snippets of foreign languages. A key one that she hopes to find today is Belle from Beauty and the Beast, who also happens to be David’s favorite.
We didn’t spend any time in the Epcot portion of the park earlier in the week. Today we start at The Seas with Nemo and Friends which Rhonda and I have never visited. Once again this will be something new to all of us. Greeting us as we make our way to the entrance are the noisy seagulls greedily squawking “Mine!” The aquatic life on display here is diverse and exotic. We spend quite a bit of time watching the frolicking dolphins and the playful manatee. We also enjoy the many large tanks filled with colorful coral sea life. The tanks with the small displays are literal drops in the bucket compared to the massive 5.7 million gallon tank which is the featured attraction here. The water containing the reef and schools of fish is visible on either side of the hallway that takes you to a circular viewing room. That is not to say that the views of the sea life from the hallway is less captivating. All of the creatures living on a coral reef can be found here, from mesmerizing schools of fish to furtive fish darting in and out of their hiding spots and slowly cruising rays and turtles. The tank comes complete with a few sharks idly winding their way around the tank. We have fun watching all the smaller fish clear the way each time the hammerhead passed through. All in all I regret not having stopped at this pavilion on any of my previous trips.
Having had such a nice experience in the Seas we decide to visit the neighboring pavilion, The Land. This attraction is not as impressive as there is little that interests our party. We do take in the boat ride, Living with the Land. It is a slow cruise that shows off innovative ways of farming requiring less water and space. The produce grown here is used in the restaurants in Epcot. Some of the methods seem to defy conventional thought, and are very thought provoking as to how they actually work. We spent more time then we thought in these first two stops and realize we should start walking toward lunch. We made two reservations the previous evening; the first was everyone’s favorite, Morocco, which we will go to for dinner our last meal in the parks. The second reservation we made was for lunch in Italy, which is on the other side of the park.
Rhonda and I have never eaten in the Italian pavilion, so again we will have a new experience for the whole party. Having been to the real Italy a few months prior we are interested to see how the fare here compares. The restaurant is very busy which is probably attributed to guest reluctance to try something more exotic like Morocco, which is never this crowded. Italian cuisine is familiar and safe to the average person. After a short wait we are escorted to a large round table near the center of the establishment. Our waiter is friendly and helpful and appreciative of the few Italian language courtesies we employ. The meal arrives at the table rather haphazardly. Rhonda and I are sharing antipasto plate with various cheeses, meats and olives which arrives very quickly. David and Leigh’s pasta dishes arrive next and Logan’s pizza pulls up the rear. This is likely due to the space restrictions in the wood fired oven and the popularity of pizza. The food doesn’t disappoint and is quite delicious. I suppose I should expect no less from Disney. We take our time and savor our meal knowing it is one of our last. We don’t want the week to end. Eventually we have cleaned our plates and we give up our table to the next hungry guest.
We wander our way back towards France where Belle is scheduled to appear. We arrive on time to capture the coveted Belle encounter. David declines to have his picture taken with Belle by himself. Maybe he is worried that the photo would appear sometime later in life and be used for some good-natured ribbing. This will be Leigh’s final autograph encounter, and an appropriate finale to her collection. It seems there is always room for ice cream and L’Artisan des Glaces is conveniently nearby. The small shop at the back of the French pavilion makes hand crafted ice cream and ice cream treat. Rhonda defers, but the rest of us get something that catches our eye and curiosity. With our ice cream treats in hand we sit in the sun amongst the same flowers we visited with our pasties before. It must be the spot for a sweet snack. We all enjoy the Florida winter knowing that colder weather awaits us in about 24 hours.
One more stop we want to make on the Epcot side of the park is the World of Imagination. Unfortunately, while the water features outside the pavilion are fun to watch, the interior is a shadow of its former self. A lot of the space inside is empty and it seems as if it is in the middle of a transition. One happy accident is that we decide to stop at the Star Wars photo booth. What happens is that the photographer takes your picture making sure that your face is posed in a certain position. Then it will be lifted out and placed over the top of a Star Wars character from a classic movie still so you can put yourself in the movie. The number of people in your party determines which scenes you have a choice of. We watch as the photographer take the pictures of a few guests, then as the second attendant produces the completed picture on the computer the photographer beckons us over to give it a try. The Norwalk crew are reluctant to step forward, so Rhonda and I decide to have some fun. We choose to have our faces imposed over those of Han and Leia from The Force Awakens when they look more our age. The photographer takes pains to get our chins in the right attitude and our eyes looking in the right direction so we line up perfectly with the original. The second attendant does a nice job of tinting our skin tone to match Han and Leia’s. We are surprised at the quality outcome, so much so that we decide to buy the resulting photo. Our success convinces David to have his family put into the Star War universe as well. They opt for a picture of Han, Luke and Leia from Return of the Jedi. David can’t pass up the chance to “become” Luke Skywalker and their photo turns out as good as ours and they too decide to purchase a copy. We all agree that this was an enjoyable unplanned experience that will provide each family with a fun souvenir.
We decide to revisit Mexico. The kids want to take the boat ride with the Three Caballeros again. Rhonda and I decline the boat ride and decide to sample a special tequila at the cantina here on the festival square. We enjoy the atmosphere and aimlessly browse the shops and carts of merchandise just to linger a little longer. The browsing reminds Rhonda and I that we need to get Leigh a gift from somewhere here in the world showcase. Knowing the time for our last dinner reservation is not too far away, we continue our stroll around the showcase towards Morocco one last time. The Restaurant Marrakesh is lively this evening and the music and belly dancer is entertaining the crowd. The waiter takes note of the fez that Logan is wearing and asks him, “Are you looking for a job?” He asks Logan his name and then proceeds to write it in Arabic on the paper table cloth. He then instructs Logan to practice and he will check his work when he returns. Logan enthusiastically attempts to write in Arabic which includes writing from right to left. He does a fine job which the waiter recognizes and tells him he has passed the test and has earned a surprise. The waiter then returns shortly with complimentary appetizer. We all partake in tasting Logan’s prize, and the reviews are mixed. Our last meal is as good if not better than we had hoped. It is finished with a second prize for Logan that is crispy dough drizzled with an almond sauce and slivered almonds. The special attention the waiter gave Logan during our last meal helps make the meal even more special and a fitting end to our Disney dining experiences.
We continue the night time stroll, we absorb in as much of the atmosphere as we can knowing our time is running short. On our way to find the perfect viewing spot for the parks evening show, we stop in Canada for a last bit of shopping. We get Leigh a pair of lumber jack plaid pajama pants that she picks out. She declares she is going to wear them to school which elicits a look from her Dad. Our walk along the water finds us between Mexico and Norway where we decide to conclude the day. As the kids have their Mickey Mouse ice cream treats in hand the lights go down and the show begins. Having seen this performance a mere five days earlier takes nothing away from our enjoyment. The fireworks, lights and music weave their magic and everyone is grinning as the finale of the show and our trip brings us joy.
Day 9 – Monday, February 10th (Homeward Bound)
This is the day of partings. Breakfast consists if what we have left of our provisions. Bags are packed and keys are turned in. Goodbyes are said at the airport where we have to part ways. Rhonda and I have some time before our flight and we sit in the Chili’s Too restaurant which is perched on a mezzanine above the security lines. Shortly after our drinks arrive we get a text from Leigh saying they can see us. We look over the rail and wave a final goodbye to the Iowans as they work their way through the line below.
We have had a wonderful time with David, Leigh and Logan. It is rare we get to spend this much time with them all at once. We feel privileged to have been able to expose the kids, and David, to so many first time experiences. It will hopefully be a week that stays in their memory the rest of their lives. We are pleased the kids were open to trying new things, tasting new foods, and learning about new parts of the world. We thoroughly enjoyed the many new experiences we had, and relished the chance to enjoy many of our old favorites again. I have the feeling it won’t be another ten years before we return.
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