Play Dead

"We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the beer began to take hold. I remember saying something like, "I feel a bit lightheaded; maybe you should drive . . ."And suddenly there was a terrible roar all around us and the sky was full of what looked like huge bats, all swooping and screeching and diving around the car, which was going about 100 miles an hour with the top down to Las Vegas. And a voice was screaming: "What kind of crazy beer is this?" Nothing but Gonzo Porter. Perfect for the day between Good Friday and Easter, this black as night elixir bubbles and foams like the witch's kettle in McBeth. With a nose of wet earth before the spring awakening, and a taste of cuban coffee sweetened with a pinch of Kahula, it dares you not to take another sip. Enough with this review, I'm off to get my hands on as much of this stuff as possible and stay up until it or me is gone... Cheers, Hunter. "

Outline:

Breakfast
No boat
Bus
Downtown DIsney
World of DIsney Store
Quick Sandwiches at Earl of Sandwich
Boat back to hotel
bottle openers
bus to airport
coffee and burgers from sbucks and outback
plane ride home 
flying over li sound
view of new haven, stratford bpt and norwalk at same time.
ride home from heavy d
pizza slice
home at last
beddy bye

 EPCOT

 

We began in Future World, and the Attraction in the sphere was closed for refurbishment.  We proceeded quickly to Soarin’, since we knew that this would be a popular attraction, and we didn’t want to wait in line too long.  We were able to get Fastpasses to come back in an hour, and we also rode right away.  WOW, what a cool ride!  It’s a hang gliding simulator, where you soar in and around the California countryside, cities, and landmarks.  You can feel the wind in your face, and smell is even pumped in to make you believe that you are right next to orange groves, or pine trees. 

 

We went next to living with the land, which is a tour through the greenhouses and experiments Disney is doing.  We saw giant pumpkins, tomato trees, and pumpkins forced to grow into the shape of Mickey Mouse.  The ‘airponics’ was really cool though.  Plants are suspended on an overhead conveyor belt, where they pass through an air chamber, which mists water and nutrients onto the roots.

 

Next was the Imagination pavilion, where we met Figment, on the Journey Into Imagination, which my brother loved when we were here last time as kids.  We also took in the “Honey I Shrunk the Audience” 3D movie, which was fun, though Abby got a bit scared at points.  

 

We went back to the Land and used our Fastpasses for our second ride on Soarin’, and then over to The Seas Pavilion.  We rode The Nemo And Friends ride, then had a heck of a time trying to find Coral Reef, our restaurant for lunch.  The signage was horrible, and there wasn’t a cast member in sight.  We had to leave the pavilion, and go around to the side, where there was a separate entrance. 

 

The view in the place made up for the trouble finding the eatery.  The entire dining room faces the ginormous aquarium in the Seas Pavilion.  We got to dine on our fish friends as we watched them swim by.  Divers swam by, feeding schools of fish; we saw sharks, tarpon, yellow tail, and several other varieties of fish.  Lunch was pleasant; I had some nice lobster salad, with lobster soup and some wine. 

 

After lunch, we took in Turtle Talk with Crush, where Abby asked the onscreen character the difference between a Sea Horse and a Sea Turtle.  After a long pause, he replied, “A Lot.” 

 

We then toured the countries in the afternoon, and it was very hot.  We saw the movie in Canada, met Mary Poppins and watched The Beatles in Great Britain.  We also went to France, and saw Beauty and the Beast.  We checked out Italy, Morocco, Japan, and China.  We hit Germany, the USA, Norway and Mexico, stopping along the way for snacks and wines and beers.  The food and wine festival brought lots of people along with the great tapas from all of the countries.  Abby was pretty good all day, considering she never had a nap.

 

After a long day, with all of us in full blister, and sore, we departed EPCOT as the fireworks were beginning, missing all of the rush after the show.  We waited a short time for the bus, and went right back to the hotel. 

 

Once Abby was down in bed, I headed over to the bar.  I got a Yeung Ling, and headed to the hot tub.  I soaked and sipped, then over to the pool when I got too hot.  Then back into the hot.  Back and forth, sipping and swimming.  It was a great way to erase the miles off of the feet, and a relaxing way to end the week.

 

 

 

outline:

Breakfast
Magic Kingdom
Rope Drop
Thunder Mtn x2
Splash Mtn
Jungle Cruise
Treehouse
Tiki Lounge
M&D take Abby

Transit Authority
Space Mtn
Carrosel of progress  its a great big beautiful tomorrow
meet abby
Toy cars
lunch another burger

bye bye abby

shopping 37k crystal castle
dapper dans

nod on bus ride back
nap

dinner at Artist Pointe
Izzy--big pours
cheese
buffalo
salmon

bus to PI
cigar
wait
wait
wait
no boat
30 pissed people

bus back to hotel

MGM Studios

Linger over breakfast
Tower of Terror
Great Movie Ride-Abby scared until Wizard of Oz
Backlot tour-Abby no like fire
Rock n Roller Caoster closed-bummer
Beauty and the Beast-only 2 characters singing?
Rain Rain Rain wet lunch
Playhouse Disney-Bear big blue house, JoJo, unknown shows, Abby dances, Moms in audience know more words then kids.  No idea about next generation of disney shows.  Perhaps it won;'t breed any more shite like Britney and Justin.
Dad and Matt see Walt's Life movie--like a museum.  Lots of fun for grownups.  "It all is because of a mouse."
Muppet Vision 3D--long time to sell out.  Well done show.  Fun.
Indy stunt show--abby no like
Star Tours--Abby Like
Dinner at Mama Melrose- why does park food have to be so bad?  To think that somebody told us how good it was...what is this, Arizona?
Abby rides Tower of Terror.  Not too terrified.
Abby will be terrified of Fantasmic.  Mom and Dad take her back.
Fantasmic.
Laundry.

outline:

Typhoon Lagoon
waterslides
wave pool
Abby
european women and body image
bananna hammock
Abby and watgerslides
Photopasses wrong people
Crush and Gush w/ Mom
Crazy River


getting ready

EPCOT
accident
Space Mission
Test Track
Mexico
Illuminations

Sorry if any of you are following along.  I seem to have less time on vacation then when I am at home.  I'll convert the outlines to pages soon enough, but at least I'll remember now.

Outline

Breakfast at hotel.
Bus to MK
Space Mountain
Laugh Floor
Haunted Mansion
Riverboat
Hall of Presidents
Country Bear Jamboree
Splash Mountain
Pirates
Carpets of Alladin

Back to hotel
Beer

Dinner at CA grille
wines
cheese
monorail
people filming?

wait for bus back

good sleep

After not enough sleep again, we woke up early for our second day in the World.  

Coffee in our travel mugs, and off again to the Magic Kingdom for Cinderalla's Royal Table Breakfast.  We were a bit late, since there was a triathalon, so we had to run down Main Street once we got into the MK.  But we made it, and all was well.  We were directed into line, and posed for a photo with Cinderalla.  Then up two flights of stairs into the dining room.  

(will come back to this)
breakfast
monorail
Animal Kingdom
Raglan Road
Downtown Dis
Cigar
 

Day one was a long one.  We all got up about 5 AM after not enough sleep, and met at my parents house for the trip down to the airport.  Bob and Pat stuffed all of us and our stuff into their van, and off to White Plains we went.  The flight was smooth, Abby was great.  She watched a movie, and all-around was a good girl.

We arrived in Florida, and waited in too many lines to get on the bus to our resort.  After too much time traveling, we finailly arrived!

Then we met Marie, who checked us in.  Her and Chris really showed us some Disney Magic.  Chris gave Abby two stuffed animals for free, while Marie and I joked with Dad for a while.  After she made a mistake on my birthday button (it wasn't my birthday, but she gave us all TONS of pins to wear), she fixed it by "writing on your tit.  Oh my god, I just had a hot flash."  She was priceless.

Checked in, but without a room, we decided to head on over to the Magic Kingdom.  We took the bus, which was not bad, and made it into the park.  The look on Abby's face when she first glimpsed the castle was priceless.  Pure wonder.   We strolled down Main Street, and got our photos taken.  Then through the castle, and off to Fantasyland.  

The park was remarkably uncrowded, and we were able to go on lots of stuff in our less than half day at the park.  We started with Philharmagic, which was awesome!  It's a 3D experience.  They really put you into the action.  Abby spent half of the show reaching out to touch the 3D images in front of her.  Way cool!

We also went on IASM, Snow White's Scary Adventures, the Carousel, Peter Pan, and Winnie the Pooh.  A couple leaving the park had given us their Dream Fastpasses, which had passes for all of the Fastpass rides!  Awesome!  Lines were really short except for a couple of things, and we just used our Fastpasses for those.  Abby was a trooper, and went on everything.

Next stop was Mickey's toontown fair, where Abby got to meet 3 princesses at once.  She was first into the room, and was completely floored when she caught a glimpse of Cinderella, Belle, and Aurora.  She got autographs, and we got lots of photos.  

We went over to Frontierland via the Railroad, and got some dinner.  Abby and I used the fastpass for Splash Mountain which was fun and not too wet, and then watched the parade.  The electrical parade was really cute, and after that we headed back to Main Street, got a costume for breakfast the next morning, and headed back to the buses with the fireworks as a backround.  

The most magical moment of the day was when we were coming back to the hotel, and Abby was in complete meltdown.  Just as she started to sob, " I want bunny,"  a real live bunny rabbit appeared at the bus stop.  That would make David Copperfield believe in magic.

Day one over for most of the family, Daddy put the girls to bed, and hit the bar for some joint lubrication.  Not too bad.

I love vacation. 

I'm off to the Spa in Friday and Saturday, for the thoroughbreds.  This post is to remind myself not to get drunk and start smoking again.