Finding Florida 1989
In 1987 our honeymoon would start a little bug, a travel bug. Going to Disneyland
together created a desire, a Disney desire... mix a travel bug with a Disney desire and
what's bigger and better than Disneyland? well Disney World of course. We scrimped and
saved for our first ever flight together, booked some time off, and using our
Entertainment book got a cheap hotel and rental car...
We wouldn't have to wait very long for a ten day getaway to central Florida.
On a rainy Monday in September we left Vancouver and landed in Tampa Bay. We picked up our rental car, and after a brief stop to check out the beach, we drove to our hotel in Orlando.
Tuesday @ the Magic Kingdom
Our first day would be spent at the Magic Kingdom, imagine if you can, Disneyland in California... Magic Kingdom is basically a recreation of Disneyland as one of the small pieces of Disney World.
Unlike Disneyland, you don't walk from the parking lot, you take the DISNEY FREEWAY, and then have to be boated across the lake to the entrance to Walt's playground.
All of the Disneyland classics are here, from Space Mountain and the haunted house, to the Thunder Mountain Railroad. We'd have a great day pretending we were kids again doing all the Disney classics... oh wait, it was 1989... we were still kids.
Whenever we drive on Autopia, Norine practices her driving skills. Afterwards, I cavort with Roger Rabbit, unfortunately there is no Jessica Rabbit to be seen anywhere, dammit!
After a Jungle cruise, and fending off a very dangerous charging hippo, we wrap up the day with a Country Bear vacation. I'm still amused by Disney's animatronic shows.
Our Disney day could only be completed by the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, a western themed dinner theater at Disney's Fort Wilderness. Yeehaw!
Wednesday @ EPCOT
The name EPCOT is an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow. Walt Disney originally intended Epcot to be a working city for the future. Epcot is an "educational park."
The landmark icon is a 180-foot geodesic sphere called 'Spaceship Earth'. Epcot is divided into two distinct areas, "Future World" and "World Showcase". Future World is a mix of futuristic rides and exhibits, whereas the World Showcase features Expo style pavilions for many countries. Surrounding a large lagoon each country sits side by side with a unique flavour of their culture.
After enjoying some impressive Future World exhibits such as The Living Seas, and the Kitchen Kabaret's crazy animatronics fruit and vegetable show, we moved on to the World Showcase.
We start our clockwise trip around the lagoon with the Mexico showcase, and its 'El Río del Tiempo' a gentle boat ride featuring historical facts and travel info. Before we move on to the China showcase we are completely blown away by the Maelstrom boat ride in the Norway showcase. It's like a jazzed up Pirates of the Caribbean ride with a look into the myths and history of Norway
From Germany's Biergarten, Italy's Ristorante, and Japan's Bijutsu-kan Gallery, to the American's Patriotic animatronic show hosted by Ben Franklin and Mark Twain, we spend our day reliving Vancouver's Expo 86. Morocco has an impressive Fez house, but France has a fine restaurant, a Bistro, a Café and a Pätisserie. The United Kingdom brought a slice of jolly olde England complete with a Rose & Crown pub. Finally Canada's showcase... a recreation of Chateau Frontenac, an Indian village with Totem poles, and a "Circlevision" travel to Canada movie.
But wait, that's not all, they also have a 'Buffeteria' serving (quote) "Canadian fare such as pork pie and rib roast, Labbat's beer and ale". I am so proud to be Canadian! At least in recent years they added a mini Butchart Gardens. I'm sure an Innukshuk is next.
Every night at park closing there is an extravagant display of fireworks, lasers, fountains and electric lighting over the World Showcase Lagoon. A lovely way to end the day.
Thursday @ Disney-MGM Studios
Disney-MGM Studios (Now called Disney's Hollywood Studios) opened earlier in the year, just in time for us to spend a part of the day exploring their Universal Studios knock-off.
Throughout every Disney location there is mickey mouse imagery hidden everywhere, here at the Studios, they're a little less subtle. The water tower landmark let's you find where you are easily.
Just like Universal Studios, they have a backlot, complete with faux New York city. They have the Universal Studios tour, as well as the movie style exhibits giving you insight into costumes, scenery, sound effects and special effects. The most interesting aspect is a back room tour through the Disney artists work-space, where we see them working on upcoming Disney classics.
Also like Universal Studios there is a great stunt and SFX show, their's featuring the classic Indiana Jones fight on a Nazi plane, complete with fire and explosions. In contrast to Indiana Jones is the Roger Rabbit henchmen scattered around the studio lots for photo opps.
The ultimate highlight of the studio tour is the Star Tours ride, if you haven't been before, it's a great simulated flight misadventure through the Star Wars universe.
After a day at Disney-MGM Studios, our night is wrapped up with the Arabian Nights dinner show, starring more than 60 horses and two dozen riders in a twenty act show.
Friday @ SeaWorld
For those of you that have been living under a rock for most of your lives, SeaWorld
Orlando is an aquarium based theme park. Exhibits in this park include
stingrays, dolphins, sea turtles, manatees and alligators, but everything is focused
around the second most popular Orca in the world after 'Free Willy'. At the center of the
park is the Sky Tower, a 400-foot tall rotating observation tower, but Shamu is the
centerpiece of SeaWorld and the park's killer whale mascot.
The name Shamu means "friend of Namu" or "She-Namu" and was given to the first female orca ever captured. She was intended to be a companion for the orca Namu at a Seattle public aquarium, but was eventually purchased by SeaWorld San Diego. Shamu was a Southern Resident orca, likely born in 1961 and captured in Puget Sound in 1965. Today, "Shamu," "Namu," and "Ramu" are trademarked stage names given to all of the orcas residing within the SeaWorld parks.
We sit in on several whale and dolphin shows, trainers are tossed in the air, fish are eaten, and eventually every species including a Beluga whale, Pilot whale, Dolphin and 2 Porpoises leap in the air. Pretty much what you would expect at any aquarium show, still fun though.
After the traditional Sea Lion and Walrus hijinx shows we are treated to a behind the scenes animal lovers tour. This tour, which takes us into the non-public areas of the park, shows us how they care for animals, from regular care and feeding of their show animals to rehabilitation areas for injured and abandoned animals. The Manatee recovery program in Florida is very impressive.
SeaWorld is broken up into different areas such as; sea lions and seals, Dolphins and Porpoises, Sea Turtles, and Stingray Lagoon, a covered exhibit where you can touch stingrays.
One of my favourite areas to just sit back and watch, is the Penguin Encounter. It's an indoor exhibit that also includes puffins and murres, and it allows you to watch them from above the water, as well as watch them swim around below the water. Their awkward waddling on the ground, becomes amazing gracefulness as they literally fly through the water.
One of the most eery areas is Shark Encounter, which features an underwater glass tunnel and a wide array of sharks, rays and venomous fish. It is a little unnerving as you walk in and under rather large and toothy sharks, just inches away behind what seems to be very thin glass.
I am not sure I would call it a highlight, but I had the opportunity to eat alligator at lunch, tastes like chicken... no seriously. Definitely the lowlight of the day, was a lame water-skiing show. After that we were happy to do some souvenir shopping and head back to our hotel. Tomorrow waits!