Disney Adventure - Day 6: Homeward Bound

Farewell to my scenic view of Hourglass Lake. I almost wish I'd had more time to look at it. After the first evening's walk, I was never here enough to appreciate the view from my bedroom.

This trip was been excellent. I had enough solo moments to satisfy my inner introvert and lots of family-time with two adults who intrigue as well as interest me and a 4 year old who excites my imagination for his future.

Children's minds are astounding. I am awed by successful parents like Kathleen and Chad who are conquering the challenge of child-rearing. Yesterday morning, PJ was very upset when Kathleen had him put on his shoes so we could go see Nemo and his friends. She kept telling him to use his words and explain. He looked up at her and stated flatly, "Mommy, How can I go in the water with Nemo wearing my shoes? You can't swim in shoes!" Yikes!!! Makes perfect sense doesn't it? No wonder children get exasperated with adults - obviously we don't think alike at all. Everything was calm once she explained it was a ride, not a real under the sea experience.

I'm glad I had this chance to know PJ and Chad for longer than an overnight visit. Kathleen's always been the focus of my Harrell thinking, now I have two more Harrells I know well enough to send the occasional "Auntie Mame" surprise.

Disney would be pleased that his vision for family time is still working just as he planned it would so many decades ago. Thanks, Walt, for endowing this place with your passion for family fun!

Disney Adventure - Day 5: EPCOT

This is my favorite of the 4 Disney parks. There is something for everyone from the herbalist to the NASCAR enthusiast.

Not many pictures today as I was so tired last night, I totally forgot to recharge my portable battery! SIGH! Getting older is frustrating, but, hey, I'm in EPCOT!!!!

The bus ride to EPCOT was enlivened by this gentleman (John)  a bus driver waging a grassroots campaign to bring live announcers back on the busses, dispensing with the recorded ones. I applaud his grit and enthusiasm but doubt the success of his efforts given the economic strictures of the day. That said, his patter and joviality set the tone for a great day!






We got side-tracked on the way to NEMO and friends because the Harrells LOVE, LOVE, LOVE an aquarium! (As do I!) and The SEAS has a 5 million gallon one where PJ had his first encounter with a manatee. and watched the divers feed the fish.

After Nemo, we toured Imagination, made music notes fly, tiles light up as PJ jumped on the linked carpet, created our own Figments and learned about using our imaginations to see the world rather than just our senses. I wish I could have captured a picture of our faces when Figment transformed into a skunk and blasted us all!!

We lunched at The Land, declined to ride the tour as the wait was 45 minutes. Kathleen was tired, PJ was tired and we planned to see the laser/fire works show at the end of the day, so off the Harrells went to nap while I explored more of Future World.

The World of Energy features Ellen Degeneres and Bill Nye taking riders through the history of our planet. I remembered the smell of the dinosaur section. The ride is the longest in the World - 37 minutes - which is appropriate for tracing the energy history of our planet! I loved the exterior of the building's reflecting properties; it reminded of that edifice in Liverpool last year and the reflection picture I shot there. (I've included an unedited version here.)

     

I stopped by the Glidden Paints' Colortopia, learned about color spectra shadowing (I'm thinking this new side profile image would be an interesting FaceBook icon!) and pained a gorgeous picture!! 

From there the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Center claimed my attention for quite a while. O found ANOTHER planter I desperately wanted to take home. I listened to a talk on sea turtles and their effect on plants given by Dr. Blair Wetherington, who studied on Archie Carr's protege. I took a short class in Hypertufa Draped Pots as mini-gardening spots. Those are the towel-infused with cement pots Jean makes. Now I have a yen for a garden inside one.

I also had a photo op with Floral Mickey and Minnie!!! This was before the butterfly tour and the purple martin lecture.

I met up with  Chad, Kathleen and PJ for snacky dinner as we walked around the countries taking in the sights. It's kind of astounding that you can have a cocktail in China, entree in America, dessert in France and still make it to the laser/show fireworks on time! My camera gave out before my feet did. We trooped "home" to sleep before heading out in the morning.

Disney Adventure - Day 4: Hollywood Studios

Today began like a really good vacation day should - with a sleep in. No one got up to meet an early ride time. We woke when we woke and dined on a big breakfast before heading out to

Once we arrived we never stopped, despite the major humidity and heat. We  saw STAR WARS: The Path of the Jedi, Toy Story Mania!, The Great Movie Ride, STAR WARS Launch Bay, STAR WARS: The Adventure Continues, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Citizens of Hollywood, Disney Jr, Show and met characters.

Chad and PJ watch the STAR WARS review.

Playing a video game who;e waiting to see The Path of the Jedi.

Planter I wished I could have taken home!

The Indiana Jones spectacle was amazing as we learned how to film and enact special effects scenes from the movies. Harrison Ford's and Karen Allen's actual stunt doubles were the actors!

This special effects "tour" was great, but I was almost as interested in watching the tech crew run the computers boards that controlled sounds and lighting!

While waling through the central plaza, we were halted by the Stormtroopers who had been summoned for review!

PJ had a close encounter with a duck.

I spied these great trees, which Jean identified as maples! Nothing like the sugar maples of my youth.

I was so caught up in the STAR WARS atmosphere that I had delusions of joining the Rebel Forces!

Dinner was at the Sci-Fi Drive -in where we sat in cars and watched ancient sic-fi movie clips and trailers.

Then drove home!

Need I mention we did the stroller shuffle again?

Chad and I rode the STAR WARS tour, met an old friend and thought about vacationing off planet.

The day ended cavorting in the Big Blue Pool at Art of Animation resort!!

Disney Adventure - Day 3: Animal Kingdom

I was a blank slate for this day as I have never been here before. At first I thought it was like a bigger version of the Jacksonville Zoo. NOPE. Much, much better; even though here PJ could not feed a giraffe or touch a rhino. Walt would be pleased with this place - it's amazingly family oriented!




We began with The Lion King Show, to which my picture cannot due justice, but you'll get the idea.

We left bouncing and singing to walk around the Gorilla Exploration Trail, encountering monkeys, birds and an otter as well as an okapi. We learned to do what a lady yesterday called The Stroller Shuffle as we jigged and jerked and paused our way through hundreds of strollers. Chad entertained us with a drum solo!

Chad and Kathleen had registered for a Character Lunch at Tusker's. I watched enthralled as Mickey, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and Goofy dropped by our table to autograph PJ's character book. He adored the experienced and was intrigued by Donald's fluffy little tail! But Daisy took a shine to Kathleen!

Then we headed to the African Photo Safari, an open jeep tour of from the Nile delta to the inner heart of the savannah. We had been "warned" that the animals were not always cooperative in the middle of the day but we went anyway. Our first omen of success was the 10 MINUTE wait…it had been 65 minutes before we went to lunch! What a fabulous safari! Leaning out of a jeep to "shoot" animals is marvelous!

The Harrell trio went "home" for to nap. I stayed and rode The Yeti, a thrill coaster (it went backward!!!) up Mt. Kilimanjaro! Since I soloed, I had no one to snap a shot, hence the selfie of me and Kilimanjaro.

While I was riding the coaster, PJ was meeting Russell from UP. What makes this meet so cool is that we watched the movie for the first time at my house before we left for Disney!!

I stopped for a final view of the Tree of Life, then I returned to the resort for Mary Todd and a trip to Walmart to solve a wardrobe malfunction!  Hint: NEVER, EVER come to Disney with shorts that have no pockets!!!

My adventure mates are still at the park. They returned for an evening safari, to explore Dino Land and take in the Rivers of Light show. 

It's been a great day and tomorrow we're off to Hollywood!