The only problem with Disney World is that it's in Florida.
We were there in early June so the first hurricane of
the year was blowing through the state. This meant we
got rain with the million percent humidity.
Driving down the highway, we phoned ahead to Disney World saying we were on our way and we would like 5 nights in the Contemporary Hotel. The person on the phone chuckles and said they didn't think we could find a place on the grounds. What is this? An opening for five nights in the Contemporary Hotel. Well what do you know. We're all set.
This trip is charmed for something.
The only problem with Disney World is that it's in Florida.
We were there in early June so the first hurricane of
the year was blowing through the state. This meant we
got rain with the million percent humidity.
Some people don't believe this, but rainy wet Oregon doesn't
get humid. I'm not used to getting out of a shower and not
getting dry -- ever. The family trudged slowly through the
thick oppressive air and tried to enjoy this place as best as
possible. We'd be walking down a lane and feel the waft of
air conditioned air from a doorway and that attraction would
suddenly be the one we HAD to see Right Now.
Tomorrowland in Disney World is different then in Disney
Land. Here it's more of a Buck Roger-ish, neo-modern
style then the white, swooping modern style of Disney Land.
I think this one actually works as a "fantasy land" better.
As you probably gathered from our
Disneyland page,
I like the updates that the Disney folks have made
to make things more "politically correct".
From my childhood, I remember and like the ride where
the audience moves from scene to scene of audio-animatronics™
figures showing the advances of technology in America.
Well, now there is a final scene where Mom's working
at her laptop and Dad is cooking Christmas dinner.
Grandma gets introduced to virtual reality by her
grandson.
They couldn't resist the stereotypes, though. Dad manages
to burn the turkey with the help of a voice command
oven. Aren't guys in the kitchen funny?
A standard. Disney went off to South America to let him cool off
from the strikes (a patriarchal manager didn't take kindly to
his employees showing independence). From that trip came the idea
of the Jungle Ride.
It wouldn't be Fantasyland without the natives climbing the tree.
It's not a trip to a Disney property without the
electric parade. (You can't make out the pouring rain
in these pictures).
A day at Epcot. Walt's original vision of a future city was
not fulfilled here -- I hear that's now being done in a new
community/city that Disney Corp is building south of the World.
Anyway, Epcot is an interesting collection of
commercial/educational/entertainment displays. Here is the
entrance globe with the AT&T communication ride inside.
Here is the inside of the "body" exploritorium.
The boys still talk about the ride through the body
and the brain command center presentation. I think this
was their favorite place in Epcot.
To the right is one of the "international" exhibits.
In Japan, the wife found her sushi.
The monorail runs between Fantasy Land, Epcot and the major
hotels. Here is the monorail going through the lobby of
the Contemporary Hotel the time we got to ride in the
front compartment with the driver.
At Disneyworld, there is "MGM Land". Movie centric rides and
attractions.
That's an Imperial Walker to the left.
A quaint collection of "back lots".
The thing that the kids loved the most was "Honey I Shrunk the Kids
Playland". This was a playground of enlarged lawn things -- blades
of grass, garden hose (with water), spider webs, etc. We had to drag
the kids out of this place. To their young minds, this beat waiting in
like to pieces.
Ahhhh. The last day in Walt's final creation.
The Disney Force has it's dark side as well as the light, but I'm happy
that the magic is still around for my kids.
