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Cyn's company had their annual leadership conference at Walt Disney World, and families were invited along. I was debating whether to go, but I realized that it was Florida in January (as opposed to Wisconsin in January). And also that I could make it an extended photo expedition.
Two weeks ago, it was freezing in Florida, but the warm weather returned quickly, and it was very nice there, for the most part.
They put us up at the Contemporary Resort. I was excited to get a room in the big tower, but we ended up in a three-story wing, so that was a little disappointing. The rooms were good, though, so that was nice. They're classy and, uh, contemporary. We got to the room a little after 11:00. That was still early for me, with the time change, so I grabbed my camera and went out exploring. Saw guys from Cindy's company, but didn't realize who they were. I ended up talking with the valet at the door for a good 45 minutes. Interesting kid. Somewhat of a photographer and artist, and we talked about that, and society, and all kinds of things. Got back to the room a little after 1:00. I was really tired at this point. Our luggage hadn't arrived, so Cyn had to call the front desk in the morning.
I slept badly, and got up somewhat early, so I was tired on thursday, and I don't think I ever caught up on my sleep. I ended up sick by sunday night, so I think I caught something on the plane, and my body was fighting it the whole time.
Thursday morning, after breakfast, I went to the Magic Kingdom. First thing, I rode Space Mountain. It's a classic. Bumpy, but a fun ride. It's in the dark, and you can just make out the structure around you, since there are a lot of little glow-in-the-dark "stars", and things like that. Then I went across the park, and did the Haunted Mansion. Then Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Compact but with lots of twist and turns, like all the coasters at the Disney parks, this one is a nice smooth ride. Then I saw the rest of the park, and went back to Space mountain for another ride, since the lines were so short. I saw two little girls by themselves, two people behind me in line. They had been two people in front of me, the last time. I figured they were just riding it over and over, but I asked, and this was only their third time. Funny coincidence.
Then I went to EPCOT. With only half a day, I was really pushing to see what I could see. I spent almost all my time in the World Showcase. There wasn't much else I really wanted to see anyway. I ate dinner in Morocco. Lamb shank couscous. They had music and a belly dancer. That was nice. :-) All the "cast members" at the World Showcase places were (supposedly) from the respective countries. I wanted to ask my waiter how he got the job, and all that, but it was a bit noisy, and he was a bit busy. After dinner, I had time to kill, and ended up going on some rides and seeing some shows that I hadn't intended to see. I rode Test Track, which is Disney's fasted ride. It was okay. Also rode Mission Space or whatever it's called. Got rather motion sick. By the time I got back to the room, my feet hurt, and I was really tired. Then Cyn and I went to the bar to meet and hang out with her coworkers. Got to bed later than I would have liked.
Friday, I went to Hollywood Studios in the morning. It was raining when I got up, so I took my time going out. I don't think I got to the park until 11:00. First I went on Aerosmith's Rock'n'Roller coaster. 0-60 in 2.8 seconds, and 4.5g. Two loops and a corkscrew. It was a little... heavy for my tastes, but it wasn't a bumpy or jerky ride. It's mostly dark, so you have to be paying attention to even realize you're upside down. I got a Fastpass to ride the Tower of Terror. I passed a long line of people, and I walked up to the gate, and they let me though immediately. The ride is always fun. They've updated it, since I was there last, so the drops are completely random. After that, I was looking around for somethings to do, but there wasn't much that interested me. There was a stunt show that I decided I wanted to see after it was too late. I went on a few things, but none of them were really great.
Then I went to Animal Kingdom. I skipped Dinosaur Land and Camp Minnie-Mickey, and went straight to Asia to ride the Everest Expedition roller coaster. It's the fourth-highest mountain in Florida, if you count the fake ones. It's high, and fast, and has a backwards and dark segment. I got a Fastpass, so while I was waiting, I walked around Africa for a bit, and saw some animals, including a couple of small tribes of gorillas. This park is an interesting place. It's a real zoo. Compared to the Milwaukee zoo, it's smaller, and has fewer animals, but most of the enclosures are larger and more realistic. And they put more people through it. Many of the animals are kept in areas along walking paths, but they also have a savanna section, that you view from trucks. It's done like a ride, with big safari buses, and they're taking you on a photo safari. Partway through, we're involved with finding some poachers. But this is where you see the big African animals, like elephants, lions, hippos, Nile crocodiles and rhinos. There's also an open section, where giraffes, ostriches (we saw real ostrich eggs) and various bovines and antelopes wandered freely. An ostrich came right up to our truck. I headed back to the resort in late afternoon.
Cyn was done with her conference that afternoon, so I picked her up, and we went to EPCOT. Walked around the World Showcase a ways, and she picked Morocco for dinner. It was just as good the second time. Then we walked around some more. Saw some more countries. Kinda took it easy. Then the big fireworks show. Not a bad show, but a little disappointing. Then we rode Soarin', which simulated a hang glider ride over California. Some nice scenery (and a bit of scent), but I didn't think it was the greatest thing ever, like everyone else seemed to think. Also rode Spaceship Earth, which wasn't my idea, but at least I got to send out a film of me and Cyn in the future.
I was very tired by the end of this night.
Two weeks ago, it was freezing in Florida, but the warm weather returned quickly, and it was very nice there, for the most part.
They put us up at the Contemporary Resort. I was excited to get a room in the big tower, but we ended up in a three-story wing, so that was a little disappointing. The rooms were good, though, so that was nice. They're classy and, uh, contemporary. We got to the room a little after 11:00. That was still early for me, with the time change, so I grabbed my camera and went out exploring. Saw guys from Cindy's company, but didn't realize who they were. I ended up talking with the valet at the door for a good 45 minutes. Interesting kid. Somewhat of a photographer and artist, and we talked about that, and society, and all kinds of things. Got back to the room a little after 1:00. I was really tired at this point. Our luggage hadn't arrived, so Cyn had to call the front desk in the morning.
I slept badly, and got up somewhat early, so I was tired on thursday, and I don't think I ever caught up on my sleep. I ended up sick by sunday night, so I think I caught something on the plane, and my body was fighting it the whole time.
Thursday morning, after breakfast, I went to the Magic Kingdom. First thing, I rode Space Mountain. It's a classic. Bumpy, but a fun ride. It's in the dark, and you can just make out the structure around you, since there are a lot of little glow-in-the-dark "stars", and things like that. Then I went across the park, and did the Haunted Mansion. Then Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Compact but with lots of twist and turns, like all the coasters at the Disney parks, this one is a nice smooth ride. Then I saw the rest of the park, and went back to Space mountain for another ride, since the lines were so short. I saw two little girls by themselves, two people behind me in line. They had been two people in front of me, the last time. I figured they were just riding it over and over, but I asked, and this was only their third time. Funny coincidence.
Then I went to EPCOT. With only half a day, I was really pushing to see what I could see. I spent almost all my time in the World Showcase. There wasn't much else I really wanted to see anyway. I ate dinner in Morocco. Lamb shank couscous. They had music and a belly dancer. That was nice. :-) All the "cast members" at the World Showcase places were (supposedly) from the respective countries. I wanted to ask my waiter how he got the job, and all that, but it was a bit noisy, and he was a bit busy. After dinner, I had time to kill, and ended up going on some rides and seeing some shows that I hadn't intended to see. I rode Test Track, which is Disney's fasted ride. It was okay. Also rode Mission Space or whatever it's called. Got rather motion sick. By the time I got back to the room, my feet hurt, and I was really tired. Then Cyn and I went to the bar to meet and hang out with her coworkers. Got to bed later than I would have liked.
Friday, I went to Hollywood Studios in the morning. It was raining when I got up, so I took my time going out. I don't think I got to the park until 11:00. First I went on Aerosmith's Rock'n'Roller coaster. 0-60 in 2.8 seconds, and 4.5g. Two loops and a corkscrew. It was a little... heavy for my tastes, but it wasn't a bumpy or jerky ride. It's mostly dark, so you have to be paying attention to even realize you're upside down. I got a Fastpass to ride the Tower of Terror. I passed a long line of people, and I walked up to the gate, and they let me though immediately. The ride is always fun. They've updated it, since I was there last, so the drops are completely random. After that, I was looking around for somethings to do, but there wasn't much that interested me. There was a stunt show that I decided I wanted to see after it was too late. I went on a few things, but none of them were really great.
Then I went to Animal Kingdom. I skipped Dinosaur Land and Camp Minnie-Mickey, and went straight to Asia to ride the Everest Expedition roller coaster. It's the fourth-highest mountain in Florida, if you count the fake ones. It's high, and fast, and has a backwards and dark segment. I got a Fastpass, so while I was waiting, I walked around Africa for a bit, and saw some animals, including a couple of small tribes of gorillas. This park is an interesting place. It's a real zoo. Compared to the Milwaukee zoo, it's smaller, and has fewer animals, but most of the enclosures are larger and more realistic. And they put more people through it. Many of the animals are kept in areas along walking paths, but they also have a savanna section, that you view from trucks. It's done like a ride, with big safari buses, and they're taking you on a photo safari. Partway through, we're involved with finding some poachers. But this is where you see the big African animals, like elephants, lions, hippos, Nile crocodiles and rhinos. There's also an open section, where giraffes, ostriches (we saw real ostrich eggs) and various bovines and antelopes wandered freely. An ostrich came right up to our truck. I headed back to the resort in late afternoon.
Cyn was done with her conference that afternoon, so I picked her up, and we went to EPCOT. Walked around the World Showcase a ways, and she picked Morocco for dinner. It was just as good the second time. Then we walked around some more. Saw some more countries. Kinda took it easy. Then the big fireworks show. Not a bad show, but a little disappointing. Then we rode Soarin', which simulated a hang glider ride over California. Some nice scenery (and a bit of scent), but I didn't think it was the greatest thing ever, like everyone else seemed to think. Also rode Spaceship Earth, which wasn't my idea, but at least I got to send out a film of me and Cyn in the future.
I was very tired by the end of this night.
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no subject
Date: 2010-01-26 03:37 pm (UTC)From:I love the take off.
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Date: 2010-01-26 07:59 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-01-26 08:38 pm (UTC)From:You didn't really miss much, because it was all quite cheesy.