A Week of Cartoons, 2014
In the fall of 2014,
Ron and Carol spent a week in Orlando FL spending very little time in reality
Ron and Carol stayed
at the Disney's All-Star Music Resort. It was full of oversize musical instruments.
Carol thought it was cute. Ron thought it was weird. It was a bargain!
But best of all was
Disney’s bus system: free to/from airport and all the Disney theme parks.
Magic
Kingdom – Swiss Family Treehouse. This was removed from Disneyland several years ago and Carol
was happy to see it again. It brought back all sorts of happy memories.
Magic
Kingdom – The Haunted Mansion in the distance and a real egret in the
foreground. The
crowds were light and Ron and Carol were able to do all the rides they wanted
and some twice.
Epcot – A permanent
world’s fair supplied by Disney. The World Showcase included ten countries.
This is the Japanese exhibit as seen from across the lake.
Epcot – Many of World
Showcase countries include museums. This exhibit in the Japanese section showed
how the ancient myths and legends of Japan gave rise to Japan’s modern anime
culture. Here Moon Rabbit evolves in to Mina Tsukishiro.
Universal’s Island of
Adventure – The entrance to Hogwarts and the Forbidden Journey ride. After this
Ron and Carol decided that jerky roller coaster rides will NOT be on the top of
their list anymore.
Universal’s Island of
Adventure – Ron distracting a dinosaur so not to miss the Jurassic Park River
Adventure. (Universal was also uncrowded.)
Universal’s Island of
Adventure – Ron getting carried away in Super Hero Island. The Spiderman ride
is nearby.
Universal – Hogwarts
Express that connects Island of Adventure with Universal Studios Florida. What
happens on this train trip is totally unexpected. (A video
capture.)
Universal
Studios Florida, Diagon Alley, with Gringotts Bank topped by a fire-breathing dragon.
Universal
Studios Florida – Escape from Gringotts. Animated goblin tellers on the way in to the
ride. (A video capture.)
Universal
Studios Florida – Lunch at the Leaky Cauldron. Carol finds the said leaky cauldron.
Disney’s
Animal Kingdom – DinoLand. Ron again redirecting a dinosaur in order
to see the “Dinosaur” ride.
Disney’s
Animal Kingdom – Africa. One of the performers in the ‘Festival of the Lion King’ show.
Think of it as a hybrid of The Lion King and Cirque du Soleil.
Disney’s
Animal Kingdom – Africa. Ankole cattle as seen on the Kilimanjaro Safaris, an open
side bus tour of a savanna.
Disney’s
Animal Kingdom – Africa. Lions, the male in his natural state.
The Animal Kingdom
became Ron and Carol’s favorite. Not a huge number of different animals, but
what they had was well displayed in natural habitat, with many guides around
the park with interesting details.
Disney’s
Animal Kingdom – Africa. Pangani Forest
Exploration Trail. A walking tour of forest animals.
Here western lowland gorillas in a large habitat.
Disney’s
Animal Kingdom – Tree of Life. Celebrating all living creatures, this iconic centerpiece is
the symbol of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. If one looks closely they can see
all sorts of wildlife represented in the roots.
Downtown
Disney. Raglan
Road Irish Pub and Restaurant. Good food, trad
music and Irish dancers. A great way to end the trip.
Ron loves jokes about
T-Rex’s short arms, so he had to buy this t-shirt.