The Disney Vacation Wrap Up,

Well the wifey and I have returned from what was a long overdue vacation. It all started on Wednesday night after work, with a ride up the NYS thruway to beautiful Albany NY, dropped off the dogs, catched a few winks of sleep and were up by quarter to 5 AM for our flight to Orlando.

THURSDAY

Woke up, drove to the airport and waited. We flew southwest to Orlando, Southwest is a free for all. The Way down we sat next to a Judge from Albany County. The flight was good except for about the last 40 minutes of the flight. Well the last 40 minutes consisted of about a 5 or 6 year old doing his best impression of a human car starter. It was the most annoying thing. This is the same child who was sitting a row in front of us, and slammed my wife’s shade in her window seat. The most disturbing thing about this was the parent said nothing. So we opened it back up.

Anyhow we made it to Disney after an issue with the cab, and checked in put on shorts and headed off to the Animal Kingdom. Animal Kingdom was fun. First thing we did was get some food, and then we went to the Amazon on safari. Saw giraffe’s and gazelles and Lions and elephants and Rhino’s. It was quite nice. Then we decided to get wet on a water ride. Well the wifey was drenched; I mean not a spot on her was dry. This was the Kali River Rapids, and they were wet. After this we went to the land of the Dinosaurs, We went on a whirly type ride and then on the Dinosaur ride. It was fun and interesting. After the ride we watched the Disney Parade.

FRIDAY

Friday we went off to the Magic Kingdom, and was able to do every ride at the Magic Kingdom, Space Mountain, Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, the Tea Cups, The Peter Pan ride, some ride that goes round and round, The Buzz Light-year Ride, the River Safari Ride, Aladdin Magic Carpet Ride, and on and on. It was a great day, and a whole lotta fun.

Friday night we went over to the Osborne spectacle of lights at MGM and then off to Downtown Disney, Getting to Downtown Disney was an experience as we followed some signs to a TAXI, wound up at another one of the Disney resorts and finally found a bus to take us to Downtown Disney, where as it was late we finally got some dinner, after going into the Disney Store (which is humungous). As for the Osborne Spectacle of lights it was awesome. It was crazy, there are more lights their then I could ever imagine, it even snowed, it was really neat and if you ever get a chance to check out Disney around Christmas time this is a must see.

SATURDAY

Saturday was the day of Epcot. The day of broken down rides, and countries. Well we did everything at Epcot with the Exception of Test Track. We got to meet Mickey and Pluto in space suits before going on Mission Space. This was a cool ride. We hung out with Ellen and Bill Ni the science guy on the Universe of Energy which was a cool type of a movie like experience, we saw nemo in the living sees, and checked out how they grow plants and a little bit of the earth. Of course we did the golf ball and learned about communication.

We also checked out all the countries. Found some little rides in Norway and Mexico, and just enjoyed the views. We had lunch in the USA why you ask, because it’s our country and France (aren’t we boycotting them).

Anyhow after doing all of that, we went to see the Story of Christmas. Disney does this Candlelight Processional, essentially it’s an author who reads the story of Christmas while people perform, and it was very nicely done but a touch on the religious side for yours truly a Jew.

So we finally get to eat dinner, we went to eat at the Rose and Crown in England. The dinner was great, probably the best meal we had all vaca. What was even better was the dessert. I had this toffee pudding, which was just filling and delicious. While we were eating of course the Illusions night show was ongoing. When the flames go off, I can tell you feel warmth from them. The one thing I am not telling you about the day was that it was COLD.

SUNDAY

Normally the holliest day of the week with football ongoing, but I delt and delt well. In the AM we grabbed some breakfast went to MGM, and tackled the Tower of Terror, and the rock n rollercoaster. (tower of terror, disappointing at best), Rock and Roller coaster was rockin and a lot of fun, I am surprised people don’t get whiplash from that ride. Anyhow we checked out more of MGM and went to a couple of the show types of thing. Learned all about Walt Disney and how he came up with the mouse, it was very interesting. Saw the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular which I thought was neat.

Well after all of that it was time for lunch. So we went to the prime time café. It was funny as anything, as they make the men (me included) wear bibs, and she fed the wifey what was left on her plate, and they are just a bit crazy.

After this we shopped, and purchased a personalized ornament (more on this later), then we decided to go back to the hotel for a bit.

So we go back to the hotel and we realize that we had left the ornament, but no we don’t go back, we stay at the hotel and get ready for Mickey’s very merry Christmas party. The Christmas party was fun, a great fireworks display, and Tinkerbell flies thru the crowd, it was defiantly unique. We got to do a lot of the rides over including the Poo Ride which was fun, the ride bounces at times like Tiger. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Well the night was finally over and so was our trip.

As for how I delt with the lack of football, I was lucky enough to have a good buddy send me text updates of the game, as well I could check some of the scores online via my phone, the wife wasn’t happy, but such is life, and I made it.

MONDAY – final hours
Well Monday was here and it was our last day. Our car came to pick us up at 430 or so Monday evening. We tried taking it easy but had to go pick up our ornament at MGM. So we did so. Getting back the bus didn’t show up so we probably wasted about 30 minutes or so. Got back to the hotel, organized our stuff, and checked out for 11PM. SO after this we walked down to the boat doc and took a boat to downtown Disney. We ate lunch at the Earl of Sandwich, very well and probably the most inexpensive we ate all week. Then we shopped for a little bit, and before we left we got some Ice Cream Sunday at Ghirardelli. It was sooooooo gooooood. Anyhow we had another couple of hours to go so we just laid by the pool and relaxed a bit.

So the flight home was un-eventful, which was good, but surprise about 4 inches of snow. Now, who has not put their ice scraper or snow brush in their car (me), so I had to clean off the window with my sweater, and we made it back to where it all started by tuesday, at home with our dogs.