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Vacation Report May 2018
May. 12th, 2018 12:36 pmA while back my friend Mary Aileen and I were talking about going to Disney and the like in Orlando. We came to an agreement that we would like to take a vacation together down to Orlando.
Mary Aileen and I have been friends since we were 6/7 years old and have continued to be so over a rather long span of time. She was my maid of honor at my wedding.
We worked it out that she got the tickets I would get the room and a few other things.
This past week we went on that vacation. We stayed at Fort Wilderness on Disney Property which gave us an advantage that we used on Thursday but more on that when we get to Thursday.
Monday was up early to get to the airport and fly down so we would be there mid afternoon. We traveled first class with all the perks that entailed like lunch on the plane and getting through security in a short amount of time.
Once down in Orlando, we picked up the rental car for the week and drove to Disney world. We were able to check in to our cabin and pick up the golf cart (best way to get around Fort Wilderness) for the week.
After settling in, we took the golf cart to the back to the property where the boat launch is and my parking luck got us a good spot in the lot next to the boat. We took the boat over and entered to park.
Mary Aileen had a few things she really wanted to do and a number she would like to do. We went to the fast pass station to see what we might be able to still get on. Not much to choose from but picked up the Little Mermaid and Jungle Cruise as Fast Passes. We rode the carousal, which was a must on her list and then rode the people mover. Then it was time for Little Mermaid which was fun. We walked by Pirates and Haunted Mansion but the stand-by was longer than either of us wanted to stand.
We had a really good guide for the Jungle Cruise. The puns and bad jokes were some of the best we had heard. All the pilots that night were female which was a nice change of pace.
We tried Pirates but something happened (I think we had someone try or succeeded in getting out of their boat) and it shut down. We went to Haunted Mansion where the wait had reduced. I asked the cast member there if that was a real number or an estimate since it had been a long day and neither of us were up for a long stand. She was kind enough to pass us through the Fast Pass lane and I got my annual pilgrimage in.
One more round on the carousel and we were done for the evening.
Tuesday morning found us in Disney MGM……Disney Hollywood Studios….Disney what every they are calling the park were one can see Muppets 3-D. We had lunch reservations at the ‘drive-in’ café. We lucked into some fast passes for Star Tours which she had never done. For the record Darth Vader, the Wookie Planet, Princess Leia (sniff) and Corscant. After that my pilgrimage to the last recorded performance by Jim Henson as Kermit. They have cleaned it up and it looks nicer. We then had lunch and walked through the Star Wars Launch Bay.
We went back to the cabin to take a break before heading for Epcot for the late afternoon/evening.
Got to Epcot and was able to walk onto Spaceship Earth. Does anyone else think that the Roman Senator with his back basically to us looks like Tom Baker as Dr. Who except in a toga? We road Finding Nemo and looked around the aquarium there spending some time with a very playful dolphin.
After that we executed a demented idea I had. I had brought Mary Aileen her Porg that I got for her after she complained that she couldn’t find a stuff Porg on her side of the Long Island. So we took photos of the Porg in all the countries in the world showcase. Got some good ones and framed a number very well. I am quite proud of it. My friend Patty joined us in Morocco where we had just finished dinner (Shawarma). Using the fading light we finished the photo set and started our way back to the front of the property.
This was when our one mishap of the trip happened. I was showing Patty the picture that was taken the day that Peter and I got engaged. It is on the walls etched onto the metal plate. Mary Aileen was a few steps behind and in the lighting conditions tripped over the extended corner of the walls. I tried to catch her and managed to get a hand on her but the momentum was too much and I lost my grip. She fell hard but, except for a skinned elbow, was basically not damaged. We were observed by a group of women who misinterpreted the situation from what they saw that apparently looked like I hit Mary Aileen as she was falling. They went to get a cast member who came over to make sure that she was OK and get a read on the situation. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a security guard positioned to come in. Mary Aileen pointed out the curb she had tripped over and explained what happened. We decided to just go back to the cabin rather than walk back to first aid. I do give the women credit for seeing something and saying something to make sure my friend was OK. They read the situation wrong but that’s fine by me because they cared enough to make sure Mary Aileen was safe.
Wednesday thanks to my buddy Graham, we went to Universal and played in the world of Harry Potter. We saw the puppet show. Mary Aileen was picked for the wand ceremony, which was really cool. Mary Aileen rode Escape from Gringotts. We had lunch with Graham at the Leaky Caldron and then went playing around with Spells then took the train to Hogsmead and played around there for a bit. We went to Suess land and rode the Sneech ride and the Caro-Seuss-el. Then walked back to the Hogwarts express and Diagon Alley. Ran out of energy and went back to the cabin. Had dinner at the Trail’s End Restaurant which was very good and filling. That evening some friends came over and we hung out as I taught a short puppet operating course. It was relaxing and fun. It was an early night since we knew it was going to be an early morning.
The next day we found ourselves at Animal Kingdom very early. Mary Aileen was able to walk onto Flights of Passage in Pandora and we did the Na’vi river ride again with very little wait. We walked quickly to the Safari and lucked out because the animals were very active. As were the tigers. We admired the animals, had lunch, and went back to the cabins. We went back to Pandora at right before dusk and saw such a change in the landscape. Colors that were not there in the morning were evident as the plant life took over the landscape. We didn’t see the whole transformation so I will have to go back at some point.
Friday was getting ready to head home and some more time in the Magic Kingdom. We walked around doing various things as we wanted to and then went to the airport. The flight home was pleasant. I got home in good time. Mary Aileen had one more adventure that I would not wish on my worst enemy before she got home after I did. She is less than 30 minute from JFK and I am an hour and change. She did get home thanks to the fact the cabs take debit cards and a kind hearted cabby who didn’t over charge her for the ride.
I did not watch any television the whole time I was gone. I did not read newspapers or pay attention to the news. I went on vacation and it was wonderful to just drop out of reality for a bit.
Today Peter is at the Tidewater Comic Con and Caroline is on her freshman trip to Six Flags given me a day to ease my way back into my usual routine which is nice. Tomorrow things go back to normal.
I am grateful that Mary Aileen and I went to Orlando for the week.
Mary Aileen and I have been friends since we were 6/7 years old and have continued to be so over a rather long span of time. She was my maid of honor at my wedding.
We worked it out that she got the tickets I would get the room and a few other things.
This past week we went on that vacation. We stayed at Fort Wilderness on Disney Property which gave us an advantage that we used on Thursday but more on that when we get to Thursday.
Monday was up early to get to the airport and fly down so we would be there mid afternoon. We traveled first class with all the perks that entailed like lunch on the plane and getting through security in a short amount of time.
Once down in Orlando, we picked up the rental car for the week and drove to Disney world. We were able to check in to our cabin and pick up the golf cart (best way to get around Fort Wilderness) for the week.
After settling in, we took the golf cart to the back to the property where the boat launch is and my parking luck got us a good spot in the lot next to the boat. We took the boat over and entered to park.
Mary Aileen had a few things she really wanted to do and a number she would like to do. We went to the fast pass station to see what we might be able to still get on. Not much to choose from but picked up the Little Mermaid and Jungle Cruise as Fast Passes. We rode the carousal, which was a must on her list and then rode the people mover. Then it was time for Little Mermaid which was fun. We walked by Pirates and Haunted Mansion but the stand-by was longer than either of us wanted to stand.
We had a really good guide for the Jungle Cruise. The puns and bad jokes were some of the best we had heard. All the pilots that night were female which was a nice change of pace.
We tried Pirates but something happened (I think we had someone try or succeeded in getting out of their boat) and it shut down. We went to Haunted Mansion where the wait had reduced. I asked the cast member there if that was a real number or an estimate since it had been a long day and neither of us were up for a long stand. She was kind enough to pass us through the Fast Pass lane and I got my annual pilgrimage in.
One more round on the carousel and we were done for the evening.
Tuesday morning found us in Disney MGM……Disney Hollywood Studios….Disney what every they are calling the park were one can see Muppets 3-D. We had lunch reservations at the ‘drive-in’ café. We lucked into some fast passes for Star Tours which she had never done. For the record Darth Vader, the Wookie Planet, Princess Leia (sniff) and Corscant. After that my pilgrimage to the last recorded performance by Jim Henson as Kermit. They have cleaned it up and it looks nicer. We then had lunch and walked through the Star Wars Launch Bay.
We went back to the cabin to take a break before heading for Epcot for the late afternoon/evening.
Got to Epcot and was able to walk onto Spaceship Earth. Does anyone else think that the Roman Senator with his back basically to us looks like Tom Baker as Dr. Who except in a toga? We road Finding Nemo and looked around the aquarium there spending some time with a very playful dolphin.
After that we executed a demented idea I had. I had brought Mary Aileen her Porg that I got for her after she complained that she couldn’t find a stuff Porg on her side of the Long Island. So we took photos of the Porg in all the countries in the world showcase. Got some good ones and framed a number very well. I am quite proud of it. My friend Patty joined us in Morocco where we had just finished dinner (Shawarma). Using the fading light we finished the photo set and started our way back to the front of the property.
This was when our one mishap of the trip happened. I was showing Patty the picture that was taken the day that Peter and I got engaged. It is on the walls etched onto the metal plate. Mary Aileen was a few steps behind and in the lighting conditions tripped over the extended corner of the walls. I tried to catch her and managed to get a hand on her but the momentum was too much and I lost my grip. She fell hard but, except for a skinned elbow, was basically not damaged. We were observed by a group of women who misinterpreted the situation from what they saw that apparently looked like I hit Mary Aileen as she was falling. They went to get a cast member who came over to make sure that she was OK and get a read on the situation. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a security guard positioned to come in. Mary Aileen pointed out the curb she had tripped over and explained what happened. We decided to just go back to the cabin rather than walk back to first aid. I do give the women credit for seeing something and saying something to make sure my friend was OK. They read the situation wrong but that’s fine by me because they cared enough to make sure Mary Aileen was safe.
Wednesday thanks to my buddy Graham, we went to Universal and played in the world of Harry Potter. We saw the puppet show. Mary Aileen was picked for the wand ceremony, which was really cool. Mary Aileen rode Escape from Gringotts. We had lunch with Graham at the Leaky Caldron and then went playing around with Spells then took the train to Hogsmead and played around there for a bit. We went to Suess land and rode the Sneech ride and the Caro-Seuss-el. Then walked back to the Hogwarts express and Diagon Alley. Ran out of energy and went back to the cabin. Had dinner at the Trail’s End Restaurant which was very good and filling. That evening some friends came over and we hung out as I taught a short puppet operating course. It was relaxing and fun. It was an early night since we knew it was going to be an early morning.
The next day we found ourselves at Animal Kingdom very early. Mary Aileen was able to walk onto Flights of Passage in Pandora and we did the Na’vi river ride again with very little wait. We walked quickly to the Safari and lucked out because the animals were very active. As were the tigers. We admired the animals, had lunch, and went back to the cabins. We went back to Pandora at right before dusk and saw such a change in the landscape. Colors that were not there in the morning were evident as the plant life took over the landscape. We didn’t see the whole transformation so I will have to go back at some point.
Friday was getting ready to head home and some more time in the Magic Kingdom. We walked around doing various things as we wanted to and then went to the airport. The flight home was pleasant. I got home in good time. Mary Aileen had one more adventure that I would not wish on my worst enemy before she got home after I did. She is less than 30 minute from JFK and I am an hour and change. She did get home thanks to the fact the cabs take debit cards and a kind hearted cabby who didn’t over charge her for the ride.
I did not watch any television the whole time I was gone. I did not read newspapers or pay attention to the news. I went on vacation and it was wonderful to just drop out of reality for a bit.
Today Peter is at the Tidewater Comic Con and Caroline is on her freshman trip to Six Flags given me a day to ease my way back into my usual routine which is nice. Tomorrow things go back to normal.
I am grateful that Mary Aileen and I went to Orlando for the week.
