Disney Trips

A bunch of photos and comments from our trips to Walt Disney World
where we've had some of our favourite family vacations.
More than a casual vacation spot for us, we are essentially 'Disney addicts'.

Along with Camping (which is our favourite summer activity), Disneyworld is our favourite family vacation spot. Even before we had kids we'd been to Disney twice - it was the first place my wife and I went when we got together (both of us had also been when we were kids growing up with our families).

A Decade (plus) of Disney Trips

In 2001, when the kids were old enough, we flew down in our first family trip to Disneyworld (and it was a trip of many firsts) and in 2003 we went again, this time staying in our RV at Fort Wilderness. We've gone again numerous times - at least once a year since 2005 - and yup, we're officially Disney addicts. It's a place where we can all "be a kid" and get away from regularity" .... no cellphones, no IM, just fun. (One could claim we are, as a family, 'stuck with each other for a week' and perhaps that is part of it).

While we liked taking the trailer in May and camping, some of our later trips were in December, and so taking the trailer was somewhat impractical as it would have required dewinterizing the unit in warmer climates and towing through some awful winter weather (namely the mountains of Pennsylvania and Virginia) to get there. On various trips we've stayed at Pop Century, All Star Movies, Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter, and in the wilderness cabins at Fort Wilderness: hardly 'roughing it', these cabins feature air conditioning and a dishwasher!

... and while you'd think that not much would have changed over the course of the years, as our family has grown-up the nature of our trips has changed from simple amusement (rides, rides, rides = rush, rush, rush) to a more relaxed vacation doing all those _other_ things like taking-in shows and relaxing at dinners. One of the things I particularly enjoy nowadays is to sit down for an hour and a half to enjoy a relaxing dinner in the middle of a hectic day!

So, what makes this place so appealing to us that we'd travel here once a year?

Typical Vacation

Memories

Shows

Scenery

Rides

Dining

A Typical Vacation ...

Our 2011 trip (one of the best trips we're ever had as a family) begins with a flight out of Buffalo. Southwest offered fares as low as $49 US to Florida during the mid-2000's (you can see how we managed to do this trip many times previously without going broke), although we paid over twice that this time (the economy must be getting better). We stayed at Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter, a moderate resort. A first for us, since we usually stay at Pop Century (a value hotel), this place is quite nicely decorated in the theme of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Small cobblestone-lined streets enhance the charm of the place along with wrought-iron trim everywhere. Despite a rocky start (which included our luggage being late by six hours, and a room which was not cleaned well) all went better after a good nights sleep.

Now the rest of the trip is pretty typical for us. We're not the type to relax by the poolside so we pretty much spend all of our time at the parks - this is the reason we usually stay at a value resort: we're hardly ever there except to sleep. Our days usually begin with breakfast in the room, often left-over dessert from the previous night's meal. Ever had Pecan pie for breakfast? I have. I highly recommend it once a year while on vacation! As for the "in room" part ... I prefer my own coffee from home (ask any coffee lover about Disney coffee ... can't say anything good about it which is probably why I drink so much cappuccino while there - hard to fake that, aside from which the caffeine boost is a good thing when dragging after a long day). Since these rooms have fridges and coffeemakers in them, breakfast was easy.

For me, personally, I really enjoy dining - it is my one and a half hours of enforced relaxation during an otherwise hectic day. Disney has some nice restaurants, like Le Cellier in EPCOT. Being Canadian (since Le Cellier is the "Canadian" restaurant) has little to bias me towards this restaurant as being my favourite: the filet with the trufle sauce is just downright excellent and the ambience of a quiet, stone-laden wine cellar in the middle of park full of a mass of humanity makes for a nice change of pace. The relaxed attitude might change, mind you, when you get the bill for this place is downright pricey ... we were on the dining plan for this particular trip so it wasn't a concern, and even than that it was FREE free dining - but I'm afraid that with the economy improving those days are numbered, too (In 2011, Disney offered full free-dining durin several "off-peak" periods if you stayed in a moderate hotel, hence how we ended-up in a moderate in the first place).

There are other restaurants I like as well, and some considerably more moderately priced like Mama Melrose's in Hollywood studios (with my favourite dish being the Clams Oreganata appetizer) and the Plaza in Magic Kingdom (which is a great value and features the _best_ milkshakes in all of Disney). Despite being on the dining plan and being able to eat at the most expensive restaurants, we usually opt for what we like (no "optimizing for maximum dollar value" here). I guess that is one benefit of not having paid our own money for the dining plan - when you get something free you hardly feel the need to obtain maximum value from it. Another favourite restaurant, which we didn't do on this trip (there are only a limited number of days, and a seeminly unlimited number of choices), is the Sci-Fi diner where patrons sit in "cars" at a "drive in" and watch really bad 50's movies: try the spinach dip (although they have changed that - the original with asiago cheese was better). And then there's Les Chefs de France in EPCOT where they serve the absolute best French onion soup I have ever tasted (of course it follows since I have a real taste for Gruyere cheese, of which they use copious quantities in many recipes).

Eating is great (and from the sounds of it you might think it is the main reason we came), but rides are, of course, the primary reason to visit and Disney does pay attention to detail. Each major ride features a pre-show which, in many cases, is as entertaining as the ride itself! Twilight Zone Tower of Terror features a particularly amusing pre-show complete with an introduction by "Rod Serling", a walk through a creepy boiler room, and another pre-show sequence as the ride car makes it's way to the elevator shaft followed by the anticipated drop. Speaking of drops, on this particular trip I did a little science (Even on vacation, I'm still a scientist) and I brought along a homebuilt recording accelerometer which records the acceleration in three axes. Among other things I integrated the data twice for Tower to reveal the exact sequences we went through, and data from other rides like Everest at Animal Kingdom revealed FOUR G's during a backwards half-pipe (which explains why I feel like I'm going to lose my lunch ... I _never_ eat before going on that one). Mission Space was another interesting one to analyze (for example, to determine how they make you feel weightless during one part of the ride).

While Animal Kingdon is not my favourite park, one of my favourite rides here, my personal "Raison d'être" for going to this park at all, is the Kilimanjaro Safari ride which takes you through various zones filled with wildlife from Africa. On this particular trip we took-in a safari early in the day, when some animals like the big cats were sleeping but others were quite active, and then did a second safari with a FastPass at the end of the day (one of the last tours going out before the safari closed before sunset). THAT turned out to be the best of all for the lion decided to wake for his upcoming dinner, walked up on a rock, and presented his mane-adorned face to the golden afternoon sun. What a sight!

And Shows? We still take-in many of the same shows we're seen. Like a good movie, you can see it over and over again without getting tired of it. On this particular trip the kids were both selected for the "Harbor Attack" sequence in which they play the part of sailors on a WW-2 patrol boat being torpedoed (and soaked with water - hence the blue rainsuits they put them in). After several sequences were shot they stitched together these with stock footage to make a short clip about a patrol boat being attacked.

Night, for me, is particularly magical. I enjoy might scenes and especially photography at night (one reason why I opted for a Canon "S" camera with a particularly sensitive detector). Fireworks over the castle during the Wishes show are a must once during each trip but just walking around the parks after dark presents a host of eye candy like Big Thunder mountain lit up to reveal a host of shadowy details. Of course it helps, too, that the crowds diminish at night so many rides are essentially "walk on" especially during non-peak times. And during this time of the year Hollywood studios features the Osborne spectacle of dancing lights in which an entire street is adorned with millions of lights all sequenced to Christmas music (for example, Trans-Siberian Orchestra). They even add to the experience with fake snow (although I think this is closer to spit than snow, and we are indeed experts in snow). I've got some of my favourite shots a bit lower on this page.

One of the more hilarious episodes on this trip occured at Hollywood Studios during lunch. While eating at the food area outside Tower of Terror, two actors dressed in 1930's garb showed-up to sit behind us: one was a famous movie star and the other an inept reporter. The reported kept asking the stupidest questions while to poor movie star tried his best not to strangle the idiot! Well, here's Christina trying not to pay too much attention ...

A Few Cherished Memories

Disney is a place where memories are made, and since we've been there with the kids over a dozen times we've got plenty of fond memories to share. Here's a few of my favourites ...

Disney Past

If you're nostalgic like me, you might enjoy a flashback to some long-gone Disneyana that I dug-up ...

And speaking of "Disney Past", here's a scan of an old Disney guidemap. It is undated, but judging from the attractions, and when I was there as a kid, probably dates around 1972-1973. A few neat attractions no longer at the Magic Kingdom include the Main Street Cinema, 20000 Leagues, Flight to the Moon, and the Skyway between Tomorrowland & Fantasyland. Strangely, "If You Had Wings" which opened in 1972 is not shown on the map (although I recall it being there). Carousel of Progress nor Space Mountain are shown on this map as they opened later in 1975, nor are the later Thunder Mountain (1980) and Splash Mountain (1992) attractions.

A few years later, and we took a second trip to Disney staying in my uncle's motor home. This guidebook from 1976 holds a host of good memories! Aside from the guidemap on the last page, showing rides at the time, these pages also list the ticket required for each attraction. At this time, Disney sold coupon books and a ticket, varying in vaue from "A" through "E" with an "E" ticket being required for the best and most popular rides. I'm sure you'll get a kick out of this one and it will certainly educate you as to the origins of the phrase "An E-Ticket Ride"! (And if you ever stay at Pop Century, look in the display cabinets of memorabilia in the main lobby: they have a real "E-Ticket" in there).

Oh, and the big NEW ride for 1976: Space Mountain which had just opened.

We still collect park maps periodically so we can cherish those great rides we remember like "Journey Into Imagination" ... this is one ride I sadly miss: the original with figment which closed in 1998 (I saw it in 1991 and 1992). Recently, on YouTube (search 'Disney', 'Journey', 'Imagination' and look for the original by Martin Smith), I saw a home movie (a very, very professional one, though) of the original and was reminded just how magical that ride was (for me, at least). You can also find the full video on Figment's Imagination. Figment, a mythical little character with...

Two tiny wings, eyes big and yellow.
Horns of a steer, but a loveable fellow.
From head to tail, he's royal purple pigment.
And there--Voila!--you've got a Figment!

... guides us through many possible scenes in our imagination. Our host, Dreamfinder, begins by collecting "sounds, colors, ideas -- anything that sparks the imagination" in the idea bag and from there, we take a flight of fancy. My favourite scene was the tale of monsters where we see figment holding a book closed from which monsters appear to be trying to escape. Watching the movie still gives me the "warm fuzzies" :). I am unsure as to why Disney ever got rid of the ride, only to replace it years later with something considerably less inspired, but I suppose for every ride Disney has ever changed there is a fan out there who laments it.

Imagination, imagination.
A dream can be a dream come true,
With just that spark in me and you.

Shows

Stage shows are a staple of Disney and they sure do it in style. Take the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular at Hollywood Studios for example. With the audience in a large covered theatre, actors portray scenes like those you'd see in an Indiana Jones movie complete with pyrotechnics. In all of the parks, various attractions are indeed shows like the live-action "Voyage of the Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast" stage shows.

A few shows involve audience participation like the Backstage Tour. During the pre-show, four guests are selected to act in "Harbor Attack". Oddly, we've been chosen several times for the experience (guess we look like the type of people who enjoy being bombed with water).

Love a parades? Disney does them in style, too! Speaking as an engineer, from a purely technical perspective these are the most elaboratley synchronized displays I've ever seen. Music preceeding the parades, and background music during the parade, is perfectly synchronized. Excellent engineering errr PIXIE DUST, yeah, that's it, it's all that Disney magic about.

Now, the timing of many of our trips was no accident: the week before Christmas is probably one of the least busy times at the parks (although it's catching-on and so we've seen significant increase in crowds during this time) and one in which all of the parks are decorated for the holiday season. Close to Christmas, the 'regular' parades give way to the Christmas parades which are particularly elaborate.

Disney's parades always have a catchy tune which seems to linger long after you come home ... here's one that pops into my head now and then:

Find and board a magic carpet ride,
Go soaring, free-wheeling,
A magical feeling,
All you need is right inside,
Just believe and if you imagine,
Just believe and your dreams will come true.

Ahh yes, if you've see the "Disney Dreams Come True" parade you probably recognize that one. At Christmas, though (or at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party) they run a special Christmas parade, "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade". This is one of the best parades I've seen.

Scenery

I love photography, especially at night, and Disney presents some unique photo opportunities I'd like to share here ...

Rides

There are slow-moving, entertaining rides and there are thrill rides ... I like a blend of both (although Disney lacks any of those "crazy" wild rides, thankfully) so the rides here are just my style. On classics like "Haunted Mansion" and "Pirates of the Carribean" it's pretty much all about entertainment (as in "sit down, keep your eyes open, and enjoy the ride") ... these are the rides for which Disney is famous. And while we like the aforementioned 'traditional' Disney rides and my new personal favourite is Soarin', an IMAX-based hangglider simulator ride which makes you really feel like you're flying over scenic wonders in California and no detail is missed: when flying over an orange grove, for example, orange scent is wafted through the air ... they don't seem to miss a thing.

Hopefully Disney does not forget the kind of entertainment that has made them so popular and unique as opposed to so many other theme parks.

So what makes a true 'Disney' ride? Consider my favourite, Splash Mountain ... at it's heart, it's really a very basic log flume ride but Disney turned it into an entertainment extravaganza! For over eight minutes the rider is slowly taken through the animated tale of Brer Rabbit (which makes a lot more sense if you've seen the movie the ride is based upon, Song of the South, but can be followed regardless). Along the way, you encounter a drop into the briar patch ("the" drop) but that element is by no means the entire focus of the ride as it would be in a 'regular' log flume ride - the show attached to the ride is by far more entertaining than the "mechanical" elements of the ride, namely the drop. Attention to detail is also a Disney hallmark ... in this ride, like most others, no details were spared.

... And that makes this log flume ride special as opposed to the hundreds of other log flume rides in hundreds of other amusement parks anywhere.

Many Disney rides incorporate a pre-show like that: the Tower of Terror attraction (another personal favourite) features a pre-show based on the Twilight Zone series, and the classic Haunted Mansion also features the famous pre-show with the 'stretching room'. It is these elements which make a Disney ride much more than just a regular amusement ride: they are more 'entertainment' than simple 'ride'.

And let's not forget the catchy Disney-tunes which run through your head long after you get home. Ever found yourself humming "It's a Small World"??. Parades, shows, and many rides feature tunes like this one from Splash Mountain:

How do you do? Fine! A friendly greetin'.
How do you do? Say it when you're meetin'.
How do you do? With everyone repeatin':
Pretty good, sure as you're born.

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, one of the 'quintissential' Disney tunes, also came from Song of the South, on which Splash Mountain is based.

For the more adventurous there is 'Mission Space' but be forewarned that you pull real G's (see below) and this could easily be construed as a 'vomit comet' ... there are air sickness bags right inside the ride and I understand they are frequently used! (I did the 'orange team' _once_ in 2005 when it was still quite vicious - it's been "tamed down" since then). For the less rugged, try the green team for the same experience without the G forces. Rock 'n Roller Coaster is another thrill ride which features a linear launch instead of a drop (in other words: zero to sixty in 2.6 seconds on a flat track).

And yet another breed of ride is Toy Story Mania, an arcade-type ride in which riders shoot at 3-D targets racking-up points in the process (picture Buzz-Lightyear on steroids). The system even has modes built-in so during delays when the ride should be moving you are entertained by practice-rounds.

Geeking Out!

Just because you're on vacation doesn't mean you can't still be a geek ... it's just more fun! I recently built a three-axis recording accelerometer, and the real test was to bring it to Disney World. Outlined on this page is raw data from the accelerometer as well as analysis, including integration of the data to yield both velocity and positional data, for rides such as the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Mission Space, and others.

Dining

In earlier trips to Disney we'd always eaten the standard greasy fast-food fare that most people eat - the past few trips involved eating better (LDL numbers may have had a bit to do with that) and with that in mind we did the dining plan and ate at a number of Disney's unique restaurants and saw a few dinner shows. The nice thing about the dining plan (at least the _old_ dining plan ... they changed it for 2008) was not having to worry about a thing - everything was included and there was no need for anything extra. The new plan is not nearly as good a deal, unfortunately. Regardless, the Disney dining experience, to a large extent, turns the trip into a cruise (where the highlight of the day is indeed the dinner). There are a number of very interesting restaurants around the parks but beware, being on the dining plan does take a few hours of each day away (which is not necessarily a bad thing when you're looking for an hour to just unwind).

Disney has a host of restaurants catering to every different taste. Our personal favourite is Le Cellier in the Canadian pavillion in EPCOT. I might be biased because I am Canadian, but Le Cellier served the most amazing filet and the cheese soup was great with the pretzel bread they serve there! Judging from the fact they book-up solid for reservations months in advance leads me to believe there are a host of others who agree. Funny, too, in 2007 we met a young lady working there who was from Welland ... small world!

Some of the restaurants at which we enjoyed eating provided a unique experience like the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater in Hollywood Studios or the Royal Table in Cinderalla's Castle, while others provided a just plain amazing meal like Le Cellier steakhouse in the Canada pavillion at EPCOT. We've also tried a few different restaurants at EPCOT including Les Chefs du France (which we all agreed was the _best_ restaurant we'd been-to in 2006 ... my kids even tried escargot. Unfortunately, the restaurant seems too crowded nowadays with tables wedged into every nook and corner).

Like everywhere else, some restaurants have had their ups-and-downs. We found the Coral Reef at EPCOT, for example, disappointing in 2005 but were impressed in 2007 when we tried it again. We've also had a poor experience at Alfredo's in 2006 and haven't gone back. On the whole, though, the food at most of the upscale restaurants was great. Now, my _personal_ favourite is the inexpensive sci-fi dinner theatre in Hollywood Studios to which we've been several times: more for the camp atmosphere of a fifties drive-in theatre showing low-budget horror flicks than anything else. They advertise it as 'eating good food while watching bad movies'. That particular venue was what I consider as a true Disney experience - something you just won't find anywhere else :). p.s. I recommend trying the artichoke and spinach dip with tortilla chips ... tastes _way_ better than it sounds!