Many of you may have wondered what we were able to do on our short trip to Orlando. Here is a breakdown of what we did at each park:
DAY 1:
Animal Kingdom
Tamu Tamu (LUNCH: Hamburgers – looked and tasted like Turkey Burgers – chips, and waters: $17)
Kilimanjaro Safari
Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
Expedition Everest x2
TriceraTop Spin
DINOSAUR (awesome ride – similar to Indy ride at Disneyland)
It’s Tough to be a Bug (3-D show with A Bugs Life characters)
Epcot
Spaceship Earth (narrated by Dame Judy Dench – the biggest waste of time ever)
Cantina de San Angel (DINNER: taco, enchilada, burrito, drink, churro: $23)
Test Track
Mission: SPACE
The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Circle of Life
Soarin’
Illuminations: Reflections of Earth (Fireworks show – decent)
That was just the first day, from 11AM to 9PM. Not too bad, IMO.
DAY 2:
Magic Kingdom
Main Street Bake Shop (BREAKFAST – we agreed that this was the best meal we ate at the parks. Ham, Egg, & Cheese Croisant, juice, banana: $17)
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (Jayne beat me, but I think my gun was busted)
Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
Space Mountain
Stitch’s Great Escape
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Pecos Bill Café (LUNCH: chicken salad, taco salad, drinks: $17)
Splash Mountain
Haunted Mansion
It’s a Small World
Mickey’s PhilharMagic (another 3-D show where they spray water and blow air in your face… other than that, we liked it: featured music from many of the newer animated classics.)
We left the park at 5PM on day two: we were both exhausted and hungry. We went to the hotel to relax for a few minutes, then off to Downtown Disney.
Downtown Disney
Planet Hollywood (DINNER: homemade manicotti, club sandwich, appetizer, drinks: $50)
World of Disney (SHOPPING! We did all of our shopping in one location – this store has everything that you find at each individual park, and more)
DAY 3:
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Starring Rolls Café (BREAKFAST: pastries, drinks: $13)
Rockin’ Rollercoaster starring Aerosmith x2
Hollywood Tower of Terror
Lights, Motors, Action (car stunt show – could have been a whole lot better if they weren’t racing around in Toyota Yarises)
Studio Backlot Tour
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular (Yawn…just like the stunt shows they do here at Six Flags)
That was it for day 3, we went to Walmart to get Jayne something for her sore throat, Subway for lunch, and headed off to the Airport.
What? Only 3 days in Orlando? What were we thinking?
Well, we originally planned to arrive Friday afternoon, and spend all of the remainder of the day at Animal Kingdom. We boarded our flight from Miami to Orlando, only to be told to unboard to aircraft due to a mechanical problem they were having with the door. Five minutes later they get on the PA and announce that the flight has been canceled. The accommodating flight is for the next morning at 7am. So, after a quick huddle, Jayne and I decide to rent a car and drive the 3.5 hours to Orlando.
We ended up getting into Orlando at about 7:30 in the evening. We went to the airport to pick up our luggage (which was sent through on one of the next flights to Orlando), and then went to dinner at Charley’s Steakhouse. This is where Jayne and I ate the best steaks that we have ever eaten in our lives. Very good. We then went to the hotel and planned what we would do at the parks.
On Saturday, we got scammed into listening to a timeshare sales pitch in exchange for free breakfast and discounted park tickets. That is why we didn’t get to the park until 11am Saturday morning.
All things considered, it was a VERY successful and fun trip. I am SOLD on the Orlando/Disney experience, and we are already talking about when we will go back. I think I have covered everything – if not, I will append more later.
