Holidays in the Parks

 

After Halloween, the decorations in the parks switched to the Holidays, and in Epcot, the Food and Wine Festival gave way to the Festival of Holidays after Thanksgiving. The restrictions for covid continued to be eased, and more things returned. Disney announced the return of the Cast 5K, and earlier this month. Susan, Jennifer, and I took part. It was held in Animal Kingdom. 

For my birthday, my mom came out to Florida. I took her around the parks for a few days, and we also spent some time checking out the Christmas decorations at the resorts. We had dinner at the Ale & Compass restaurant at the Beach Club resort. 

She enjoyed some of the shows at Animal Kingdom, walking the animal trails, and riding the train out to Conservation Station. We also watched the new Kite Tails show.

One morning we went to brunch at the Grand Floridian, and enjoyed seeing the gingerbread house there.

Fort Sumter & Wormsloe

We made another quick trip to Charleston this week. While we were there, I took the ferry from downtown out to Fort Sumter to look around. Fort Sumter is where the Civil War started in 1861, with South Carolina troops taking the fort from Union soldiers.  

It takes a couple of hours to ferry back and forth across the harbor and walk around the fort, but it's definitely worth it for someone interested in history.

On the way home today we stopped at the Wormsloe State Historic Site outside Savannah. The history of this former plantation was interesting, but we also we enjoyed walking around the grounds.

Harmonius

As part of the 50th anniversary celebration, Disney premiered two new fireworks shows, Enchantment in Magic Kingdom and Harmonius in Epcot. Last night Susan and I attended a special showing of Harmonious for Epcot cast members. We got to view the fireworks from a front and center spot, and even got some free snacks. 

I didn't get into the parks much in October. Disney reopened the Sassagoula boats at Disney Springs, and a lot of cast members from the Friendship Boats were reassigned there, meaning those left behind worked a lot of hours. In Epcot, work continued in the middle of Future World.

As well as on the new Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster.

Disney World's 50th

 

On October 1st, WDW began celebrating its 50th anniversary.

In September, they added 50 golden statues of characters in the parks. We went into the Magic Kingdom last week to check out the 50th decorations and to see the Happily Ever After fireworks before it went away for a new show. We also had dinner at Garden Grill and, this weekend, at Cape May Cafe.

Last night, Jennifer was asked to attend a special "Harry Potter" event at Universal's Islands of Adventure.

Food & Wine and more

We continued to visit the parks in late August and September as Disney World prepared for its 50th anniversary. In Epcot, we checked out the Food and Wine booths.

 

At the Studios, we got another chance to experience Rise of the Resistance. We still had to wear masks, but it was a little better than the first time due to easing of the social distancing rules.

In the Magic Kingdom, Halloween decorations went up in August.

We also got to do a few more previews of Ratatouille. While waiting for our slot, we tried some crepes from the new Creperie restaurant. They were pretty good. 

Yesterday Creations Shop, the replacement for MouseGear, opened up in Epcot.

Summer at WDW

We've gotten the opportunity this summer to attend a couple of cast previews and other special events. Yesterday we attended a special preview of Ratatouille, a new dark ride at the France pavilion in Epcot. It's fun, although exactly the same as the one we rode in Paris back in 2014.

Last night we got to stay for free at the new Destino tower at the Coronado Springs Resort.  

We had great views from our room high up in the tower, but unfortunately we weren't able to watch the fireworks that night because they were delayed due to a lightning storm. 

Earlier this month I went into the Magic Kingdom again and while there checked out the Tron site.

Meanwhile Bryan and Jenn flew to Seattle for their friends’ wedding. Jennifer was a bridesmaid.

July update

  

At the end of June, we attended a cast preview of Happily Ever After, the fireworks show at Magic Kingdom, before it returned for guests after being suspended for the pandemic.  

Susan and I didn’t get to the parks in July, but Jennifer did. To celebrate her birthday, she and Bryan went to Universal with some UP friends who had recently moved to Florida.

She then invited a couple of friends to stay with her on her free cast staycation at the Grand Floridian. They visited MK one day and Epcot the next. On a bad note, a couple days ago Disney announced the resumption of the mask mandate, beginning today. None of us are looking forward to asking guests to keep their masks on again. 

Space Center

 

We spent most of Thursday at the Houston Space Center. I enjoyed many of the exhibits in the main visitor center, but was disappointed in the tram ride.

I thought we would tour the astronaut training facilities, but it just went out to a rocket graveyard and a building holding an old Saturn rocket. Plus we got drenched by a summer thunderstorm on the way back to the visitor center.

We had some delicious barbeque for dinner, then went to another Voodoo. This morning we flew back.

Houston

Bryan's job required him to work in downtown Houston for several weeks. Susan and I decided to fly out Wednesday morning for a long "weekend" and visit him and do some things around Houston. Once we got to Houston airport, we stopped at the Hard Rock for lunch. This was the 29th HRC I have visited.

From the airport we headed out to the San Jacinto Monument. San Jacinto was the battle site where the Republic of Texas won its independence from Mexico. I had tried to visit it before in December of 2017, but it was closed for the Christmas holiday.

There was a museum with a film and an elevator to the top of the monument, with views of the surrounding countryside.

After dinner with Bryan, we stopped at a Voodoo Doughnut for dessert. Voodoo, which originated in Portland, has been expanding into Colorado and Texas, and Bryan has been trying to visit all of their locations.

Velocicoaster & Cars Suite

 

Earlier this month, I attended a sneak preview for Universal's new roller coaster, Velocicoaster.  Located in the Jurassic Park area of Islands of Adventure, this coaster has good theming and a lot of thrills. It's fast and has multiple inversions.

Last night, we stayed in a Cars Suite at the Art of Animation Resort in Disney World. We stayed free courtesy of Disney, who is offering free stays all this summer to cast members in gratitude for working during the pandemic.

We rode the Skyliner over to the Caribbean Beach Resort, where we had dinner. The Art of Animation is a nice resort for young families. It's mostly suite rooms, with well done theming. We had stayed there once before, back in 2013.

Myrtle Beach and Beaufort

This week we took another trip up to South Carolina. Besides visiting Charleston, we spent a day in Myrtle Beach, mostly walking around the Broadway at the Beach area.

We ate at the Hard Rock Cafe there. It was the 28th HRC I have visited.

On the way home we stopped in Beaufort to check out the downtown and visit the Reconstruction Era National Historic Park. We weren't too impressed, but maybe the park will be more interesting to visit when Covid restrictions are no longer in place.

Flower and Garden Festival

 

This week we returned to Epcot for the Flower and Garden Festival. We enjoyed seeing the topiaries and sampling some of the food and beverages.

Demolition of the old Innoventions West building in the center of Future World was almost complete.

And part of the new France expansion had been opened up - but just to allow access to the new restrooms.

While work on the new Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster, which will replace the Universe of Energy attraction, continued.

Busch Gardens and more

 

Earlier this month, we returned to Busch Gardens. This time Bryan joined us. We spent most of our time enjoying the All-Day Dining, but we also rode the train and looked at the animals and did a couple of the coasters.  

This week Susan and I took the trailer down to Fort Pierce and hung out on the coast for a couple of days.

Vero Beach

Last week, to celebrate our anniversary, Susan and I spent a couple of days at Vero Beach. Bryan and Jennifer came out too. We enjoyed walking on the beach, eating at the resort’s restaurant, and swimming in the pool. 

On our way home we stopped at the Bass Pro Shop in Melbourne and admired their alligator display.

This week Bryan and Jenn went to Epcot with friends to enjoy the Festival of the Arts.

Disney Parks

 

After Christmas, I was transferred back to the Friendship Boats. While I enjoyed my brief time at the Magic Kingdom boats, it was good to be home. In January, Epcot pulled down some of the walls in the front of the park, revealing a new entrance fountain.  

We finally got to experience Rise of the Resistance at Hollywood Studios. It is a fantastic ride, and I really look forward to enjoying it without Covid restrictions. Susan’s sister and niece came out last week so we took them to the parks. I also enjoyed watching them make lightsabers at Savi’s Workshop.

 

We also spent a day at Animal Kingdom, and ate at Yak n Yeti for the first time. It was pretty good.  

Finally, we enjoyed the Festival of the Arts in Epcot.