North Carolina

This morning, Susan and I visited the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. We spent about an hour there. We could have spent more time in the visitor center, but we had learned a lot about the Wright Brothers when we went to Dayton Ohio two years ago. 

After looking around the visitor center, we walked out to the field where they flew their plane, then up to the monument on Kill Devil Hill where they launched their gliders. We then drove to Norfolk Virginia, where we stayed the night. 

Yesterday we drove from Fayetteville North Carolina to Cape Hatteras National Seashore. After entering the park on the north end at Nag’s Head, we drove about an hour down to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The lighthouse is currently being restored. We looked around the visitor center and watched a movie about how they moved the lighthouse back in 1999. 

We then headed back north, checking out the small towns along the way. We stopped at the Bodie Island lighthouse but the visitor center there was closed. We stayed the night in Kitty Hawk. 

We left home Monday morning, and stopped at a couple of Buc-ee’s on our way north, and in Charleston South Carolina for lunch.  I wanted to stop at the South of The Border area for dinner, or at least to look in one or two shops, but Susan wasn’t interested, so we continued on to Fayetteville. 

Sea World

Susan, Jenn, and I have been discussing getting new passes to Sea World for a couple months, and this week went ahead. Wednesday morning we spent a few hours in the park so we could pick up physical cards and the passholder’s perks for August. It’s been almost three years since we’ve had Sea World passes.

We walked around a bit and looked in some shops, then stopped and rode Exhibition Odyssey, which took the place of the old Wild Arctic simulator ride last year. It’s a pretty good ride, a lot like Disney’s Soaring, but smaller and a little faster, but not quite as well done. 

Adjacent to Wild Arctic is where Sea World’s next ride is being constructed. From what I’ve seen so far, it appears to be a simulated dark ride through the ocean.

The other thing Sea World’s added recently was Penguin Trek, a family roller coaster that replaced the Penguin trackless dark ride. It’s a fun coaster and uses parts of the old ride’s queue, so it’s decently themed for Sea World. Like the old ride and similar to Expedition Odyssey, the exit is into the penguin habitat. We grabbed some lunch at the cafe across from the ride, then headed out.

On Thursday, Jennifer released her sixteenth book. On Friday she and a friend drove up to Atlanta to do a book signing at an independent bookstore. Yesterday and today she and Susan sold her books at a market at Dezerland. 

Universal Passholder Night

Friday morning I went on a backstage tour of Tron: Lightcycle / Run with some cast members from MK Watercraft and Monorails. We got to walk in the gravity room while the Tron cast members cycled the cars getting ready for the day, and rode the coaster twice, once with the lights on and once in the dark with the effects on. 

On Monday, construction crews moved Floridian Way traffic onto the new configuration, and begun demolishing the old lanes. From Seven Seas drive south to the exit of the MK parking lot, both directions of traffic are on the new southbound lanes. 

Friday afternoon Susan and Jennifer drove to Panama City. They stayed overnight then did a book signing on Saturday at an independent bookstore. They drove home Saturday night.

Last night we went to the Annual Passholder Appreciation Night at Universal Studios. We arrived around 4:30 and walked the long way around to the New York area, where we got dinner and rode Mummy. Universal is preparing the park for Halloween Horror Nights, which start in two weeks. 

The event started at 7, and we walked around some more and enjoyed a few more rides. Universal had lots of characters out for meet and greets, but we didn’t wait for those. We left around 10. 

Islands of Adventure

 

On Tuesday, both Susan and I attended the Transportation Cast party. This year it was held at 5he Coronado Springs convention center and the theme was Hollywood. Because we attended on work time, we weren’t able to go together; I arrived right after she left.

Wednesday morning we went with Jennifer to Universal for early entry at Islands of Adventure. A new restaurant, Luke Combs’ Category 10, is being built across from Margaritaville in CityWalk. 

During early entry, the rides in the Harry Potter area and Velocicoaster are open. We headed to them through the Last Continent, where the Poseidon walkthrough building is being demolished and the Sinbad amphitheater is already gone. We planned to ride Hagrid’s Motorbike, but the wait time was already over an hour, so we had breakfast at the Three Broomsticks instead. 

After breakfast we walked through Jurassic Park and Toon Lagoon and rode Spider-Man, then headed out. Over at the Studios, the new Fast and Furious roller coaster has gone vertical.

Tropical Americas

Saturday morning Jenn and Susan returned to the book convention. During their lunch break they went up to Dezerland Park for a Duffy Market. A former retail mall, Dezerland opened a little over five years ago with several indoor activities, including a car museum and a market area. Saturday evening they packed up their booth.

Sunday afternoon Jenn went to Magic Kingdom with some friends. They rode Big Thunder Mountain, and Jenn took photos of the work on Cars’ Piston Peak from the queue. 

Over at Lakeshore Lodge, they have added the start of a structure on the new dock, and palm trees around the second pool area. 

This afternoon a friend of Jenn’s came into town, and I got her into Animal Kingdom. She and Jenn went to ride the safari ride, and I walked around and took photos. The entrance of the new Tropical Americas area is taking shape, and Kevin from Up was meeting in front. 

Looking south from north of the new area, I could see some of the old Dinoland buildings being rethemed. The Encanto ride will be on the left. 

Monsteropolis

This weekend there is book convention near Disney World, and some of the authors and vendors came in early to enjoy the parks. Tuesday morning Jennifer joined them at Animal Kingdom. In the afternoon they visited Epcot, and stayed for the fireworks. 

Wednesday morning they went to Hollywood Studios, and after lunch at Hollywood and Dine spent the afternoon and evening at Magic Kingdom. 

Yesterday afternoon I helped Susan and Jennifer set up for the convention. It was held at the Orlando World Center Marriott, the largest Marriott hotel in the world. 

This morning, while Susan and Jennifer signed and sold books, I spent a few hours at the Studios. I rode Star Tours and made a loop around the park. There’s lots of scaffolding on the buildings of the old Muppets courtyard as they are being converted to Monsteropolis.

I rode the Friendship Boat from the Studios to Epcot and visited with some of the captains. Disney recently announced new experiences would be coming to the Boardwalk. There are construction walls in front of the old Jellyrolls and Big River Grille. 

On the way out of the parking lot, I took a photo of the backside of Monsteropolis at the Studios. The building for the future door factory coaster has started going vertical.

Disney Springs

Susan and I have been too busy in late June and early July to do anything fun, but Bryan spent time in Disney Springs with a friend the week of Independence Day and brought us back some Gideon’s cookies. Around the corner, the owners of Gideon’s are preparing to open a new restaurant, Six Ravens. 

Meanwhile Ghirardelli opened a temporarily location in the old Sprinkles cupcake building while their regular location is being refurbished. 

On the West Side, Level 99 opened at the end of June in the former NBA Experience building. It features games and challenges to be overcome by small teams. 

The Floridian Way widening and realignment continues, along with the revamped entrance to the Polynesian resort. This week they closed the Floridian Way & Seven Seas Drive intersection.