Sunday, February 8, 2026

Festival of Arts

 
This week an author friend of Jennifer’s came to WDW with her family. The flew in Wednesday morning, and in the afternoon Susan and I got them into Epcot to check out the Festival of the Arts. 
On Thursday we went to Magic Kingdom. We did a few rides and hung out in the DVC lounge a bit. I also tried to take some photos of the work being done in the old Rivers of America area. 
On Friday we went to the Studios. Over at the old Muppet Courtyard, there were a couple of workmen in man lifts working on the facades to the old buildings. 
We walked through Galaxy’s Edge, where the Mandalorian and Grogu were out meeting guests. We went on Smuggler’s Run and had lunch at Docking Bay 7. 
Yesterday, while I worked, Jennifer and her friend did a book signing at Barnes and Noble, and Susan took the rest of the family into Animal Kingdom. Last night they all went to Boma for dinner. 

Monday, February 2, 2026

Pirate Hockey

After spending Friday at Epcot, Jennifer flew out to Texas, and on Saturday did a book signing with another author at an independent bookstore in Denton, in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. 
She stayed with friends, and on Sunday afternoon they went to a hockey match at the American Airlines Center. The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Dallas Stars 4 to 1. She flew home Tuesday night. 
Susan and I were too busy doing chores and running errands last week to do anything fun, but Thursday morning I got to do a special behind the scenes tour of Festival of the Lion King show at Animal Kingdom. Along with about a dozen other cast members, I got to see the floats up close, then watch a show.
Thursday night all four of us drove to Tampa to watch The Lightning beat the Winnipeg Jets 4 to 1. Because the Gasparilla Festival is this weekend, the match was Pirate themed. We got there early to check out the vendor booths and get drinks and snacks at Cigar City Brewery.
Yesterday Jennifer went out to Tampa again, this time to watch the Lightning play the Boston Bruins in a special outdoor match held in the Raymond James stadium. The Lightning came back from behind to win 6 to 5.