Epcot & Magic Kingdom

We spent a few hours yesterday morning checking out the hotel, then headed into Epcot. There's a lot to see and do the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and it would be easy to spend a day just doing activities here.
At Epcot, we rode Test Track, then went back to the World Showcase, where the kids tried out the new Kim Possible adventures while Susan and I watched the France movie and wandered through some countries. We met back up for any early dinner in Japan's Teppanyaki restaurant, then the kids finished all seven of the "Team Possible" missions and Susan and I made our way to Future World to ride Imagination and the Seas.

We spent today in the Magic Kingdom, hitting the highlights and stopping to pin-trade and take photopass pictures. We enjoyed noticing the differences between Florida's park and Disneyland, which is more familiar to us. Luckily the park was much less crowded today than it was on Saturday, and we were able to ride most things with little wait.

Hollywood Studios & Animal Kingdom Lodge

We checked out of the Boardwalk this morning, then took the boat to the Hollywood Studios. Although taking the boat from the Boardwalk to Epcot works great, because you're last on and first off, between the Boardwalk and the Studios you're first on and last off. It's faster to walk.

The Studios is our least favorite park at WDW, partly because several of its major attractions are also at the Disneyland resort, so we only spent a few hours there. We rode the Studios' version of Midway Mania, Rock N Roller coaster, and the Great Movie Ride, did the Backlot tour and the Narnia walkthrough, and grabbed some lunch, then headed out.

We then checked into the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and the kids went swimming while Susan and I headed into town to replenish our supplies. We really liked our room, although we were a little disappointed we were so far away from the lobby, and on the top floor, pretty far away from the animals on the savanna.

Downtown Disney & Magic Kingdom

In the afternoon we headed back to the hotel for showers and dinner, then spent some time at Downtown Disney. Susan and I shopped while the kids hit DisneyQuest, a huge indoor arcade with several large virtual rides. We met up with them later, but didn't hang out too long because, it being a Friday night, the lines for the rides were pretty long.

This morning we went to the Saratoga Springs Resort, where we toured models of the rooms for the Animal Kingdom Villas and Bay Lake Tower. After that we headed over to the Magic Kingdom. We took in a couple of attractions and had lunch, then watched the updated Hall of Presidents show. This new show seemed to put more emphasis on the Presidents than what I remember of the last show, which we saw in 2003. I especially like the way it stopped the slide show at the Civil War so that President Lincoln could give the Gettysburg Address, and then had President Washington give some remarks before President Obama wrapped it up. Nice touch.

It being the Saturday of MLK weekend, however, the park was pretty crowded, and most rides had fairly long waits. We decided to head out early, stopping to walk around the Contemporary Resort and the new Bay Lake Tower next door.

The Contemporary resort lies just east of the Magic Kingdom, and is serviced by the monorail, which also goes to the Polynesian and Grand Floridian resorts. There’s an elevated walkway connecting it to Bay Lake Tower. 

Typhoon Lagoon

 

After dinner, we headed back into Epcot. The ride in Mexico, the "Spaceship Earth" ride, and the movie in Canada had all been updated since our last visit, so we made a point of catching those. The Mexico boat ride added the Three Caballeros, and the Canada movie added comedian Martin Short.

While none of the rides was a great improvement over the old version, it's nice that Disney freshens up their attractions every so often. Epcot is our favorite park at WDW, and we enjoy walking through the World Showcase, and talking to the cast members from countries all around the world.

It was supposed to be 75 degrees and partly sunny today, the best weather of the week, so we headed for the Typhoon Lagoon water park. The kids prefer Blizzard Beach, the other water park at WDW, but Disney only opens one water park at a time during the winter.

Still, Typhoon Lagoon is a beautiful park, with lots of nice touches. It puts most other water parks to shame. But the temperature was a little on the cool side, so we didn't stay all day.

Epcot

Once we got to Epcot, we purchased tickets, then walked around and did a little shopping.

And had our picture taken with Mickey and Pluto.

Then we headed back to the Dance Hall at the Boardwalk, where we attended a reception for DVC members. Afterwards, we had a quiet dinner and relaxed in our room.Today we got up planning to go to the Magic Kingdom, but we decided we needed some more provisions in town.

After lunch, the kids enjoyed the hotel pool, which had a slide themed to a Boardwalk roller coaster. The kids said it was their favorite Disney resort slide so far.

Boardwalk Villas

For our 17th anniversary, we decided to return to Florida for 10 days at Walt Disney World. Yesterday we got up early and drove to PDX, where we boarded a flight to Orlando via DFW. By the time we landed and picked up our luggage and rental car, it was after midnight east coast time. 

We drove to WDW, stopping at a SuperWalmart for provisions, and checked into the first hotel for our stay, the Boardwalk Villas. Unlike the Grand Californian, a one bedroom villa at the Boardwalk only had one bathroom and the kids had to share the sleeper sofa.

The Boardwalk sits just south of Epcot, and between that park and Hollywood Studios, which was named Disney-MGM Studios when we were here last three years ago. It’s a great location, as it’s possible to walk to both parks, plus there’s boat service. Across the water are the Yacht and Beach Club resorts.

Because we got in so late yesterday, this morning we slept in, then spent some time looking around the Boardwalk before taking the boat to Epcot. The main entrance to Epcot is in the north, and there’s a second one in the south known as the International Gateway. It’s in the World Showcase between France and the UK pavilions. 

Masonic Youth Update

Before Christmas, Susan and the kids helped the Masons deliver dinners to needy families around Bend. After a quiet Christmas at home, Susan and Jenn traveled to Eugene for a Rainbow initiation. Several of the girls from our Bethel have joined Rainbow, even though we don't have an Assembly nearby, and another wanted to join, so Susan took them over with her. Jennifer did the part of Hope. 

We celebrated the New Year at home as well; the kids worked on their school assignments over break, trying to finish the semester early. Today the Bethel held a special meeting to initiate a new member. After a few years of surges and setbacks, the Bethel finally seems to be steadily growing.
After the initiation, we went bowling with the members of the Bethel, as well as the DeMolay Chapter.