All Things Disney

So our Disney trip came and went and I still have not blogged about it!  No surprise there... I'm terrible at this blogging thing.  So, here are the highlights...

We arrived in Orlando on my birthday and had dinner reservations at The Rose & Crown, one of the restaurants in EPCOT's "United Kingdom" section of the World Showcase.  Outside the R&C was this Guy Fawkes effigy.  My b-day is Guy Fawkes Day in the UK (and in South Africa, where I grew up).  (For those of you who don't know - read "Americans"- Guy Fawkes was the leader of a group of Catholics who tried to overthrow the English King, King James, and parliament about 400 years ago.  Obviously, it didn't work.  And yes, I had to google some of that info.; I can't take credit for all of it!)  It was kinda cool to see the set-up... in SA if I told someone my birthday was November 5, they'd say, "Oh! Guy Fawkes Day!"  In the US they just say, "Really? Mine's _____."  

Dinner was bangers and mash (yum!) and a very tricky heart-shaped puzzle box from Pern that contained my birthday present.  I entertained the two girls at the table next to us who kept watching curiously to see if I would be able to open the box before their check came.  I did.  Inside was a diamond studded "K" pendant necklace... so pretty!  Nothing like a little bling for your birthday!  You might notice the round button that I'm sporting in the picture above.  That's my "Happy Birthday, Karen!" button that I was given upon check-in.  It's good for an average of one "Happy Birthday, Karen!" from a Disney cast member every 10 minutes.  I highly recommend getting one, whether it's your birthday or not!

On Thursday we went to Animal Kingdom (no really good pictures... all of the animal pics came sad and pathetic looking) and Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM).  We talked my mom into riding all of the major attractions / coasters!  She did Expedition Everest, Tower of Terror, Mission Space (3 times!), and Rockin' Roller Coaster!  She even bought the souvenir pins to prove it!

The Pixar section of Hollywood Studios was new since our last visit.  It was very cute.  Giant toys and games EVERYWHERE!  We waited 80 minutes to ride the newest attraction, "Toy Story Midway Mania."  It was a fun ride, but not worth the wait.  We went back on Saturday to get fast passes and they were all gone really early in the day.  The last we checked the wait was up to 110 minutes!  We weren't going to wait that long so we only did it once.  Oh well... next time.  

Because we waited in the Toy Story line for so long...

....I ended up with several pictures from our wait time!

We stayed at the Port Orleans French Quarter resort.  It was really nice!  The grounds were quiet and had an authentic New Orleans feel.  

That's according to my mom.  

I've never been to New Orleans.  

We now have 4 pictures that look just like this one: one from Disneyland in '03, one from Disney World in '04, another from '06, and this one from '08.  No... we're not going back in '010.  I mean, '10.  I think we'll wait a little longer between visits from now on.  Don't want to be the crazy people who go every other year or something.  Oh... wait.  Guilty. 

I love the little aliens from Toy Story!  This was outside the "Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin" attraction - fun ride, no wait!  My other favorite thing from this section of Magic Kingdom was the "Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor," a "live," interactive stand-up comedy show featuring some of the characters from the movie.  It was so funny!  Very clever.

The view from under the EPCOT dome, "Spaceship Earth".  They have redone the attraction and it now includes a fun little make-your-own video from the future!  Can't explain it, but it was fun!

Cinderella's castle at night.  So pretty.  

We had a great time!  Looking forward to going back.  In about 6-8 years or so.  I need to forget a lot of it so that I can rediscover it later on down the line, if that makes sense.  

Unless anyone wants to go with us sooner than that?  Any takers?  Anyone?  Just let me know!