Disney World 2010

In June of 2010, we spend around approximately one week at the Disney World resort in Orlando Florida. Over the next few logs, I plan to overview my Disney World experience. To start, there were three of us on this trip. I myself have visited before when I was very young. My girlfriend who has never been to Disney World. And our mutual friend who is a much more frequent visitor.

To start, a few months before our flight from San Francisco to Orlando, Disney mailed one “Magical Express” luggage tags per person for checked bags. To keep it simple, once we check in our bags at San Francisco Airport, we don’t need to worry about them. Disney will automatically pick them up at Orlando and have them delivered straight into our Disney World hotel room. Without having even left

The three of us stayed in a timeshare villa at The Boardwalk Resort, that is only a short walk to Epcot. The room was what you would expect in a hotel room, but comes with a small refrigerator, microwave, kitchen sink, and coffee maker, and other accessories. Outside the hotel room was the boardwalk, with nightly juggling acts, carnival games, arcade, restaurants, dance club, and piano bar. Note that the entertainment is only open at night. There is a pool with a slide and jacuzzi which is open all night (though there are specified quiet hours). All in all, I enjoyed the decor at The Boardwalk, inside and out.

The Boardwalk Resort at night with fireworks in the background!

Epcot, which originally was short for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, is one of the four parks at Disney World. Epcot is broken up into two halves: World Showcase and Future World. The World Showcase gives you the chance to experience the food (beer included), culture, gifts, and people of eleven unique countries: Great Britain (Fish and Chips), Canada (360 Vision Video), Mexico (Waterboat Ride), Norway (Maelstorm attraction), China (Acrobats and 360 Vision Video), Germany (Bratwurst with Sauerkraut), Italy, America (Turkey Leg, American History Show), Japan (Huge Store, Candy Decorator), Morocco (Live Band Show), and France (180 Vision Video and Bakery). We also had a lunch reservation at a table service restaurant called Les Chef de France Restaurant with delicious French food. Future World is where more of Epcot’s more intense attractions reside. One of our favorites was Test Track, which is an exhilarating General Motors ride that simulates vehicle testing. The Lands is a gentle boat ride that showcases better agricultural practices and inspired us to sign up for fee required Behind the Seed Tour. Another highly recommended, but very intense ride is Mission Space. Club Cool gives you to try (for free) various sodas from around the World! Living Seas is a gentle clam shell ride which leads to their aquarium full of fishes, turtles, sharks, and many more aquatic animals. Innoventions is a great place to relax and have fun (build your own roller coaster and Segways). Epcot has Illumnations at night, which is a water show with fireworks, pyrotechnics around Globe of the World.

Epcot Main Entrance

Plat de cote de boeuf au cabernet avec pates at Chefs de France, Epcot

Crepe Basquaise at Chefs de France, Epcot

French Toast Ham and Cheese at Chefs de France, Epcot

Hanging Brussel Sprouts at Behind the Seeds

Dolphin at the Aquarium

Turtle at the Aquarium

One of our favorite rides at Future World Epcot

Learn to ride a Segway at Innoventions

Illuminations is Epcots nighttime show that features fireworks, pyrotechnics, and features each of the countries of Epcot.

Magic Kingdom was another Disney World park. This park is very similar to Disneyland in California, with many of the same attractions. One of the main differences is instead of Sleeping Beauty’s castle, the Magic Kingdom has Cinderella’s Castle instead. One ride that differs from Disneyland is Stitch’s Escape, which is a 360 degree capturing of a large mean version of Stitch. It was quite exciting. Another great ride is Laugh Floor, which is similar to Nemo attraction at California Adventure where the staff imitate the characters of Monster’s Inc to get the audience to laugh. It’s a very interactive attraction and very much recommended. The Carousel of Progress is the oldest ride originally designed for the 1964 World Fair. It has since been updated, but the ride keeps to its roots. Phillharmagic is a 3D presentation that is sure to amaze all your senses with Donald duck and Mickey Mouse as your conductors.

Magic Kingdom Front Entrance

Cinderella's Castle at Magic Kingdom

Laugh Floor at Magic Kingdom

Summer Nighttastic at Magic Kingdom

Main Street Electrical Parade

Hollywood Studios was the third stop and probably one of my more favorite parks. Of the four non-water parks, this one has the most intense attractions such as Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n Roll, Toy Story, Lights Motor Action, and the Backlots Tour. Tower of Terror is the same as the one in Disney’s California Adventure. Rock ‘n Roll featuring Aerosmith is a intense well themed coaster the the car is a super super stretch limo and you’re cruising around LA. Toy Story is an interactive ride where you shoot objects on a screen in 3D! And Lights Motor Action is a demo of how action sequences are filmed. These first three are most visit attractions! The Backlots tour is a slower paced ride that features behind the scene secrets.

Hollywood Studio Main Entrance

Lights Motor Action

Mickey Mouse Bush on Backlots Tour

Pixar Studios in Hollywood Studios

Midday Parade with Sully from Monsters Inc

Midday Parade with Boo from Monsters Inc

Animal Kingdom is mostly a zoo with many animals, but there are a few intense rides. The Safari ride is a must see attraction where you see alligators, okapi, longhorn, elephants, giraffe, rhino, ostrich, hippo, impala, lions, and many more animals all on a actual safari truck (no tracks below). Rafiki’s Island has a petting zoo and animal information, but requires a short 5 minutes train ride to reach (cannot walk to the island). The Kali River Rapids is a great place to cool down, where you are guaranteed to get soaked. And Everest is an intense roller coaster that has a backwards element to it!

Animal Kingdom Main Entrance

Anteater

Giraffe

Gorilla

Longhorn

Okapi

Rhino

Petting Zoo with sheep

Outside of the main parks, we had a lunch reservation at Sanaa (located at the Animal Kingdom Villas Kidani Village) where we tried African cuisine with Indian flavors.

Potato and Pea Samosas, Lamb Kefta, and Roasted Cauliflower

Salmon served with seasonal Vegetables in a light Curry Broth

wrapped in Naan Bread with Tamarind Glaze, Minted Greens, Tomato, Onion, and Cucumber-Yogurt Raita

We had breakfast reservations at the Kona Cafe, which is at the Polynesian Resort. We tried the Big Kahuna and the Tonga Toast.

Tonga Toast at Kona Cafe

Big Kahuna at Kona Cafe

We had walk in seating at Kouzzina off the Boardwalk Resort where we got a Whole Fish, Fisherman’s Bucket, and Pistatio.

Whole Fish at Kouzzina

Fisherman's Bucket at Kouzzina

Our main dinner was at the Yachtman’s Club at the Yacht Club across the lake from the Boardwalk Resort. We had Escargo and Caesar’s Salad to start, then Porterhouse and Filet Mignon with Mustroom Caps and Cream of Spinach.

Escargo at Yachtman's Club

Casear's Salad at the Yachtman's Club

Porterhouse at Yachtman's Club

Filet Mignon at the Yachtman's Club

For dessert, we went to Beaches and Cream in the Beach Club Resort (also located around the lake near The Boardwalk Resort). We got a Frozen Sunshine, Banana Split, and Strawberry Shortcake. The specialty was the Kitchen Sink, but we didn’t think we could handle it.

Frozen Sunshine at Beaches and Cream

Banana Split at Peaches and Cream

Strawberry Shortcake at Beaches and Cream