Disney Epcot

Sorry for missing a day but I could not get onto blogger.com at all from the hotel room on Friday. We're back in Columbus now so I owe you a Friday report. First, however, if you sometimes get the idea you are the only person on Earth reading this, here are a couple stats: the blog has been viewed 3,545 times by people in ten countries, including Barbados and Ukraine. The US and UK lead the way.

Friday was Epcot at Disney World. It has changed some since the last time we were there. It's still one of my favorite sections of Disney. More adults and less kids has nothing to do with it.

Spaceship Earth is the centerpiece and can be seen from everywhere in Epcot, so you always know which direction is which. We walked right onto the ride there and it is a good one. Remember, we rate rides as good and bad based on whether or not you can get into the car you have to ride.

HGTV was sponsoring a special garden display throughout Epcot, so you'll be seeing some pictures of their stuff. Di liked it.

This was the Canada pavilion. To the left of this photo were some big totem poles.

HGTV had a home garden display area. You had a Radio Flyer didn't you?? (First photo) The last photo was in honor of our dogs Brutus and Buckeye. Don't expect me to name a single plant.

This was a fife and drum unit at the American pavilion.

Our favorite, of course: the Italy pavilion. The building on the left is a miniature Doge's Palace, and to the right of that is the bell tower for St. Mark's  Cathedral. Just like in Italy, lunch was $80.

 

 

I love model trains. This was a huge outdoor display and I just wanted to capture the little city they had. You could walk through the entire thing.

When it's time to leave, what do you look for?? That's right: Spaceship Earth.

OK, so if you were paying attention you would have noticed not a single cloud in the sky for ANY photo. Alright, it was somewhat cool the first day, but it was 74 when I took that last photo. So there.

Next trip is a cruise to the Southern Caribbean at the end of July. We won't be layering clothes then, just sunscreen.

Play ball!

I couldn't possibly try to count the number of baseball games I've been to, listened to, and watched on TV. But I've never been to a Spring Training game...until today. We went to Osceola County Stadium (home of the Houston Astros) to watch the Astros play the Washington Nationals. We did not go to see the Astros, one of the worst teams in baseball. I wanted to see the Nationals and their great pitching staff and potential superstar Bryce Harper. Di, of course, didn't even know who was playing but she thoroughly enjoyed the funnel cakes and warm sun.

Bryce Harper warming up before game.

 

Gio Gonzalez in pregame warmups. More on him later.

 

 

Bryce Harper batting. He fouled out on this pitch.

 

Gio Gonzalez

 

Gio pitching. Tyler Moore playing first. Jose Altuve is the runner (he's good).

 

 

When Gonzalez was done pitching, he signed autographs. I got him to autograph my Pirates hat. He'll never pitch for the Pirates but I wanted the autograph. When he's in the Hall of Fame I'll replace the gold P on the hat with a red W and nobody will ever know.

 

 

After the game we went to the Starbucks in Celebration. Here's Di relaxing on Front Street.

 

 

 

 

Tonight we're having dinner with our nephew in Celebration. Friday is EPCOT.



 

 

Magical Disney

We woke up on a cool (69), sunny day very thankful we weren't fighting the six inches of snow in Columbus. Once over that disappointment, we headed over to Disney World and the Magic Kingdom. On Friday we will go to EPCOT. Parking was fast and easy and soon we were entering the park.

That's me and Di in front of Cinderella's Castle. We wore gloves because it was chilly (69).

As soon as we started getting on rides, we realized that the park has it all wrong. They put up signs saying if you have a bad heart, bad neck, bad back, are too short, or generally over ten, you shouldn't ride the ride. Di and I now know what determines if you should ride a ride or not: can you get into and out of the seats? For example, this innocent little ride...

...nearly cost me two knee replacements and Di broken ribs from me trying to squeeze into the seat behind her. The Space Mountain ride came within seconds of leaving with me only half into the car. So, rides don't have a height limit, they have an age limit.

THIS is more my speed...

 

There's always a parade going on somewhere in Disney.

 

There's a new Fantasyland. Lots of kids there. If you don't have or like kids, don't go to Fantasyland.

 

We went through It's A Small World...for the umpteenth time. They need to retire Small World. They need to destroy all copies of that song, forever. I will not bore you with the pictures. No, wait. You get two. You get Ireland in honor of my Mom's family and you get Italy because I love Italy and in honor of Di's family.

 

 

We had lunch at the Liberty Tree Tavern in Liberty Square. Great place. We met our friends Cathy, Tom, Chris, Abbey and Angie there for lunch. Long story on how that happened. Anyway, it was fun and since Chris' birthday (one with a zero in it) was the next weekend, he got a birthday cupcake with a candle and a song from the wait staff. He's the one in the center in the blue coat (even though it was 69).

 

 

 

My favorite ride at Disney is the Haunted Mansion. They have changed the entrance, by the way, and it is pretty cool. In the early 70's, the technology used in this attraction was unique. Seems tame now, but still a fun ride.

 

 

 

Thursday is a spring training baseball game, featuring the Washington Nationals, this year's World Series Champs. Put money on it. (Your money, not mine.)

 

It's supposed to be in the 70's and sunny. But who's keeping track.

 



Getting Crabby at Joe's

Had to put in a late post after a great dinner at Joe's Crab Shack. Di and I split a steampot of various crab legs, shrimp, potatoes, corn on the cob and sausage. Here's a picture to explain the whole thing:

The restaurant is located at the northern edge of Celebration right off of Route 192, the main drag going east and west. You might have to wait. Worth it. 

Orlando!

We left Columbus this morning to a forecast of 4-8 inches of snow. Ha! It's 75 in Orlando and not a cloud in the sky. The flight was uneventful (always the best kind of flights). Oh, except Di thinks she lost her noise-reduction headphones on the plane.

We couldn't get into the room so we ate lunch at the Market Street diner in Celebration, Florida. See a previous post on what Celebration is. Here's the diner:

It looks empty but everybody was eating on the patio overlooking the lake and all the tables were taken so the northerners (us) had to eat inside. Also, since we were so much younger we didn't really fit in with the crowd. They did a good job making this look like an old style diner.

Here are a couple pictures of the suite at the Melia Hotel and Resorts at Celebration.

 

There's a nice balcony, bedroom, and full kitchen. You'd think that would save us money on eating out. It won't.

 

Tomorrow is the Magic Kingdom. It's only supposed to be in the 60s. We'll suffer through it because the rest of the week should be back into the 70s.

 

Have fun driving to work in Columbus on Wednesday! I'll be at the pool.