We got to Orlando on Monday evening, and the storms had passed through and died down. The weather report was for nice weather on Tuesday so we decided to chance it and go Walt Disney World. It turned out to be a beautiful day, and the parks were very busy. All around us we have heard people talking about their homes in south Florida. It seems all the refugees decided to make a Disney vacation out of their evacuation! One family told us they had been in the Magic Kingdom on Monday and the park stayed open until midnight because they had opened late due to Hurricane Wilma. The news had said the parks were closed, but they forgot to inform Disney, and so Disney was open.
We went to Animal Kingdom on Tuesday morning, and then to Epcot in the afternoon. The newest WDW ride is called “Soarin’ ” and it is fantastic! It’s like being a bird. There are 8 chairs in each row suspended from above so your feet dangle. They lift you up into a 180 degree screen (sort of like the inside of a ball) and off you go “soarin’ ” over hills, mountains, rivers, oceans, cities and all sorts of other things. It is exhilirating and realistic — I even found myself lifting my feet when we got too close to trees. I have a fear of heights, but every so often I just looked behind me to the edge of the screen to get my perspective and I was fine. Glenda and I want to ride it again and again. We watched “Illuminations”, the fireworks show at Epcot, before leaving.
Today we went to the Magic Kingdom. It was nearly empty from 9-11, and we rode 6 rides in 2 hours. Then the floodgates opened and suddenly the park was packed. We pooped out around 4:00 after the afternoon parade and have come back to our hotel for a rest. We are planning to go back later because both Epcot and Magic Kingdom are open until 9. The weather today was beautiful again; 70 for a high. Tomorrow is supposed to be 75, and 77 on Friday. There’s not a cloud in the sky.
We have two more days and then home. I’m so glad I still have 3 weeks off before I have to go back to work. I am definitely NOT in a working mood after this trip!