Let's start things off with a quick jaunt around the hotel: the off site Gaylord Palms. It's a massive luxury hotel situated around a giant atrium, sectioned off into 4 themed areas representing parts of Florida: St. Augustine, Key West, The Everglades, and Emerald Bay.
Overall, it's one of the greatest hotels I have ever stayed at but for the price and the added convenience, I would spend my money at a Disney monorail resort or the Yacht & Beach Club.
Cool touch at the steakhouse in the Everglades section: the plates have bug shields.
See the dragon? It's one of the only remnants of the area that was to become Beastly Kingdom.
Some real ducks hang out by their Disney counterparts.
I like this...a water fountain that's themed like a well, complete with a "bucket" to drink out of.
Pocahontas was hanging out nearby.
I FINALLY got a chance to see Festival of the Lion King to see what everyone is raving about. Notice the almost hidden Mickey here with the float and glare on my camera lens.
So some day I'm going to write a full review of this show. For now I'll just ponder why a wild African romp is situated in a faux American campground.
One of the "hidden" dining rooms at Pizzafari. Don't recommend this room for folks with arachnophobia.
The themeing in Harambe is just amazing. I mean seriously, just look at this picture. I could convince almost anyone that I really took this in Africa.
Love all the little details like these "posters" on the wall by the restrooms.
I remember really hating the two animal displays for their sheer chaos on prior visits, but decided to give them some due time and see if my mind is changed.
The okapi, the only living relative of the giraffe.
Lots of meercats hanging out right in the front of the enclosure.
And gorillas! I once dubbed this the "Hey, Aren't There Supposed to be Gorillas on This Trail?" On this day the gorillas were up close and personal.
Including the mother and baby gorilla!!
Then there's this poor guy, hanging out all alone. Seriously, this is another picture that really could have been taken in Africa.
OK, so there really is a great theme to Pangani Forest that carries over to Kilimanjaro Safari and the rest of Harambe. I enjoyed this.
Here's something else I never bothered to do before: the Wildlife Express train to Rafiki's Planet Watch.
Rafiki encourages us to venture down the path to the station.
And here it is, beckoning us like an old school Epcot pavilion.
Inside were the veterinary offices and some animal displays including this turtle.
And this lizard skin hidden Mickey.
I also got to check out the Dawa Bar. Wasn't as awesome as I'd heard but I love all the beer bottles on display. Amazingly I've tried quite a few of these.
I moved on to my next formerly hated animal display, this time in Asia where there were some tigers.
The whole display is elaborately themed with a full backstory and everything.
I liked the African one better but Asia gets points for creativity.
Hidden mickey by the Finding Nemo stage.
Time for an evening at Epcot.
Here inside Innoventions at the Sum of All Thrills, you get to use math to design a roller coaster and then ride it.
It's nowhere near as educational and just as much fun as it sounds. *** 1/2
Fountain of Nations
Spotted this guy waiting for the boat.
Off Kilter performing some rocking Irish music in the Canada pavilion.
Escaped a quick summer shower at the Rose & Crown, where Hat Lady was performing. You NEED to see her live. Totally awesome and unlike any Disney experience. Have a pint (or six) and check her out some day. You won't be sorry.
Stepped outside and took one of the best pictures I've ever taken at Walt Disney World: a rainbow over World Showcase lagoon.
Mo'Rockin performs in the shadow of Spaceship Earth.
Ever taken the time to explore the Morocco pavilion? It's really quite something.
The sun sets over Future World.
Rather un-Disney visible ventilation and piping in the Soarin Fastpass queue.
The torches mean only one thing: time for Reflections of Earth.
(sigh) Some Marvel stuff making an appearance at Mousegear.
Mark out moment: spotted GYRO GEARLOOSE in one of the windows at Mousegear!
Spot the hidden me in the reflection.
For some reason it struck me that they change most of the signage regularly but this one at Gateway Gifts looks to be the same one that's been in place since opening day.
Tronorail!
My first visit to the Hess station.
Construction work at the Yacht & Beach Club lighthouse.
The Patriots Super Bowl banner at ESPN Zone! Go Pats!
Best beer selection at WDW?
The Boardwalk with the Swan in the background.
The Yacht & Beach Club
The lobby of the Hollywood Tower Hotel.
Walking TALKING C3PO was here for Star Wars Weekends!
I love the damaged star speeder.
Ewock and Chewbacca
It's a net full of jello. Get it? Annette Funicello?
Star Wars Weekend merchandise
Darth Vader
The oddly packed Studio Catering Company. Maybe everyone wanted to try out the new menu.
The massive grandstand for the Lights Motors Action stunt show.
Our "director" sees the show along.
Oh no! A gangster took over our car!
I enjoy a brew out by the Sorcerer's Hat.
Fake Randy, Paula, and Simon, complete with Coke glasses!
We had this guy who implored us to kick off our Sunday shoes with a rendition of Footloose. Fake Simon's advice to him: "should you come back here tonight...pick a seat near the middle."
The winner ended up being this old geezer who "Simon" likened to "the bass player from the Who."
I like the Grey's Anatomy "McSteamy" chicken curry.
I got to end the day with a ride I'd never experienced before: the "wait in the parking lot for security to jump your battery" ride.
The wedding pavilion
The Dapper Dans!
LOTS of construction work going on at the Magic Kingdom.
Pirate skeletons playing chess: of course the game's at a stalemate.
Is this new? Didn't it used to be a wagon? I remember there being a funny backstory about it on the Keys to the Kingdom tour once.
A rare site: the eggroll cart was OPEN!
One of those rare places where you can spot one land from inside another.
Swiss Family Treehouse
I like how the tree is in a box to be exported.
He had a sale going on: he'll trade two heads for one of yours.
You don't really know chaos until you've experienced the Small World unloading area.
The Mary Blair clocktower in operation!
Did you ever notice this spot on Small World where it looks like they ran out of money or something?
The horse stable outside the Haunted Mansion.
Look down and what do you see? Horse footprints in the "mud." I love these little touches.
The pet cemetery!
Here comes the Liberty Belle...
...there goes the Liberty Belle.
The Columbia Harbor House: now dead to me for taking my favorite sandwich off the menu.
The future site of Fantasyland Forest, the big fancy expansion.
Time for one last walk through Toontown.
Love this guy who walked into the picture, hahaha.
Minnie's house
Donald's boat
Mickey's house
The "secret" path to Tomorrowland.
Me in front of Space Mountain.
One of the "special" events for Summer Nightastic: a wacky dance party featuring some goof named DJ Elliot.
Walt and the Sherman Brothers on the Carousel of Progress preshow.
I got to hold the red line card at Monsters Inc Laugh Floor! Sadly it was almost the end of the day and there was no line, so I was by and large completely useless.
Mike Wazowski's office doubles as the maintenance closet.
Waterfall outside Cosmic Ray's
Nightastic perimeter fireworks.
I can never take good firework pictures and it's not like pictures would do it justice anyway. Nightastic was amazing. If you have any opportunity to check it out this summer, do it. **** 3/4
Now it's time for the creme de la creme: the Main Street Electrical Parade!
Cinderella in her pumpkin chariot
Prince Charming tries to find someone who's foot fits the glass slipper.
Capt. Hook's pirate ship
Dopey in the dwarfs mine car
Pinocchio
Freaky Pleasure Island float (the Pinocchio Pleasure Island, it's not a float with the Adventurer's Club on it. Don't get excited.)
Pete's Dragon, one of the most iconic floats in the parade.
How many kids in the audience have any idea what this even is?
We close things in a way that would make Sam Eagle proud: a grand tribute to America.
And this concludes my summer 2010 trip to Walt Disney World. Hope you enjoyed this brief and only slightly sarcastic look at the early spring goings on of Star Wars Weekends, Summer Nightastic, and the Main Street Electrical Parade. If you want the true experience, turn off all the fans and AC in your house, put on a winter coat, and as soon as the sweat starts burning your eyes take a look at these pictures again. It'll be just like you were standing next to me all weekend!
