Mid-December Orlando WDW trip

[tagryn]

In mid-December, we visited Walt Disney World in Orlando with my Mom and Dad. I've uploaded many photos from that trip to my flickr account, click here to go to that set.

In no particular order, some highlights of the trip:

On Monday at EPCOT I took the behind-the-scenes "EPCOT Aqua Seas" tour. This included a 30 minute snorkeling adventure inside the Living Seas aquarium, which is among the biggest in the world. This was my first time using a regulator, first time using fins, and first time wearing a wetsuit. I had practiced snorkeling a little as preparation, and I think that helped somewhat with getting used to the regulator. I had a little trouble at first with getting deep enough breaths and had to scramble back to the platform. The dive master came over and recommended that the next time that happened to just roll over onto my back, since the flotation devices would keep me in place; his way of putting it was "if you come all the way back to the platform its like switching off the Nintendo, but if you just flip on your back you can resume play when you feel like it." Clever, and it worked! Using the fins was more problematic, I still don't know if I was getting much use out of them, but I was going from point A to point B in the tank somehow. The wetsuit was interesting; you'd think it was designed to keep water away from the body, but the way it really works is that it lets in water then keeps it in place, where it warms up, so that you're surrounded by a cocoon of warm water. The tank itself was around 78 degrees so we really didn't need it, but I guess it helps keep the tank clean. I've uploaded a video Donna took of me in the tank to YouTube here. And yes, there are actual sharks in the tank, but they mostly stay to the bottom of the tank. It was really a surreal experience swimming with rays and tropical fish, and the time just went by before I realized it. Lots and lots of fun, and a new experience! And I'm really, really glad I spent the money for a dive mask with prescription lenses, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to see much if anything, even with the underwater magnification effect.

We stayed for one night in the concierge Kilamanjaro Club level at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Wow! Our balcony looked out on the savanna, and we saw giraffes, zebras, and other African animals right from our room. I woke up in the middle of the night, and there were zebras still out. Definitely different from your ordinary hotel experience, and well worth the extra cost for the room. The concierge lodge had complimentary food and drinks all day, I tried a beer from Kenya during the evening: not bad at all. We also visited the Boma restaurant at AKL with Mom and Dad while we were there; it was OK, a neat experience to try African food I wouldn't otherwise have tried, but it wasn't a cuisine I'd especially go out of my way to try again, either.

Another perk of staying at the concierge level was the opportunity to take the Sunrise Safari backstage tour. This was a Sunday morning tour of the Animal Kingdom safari area before the park was open limited to about 50 people on two open safari buses, and it allows much more time for looking at the animals rather than the somewhat hectic pace of the usual ride. I took a lot of pictures from the safari, our balcony, and the concierge lodge, the best ones I put up in my flickr set.

I went on Mission:Space at EPCOT, with full spinning effect. I didn't find the G-forces to be as bad as some have said, though you could definitely feel some pull on the rocket ascent portion, and after about 5 minutes I was starting to feel a little nausea, but then the ride was over. Here's a video postcard from the ride - BEWARE THE THIRD MUTANT HAND!

After taking the Land floating ride tour, I was curious to know whether the biotechnology lab at EPCOT was just for show, or whether actual research comes out of it. The answer is yes, they do actual science there.

My Mom and Dad stayed at Universal Studios, part of the prize package my Mom had won. Our experience with their customer service was less than impressive. They gave us the run-around when my Mom tried to redeem her park tickets, and the resort they were staying at were very nickel-and-dimey about everything, it seemed. Very disappointing, especially in contrast to the service Disney provided.


The first photo above is of me playing Santa at our division's holiday party this year.