Disney World | Universal Studios City Walk

Orlando, Florida:  Is anyone (other than myself) noticing a pattern here? Three days in one spot? We used to travel night-by-night. Then we discovered if we spend two nights, we have an entire day to explore an area. Now? Heck, why not three?

Today was a good day. We spent the entire day at the "Happiest Place on Earth". I think we were the only people there without a stroller, but we still managed to have a wonderful day. This was our fourth visit to Orlando and our third visit to The Magic Kingdom. Again, the weather was just perfect and we arrived just after 10 a.m. and headed straight out to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The lines were not very long, 20 minutes at best, and the park seemed lively and full with people, but never crowded. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad does not disappoint - it is a Wild Ride through a mine during an earthquake. You either need a chiropractor after the ride, or your spine is fully adjusted. After this roller coaster, we went to Splash Mountain, where a moment in Taylor Family History was recorded. Today, for the first time, EVER, I put my arms up in the air as the car plunged off the cliff into the watery abyss. Photographic proof follows:

The T's - Living Large in Orlando

Yes, that is me. Lisa was so proud of me when we called to tell her the news! Splash Mountain snaps your photo as you take the plunge. We bought the photo and I took a photo of the photo for your viewing pleasure! By noon, I had completely lost my voice from screaming on all the rides, and DT was able to enjoy the rest of his day in Peace and Quiet.

Cinderella Castle


A Duck, with a Duck

I want you all to know - just like all the other kids - DT was given a Cinderella sticker after posing with Donald. And, oh, yesterday, DT had a haircut.

We continued our way through the park visiting Pirates of the Caribbean, the Jungle Cruise, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin (new), Tomorrowland Speedway, and The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter. The Magic Carpet ride is very boring - like the Dumbo Elephant ride - but a camel "spits" on you occasionally. Actually, the danged camel "spit" on my digital video camera! Thanks! The Alien Encounter is scary and fun. They have you enter a large room and "pretend" you are at a large convention center to learn about a new company and their latest molecular-travel product. During the demonstration, everything goes wrong, and a huge winged, carnivorous alien appears in front of the crowd and begins to eat a few of us. "Other than that, Mrs. Taylor, how was the ride?" We walked and walked and walked. Finally, at about 4 p.m. we decided we had seen it all and had experienced every ride we were interested in, checked-out every shop, and called it a Disney Day. We took the ferry boat back to the parking lot and headed over to Universal Studios!

Universal Studios has an area called City Walk, which is similar to Downtown Disney. Just shops and restaurants - free admission- and a lot of fun. Music is blasting everywhere and the setting is nice - around a large lake. Oh, and did I mention there is a Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville Cafe there? Well, HELLO! Straight off, we were sipping away on that frozen concoction that helps us hang on. (Hang on. Hang on. Salt. Salt. Salt.... oh, I could continue on and on in Buffett-speak, but I have a PBS mind in a MTV world, so I won't.) We had a Margaritaville Margarita and shared a quesadilla. The restaurant, one of 6 in a chain, is just adorable. Decorated with Buffett everything and Jimmy's videos play on "sails" on the walls.

Then we hit the gift shop.

So many restaurants in City Walk and we ended up back at Wolfgang's where, since we are now regulars, we were given free Brushetta! Same chairs at the sushi bar too. "Our" spots. Chairs 6 & 7. Time for Sunday night pizza and sushi.

RV Park: Now called Lake Magic RV Resort in Clermont, Florida