Orlando. (Again?)
In the spring of 2021
Ron and Carol’s friend Ruth let the family use her Orlando timeshare again.
(Thanks Ruth!) The resort would have been fine by itself, but Disney World
opened up (30%) and the family got tickets for two ‘lands’.
Atlanta
airport. Zoe on the train that connects the terminals.
Westgate
Lake Resort – The view from our rooms, through screened balcony. (View of the resort’s water park in the
center.) As usual, Ruth’s timeshare has 3 bedrooms. Zoe had her own room and
spa!
Disney Springs – Huge
Disney shoppertainment area. Here Ron, called ‘Pop’, found his shop.
Disney Springs – Life
size LEGO statues outside the massive LEGO shop.
Disney Springs – One
of the many restaurants, with tethered balloon ride behind.
Hollywood Studios –
On the way to Galaxy’s Edge, one passes Grand Avenue, home of the Muppets. Here
Miss Piggy in all her glory. More about Muppets later.
Hollywood
Studios, Galaxy’s Edge – The ‘Millennium Falcon – Smugglers Run’ ride. The ship is full size.
Hollywood
Studios –Grand Avenue. For the ‘Muppets Vision 3D’ movie. Where
the Muppets really made a mess of their production studio.
Hollywood Studios – A
bit of shopping in the Galaxy’s Edge where Andrew bought Zoe a Porg puppet.
(See next picture.)
Hollywood Studios – Andrew
feeds the Porg some blue (coconut) milk. (The Porg puppet
talks and moves.)
Hollywood Studios –
The family passed an Imperial Walker on the way to ‘Star Tours.’
Hollywood
Studios – Lunch at the Brown Derby.
Hollywood Studios –
Then off to Toy Story Land for ‘Toy Story Mania!’ On the ride one gets to shoot
electronic cannons for points.
Hollywood
Studios, Galaxy’s Edge – The ‘Rise of the Resistance’ ride. It took luck to get tickets for this one, and
it is truly a mind blowing ride. Things happen that are a complete surprise,
even to seasoned Disney Park riders!
Hollywood
Studios, Galaxy’s Edge – Noisy robots everywhere. From here Andrew and Zoe did ‘Star Tours’
again (with ice-cream) and everyone else made their way to the parking lot
(with popcorn.)
Westgate Lake Resort – Next morning everyone except Ron went
off to the water park. It was free to owners and their guests. (Thanks again
Ruth!)
Basilica of the
National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe – That afternoon the young
Buckles went here. Wonderful bronze doors. The
basilica was purposely built for tourists coming to Orlando, and is a
pilgrimage site.
Animal Kingdom Park –
Pandora's floating mountains. First the ‘Avatar Flight of
Passage.’ Great ‘flight’ simulator of riding a winged
mountain banshee.
Animal
Kingdom Park – Then over to the ‘Na’vi River
Journey.’
Animal
Kingdom Park – Thru Africa.
Animal
Kingdom Park – To the ‘Kilimanjaro Safari.’ Here a 1 year old baby rhino,
and lions do exactly what they always do.
Animal Kingdom Park –
Lunch at ‘Tiffins.’ Really good Asian
fusion food. Prayer flags in the
background.
Animal Kingdom Park –
The young Buckles did the ‘Exportation Trail’ while the old folks took it easy.
Westgate
Lake Resort – A full day at the water park. This was the kid’s playground. Nice, except for the lifeguard that could not wait to make it to
the bathroom.
Westgate
Lake Resort – Zoe waving and then drowned by a huge bucket of water.
Westgate Lake Resort
– Carol on the lazy river. She spent hours going in circles, occasionally interrupted
by falling water.