Hi folks, just got back from a 2.5 week vacation, most of which was spent in Disney World, with 1 night in Raleigh-Durham on the way back (visit to Duke), and 2 nights in Savannah on the way down--beautiful city. Here's some highlights. No pictures yet (beware the Leet Photoshop Skillz of Vito):
Virginia: DO NOT SPEED in Virginia. I got pulled over on the way down, and the sheriff claims I was doing 55 in a 35. Problem is, even if this was true--and it may be, I don't know--20 MPH over the speed limit anywhere in Virginia is not just speeding, it's reckless driving, which could have a fine up to $5,000 and 1 year in jail.
It involves a mandatory court appearance. I'm working on getting a local lawyer to help take care of things.
Savannah--very nice at night on a horse-drawn carriage. Very walkable and beautiful, with lots of live oaks and spanish moss, public squares, and old architecture.
Disney World--Very good time of year to go, not that crowded. We stayed at the Beach Club resort, walkable to Epcot and close to Hollywood Stduios. Nice hotel, awesome hotel pool complex--3 acres of sand-bottomed pools and jacuzzis.
* The newest ride on site, Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios, is so incredibly awesome it almost defies description. You're in a car moving through a shooting gallery that is in full 3-d, so you're wearing glasses and watching screens of targets. You have a "gun" with a pull string shooter, and you launch different types of projectiles at the targets. It's very realistic in aiming, the 3-d effects are superb, and it's just mind-blowingly cool. The downside is, it's only 3-4 weeks old, and the stand-by line is 60 or so minutes.
* Fireworks shows at the parks are still good, the nighttime lights parade at Magic Kingdom is better, but Illuminations, at Epcot, was not as good as last time because the central element, a giant globe full of LEDs, was out for refurbishment and they lopped 5 minutes off the show. We watched some movies projected on the beach at the resort and had fireworks right behind us.
* We were among the last to see Pleasure Island clubs (closing for good next week), and to experience a few other things, even something like the last wrist bracelets for late hours for resort guests--they just switched over to just using your room cards at every ride.
* Florida is known for a daily afternoon thundershower. We had 3 hurricanes coming right for us. It rained 3 times the entire time we were there, 14 nights. It's like the hurricanes sucked up the moisture from Florida. Very good weather, though hot and humid.
* The lights went on once while we were IN Space Mountain, on the coaster car. That was trippy man, real trippy.
* One of the funniest moments was we just got out of the pool as a storm moved in. Sitting on rocking chairs watching it rain as a lightning bolt hits nearby. Some idiot who stayed behind LEAPS out of a jacuzzi and starts running away.
* My wife can take a lot of pictures. She was averaging 200 digital shots a day.
* We took the Around the World Segway tour at Epcot, 2 hours that includes time in the World Showcase before official opening. This was UNBELIEVABLY COOL. It cost $165.00 or so with a discount for having Annual Passes (which are the cheapest option if you're staying beyond 10 days, by the way), and it was worth every penny. If you've never been on one, they live up to the billing in every way. I really would like to buy one once I pay this trip off of my credit card.
* If you have a chance to eat at their 5-star restaurant, Victoria and Alberts, take it. They cost $125 per person, but that too is worth it. It's just a great experience, and they don't serve anything that tastes off--everything was spot on and delicious, even if we didn't like specific elements of the dish. It just blends into something new and superb.
* If you go, here's some hints: get the annual pass with park hopper option (assuming 10 days+). This lets you get a) the Disney Dining Experience, which gives you 20% off all sit-down restaurants, and b) opportunities for room discounts throughout the year. We saved a huge amount of money on the room and meals with this thing, and the card itself only costs $60. Park Hopper lets you go to any park you want as often as you want, multiples in the same day. You get free valet with the DDE for restaurant meals. If you want to stay at a good hotel and don't mind not being in a disney hotel, get the Entertainment Coupon Book for Orlando. It almost always has 50% off discounts for the Swan and Dolphin hotels, 4-5 star joints that are quite nice, and on Disney Property.
* Duke University is beautiful, the students only seem to care about basketball (it was after the Duke-Navy game began when we got there, and most of the students were already leaving the stadium in the first quarter). Raleigh and Durham are both tiny little cities, but the road infrastructure around the area is almost awe-inspiring. The roads are built for far more people than are there now, and almost all the major routes look brand new. I think there will be a population explosion down there soon, so buy now for a huge land value increase.
* Sea Racer boats are also cool. We cruised around the two largest lakes next to Magic Kingdom for about an hour.
* We saw the special Halloween fireworks show (yes, they started a few dates for special Halloween celebrations already) at the Magic Kingdom from a windowside table at the 15th floor California Grill at the Contempoary Resort. That was very cool, a much better show than the regular one.
Good times were had by the both of us. You do not want to see my credit card bill next month. In fact, I may burn it before opening.
-Rand
Virginia: DO NOT SPEED in Virginia. I got pulled over on the way down, and the sheriff claims I was doing 55 in a 35. Problem is, even if this was true--and it may be, I don't know--20 MPH over the speed limit anywhere in Virginia is not just speeding, it's reckless driving, which could have a fine up to $5,000 and 1 year in jail.
It involves a mandatory court appearance. I'm working on getting a local lawyer to help take care of things.Savannah--very nice at night on a horse-drawn carriage. Very walkable and beautiful, with lots of live oaks and spanish moss, public squares, and old architecture.
Disney World--Very good time of year to go, not that crowded. We stayed at the Beach Club resort, walkable to Epcot and close to Hollywood Stduios. Nice hotel, awesome hotel pool complex--3 acres of sand-bottomed pools and jacuzzis.
* The newest ride on site, Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios, is so incredibly awesome it almost defies description. You're in a car moving through a shooting gallery that is in full 3-d, so you're wearing glasses and watching screens of targets. You have a "gun" with a pull string shooter, and you launch different types of projectiles at the targets. It's very realistic in aiming, the 3-d effects are superb, and it's just mind-blowingly cool. The downside is, it's only 3-4 weeks old, and the stand-by line is 60 or so minutes.
* Fireworks shows at the parks are still good, the nighttime lights parade at Magic Kingdom is better, but Illuminations, at Epcot, was not as good as last time because the central element, a giant globe full of LEDs, was out for refurbishment and they lopped 5 minutes off the show. We watched some movies projected on the beach at the resort and had fireworks right behind us.
* We were among the last to see Pleasure Island clubs (closing for good next week), and to experience a few other things, even something like the last wrist bracelets for late hours for resort guests--they just switched over to just using your room cards at every ride.
* Florida is known for a daily afternoon thundershower. We had 3 hurricanes coming right for us. It rained 3 times the entire time we were there, 14 nights. It's like the hurricanes sucked up the moisture from Florida. Very good weather, though hot and humid.
* The lights went on once while we were IN Space Mountain, on the coaster car. That was trippy man, real trippy.
* One of the funniest moments was we just got out of the pool as a storm moved in. Sitting on rocking chairs watching it rain as a lightning bolt hits nearby. Some idiot who stayed behind LEAPS out of a jacuzzi and starts running away.
* My wife can take a lot of pictures. She was averaging 200 digital shots a day.
* We took the Around the World Segway tour at Epcot, 2 hours that includes time in the World Showcase before official opening. This was UNBELIEVABLY COOL. It cost $165.00 or so with a discount for having Annual Passes (which are the cheapest option if you're staying beyond 10 days, by the way), and it was worth every penny. If you've never been on one, they live up to the billing in every way. I really would like to buy one once I pay this trip off of my credit card.
* If you have a chance to eat at their 5-star restaurant, Victoria and Alberts, take it. They cost $125 per person, but that too is worth it. It's just a great experience, and they don't serve anything that tastes off--everything was spot on and delicious, even if we didn't like specific elements of the dish. It just blends into something new and superb.
* If you go, here's some hints: get the annual pass with park hopper option (assuming 10 days+). This lets you get a) the Disney Dining Experience, which gives you 20% off all sit-down restaurants, and b) opportunities for room discounts throughout the year. We saved a huge amount of money on the room and meals with this thing, and the card itself only costs $60. Park Hopper lets you go to any park you want as often as you want, multiples in the same day. You get free valet with the DDE for restaurant meals. If you want to stay at a good hotel and don't mind not being in a disney hotel, get the Entertainment Coupon Book for Orlando. It almost always has 50% off discounts for the Swan and Dolphin hotels, 4-5 star joints that are quite nice, and on Disney Property.
* Duke University is beautiful, the students only seem to care about basketball (it was after the Duke-Navy game began when we got there, and most of the students were already leaving the stadium in the first quarter). Raleigh and Durham are both tiny little cities, but the road infrastructure around the area is almost awe-inspiring. The roads are built for far more people than are there now, and almost all the major routes look brand new. I think there will be a population explosion down there soon, so buy now for a huge land value increase.
* Sea Racer boats are also cool. We cruised around the two largest lakes next to Magic Kingdom for about an hour.
* We saw the special Halloween fireworks show (yes, they started a few dates for special Halloween celebrations already) at the Magic Kingdom from a windowside table at the 15th floor California Grill at the Contempoary Resort. That was very cool, a much better show than the regular one.
Good times were had by the both of us. You do not want to see my credit card bill next month. In fact, I may burn it before opening.
-Rand
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