Hockey Night in Tampa / Packing Day

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

Hockey Night in Tampa

Tonight we drove to Tampa and watched the Tampa Bay Lightening host the Ottawa Senators. We bought our tickets a few weeks ago and they were very reasonably priced. We also added the all-you-can-eat option to the tickets.

We had a great time even though the Senators lost to the Bolts 5 to 2.
Driving to Tampa was just short of 2 hours. When we arrived in the city we were surprised that the road conditions were as bad as the roads in back home. Their very rough condition took us by surprise.

We were directed right up to the main door to pick up the tickets and then parked just across from the Forum. Denis almost had a heart attack when the attendant said $20 please. As we entered the St-Pete Times Forum we saw some SENS fans in their red and black jerseys. As we went to the bag check and the ticket stand we were handed a Steve Downie bubble head so if anyone out there is a Bolt’s fan we have a couple of spares to give away.

Having no Sens paraphernalia, I headed to the Bolt store to see if I could find a SENS tee shirt. I did and for $20 got a nice one. Denis didn’t go to any expense to dress for the occasion because as everyone knows he is a big LEAFS fan and I say no more.

We were directed to the all-you-can-eat zone. The menu was hotdogs, nacho with melted cheese, popcorn, shelled peanuts and soft drinks. We were told that we could back as often as we wanted until the end of the second period intermission. How many hotdogs can one eat!!

The crowd was quiet and only really yelled when the very big center ice screen urged them to make noice. I was surprised at how many seats were empty and when I mentioned this to Denis he told me to remember where I was! The south is not the place where you find the most hockey fans. It is all about basketball the Miami Heat, football the Florida Gators and baseball. Hockey isn’t on the radar here. I don’t even bring up curling to the locals they just look at me and say what’s that? I say shuffleboard on ice and drop the topic.

Did you know that quite a few of the players on the TB Lightening team are Canadian? To console myself after the Bolts scored I turned to Denis and said “Canadian”. It is truly our game and we have young Canadian men all over North America playing “Our game” and making us very proud. Especially when we are so far from home and seeing them regardless of what team they play for.

As we watched the game we could see the scores from other games in the NHL and I was thrilled that my Vancouver Canucks won over Nashville and Denis was extremely happy that his Maple Leafs won their game to remain in the battle for a playoff spot.

We left the forum and headed down the highway excited to see a hockey game because it had been a long while.

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

Packing Day

It is packing day. We are leaving tomorrow for Myrtle Beach. It will take us 10 hours to drive there but we will take it slow and drive only 6 hrs and stay overnight Thursday in a Wal-Mart parking lot.

Our original plan was to take us to Tybee Island Georgia at the Rivers End Campground. When I was reviewing the campground and looking at some reviews I soon discovered that this campground did not have many positive reviews. The sites are extremely small and dogs are not allowed on any beaches in Georgia. So we made some changes to the plan and now we are headed directly to Myrtle Beach.

I am excited because I truly love it there. I really love the beach and the golf and it is where I could spend my winters for sure. The climate is cooler and that is all good as well.

March is really hot in Florida and it is time for snowbirds to head north. The RV’s are packing and hitching and just this morning walking Keisha I saw two fifth-wheels and one motorhome head out.

This will be the last post from Florida and in a few days we will continue the story of our journey from Myrtle Beach. It is hard to believe that we will be home in two weeks. All in all the time has gone by really fast but to be honest we are ready to come home.

Things we must do when we get back:

Register for French classes next September.
Do the income tax reports.
And get my butt back to work!

As wonderful as it has been “There is no place like home”

Disney Studios

Sunday, March 27th, 2011

Disney Studios

This theme park is probably Disney’s least busy park. The layout is a bit random and even with the park map it was sometimes confusing where to go. I can’t see the need to spend a full day at this park unless you want to inspect all the tiny details of movie production.

Having said that, it was nice to be able to walk around without the big crowds we experience the last two days! Even though it was a ridiculous 90 degrees.

Our first stop - American Idol Experience

We got in just at the last minute before the start of the show. The American Idol Experience offers you the chance to watch, perform and vote for your favourite singer. Of course they select young talented signers so that eliminated Dee and I on the young factor! The attraction features all the glitz and glamour of the Idol television series' set, and gave us an opportunity to experience the thrill as if we were at a real Idol show.
There are three judges, three singers vying for a spot in the final that is schedule for later in the evening. Just like the real show, the host introduces the singers and the judges (imitations or Randy, Paula and Simon) provide constructive criticism. After the three performances, the audience got to vote for their favourite singer.

The winner of the final gets a gold ticket which will allow her or him to go to the front of the line in the next Idol auditions in any city they choose.

We had a blast at this attraction and gave it an A rating.

Second stop – The Great Movie Ride

We were ushered onto The Great Movie Ride for a journey in moving pews that put us in the middle of the action from gangster flicks of the 1930s to the adventure of classics such as Raiders of the Lost Ark. Through the use of film footage, special effects and Audio-Animatronic replicas of legendary movie stars, some of the most memorable moments in motion picture history are recreated in this attraction, including scenes from Alien, Mary Poppins, Tarzan and much more. This one earned a B rating.

We were hoping to take in the Toy Story Midway Mania but the wait time was 60 minutes and they had no more fast pass available. Disney only issues a limited number of fast pass. We were told that the fast pass for this attraction is usually gone by early morning!

Third Stop – Voyage of the Little Mermaid

In a reef-walled theatre, we took in the live 17 minutes musical show. With the use of colourful puppets, live performers, special effects and movie clips you follow Ariel as she travels back and forth from the ocean floor full of fish and creatures up to the world where she dreams to be, among the humans. We even felt the cooling effects of water mists; after all we are supposed to be under the sea!

The production is well done; the singing is excellent and overall, deserving of a B+ rating.

Fourth Stop – Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian

This attraction is basically a viewing of some of the important scenes of the movie. It’s shown in an imitation of Aslan's Stone Table Chamber, the underground vault where Aslan sacrificed himself in the first movie. We were a bit disappointed with the attraction and rated this a C.

Fifth Stop – Muppet Vision 3D

If you enjoyed the Muppets, you will enjoy this attraction. They did a very good job with this 17-minute 3D movie. You find yourself in the center of the action. You can almost reach out and touch Kermit, Miss Piggy and the gang as you are taken on a behind-the-scenes tour of Muppet Labs. The production uses a combination of 3D features and Audio-Animatronics characters. It merits a B+ rating.

Sixth Stop – Sounds Dangerous – Starring Drew Carey

Sounds Dangerous with Drew Carey takes place in a soundstage-like setting. Upon your entry into the theatre, we were provided state-of-the-art headphones (to me they looked very ordinary) which we are suppose to wear throughout the show. When the lights go out and the mayhem begins, we are suppose to experience crystal-clear sound through the use of special audio technology. If that was the case I guess I must of had a very ordinary headset. Dee refused to wear the headset because of the concern of who and how many people had worn them before her! I guess she has a point. I am certain that Disney does not change the foam covers of the headsets for each show!

One more thing, most of the show takes place in total darkness! This attraction got the first D as a rating. Dee even yelled boo on the way out.

On our way toward the exit we got to see a bit of a live Star War play with of course Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. The costumes were pretty cool.

This was the end of our theme parks journey and both Dee and I are not sorry to see the end! It was a difficult challenge to visit five theme parks in eight days with temperatures in the 80s and today it topped the 90s.
As Porky Pig said, “that’s all folks”!

Disney World - Magic Kingdom

Friday March 25th, 2011

Magic Kingdom (day one)

Magic Kingdom is the busiest park we have seen so far and with the wall to wall people there it became apparent that it would be impossible to visit the whole park in one day. Friday, our first day there we were overwhelmed with the crowd and the sights and the heat. Magic Kingdom averages 45,000 visitors per day!

Our day at the park started in the late morning and we found that it takes 30 minutes to actually reach Main Street from the time you arrive in the parking lot. First you are directed to your parking spot, and then you take a land shuttle to board either the mono rail or a riverboat that ferries you to the entry gates. We opted for the mono rail. After the short trip you enter a checkpoint area where security personnel check the content of your handbag or a backpack which most people have. Once you cleared the checking line, you are then directed to booths that scan your ticket and fingerprint. With that completed you are in! Oh yes, you must remember the name of the parking lot your vehicle is located and the row number! Otherwise, with the capacity to park 12,000 vehicles it could be a long search. We were parked in the Donald Duck lot!

With the big crowd located in the front part of the park we decided to take the steam locomotive that circles the park and get off at its one stop Frontier Land. For sure it would be less busy there, WRONG.

Frontierland

This area of the park was packed with people and every time you turned, you would bump into someone or something! We decide to board a raft to visit Tom Sawyer Island. The island is an outdoor playground based on the Mark Twain novels. For those who love the Tom Sawyer stories, you would enjoy a visit to the island. We rated this attraction a B.

Since the island was not as busy and there was an area with tables and chairs even rocking chairs, we took the opportunity to have lunch there. Today we decided to bring our own sandwiches and drinks. Other than having to carry our supplies in a back pack, it was the least expensive way to visit a Disney amusement park.

We were tempted to try the splash mountain, the one where you plunge five stories into a pond of water! The wait time was 60 minutes! So on to the next attraction, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. This is a roller coaster ride that loops through a mountain. After watching it for a few minutes, and with a wait time of 60 minutes we decided postpone until later if we have time to come back in this area.

Liberty Square

This area depicts colonial America. You will find replicas of the Liberty Bell and the Liberty Tree. You feel like you are back to the 1700’s when you step onto the street of this town.

We took a ride on the Liberty Square Riverboat. It tours Tom Sawyer Island and takes about 15 minutes.

Our next stop was the Hall of Presidents. In honour of the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barak Obama, the Hall of Presidents has undergone some important renovations since its 1971 opening. Seated in a theatre you get to enjoy a film that illuminates the USA’s origins, the formation of their Constitution and the hard-fought struggles, including the Civil war.

Using Audio-Animatronics figures we got to listen to President Lincoln recites the Gettysburg Address. The finally was a curtain raise and all 44 Presidents are either standing or seated and each one is introduced. The current President then recites the President’s oath of office. The figures looked and moved just like a human being that sometime you wonder if they were not actors dressed in costume! This is a good attraction to visit if you want to learn a bit of American history and for that reason we rated this a B+.

We visited the last attraction in this area, the Haunted Mansion. Again, the lines were long with a wait time of 40 minutes. Once you do get in, the crowd is brought into a room and you are plunged into total darkness. After that experience you climb aboard the Doom Buggy and ride through the haunted house where a Ghost Host introduces you to his dearly departed friends. Dee got a scare when a character popped out as we were coming through a bend. We were a bit disappointed in this attraction and rated it a C. I did read in the newspaper that Disney will be redesigning this attraction.

Fantasyland

We boarded a floating vessel that glides past brightly costumed dolls and animals as they sing "it's a small world" and dance on the shores of the Seven Seaways water canals. The dolls are dressed in costumes that represent more than 100 nations and sing the "it's a small world" song lyrics in 5 languages. Boundaries dissolve and continents are connected by this singular song. The colours and animations are spectacular and I am certain kids would be in awe with this attraction, we were and for that we rated this a B+. The pictures does not do justice to the attraction.

Next stop, Mickey`s PhilharMagic. Let me say that Dee and I rated this A. Sitting in a theatre; you are swept into the scenes from classic Disney films as Donald chases the Sorcerer's hat that starts all the trouble! This movie was filmed in 3D movie and the effects are unreal including the ending which you will have to find out by yourselves when you visit Magic Kingdom.

After our visit in this area we searched for a place to eat our dinner. What we found is that with so many eating establishments in Magic Kingdom, the number of picnic areas is limited and not easy to find. We did manage to find one near Frontierland and had a well deserved break.

With the temperatures in the mid to high 80`s for the week, it is taking a toll on our not so young bodies! After dinner we decided to take the steam train back to main street USA and buy some souvenir. I did pick up the tiara for Princess Audrey and another special souvenir that I am certain she will be thrilled with. Dee also bought Minnie Mouse ears for Mycknli and Princess`s ears and tiara for Serenity and Phoenix got her Tinkerbelle ears.

We got back to the RV around 10:00 p.m. knowing that we would be back at Magic Kingdom the next day.

Saturday, March 26th, 2011

Magic Kingdom (day two)

Today we planned on leaving the RV in late afternoon, hoping that the crowds would be less and maybe catch the night parade and fireworks.
On arrival we were directed to the Dopey parking lot and after this time we decided to take the riverboat to the checkpoint. You should expect to take a good 30-minute from the time you park your vehicle and enter Magic Kingdom. And remember your parking lot!

Was there less of a crowd today? Not really. You could see young kids being pushed, dragged and cajoled by parents to keep going, especially with the incentive that the Electric night parade would be soon! Oh well, I think all parents behave the same way with young kids. Seeing this behaviour from a different perspective we wondered if we were the same with our kids and the answer is yes!

First stop Tomorrowland

The most popular attraction in this area is Space Montain which is an indoor roller coaster and the. Since we are not big roller coaster riders we moved on to the Buzz Lightyear`s Space Ranger Spin. The wait time was 40 minutes and we decided to get a fast pass and come back later.
Our first attraction we got in was Stitch’s Great Escape. We take a seat in a round theatre and get strapped in for a multi-sensory experience featuring audio, video and sophisticated Audio-Animatronic technology. You might even get spit on (water spray) by Stitch and your nose gets involved with smells that fill the air during the show! The mechanical harness that straps you on will move you may feel a bit uncomfortable and for that reason we rated this a C-.

Before going to the Buzz attraction we stopped in for a spin at the Indy Speedway. The lines were long but it moved rather quickly so in no time we got strapped into our race cars and off we went! This attraction is definitely not built for speed! After a tortuous drive around the track we were glad to leave the fuel smell! Not sure if it’s real or they purposely odorize the area with the smell of fuel. It’s no more than a C

On our way to Buzz, Dee decided to drop in at the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. This is a kid-focused comedy show hosted on a digital stage by a monster host. The monster characters are based on the movie Monsters Inc. The object of the show is for the audience to help the monsters power the city of Monstropolis with laughter. There is interaction between the monsters and the audience through jokes and general mayhem similar to the skits you see on just for laughs. Dee rated this a C+.

Finally we cashed in our fast pass to get into the Buzz Lightyear attraction. This is a video-game-inspired ride. As junior space rangers, we boarded a space cruiser and as we travel through the universe we each had a lasers cannons and our job was to shot as many evil minions as we could! After the ride Dee had a score of 6,500 and I scored 40,000. Must be the power of my pirate eye! This attraction gets a rating of B.

On our way back toward Main Street we came across crowds lining the street in preparation for the Main Street Electrical Parade. This was at 8 p.m. and the parade was scheduled for 9 p.m. Thinking that some of the popular attractions would be less busy we decided to check some out. No, they were just as busy and the wait times were still 60 minutes plus. Don’t these people have to go home or what?

Making our way back to Main Street to get a glimpse of the parade, we visited the Swiss Family Treehouse. They did a great job replicating the house that the Swiss Family Robinson lived in the movie of the same name.
When we reached the parade site the crowd was at least 10 deep on both side and almost impossible to see. Now we know why they line up an hour before the parade!

If you do visit Magic Kingdom, you must see it at night at least once. The lighting, the parade and the fireworks are worth it.

Remember when I wrote that it was important to remember where your vehicle was parked? Well the inevitable happened to me. Somehow, with the crush of people and Dee leaving to get a drink, we got separated. Not a problem, just go to the truck and meet up there, right? I went to the Goofy parking lot and started searching for the truck. No GMC Sierra truck to be found. As I walked back toward the land transportation area, I hear my name called! It’s Dee calling me to get in the tram because we were actually parked in the Dopey parking lot. Yes I did feel a bit Dopey! We got home around 11:00, tired and almost done with theme parks!

Tomorrow, we are off to Disney Studios.

Epcot

Thursday, March 24th, 2011
Epcot Center – Discover the Wonder

Today is the first of our four-day excursion to Disney World. We choose Epcot, the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, which was opened in 1982 as the Disney resort second theme park and is suppose to be a futuristic city.

The intent of choosing Epcot Center was to pass a quiet day visiting mostly world pavilions and see some future world displays and try a few attractions. What we did not figure is the Epcot Centre is the largest of the four Disney sites. Disney World Resort is built on 25,000 acres (39 square miles). So if you plan on visiting Epcot make sure you wear very comfortable walking shoes.

We arrived at Epcot around 9:30 a.m. with the intent to visit the world pavilions first. When we reached the first one, we found out that the pavilions did not open until 11:00 a.m. So it was back to the beginning also known as Future World West.

Future World West

Future World West Is divided into four areas.

First stop – Imagination
I
n addition to an interactive play area, we tried two attractions. Journey into imagination with figment is a trip on a vessel through tunnels where you experience the five senses. We rated this a C.

The next attraction was Captain EO. This 3-D adventure was produce in 1986 and the star of the show is Michael Jackson. In fact this is where he first did the moon walk. The movie is shown in a theatre with special effects, such as lasers, smoke and seats that shake and vibrate on cue to the action on the screen. I am told that the combination of 3-D film which incorporates in-theater effects is known as 4-D. Who knew! We rated this attraction a B.

Second Stop - The Land

There are three attractions that you should visit. Our first attraction here was The Circle of Life. It is a 20-minute environmental film. Through a mix of animation, live action, and the use of characters from the Lion King you are exposed to the wonders of nature. Kids would probably enjoy this and for that we rated this attraction a B.

Our next stop here was Living with the Land. You board a boat and set sail on a voyage of discovery through living laboratories as you cruise past the American plains, a tropical rain forest and the African desert to witness the latest developments in aquaculture and desert farming. You also float by experimental greenhouses where they actually grow produce for restaurants at Epcot. We saw very big vegetables! I wonder if they would grow in our garden? We also saw the Aquacell which is an aqua environment with alligators and fish. As an educational tool, we rated this attraction B+.

The last attraction at The Land is called Soarin. It is one of the most popular attractions at Epcot so we were provided with a Fast Pass which means that we have a scheduled block of time to come back for this attraction. Our Fast Pass said we should come back between 3:57 and 4:57 p.m. Since it was only 10:30 a.m. we had a few hours to visit other attractions. After a very long day of walking this park and finishing our tour of the World Showcase we returned at the end of the day, one minute before the expiry of our Fast Pass! And folks, it was worth the wait! If you do only one attraction at Epcot, you must try Soarin.

Soarin is a multisensory attraction that simulates a hang-gliding flight over California. You experience the feeling of free flight while surrounded by scenic panoramas including the Golden Gate Bridge, Malibu and Los Angeles. We rated this attraction an A+.

Third stop – The Sea with Nemo and Friends

We boarded Board a vessel shaped like a clam and it simulates descending into a colorful underwater world where Nemo and his friends explore colorful tropical reefs, discover ancient shipwrecks, meet beautiful sea creatures and avoid lurking peril. Great for kids and for that we rated this a B.

Fifth Stop – Epcot Character Spot

This area is very busy and lots and lots of kids waiting for a change to get their picture taken with the Disney Character. We bypassed this area and hopefully we will get our pictures with Mickey, Goofy and friends at Disney World.

Future World East

This area is divided into five sections.

First Sop – Test Track

Test Track is a thrill ride in which we are strapped in a car and go through a number of tests like quick braking, controlling a slideout and the finally you accelerate to about 100 km an hour and shoot outside on a oval track with 50-degree banked curves! Dee thought she was riding in the Daytona 500. This attraction was worth an A rating.

Second Stop – Mission Space

If you always wanted to get a feeling of what traveling into space on a journey that turns you into an astronaut on a space flight to Mars as you attend to your aeronautical duties. Dee was the Pilot and I was the Navigator. We also had a Captain and an Engineer who both forgot to attend to their duties during flight! Thanks to the autopilot we managed to land on Mars! We rated this attraction and A.

Third Stop – Universe of Energy

For fans of Ellen DeGeneres you will love this attraction. The attraction is built in a mirrored pyramid with solar roof panels to supply some of the power. Once you enter the first theatre it takes 34 minutes for the complete show. After the seven minutes intro is completed you are brought into a second theatre to sit in a series of moving benches. Ellen’s dream (or nightmare) continues and you are taken on a tour of the origins of the universe, the dinosaur age and the history of energy. It’s a multimedia attraction and because Dee is a huge fan of Ellen we rated this attraction an A.

Fourth Stop – Spaceship Earth

This attraction is built in the big mirrored golf ball! that you see when you enter Epcot. It’s the signature attraction of Epcot. In fact it’s a 18-story geodesic sphere that's home to the time-traveling Spaceship Earth and Project Tomorrow: We thought it would be a more intense ride up and down the inside of the sphere but found it a bit lame after Soarin and Mission Space. For that reason we rated this attraction a B.

World Showcase

This attraction is where you will find 10 distinct areas depicting the following countries; Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, the USA, Japan, Morocco, France, the United Kingdom and finally Canada.

The sites depict the architecture, the culture and the different type of food you would find in that country. Some pavilions have attractions; all have restaurants, and all have gift shops selling wares from the country. At the Canadian pavilion I could buy a Maple Leafs jersey or any of the other three Canadian teams. Oh, that right, there are six Canadian team but we were told that the Senators and the Oilers did not make the Disney Team!

If you plan on spending your time in this area, bring lots of money or a platinum plus credit card!

For your enjoyment I have posted a few pictures of the pavilions.

We also took a ride on the Disney monorail. We made the loop from Epcot to Disney’s Magic Kingdom and returned to Epcot. It was a 20-minute ride and as a mode of transportation it’s very efficient and reminded me of the Vancouver Skytrain. Maybe Ottawa should have seriously considered this instead of the O-train and underground tunnels.

Finally, our visit coincided with the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. This Festival is a special event filled with Disney character topiaries, a colourful array of flowers, gardens, live music and special presentations. There are over 75 Disney character topiaries among the over 100 topiaries arranged throughout Epcot. Mickey Mouse and friends are depicted in colourful flower arrangements! Lucky for us, for the very first time, the festival included Disney•Pixar characters such as Buzz, Woody from Toy Story 3 and Lightning McQueen and Mater from Cars 2. We took a few pictures of the topiaries, enjoy.