I've been in Orlando this past week for a conference at the Disney Contemporary Resort. From my sixth floor balcony, I can see the Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. It can't be a third of a mile from where I'm sitting now keying my laptop. I've watched fireworks every night.
In my 36 years (I'm exactly as old as WDW, by the way), I've somehow missed Uncle Walt's theme park, but I'm finally here. It's probably a good thing I didn't go when I was younger. What about this next creepy early 70s commercial would make any child want to come near this place? (Aside from getting the chance to rough up that snotty Peter Pan?)
I did enjoy one admittedly spectacular night in the Magic Kingdom, taking in two classic attractions. The famous "Pirates of the Caribbean" theme ride, enhanced with additions from the successful (but eventually bloated) movie franchise:
I'm not really an amusement park ride kind of guy, so I probably had no business getting on Space Mountain. I thought it would be a quaint, somewhat kitschy tour through the cosmos. I waited in line for an hour while gradually realizing, through posted warning signs and the whoops of prior riders, that I was instead getting on a twisting, diving roller coaster that tops out at roughly 30mph. That may not sound fast, but in near pitch darkness, it sure felt pretty damn fast.
3 comments:
I flew from Europe to Orlando to attend a big business meeting in Disney World. Part of the time there was spent visiting the 3D animation attractions (great, especially, Terminator). The Earthquake thing was really 70s but quite fun too (especially if you are with a crowd of people you know).
Anyway, was like being a 14 year old kid again ..
Disney makes so much money hosting professional events for adults in all industries, it's somewhat easy to forget you're at...a giant series of theme parks.
I didn't make it over to the Movie Studios park nor the Animal Kingdom. I enjoyed the Magic Kingdom, though.
I hope to make the other attractions sometime in the not to distant future with or without my eventual kids.
The Buzz Lightyear ride just up the road from Space Mountain was by far our favorite thing in the Magic Kingdom, unironically. Ironically, my fave was definitely the Enchanted Tiki Room.
Also, should you ever go back (and I'm sure you WILL go back), word of advice: they do NOT like it when you heckle in the Hall of Presidents.
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