// January 11th, 2012 // No Comments » // Photos, Theme Parks
Just a quick shot from EPCOT, with the Imagination pavilion’s pyramids in the background. Imagination is one of many things around EPCOT that used to be so much better. I rather wish for an EPCOT renaissance at some point. Bring back Wonders of Life!
// January 4th, 2012 // No Comments » // Photos, Theme Parks
Well, we have arrived at the doorstep of 2012–Happy New Year to you! If you think about it for a moment, you’ll realize that January 1 is an entirely arbitrary point to choose to mark the end of one trip around the sun and the start of the next. Even so, I must admit I buy into the notion of using this annual occasion to reassess things–who I’ve become, who I want to be, what I’ve accomplished and hope to accomplish. I relish the sense of closing the door on the old year and welcoming the new, like a blank page or a new lock to open. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m big on New Year’s Resolutions, but I always make one or two, and they’re generally along the same lines–be more often positive, more often creative, more receptive and more giving. This year I’m hoping to be almost relentlessly positive, since I feel there’s already so much negativity in the world–indeed, for many people it seems to be the default state–and now and then I find it dragging me along for the ride. I’ve always prided myself on being, if nothing else, a bit apart from the majority. So this year I will work at making myself and the world just a bit better, a bit more positive and hopeful, and I’ll hope you might resolve to do the same. It’s never too late for that.
// December 28th, 2011 // No Comments » // Photos, Theme Parks
There are fashions in reading, even in thinking. You don’t have to follow them unless you want to. On the other hand, watch out. Don’t stick too closely to your favorite subject. That would keep you from adventuring into other fields. It’s silly to build a wall around your interests.
—Walt Disney
Just a thought, standing on the threshold of a new year.
// December 21st, 2011 // No Comments » // Photos, Theme Parks
From me and mine to you and yours, please have yourself a wonderful Christmas and a great holiday season. Look around, be glad for all you have, and hug the folks you love as tight as they can stand. The winter solstice means we’re halfway out of the darkness, after all. 
// November 28th, 2011 // No Comments » // Family Lifestyle, Photos, Theme Parks
I met Mandi, her brother, their Mom, and respective spouses and kiddos at the Magic Kingdom for a quick shoot to document their Thanksgiving-week visit to Walt Disney World. Unfortunately we picked a rainy afternoon, so we had to make do with shooting under cover in and around the Main Street train station, but I think we made it work all right. I hope you agree, Mandi, and I hope you all had a wonderful time and a great Thanksgiving here in Orlando!
At least we got a rainbow to make up for the rain. Thanks again, Mandi!
// November 23rd, 2011 // No Comments » // Photos, Theme Parks
The Magic Kingdom is always impressive, but especially when decorated for the holidays. Here’s wishing a very Happy Thanksgiving, from me and mine to you and yours!
// November 16th, 2011 // No Comments » // Photos, Theme Parks
This guy is a tireless performer–all day, every day at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in the Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland. Now that’s dedication! I guess it doesn’t hurt that he’s bolted to the stage…
// November 9th, 2011 // No Comments » // Photos, Theme Parks
The Imagination pavilion at EPCOT Center. The bad thing about being a life-long Disney World fan is that I have the past for reference. The ride currently inhabiting this pavilion is pretty good, but only if you have nothing to which to compare it. I grew up in the days of the original ride, with Figment really taking center stage. And then you could actually go up into the glass pyramids to play! It’s just nowhere near the same anymore. And then Horizons and World of Motion and the Wonders of Life pavilion.. all gone. I like the replacements for the first two, of course, and the whole idea of EPCOT is that things change over time, but I’m still nostalgic for the old days. And I really miss Cranium Command, okay?
// October 26th, 2011 // 1 Comment » // Photos, Theme Parks
Just a quick shot from the Tree of Life area at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Can you spot the giraffe?
// October 14th, 2011 // No Comments » // Photos, Theme Parks
This week we Central Floridians welcome the grand opening of the state’s newest, oldest theme park–LEGOLand Florida! It’s the newest for obvious reasons, and the oldest if you know a little of the region’s history: decades before a guy named Walt started secretly buying up farmland for his so-called Florida Project, Cypress Gardens first opened its doors in January 1936. It was mainly a botanical gardens, and over time they added attractions like water ski shows and eventually thrill rides. In 1952 a segment of the first widescreen movie (This Is Cinerama) was filmed there, and over time something like 50 waterski world records were set there. It was a popular place for filming television commercials in the 60s. Elvis visited, and Johnny Carson filmed a TV special there. A fairly historic place, in other words! Of course, after Disney came to town and established itself (and the Orlando area in general) as the real tourist destination around here, Cypress Gardens had trouble keeping pace. The tourism slowdown that came after September 11 was the final straw and the park closed in 2003, with just 3 days’ notice. It was saved from destruction and re-development by an impressive local grass-roots effort, and another operator gave it a shot from 2004 to 2009 before closing up shop again. Not long after that, it was announced that the park had been purchased to create the world’s fifth LEGOLand, and here we are on the eve of its Grand Opening.
As a kid who grew up thinking success consisted largely of owning lots of LEGO, I’m thrilled to have our very own LEGOLand here in the area, especially since I have kids at the perfect age to appreciate the place too. It remains to be seen whether the park can succeed in spite of its location, about a 45-minute drive from the area’s other big attractions–I sure hope so! The LEGO brand is obviously a strong one, and it’s worked in some other out-of-the-way spots like Carlsbad, Calfornia. It also helps that they’ll be offering a shuttle bus to and from the Disney area.
We were able to check the park out first-hand this week as part of their passholder preview days, and were pretty impressed. There’s room for improvements, literally and figuratively, but overall the changes they’ve made to the park are great, and it looks amazing. The Miniland area is simply incredible, the themed lands are well-done, and there’s a good variety of rides and activities, most of which are perfect for their target audience. We didn’t see nearly everything, we didn’t check out any of the shows or movies yet, and we didn’t even make it back to the preserved Cypress Gardens area (which I’m very glad they kept around). So we’ll be back! But for a first visit to a park that wasn’t even officially open yet, overall I give the place a solid thumbs-up.
So welcome to the neighborhood, LEGOLand Florida! We look forward to seeing a lot more of you!
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