In Orlando we.....

[AndyP & Lenore]

Don't want to be accused of imposing mass boredom on everyone, but thought I'd have a good try, by posting up some of our pics from our Orlando holiday. You read on at your own risk and any boredom induced sub-cranial haematoma's are not my fault.

Note: Some pics taken with my wee Panasonic compact - which is about average, and some with my iPhone - which is cr@p.

Our ride. We normally hire a cheap class b thing (usually a Chevvy Cobalt or something like that), but this time we decided to throw caution to the wind, blow our Airmiles points and go for a 'vert. Was supposed to be a Sebring, but Avis put is in this. Nice car, but the colour - sorry, color :rolleyes:, Cat Bile anyone?

http://www.motorsportphotographic.com/fun_stuff/orlando_2010/mustang.jpg

Every May and June Disney Hollywood Studio's do special events called "Star Wars Weekends (http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/hollywood-studios/special-events/star-wars-weekend/)". The main attraction is a star Wars parade of characters and stars of the movies and TV shows. This weekend was Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian), Ray Park (Darth Maul) and Dave Filoni (Supervising Director, Star Wars: The Clone Wars). When Jeremy Bulloch passed us by and we saw the name on the side of the car lenore and I looked at each other and said: "Bobba fett? BOBBA FETT? Where?" - You had to be there.:laugh:

Parade ends with a quick stage chat with some of the main actors/characters.
http://www.motorsportphotographic.com/fun_stuff/orlando_2010/star_wars_at_disney.jpg

We had a wee bit of rain on the first two days - otherwise dry and very hot. This was at Universal's Islands Of Adventure. A crazy monsoon that passed over in about 10 mins - lots of rain and lots of lightening directly overhead.:eek:
http://www.motorsportphotographic.com/fun_stuff/orlando_2010/rain.jpg

Went to Seaworld a couple of days - Lenore's a huge fan and would sleep there if she got the chance (our hotel was walking distance across the car park as it is).

Their main show is the Orca show called Believe. I don't particularly want to spark a conversation over whether these animals should be held in captivity or not, but if someone does start one please don't hijack this thread, start your own one.

The show is not the same as we've seen previously as they are still not allowed to go in the water with the whales, following the tragic death of a trainer earlier this year. In speaking with the trainers, there is a worry they may never be allowed back in the water with the animals.
http://www.motorsportphotographic.com/fun_stuff/orlando_2010/orlando1.JPG

http://www.motorsportphotographic.com/fun_stuff/orlando_2010/orlando6.JPG

http://www.motorsportphotographic.com/fun_stuff/orlando_2010/orlando7.JPG

In the evening they do a "rock music" based version of the Orca show called "Shamu Rocks". This is a terrific show with some excellent music. If I'm honest, it's a better show than their headline show which plays during the day.
http://www.motorsportphotographic.com/fun_stuff/orlando_2010/orlando5.JPG

Went to Daytona Beach. It's long and sandy. Ate at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. for lunch. "That's all I have to say about that."
http://www.motorsportphotographic.com/fun_stuff/orlando_2010/orlando2.JPG

The Wizzarding World Of Harry Potter (WWOHP) opens in Islands Of Adventure (IOA) on Friday 18th June. But they are doing "soft" openings to test stuff out. So we decided to see if we could get in. Went about 3pm on our first day at Islands and the team members at the gate just laughed when we asked if we could get in. the suggested we come back a "bit earlier" the next day. So a few days later we decided to do Universal and Islands again and we went straight to IOA for 9am. Straight up to the gate for WWOHP to find a gathering of about 500 other people. We asked a couple of staff members when they would be opening the gates and we got the stock answer - "maybe, maybe not, don't know when, even if they do." Not very helpful, but what can you do.... So we stuck around, and it turned out that even off-duty staff members are not allowed in and have to wait for the gates to open. Luckily they were able to ask some on-duty staff and they planned to open the gates in an hour or so. So we waited patiently and at 11am ish they did open the gates - by this time there must have been 7 or 8 hundred people all waiting to get in.

WWOHP is OK, if you're (like us) mildly interested in the franchise. If you're a nut on the whole HP thing you'll probably find it more interesting. If you have no idea who Harry is, or where Hogwarts is, you'll probably find it extremely dull, and maybe even a bit daft. The main attraction is a new ride called the Forbidden Journey. No idea what it's like because 5 mins after they opened the gates there was a 90 minute queue for the ride. After waiting 2 hours, there's no frikking way I was waiting another 90 mins. If we go back in September and the queue is smaller I may join it then.

We did have a wander around Ollivanders wand shop. They are all stacked in boxes on shelves around the store. I kept waiting on one choosing me but it never happened so I walked out in disgust.

Had a glass of Butterbeer. WTF is Butterbeer I hear you ask. Read the books is my answer. lol. Butterbeer is a drink traditionally sold in the pub in Hogsmeade. In the book I think it's alcoholic, but for the theme park it's like a sparkling sweet fruit punch with lots of sugar and a sweetened cream head. Seriously, I felt a diabetic shock coming on after a few sips. i guess the kids will love it.

The scenery is amazing, clearly a lot of work gone into recreating JK's vision. And they've done an excellent job. However, the shops are far too small - Olivanders in particular is the size of an average sitting room. When this area of the park opens it's going to be absolutely mobbed and none of the WWOHP areas are anything like big enough. They are estimating the queue length for the Forbidden Journey ride will be up to 6 hours. That's just crazy.

Couple of WWOHP pics..

http://www.motorsportphotographic.com/fun_stuff/orlando_2010/orlando4.JPG

http://www.motorsportphotographic.com/fun_stuff/orlando_2010/butterbeer.jpg

In Downtown Disney there's a shop called Ridemakerz (http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/downtown-disney/shopping/ridemakerz/). The site gives you the details, but in their foyer they have this car sitting...

http://www.motorsportphotographic.com/fun_stuff/orlando_2010/cool_mini.jpg

http://www.motorsportphotographic.com/fun_stuff/orlando_2010/cool_mini2.jpg

But, highlight of the week was a trip up to Pensacola to meet up with Alan (Gismo Man) in his new habitat. Seems to be settling in well.:thumbs up:

http://www.motorsportphotographic.com/fun_stuff/orlando_2010/orlando3.JPG
Actually this was taken at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

A.:D

[Gismo]

Nic write up, but why are you creeping up on me

[AndyP & Lenore]

Nic write up, but why are you creeping up on me

You looked settled and we just thought we'd leave you to eating the apples and oranges off the ground. Maybe if we'd called beforehand.....:D

A.:D

[GCA3N]

Nic write up, but why are you creeping up on me

:laugh:

good write up Andy and some smashin pics.

[audrey]

Great pics :thumbs up: Looks and sounds like you both had a fab time :D

[Stewart]

Thats like the Car we got the second week in Florida. Got the cheapest the first week as all it was doing was being driven five miles and parked.
Only thing that annoyed me was I decided not to take my SLR and just depend on my friends Olympus Compact. Got pictures standing by Jaws and at the Star War bunker etc and he lost the bloody Film. Would love to go back. Love the old Star War (sad to say I have most of the collectable toys in mint condition boxed) :blush:

I met Michael J. Fox when I was in one of the packs:thumbs up:he was doing an add.

Takes me back any more pic’s?

[Craig]

Nice pics Andy.... Daytona Beach is amazing... Great Harley shop there... :thumbs up:

[zimbo]

Very nice Andy. So you and Lenore are a couple of closet STAR WARS geeks huh? :hand:
I quite like the colour of your convertible Mustang, the one I had in California many years ago was silver, love my Mustangs :drool:

Looks like you both had an awesome time as you would in Orlando, coz its compulsory :yes nod: I REALLY REALLY cant wait to go back. Dont I will be going to that Harry Potter thing tho :frown: not my cup of T. I go along with Lenore here, because I LOVED Sea World as well, I spent AGES at the Dolphin pool taking photos and just satring at them in amazement and then got round to feeding them too :thumbs up: and also got to feed the baby Rays in the nursing pool, now THATS an experience.

So thanks for posting up this thread mate, brought back some great memories I have and now also an even bigger hankering to get back there.

Alan looks a bit bigger now in that pic than he did when he left our shores, no wonder you had to sneak up on him, just to make sure it was him... :D

[Burple]

But, highlight of the week was a trip up to Pensacola to meet up with Alan (Gismo Man) in his new habitat. Seems to be settling in well.

http://www.motorsportphotographic.com/fun_stuff/orlando_2010/orlando3.JPG

Actually this was taken at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

A.:D


Nic write up, but why are you creeping up on me

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:: laugh::laugh::laugh:

[AndyP & Lenore]

Takes me back any more pic’s?

Not really mate. Hunners of Seaworld pics, but once you've seen one, you've seen them all. Also, because we only had our compact and it takes an age to figure out what exposure to use each time, most of them are of whales threequarters of the way back in the water, rather than while they are out the water.

I've taken my big camera in the past anyway, and I have a load of pics from those hols - this time we just wanted to chill and enjoy ourselves. Wasn't really bothered about taking many pics.

If the $/£ rate improves we may be going back in September. Probably take my big camera then.:thumbs up:

A.

[AndyP & Lenore]

Very nice Andy. So you and Lenore are a couple of closet STAR WARS geeks huh? :hand:
I quite like the colour of your convertible Mustang, the one I had in California many years ago was silver, love my Mustangs :drool:

Looks like you both had an awesome time as you would in Orlando, coz its compulsory :yes nod: I REALLY REALLY cant wait to go back. Dont I will be going to that Harry Potter thing tho :frown: not my cup of T. I go along with Lenore here, because I LOVED Sea World as well, I spent AGES at the Dolphin pool taking photos and just satring at them in amazement and then got round to feeding them too :thumbs up: and also got to feed the baby Rays in the nursing pool, now THATS an experience.

So thanks for posting up this thread mate, brought back some great memories I have and now also an even bigger hankering to get back there.

Alan looks a bit bigger now in that pic than he did when he left our shores, no wonder you had to sneak up on him, just to make sure it was him... :D

Fans of the first three movies, the second set of three where a bit rubbish. And we're not as compulsive as some - we do not have original toys in their unopened boxes. And we don't go out to Orlando specifically for the Star Wars weekends, it's just if we're there, we're as well getting a bit more for our money at a Disney park and do HS while the Star Wars weekends are on. There's quite a bit goes on at those events, including Q & A's and interviews in theatres with the star guests, but we weren't bothered about those.

Harry Potter is definitely more for the HP fans than for theme park fans. I fancy the new ride, but that's about it.

They've changed the way they do the Dolphin feeding at Seaworld... It used to be that you bought a tray of fish and wandered around the edge of their pool and fed them, and if you didn't want to feed them you just stood next to someone who did. Now, they cordon off an area for those who wish to feed and if you want the best view, you MUST buy a tray of fish. If you don't buy a tray of fish, you're restricted to an area with all the other miserleys... Of course, the dolphins know this, so they stick to the area where they're gonna get fed. Makes it a bit less of an experience, but the underwater viewing is still cool though.

A.

[L13ARG]

could look at florida pics all day long (sad or what) . Have just booked for october cant wait (flights are alot more than we have paid in the past)

[AndyP & Lenore]

could look at florida pics all day long (sad or what) . Have just booked for october cant wait (flights are alot more than we have paid in the past)

Rubbish $dollar rate and the high cost of aviation fuel is hiking the flight costs just now. Can't see either of them improving anytime soon either.:frown:

A.:frown:

Edit: And, good god woman, that's not sad at all. I can do the same and talk orlando to anyone, anytime too. :D