Photo TR: The Kiwis Do Texas Midwest 2013

[kidcoaster 2Don't put that donkey on the floor!]

Very nice report! I defiantly need to get back to Sea World on my next Orlando trip.

[ArizonaGuyJar-Jar Binks smells like Donkey]

Nice TR update of Sea World. I can't wait to go back. I haven't been there since 2008 and can't wait to visit and support Sea World again.

[mattnzWhen I grow up, I want to breed donkeys!]

A new year, and the TR goes on, bringing us to the Disney portion of our trip. We decided to do Walt Disney World Resort in style, staying with friends from back home at Disney's amazing Polynesian Resort. I am a fan of all things Tiki Modern, so the resort really worked for me in more ways than one. It was an absolutely gorgeous and relaxing place to stay - obviously so close to the parks - but expensive! I was also surprised to find the bar closed so early. I was ready to spend a fortune on tropical cocktails, but there weren't too many punters hitting the bar, so I'm guessing the resort is mostly a destination for families with kids... Well, duh... But can anyone tell me if there is a more 'adult'-oriented resort at Disney World? Something a little more 'late night'?

Anyway, after spending too much time enjoying everything else on offer at Disney's Polynesian Resort we completely messed up our first Disney park day - Epcot. We arrived around midday and that was our first big mistake. I had forgotten that you really have to HUSTLE the Disney parks to have a more thorough, enjoyable day. It seems that there is no longer any time of the year when the Disney World Resort parks are quiet and you have to go in expecting big crowds each and every time. You then have to RUN to the most popular ride first, then fastpass and fastpass again until you've hit up the most popular attractions before all the fastpasses run out (and they will).

I had also completely forgotten that it rains in Florida every day without fail, usually around 3-4pm. The tropical thunderstorms usually pass pretty quickly, but they will inevitably close certain rides, such as Test Track. And sometimes, as on the day of our Epcot visit, the thunderstorms won't pass as quickly as you might like... For us that equalled a two hour wait to get ONE ride in on Test Track. Bloody hell!

Despite totally messing up our Epcot visit, I did enjoy the park. It was beautiful, and it had some great attractions. I was even able to overlook the two hour wait for Test Track as the ride really delivered a very fun experience. In Future World, Mission: SPACE and Spaceship Earth were other highlights, and I was very surprised by Universe of Energy: Ellen's Energy Adventure. We all groaned when they annouced the 45 minute ride time, but I loved the experience of the theatre seats elaborately moving through the various scenes - which was kind of like the Carousel of Progress on acid. Alright, so everyone else in my party fell asleep, but I couldn't get over how the moving theatre worked!

Walking around the World Showcase we briefly sampled the various areas before getting rained out. Epcot is definitely a theme park experience I will have to repeat in the near future. I was very interested to sample more food (and alcohol!), give some of those rare Circle-Vision 360° movies a try (I'm fascinated by this old fashioned innovation), and check out some more of the Future World pavilions, but we simply ran out of time.

We did catch the IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth show, which was spectacular, but before it had even ended we hustled our way back to the monorail to beat the insane crowds. By our next park - the Magic Kingdom - we had learned our lesson and ended up having a very full day there. But lesson learned at Epcot: If you're an international visitor with one day to do a Disney park, you have to work a little harder to make it a successful visit.

[simon8899I love donkeys more than me.]

Oh boy - is it already a year since I visited Orlando?

[mattnzWhen I grow up, I want to breed donkeys!]

Oh boy - is it already a year since I visited Orlando?

I'm feeling the same way after five months!

[Barge84Vagina Wreckage]

What a shame that you only had a little time for Epcot. It still looks like you guys had fun, but that's a park that needs to be taken at a slow pace and just enjoyed. Hopefully you get back for Food and Wine sometime, because, correct me if I'm wrong... I think you and Andrew like to drink alcohol...

[mattnzWhen I grow up, I want to breed donkeys!]

What a shame that you only had a little time for Epcot. It still looks like you guys had fun, but that's a park that needs to be taken at a slow pace and just enjoyed. Hopefully you get back for Food and Wine sometime, because, correct me if I'm wrong... I think you and Andrew like to drink alcohol...

Yes we do Thad! I will definitely get back to Epcot sometime soon and give it a few days if I can. The Food and Wine Festival would be great!

[SharkTumsSite Admin]

Matt, try one of the resorts in the Boardwalk area next time. I'm partial to Boardwalk, but Yacht & Beach also skew a bit older due to convention traffic and proximity to Epcot instead of Magic Kingdom. Certainly a lot more late night venues in that area as well.

[mattnzWhen I grow up, I want to breed donkeys!]

Matt, try one of the resorts in the Boardwalk area next time. I'm partial to Boardwalk, but Yacht & Beach also skew a bit older due to convention traffic and proximity to Epcot instead of Magic Kingdom. Certainly a lot more late night venues in that area as well.

Thanks for the advice Elissa, that sounds ideal!

[televisedconfessionCounselor Neil]

I was very surprised by Universe of Energy: Ellen's Energy Adventure. We all groaned when they annouced the 45 minute ride time, but I loved the experience of the theatre seats elaborately moving through the various scenes - which was kind of like the Carousel of Progress on acid. Alright, so everyone else in my party fell asleep, but I couldn't get over how the moving theatre worked!

I can't tell if you're just very behind the times, or just that gay, but I would hardly say this ride is anything more than a great place to take a mid-day nap and escape the hot, hot sun. But hey, gotta have the love for Ellen's Big Gay Energy Ride.

I was looking forward to Spaceship Earth, which is now narrated by the lovely Judi Dench

Ehem... it's the lovely DAME Judi Dench.

Clearly I joke.
Please come back to Florida! I miss you guys!