Disney World, Florida

12/23/2012 -- 1/1/2013

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The Walt Disney World Resort (commonly known as Disney World), is the world's most-visited entertainment resort. Covering 30,080 acres (12,173 ha; 47 sq mi), it is home to four theme parks, two water parks, twenty-four themed resorts (excluding eight more that are on-site but not owned by The Walt Disney Company), two spas and fitness centers, five golf courses, and other recreational and entertainment venues.  The resort opened on October 1, 1971 with the Magic Kingdom as its only theme park, and has since added Epcot (1982), Hollywood Studios (1989), and Animal Kingdom (1998).  Today, with ~ 50 million annual visitors (combined), Disney World has become the largest entertainment theme parks and dream vacation destination for all ages.

 

[Miami, 12/24--12/25] [Everglades, 12/26--12/28] [Disney World, 12/29--1/1]

Getting there ...

Visiting Disney was not on my top of to-do list in the past.  However, now that Linus and Iris have grown and become teens, I figure it will be too late if we don't have a family Disney vacation soon.  Combining a Disney trip with Everglades National Park in southern Florida was a fine idea for our winter vacation this year.  I booked a 4-night package (one day per theme park) at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, which provided us a comfortable and convenient stay in Disney World.

Day 6 (12/29) ...

 

 

7:10AM Space Mountain
  Peter Pan's Flight
  Winnie the Pooh
8:00AM Big Thunder Mountain
  Splash Mountain [Video]
  Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
  Big Thunder Mountain (Fast Pass)
  Haunted Mansion
  Space Mountain (Fast Pass)
Lunch Cosmic Rays
  Under the Sea (Fast Pass)
~ 11:20AM Parade
  Walt Disney World Railroad
  Emporium
12:30PM Parade
  Tom Saywer Island
  Space Mountain (Fast Pass)
  People Mover
  Mad Tea Party (Iris & Yenwen only) [Video]
~ 3:00PM Big Thunder Mountain (Fast Pass)
~ 4:00PM Jungle Cruise (Fast Pass)
  Pirates of the Caribbean
  Town Square Theater (Mickey Mouse)
Dinner Tony's
  Emporium
  Walt Disney World Railroad
~ 7:30PM Big Thunder Mountain (Fast Pass)
9:00PM Electrical Parade
9:45PM Celebrate the Magic [Video]
10PM Fireworks [Video]

 

Day 7 (12/30) ...

 

 

 

 

8:00AM Test Track
  Mission: Space (Orange)
  Ellen's Energy Adventure
10:30AM Soaring (Fast Pass, skipped because of Mission Space ...)
Lunch World: America (with turkey leg)
  Living with the Land (Fast Pass)
  Spaceship Earth
~ 3:30PM Test Track (Fast Pass) [Video]
Snack World: Norway
  Maelstrom (Fast Pass)
5:00PM World: China, Dragon Acrobats
Dinner World: Morocco
  The Seas with Nemo & Friends

 

 

Day 8 (12/31) ...

 

 

 

 

8:00AM Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
  Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
10:00AM Lights, Motors, Action! [Video]
  Toy Story Midway Mania (Fast Pass)
  Star Tours
Lunch Pizza Planet
  Indiana Jones
  Yenwen & Woanyu Linus & Iris
~ 1:00PM Beauty and the Beast Tower of Terror (Fast Pass)
  Great Movie Ride Great Movie Ride
    Rock 'n' Roller Coaster (Fast Pass)
3:00PM Parade
  Studio Backlot Tour
  Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
5:15PM Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (Fast Pass)
6:30PM Fantasmic [Video]
Dinner Sunset Boulevard

 

Day 9 (1/1) ...

 

 

 

8:00AM Expedition Everest
  Kilimanjaro Safaris
  Pangani Forest Trail
9:30AM Expedition Everest (Fast Pass)
  Primeval Whirl (2x for Linus & Iris)
  Yenwen & Woanyu Linus & Iris
  It's tough to be a bug Expedition Everest (Fast Pass 2x)
Lunch Yak & Yeti
11:30AM Flights of Wonder [Video]
  It's tough to be a bug
12:30PM Festival of the Lion King
   

 

 

Going Home ...

We only stayed in the Animal Kingdom for half a day and went back to Coronado Springs Resort to catch Disney's Magic Express back to Orlando airport for the late afternoon flight.  With the combination of luxury theme parks and resorts, and nature beauty of Everglades, our winter vacation in Florida this year was full of wonders and excitement (and my screams in the rides...).

 

[Miami, 12/24--12/25] [Everglades, 12/26--12/28] [Disney World, 12/29--1/1]


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