Trip Log:

Arrived at Orlando International around 3pm after almost an hour of circling due to the storms. Then there was a weather delay so our bags were stuck on the plane for almost another hour. It was just before 5 when we finally cleared the airport and headed for some food and a grocery stop on our way to the Radisson. Checked in and headed for the Magic Kingdom. Drove into the parking lot and then took the tram and ferryboat to get to the Magic Kingdom. Arrived on Main Street around 7pm (12 hours from when we left our house in California). Headed down Main Street to grab some pictures of the set up for the 50th and then over to Buzz followed by a visit to Stitch’s Great Escape. Wandered around toward and through Fantasyland on our way to Small World. After our voyage it was off to Sleepy Hollow for Funnel cakes and ice cream sandwiches before Wishes. Then back down Main Street and to the express Monorail and back to the TTC and parking lot tram then to the car and the hotel to call it an early night.

Thoughts & Observations:

• We started the trip with a weird arrival. The flight was actually about 20 minutes early to arrive in the Orlando area, then we circled for nearly an hour before landing. We were able to spot the airport and other landmarks several times as we dodged the thunderstorm clouds. Then once arriving at the baggage claim an announcement started to play saying that the ramps were closed and no baggage would be picked up from the planes until the lightning cleared the area, which ended up being almost an hour delay.
  
  
• This was our first time staying offsite since 1981. We decided to spend one night at the Radisson to see how it was, since they have been an advertiser on this site for almost two years now. We found it really easy to find the resort, the directions we printed from their website were right on for the most part, slightly off on the tolls, they were $2.50 and I believe the light count said first instead of second in one instance, but nothing too bad. The check in process was smooth. We had received email confirmations and did the express check in for one of our two rooms and a regular check in for the other. The staff was really helpful and friendly. It took less than 5 minutes to check into both rooms and off we were to check them out.
  
  One note on the email confirmations, we received almost 10 I think for the two rooms over the weeks leading up to the stay. Which was nice, but seemed too many. Also we had a conflicting cost announced at one, where the room rate was actually $10 less or so a night, this was corrected in the next round of emails we received, not sure what happened.
  
  The rooms were regular hotel rooms, the grounds of the resort looked really nice, we will have more on them tomorrow.
  
• After settling in a bit (maybe 15 minutes) it was time to head off to a park. We decided to drive, first time I had ever driven to a Florida park (last time we did was in 1981 and I was not old enough to drive). So it was a different experience to drive in, park, and take a tram.
  
  
• It was really weird to walk in the park and see a wristband distribution for the extra hours of magic which were at the Magic Kingdom and know I could not participate due to staying off-site. I do not think it mattered because at this time we were already dragging and probably could not have made it much past the 9pm Wishes show if we had wanted to.
  
  
• It took us about 12 hours from the time we left our house (4am PST) till we were walking down Main Street USA (7pm EST). Not too bad with the flight delays.
  
  
• It had been 5 days since my last Disney Trip (to Disneyland the Friday before we left) and last ride I went on in Anaheim was Buzz Lightyear, and first ride in Orlando was Buzz. After riding I realized how much better the new cousin in Anaheim was. The guns were tough to use, it was hard to be "bolted down", the single shaped target for the most part, the non-responsive hits, all led to an experience that would say was not nearly as fun and exciting as the Disneyland version. I have to give credit where credit is due and the new Disneyland Buzz Lightyear is way ahead in my book now.
  
  
• Next up headed for Stitch's Great Escape which was new for us, last time we were here in October it was just doing soft openeings for cast members. I was extremely disappointed with this attraction. First attraction feels shoe horned into a space and format that does not work. The effects are not scary like the original alien encounter, they were more annoying than anything. The audioanimatronic Stitch was great, but the storyline and pacing seemed terrible and did not work at all. After we left everyone in my group gave it a thumbs down and said they would probably never want to visit it again. I cannot believe this is the second or third version and still this non-interesting.
  
  
• Now onto a bright note, headed over to Fantasyland next to ride Small World. Upon turning the corner and seeing the new interior facade it brings up memories of Disneyland. It looks great and really seems to work. The traffic flow to the boats is greatly improved and the ride through itself looks spectacular. The new lighting, restored soundtrack, and freshened sets and dolls really bring back the luster to this classic. I still like the pacing and length of the Disneyland original better, but this is a definite improvement to a great attraction. The attention to detail in the restoration is definitely noticable to those who have riden before.
  
  
• Caught Wishes from the end of Main Street as we were leaving. I left feeling that the show was missing something, not sure what. I had fond memories, but now with some time and distance I have "fonder" memories of Believe and thus felt this show was lacking something, not sure what though..

Pedometer Information for the day:

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