Tuesday, December 28, 2010 (Disney's Hollywood Studios)

After breakfast we caught the shuttle bus to Epcot at 7:25 and took the bus to Disney’s Hollywood Studios (formerly Disney MGM Studios). Catherine did not ride the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror however she had ridden it several times during previous trips. Star Tours was not operating. I find that Hollywood Studios, Universal and certainly Universal Islands of Adventure are rather boring so I brought along two books along to read during the vacation – Rhys Bowen’s “A Royal Pain” and “Royal Flush.”

We went on The Great Movie Ride, and saw the Sounds Dangerous show, the Muppet-Vision 3D show, the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show, Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian show and part of the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. We had lunch at Backlot Express. We had Subway sandwiches, chips and drinks for dinner in our hotel suite.

Monday, December 27, 2010 (Epcot again)

After breakfast we caught the shuttle bus to Epcot at 7:25. We ate lunch in again at the Electric Umbrella. I wanted to eat at the Rose and Crown. I was deeply disappointed that I could not get reservations either day.

We rode the Spaceship Earth. We saw the both levels of the Seas Main Tank and Exhibits including a trainer working with a dolphin to identify shapes. We explored World Showcase clockwise again except we ran out of time and didn’t get to see “O Canada.” We did see “The American Adventure” and “Impressions de France.” .

We caught the 5:30 shuttle bus back to the hotel. We had Subway sandwiches, chips and drinks for dinner in our hotel suite. Many of the evenings we watched the Hallmark Channel on television.

Sunday, December 26, 2010/Friday, December 31, 2010 (Magic Kingdom)

We caught the shuttle bus to Epcot at 7:25 and rode the monorail to the Magic Kingdom. Catherine bought a WDW shot glass as a gift for a fellow worker (he got her a small, fancy bottle of tequila in Cabo). We had lunch at Columbia Harbor House in Liberty Square at 12:15PM. Catherine’s fish and chips was not good. The fish was greasy and tasted bitter. However my Shrimp Platter was delicious as was the Clam Chowder and Apple Crisp.

During the two days that we visited the Magic Kingdom Catherine rode on Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad several times. We saw Monsters Inc. and rode Buzz Lightyear in Tomorrowland. I rode Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress. We rode the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. We rode Winnie the Pooh, Snow White, Peter Pan’s Flight (my all time favorite) and It’s a Small World in Fantasyland. In Liberty Square, we saw the Haunted Mansion. I like the New Orleans style house in Disneyland better. In Adventureland, we rode the Pirates of the Caribbean. We had a great driver for the Jungle Cruise. We saw The Enchanted Tiki Room. It was changed a few years ago and not for the better. In Frontierland, we saw Country Bear Jamboree. I really miss the shows that they used to have in the Diamond Horseshoe. We rode the Liberty Belle Riverboat and saw The Hall of Presidents. I watched The Christmas Parade while Catherine rode Big Thunder Mountain. The ride broke down midway. Somehow we missed seeing Mickey’s PhilharMagic.

We caught the shuttle bus at 5:15PM back to the Comfort Suites. A lot of tourists stayed at the nearby Best Western. They had a Pizza Hut where we had a nearby Subway. I do not think that they had a complimentary breakfast.

Saturday, December 25, 2010 (Animal Kingdom)

Catherine and I caught the Platinum Shuttle Bus to Epcot at 7:25AM and rode the bus to Animal Kingdom. While she went on a ride I purchased a poncho for the water rides. Catherine went on the Dinosaur, Expedition Everest and Kali River Rapids rides. We had barbeque pork sandwiches at Flame Tree Barbecue at 12:30PM. We rode in the front seat of the open-air safari vehicle on the Kilimanjaro Safari. I thoroughly enjoyed the trek even though it was a rough ride at times. We saw the Flights of Wonder. I had Key Lime Mousse and Catherine had a Sprite drink at 4:30. We caught the 5:20 shuttle bus back to the hotel. We had Subway sandwiches, chips, and drink for dinner in our hotel suite while we watched the Hallmark Channel on television.

Friday, December 24, 2010 (Epcot)

After breakfast I purchased our six day WDW tickets at the hotel. We caught the Platinum Shuttle Bus to Epcot. We had front row seats on Soarin’. Catherine went on the rides in the morning. We ate Greek Salads for lunch on the patio at the Electric Umbrella. It was a great place for people watching.

We explored World Showcase clockwise in the afternoon. We took the Gran Fiesta Tour boat ride at the Mexico Pavilion and rode the Maelstrom at Norway. We saw “Reflections of China.” We caught the 5:30 shuttle back to the hotel. We had Subway sandwiches, chips and drinks for dinner in our hotel suite. Many of the evenings we watched the Hallmark Channel on television.

I would never recommend a Christmas-New Years week for first-time visitors. However for anyone who has visited enough to navigate the parks without a map, like us, it is a great opportunity to experience the beauty and joy of the holiday season which outweighs the huge crowds most of the time. Cell phones were necessary to keep in touch.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

My youngest daughter, Catherine, and I went on an eleven day trip from Vancouver, Washington to Orlando, Florida from December 23, 2010 to January 2, 2011. I had read (and photocopied several pages) "the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2011" by Bob Sehlinger & Len Testa in preparation for the trip. We flew to Orlando via Chicago O’Hare Int’l Airport where we ate lunch at Chili’s. Two to three inches of snow covered the ground in Chicago but the runways were clear. We took Mears Transportation from Orlando International to the hotel.

We stayed in a third floor suite at the Comfort Suites Maingate in Kissimmee, Florida. The price was almost doubled for the holidays. We had a complimentary breakfast. Some mornings we had Mickey Mouse waffles. We had free transportation to all of the parks even Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios) and Sea World.

Waymarking Gone Astray - Bring Back Virtuals!

Waymarking replaced Virtual Geocaching and proceeded to go astray.

According to “The Geocaching Handbook” by Layne Cameron, Virtual caches offer “beautiful or unspoiled views. A pristine view, the soothing rapids, or sand dunes at sunset…”

In “The Essential Guide to Geocaching” by Mike Dyer, a virtual cache is “tailored to those who would like to visit someplace “magical” or unique…a particular location, which has unbelievable natural beauty, uniqueness, or ambiance…Whatever the location, the object of the game is that you will see and experience what the Virtual cache creator deems truly incredible to see.”

In “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Geocaching,” Virtual caches are “a distinct, unique object...”

I became deeply disappointed with Waymarking over a year ago. Waymarking had deteriated into "Yellow Pages." Bring back Virtuals which I enjoy visiting i.e. Seven Feathers Casino Sculpture!