My girlfriend and I recently went to Disney World, and I definitely felt the magic. I’m not talking about witches, warlocks, and incantations but about Disney’s wonderful theme parks.
And in case you don’t know (Yeah, right!) Disney’s wonderful theme parks are Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. We went to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.
My last Disney trip was as a kid in the late eighties. That adds up to many unmagical decades that got corrected last month. I didn’t remember going back then, but there’s a picture of me posing with a person in a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costume. I believe it’s with Michelangelo. I should’ve been walking around with one of those “first-time visit” pins, but I would have amended it to say “first-time visit as an adult” pin.
Seriously, this genuinely felt like I had never been to Disney before. I went down to Florida from North Carolina with one expectation: to have fun. Now that I’ve returned as an adult, I can say that….
Disney is an absolute blast! We had a brilliant time. Every attraction, entertainment, and eatery is such an enjoyment. Here are the top five things from EPCOT and Hollywood Studios that brought me joy and merriment.
EPCOT Joys
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (World Discovery Attraction)
I’m a big fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and these galactic characters, so this ride was on the punch list. Like Rise of the Resistance, there’s a mission where you get to “team up” with Star Lord, Gamora, and the rest of the Guardians. This indoor ride is action packed with twists and turns that flow exactly with the stuff on the screen. FYI, this ultimate ride has a virtual queue. I absolutely recommend doing this at Epcot. You’ll have a blast!
Soarin’ (World Nature Attraction)
I got very high on this ride. For five minutes, I felt like I was hang-gliding through the clouds over California. Well, that’s the point, right. We saw gigantic mountains, the vast blue ocean, and wine country. These vistas from the imitation sky were breathtaking. This simulation was the last thing we did and was a great way to finish the park.
Rose & Crown Pub (United Kingdom Pavilion)
I’m a wannabe anglophile (a person who is fond of England or Britain), so I was British heaven. I ordered the Snake Bite, one of their pub blends, of half cider and half Harp lager. It was very delish. I’ve never been in an actual English establishment before, but this looked just like the pubs in Midsomer Murders and Inspector Morse. The bartenders were all from the United Kingdom, so their accents enhanced the experience.
Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie (France Pavilion)
Epcot was more about drinking and eating around the world, so I was told that a desert stop in France was a must. I didn’t know what that meant until I ate a fraises from Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie. I don’t know how to pronounce it, but it’s a tart with vanilla cream topped with strawberries. Those two years of high school French class really paid off. Ha! This dessert was so freaking good. I could’ve eaten like ten of them. This is definitely a recommendation for anyone reading this. But maybe not ten of them. This quick-service restaurant also has good mimosas.
Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue (The American Experience Pavilion)
Eating around the world landed us here for an American lunch. Being from North Carolina, I was as happy as a pig eating slop when I saw they have an entree called North Carolina Chopped Smoked Pork Butt Platter. We ordered the chopped pork butt and garlic toast served with a side of the mac and cheese. Oh my goodness! It was good. And I must admit that Disney’s meat rivals some of the pork I eat in North Carolina. Please, any North Carolina restaurants, don’t bar me for my profanity.
Hollywood Studios Merriments
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Attraction)
When I left Rise of the Resistance, I could’ve clapped, yelled bravo, and thrown flowers on the stage. The theatrics and animatronics were so impressive. The story begins with being recruited by the Resistance and then captured by the First Order in transport. Luckily, the Resistance busts you out of the Star Destroyer, and everyone escapes. There’s Kylo Ren, Rey, Poe, BB-8, and other familiar Star Wars characters from the last trilogy. The best parts were the twists and turns during the escape ride. This was the first thing we did at Hollywood Studios, and this ride is now my favorite attraction there.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Attraction)
We got to sit in the cockpit where Han Solo and Chewbacca kick some Empire but from. This interactive smuggler’s ride was a literal blast into hyperspace and into a space fight to make the cargo drop as either a pilot, engineer, or gunner aboard the spaceship. Being a pilot seemed like the dopest role, but we were mere engineers. Next time. Our crew completed and survived the mission. I wonder if anyone ever fails.
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular (Echo Lake Entertainment)
There were also Kodak pictures of Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular from my last trip to Disney in the late 1980s. So this show has been going strong for over thirty years. That’s a long, long time of awesomeness. The stunt men and women reenacted some of the classic scenes from Raiders of the Lost Ark. I was so captured by their physical feats that the thirty-minute show went by fast. There’s fire, guns, acrobatics, and people getting kicked off buildings. Take in this stunning show when you’re at Hollywood Studios.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (Sunset Boulevard Attraction)
This one gave me the fear and satisfaction that a good ride should reward us with. The Tower of Terror begins with Rod Sterling setting up an episode of the Twilight Zone where something terrible happened on the “hellevator” that we were about to board. Then, once seated, we were lifted 13 stories and then dropped several times. I don’t remember how many times we dropped, but that’s how many times my skeleton jumped out of my skin. It was terrific, even though I had to pull my bones back into me.
Oga’s Cantina (Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Restaurant)
Drinking Jedi Mind Tricks with all the intergalactic criminals, planetary smugglers, and Disney folk in this cantina replica was a good time. The droid DJ was rocking, and every Star Wars-inspired cocktail and beer I tried was splendid. The builders did a grade-A job recreating Oga’s establishment. We felt like we were hanging at the real one. Also, it is air-conditioned, so it would be a place to get out of the heat if the day is scorching. We made a reservation, but you can pop in without one for a few minutes.
Before we wrap this post up, let’s talk about tee-shirts. I saw so many individuals wearing a variety of Disney tee-shirts within the two amusement parks. Some were blah, some were good, and some were GREAT. We wore Star Wars tee shirts to Hollywood Studios and Mickey and Minnie Mouse drinking beer and wine shirts to EPCOT. They were cool.
So I’m definitely on the let’s wear Disney tees to their park side of the coin. But I get you might not be into it, just like some people won’t wear music band tee shirts to that band’s concert. That’s cool, whatever. When I return to the magic, I’ll wear a shirt that reads Jedi Master, some type of Marvel shirt, or one from Duck Tales! OO WOO OO!
I gave the guy wearing his Jedi Master shirt a thumbs-up because it was great. I should’ve asked him where he got it for our next Disney trip to Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom. Since I still need to experience those parks. I’m sure the last two are just as astounding as the first two. I’ll soon discover that for myself. OO WOO OO!
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