#77 Mar 2015 Magic Kingdom and Fun Spot USA

We left Surrey January 18th and almost three months later arrived in Key West Florida, which was the most southern point in our journey. To that time we had driven

7,000 km (4,200 miles) in the RV
3,600 km (2,150 miles) in the Suzuki
10,600 km (6,350 miles) Total

Now it was time to start heading north.

March 20th we put the RV into storage and drove to Orlando for 8 days in our timeshare near Walt Disney World. That evening our son Dave, his daughter Danica (8) from Calgary, AB and our other granddaughter Lindsay (19) from Surrey, BC arrived at the Orlando airport. We had all looked forward to this week for many months.

That was a Friday and there is a very long-standing tradition in the Brewster family that Friday night is nachos. That Friday was also Dave’s birthday. We celebrated on the balcony of our suite in the warm balmy air. Of course, after the nachos came an ice cream birthday cake.

There are four theme parks in Disney World but the first experience must be the Magic Kingdom. That is where Walt Disney's dream started in 1955 in California.

We arrived just in time for the “Festival of Fantasy” Parade.

It was a trip showcasing Disney characters from then until now.

And everything in between.

This trip was to be an adventure for all of us. Ralph and I have never been interested in rides, however times have changed. In retirement we are more relaxed and like many grandparents we try to keep up with the grandchildren. “Big Thunder Mountain Railroad” is a roller coaster ride through a gold-mining town on a runaway train.

Ralph closed his eyes at the beginning of the ride and stayed that way throughout the trip. He doesn’t know if he enjoyed it or not because he didn’t see it. However, I enjoyed it and was ready to go again – you never know until you try it.

Danica was upset at the end of the ride (she kept her eyes open) but later was willing to experience scary rides again.

Dave was prepared to try lots of rides to encourage Danica’s adventurous spirit.

Lindsay loves fast, nerve racking, scary, hair-raising rides so that ride was good but just a teaser.

“It’s a Small World” is a must to experience one of the original rides that expresses Walt Disney’s vision for “The Happiest Place on Earth”.

While waiting for “Peter Pan’s Flight” Danica rang the bell as Ralph, Lindsay and Dave watched.

Then they were sprinkled with Pixie Dust.

The Magic Kingdom experience ends with fireworks over Cinderella’s castle.

Disney is very expensive and doesn’t have the thrilling rides Lindsay tries to find. Fun Spot USA has free admission and is close to Disney World.

There is an adjacent classic car show some evenings. Danica tried to understand why the little boy leaning against the old car was so sad.

Lindsay got her scary ride fix as she was harnessed into a sling where she rode backwards to the top of a 300-foot tower.

When she released the ripcord she ricocheted across the water like a slingshot at 58 miles per hour (93 km per hour).

She screamed and had fun! The rest of us held our breath.

There was more excitement and Danica was ready with waves as they sped around corners.