Bede and I just returned from a trip to Disney World. Bede presented a paper for the College of Business at a conference for Academic Advisers and I went along for the ride. It was fun, and his presentation was a hit. We went to Epcot and the Magic Kingdom. I also hung out at the Boardwalk and Downtown Disney. Those are free places... full of shops and restaurants. At least they don't charge you to shop! We had a good time, but both of us admit that we've been there and done that. Epcot is cool, little villages representing countries of the world. One night we ate at the Rose and Crown Pub. Bede went native and had "bangers and mash" for dinner. I had the authentic fish and chips. We were served by a delightful young lady from the UK. It was fun. But we still would rather visit the real thing.
The Magic Kingdom has lost a little of it's magic in my opinion. It could use some refurbishing. So many of the rides are exactly the same as they were 20 years ago. Pirates of the Caribbean is fun, but no surprises aside from Johnny Depp, I mean Captain Jack Sparrow, popping up 2 or 3 times. The Haunted house is exactly the same, as is the Jungle Cruise.
Except they no longer shoot the hippo as it seems to attack the boat. I guess that was politically incorrect...
The boat captain even tells joke after corny joke at the expense of the ride. They know its old and they make fun of the fact. It seems to me that if you are going to charge people a mortgage payment to enter the park, it should have something new and exciting. All in all I did enjoy myself. It was the first time I have been on a trip where I had no commitments or time restraints. I could go where I wanted and do whatever I felt like each morning and then Bede and I would meet up and go together in the late afternoon. It was very relaxing.
