The Disney trip pictures are almost done. This last batch is from traveling around, including the road trip back home. There's a surprise twist ending to the trip, if you are interested. Let's go get um... going.
During our break-day when we left the Disney parks, we passed this upside-down building for something called Wonderworks. We were on our way to other places, but who's not going to get a picture of an upside-down building? Looks like Hulk got the wrong idea when you told him you flip houses.
Arriving at Disney's Yacht Club. I probably got the same picture of this carpet at the entrance before. You think they get new carpets every so often, or is this the same one from many years ago?
They could get a new globe in the lobby. This one is not very smooth, it doesn't spin very well anymore. I think it's fun that it's not super-accurate, with an almost cartoon-like feeling to it, but there are likely science people who are furious about the mis-information.
If you are going to pay "extra" to stay at a Disney Resort Hotel, you have to feel like you are getting that "extra" value. The Yacht Club has the largest swimming pool area of all the resorts in Florida. So... yeah... that.
Get out, losers! Haha. I wonder how many people try to sneak in here. I think most people play by the rules, right? This sign probably just makes you feel cooler because... "I" can get in! That's right! So it's ultimately just an odd ego boost for people staying here.
Boom! We're IN! There's a lazy river, a sand-bottom area... so much relaxing to be had! I'm so excited to relax!
Booo! I have to stay in the locker?! Ugh, fine. Go enjoy the swimming and not worrying about taking Minty pictures for a while. You need some relaxing time away from Minty. Despite the enourmous amount of pictures we DID take of Minty, know that my friend did focus a bit more on "enjoying" the vacation, too! And for the record, we could have taken hundreds MORE pictures! If we had wanted to hahaha...
Well, he didn't get to swim around for too long before a few thunder noises and grey clouds closed the pool. They were in there for a good amount of time, but not "all afternoon!" like they wanted. The break gave some of them an opportunity to run to Disney Springs, I've already posted those pictures. So you gotta happily roll with the changes.
Who else takes pictures of the room number? It's less embarrasing than having to walk all the way to the front desk and sheepishly ask "Um... I forgot which room I'm in..." or randomly tapping your Magic Band to the doors to see which one opens.
Standard hotel room. Still compelled to get a picture of it.
The small balcony had a trees-covered view of the "hidden pool" area. Which is away from the main giant pool circus, in case you wanted a more relaxed, quiet place to swim.
This lit-up fountain was much more impressive than this picture shows but I got the picture anyway. I mean, you get the idea, right? Use your imagination!
When we went to get on the bus to Animal Kingdom, we had just missed it. Happy to wait, some other park guests overheard us talking about Animal Kingdom, and offered us a ride! They did not feel like waiting, and had ordered a "Minnie Van" with lots of extra room, so they kindly let us jump in! SOOOO nice! Sometimes, other Disney fans can provide a unique and special "Disney Magic" which is just as amazing, if not more so.
I think this is when we were leaving Animal Kingdom. Make sure you're getting on the right bus! I like the relaxing wait and easy riding on the bus, but some people don't have the patience for it. Just another thing to "plan around" if you are thinking about a Disney vacation.
Disney added something called the Skyliner to the options! It's like a ride, but not "in" the parks, but used to get around them!
The Yacht Club is close to the back entrance to Epcot, where the Skliner picks up. We were heading over to Hollywood Studios. Check out France down there! That glowing sign is the entrance to the Ratatouille ride.
When we hit a different pick-up spot, They let us stay in the same car, we did not have to exit and then re-wait. I guess that depends on how busy the station is?
I forgot which resort that was. Coronado Spring maybe? We are not super high up, but pretty high. This is an odd combonation of relaxing and... terrifying. Who trusts the thin metal wire this heavy car is attached to?
A lot of the Skyliner cars have themed characters around them. Our first car was Wreck-It Ralph Breaks The Internet! As people leave the cars, they all get yelled at for trying to take pictures. Us included, hahaha.
They don't really "yell" but they do move you away from the danger, and let you know better pictures can be had when the cars turn around at the end here. Plus you get to see the other sides! This station we did have to exit and then wait for another car. It wasn't too long.
Over the traffic! Suckers! Down there in the cars! Who needs all that mess? Should we have Skyliners everywhere? Would it be cool to take this to the mall back in your home town?
Finally arrived. It took a slight bit longer than we thought, and was a slight bit more terrifying than we thought (especially when it would STOP for a minute!) but... it's a nice option to have, and probably faster than... something. I got a picture of this Chip and Dale car. 'Cause... Dale's my "Disney" guy!
The car WE rode in was Zootopia. So another cool one for us. Not that you can see these images AT ALL while you are inside the car. Maybe they should... do that? Theme the insides, too?
The Zootopia hamster mob family on the back side of this. There might be an online gallery of these cars, but I'm getting pictures to share anyway.
Eh, you can almost see Judy Hopps in the glare as the car turns around. I now remember there was a scene in the Zootopia movie with Judy riding the train and wow-ing at all the cool scenery. We could have been doing that!
On our way out of Hollywood Studios, we chose the boat ride back to the Yacht Club. Not that my friend was nervous about getting on the Skyliner again... it's just, we saw the boat pulling up and thought it might be quicker.
Leaving the Yacht Club. This picture is so we can "mark" the starting time for the journey home. It's a little before 7am when we finally get going.
Sigh... driving back home. Morning dew water pattern streaking across the window. Neat.
We're in South Carolina already? At this point, we're all tired by the trip, and not so excited to get a lot of pictures anymore. But we stopped, so I guess I'll get a picture.
There was a lot of religeous bilboard signs on the road. This one is not too bad, but some of them sounded downright aggressive and mean. Like "Or else!" kind of messages. I try to stay away from politics and I'm certainly not brave enough to make any judgements about these, just pointing out that they were there.
South of the Border! There's also a ton of signs for this. Most of the people in the car were too exhausted and not-feeling-well-enough to consider stopping. That's a minor build-up to the end of the trip story.
Another rest stop. Almost home, I guess. Taking pictures gives us a time-stamp to judge our pacing, at least. We've been driving for 10 1/2 hours so far!
There were almost comical "'MERICA" bilboards, too. Here's a row of them that we thought was amusing:
Exit now for GUNS
Exit now for AMMO
Exit now for FREEDOM
Like... YEEEEE HAAAAAWWWWW!
The last rest stop before we push all the way back home. A true test of endurance for our one friend who drove almost the whole way.
And... HOME! 7am to 9:30pm according to the times on the start and end pictures. 14 and 1/2 hours! Whew! Part of the original plan was to... maybe... stop and get a cheap motel along the road on the way back. But the majority just wanted to tough it out and make it back in one day. Our one friend was definitely rocking a head cold at this point, and a couple others were sniffling and slightly-coughing, too. Here comes the surprise ending...
COVID! Out of the four friends that went on this trip, THREE got "the covid!" No suspense: they all recovered by now, and even with two of them contaminating their entire household when they got back, everybody is perfectly fine with no complications. The more-crazy part of the story is that my one friend DID NOT get it! In a car with three people who had Covid, for nearly 15 hours. Not to mention sharing a hotel room for DAYS and whatever else they all did together. He bought the home test kit and took it when the others confirmed COVID; negative.
And even did one a week later, when we got back to New Jersey, just to make sure. Wash your hands a bunch and don't touch your face? What are the odds?!
Whew! One final picture we took of all the various souvenirs we got. Just so we can have a record of how crazy we got with it. I kind of want to say how much the whole trip cost, just to have a record of that, too. But honestly the memories are priceless, so mentioning how much it "cost" is pointless.
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