An October 2010 semi-solo Disney trip

[PrincePluto]

As usual, the pictures I took on the first, dark portion of the Living With The Land ride were not that good, as flash is not allowed and I have never been able to get my camera to take decent low-light photos, but I thought I'd post a couple of them just for the sake of completeness:

When the boat emerged into the light of the greenhouse, I got some much better pictures.

I remember a few years ago "Miracle Fruit" was the big diet fad; strange how we haven't heard any more about it since.

Cacao, the source of chocolate:

Aquaculture area:

American Alligators:

The brine shrimp tanks with the wire mesh forms in the shape of a hidden mickey:

Back into the greenhouse area, here is the Cassabanana:

Sunflowers under the Cassabananas:

Next: More Living With The Land

 

[PrincePluto]

Below are more pictures from my trip through Living With The Land:

Pommelos:

Nine Pound Lemons:

Various other plants:

Nutrient film technique lettuce grown to spell the word "epcot"

Hydroponics:

Pepper "tree"

Cucumbers

Hot Peppers

Herbs:

Sweet Potato:

 

[PrincePluto]

After I got off Living With The Land, it was time for my Fastpass for Soarin' to come due. I soared high over the skies of California, then I decided to go on a second trip on Living With The Land. What can I say? I really enjoy this ride!

I came out into Sunshine Seasons and bought a snack.

After that, I headed over to The Seas.

Next: The Seas

 

[PrincePluto]

I headed over from The Land to The Seas, passing by the monorail track:

I decided to bypass Nemo, and entered The Seas by the side entrance:

I then watched the manatee feeding:

Dolphins:

 

[PrincePluto]

I looked at my watch and saw that it was nearing 11:00 AM, so I started heading towards the World Showcase.

I walked past The Land pavilion, and passed the sign for Soarin'.

I followed the sign, to World Showcase (although I had been there many times before!)

The 15th Food & Wine Festival poster:

I stopped in to one of the Food & Wine Festival kiosks, and picked up a passport and bought a wristband and loaded it with $50. I also bought a couple of "limited edition" Food & Wine festival pins.

I started heading around the lagoon in a counter-clockwise direction, towards Canada and the United Kingdom:

I got to the United Kingdom area, and started taking pictures:

I started across the bridge from the United Kingdom to France:

Next: France

 

[PrincePluto]

Crossing over the bridge to France, I took some photos:

Getting into France, I took pictures of the Beauty and the Beast topiaries, in honor of a special release of the DVD on Blu-Ray:

I went in to see the Impressions De France film, and took the obligatory photo of the Notre Dame gargoyle reproduction in the lobby:

I enjoyed the France film, like always... I don't understand the people who say it puts them to sleep.

After the film, I went in and looked at the shops, including the wine shop.

Chateauneuf-Du-Pappe:

A bin of Remy dolls, from Ratatouille:

After looking through the shops, I stopped at the drinks kiosk, and got myself a Parisian Cosmo Slushie, and sat down at a table by the lagoon to enjoy it. I may have sent a photo or two to Facebook, to make my friends who were at work back up North, jealous... (Heh, heh!)

My view while I sat enjoying it:

Sufficiently cooled off, I headed counterclockwise, toward Morocco:

Main gate of Fez:

I liked this lamp hanging in the gate:

The decorative mosaic tilework was beautiful:

I loved the theming.

Chellah minaret:

"This tower is a replica of the minaret at Chellah, a historical site located at the edge of Rabat, Morocco's Capitol. Founded by the Romans as a maritime station, Chellah was later reconstructed in the 14th century by the Merinid sultans to become their necropolis and retreat."

Lots of good shopping:

Next: More Morocco

 

[PrincePluto]

I continued through Morocco, taking more pictures as I went:

Fez House:
"The first thing one should own is a house, and it is the last thing one should sell, for a home is one's castle this side of heaven. - Moroccan Proverb
Fez House is inspired by the traditional Moroccan home. Built around a central courtyard, the home provides privacy by closing rooms off from city streets. Within the courtyard, residents enjoy a quiet retreat from the outside world."

Museum:

Next: Japan

 

[PrincePluto]

I walked on towards the Japan pavilion:

Since the Food and Wine Festival was going on, there was a Japan Food and Wine Festival kiosk right next to the Japan pavilion. I don't think I got anything from there. I don't know if they had frushi back in 2010, which I have seen several people on the Disboards rave about.
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There was a demonstration of Candy by Yuki. This is a woman who is one of only a handful of people in the world who is trained in this skill of making candy animals by hand, and the only woman trained in this skill. I took several dozen of her, but I will only post a few here.

Here she was making a flamingo:

There was a pretty good crowd watching Yuki making the candy animals.

Here she made a dragon:

Close-up of the finished flamingo:

As I was leaving Japan, I took another picture of the 5-story pagoda:

"The Goju-No-To
The Goju-No-To, or 'Five-Storey Pagoda', traditionally represents the five elements from which Buddhists believe all things in the universe are produced. In ascending order, the elements are earth, water, fire, wind and sky. Similar in design to the Horyuji Temple in Nara, this Goju-No-To stands nearly 83 feet tall. It is a true monument to the skills and accomplishments of early Japanese architects."

I then headed over to the American Experience.

Next: The American Experience

 

[PrincePluto]

I went into The American Adventure early enough to get a good seat to watch the Voices of Liberty. I took a few pictures, but unfortunately I could not get any clear pictures due to not using a flash, and I had not read the manual for my point and shoot camera in how to take clear pictures in low light conditions.

I then went in to the American Adventure show, and enjoyed it as always. "America, spread your golden wings..." always brings tear to my eye.

After exiting, I headed on to Italy.

Next: Italy

 

[PrincePluto]

From The American Adventure, I meandered on towards Italy. I only took a few pictures here:

I'm not 100% sure but I think these are the Ziti Sisters:

I always think it would be great if they could have gondola rides from here; I mean, obviously it would interfere with the Friendship boats, but I can always dream...:

I think that at this point, I took the boat across the lagoon, as I do not have any photos of Germany, China, Norway or Mexico.

Next: Back to Future World

 

[PrincePluto]

After taking the boat back to Future World, I started snapping pictures of the Food and Wine Festival decor. It was the 15th annual festival:

I then decided to go through Spaceship Earth and see how communications changed over the ages:

Ancient Egypt:

Phoenicians and the first alphabet:

Apparently, that was the last picture I took that day. After I rode Spaceship Earth, I headed out of the park and back to the timeshare.

The next day, I went to Disney's Hollywood Studios.

 

[luvMickey72]

Very nice pictures! Made me feel like I am there!!

 

[PrincePluto]

I got up early, got ready, ate breakfast and drove the short distance to Disney's Hollywood Studios, paid my parking fee, and was early enough that I got a space close enough that I didn't feel the need to take the tram. Before too long, I was treated to this sight:

I was walking toward the turnstiles, and it wasn't too crowded yet:

That soon changed:

The turnstiles were opened, we got through, and headed for the rope drop, halfway down Hollywood Boulevard:

After rope drop, I went to Toy Story along with everyone else, and got a fast pass, which was already after 10 AM. Standby was already 45 minutes by the time I had gotten my Fastpass, so I decided to head over to American Idol Experience Auditions, as I had never done this before.

I chose Billy Joel's "Piano Man" as my a capella song, and I think I stayed on key and didn't forget too many of the words. The cast member acting as the judge didn't seem in too much pain listening to me. When I was done, she thanked me, and said I "didn't have the look they were currently going for", which I guess is better than "You can't sing!"

I took a few pictures of the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater as I walked past. I have never eaten here, as I have only eaten at two reserved meals at Disney World in all the times I've visited, and both of them were character meals for the benefit of my nieces and nephews.

I then walked towards Streets Of America, which was decorated for the Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights, which I did not end up seeing until my December 2013 trip (see signature):

I seem to recall that the billboard on the top of the building in the photo below, was for a TV show "No Ordinary Family", about a family who developed super powers after being exposed to a chemical while on a business trip for the wife's company in South America. The show was cancelled after like 20 episodes, leaving many plot points unresolved. I think I stopped watching it after like the 10th episode. I just checked and you can catch it on Hulu.com.

The Chinatown neighborhood of Streets of America:

 

[PrincePluto]

From Streets of America, I headed over to Studio Catering Co., where I got a free cup of water. It is Disney policy that you can get a free cup of water from any counter service place that has a soda fountain.

I like the color scheme of the signage at Studio Catering Co., which is the same as that of the Backlot Tour.

Local wildlife:

The "Splash" fountain. I wonder how many people who visit Disney's Hollywood Studios have seen this movie:

I then went on the Backlot Tour. First, of course, was the Pearl Harbor "Harbor Attack!" water effects show:

Here come the intrepid volunteers, ready to get deluged with water:

AAAnd... Action!

And we went from there to the backlot portion of the tour.

Next: Backlot tour

 

[PrincePluto]

On the ramp from the water show to the props warehouse/ queue for the tram ride, we passed the Hannah Montana Movie chicken house:

Various props and promotional posters in the queue:

We then boarded the tram.

Next: Backlot Tour Tram ride

 

[PrincePluto]

The tram departed, and one of the first things we saw was the staging area for the auto stunt show:

We then passed a topiary model of the Earfell Tower.

Passing through the landscaping/ topiary department:

The Earfell Tower:

We then went through the "tunnel", past the sewing and tailoring teams:

Then some examples of finished costumes that were used in movies:

Passing the prop shops, with the window decorated for the holidays:

The Carpenter shop:

We came out into the sunlight, and passed through the prop vehicle graveyard:

We passed the special splitting Herbie that is used in the stunt show.

Heading towards Catastrophe Canyon, we passed by Walt Disney's private plane, which he had used to scout the location for Disney World in the 60's.

Next: Heading into Catastrophe Canyon

 

[PrincePluto]

Heading into Catastrophe Canyon:

After exiting Catastrophe Canyon, we passed behind the set to see "how the magic is made".

Passing back through boneyard:

For true Disneyphiles, this is from "Flight of the Navigator".

Snow speeder from The Empire Strikes Back:

More various vehicles:

The tram ride ended, and we were let off to go through the AFI museum before exiting into the dump shop:

The two Darths:

Next: More Hollywood Studios

 

[PrincePluto]

I then went to Toy Story Midway Mania, as my Fastpass had come due.

The wait time was 60 minutes:

Pixar Place theming:

I then saw that it was time for the Beauty and the Beast show, so I headed over there:

Next: More Beauty and the Beast show

 

[PrincePluto]

More pictures of the excellent Beauty and the Beast show at Disney's Hollywood Studios:

"Be Our Guest!"

At this point, the battery on my camera was low, so I did not get any more pictures that day.

According to my notes, I then rode Tower of Terror, then I headed over to the other side of the park and rode Star Tours, then I decided to head out of the park.

 

[PrincePluto]

This day, October 28, 2010, was my final park day of the trip. I decided to make a second trip to EPCOT as this is my favorite of the Walt Disney World theme parks.

I got up early, and got ready and ate breakfast with my parents, then headed out to drive to EPCOT. I parked and walked over to the entrance, stopping to take the "Spaceship Earth in the palm of my hand" photo but I don't think I entirely succeeded:

I was near the front of the line at the turnstiles, so I got a picture of the F&W decor through the turnstiles:

I took a picture of Spaceship Earth while following the crowd to rope drop:

I liked this sign in the fountain - "Your wishes will help us to make dreams come true... Thanks for your contribution to Disney HAND - Worldwide outreach for the Walt Disney Company."

We got to the rope drop line by the fountain:

I had already gone on Soarin' two days prior, so I decided to head over to Test Track instead. I rode it standby with practically no wait. It was fun, as always. After riding, I checked out the GM concept cars and new models:

I then headed across Future World.

Next: More EPCOT