Orlando – Population 325,044.  DisneyWorld employs 77,000 cast members. That’s one quarter of the population. 

Orlando is in the County seat of Orange – yes we have been watching Murders in Orange County but no, it’s safe. Well as safe as anywhere in the world where you can get easily get a gun I guess. Best I don’t go into my views on that one. 

Orlando is the third most visited city in USA after my favourite city NYC, and then Miami, which could now be on my list to visit. 

We spent theee days there but didn’t venture outside DisneyWorld except to go to the airport.

I wondered how many visitors never see Orlando proper but a little research indicated that the city hosts the second largest conference centre in the USA and it is pretty busy. Plus the University of Central Florida which is named as one of the largest university campuses in the USA in terms of enrolment.

We saw DisneyWorld.

That was our game plan and we stuck to it.

It really is a magical experience. Everything you see is a delight and everything you do transports you into another world.

We were very excited to spend the time with 3/4 of the family, it just makes everything so much more special. I would say especially through the eyes of a five year old but I think we were all equally in awe. Even though we have been here before. Our particular 5 year old probably lasted the distance better than this 62 year old. He definitely did not shut his eyes on the scary Slinky Dog Dash roller coaster, quick to remind me that I shouldn’t do that. Nana you need to keep your eyes open. 

Quite the challenge I will tell you.

On day two we got ourselves into a virtual line at 1pm for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure water ride.

Embark on a thrilling journey with Tiana and jazz-loving alligator Louis as they traverse winding waterways to find critter musicians who can jam out and entertain at Tiana’s southern soiree. This musical adventure crescendos with a 50-foot drop that leads you to the grandest celebration this side of the Mississippi during Mardi Gras season! 

Turns out it was absolutely worth the 6 hour virtual wait and the 30 minute actual line up. 

I cannot lie. I was a bit anxious. I had seen the 15 metre or so drop from the outside and figured that was only the half of it. It wasn’t. That was the biggest drop and the whole ride was great fun. 

You do spend a lot of time waiting in line but at each ride entrance there is a sign showing wait time. Wait time goes fast as all along the queue there are things to marvel at. When we were in direct sun it wasn’t so flash. But every single ride was worth the wait. 

Except for the cars – hot hot sun, bum burning seats, petrol fumes, very very slow and very hard to steer cars. The people beside us had the motion going trying to get the car to go faster. It didn’t. MoD had me driving, clearly because I am better at it 😜 and told me I needed to put my pedal to the metal. I was, so I offered to let him try it. We didn’t go any faster. Our grandson loved it. He was driving. 

Of the rides we all went on, cause you don’t really fit a lot in 4-5 hours, our Grandsons faves were Slinky Dog Dash, Big Thunder Mountain Coaster and of course Tiana’s Bayou Adventure water ride. This from a little boy who has been terrified of the big slide at Margaret Mahey playground in Chch. He also beat me on some shooting ride, which I have no idea now what it was. The evidence however was clear:

When you enter the theme parks you have to walk through a detector, single file, then go through another gate where you scan your DW card and your fingerprint. Our grandson had us get our fingers ready well before time. 

Food is expensive particularly when you convert it to NZD. Junk food in abundance. I managed to get a plant based burger but it was so spicy MoD suggested it came in at a 7. 

Our last night ended at The Magic Kingdom for Happily Ever After  – the most amazing fireworks and light show I have ever seen. Tinkerbell actually came out of the top of the castle and flew away.  Or it could have been a drone that looked like Tinkerbell. 

I’m going with the real Tinkerbell. 

She was too quick for me to get a photo, but my DIL got these of the fireworks.

We ended up having an extra 1/2 day in DW after the kids left so headed to Disney Springs, the local DW shopping mall. It is an outside mall, heavily Disneyworlded. The local lego shop had the most amazing displays and even a lego dragon in the water. 

And then it was time to say goodbye to Florida. My hair was screaming “not a moment too soon, get me out of this humidity”.

Next stop Houston, then Oaxaca and a wedding 👰🤵‍♂️💍