We spent a week in Orlando seeing Disney’s MGM Studios, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and the Wild Animal Park. 

We tried out the new Everest ride at the Wild Animal Park that reverses direction  twice. Katie even tried the Tower of Terror at the MGM studios (it goes up, then forward for 30’ or so and then DOWN, way down. The new stunt car show at MGM was also super.  MGM also has a dedicated “theater” for Fantasmic which we enjoyed (no fighting for seats or standing as at Disneyland).

On a rainly day, we rented “personal” airboats and Pete learned they have no reverse!

We had dinner at Epcot’s Italian pavilion, saw the Birtish Invasion (Beetles sound and look alikes) twice and once again enjoyed the super fireworks show.

Following Orlando with a ten day cruise from Ft. Lauderdale on Holland America’s Zandam to Aruba (where we snorkled), Curacao (we rode the wheeled tour train), Panama (including in and out of the Eastern part of the canal, Pete took a train ride from the East to the West coast and back again) and Costa Rica (we took a river/canal cruise to see lots of animals).

See the next page for some pictures of our trip.