#Summer2026 - Disney Park Days!

June 24

Today was a long one but a good one.  We rope dropped Magic Kingdom, and rode Pirates of the Caribbean, haunted mansion, Big Thunder RR and the Carousel.  We started with Peter Pan's flight, which Stephanie had never done.  And we also visited the Tiki Room 

The day was hot, of course, and after Sadie bought her a pirate hat and ice cream we headed back to camp.  As we completed the boat ride over a storm hit with lots of rain.  

That gave us an opportunity to rest.

EPCOT was on our afternoon to-do.  There wasn't  a lot on our list, so after getting off the monorail we went on Spaceship Earth (Sadie liked it) and then Soarin' (which we loved).  Then Living with the Land and Journey To Imagination.  

We had hoped to eat at the quick services around World Showcase.  Steph got Curry buns in Japan and Sadie and I settled for Chinese, then we all had pastries from Norway.  While we finished those they started EPCOT's nightly show.  

It was awesome!  Highly recommend.  

Of course, then everyone was leaving the park at once.  We managed a monorail back to Contemporary, then waited on a boat.  Normally they come quickly but this time it didn't.  In fact, one stayed at Wilderness Lodge a long time.  The last boat leaves at 10:45, and we arrived around 10:20.  

When another boat arrived and our intended headed out across the lake, the dispatcher instructed the Skipper to take us home first.  Not sure why, but I was under the impression someone had messed up!

It was late to bed.  Tomorrow will be early, but we aren't setting alarms.

June 26

We didn't set the alarm this morning.  Animal Kingdom opens early but we weren't ready for that.

Bus ride to Animal Kingdom after breakfast and it was straight to Pandora, the Avatar section.  The theming was very good with the floating islands from the movie.  We rode 2 rides - the Flight of Passage ride and the Navi River ride.  Both were pretty but the flying one was awesome! Very exhilarating.  

Then to the Asia section to the Expedition Everest ride.   Again, excellent theming throughout the park.  The Everest ride was quite intense and a bit more than I expected.  We made it though.  

We found a vender selling frozen chocolate covered bananas and Mickey ice cream bars.  Then back to camp for a quick rest, lunch, and then back by bus to Hollywood Studios.  

It was hot in the plaza.  Sadie wanted to do Galaxy's Edge, so we went there.  Mom and Dad joined us.  Rise of the Resistance was an awesome ride, and we all agreed it was our favorite so far outside of the traditional ones we remember as kids.   

We had reservations for the Droid Depot to build robots.  Sadie has asked to do this for years, and Dad and I joined her by making our own.  Testing out the droids we made them interact with others throughout Galaxy's Edge.  

Finally, we tried Smuggler's Run.  Much more interactive!  

Rain started.  I wanted to ride Tower of Terror and the line was only 13 mins.  I got in line alone, but I guess the ride broke down, so it was back to camp.  

We got pizza and dessert at Trail's End, crossed the lake for some shopping for Sadie, and watched the fireworks from the shores of Bay Lake in camp.  

It was a good end to the day and the stay at Disney.  

#Summer2026 - Exploring Ft. Wilderness and Boat Rides.

Today was our explore day.

I had some work to do for summer class, and so while working there had breakfast.  Throughout the day we rode bikes around, visited The Meadows area of the campground, and generally enjoyed being here.   Dad had to take Brandon his car as they checked out of Universal Studios today and moved into Port Orleans Riverside. 

As for us we took the boat to the Magic Kingdom dock to see how Dad's scooter would load, then went to the Grand Floridian hotel to look around.  Mom and Dad headed back while we took the monorail to the Contemporary for the cake we didn't buy last night.  We sat in the lounge and visited with a nice bartender from Puerto Rico.  We had the Chocolate cake (split) and Sadie wanted the creme brulee.

Then boat hopping again to Wilderness Lodge.  Their AC was out, but aside from Fort Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge is the hotel we could see ourselves staying in with its Yellowstone/Western theming. 

Steph decided to take Ferg to the dog park and I went too.  I didn't take the keys out since we were right there, but a man accidently drove away with the golf cart.  Camp personnel helped me get it back; honest mistake.  

We came back to ride the bikes around and cooked sausages in charcoal. Mom and Dad went to Disney Springs and got very tired.  They asked us to pick them up at the entrance, then went back to The Meadows for ice cream.  A bit more riding then off to bed.  Tomorrow - Magic Kingdom.

NOTE - I guess I didn't take many pictures today. 😜

#Summer2026, Day 4 - Silver Springs and arrival at Fort Wilderness

So last night didn't provide a good night's sleep.

Just before bed the AC stopped cooling.  The filters were a bit dirty but not enough to cut off the air flow.  We went to bed with fans.  Around 2 am, however, it started to cool when the compressor kicked on.

We got up at 6 am again, had breakfast and went to Silver Springs for the glass bottom boat ride.  The captain was Captain Claudia, and I recognized her from a fishing trip Dad and I took last time in Marathon.  She said she could afford to live better up here in Central Florida. 

The park was beautiful!

while leaving we called Mom and Dad, and the site next to them at Ft. wilderness opened up, so we got loaded and hooked up and headed to Disney.  

It was much hotter here, but were soon checked in and parked.  After a quick late lunch we went to the trading post and Sadie wanted to see the Tri-Circle D Ranch, where the horses live.

The ranch also has the Caliope used for years in Disney parades.  

We got back, rested, and then crossed the lake by boat to The Contemporary where we had reservations at Steakhouse 71.  It was an awesome meal, and worth the experience!

We were also able to get Mom and Dad into our reservations, so they joined us!

Then we rode the monorails loop, came back, and went to the beach at Fort Wilderness for the water parade and fireworks.  A good end to the day!

#Summer2026 (Day 3): To Silver Springs State Park

June 21

Today was stressful.  After a peaceful cup of coffee in Pensacola we set out.  Storms were on the horizon and we hoped to beat them.  However, we drove with those stormson top of us all day.  The rains quit around 4 pm.

I will say Florida has it down with rest areas!

Finding gas was difficult on this stretch of I-10 because you couldn't see the stations from the interstate.  We got gas at a Sunoco at one point, but had to wait too long because a rude family parked in the end spot and took their time shopping, etc.  We moved to an unoccupied pump and was gone before the dad ever started pumping gas. 

We stopped for a stretch and sandwich around Lake City, and when we got back on the highway found ourselves in a backup due to a wreck in the rain.  It was brief, however, and were soon heading south on I-75. 

The rain began to clear a bit out of Ocala, which happened to be near our destination.  A lot of horses and barns and expensive properties here.  Marrion County has more horses per capita than any other county in the US.

We arrived at Silver Springs and visited with a friendly gate attendant/ranger.  We were soon set up.  The sites have water and electric, and are very spacious.  There is also a nice bath house with laundry machines.  

Since lunch was late we went to publics for breakfast items and a few other things (key lime pie cookies!) and gas.  Once back at camp we cooked sausage and sauerkraut on the electric skilled.  Then we walked to the historic village just down from camp.

Tomorrow at 9 am we have reservations to take the glass bottom boat ride in the Silver River and the springs.  Should be fun!

Then on to Fort Wilderness.

#Summer 2026 On the Road to Avalon Landing

We left Vidalia at 8 am.

Before that I walked the levy to the bridge 1.5 miles round trip) and Stephanie walked Ferg.  A quick breakfast and we hit the road since rain and storms were building.

The rain chased us all day!

We made more stops to stretch today, but arrived at Avalon Landing around 2:30, got set up, and headed for Navarre Beach and was seated at Windjammers by 4 pm.

Windjammers was right on the beach near the pier and there was a large free parking lot there as well.  We were seated quickly.  I ordered blackened redfish and fries and a bushwhacker cocktail.  Steph had redfish tacos (huge!) and Sadie had fried shrimp.  They were so large she only ate 4 of 8.  We all split a slice of key lime pie.  Not as good as South Florida, but still.

We decided to drive the island back to Pensacola and that took us through part of the national seashore.  We walked the beach a bit - much quieter than Navarre.  Then we drove to the Fort Pickens section for our America the Beautiful pass but the gatehouse was unmanned.  

So back to camp after getting fuel ($3.39/gal), Walked the dog, and sat by the water.  Sadie and Steph gave me a Fathers Day gift a day early.  So fun!

LED dice!

Tomorrow we leave for Silver Springs.  It is about 360 miles.