Disney World: Magic Kingdom

We visited Magic Kingdom again, during regular hours (and on Valentine’s Day).

Train station and train:

Train station and train

Castle:

Castle

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure:

Tiana's Bayou Adventure

Tiana's Bayou Adventure

Tiana's Bayou Adventure

Tiana's Bayou Adventure

Ferry to Tom Sawyer Island; a generally boring area, but we had to visit it, as it will be going away soon, to be replaced with a Cars-themed land:

Ferry to Tom Sawyer Island

Ferry to Tom Sawyer Island

Tom Sawyer Island

Tom Sawyer Island

Tom Sawyer Island

Tom Sawyer Island

The river and riverboat will also be going away, unfortunately:

Riverboat

Riverboat

Pirates of the Caribbean ride:

Pirates of the Caribbean

Pirates of the Caribbean

Snack:

Snack

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride:

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Video:

It’s a Small World ride:

It's a Small World ride

It's a Small World ride

The traditional picture of the massive New Zealand representation:

It's a Small World ride

Tron Lightcycle Run ride:

Tron Lightcycle Run ride

Tron lightcycle run

Video:

Snack:

Snack

Carousel of Progress ride:

Carousel of Progress

Carousel of Progress

A new activity is making a custom tiara from a selection of frame styles and crystal colors, which Jenn did:

Custom tiara

Custom tiara

Jenn with her new tiara:

Jenn with her new tiara

Haunted Mansion ride:

Haunted Mansion

No one poses like Gaston:

No one poses like Gaston

We had dinner at the Be Our Guest restaurant on Valentine’s Day:

Be Our Guest entrance

Be Our Guest restaurant

Be Our Guest restaurant

Be Our Guest restaurant

Be Our Guest restaurant

Be Our Guest restaurant

Be Our Guest restaurant

Be Our Guest restaurant

Be Our Guest restaurant

Castle

Disney World: Epcot

We visited Epcot within Disney World.

Epcot

Epcot

Epcot

Epcot

Epcot

Epcot

Chalk art:

Chalk art

Chalk art

During the Festival of the Arts they have special food booths, and some dishes to collect stamps for a prize, which Jenn enjoys doing. Here are all of the things we ate as part of that:

Food

Food

Food

Food

Food

Food

The prize last year was a plastic glass that Jenn still uses; the one this year was a rather unpleasant rice cake thing (at top, on the collection booklet); disappointing:

Food

Another collection thing that Jenn did was the World Traveler Passport, where she got a stamp and handwritten message from each of the world pavilions, from someone from each country:

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

Mexico pavilion:

Mexico pavilon

Mexican duck

Frozen ride:

Frozen ride

Frozen ride

Frozen ride

Character

Germany pavilion:

Germany pavilon

Italy pavilion:

Italy pavilon

Japan pavilion:

Japan pavilon

Morocco pavilion:

Morocco pavilon

United Kingdom pavilion:

United Kingdom pavilon

Living with the Land ride:

Living with the Land ride

Living with the Land ride

Living with the Land ride

Living with the Land ride

Paint by numbers:

Paint by numbers

Flowers:

Flowers

Guardians of the Galaxy ride:

Guardians of the Galaxy ride

Spaceship Earth ride:

Spaceship Earth ride

Spaceship Earth ride

Spaceship Earth ride

Spaceship Earth ride

A custom video based on our answers:

Journey of Water:

Journey of Water

Journey of Water

Epcot

Disney World: Hollywood Studios After Dark

We enjoyed the Magic Kingdom After Dark so much that we booked a couple more, starting with Hollywood Studios After Dark.

Entrance

We had to experience Muppet-Vision 3D one last time — it will be shutting down in June 2025 and replaced with a Monsters, Inc land:

Muppet-Vision 3D

Muppet-Vision 3D

Muppet-Vision 3D

Muppet-Vision 3D

Muppet area

Dinner in Galaxy’s Edge:

Dinner in Galaxy's Edge

Smuggler’s Run ride:

Smuggler's Run ride

Smuggler's Run ride

We got to be pilots, for the first time; we’ve been engineers and gunners in the past:

Smuggler's Run ride

Smuggler's Run ride

Galaxy’s Edge:

Galaxy's Edge

Blue milk:

Blue milk

Galaxy's Edge

Rise of the Resistance ride:

Rise of the Resistance ride

Rise of the Resistance

Rise of the Resistance

Rise of the Resistance

Toy Story Land:

Toy Story Land

Alien Swirling Saucers ride:

Alien Swirling Saucers

Alien Swirling Saucers

Toy Story Land

Slinky Dog Dash ride:

Slinky Dog Dash ride

Slinky Dog Dash ride

We enjoyed free Mickey bar ice cream:

Mickey bar ice cream

Toy Story Mania ride:

Toy Story Mania ride

Toy Story Mania ride

Toy Story Mania ride

Toy Story Land

Runaway Railway ride:

Runaway Railway ride

Star Tours ride:

Star Tours ride

Sunset Boulevard:

Sunset Boulevard

Rock’n’Roller Coaster ride (did not enjoy this one; very rough):

Rock'n'Roller Coaster

Rock'n'Roller Coaster ride

Tower of Terror ride:

Tower of Terror

Tower of Terror

Video:

We did all of the rides that were open during the special event, even ones we normally skip (like Star Tours and Rock’n’Roller Coaster).

Hollywood Boulevard:

Hollywood Boulevard

A fun night.

Disney World: Hollywood Studios

We also visited Hollywood Studios in Disney World.

Entrance

Main street

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge area:

Stormtroopers

Oga’s Cantina for lunch:

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Posed photo

Posed photo

Galaxy's Edge

Galaxy's Edge

Galaxy's Edge

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride:

Galaxy's Edge

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Toy Story Land:

Toy Story Land

Spinning Saucers ride:

Spinning Saucers ride

Slinky Dog Dash ride:

Slinky Dog Dash

Toy soldiers drummers:

Toy solders drummers

Some food:

Snack

Toy Story Land

Toy Story Land

Toy Story Mania scores:

Toy Story Mania scores

Hollywood Tower of Terror ride:

Hollywood Tower of Terror

Hollywood Tower of Terror

A video:

Pandora store for a couple of charms for Jenn:

Pandora store for a couple of charms for Jenn

The Brown Derby for dinner:

The Brown Derby for dinner

The Brown Derby for dinner

The Brown Derby for dinner

The Brown Derby for dinner

The Brown Derby for dinner

Disney World: Magic Kingdom After Dark

After spending several hours at Animal Kingdom, we went back to our coach to rest for a few hours, then headed out again to Magic Kingdom, for a special “After Dark” visit, where we (and hundreds of others) could enjoy the park after closing hours, with pretty much no lines for any of the rides, and “free” popcorn, ice cream, and beverages.

We timed our arrival well, and with some help from the ferry boat skipper going extra slow, we were able to see the early evening fireworks from the boat:

Fireworks from ferry boat

Fireworks from ferry boat

A posed photo in front of the castle:

Posed photo in front of the castle

Side of the castle:

Castle

Little Mermaid ride:

Little Mermaid ride

“The backside of water” on the Jungle Cruise ride:

The backside of water on the Jungle Cruise ride

Pirates of the Caribbean ride:

Pirates of the Caribbean ride

Riverboat and castle:

Riverboat and castle

Haunted Mansion ride:

Haunted Mansion ride

Haunted Mansion ride

An amusing Haunted Mansion pic:

Amusing Haunted Mansion

Castle selfie:

Castle selfie

Later fireworks and light show:

Fireworks and light show

Fireworks and light show

Fireworks and light show

Fireworks and light show

Fireworks and light show

Teacups ride, with Jenn’s giggles:

Teacups ride

Peoplemover ride:

Peoplemover ride

Space Mountain ride:

Space Mountain ride

Tron ride:

Tron ride

Tron ride

A video with us:

Heading out, with a mostly empty Main Street:

Mostly empty Main Street

A magical experience.

Kennedy Space Center

We visited the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Merritt Island (by Cape Canaveral) on the coast of Florida.

An interactive map of the area:

Selfie:

Selfie

Orbit Cafe:

Orbit Cafe

Orbit Cafe

Atlantis Space Shuttle building, with the booster rockets and fuel tank out front:

Atlantis Space Shuttle

The shuttle is suspended in the air:

Atlantis Space Shuttle

Atlantis Space Shuttle

Atlantis Space Shuttle

Atlantis Space Shuttle

Atlantis Space Shuttle

Space Shuttle

Space Shuttle

Space suit

Engine

Atlantis Space Shuttle

Space toilet:

Space toilet

Space bed:

Space bed

Challenger and Columbia memorial:

Challenger and Columbia memorial

Challenger and Columbia memorial

Shuttles:

Shuttles

Astrovan:

Astrovan

Bus tour to the Apollo/Saturn V Center:

Bus tours

Rocket:

Rocket

Vertical assembly building:

Vertical assembly building

Saturn control room:

Saturn control room

Saturn control room

Saturn control room

Saturn V rocket:

Saturn V rocket

Saturn V rocket

Saturn V rocket

Saturn V rocket

Space suits:

Space suits

Capsule:

Capsule

Rocket garden:

Rocket garden

Green-screen pic:

Kennedy Space Center

An interesting place to visit, at least once. We probably won’t visit again, though.

Bok Tower Gardens

We visited Bok Tower Gardens on Iron Mountain in Florida. It is a 250-acre garden and bird sanctuary, with a tower that includes a 60-bell Carillon. The “mountain” on which it is built is one of the highest in Florida, at 295 feet elevation (yeah, Florida is very flat).

Here’s an interactive map of the gardens:

The brochure map:

Map

Tower cross-section:

Tower cross-section

Entrance:

Entrance

Visitor center:

Visitor center

Exhibits:

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

Changing Florida:

Exhibits

Elevations of Florida:

Exhibits

Exhibits

Cafe:

Cafe

Gift store:

Gift store

Bok Tower:

Bok Tower

Bok Tower

Bok Tower

Bok Tower

Bok Tower

Bok Tower

Bok Tower

Bok Tower

Bok Tower

Pond

Flowers

El Retiro historic home:

El Retiro historic home

Art boardwalk:

Art boardwalk

Art boardwalk

Art boardwalk

Window:

Window

Sundial:

Sundial

Bok quote: “Give to the world the best you have and the best will come back to you”:

Give to the world the best you have and the best will come back to you

A fascinating tower and nice gardens. Highly recommended.

Rainbow Springs State Park headsprings

We visited the headsprings part of Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon, Florida.

Their map:

Rainbow Springs map

The main part of the park is physically separated from the campground:

A sign with info about the history:

Info sign

Pond and waterfall:

Pond and waterfall

Natural Landmark since 1972:

Natural Landmark since 1972

Paths and the spring:

Paths and the spring

Caution, gators:

Gators

Info sign:

Info sign

Selfie:

Selfie

Swimming area:

Swimming area

Swimming area

Swimming area from other side:

Swimming area from other side

Bumpy path:

Bumpy path

Marshy area:

Weedy area

Marshy area

Bubbling sand GIF:

Bubbling sand

Waterfall GIF:

Waterfall

Waterfall long exposure:

Waterfall long exposure

A nice park. Apparently crazy busy in summer, but not so much in winter.