Tuesday, September 1, 2009

ORLANDO, FLORIDA

We had breakfast here at the Orlando Peabody Hotel.
Here is Stacie waiting for the duck march in the beautiful lobby.
Here they come!!!!



We had breakfast at the B-Line Diner.
Awwww, the dessert's, we will have to come back just for dessert, they had everything even the signature duck cookies looked yummy!!!!
Those duck's are just so talented and cute!!!!They even have a grand marshal each day for the duck march, today it was a little boy about 10 years old!!!!
Off to Epcot!!! Stacie has to work today:>(, no worries, I'll keep busy walking around all these beautiful parks!!!
Stacie and 2 of her castmates!!!
Now I'm off to Magic Kingdom!!! I never get tired of this place!!!! The beloved Walt Disney and his favorite mouse!!!!And don't forget that Beautiful Castle!!!!!
Cinderella's wishing pond!!!!
Stacie's good friend Kendra works at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique doing little Princesses hair all day!!! What a fun job!!! And she is a great Fairy God mother assistant!!!!
Time to watch the parade!!!!
My favorite Disney character Minnie Mouse!!!!!
I'm off to Disney's Hollywood Studios!!!!I have never seen the Lights, Motors, Action show!!!
So awesome how Hollywood performs all those car stunts!!! Now I know!!!!!
This car appears to be driving backwards when in reality it is driving forwards but the car is built backwards!!!!!
Herbie!!!!!!!
Getting shot off the roof is ok if you have a big soft spot to land!!!!
A movie set is built with just a front facade to save money!!!!
Looks like a New York street to me!!!!
A replica of the Plaza Hotel!!!!
New York street scene!!!
Oh don't forget that signature hat!!!!!
Monday Aug 24th I arrived in Orlando, we drove straight to Jetty Park in Cocoa Beach, We sat here for over 3 hours to have the launch scrubbed(NO Not again) due to a storm approaching.It was due to launch at 1:30 a.m.!!!
Stacie had to work on the 3rd attempt so Kendra was so kind to drive me out to Titusville as we learned this is the best FREE spot to watch a launch!!!!
The bright spot in the middle is the Launch pad, the lights to the right of it is the VAB(Vehicle assembly building) the distance between launch pad and the VAB is about 5 miles, there is a track that the shuttle travels on to get to the launch pad, if you ever get a chance to tour Kennedy Space Center it is well worth it!!!!We were about 8 miles from the launch pad, but our view was perfect on this perfectly clear night!!!!!
This is at countdown 3 or 4, you can see the fire under the shuttle!!!!
BLASTOFF!!!!!!!!
AMAZING!!!!!!
SPECTACULAR!!!!!!
UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!Right about here I'm crying my eyes out!!!!!
This is a sight I have wanted to see for over 10 years!!! Our first trip to KSC was in 1999!!!!!
It lit up the entire bay area like it was day, these shots were taken with NO FLASH!!!!!

The trail!!!!
So wonderful!!!! There was probably 10,000 people in this area and the entire crowd just cheered and yelled, alot of these people live in the area and go to every launch, some travel for more then 3 hours just to see this. It is an amazing thing to witness!!!!The long drive home in all that traffic was Well Worth it!!!!!Thanks Kendra, how can I say Thank you enough!!!!!!
Where Stacie saw it from work in the backlot at Epcot, she could see it clearly and saw where the rocket boosters fell off!!! So even in Orlando, 50-60 miles away, you can still witness it!!!!
Night launches are the BEST!!!!!!

8 comments:

Abatevintage said...

Oh my goodness Jamie what a wonderful trip you must have had, the duck march was so cute, I would've had to been there to see them personally but they did look adorable on camera. The sets were incredible. I think it looks like a wonderful memory to have.

Thank you for visiting me. I will always treasure the time I was allowed to spend with my Dad, we laughed and talked the whole way there and back. It was a great time. I love him for going it made the trip worth while. Take care sweety.

Cheers,
Heidi

~Kristen~ said...

I LOVE the Peabody ... especially the one in Orlando cause it's just down the road from an FAO Schwarts and the fun downtown life.

Looking at your pics makes me miss my days in Disney (1999). I was down there for John Glenn's launch and we went and saw the lift off, I gotta say you must have been close to where we were to watch it. And I was working in Orlando on the day of the re-entry and it was so loud you'd swear it happened in our back yard.

Looks like you had a fabulous vacation!

Stella said...

Those ducks are just too cute. Sounds like you had a wonderful time. Thanks for stopping by to offer encouragement. Stella

Buttercup said...

So enjoying your trip. Stayed at the Peabody in Little Rock last year and never missed the ducks. Your pictures of the launch were great.

AnjuGandhi said...

orlando reminded me of my visit there and the lovely rides there
i erally enoyed Universal studios and Island of adventure
wish could go there again

Chrissy said...

I just LOVE all your pics from your travels. The lauch photos are great! I am sure that was an experience you will NEVER forget! You are very blessed to be able to travel so much to see your family!
Love,
Chrissy

Deanna said...

Dear Mimi,
WOW!
Ducks and then Disney!
Such fun.

If I ever get there, I will have to get my hair done and hopefully they will make me beautiful by their magic.

This was a treat,
d

Leslie said...

I've seen that duck march on tv! They crack me up, would love to see it in person. Those ducks live a pretty good life there at the hotel...

Shuttle launch!!!! Oh, I'm JEALOUS!