Walt Disney World, Florida, October 2003

During October 2003, Rene', Murphy, Michael, Chris, Missy, Jack, Laura, Matthew, Cathy, and Craig all met up at Walt Disney World, Florida, to enjoy each other's company. Don and Anita joined us one evening. A good time was had by all.

All name listings are from left to right as you view the photo, unless otherwise noted.

Hanging Around
 

One morning, Matthew treated us all to a character breakfast with Minnie Mouse, Goofy, and Chip and Dale. Here is a photo of all of us with Goofy: Craig, Murphy, Chris (back), Missy (front), Goofy (back), Cathy (front), Matthew (back), Rene', Michael, Laura (front), and Jack (back).

 

Laura, Jack, Rene', Murphy, Don, and Anita posed for this photo on the Boardwalk.

 

Disney-MGM Studios
 

Hollywood Boulevard was decorated with a very large version of Mickey's Sorcerer's Hat.

 

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (auh, auh, auh) raised you up 13 stories and then dropped and raised you various distances a random number of times. Every time it rose up fast and stopped, you would leave your seat (seat belts protected us).

 

Chris, Missy, Michael, Craig, Matthew, Cathy, Laura, and Jack waited in line at the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. We went on this thing three times. Yes, it was fun.

 

Rene' and Murphy posed with a bug (the one in the middle).

 

Yes, we rode the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith four times. Is four times really enough? Probably not.

 

Magic Kingdom
 

The Magic Kingdom entrance as seen from the monorail.

 

Of course we rode Space Mountain, a thrilling roller coaster ride in Tomorrowland.

 

We went on Splash Mountain. Starting with the front row and going back: Rene' and Craig; Michael and Murphy; Chris and Missy; Matthew, Jack, and Laura. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World.

 

Wishes - A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams, a musical fireworks extravaganza, was narrated by Jiminy Cricket. As the Wishes fireworks started, the rain began falling lightly upon us.

 

Just after the fireworks ended, the rain started pouring down hard (over one inch of rain in about a half hour). All 50,000 people (including us) ducked for cover anywhere that provided shelter. Then we all went home and put our soaking clothes and shoes in the clothes drier.
 

EPCOT
 

The most noticeable landmark in Epcot is Spaceship Earth, also known as the big ball.

 

Murphy stood in the Dummy Assembly area, one of the areas you walk by to get to your Test Track car.

 

Mission: Space was indeed a thrill ride. To much thrill according to Rene'.

 

Inside of Imagination, Michael experimented in part of the Sound Lab.

 

Chris made sounds with his hand in the Sound Lab, inside of Imagination.

 

Matthew, Rene', Michael, Craig, and Chris all tried their hand at the guess the character game in Spaceship Earth.

 

Jack and Laura tried their hand at other video games ...

 

Did I mention that you cannot take too many photos of the big ball? This is the way it looked right before the IllumiNations thrilling nighttime kaleidoscope of fireworks, flame, lasers, and light.

 

Illuminations fireworks.

 

Many Disney characters rode by us on a double decker bus.

 

It had been raining on and off during most days that we were at Walt Disney World. Just as we were finishing up on our second day at Epcot, a rainbow appeared.

 

Last updated November 16, 2003, by Murphy.