Day 2 in Chicago, guess our biological clock was confused we were up at 2:30 am feeling rested and relaxed. So we started to do some net surfing and calling home as it was the best time to call India. We realized the phone which we had purchased did not have international calling. Shaleen purchased some Skype credit on the net and we called from that. As we usually take the pains to book our stay in hotels which provide wireless/wired Internet connectivity (it always comes in handy esp. in US). Then we had some tea and got ready and decided to go to the Millennium park walking from our place along the north shoreline drive.
On the way as it was pretty cold we decided to have some coffee and hence entered the Fox & Obel food market. It was the most fantastic food market I have seen till date. We took a large coffee and shared it and got fresh fruit tart packed and started on our way again.
We loved the Millennium park esp. the Bean a sculpture made by Anish Kapoor. It is fascinating to look at. It looks like a drop of mercury.
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This is a video we shot at the Kennedy space centre in the summer of 2007. That was our last day in Orlando. Shaleen drove us in our rented car to the Centre. After 6days of covering the theme parks, one on each day, we saw the Space Centre on our last and seventh day. It was a fantastic experience. I am sharing this experience of the Apollo 8 launch with you.
The furthest destination for a human spaceflight mission has been the Moon, and as of 2009 the only missions to the Moon have been those conducted by NASA as part of the Apollo program. The first such mission, Apollo 8, orbited the Moon but did not land. The first Moon landing mission was Apollo 11, during which—on July 20, 1969—Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first people to set foot on the Moon. Six missions landed in total, numbered Apollo 11–17, excluding Apollo 13. Altogether twelve men walked on the Moon, the only humans to have been on an extraterrestrial body. Apollo 8 was the first human spaceflight mission to achieve a velocity sufficient to allow escape from the gravitational field of planet Earth; the first to be captured by and escape from the gravitational field of another celestial body; and the first crewed voyage to return to planet Earth from another celestial body - Earth's Moon. The three-man crew of Mission Commander Frank Borman, Command Module Pilot James Lovell, and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders became the first humans to see the far side of the Moon with their own eyes, as well as the first humans to see planet Earth from beyond low Earth orbit. The mission was accomplished with the first manned launch of a Saturn V rocket. Apollo 8 was the second manned mission of the Apollo Program. After launching on December 21, 1968, the crew took three days to travel to the Moon. They orbited ten times over the course of 20hours, during which the crew made a Christmas Eve television broadcast in which they read the first 10 verses from the Book of Genesis. The crew timed this reading to coincide with a full view of planet Earth hanging in the empty blackness of space, clearly showing the rich diversity of the living planet, as indicated in Earth's colors, seas, landforms, and weather patterns, rising over the dull gray horizon of the lifeless Moon. At the time, the broadcast was the most watched TV program ever. Apollo8's successful mission paved the way for Apollo 11 to fulfill U.S. President John F. Kennedy's goal of landing a man on the Moon.
On 23rd May 2007 we went to Disney Animal Kingdom. The park is open till 5pm only so we made the effort to reach as early as possible. We reached the park without losing our way and remembered to note down the parking lot number. From the parking we took the tram to reach the park. When we entered the park we went to Dinoland the Asia and then Africa. As soon as we entered we saw some animal exhibits. We went for the Bugs 3D movie the auditorium was part of the screen, it was little scary for the smaller children. We went for the Dinoride where they transport us back in time to rescue a dinosaur before they became extinct. But by far the best we saw was Finding Nemo it was a great show beyond expectations
We were late reaching the park, as today also we lost our way somewhat and started late as well. Epcot, the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, opened in 1982. It was conceived by Walt Disney to "take its cue from the new ideas and new technologies that are now emerging from the creative centers of American industry." This concept is best exemplified by Spaceship Earth, the glistening geosphere that has become Epcot's icon. Epcot consists of two themed areas, Future World and World Showcase. Future World features attractions that focus on energy, communication, health, the land and our environment, the ocean, imagination, transportation and space exploration. As the Future world rides were available till later in the evening we first went to mission space did the less intense training. Then we went for the world showcase. We were enamoured by Mexico. Next in China we saw the 360 degrees cinema, which I thought was really mind blowing and some acrobats by chinese artists. Most of our time was spent meeting the characters in Epcot. In between we managed to squeeze in Honey I shrunk the audience which we had seen in Paris and loved greatly. The Test track sponsored by Ge is a good experience. Later In Morocco we met Aladdin. In the end we did Soarin'an absolutely great ride. Living with the land was another great ride and Circle of life was a good movie. We managed this between countless visits to the restrooms thanks to Soumya. I think the future world is much more interesting than the World Showcase. Our planning went haywire because of all the character meetings which the children wanted to do more than anything else.
A suggested plan would be:
Plan to arrive in the parking lot 30 minutes before the official park opening. Decide ahead of time whether you want to begin with the high-octane thrills of Mission: SPACE or with the remarkable but not stomach-churning high of Soarin'. As soon as you pass through the turnstile race over to either Mission: SPACE or Soarin' and wait in line to ride or get a Fastpass appointment. Afterward, choose either the East or West Future World track to continue.
East Track: After Mission: SPACE, pick up a Fastpass for Test Track. Then backtrack to Spaceship Earth. Upon leaving Spaceship Earth, head to Soarin'.
West Track: After Soarin' at the Land pavilion, take the Circle of Life boat ride, then proceed to the Imagination! pavilion and get another Fastpass ticket for Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. Visit Journey into Imagination with Figment, and if you have time left, meander through Image Works before returning to Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. By this time there may be a line at The Seas with Nemo & Friends, but if there isn't, go on in and stay as long as you like.
Now's the time to head back to Norway and Maelstrom, followed by an early dinner at France, Italy, Mexico, or another inviting spot. See any attractions or shows that you missed, remembering that parts of Future World sometimes close ahead of the rest of the park. Stick around for IllumiNations, and stake out a spot early by the lagoon wall at Italy, on the International Gateway Bridge between France and the United Kingdom, or at an outdoor U.K. table. Make sure the wind is to your back so fireworks and special-effects smoke don't waft your way and obscure the scene. Take your time on the way out -- the park seems especially magical after dark.
My favourite ride was The carousel of progress.This attraction debuted in New York at the 1964 World's Fair. Walt Disney developed this attraction to be part of GE's "Progressland" exhibit. The "Carousel of Progress" quickly became one of the most popular attractions at the World's Fair. (I remember it well.) The story is told via an Audio-Animatronic family as seen at the turn of the Twentieth century, in the 1920's, the 1940's and present day. Not only were animatronics amazing back in '64, the theater seats revolved around the stage. (If you think Disney has some long lines, you should have seen what it was like back in the stone age at the Fair.)
After the World's Fair came to a close, this attraction was moved to Disneyland in Anaheim where it remained through 1973. After the main show guests would step on a moving ramp that brought them to the second floor. A model of "Progress City" was on display which was the inspiration for Epcot.
In 1973 "Carousel of Progress" was closed and moved to Orlando where it reopened in January of 1975 as "Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress." Unfortunately, they committed a blasphemy by changing the theme song from "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" to "The Best Time of Your Life." It wasn't until 1994 that the original song was brought back after alenghty refurbishment.
One interesting fact is that the voice talents of Mel Blanc and his son Noel have been featured in this attraction, as well as Jean Shepherd best known for writing and narrating "A Christmas Story."
What some see as "Walt's legacy" others see as a dated attraction. This is one of the very few rides that 'operates seasonally' which means that its only open during the busier times of year. Still, if you hint at it being closed and/or changed to something more current, you'll hear protests from around the globe.
If you're in Tomorrowland and "Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress" is open, you can be assured of two things: the park is probably busy and there's very little wait for this attraction. It can be a very pleasant way to pass 20+ minutes. You're comfortably seated in a theater, you're away from the crowds, you're out of the heat and best of all, you're watching a show that Walt himself designed.
Map of Magic Kingdom It has often been said that the true essence of Disney magic can be experienced simply by stepping foot inside the Magic Kingdom. Opened in 1971, the venerable theme park has withstood more than three decades of changing cultures, a constantly shifting social climate, and an explosion of technology that has left lesser places outdated and obsolete. Yet, somehow, the Magic Kingdom continues to remain the undisputed king of Theme Parks, drawing more yearly visitors than any other. How the Magic Kingdom has managed to maintain its charm and appeal over the years is a lesson in simplicity. It has stayed true to its original vision, a place where families could gather in a clean and safe environment to enjoy the time they spend together. No trip to Disney World is complete without visiting the Magic Kingdom. The Magic Kingdom is divided into five distinct areas (lands), arranged in a spoke-like formation, all meeting at the top of Main Street USA right in front of Cinderella Castle. The five lands consist of Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Liberty Square and Adventureland. Each land is themed to its appropriate title. My daughter did not believe that she was in Disneyland till we came in full view of Cinderella's castle.
Arrive at the parking lot 45 minutes before scheduled opening, and once in the park, dash left, or hop the Walt Disney World Railroad, to Frontierland, where you can claim an early Fastpass time for Splash Mountain. After you've received your ticket, head over for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, then ride Pirates of the Caribbean. By now, your Fastpass ticket should be valid to ride Splash Mountain. Next head over to Liberty Square and get a Fastpass for the Haunted Mansion. See the Country Bear Jamboree show or ride it's a small world until your time to visit the mansion is up. When you're finished, sprint over to Tomorrowland and pick up your next Fastpass, this time for Space Mountain or Stitch's Great Escape. Try to time this so that you can have some lunch and then see Cinderellabration at the castle. If you have longer to wait, head to the Timekeeper or the Carousel of Progress if they're operating. By now, it'll be time for you to experience Space Mountain or Stitch. Afterward, pick up a Fastpass for Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. Then ride the Tomorrowland Transit Authority or squeeze in any attractions above that you may have missed.
If you haven't seen the 3 PM parade on previous visits, start looking for a viewing spot at 2:30 (many begin even earlier). Once you settle on a curb, send a member of your group to pick up the next set of Fastpass tickets for the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. If the crowds aren't too thick, the second floor of the train station makes a really nice parade viewing spot. After the parade, hop the train to Mickey's Toontown Fair and pose by the colorful house fronts for some fun photos. From there, stroll into Fantasyland for your Fastpass appointment with Pooh. Afterward, get your Fastpass appointment for Mickey's PhilharMagic or Peter Pan's Flight. While you wait, take a spin on Cinderella's Golden Carrousel and check out the Cinderella Castle mosaics.
You probably have time to get dinner and return to your hotel for a couple hours' rest before the SpectroMagic parade and Wishes fireworks show. If you watch the fireworks from Town Square, you can be ready to grab a monorail seat back to the parking lot as soon as it ends. On the other hand, if you want to ride Splash Mountain or Space Mountain again, lines will be short now, and you can see the fireworks from pretty much anywhere in the park.
Most spectacular of all Disney's parks are the parades and fireworks displayed at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando. Most notably, the current combo of the "Wishes" fireworks show, and the perennial nighttime favorite, Spectromagic. (For this post I have borrowed heavily from DIS)
While planning our trip we were contemplating as to how to reach Orlando from Washington DC. I think its best to fly if you want to utilize your time to the fullest, other options would be drive down or go by train. We reached Orlando and took the bus to Hertz Rental from the Airport. There we rented a car for a day and drove down to Orange country resort, which is quite well located and we found it easily. Both of us had been feeling apprehensive after reading the reviews in Tripadvisor regarding our stay in Orange country west village. Either we were not fussy guests or the condo was great either way, we were happy we had booked this stay with RCI. That day we settled down drove to the clubhouse and later we went to Walmart and did some shopping. Day2 We had decided to buy our tickets from Maple Leaf which was giving the cheapest tickets and mind you tickets for the theme parks are costly around $70 per person!. So we bought three Disney theme park tickets. As we intended to go to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Epcot. We had decided to go to Magic Kingdom, the first day, it was a world of dreams, a superb place for children. It was much bigger than the one we had been to in Paris and there was no feeling of Dejavu. This was an experience in itself, with my children with me and the magnanimity of the place. One can reach Magic Kingdom by land, water or through the skytrain from the parking place.
We reached New Jersey and it was a better place to live away from the hustle and bustle. It was very crowded on the roads and it took us quite a while because of so much traffic. Here was our first encounter with Walmart, a huge store and very interesting. We had a nice stay with AseemBhaiya and lots of good advice which stood us in good stead on our journey. We reached Washington DC and stayed at ISKCON guest house which was located at a posh area in Washington DC but away from the tourist attractions. The food at ISKCON was excellent and we never missed Indian cuisine the two nights we stayed there. One day we had dinner with Dr. Maheshwari and the next night we stayed with Himanshu and Ritu and their little one. Day 2 in WDC we went to the National Air and Space Museum which I feel needs a full day to see properly. We spent most of our time there. There was again along queue to get in. And they were doing security check also. Many groups of school children were there. I esp. liked the section on Wright Brothers. Quite a few exhibits of space were also there which we later repeated at the Kennedy Space centre in Orlando. We went to an Art museum after that that too was interesting. We saw the White House from outside and realized that we used to confuse it with The Capitol. We took the metro and then boarded a bus to reach back to the ISKCON Temple. Day 3 Himanshu came to pick us and we went to Baltimore.We participated in the RathYatra organized by ISKCON in Baltimore that day and we spent time at inner harbour Baltimore a picturesque place. There is a great Aquarium in Baltimore which we saw. Later that day we went to the Lincoln Memorial. We went to the temple guest house and took our luggage and stayed with Ritu and Himanshu that night. Himanshu dropped us to the Airport the next day with packed lunch. That was the first of several domestic flights which we took in America.
We took the Uptown Loop.I had a long list of places to see, but it was not possible to see everything. We went to the American Museum of Natural History. Its last one hour is free and we reached 15 mnt before the last hour so we did not need to buy tickets, which were quite expensive and probably we would not have bought them. We hopped off from our bus over here. Then we walked down to the Central park, which acts as the lungs of New York, an interesting place in the middle of this concrete jungle, with everybody doing there own thing.
From here we took a cab to Times square. It is interesting the way you can hail a cab anywhere in New York. At Times square we visited the famous Toys R US shop and few others and then we took the night loop bus.
That night loop was a mistake because the air was very chilly in the open bus and 3/4th of my family was sleeping. We got off from the bus after more than half the tour was over and headed to our hotel in a cab. It was around 11pm when we reached back. The next day we again headed towards the Times Square. This time we took the Downtown loop.
We went through Little Italy, Chinatown and went to see the Statue of Liberty. We took a ferry from the Battery Park. Our ticket for the ferry, was included in the hop on and hop off tour which we had taken. The Statue was not as magnificent as we thought it would be.
At the Statue of Liberty there were a lot of Indian tourists. We bought a few souvenirs at the shop over there. There is a museum there but you have to arrange from before. The ticket to Ellis' Island was included in our ticket but because we caught the last ferry we had to choose between stopping at statue of Liberty or Ellis' Island we obviously chose the former.
On returning back we again caught our hop on hop off bus and contd with loop. We left the bus at Rockefeller centre. We went to Top of the Rock, which was a great experience. There was a long queue for the American Girl Place where we had thought of taking our daughter, so we had to give up the idea. And in the end we headed for The Empire state building which was the worst experience of all, because of the long queues even late at night. On way to Empire state building we came across Best buy Store where we almost went berserk, a whole store of electronic goods!! Day 3 we lost time packing but then as usual headed for Times Square. We visited the stores there Hershey's was great, the children esp loved making chocolate there. We went to the MTV store, Planet Hollywood etc.
We landed in New York, JFK Airport on the 14th of May 2007. Customs was not as difficult as we had been anticipating. My suggestion for anybody traveling to America for the first time would be, not to carry any grains, uncooked vegetables, fruits and esp. no mangoes. We took a taxi to our hotel The Comfort Inn, Long Island City not really in the heart of things. (It cost us around 50$ for the taxi and some more for the gratuity). Hotels in New York are very expensive and its best to plan well in advance, so that you can get a good deal through the internet. All hotels all over USA can be compared on the tripadvisor site. This hotel, which we found our way to, with not much difficulty, had been chosen because of its proximity to Queensboro subway station,,just walking distance. It was bed and breakfast, free wifi access in rooms, which proved to be a boon as none of our phones worked BSNL and Airtel, for both we had got roaming activated in India!!. The room was small but clean and had two queen beds. Bathroom or maybe I should say Restroom was nice.
After freshening up we went out and bought a calling card and contacted home. Subway was 2$ for each of us from point A to point B and return. We took tickets for Times Square. The Subway station was very old and sort of tacky with two floors of trains passing through and rocking the place.
We got off at Times Square and lo and behold!! it was a fantastic sight, standing there and not knowing where to look and what to see। Hello America!
The family has got visas to visit the U.S. of A. Now we are confused whether to make an ambition plan to do both the coasts, or do one. While planning we came across some good travel sites which can be used for planning a trip to America. My favourite is tripadvisor.com Then come a host of sites like expedia.com, hotels.com and orbitz While on visas at least 2 families I know, other than us, have all got tourist visas this month from the US embassy in Delhi for 10 years. As for tickets, We got a good price from Etihad Airways while Air France is also giving a good deal with a stopover at Paris.
