Merriest place on Earth, Orlando, FL?! A post trip thoughts...

Merriest place on Earth, Orlando, FL?! A post trip thoughts...

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Orlando, FL.... a place where immediate thought of a tiny mouse came into people's mind... that little rat, well, it is a rat, win over nearly 85% of the hearts of children all over the world... rest of 15% of them is either without media access or having some sort of WOMD (weapon of mass destruction) that obstruct them to fall into the evil rat empire...

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Walt~

Mr. Walt Disney is my childhood hero!! I read his bio since youth, where my pals sinked in SAT or sorts, I crank for bio of all major weirdos that invent empires... You know, Caesars aren't just salad... and Michelangelo is not the green reptile live in N.Y. underground... and, yes, gelato is ice cream...

Thus, I have some knowledge of the creation or development history of the swamp land, a total of 30,000 acres, a size of San Francisco, twice of Manhattan... The magic of Disney just turn the swamp into golds... sadly, Mr. W. Disney never see it open and passed away... It was a dream, not for himself, but for the rest of the world to enjoy... to have piece of merry in everyone's heart and mind, while living on this cruel world... dream, maybe the only thing to keep people going, hopefully for the better outcome...

In my opinion, the behind the scene story of Orlando, should be a sad one, if we only count in one's lifework; however, as we extend it outward, the effect of it, is unmeasurable... trust me, you'll have to be there, and bring your heart with you while you are there... You will, feel it...

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"Where's Harry? Where's Harry? Are we there yet??"

That, is the most heard phrase I encountered in Universal Studio Orlando.

If you ever visited Universal Studio in L.A., you'll know, it's not the best fun theme park, size wise or attractions... It's, just there... Thus, I have not much high hope for Orlando besides the newly opened Harry Potter/Hogwarts section last year. Honestly, the H.P. theme is so powerful that 80% of park visitors are 'stationed' in 'The Wizarding World of Harry Potter'... regardless of ages...

In front of OWL post station, I saw people's excitement in: trying to get into the tiny shop, buying wands, $30 each, buying robes, $99 each, pile up in line for postcards, sitting on ground writing post cards, and line up to send postcards, w/ the special owl post stamp of course...

I saw seniors' facial excitement when wearing something H.P. on them; physically disabled children wanting to be part of the theme, the patient of their parent lining up to buy the goods for them, putting the robes on them, and taking kodak moment of their precious child, the joy on their face, the sweet touching feeling that words can't describe... all, under 95F humid heat...

Yes, wearing H.P. robes in Florida heat... Miss Rowling, your magic spreads.

btw., ride waits are 90min., summer hasn't start yet... 3 hrs. is normal wait I presume...

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Magic Kingdom, a place where memories will shine, all 50 years of them...

Honestly, I wasn't sure which group is happier there... the adult or the kids...

The train ride is most comfortable, and tour the park within 20min. or so... It's, not that big of a park, just full of people on main street USA... shops are good, full of things that you so want to carry them all home, and realize that your house isn't big enough, or your credit limit... money, do can buy happiness... just, don't think about the paying part...

btw., I so interested in its Beauty & the Beast section open for next year~~ ;)

EPCOT, is actually the park Mr. W. Disney wanted to build, an utopia per se... However, kids are less happy there, 'cause global culture isn't that interesting to them... and I do have to say, Japanese do know how to sell.. essentially the supermarket there already... And among them all, only the service member in "China" can't smile, at all... Is it the heritage they brought from China or ??? Don't get it... Morocco section has the best 'cultural theme' to me, probably a personal bias, but dining there is a must!! U.K. team members are the cutest~~

Btw, most of the cultural team members are hired directly from their own country, to represent their culture. It's a common strategy for theme park or cruise liners... for cheaper wages while present the 'trueness'...

"Mommy mommy, there's Mulan!!!!"

"???? Who is Mulan??" puzzled the mom...

And to give justice, the Mulan actress is quite pretty and kind. Just, not very well known.... :]

Disney Hollywood Studio, well, it's Hollywood, with Mickey in them all... and, it's VERY CUTE!!! Yeah... Mickey's cute anyway... doesn't matter what form it takes... that little rat is adorable... and expensive to hold on to... Fantasmic!, the nighttime live show which you must see!! Just that you have to be there as early as hour and half for the 30 min. show... It's a 10,000 seat amphitheater after all, does need time to fill people up... but, it's a must!

Animal Kingdom, well... don't have time to visit...

Downtown Disney Orlando is much bigger than L.A. one, the Disney shop is packed with shoppers... and they do carry items out of the shop...

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Dreams are scary... especially those came true... in some way that is... One man's dream changed life of many... After all, a simple thought can change many, as long as you proceed with it, and, most importantly, have peers whom follow you, and make it to work... Magic of Disney, is the best case study a marketing course can use, as it has expanded way beyond its original goals and penetrate into several level of societies around the globe, that, including the government itself...

As powerful as Disney in Orlando, the civil design is crucial for it to attract visitors, and the convenient of its transit system, not to mention countless of resort, hotel, motel, living places all hang on the life of Disney, without it, it just goes back to the swamp land it once were... That, if you think over, is, scary...

Min. wage is around $7.25/hr., "tipped employee" is on avg. $4.29/hr + tips. Therefore, serving sector is solely rely on theme parks like Disney or Universal Studio, gladly there's no bad climate in Orlando, as it's tropical good weather can keep the parks running all year long; which, is also one of Mr. W. Disney's foresight...

In a nutshell, the entire Orlando area owes big time to Mr. D, it's a dream that support many.

How powerful was that? A entire city's lifeline lies, net to a single entity? It's not uncommon for that to happen, yet, never in that degree as Orlando, which attracts visitor from "All over the World"!! Of course, Disney Resort Orlando is the number one theme park in U.S. and the world, all started with a little imaginary rat and a man with a huge dream.

Dreams, regardless of which, should be carry on... as we only live once... even if we failed, we tried and live on with it...

So please, don't discourage others' dream, no matter how silly it can be.. 'cause you have no position to judge them...

As a Chinese descent, it's not common for elders to support one's dream, not much so for peers to agree with you, yet, it's those crazy people that changed the world, not the common 'good students'... they are, usually the voiceless peasants... support and pay for other's dreams...

Should you be a follower or be the crazy, silly odd ball? Well, there might be an app for that... ;)

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post trip nonsense,

5/17 - 5/24, Orlando, FL.

-TonyT