Renewal Leave - Part Fourteen - Disney Day #3

Thursday morning I was up early to go walking around the resort. So peaceful and so many water birds. 

After we checked out we drove over to the Contemporary Resort for breakfast at Steakhouse 71. This was my allergy meal. 

And then we went out back to the Mickey statue to capture Wesley's graduation pics out there (we did this for Parker after his high school graduation too). Wesley's pics turned out great! So hard to believe that he is off to college a week from today. 

We went shopping after that for a while around town before heading home to Daryl and Davis. It was so good to be able to have this one last trip on renewal leave and to share it with Parker and Wesley. 

 

Renewal Leave - Part Fourteen - Disney Day #2

On Wednesday morning, I worked out at the fitness center and then walked the lake around Bonnet Creek. We are in tower 5 which is on the right in this picture. 

We headed to Animal Kingdom Lodge for breakfast and Wesley showed off his new Man City jersey from Lydia (anniversary present!). 

Then we hit up Animal Kingdom. 

We did Flight of Passage in Pandora and then headed for the Kilimanjaro Safari. No lions this time but lots of other animals were out and active. 

Then we grabbed some snacks and hit up the bird show. 

Wesley and I rode Expedition Everest before heading out of the park. 

We took a break and went back to the resort for a while - more pool time for me! Then about 7pm we parked at Hollywood Studios and took the Skyliner over to Epcot. Parker will be working here in just a few short weeks. 

At Epcot we grabbed some snacks and walked and shopped a bit before heading back to the resort. We actually got to see the Epcot fireworks from the Skyliner on the way back. Parker and I finished up the night at the lazy river. 

 

Renewal Leave - Part Fourteen - Disney Day #1

On Tuesday, Parker, Wesley and I headed for a Disney for a few days. It was so hot that there was a heat advisory!  All my makeup had melted off by the time I got this picture in the first ride line (Tower of Terror). 

Then the boys and I rode the Rock N Roller Coaster (newly themed with Muppets). It was Wesley's first time on the revamped ride. We did the single rider line so we didn't get to sit together but we did save time in line. 

Then we grabbed our new passholder magnets - Kermit the Frog! 

And then for our final ride of the day, we did Rise of the Resistance. Always so impressive! 

We ducked out of the park to go check into our hotel. I got a deal on Bonnet Creek for 2 nights. We ended up with an awesome location in Tower 5, right next to the entrance for the lazy river. 

After cooling off and getting some naps, we headed back out to Disney Springs for some shopping, dinner at D-Luxe burger plus allergy snacks. I finished up the day with some time in the lazy river. 

 

Renewal Leave - Part Thirteen - Sarasota Day

Monday of this week I spent time hanging out in Sarasota as a tourist. First up was Sarasota Jungle Gardens. This is just north of downtown. It's one of those old classic roadside Florida attractions that has been around since the 1930s. It was definitely a blast from the past of the kind of places I visited with my parents and grandparents as a kid. 

This bird is 57 years old! 

I went to the wildlife show and saw a ball python, a grey African parrot and a giant rabbit (I can't remember the breed but it was European). 

There was also a giant Monitor Lizard. 

There were peacocks wandering all around. 

The highlight for me was encountering this flock of flamingos (flamboyance!) and I was able to handfeed some flamingos. Such a cool experience! This is one of only 10 places in the world where you can handfeed flamingos. 

Afterwards, I drove a little south to the downtown campus of Selby Gardens to walk around for a little bit. We are members here. They are in the middle of another expansion but there was still plenty to encounter.