Fall Break – Part 2

As detailed in the last post, the first half of my fall vacation was devoted to cramming in all the stereotypical fall activities I could think of into a few short days. That’s because the Cook family took to the skies and headed down to sunny Florida for the second half! Yes, it was time for another trip back to the Most Magical Place on Earth to take part in their Halloween festivities down there. We were all straight-out over this last summer and so didn’t have time for our usual family vacation, but between our trip down there earlier this year for the Disney Marathon weekend (you may perhaps remember seeing some of those adventures on this blog) and this last getaway, I’d say we did alright.

Besides never having been down in the fall before, we also had the novelty this trip to bring along my Aunt Kathleen and cousin Joey Goddard. They’re Disney-diehards of their own right, and they’d been asking for years to accompany us down on a trip, so we couldn’t have been more excited to have them on board.

Christmas cards all around!

Staying at the gorgeous (and GIGANTIC) Coronado Springs resort, we spent a whirlwind three days traveling through the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and – my personal favorite – EPCOT. Not all of what transpired therein will (or should) be shared with the general public, but needless to say, we all had as good a time as you can be expected to have in Disney… which is to say, the best time! Some highlights then:

Like I said, the hotel was a paradise. Or I’m assuming so, since a lot of it was seen through closed eyelids like this.

Before heading off to the parks, I needed a quick wake-up jolt. This did the trick alright.

Or if not that, then this. Yeah. Definitely this.

One of the main reasons we’d come down in October in the first place was to experience Disney at the spookiest time of year; in the Magic Kingdom, that meant going to “Mickey’s Not-so-scary Halloween Party.” AKA, trick’or’treating in Disney World. Which, you might imagine, can be a bit of a highlight of one’s existence on planet Earth, all things considered. Costumes being a necessity, we began plotting weeks ahead of time what to do. We wanted something we could do as a group, and with six of us, it was tough trying to find something that would accommodate everyone. But then the light went on.  “Really,” we had to ask ourselves, “could it have ever been anything else?”

Yes, of course we all went as members of the Avengers. Yes we did. And yes, you’re jealous.

Grim grinning ghosts came out to socialize during the course of the night. This one in particular wouldn’t let me get away.

And then, obviously, I had to dance with Cinderella’s step-sister, Anastasia Tremaine, at a rave. Nothing wicked about her except her dance moves. We’ve all done this at some point, right?

From Magic Kingdom, it was onto Hollywood Studios, where there was another kind of scary waiting for us. I’d never been to a cult gathering before, until I went to the new Frozen live show and watched as 2000+ girls power-balladed “Let It Go” in literally perfect unison. Somewhere, Adele Dazeem was smiling, I meanwhile was just perplexed. Let it go, Andrew, let it go…

THIS is much more my speed.

As I near the end of senior year, is it acceptable yet to pass in my employment application?

On the last day, the six of us headed over to the annual EPCOT Food and Wine Festival to partake in the native cuisine of twenty four countries there, represented by food huts in the park’s world showcase. Walking through the gates, I got the feeling that my twenty-one years had been spent in unknowing preparation for that one moment, like a runner before a race. I’ve got the meal schedule of a hobbit, in case anyone’s forgotten.

Challenge. Accepted.

The other side of the Christmas card

For the sake of pride and dignity, I won’t delve into how much was eaten/drunk over the course of the day. It was a lot, lose no sleep wondering about it. Among some of the highlights were the Brazilian pork, the Canadian steak, the Greek gyro, the Scottish haggis and cranachan, the Hawaiian pulled pork, the New Zealand venison, the Belgian waffles… sorry, I lost control there for a second. Back now. But for the treks we did around the parks each day, I shudder to think how much weight we’d each have gained by the end of it all (or, maybe, how much MORE weight is more accurate). But the way I saw it, I had to be diplomatic; not eating at any one country would have been a major offense. I wouldn’t have been able to sleep at night, causing an international incident like that. Safest to eat at each and every single one of them, am I right?

This one’s for you, Bumpa. Sláinte to the motherland!!

Olé

Heather, clearly upset that Mom’s not sharing this Belgian waffle

The one hurdle of the day came in France. If not for my iron will, I don’t think I’d have been able to get down this escargot. Bon dieu.

Eating your way around the world is tough work

If I was the bragging type, I’d have bought this shirt on the spot.

Mission accomplished. I should be a shoo-in for the next UN goodwill ambassador, with credentials like this

Even though we’ve been down a few times now, I don’t think I’ll EVER get sick of vacationing in Disney. There’s always new or added things we’ve yet to experience, and it’s always a pleasure doing it with my fellow Avengers. We all just have the best times down there, and this trip wasn’t one to break the pattern. Getting on the plane in Orlando in 90 degrees and touching down in Manchester, NH, to 50 degree temps was admittedly a little rough, and a lot of the last week has been spent playing catch-up, but it was worth every minute of it in the end. When can we go back???

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