the ocean

 Continuing with the Disney adventures. I've managed to limit myself to two installments, I believe.

The Skyliner linked our resort to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. And I loved the many visual warnings it gave us. If I were ever planning to wear a lariat necklace on the Skliner, I now know better. (Yes, that is obviously "no smoking," but it took me several tries to see that.)

Here we all are at Epcot, which still presents a stunning 1980s-based vision of the future. There has been some updating to reflect the fact that America has steadily increased its hatred of being educated in any way since then, but some entertaining shreds of optimism remain.

Spaceship Earth created this nifty simulation of me and Ian in the future, riding in our space car with our praying-mantis-like bodies. I can get behind this.

There's a spot in Epcot where you can taste different flavors of Coke from around the world, and they are all pretty gross.

Ian's head is sort of blocking the castle, but take my word for it that we are on Main Street U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom espousing traditional American values, like hot dogs and classism. 

For some reason, the kids both wanted me to take their photo with this sign at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I mean, sure, it's a great sign, but I've seen better.

Splash Mountain has been rethemed to be less racist, but it still gets you quite wet if you are in the front of the boat. Luckily I have no vanity about me.

As you walk into It's a Small World, you cross a bridge where you can see the happy faces of the people who are just finishing their journey on this classic ride. In no way have they been touched by madness.

I had assumed that Enchanted Tales with Belle would involve Belle telling the children a story. But no, it turns out they want the children to act out a story for Belle, which seems kind of rude. Like, you invite people to your castle and make them perform for you? And while the children are all volunteers, they press two unwilling and unlucky adults into service as the suits of armor. I had become separated from the herd and was selected for this honor, which is commemorated in this non-consensual photo. 

We only managed to stay long enough to catch the fireworks on one night. But they were very nice. The Phil Collins jam from "Tarzan" figured more prominently than one would have expected, but different strokes for different folks/animated characters.