Notes from a Plane

Right, sitting on the plane from Orlando to Dallas, and totally unable to get to my rucksack and get a proper blogging device, of which I have many, you understand, because of all the big arse-bags people have put up in the overhead locker. Mine is squeezed in the back behind someone else's bag. Sigh. Still, we are actually lucky on this particular flight, because we have some amazing legroom, being in the first row of cattle class just behind First Class. Had to capitalise that, because they're so posh in there, they get a meal with a glass of wine, and actual metal flatware! This has been a bit of a thing for me, because since arriving in the US, we've succeeded in eating with metal cutlery just twice. Once at the Rainforest Cafe, and the second time at the Hard Rock Cafe after an exhausting day in Universal Studios.

Flatware concerns aside, the real drawback of sitting here is that we DON'T get a meal, and their food does smell pretty good.

Another thing to mention is that the TSA guys at Orlando are quite the nicest US TSA people I've encountered. Not only were they polite, they were actually helpful, which, after my experience at Chicago on the way into the country, was a very pleasant change.

Apparently there is wifi on the flight, but apart from finding the name of the access point, I've been unsuccessful in connecting. I know it's going to cost me money, but how cool would it be to be blogging at 32000 feet? Yeah - very cool! I'll let you know how that works out for me!

Hmmm. While I can buy 15 minutes for $1.95, it seems a whole load of hassle, because I have to create an account. I'll wait until we get to ground level, and I'll mail it from there. Sorry about the lack of cool!

Well, given that we're not going to be landing for another 40 minutes, I might as well tell you about some of the more exciting bits of the holiday.

Epcot - I don't know why, but I LOVE Epcot! For me it was the best Disney park. I don't know if I enjoyed the World Pavillions or the rides more. Despite my "Top Ten Orlando" book telling me that the Spaceship Earth ride was rather dated, I think, maybe, they they are rather dated! I gather the ride's been updated recently, and it was a spectacular, continuous loop telling a story of communication. Not only that, it was narrated by the deliciously dulcet-voiced Dame Judy Dench! It wasn't a rollercoaster by any means, but it was a beautifully set story, illustrated with delightful vignettes, as we spiralled up inside the iconic Epcot golf-ball. That was much more satisfying than expected.

My favourite ride, overall, was the "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey" ride at Universal's Islands of Adventure! To get to the ride, you queue through the castle, the rooms in which are faithfully recreated from the castle in the movies.

Oh, before I continue, allow me to share with you that our Pilot just thanked us "for flying American Airlines as we fly across the greatest country on God's green earth!" I'll stop chuckling soon!

Back to the Harry Potter ride. As you wind through the castle, the strands of a story are woven, including moving paintings, Harry, Ron and Hermione appearing from beneath the cloak of invisibility and various other devices. And then you're strapped into a sort of church pew on a simulator for the ride, which includes both projections and animatronics, and is completely awesome! Oh, I forgot to mention that you have to wear 3-d glasses.

It uses the same technology as the Spiderman ride, which, I gather, took a long time and a LOT of money to develop. Still, I suppose having spent so much to develop it, you might as well get some mileage out of it.

Coming into land now. More later!