Downtown Disney, Orlando, Florida – 1/4/2015

JANUARY 4, 2015 (Sunday)

Didn’t sleep all that well last night, but I did manage to sleep in this morning. Michael got up about an hour before me and watched his CBS Sunday Morning show that he loves. We lazed around and tried to figure out what we wanted to do and finally decided to go to Downtown Disney.

We left around 1:30 PM but were hungry so we went to a nearby Panera Bread and had lunch. Michael got a turkey sandwich and a bowl of broccoli/cheese soup. I got a asiago steak sandwich and a cobb salad. Everything was pretty good (as usual for Panera).

One of our favorite chains.
One of our favorite chains.
Diet soda for pretty woman and a green tea for me.  Our dessert was a couple scones.
Diet soda for pretty woman and a green tea for me. Our dessert was a couple scones.
Edie's steak sandwich, baguette and cobb salad.  Dressing was oddly bitter, felt like we were back on the cruise.
Edie’s steak sandwich, baguette and cobb salad. Dressing was oddly bitter, felt like we were back on the cruise.
My half turkey, baguette, and soup.  It was delicious.
My half turkey, baguette, and soup. It was delicious.

We got to Downtown Disney around 2:30 PM (free parking) and walked and walked and walked. Was pretty busy for a Sunday afternoon, I thought. Much of the area is under construction, so that part was disappointing.

Entrance to Downtown Disney and what is difficult is I write this as I am watching Downton Abbey.
Entrance to Downtown Disney and what is difficult is I write this as I am watching Downton Abbey.
The Mouse is King here.
The Mouse is King here.
Lots of construction going on along the way.
Lots of construction going on along the way.
Parking garage under construction.
Parking garage under construction.
Cirque du Soliel
Cirque du Soliel
Edie liked this mini cooper.
Edie liked this mini cooper.
I was photographing the lamp decoration.  The pedestrian is a bonus.
I was photographing the lamp decoration. The pedestrian is a bonus.
Watertaxi.
Water taxi.
House of Blues.
House of Blues.
No show today.
No show today.
Lots of good food smells everywhere.
Lots of good food smells everywhere.

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We talked about going in, but we were so full from Panera.
We talked about going in, but we were so full from Panera.
Another restaurant.
Another restaurant (and bowling alley).

We stopped at the AMC movie theater to see if there was something we wanted to see. “Unbroken” and “Into the Woods” were playing, but not for awhile, so we decided to keep on trucking. We thought about having a drink at the House of Blues (for Jan and Caron, our Canadian friends who love jazz and blues), but kept on walking, we were still full. We went over the bridge and saw some really interesting things, mostly for kids. There was one place called T-Rex. Looked like a restaurant, but not sure. They had a Lego store, a really cute kiosk for dog lovers, a leather belt place, and just a bunch of things for shopping and knick knacks. We read they have the world’s largest Disney Store as well. There was also a volcano spouting fire that would go off every once in awhile. I even got wet when I walked under a statue of Stitch, who then spit out water on people below. Lots and lots of places to eat and shop. Still grateful we have a Prius and can’t be buying a lot of “stuff.”

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Specialized in bling.
Specialized in bling.
Interesting chandelier.
Interesting chandelier.
I liked the pillar fake palm trees.
I liked the pillar fake palm trees.
An area for food trucks.  There were only two today, but at times there are many here.
An area for food trucks. There were only two today, but at times there are many here.

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A Harley brand store.  Two motorcycles bolted to the floor so folks could take pictures.
A Harley brand store. Two motorcycles bolted to the floor so folks could take pictures.
Lots of streets to wander along.
Lots of streets to wander along.
Damn gout, I'm off beer.  Didn't bother finding our way to this place.
Damn gout, I’m off beer. Didn’t bother finding our way to this place.
T Rex.
T Rex.
Long neck and little head.
Long neck and little head.
Hips and ribs, this thing is huge.
Hips and ribs, this thing is huge.
The tail view.
The tail view.
Rear legs, the people provide scale.
Rear legs, the people provide scale.
Fair sized lake in the center.
Fair sized lake in the center.
About 85 degrees, little bit crowded, not my favorite activity.
About 85 degrees, little bit crowded, not my favorite activity.
Puff?
Puff?
World's largest Disney store.  Fun ceiling in the main shopping area.
World’s largest Disney store. Fun ceiling in the main shopping area.
Big side area on the right.
Big side area on the right.
Side area on the left.
Side area on the left.
Pretty woman with Buzz.
Pretty woman with Buzz.
We were still full.
We were still full.
Tinker toys.
Tinker toys.
Still Christmas.
Still Christmas.
Can't help but think of R Williams.
Can’t help but think of R Williams.
Belches fire.
Belches fire.
One of Edie's favorites.
One of Edie’s favorites.

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Frozen is so popular.  There was a big crowd waiting to take family photos with this background.
Frozen is so popular. There was a big crowd waiting to take family photos with this background.

After a couple of hours we were done and tired. We asked a really nice employee at the dog kiosk about how to take the water taxi. (We didn’t want to walk all the way back. We’re getting lazy.) He said it was free and gave us great directions on how to get to it and which line to stand in. He was right on. We got to the pickup area and only had to wait about five minutes before our taxi arrived. While we were waiting we got to see a very large flock of white Ibis birds just chilling. We were lucky in that we were the last ones to get on the water taxi for this trip. We had a great old captain, Claude, piloting the boat. It was fun and went at a pretty good pace to near our parking lot.

Bridge to the dock.
Bridge to the dock.
Watertaxi dock.
Water taxi dock.
Hunter in the grass.
Hunter in the grass.
Water features everywhere.
Water features everywhere.
They do great landscaping.  And you never see them, must do it at night.
They do great landscaping. And you never see them, must do it at night.
Fire and smoke belched from the volcano.
Fire and smoke belched from the volcano.
A beautiful flock of Ibis.
A beautiful flock of Ibis.
Captain Claude is at the gate supervising loading.
Captain Claude is at the gate supervising loading.
The brontosaurus from a distance.
The brontosaurus from a distance.
Distant ears in the landscape.
Distant ears in the landscape.

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They float this up and serve dinner in the bottom basket.
They float this up and serve dinner in the bottom basket.
We are two days later, driving by and see the balloon aloft.  So, maybe no meals, just a ride.
We are two days later, driving by and see the balloon aloft. So, maybe no meals, just a ride.
Our watertaxi left an interesting wake.
Our watertaxi left an interesting wake.

We left Downtown Disney and headed for the Publix near our “home.” We picked up a few things.

Our favorite southern grocery store.
Our favorite southern grocery store.

We are now home and awaiting our date night watching “Downton Abbey” (season premiere). That was our day. Hope yours was great!