Yet to keep our new-found immigrant status, we need to show that we're still connected to the new (old) country. This isn't too hard, given Hannah still gets paid in dollars, and we have - you know - an American citizen for a baby. But we've been advised to take a trip back every so often, to maintain ties and buy lots of unhealthy food.
What's a nearby part of the US that's cheap and easy to get to? Florida. And what's in Florida? Disneyworld!
So really it was inevitable that we'd spend a couple of days of Pete's school hols paying a king's ransom to visit with Uncle Walt. I was last here in 1986, when planes still had smoking sections, and 9-yr-old me was dazzled by the spectacle and new technology. This led me to somewhat oversell things to Pete, so when we visited EPCOT (the Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow, don't you know) and found that a lot of the technology still dated to 1986, he wasn't best impressed.
This had no effect on my enthusiasm, as I ran about trying to find Disney princesses to be photographed with. The newest section of the park is "Galaxy's Edge", a completely immersive dip into the Star Wars universe, where you could meet stormtroopers, fly the Millennium Falcon, and be interrogated by the First Order. This last part was a little too real for Pete. It didn't stop him going on that ride for a second time.
We were joined in all this by our nephew Oliver, who until recently was working on a yacht owned by a certain sanctioned oligarch who may or may not own an English Premier club. He'd been kicked off, along with 75% of the crew, when they docked in Turkey, so decided to burn through some of his tips by coming to see us. He was heading to Miami afterwards, where the party scene might be slightly better than with his middle-aged aunt and uncle.
It was interesting being back in the USA. Prices have definitely gone up in line with all the inflation headlines and, whether post-Covid or just because it's Orlando, upselling was the order of the day. I had to decline several "upgrades" aggressively offered on our rental car, and restaurants have begun selling $50 Build-A-Bears themed to your meal. If you live in the States you have time to seek out whatever healthy, artisanal, locally-produced experience you want. Visit as a tourist, and searching for "best local coffee" just brings up the nearest ten Starbucks.
Did this detract from the experience? Not one bit! We had a fabulous time in the Orlando sun. Disney knows better than anyone how to...well, do Disney, and dividing the entrance fee by the 13 hours we walked around the park made it easier to stomach. It's tough that, for visa purposes, we're obliged to do this every six months...
Disney Springs. Yep, even the shopping malls are Disney-themed.
An actual non-Disney thing we did! WonderWorks.
What could be more fun than running around in the dark shooting your family with lasers?
Being rotated at high speed until you're sick, that's what!
Grrr.
Out in the wilds of Blue Springs State Park.
There's a manatee in this photo! They put little buoys on their tails so boats can see them and avoid them.
Manatee statue, Pete for scale.
Just us, and the million other tourists, at Disney Hollywood Studios at 8am.
That's why I'm here.
On the Millennium Falcon! Punch it, Chewie!!
I don't seem to remember ever owning a droid.
With nephew Oliver. He's 20 now, but still a baby to his aunt and uncle!
About to launch on a Resistance cruiser.
Argh! We got captured!!
Luckily we escaped during a space battle.
Dinner, at a strange indoor drive-in restaurant. The concept was better than the execution.
Another non-Disney outing, on an airboat in a swamp!
This alligator wasn't too happy to see us.
The rain swept in...
...so the boat captain kindly gave us these stylish ponchos!
Oliver vs. alligator.
Pete didn't fare quite as well.
I decided, for reasons I can't quite remember, that we should wear complementary Hawaiian shirts to Epcot. Thank you, Goodwill! We received many favourable comments.
Some slightly scary Frozen robots.
Catching water in fountains that were definitely here in 1986.
Reflex testing in Spaceship Earth.
You're going to have to work on yachts a bit longer to afford that.
Pete's first car.
Being culturally accurate in the "Mexico" section of World Showcase.
Yes, even the pretzels.
A media franchise that Disney doesn't own! Wow!
A quick stop in Morocco.
Then London.
Darkness falls and the lights come on.
The nightly fireworks extravaganza "Harmonious". Impressive, even after 13 hours on our feet.
Finally meeting a princess! She was the silent type.
Goodbye Disneyworld! See you again once my credit card has cooled off.
