Splendid China
It sure is a shame that Splendid China closed up permanently. It was somewhat pricey to go in, but I'd have loved to see it once. This sculpture adorns the highway 192 turnoff to approach the park.
Splendid China
The main entrance from the turnoff road.
Splendid China
Yes, I did say earlier that the park was permanently closed and I implied I'd never been there before. So why (and how) am I showing you pictures?
Splendid China
Well, confession time—the rear edge of the park has a rather low wall with sections that are only iron bars. A tiny part of the park is visible just by walking past these iron bar sections. But leave it to my friends, Rosa and Darryl, who chose to take a hop over and steal a peek. I wasn't down with that, so I just handed them my camera and waited in the "getaway car." Seems like I've heard that wall-hopping was a big problem even when the park was open.
Splendid China
These first pictures are various angles of the Potala Palace.
Splendid China
A close up of an action scene in front of the structure seen in the prior photos.
Splendid China
The structure on the left is, I think, the Jinzhen Octagonal Pavilion.
Splendid China
A better view of the village adjacent to the Jinzhen Octagonal Pavilion.
Splendid China
The Manfeilong Pagoda.
Splendid China
I'm not completely positive, but I believe these are replicas of three ancient pagodas in Dali.
Splendid China
Miniature detail.
Splendid China
Yep, Rosa was there.
Splendid China
Sorry, I have no idea what this (and the previous photo) is a model of, but if you look carefully in the background, on the left, you can make out the easily hoppable fence I previously mentioned.
Splendid China
The Zhenghai Tower, if I'm not mistaken.
Splendid China
Undoubtedly a replica of some natural formation in China—and yes, Darryl was there too.
Splendid China
Yueyang Pavilion (Tower).
Splendid China
Yellow Crane Tower.
Splendid China
Tengwang Pavilion.
Splendid China
A water village modeled after those in Shaoxing's Zhejiang Province.
Darryl couldn't resist the irony of playing out the part of Godzilla. In spite of this photo, I should point out that Rosa and Darryl most certainly had no ill intent. No theft or vandalism occurred. They, like me, were just sad that the park had closed and, unlike me, were determined to just look at a little of it. In fact, it can be proved from the EXIF datestamps on my photos that they were only in there for less than 10 minutes.
Splendid China
Shaoxing's Zhejiang Province, sans Darrylzilla.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
The three of us then rode over to Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. It's a gorgeous resort. This view is the cover above the vehicle drop-off/entry area. The chandelier-like decorations are made with (most assuredly) imitation elephant tusks.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Continuing inside the lodge, looking upward…
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
…and then to the left.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Still looking upward, but from the opposite end of the atrium.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Close-up of one of the interior chandeliers.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
An artsy angle of the chandeliers.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
A walkway connects an upper level of each side of the atrium at the far end.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Darryl's not a fan of heights.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Rosa and I, on the other hand, couldn't care less.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
So how Darryl managed to stand on this other walkway long enough for a photo is beyond me.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
I suppose Darryl was more comfortable standing here taking this picture of Rosa and me.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
A very intriguing wall light fixture in the hallways of the hotel's rooms.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Another neat-looking fixture.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Chillin' by the fire.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Wall art.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
An exhibit in the atrium.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
This lady was eager to quiz anyone who walked by about the items on her table.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Bird sculptures hold up large, self-lit eggs at the top of a staircase.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Standing between the sculpture in the previous photo, looking down to the outer park area where you can view a collection of African wildlife.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
From the outside, looking back at the same window in the previous photo.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Various obligatory group photos.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Nice giraffe.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
The "savannah" of animals wraps around most of the lodge and is visible from all the rooms that face this direction.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Trot trot trot.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
African longhorn cattle of some variety.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
More cattle.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
I made a lot of attempts for really good photos of the giraffes.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
I'm not sure any of them really turned out how I'd hoped.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
This one might have been nice if his head was higher and the feed truck wasn't off in the background.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Florida isn't the only place you can find flamingoes.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
A cafe inside the lodge had this to show.
"In celebration of the release of The Lion King on DVD, Pastry Chef Ed Villacorta and the Bakery Team have created a pop-up book featuring two scenes from the movie. The book is made entirely out of chocolate and took a month to create. Hakuna Matata!"
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
The lodge's pool area.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Cut-up moments.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
More of the savannah.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
And more of trying to get good images of giraffes.
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Next, we headed over to the Coronado Springs Resort. This first shot shows the main part of the resort…
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
…but a darkened exposure is more stunning!
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
There was a truly magnificent sky this evening.
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Gorgeous.
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
The smooth-surfaced pond seemed to be cooperating, too.
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
I love sunsets.
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
This angle doesn't show the clouds, but the color of the buildings and the reflections are still beautiful.
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
This structure is adjacent to the pool.
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Darryl decided to enjoy some of the playground equipment.
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Can someone tell me what in the world this thing is?
Awaiting the train to Kissimmee
The next day, a larger group of us hopped on the short trip via train to Kissimmee for rollerblading. Sure, we could've just drove down, but most of us had never been on an Amtrak before. The experience was pretty cool.
Still awaiting the train
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Aboard the train
The "comfy" seats were full for our ride down, so we chilled in the lounge car. Here's Melvin, Vergy, Darryl, and me.
Aboard the train
Gotta include everyone! Here's Rosa and Jeff.
Rollerblading in Kissimmee
Jeff is probably the most skilled rollerblader among us, so skating backwards and snapping photos was pretty easy for him.
Rollerblading in Kissimmee
I would certainly have never attempted it. I can't even skate backwards.
Ice cream in a caboose
This train caboose is converted into a little ice cream shop. We, of course, had to pose in front of it.
Ice cream in a caboose
A bit of a shuffle to include the rest of us.
Miniature lighthouse at Lake Tohopekaliga
Some of you know I like shooting lighthouses, but I'm not sure whether this pathetic little thing deserved the number of shots Jeff and I took of it.
Miniature lighthouse at Lake Tohopekaliga
Pretend I cropped the bottom of this one. I'm just lazy. 😉
Miniature lighthouse at Lake Tohopekaliga
Approaching the lighthouse.
Distracted by an airboat
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Another airboat
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Miniature lighthouse at Lake Tohopekaliga
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Miniature lighthouse at Lake Tohopekaliga
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Miniature lighthouse at Lake Tohopekaliga
Isn't it lovely how hot a late-January Florida day can get?
Building mural in downtown Kissimmee
There was absolutely no resisting an attempt to blend in with a downtown Kissimmee mural.
Medieval reenactments
We also paused to watch a group of people playing medieval games in near full knight's apparel.
Medieval reenactments
It was extremely amusing to watch.
Medieval reenactments
The final battle before a break.
Bataan-Corregidor Memorial
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Monument of States
The odd Monument of States in town that kind of freaked Vergy out for some reason, explaining why she's not in the photo. She wanted nothing to do with it.
Train ride home
Very tired on the return train trip, especially after about a two-hour delay on its arrival. Of course our demeanor may have had something to with the huge and delicious (and late—3pm) lunch at the Aztecas mexican restaurant.
Train ride home
Awww, cute—and someone got a little too much sun. At least we got to sit in the "comfy" seats on the way back…obviously more desirable on the way back!
Train ride home
We all know that everyone has, at least once, worn dark glasses and used them to hide the fact that they're looking at you. Hey Jeff, your glasses aren't dark enough to pull off that stunt!
Flowers in Winter Park
We briefly walked around the little park near the Winter Park Amtrak station when we got back, where I attempted a few shots in a flower garden.
Flowers in Winter Park
It was nearly 6pm by this time, so the colors are kind of muted. Still pretty, though.
