Cars & Stuff I Saw On My Disney Trip

"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit) 06/13/2018 at 14:35 • Filed to: None

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I went to Disney World for the first time ever, and Universal Studios Orlando last week. Here’s some cars and stuff I saw. First, our very thirsty Durango:

I suppose it wasn’t THAT bad. With 4 people and all our luggage doing 70-80mph most of the way is averaged on the way down:

And exactly the same on the way back (this time I reset the trip odo. so this is TOTAL driving from Orlando to home):

The best part was the price of gas in the Southern states:

Its $3.00+ up here.

Driving down though Illinois I saw my first Model 3:

And outside of Indianapolis, a donked out FWD Monte Carlo:

Once we got to SC (stopped to see a friend), I got to see my first palm tree IRL, and even got to park near one at the hotel:

Speaking of parking by palm trees, we stopped at a welcome/rest center in Florida, and saw a Masshole parked like an asshole:

Sunday we arrived at our resort, and headed to the Magic Kingdom park even after driving all day, and found even the cops getting into the Disney spirit with a Star Wars sun shade in the windshield:

We then took the Monorail to dinner (not as smooth as I thought it would be, but 10x better than the buses we took the rest of the week)

Where outside they had some more ancient modes of transportation:

Speaking of the buses, they were packed 90% of the time but we got lucky once and a while and caught a mostly empty one. But not having to drive or pay for parking was a plus, we left the Durango at the resort all week and never touched it.

Later in the week we took another crappy bus to Disney Springs, the ‘shopping’ area, where they offer boat rides back to our hotel, and Amphicar rides around the lake. Pretty neat. No we didn’t take the car. It was hard enough convincing my oldest daughter to ride the boat back.

At yet ANOTHER park, Hollywood Studios, they had a Cars... car that made noises and shook and you could take a picture with, like a lot of other Disney characters...

So we did

Also at Hollywood Studios was an Indiana Jones stunt show. Outside was this:

With a frame I do not think that’s safe to drive on:

Oh and a tank:

We then had dinner in a REALLY COOL indoor drive-in movie style restaurant called the Sci-Fi Diner, that was 50's themed, and the ‘tables’ were ‘cars’ you sat in in front of a screen that played some cartoon shorts, old ads, etc.

There was also a neat 50's gas station/stroller rental/store where I found a mini Monorail toy that I bought, they had this tow truck out front that looked quite operable, unlike the Indy truck:

Our last day at Disney we went to the Animal Kingdom park, and took a jungle safari ‘bus’ tour:

We saw lots of wild animals, including the elusive Chevrolet Silverado:

The ride was neat though, much better than the jungle river tour we took earlier at Magic Kingdom on a boat that was really on a track and the animals were fake. This bus (and the animals) was the REAL THING.

More buses in the wild:

Saturday, before leaving for Wisconsin, we stopped at Universal Studios and spent WAY too much time there, especially in Harry Potter Land (not my thing).... but at least there were more cars.

First thing we saw when entering the park was the Fast and Furious ride.... which was kind of MEH but had some neat effects going on, but the eye candy around the long lines was worth it. I couldn’t pics of ALL the cars and parts and whatnot strewn about (including the grille and headlights to a DODGE ARIES of all things), but I did get a few:

There was literally enough parts and cars and seats and front ends and engines and heads and headers and wheels... I’m sure they’re ALL non-functional in some way, right? They wouldn’t waste GOOD CAR PARTS for an attraction, right???

Anyways, here’s some train thing my oldest daughter was really fascinated with for some reason:

I was more into trains like this:

And cars like this:

Even though they were sadly neglected:

At least SOME of the neglected cars were faux:

Or not really cars at all:

Some cars WERE real, and while most didn’t seem to drive around much:

There was at least ONE that did:

And one that kind of just... stood there:

Anyways, we left late, drove as far as we could, saw these on the way:

Mc_Mike bait, probably on her way home from Bonaroo

Stickers

All in all I had more fun than I thought I would, and would definitely go back.

Takuro Spirit > Takuro Spirit 06/13/2018 at 14:48

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Oh, I almost forgot, at Disney Springs they have a store where you can buy STANCE.

That’s car related, too.

WilliamsSW > Takuro Spirit 06/13/2018 at 14:49

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Nice! Looks like great weather and a great time for all! Disney is fantastic for kids of any age (up to about 105).

Also, gib that ‘65 Malibu NAO!

Gerry197 > Takuro Spirit 06/13/2018 at 14:52

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Wow, that’s cheap gas. In San Diego were are solidly in $4 territory, I was paying $2.65 about a year ago.

However, hasn’t stopped everyone in my neighborhood from buying SUVs and Trucks, only new cars I see these days.

Censored > Takuro Spirit 06/13/2018 at 14:53

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Nothing from Tomorrowland Speedway or the Test Track, for shame.

Disney is awesome, I’m pretty sure that I had more fun than my 6yr old a few months ago.

Ash78, voting early and often > Takuro Spirit 06/13/2018 at 14:57

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Hot Take: Hollywood Studios is the best Disney park. Lowest crowds, best shows, beer and mixed drinks everywhere.

When I was a kid, Disney was a 90-minute drive so it was like an annual daytrip. So we missed a lot because we just came and went with no planning. When you actually plan the trip, you get far more out of it.

You saw your first ever palm tree? I’m still trying to get my head around that!

Congrats on driving. That’s the American way.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > Takuro Spirit 06/13/2018 at 14:58

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How incredibly crowded were the parks?

Party-vi > Takuro Spirit 06/13/2018 at 15:04

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Ok so 1) is Disney fun for adults w/o kids because my wife wants to go and I’d rather perform my own appendectomy with plastic cutlery and 2) that is fantastic gas mileage for a Durango - my E46 was only getting 25mpg.

So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky > Party-vi 06/13/2018 at 15:18

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Had the same problem when I lived in FL. Wife loves the place, I hate it. If you can enjoy the themeing of everything and not be angry about how much it costs you can have fun. Going to Epcot and drinking around the world is the best way to liven it up. Otherwise I suggest finding something you like to do in the surrounding area during your vacation and then just sucking it up during the Disney part (this is my usual coarse of action). Cape Canaveral is a little over an hour drive if you are into rockets

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Takuro Spirit 06/13/2018 at 15:34

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Once we got to SC (stopped to see a friend), I got to see my first palm tree IRL

That really drew me in. I somehow couldn’t imagine a person that has never seen a palm tree. Like the damned things grew as WEEDS in my back yard as a kid in SoCal.

I have also realized that my children will only see them on trips to places they grow because they don’t grow here, that they will never see an orchid growing wild outside, marvel at passiflora blooms, chase wild lizards, have a memory imprint of the smell of gardenias & star jasmine, etc. This troubles me deeply.

It looks like it was quite a road trip!

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Ash78, voting early and often 06/13/2018 at 15:36

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That fact about the palm tree really shocked me, too.

I have similar feelings about Disneyland & Knotts Berry Farm (which we went to a lot because it was cheaper, but it’s more geared to older kids). When you live near them and visit once or twice a year (and by the time you’re a teen most kids have annual passes to Disneyland), it sucks a lot of the fun out of it.

I’m still trying to figure out when we should go down to Orlando for the ultimate in fake plastic vacations.

promoted by the color red > Takuro Spirit 06/13/2018 at 15:36

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Looks like fun! Also, 25.8 isn’t bad for a big SUV - the Equinox I rented got about 27 on a good day, though doing FWD-mode burnouts probably didn’t help that number.

That yellow front end is from a Nissan Skyline. With this being Florida, I wonder if the rest of that car is on the road somewhere...

Under_Score > Takuro Spirit 06/13/2018 at 15:41

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I’m of the attitude now where if my parents spend money for the family, I wouldn’t want them to spend it on trips (we’re not vacation people anyways), but I’d love to go back to Disney sometime. It’s such a cool place.

Also, only 70-80, even in the southern states? The right lane was probably your best friend from South Carolina until the park.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Takuro Spirit 06/13/2018 at 16:07

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WHAT THE FUCK MAN I GO HERE A LOT HELL IM HERE RIGHT NOW WHY DIDNT YOU TELL ME WE COULDA MET UP OR SUM xD

Takuro Spirit > Party-vi 06/13/2018 at 16:08

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I had never gone and am not SUPER into Disney movies or culture, but I had a lot of fun. More than I thought.

The only thing that kept me sane though was reminding myself of how many different cultures were represented. Not just people from other states, but from other COUNTRIES. So customs and behavior may vary. Oh, and child beating. SO MUCH CHILD BEATING.

Takuro Spirit > Ash78, voting early and often 06/13/2018 at 16:09

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I’ve been to New Mexico as a kid, but barely remember it. Been to Tennessee a bunch of times, but not far enough south to see a real palm tree in its native environment.

I tried to beg the wife into getting one for our yard, she says it won’t survive :(

Takuro Spirit > Under_Score 06/13/2018 at 16:11

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I could write a whole story about the traffic in different states. I’ve probably forgotten most of it now, but some people in some states just don’t speed.... much.

I had the cruise set at 77 most of the way in the right and middle lane and never felt out of place, or in the way.

Takuro Spirit > Censored 06/13/2018 at 16:13

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Speedway line was way too long.... Test Track scared off the wife and oldest since they got sick on the FIRST coaster we went on, and pretty much relegated us to shows and light rides (iiiits a small world aaaaafter allllll) the rest of the trip, which I was ok with.

With the heat and humidity I’d have rather been inside in the AC sitting down anyways.

Ash78, voting early and often > Takuro Spirit 06/13/2018 at 16:15

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Yep, you have to get most of the way south through Alabama to even see one that’s actually thriving. They usually need warm weather and sandy soil, so it’s hard to grow them most places.

But on the flipside, growing up in Florida I only had a vague idea of what it was like to see trees lose their leaves in the fall, or to see snow at Christmas. We traveled a lot, but almost always during the summer when everything looks more similar everywhere.

Takuro Spirit > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) 06/13/2018 at 16:17

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Not bad. At night for the fireworks at Magic Kingdom it was pretty nuts, but not too bad the rest of the time.

Epcot and Animal Kingdom weren’t as busy.

I would have thought during the week it wouldn’t have been as busy... I wanted to stand there and yell “WHY AREN’T YOU PEOPLE AT WORK?!?!?”

Under_Score > Takuro Spirit 06/13/2018 at 16:21

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I went around 85 going home from school and many would still pass me. That’s why I’m so shocked when I see people drive in the 70’s.

Takuro Spirit > Under_Score 06/13/2018 at 16:25

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Even Illinois was pretty tame this time. I dunno. Maybe the all black Durango steamed COP to some people.

Even with the ‘Dance Mom’ sticker on it.

Under_Score > Takuro Spirit 06/13/2018 at 16:36

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Good deterrent.

I own dead car brands only > Takuro Spirit 06/13/2018 at 16:56

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My wheels are different than yours. I have not yet seen another one with wheels like mine. I wonder if that’s something that was special ordered. The wheels on yours seem to be the most common ones in black

Takuro Spirit > I own dead car brands only 06/13/2018 at 16:59

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Mine is a ‘17, I have seen other years with different style black wheels.