Around the World with Weekend Update: September 20, 2008

We really take you around this world this week with some amazing photos from both hemispheres! nbodyhome shows us the Disney World, Ian Parkinson's Adriatic Adventure continues, Mark Gonzales takes us on a stroll down Main Street, SummerInFL takes us on an African expedition, MickeyMaxx shares his blockhead adventure, and Marcia G. takes us south to Argentina.

This week we'll start on the East Coast:

Denise nbodyhome Preskitt shows us around some of the East coast theme parks this week. First up, Universal Studios is getting ready for their very popular Fall event: Halloween Horror Nights. Denise and MiceChat sponsor Eric Davis (Orlando Fun Tickets) checked out the park and spotted some of the preparations for this event.

Universal Studios
Orlando, Florida


Eric sees himself in the mirror and is startled:


The Adventurer's Club
Pleasure Island


As most of our readers already know, The Adventurer's Club at Pleasure Island is going to close forever on September 28th. Denise has been visiting the club often since the closing was announced and she shares these last chance photos.


Magic Kingdom
Walt Disney World Resort



Epcot
Walt Disney World Resort




More of Denise's fantastic photography can be enjoyed at her website: mousesteps.com.




Cephalonia, Greece

In part three of Ian Parkinson's Adriatic Adventure we resume our sightseeing trip on the Greek Island of Cephalonia:


The island of Cephalonia is the largest of the Ionian Islands in western Greece, with an area of 350 sq. miles. The island is named after the mythological figure Cephalus, although some hold its name literally means "island with a head", referring to the island's shape; the name "Ciphalis" is derived from the Greek word for "head".*




Disneyland
Anaheim, California

Mark Gonzales takes us on another photo tour of Disneyland. This time we'll take a walk down Main Street.




Busch Gardens Africa
Tampa Bay, Florida

SummerInFL takes us on a tour of the quieter side of Busch Gardens Africa. Lest anyone think that the park is only dedicated to animals, however, we'll start the report with a few photos of SheiKra.

SheiKra is a vertical drop roller coaster in Tampa, Florida. It is situated in the Stanleyville section of Busch Gardens Africa. SheiKra was the first dive machine roller coaster in North America. It is tied with Six Flags Over Georgia's Goliath for tallest roller coaster in the southeast. SheiKra first opened in May 2005. On June 16, 2007, SheiKra was converted into a floorless roller coaster. The name SheiKra is derived from a shikra, an African hawk that is known to dive straight down for its prey.*


Busch Gardens Africa, formerly known as Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, opened on March 31, 1959, and has an African theme. The park was originally tagged "The Dark Continent". The theme park is one of America's largest zoological institutions, with more than 2,700 animals. Attractions include: Rhino Rally, Montu, Kumba, Scorpion, Gwazi, Edge of Africa, and SheiKra, a vertical dive coaster which opened in 2005. The theme park is some distance away from downtown in central Tampa.*

Summer reports that Busch Gardens has two of her favorite things, animals and shade. Looks like she saw plenty of both.





Coincidentally, one of my favorite blogs vintagedisneytickets posted these photos this week of a vintage Busch Gardens Tampa ticket. You can also view a vintage brochure at the blog.




Legoland
Carlsbad, California

MickeyMaxx treats us to some photos of his recent trip to Legoland.


We were surprised to note that the admission prices were just a little south of Disneyland's. Luckily, we were the recipient of generous discounts from our host which allowed us entry for less than the cost a burger and soft drink at Disneyland.


It's a park of gentle rides, gentle coasters, gentle humor.


But just because Legoland is full of mostly gentle rides, that doesn't mean one must be faced with a boring day. Take a simple boat ride. All begins well as this gentleman is the first to pull away from the dock.



One, by one, the others follow in an orderly procession.


Until, at the first turn, their leader looks to be in trouble, suddenly facing backwards.


What appears to be utter chaos eventually finds every single driver returning to the dock in the exact opposite order than they started out in. Turns out that was their plan all along to add a bit of a challenge to what started out as an innocent ride for children.


Entertaining for all ages, is Miniland USA, the detailing is so intricate, one is hard pressed to take it all in.

A funeral in New Orleans.


Detailing in the same city.



San Francisco.



And a New York street scene.



There is a fair amount of product placement, like from Volvo, a park sponsor. There are lots of mini Volvo XC 90s parked in every city. And a full size XC90 replica made of Lego blocks near the entrance. Plus the Volvo Driver's School attraction. Note the miniature silver Volvo in the photo above and the blue one in the Las Vegas photo below.



Also note the working Las Vegas Monorail.



And, San Francisco from the waterfront.



There is one ride that is uncharacteristic of this park. Knight's Tournament is a robotic arm ride, where you select your level of intensity, and then hold on tight.



Buenos Aires, Argentina



MiceChat reader Marcia G. travelled to Argentina recently and shares these magnificent photos with us.

Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent. Greater Buenos Aires is the third largest urban area in Latin America, with a population of about 13 million.

After the internal conflicts of the 19th century, Buenos Aires was federalised and removed from Buenos Aires Province in 1880. The city limits were enlarged to include the former towns of Belgrano and Flores, which are both now neighbourhoods of the city.

People from Buenos Aires are called porteños (people of the port).*


The luxurious Santa Fe St. in the neighborhood of Palermo, Buenos Aires



The Casa Rosada, with barricades (Evita and Peron resided there)


Statue in a plaza in front of the house


A busy blvd. in Buenos Aires at dusk


And another



A "statute" outside of Alto Palermo (shopping mall)


Disney is known for classic characters that you grow to love. Disneyland has the Minnie Mouse of your dreams. Argentina has the Minnie of your nightmares. (Also taken outside of Alto Palermo).


A rare sight! No traffic in Buenos Aires.



The hotel we stayed at (Marriott Plaza Hotel)




The gorgeous lobby of our hotel.



Flags hanging from the hotel



More from inside


Buffet Restaurant at the hotel


View from the pool area (closed in the winter months)


We'll have more photos from Marcia G. next week when we will visit the widest street in the world and Evita's gravesite.



And that brings us to the end of another week. Our photographers have just enough time to reload their cameras before we see you all again next weekend. Thank you to all of our wonderful readers, and as always, a huge thank you to our amazing team of global photographers, spies, and gossips:

Jack Hollywood 1939 Wixom
TDLFAN
Denise nbodyhome Preskitt
SummerInFl
PhotoMatt
Fishbulb
sir clinksalot
MickeyMaxx
A very special thank you to our wonderful guest photographers Ian Parkinson, Mark Gonzales and Marcia G. for sharing their vision with us.
Your Editor - Rixter

Where have YOU been recently? We invite you to share your photos of theme parks or any other destination that may be of interest to our readers. Please feel free to contact me via MiceChat Private Message (screen name Rixter)
or send me an email: oceansiderick@gmail.com.

*Some factual information sourced from wikipedia.com.