There
is always something magical about recapturing your youth . Some say, never go back because it is never quite the same and I would totally agree with them. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. So whilst in America, booked to go back to Disneyworld in Florida; just to see if it really was quite a wonderful as we remember. The last time we were there was some twenty five years ago and our kids were eight and eleven years old respectably. I can actually still picture their faces, so full of joy at seeing the various princesses, or the ride at Space Mountain. Everyone still equates Disney with quality of showmanship, wholesomeness, cleanliness of the parks themselves, and the sheer efficiency from the way they guide you into your parking space as you arrive in the morning, right to the last little train taking you back at the end of the day.


Actually, I have to confess that Disney has done absolute wonders for the wedding scene.
And I got this bit of information from my kids. I really hadn’t realised it till they mentioned it at all! Just think about it… from very early childhood; reading bedtime stories to your daughter, the ‘die is cast in stone .’ From that very second, each and every little girl grows up, looking for her handsome prince to come and rescue her from the clutches of…. To be awakened by his magical kiss…. To be the nicest and most beautiful person in the world… who sees no evil in anyone or anything… no matter how badly she’s been treated… like Cinderella and her sisters; or Sleeping beauty; and who can forget the scene with the witch giving Snow White the apple? And all of us shouting inside our heads for her NOT TO TAKE A BITE! And then of course, after being rescued by the handsome loving prince who has fought his way through thick and thin to be by
her side and vanquished the evil character, everything is all safe and cosy again. You can always tell this by the soft music. Then comes the big final wedding scene where everyone lives happily ever after. ALL children have watched this either in the movies or on videos. How lavish and sumptuous the settings are; the perfectly coiffure the hair styles; the enormous dresses with long trains; the entire population turned out for the happy occasion . In other words, it’s just the perfect wedding. And this is how little girls grow up; with the seed of her wedding firmly implanted from the age of three. And all because of Disney bringing his cartoons to life. So this is Disney’s gift to the wedding scene worldwide. In fact, to cement this even more firmly in their
minds, so many of the little girls are all dressed up in a Princess costume while going round the Magic Kingdom. They are beginning to feel just like their heroines immediately, and it’s wonderful to see the sheer joy on their faces. 

 
 There are many Disney parks to go to; whether it’s the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom or any of the others, it’s quite impossible to do it all in a week! And because of this, decided not to stand in long queues for any of the big rides. You know the sort I mean; the ones that make you wish you hadn’t eaten quite so much as it whirls you round at light speed up; down, round and around so that you do not know which way you are facing . Instead, decided to do as many of the shows as we could fit in. Now this takes a bit of planning. Getting the timetable for the day is always good. Marking of the show times and where they are in the park itself. Then you simply rush from venue to venue just in time for the start of the next
performance. 
 
I’ll try and pick out just a few of the highlights. EPCOT (Electronic Prototype City Of Tomorrow), and every night they have one of the most spectacular fireworks from a small island and surrounding barges right on the lake. So besides the actual fireworks themselves, you get the reflections of them of the water as well. While this is all going on, wonderful music is being played, and it’s as if there has been brilliant choreography between the music and fireworks.
Please click on the picture because it becomes a short video.

The Magic Kingdom. This is where most of the little girls dress up in their princess ball gowns while meeting their favourite Disney Characters. And all at once they’re immersed at being that one very special magical princess . The looks on their faces tell you so as they walk, no I think that’s the wrong word, promenade may be better; with their heads held high. It is truly
wonderful to see.

Now, one of the main highlights of Magic Kingdom happens at three o’ clock every day. And people get there well ahead of time to get a great vantage point. All standing patiently behind the ropes, craning their necks and looking expectantly in the direction the parade is to be coming from. And when this extravaganza arrives in its entire splendor, even the adults, clasping their own children are transformed back into children themselves. The music… the costumes… the floats…, all are quite spectacular and everyone is swept up into the Disney Magic. Please click on the pictures because they turn into short videos.

Disney Hollywood Studios. This is the park with most of the shows. Everything from Indiana
Jones, the Lion King to Beauty and the Beast. Having picked up the map and show time table set about seeing as many shows as we could . Rushing from one theater or stage to the next. Hope you like the clips I've selected from the Hollywood park.

We also went to the Universal theme park with the new Harry Potter attraction. The Potter attraction is quite fantastic and realistic in the way they've created a London street. And, made it look like it’s from Dickensian times. For those who have neither seen nor read the books, you travel by train from platform 9 and three quarters at Kings Cross station to the destination a mythical place Hogwarts. 
The Universal train ride is fantastic with… NO… NO… NO..., I’m not going to spoil it for those of you wanting to go! And one of the most Awe inspiring things they'vedone is to make some wands that you can buy there in ‘Daigon Alley’, interactive.
Children & Adults as well stand on a special brass plaque, wand in hand, staring hard at whatever is behind the shop window … and with arm out stretched… wand pointing towards the window… uttering the magic words… and they then control whatever is going on inside the window . Whether it be knitting needles knitting, feathers following the trace of the wand’s end… or water spurting forth from fountains...  to mention but a few things that happen.

Besides this though, Universal is not nearly as professional as Disney. Most of their characters are modern and kids of ages three to nine would definitely know them, but I didn't so couldn'tappreciate them at all. However, they do have some spectacular roller-coaster rides so please click on the picture.

And finally, the best show we saw was in Downtown Disney. They have created an entire boardwalk of shops and restaurants. Each one seeming to be better than the next so it’s difficult to choose which one to go in to. And in one of the theaters, we went to Cirque du Soleil performing their new show called Nuba. For those who have never seen this particular Company, let me tell you a little about it. I think all you have to know, are three words… magically brilliantly weird . I think this sums it all up. For example, right at the beginning of the
performance there is a steel tight rope stretched across the stage. Now we've all seen tightrope walkers going across, balancing by holding the long pole, or some even do it without. We’ve also seen them riding bicycles across haven’t we? But, have we seen the cyclist riding the bike below the rope? Yes, as if they were utterly defying gravity itself, a rider starts off at one side of the enormous stage, actually seated on the saddle, but with the cycle above him, and then the steel rope! That’s how the show starts. And it only gets better from there. The specially composed music is played live with a couple of singers. All the acts seem to totally defy the imagination and your take on what is, and what is not possible. The hour and a half’s performance simply flew by in total bewildering wonderment. Unfortunately they are really strict
on any form of photography being done inside the theater so I have nothing to show. I would however take my word for it and strongly recommend everyone to go to see it.

 
Now we’re back in St Maarten and one of the worlds big yachting Regatta’s is about to start, so that will be the next blog, followed quickly by the St Maarten Carnival. Life just seems to go from one big party to the next, but hey, someone has to do it? Don't they?