On Mickey Mouse, Etc.

I was away on vacation last week, hanging out in Orlando - land of Mickey Mouse and outlet malls. It was all good, especially when viewed through the eyes of my two Princess-obsessed nieces (aged 5 and 7). You haven't seen pure unadulterated joy until you've seen a little girl get a hug from her favourite princess (that'd be Belle for the 5 year old and Aurora for the 7 year old. Who is Aurora you say? Clearly you are out of the princess loop, you sad, sad adult).

In the land of consumerism run amok, you have to admire what Disney has managed to build out of some old orange groves. The epitome of consumer culture, served with a smile. People actually did seem happier in the Magic Kingdom than in most other places on earth. Maybe they pipe in extra oxygen, like in casinos? Whatever it is, they clearly forgot to pipe it in to Animal Kingdom. Both overpriced and underfun, it make me wish I'd just gone back to the Magic Kingdom for another dose.

Because Disney knows how to do the Magic Kingdom up right. The trio of 'mountain' roller coasters were excellent, and the new Pirates of the Caribbean ride was really, really well done. Even weary hubby had a favourite ride - It's a Small World, if you can believe it - though I tend to think he was enjoying it on an ironic level. At least I hope so.

Even their overpriced and undertasty amusement park food wasn't quite as undertasty as most places we visited. The prize for the worst food on the trip, by the way, goes to the snack bar at Kennedy Space Centre. Never put rocket scientists in charge of curly fries. Apparently. Or perhaps it was meant to make us appreciate the flavour deprivation of deep space. Either way, hamburgers shouldn't be grey.