Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Father excited about his new dishwasher! (2009)

It's fall at Walt Disney World. Pumpkin decorations on the table. The leaves are changing. Long sleeve clothing is the norm.

Wait a minute… this is Florida?!

Actually, it's the 3rd scene from the Carousel of Progress, which is set around the time of Halloween in the 1940s. The Carousel is one of my favorite attractions, even though Disney seems intent on letting it fall into disrepair, despite its historical value harking back to Walt's involvement with the 1964 New York World's Fair. I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually replaced it with something ridiculous from Pixar or Disney Channel.

Still, it's a show that can only be experienced at the Magic Kingdom these days and I enjoy it every chance I get (such as when I took this photo during a December 2009 trip). Because, after all, "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow"!

I'm White. I Blink!

Just as I've picked up a rear red blinking light for my bike (again, to keep drivers from running me over), I've also added a triple LED front headlight.  It produces a steady light or blinks… and is also required by law in Chicago for riding at night.

As you can see, it also nicely highlights my bike bag bracket, notable for that big grey splotch of epoxy.  I cracked the bracket over 20 years ago, back when I used the same bag on my 10-speed.  Hmm, maybe I should paint that spot black or something! (And if you are wondering how the light works while the bike bag is mounted, yeah, I'm working on that solution as well!)

Spousal Clashing?

You might say that our Halloween costume this year reflects current events!

Continue Reading…

Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Elephants Can Fly! (1979)

It's 1979 in the Magic Kingdom! Riding the spinning Dumbo is Amy's Gram (now 94 years old!), Amy (age 3½), and her brother Greg (age 7). In the background you can see the Pinocchio Village Haus restaurant. (Previous Theme Park Thursdays photos from this trip featured Greg & Amy enjoying sibling love and a ride on the carousel.)

Of interest is that in the coming few months, Walt Disney World's Dumbo ride will shut down… and be moved into a new location as part of the New Fantasyland Expansion. In the new "Storybook Circus" area, there will actually be two Dumbo rides, configured in a dueling format and integrated into a new interactive queue.

While viewing this photo, it's interesting to note just how barren the ride looks. Lots of concrete and carnival-like elements. Not a whole lot of theme. Then again, it's just a spinning ride with elephants!

Continuing a yearly Halloween tradition here on SteveandAmySly.com…

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown debuted on October 27, 1966, as the third Peanuts television special (the first obviously being the Christmas one). It is here that most of the world who wasn't reading the comic strips was introduced to Linus Van Pelt's fascination with "the Great Pumpkin".

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown LP from 1978

Charles Schulz thought it would be funny to see what happens if a child confused Halloween with Christmas… and the rest was history. This year, the show is celebrating its 45th anniversary.

Continue Reading…

I'm Red. I Blink!

Continuing our theme of stuff to keep drivers from killing me while cycling, I've now got a rear LED blinking light on my bike. With daylight disappearing rapidly, I've been finding that my post-workday rides are being done in far more dusk-like conditions. Hopefully, this helps a bit!

Can you see me now?

Just doing my part to help Chicago drivers see me while I bike this fall!

Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Halloween on Main Street USA (2007)

A September 2007 view down Main Street USA from the train station. There's a parade taking place, and you can see how the various shops are decorated for Halloween. Of course, being from the Midwest, it's rather odd that the trees are still green and there are no leaves to be found on the ground!

On Friday, Amy & I were joined by my parents as we attended a showing of Mary Poppins downtown. The traveling Broadway musical returned to Chicago for a short time, and thanks to some fortuitous circumstances, we got a chance to see it.

Mary Poppins? Yup!

I'm not much of a theater goer, but we really liked this production. The combination of familiar elements from the Disney film (including the Sherman Brothers songs) along with non-familiar pieces from the original books and new music worked really well.

Continue Reading…

Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Steve at Main Street Station (2007)

It's Halloween at the Magic Kingdom! The Main Street Train Station is all decked out in orange/yellow bunting to celebrate the season. You'll also spot a "Pumpkin Mickey" floral design and various stacked pumpkins on the landscape. Oh yeah, and that's me… fittingly wearing my seasonally-appropriate Clue shirt (who doesn't love a good mystery this time of year?)

This photo was taken during a September 2007 family vacation to Walt Disney World. We camped during this trip and it was very, very warm!