Since work sent Maureen to Orlando for a medical conference last week, I got to join her on another trip to America!

We weren't going all that way just for business though - we got in two days of good old Florida tourism; joining the crowds at Disney World and Universal Studios.


And boy, were there crowds!

We thought going early on a Monday would be quieter at Disney - um no! But Chip and Dale welcomed me with open arms... I think they liked my USA flag T-shirt.


We said hi to Walt but he was much too tall for me to shake hands.


Mickey was quite dapper in his Halloween outfit.


There were pumpkins and Fall decor everywhere.






Captain Sparrow was a gracious host, entertaining us with a few lines of "Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me".


It was a very hot and humid day for late October...but we rode a Big Thunder Mountain, went Under The Sea with The Little Mermaid,


stepped aboard the Pirates of the Caribbean ride,


rode a steam locomotive, had lunch with Gaston,


enjoyed the People Mover through Tomorrowland, sat in the revolving theater for Walt's classic "Carousel of  Progress",


visited Cinderella's Castle,


 laughed at Melvin, Buff and Max at the Country Bears Jamboree


and rode the Monorail! A lot of fun despite the crowds and crazy heat.

But the bestest thing of all?

I even got a pair of ears just my size!

Although our drive down to Minnesota was mainly a Mother-Daughter shopping trip, we made sure to set aside enough time to visit our friends at the Minneapolis Zoo. We loved seeing old friends and meeting new acquaintances.