Orlando
2–7 February 2008. I was a child, and five days of Disney World were an incredible first look at that kind of grandeur: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Downtown Disney (La Nouba), MGM, and Blizzard Beach. Stayed at All-Star Movies with a rental car. On 7 February we watched a space shuttle lift off at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral. From there we drove north to Kingsport, Tennessee, still in the same rental car — the trip continued through Washington, Philadelphia, and New York. Came back in January 2011 with my whole family and my parents' best friends: landed in Miami on 3 January, drove to Orlando in the middle of the night, and spent four days at Disney World again (including Animal Kingdom this time), then a Celebrity Equinox cruise from Fort Lauderdale. Returned to Kennedy Space Center on 24 July 2026 for my birthday — a full tour this time, including the mission control centers, the Saturn V, the exhibitions, and the amphitheater shows.
- Lodging
Disney's All-Star Movies Resort
Visited: Feb 2, 2008
Arrival notes: Rental car for the whole stay
· Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Home base for the week. I was a child — the movie-themed buildings felt enormous.
- Attraction
Magic Kingdom
Visited: Feb 2, 2008
How I got there: Car — Rental car
· Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
An incredible first look at that kind of grandeur as an impressionable child.
- Attraction
Epcot
Visited: Feb 3, 2008
How I got there: Car — Rental car
· Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
One of the five Disney days.
- Attraction
Downtown Disney
Visited: Feb 4, 2008
How I got there: Car — Rental car
· Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Including Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba on the West Side.
- Attraction
Disney-MGM Studios
Visited: Feb 5, 2008
How I got there: Car — Rental car
· Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
The park I knew as MGM — it had just been renamed Hollywood Studios.
- Recreational
Blizzard Beach
Visited: Feb 6, 2008
How I got there: Car — Rental car
· Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Water-park day to close out the five Disney days.
- Historic marker
Cape Canaveral
Visited: Feb 7, 2008
How I got there: Car — Rental car from Orlando
· Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Space Coast day — we were here for the shuttle launch.
- Historic marker
Kennedy Space Center
Visited: Feb 7, 2008
How I got there: Car — Rental car
· Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Watched the space shuttle take off.
- Lodging
Walt Disney World
Visited: Jan 4, 2011
How I got there: Car — Drove from Miami in the middle of the night after landing on 3 January
· Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Four days at Disney World with my whole family and my parents' best friends. Then down to Fort Lauderdale for the Equinox.
- Attraction
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Visited: Jan 6, 2011
How I got there: Car — Rental car
· Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
January 2011 — four days at Disney World with my family and my parents' best friends. This park was not part of the 2008 week.
- Historic marker
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Visited: Jul 24, 2026
How I got there: Car — Car
· Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Came back for my birthday and toured the whole facility: mission control centers, the Saturn V in person, the exhibitions, and the amphitheater shows. Loved it.
Route summary: Disney's All-Star Movies Resort → Magic Kingdom → Epcot → Downtown Disney → Disney-MGM Studios → Blizzard Beach → Cape Canaveral → Kennedy Space Center → Walt Disney World → Disney's Animal Kingdom → Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex