The Real Housewives of Kissimmee

Magic Castle Inn & Suites
(focal point of the film, The Florida Project)

So...last year a movie came out by the name The Florida Project (a play on the development name for Walt Disney World) I had wanted to see it after everyone started raving about it but failed to get the chance. Luckily during a delightful 16 hour flight I was on to Hong Kong, it was being offered as part of the inflight entertainment... So I watched it... and I really, really enjoyed it.
The film follows of the lives of people who live in the hotels off 192 right behind Disney. Knowing the area and living/working in the area.. it almost seemed like the film could have just been a documentary of life in Kissimmee... and up until the very end of the film.. it seems like it could have even been a reality TV show. While obliviously a movie and not real life, it does give a very real feeling of what its like for people who live and work right on the doorsteps of the Disney empire but might never be able to afford the chance to visit and how millions of visitors yearly have no idea whats really going on where they vacation. ....But I guess that could be said for anywhere, really.
 But it was kinda neat to see a whole bunch of places I've been to or been past. Showing things like Orange World, Twistee Treat, different crappy gift shops, the Mickey Pylon!... and even signs for Cici's Pizza and Ichiban Buffet (one of my favorites!)

I almost feel like had I seen this film before moving down to Orlando... it might have even put me off it. ha
But yeah, Magic Castle Inn & Suites.

Yup.

And much like in the movie.... there were even Sandhill Cranes!
((AND A BABY!!))

(((yyeeeessssss)))

Annddd.... here's the Trailer for the movie.

So yeah... if you haven't seen this movie yet... you probably should.

and here's a rather good news story about the hotel and movie - click

The Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society

Because the best birthday gifts are the ones that involving going on little adventures and not a physical item... and stuff. <3

Welcome!
Uh, to the Palm Beach Zoo.
Pretty sure it was the final non-panhandle Zoo in Florida for us to visit.

The grand entrance to the zoo features this lovely
"Interactive Play Fountain"
(CLOSES AT 4:30 PM!)

Oh look, a recreation of a Mayan Temple.... Because I just wasn't at one weeks prior to visiting the Zoo :P

Oh hey, it's Coba!
(Been there, done that)

And Chichén Itzá too...
(Yup, been there as well!)

The zoo, while on the smaller side.. Is actually really pretty.
With pathways along side and over streams/lakes... And under tree cover.

Well, almost all under tree cover.

Near the front of the Zoo is a small Carousel
(Bear!)

And a little kiddie train ride

Oh right, and uh... there are a bunch of animals here too!

I mean, it is a Zoo after all.
Hey look, a Spider Monkey.

Shh, its about to be nap time for the Jaguar <3

Hey, Mr Gator.

Ooh, and some fancy Ducks... with a Capybara
:D

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Mardi, the leucistic alligator.

!!!
Sandhill Crane!

Bear!... Uh.. bear bear bear... bear <3
Yeesss!

Uh, nothing to see here, moving on!

<3 Servals having a nap <3

Forbidden Lemur Island!
Sadly, none of the lemurs were visible during our visit.
(Worst birthday, EVER)

And because its Florida.. Uh... this... Flamingo.

Woo woo

Lowry Park Zoo... again.

Uh, because it had been like a year since I lasted vised the place? Oh... and because of animals. (and in turn, lots of baby animals!)
yay!

Woo, Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida.

(And ducks!)

Aww, Babirusa... and baby

The cool looking Orinoco Crocodile, rawr!

Southern Bald Eagle... Uh, AMERICA!

The dreaded Lionfish

Florida / West Indian Manatee <3

A female Mandarin Duck giving some side-eye...

African Penguins :D

(The Formal Chicken?)

Oh man....

<3 Florida Sandhill Crane <3

Yeesss!!!!

Queensland Koala

Pygmy Hippopotamus's's's!! :D

Aww :D

Mama Zebra and her baby, that was born the day before my visit.

(Still had the umbilical cord hanging off.....)

The African Elephant... and a baby!

American Black Bear

:3 Yeesss!!!! :3

(bear..bear...bear..bear)

The Bornean Orangutan doing its..thing.

Random waterfall near Lemur Island.

(Lemurs were seen.. but were being difficult to photograph)

Aww, a little Komodo Dragon enjoying its heat lamp.

Fun looking Masked Lapwing.

Great Indian Rhinoceros

Indian Gharial!

Clearly the coolest Crocodilia

(And only some 250 remain in the world :( )

With less than a 10 US Zoo's being home to them

Clouded Leopard, pretty pretty.

New Guinea Singing Dog

And... a Nicobar pigeon.
Uh.. and for the non-animal stuff at the zoo!

Woo

It was pretty cool out during my visit... So Gator Falls was skipped. I only saw a few people ride it all day, and most were kids that didn't seem to care that it was Florida-Cold outside.

Although the Wallaroo Station Water Play Area was pretty much abandon...

Lil' Joey's Caravan had been built sometime between my last visits here. An SBF/Visa ride that I'd seen all over Europe... this was my first time seeing one in the US.

 African Guided Safari was pretty packed today as well.. But the Zoo seemed unprepared for it... As only one tram was being used and only 2 cars... The line for it was at least 2 cycles wait, and the ride lasts 20 minutes or so.

Annddd... Tasmanian Tiger is still here, and now featuring orange supports. Rather the yellow it had when it first opened.

Took it for a courtesy ride. :D

And lastly, hidden away behind a fence, is all that's left of the SkyFari. During my last trip here, the ride was also closed.. but the supports were still in place (cable-less) and the seats were all stacked up in a pile. Now everything has been removed. :(