Washington Monument

Date of Visit: November 4, 2014

For years we have been wanting to go up the Washington Monument again. First it was under renovation and then it had to be repaired after the 2011 earthquake. Now for months it has been reopened and we finally got settled in enough to make plans to go see it, which seems to require about a week to ten days in advance when you look at next available when reserving tickets online rather than getting them day of and risk having to wait a long for your tour time.

Our tour time was 11:30. They have benches and signs pointing which one to sit on as a line for your tour time. They only let people go in as people come out; so the tour time doesn't really mean when you will get in. For example, they didn't even start with the 11:30 ticket holders until 11:45. It isn't bad and they have a good system with the benches compared; but Mik wished he had worn warmer clothes, especially shoes, since it was windy and colder than he expected sitting up by the Monument.

To go in with a wheelchair one of the rangers has to unlock a gate so you go in the exit. The entrance looks accessible; but it is a security checkpoint, so they have you go in the exit to be screened by the end of the security.

Once done with security you get in line to go up the elevator. This is one of the coolest parts of the monument in our opinion, as the floor has interesting mosaics.

At the top there are windows looking out from the North, East, South, and West. However, they were too high for Mik to see from his wheelchair. We actually knew this was an issue as we did the tour back in 2006. However, that time they had this periscope thing and Mik was able to see some stuff. It wasn't perfect as the lens were somewhat scratched up; but it was more fun than just seeing the photos above the windows that show the view.

After you are done at the observation level those that can't do stairs wait for the elevator to return with a new group and then ride down to the museum level. This level has a few interesting displays mostly about the building and repair work of the monument. This level is where you get in line to ride the elevator back down.

The ride down is interesting if you can get close enough to the doors, as at two points the lights in the elevator darken and the lights in the shaft allow you to see some of the stones donated by various states and groups. Unfortunately, we got stuck dead in the middle of the elevator and couldn't really see them.

At the end we exited the same place we came in with the wheelchair. For most people, you then exit through a turnstile; but we had to get back through the locked gate. The park ranger wasn't paying attention and I was about to go out the turnstile to ask him to open the gate when a security guard brought it to his attention that we were waiting to get out. I get the security aspect of locking it and it was a minor inconvenience; but it is also the only fire exit and seems like that gate shouldn't have a lock during operating hours.

And, of course, we also stopped at the Washington Monument Bookstore for a National Park stamp. We just got the monument one, since we have the rest and didn't go to any other memorials/monuments today. Since Mik remembers hating the close quarters inside, he stayed outside; but actually there was only one other person in there and he could've gone through it easily if he had wanted to.

Overall not a bad outing; but Mik was rather disappointed. He doesn't really remember the other time we took him to the top of the monument; but I have been telling him about the periscope and he has been looking forward to doing it again for years. Not being able to enjoy the view even through a crappy periscope was a major disappointment for him.


Destination Info:
Washington Monument
2 15th St. NW
Washington, DC

National Archives

Date of Visit: October 23, 2014

The main reason we visited the National Archives was because we had thought there was a War of 1812 exhibit there closing soon. Apparently, we were wrong or somehow we totally missed it. However, in the half a dozen times I have visited the Archives I have always found there is great temporary exhibit in the Lawrence F. O'Brien Gallery and the current one definitely did not disappoint us.

The exhibit is called  "Making Their Mark: Stories Through Signatures." It features a variety of items that feature signatures including sports items given to Presidents (Lakers jersey and Giants World Series bat), letters to Presidents from other famous people (Johnny Cash, etc.), and laws. There is also an interesting part about electronic signatures and duplication machines.

Of course, you cannot go to the Archives and not also go through the Rotunda, which is wheelchair accessible through the exit. Seeing the original Declaration of Independence and Constitution is nice; but Mik's favorite part is actually the murals. Also, he was much more impressed by the Declaration of Independence being engraved inside the elevator doors and he has declared them his new favorite elevator doors (so I guess he's solved his dilemma with the Huntsville Airport elevator ranking).

Destination Info:
National Archives
Constitution Ave NW (between 7th & 9th Avenue)
Washington, DC

Disney Fantasy Caribbean Cruise: Day 7 – See Ya’ Real Soon Dinner at Animator’s Palate

Date of Visit: October 3, 2014

On our last night and second evening at Animator's Palate we got to see how it really is different dining in the newer Animator's Palate. The concept of drawing a character and them coming to life at the end of the evening is definitely interesting. The cartoons and music playing on the screens during the meal is also nice, but they are also too much entertainment and Mik kept forgetting to eat his food because he was mesmerized by the clips from Disney movies and cartoons.

Mik tried the evening's non-alcoholic specialty drink called Kissss. He was surprised he liked it so much as he normally doesn't like pomegranate.

He enjoyed the Macaroni Cheese and Baked Potato Soup course.

For the main course he enjoyed the Roasted Filet of Beef Wellington. He did not like the mushroom puff pastry outside, but it was easy to avoid that part.

Mik loves finishing the cruises with the Baked Alaska dessert, although it was somewhat disappointed that they did not parade out with the cakes flaming like ever other Disney Cruise we've been on.

Disney Fantasy Caribbean Cruise: Day 5 – Pirate Dinner at Royal Court

Date of Visit: October 1, 2014

Mik enjoyed the Pirates Golden “Pot Stickers” as his appetizer.

He had the Caribbean-style Conch Chowder for the soup/salad course, which he didn’t particularly like.

For the main course he had The Dutchmen’s Dijon Crusted Sirloin of Beef, which he enjoyed as usual. He was not sure about getting it because it came with sweet potatoes, but we said he did not have to eat those. However, he tried them and for once he actually liked sweet potatoes.

For dessert he had his typical sundae. This time it was the Crunch Time Sundae. He wasn’t sure about the rum raisin ice cream part, but he enjoyed it because he mostly tasted the pineapple.

He also enjoyed my birthday mousse cake, which he had been looking forward to and claimed way back when we booked this cruise when we were on our last cruise in June 2013.

Disney Fantasy Caribbean Cruise: Day 5 – Guardians of the Galaxy 3D in Walt Disney Theater

Date of Visit: October 1, 2014

Mik mostly stuck to enjoying the stateroom and watching the on demand movies in the room this trip; but the one thing that excited him was the opportunity to see the Guardians of the Galaxy 3D movie. The movie was shown in the Walt Disney Theater as the evening show.

Dad noticed there were some wheelchair spots in the lower section and instead of asking how to get there he just took Mik down the steps, which really is not that hard, but seriously why would there be spots down there if there was not an accessible way to get down there. Of course, there is and after the show they asked and had to wait for someone to come that had the keys and could take them the accessible route out, which involves calling the bridge to go through some waterlock doors and going through crew quarters. Definitely worthwhile, though, as Mik was able to see the whole screen and really enjoy the movie unlike when we sat at the top of the theater to see Monsters University on the Magic.

Disney Fantasy Caribbean Cruise: Day 4 – Prince and Princess Dinner at Enchanted Garden

Date of Visit: September 30, 2014

Mik tried the Beast’s Potato and Sausage Casserole Soup for the soup/salad course. He did not like it because it seemed too bland.

For the main course he had the Peppercorn Crusted New York Strip, which he loved.

Since the sundae for the evening had Rocky Road Ice Cream and nothing else interested him, he skipped the dessert.

Disney Fantasy Caribbean Cruise: Day 3 – Pacific Rim Cuisine at Animator’s Palate

Date of Visit: September 29, 2014

The third evening was our evening for the Pacific Rim Cuisine at Animator’s Palate. The Finding Nemo theme with Crush and the screens doing the shapes with the fish is interesting, but as a Sorcerer Mickey fan I much prefer the original Animator’s Palate show. Yeah, you kind of got that on our second visit, but the way the original Animator’s slowly goes from black and white to color is much more interesting in our opinion.

Mik decided to try the evening’s specialty non-alcoholic cocktail, which was called the Bora Shake. He has tried a couple different specialty cocktails on the cruises over the years, but his favorite has always been the Lemonaska from the Alaskan Cruise. That is it was his favorite until he tried the Bora Shake, which is now his favorite he’s had on the Disney Cruises.

Mik had the Black Truffle Pasta Purseittes for his appetizer, which must have been really good because I never even got a chance to take a picture of it.

For the soup/salad course, he had the Baked Potato and Cheddar Cheese Soup, which he only had a few bites of because he thought it tasted too much like nacho cheese.

For the main course, he had the Pennete Bolognese, which he also did not really like. I had the Seared Red Snapper, which both him and Dad tried a bite of and they both wished they had got that.

His soup and main course selection might have been duds for him, but his dessert selection was a guaranteed good one, as it was his favorite sundae (Cookies & Cream). We also got a special Spider chocolate mousse dessert since it was the Halloween evening on the ship.