Hitchin' a Vintage Ride

Miss Iggy wonders if this vintage car at Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios) can take her all the way back to New Jersey.

Here's another vintage beauty she spotted in the area, with costumed actresses looking the other way.

Ciao from Epcot's Italy!

Everything's "bellissima" at the Italy Pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase. There's the intricate Venetian masks to ogle at and Italian food to feast on. No gondolas, though.

Hallo from Epcot's Germany Showcase!

Germany is another country featured in Epcot's World Showcase. Here, it's always Oktoberfest with plenty of beer and bratwurst! Beer for Miss Iggy, bratwurst for her baby.

The Mask

Random aboriginal mask spotted at The Outpost in Disney World's Epcot theme park in Orlando, Florida. Suddenly, she remembered that Jim Carey movie about a mysterious mask with magical powers.

Temple of Heaven

At Disney World's China Pavilion, Miss Iggy saw a gorgeous replica of Beijing's Temple of Heaven.

Inside, you'll see an exhibit called "Reflections of China," which includes a small-scale version of the Terra Cotta Warriors.

Ni Hao from Epcot's China Pavilion!

Miss Iggy at the grandiose arch leading to the China Pavilion at Epcot, where she witnessed some awesome Chinese acrobats perform balancing acts with simultaneous twirling action. There's actually one more girl at the bottom, but it was hard to zoom in on the action with so many people in front of us.

Miss Iggy felt like watching the Artistic Gymnastics competitions at the Olympics, or the circus. They're so amazing!

Under Miss Iggy's Umbrellas

Miss Iggy loved the colorful parasols at the China Pavilion of DisneyWorld's Epcot. There's a World Showcase in the theme park featuring select countries from around the world and China is one of such countries.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom is a 9-5 kind of theme park in Spring because of the live animals featured therein that require special care. They close as late as 8PM during summer, though. It is highly advised that visitors arrive as soon as the theme park opens to maximize the precious hours you have to see the sights, attractions and enjoy the rides.

Ride-wise, its highlight is the Expedition Everest roller coaster ride. A Yeti hides somewhere in that snowy mountain to scare the living daylights out of you and to capture that Kodak moment of you screaming your lungs out in an instant photo souvenir.

"The Pirate and the Parrot"

Miss Igorota sends warm Father's Day greetings from the "El Pirata y El Perico" restaurant at Magic Kingdom to all the dads and father figures out there. Where will your family take you on your special day?

It should be a double celebration, because today also marks the official First Day of Summer in the States! Woohooo!

Yo-ho, Yo-ho...Wherefore Art Thou, Jack Sparrow?

Land Ho! It's the "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride at Magic Kingdom's Adventureland! This audio-animatronic boat ride was the last attraction that Walt Disney himself participated in with respect to designing it and is of course the inspiration for the movie trilogy of the same name....starring Johnny Depp as the savvy Capt. Jack Sparrow.

The entrance leads you to a dungeon-like place where you get on board a boat that sails through dimly-lit scenes from the movie. Pillaging pirates and gypsies and near the end....Capt. Jack Sparrow surrounded by treasures singing this pirate hymn.

Just outside this attraction is the live Jack Sparrow himself, teaching little kids how to fence (with a blunt wooden sword for safety). Much to the disappointment of the swooning females in the crowd (including Miss Iggy), Jack Sparrow does not do autographs!

Dumbo-dore

Dum-bo-dore:

1. (v.) To express adoration or fascination for Dumbo, or anything akin to this flying elephant of Disney lore.

2. (n.) "Genetically modified" character from the wildly popular wizard-themed novels by J.K. Rowling.

e.g. "I dumbodore your cute ears!," said Miss Iggy at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.

Oh Mickey You're So Fine

Miss Iggy at the welcoming statue of Walt Disney himself and Mickey Mouse in front of the Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida. The sculpture is called "Partners." This is one photo op you shouldn't miss when visiting the Magic Kingdom.

The inscription beneath the statue reads, "We believe in our ideas: a family park where parents and children can have fun -- together." Walt Disney dreamt of such a family park when he built Disneyland in California, and look at how his theme parks have expanded globally!

A Whole New World at Walt Disney World!

Miss Iggy couldn't contain her excitement as they entered Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The welcome sign reads that it's "Where Dreams Come True!" It's also where kids of all ages celebrate with their favorite Disney characters.

The area occupied by the entire Walt Disney World Resort is so vast that it's like a city by itself! Disney World comprises four theme parks and thus has the tagline "Four Parks, One World."

First on the itinerary was Magic Kingdom. We arrived just in time for the street parade!

Catch a snippet of the parade fun here:

The Cinderella Castle: the epitome of where all "Once Upon a Time" stories begin (and where Happily Ever Afters end), and also where you want to be at night for the magical "Wishes Fireworks" display. Right after such spectacle, Miss Iggy spied a marriage proposal amongst the crowd. It was so romantic!

Mother and Child Outdoor Chapel

To the right of the Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando, Florida is an outdoor chapel dedicated to the Mother and Child. Your path is lined with lovely palm trees, the same ones she saw in Myrtle Beach. Those bells actually chime at certain times.

It's a tranquil place for prayer and meditation where you can also light candles.

Miss Iggy admired the statue of the Mother and Child inside. After all, she herself is a mother...with a child!

After a solemn moment, she was ready to head out to Disney World!

Mary, Queen of the Universe Shrine

Miss Iggy sends warm, sunshiny greetings from the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando, Florida. She was here one sunny Sunday last April. It's the closest Catholic church in the DisneyWorld area.

It's a large church once you're inside with a seating capacity of 2,000. It has a museum and gift shop.

And lots of palm trees!

miss iggy's first blogoversary giveaway!

jersey iggy was recently in sunny florida to cavort through disney world and universal studios. while at disney world, she noticed that most people there had something to celebrate. there were kids wearing buttons that said, "it's my birthday!" or lovely couples celebrating an upcoming wedding or anniversary.

well, miss iggy had something to celebrate herself, her traveling blog is turning a year old this month!

that's why she's sharing this wonderful occasion with all of you nice people out there who have kept her company in her travels. she's giving away this lovely little travel journal with a luggage tag detail that says, "life's a trip"--essentially miss iggy's mantra!

this travel journal is partly made of simulated leather and is a hallmark brand. this retails for $10. fortuitous faery almost doesn't want to give it away! haha. aside from this journal, miss iggy is also adding some assorted postcards from places she's been to.

how do you win this? easy!

just leave a comment on this post telling miss iggy where she should go and WHY. it could be your favorite travel destination, where you live, or where you've recently been to. tell her what sight or experience she shouldn't miss in that place. that's all!

just make sure you leave a valid email address in your comment where you can be reached in case you win this contest. deadline for entries is 11:59PM on may 31st, 2009 EST. the winner will be chosen randomly via randomizer. note: miss iggy correspondents are disqualified from entering...sorry, girls! otherwise, this contest is open to participants worldwide!

so don't just stare, come join the celebration!