Disney For Adults: The Coronado Springs Resort

When you think of Disney, it's easy to imagine animated characters, screaming children, bumbling tourists running around, once kid-friendly Disney stars gone insane (Miley Cyrus), and long lines at theme parks.

Most recently, Disney has been in the news over their acquisition of Lucas Films & Lucas Arts, thus granting Disney the rights to the most famous film franchise - and "nerd franchise" - of all time, Star Wars. But did you know that Disney also owns ABC and ESPN?  One of America's most watched networks, and the everyday sports fanatics favorite TV Channel are owned by the same company that places "Hidden Mickey's" in their theme park bathrooms.  May seem comical, but Disney Corporation is a powerhouse.

While it is true that Disney's target audience is children, the corporation understands that without the parents taking their kids to the parks and buying merchandise, their empire would crumble.  That being said, Disney places a ton of attention on the adults as well.  At Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, the argument can be made that there are more adult-oriented creations than what exists for children.

While most of the parks themselves are designed for kids (EPCOT being the primary exception), many of the resorts located on Disney property are almost exclusively designed for adults.  The Grand Floridian, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, & Coronado Springs were designed with the parents in mind.  You don't have to have a kid to enjoy what Disney has to offer. In fact, it is suggested that you make a trip with a friend or loved one and really kick back and take it all in. 

Twice per year, usually around August-September, Disney offers 35% Florida Residence discounts as a way to boost revenue during the end of Summer (they consider this the beginning of the "slow season"). The areas aren't too crowded this time of year, as all of the kids have returned to school. It is the best time to visit Disney World.

My wife and I had the pleasure of staying at the Coronado Springs Resort this past weekend.  We are annual pass holders for the parks, but this was a weekend of firsts.  We had never stayed at this particular resort before, and we were most certainly impressed from the start. According to the Disney website, Coronado Springs Resort is influenced by Spanish-Colonial Mexico, and its layout is inspired by the adventures of explorer Don Francisco de Coronado.



Coronado Springs offers plenty of on-site amenities such as 2 swimming pools, hot tub, an open market cafe for breakfast & lunch, Maya Grill restaurant (dinner only. Reservations recommended), multiple outdoor bars, an indoor lounge (that doesn't allow persons under 21 after 9pm), a jogging trail, salon, La Vida Health Center, laundry center, & a childcare center (if you do bring your kids).  Disney also offers buses which can take you to Downtown Disney, where you can partake in great shopping, live shows, multiple restaurants, & much more.  The resort also has a nice sized shop that sells all things Disney related, along with the essentials, and an alcohol counter and cigar humidor.  This resort was truly designed with adults in mind.  Beautiful landscaping and water features, combined with Latin-inspired music really provide an excellent and entertaining environment. 

Coronado Springs is spaciously laid out, with the buildings (Casita's) wrapping around a lake.  Walking paths make any part of the resort easily accessible to each other and the main complex.  Vaulted ceilings, tile floors, & Spanish style architecture greet you as you enter the main building.

During our stay, we never visited a theme park.  There was so much to do outside of the parks that easily occupied our time.  Not too far down the road is a mini-golf course. Got pets? Not a problem, Disney offers a 5-star pet resort nearby as well!

There are so many ways to enjoy Disney World without having to fork out the $90 for a 1-day park pass.  Let your biggest expense be the resort of your choice, and partake in the incredible amenities that Disney offers.  You don't have to cram into a theme park and wait in 90-minute lines for rides just to have the "Disney Experience".  There's so much more to that, and most adults are looking for a nice getaway.  Resorts like Coronado Springs offer the perfect opportunity for that. 

  


This is of course a theme park based area.  Every resort will have children, but you'll have a much more relaxing time if you stay at places like Coronado Springs than you would the more kid-oriented resorts like the 3 All-Star Resorts, which are 100% child-oriented.  During our stay, we only encountered a handful of children.

The prices will be higher for 4+ Star resorts, but you'll most certainly be getting what you paid for, and Disney makes a great effort in making it worth your while. 

 If you're ever in the mood for a nice getaway in Orlando, I strongly recommend you treat yourself to a great place like Coronado Springs Resort.  You can always work off the extra money you spend here, because it will certainly be worth every penny.

For Disney's Coronado Springs Website, click here!

-James

Arachnids & Motorcyclists Don't Mix

Just a quick little story here.

A few nights ago I was riding the Versys around my neighborhood to take in the evening.  Unfortunately, a Banana Spider also decided to drop down and enjoy herself.  I rounded the corner and there she was, hanging from a tree, in all of her ridiculous glory. 

I had the "privelage" of feeling a spider make love to my face at 35mph. 

I've never wanted to dump the bike so badly in my life.  Thank God there weren't any cars around. But needless to say, I was like this guy....

 

I know I'm not the only one who has experienced something like this.  I want to hear your stories!

 

Leave a comment and subscribe!!

 

-James 

Update On The Triumph Tiger

Hello, riders.

As many of you know, I have a Triumph Tiger 750 that requires love.  I had stated in a previous post, which you can read here, that I don't want this bike to be a lab rat.  I wanted to take it to a technician who knows vintage Triumphs, and who I would feel comfortable with turning wrenches on it. 

Well, my first stop was my local dealership.  I figured if anyone would have knowledge, or even access to a parts guide, it would be them.  I've had multiple conversations with their head mechanic (who also owns a couple vintage Triumphs of his own) over the past few months about my Kawasaki Versys.  When I met up with him regarding the Tiger, he told me that Triumph Motorcycle Company does not work on, or keep tabs on parts, for motorcycles over 10 years old. 

Why? Today's Triumph Motorcycle isn't our dad's Triumph.  Some guy bought the rights to the name, but that's the only thing left in common with the old Triumphs.  It's sad.  He was genuine enough to tell me that even if they could work on it, he would strongly suggest against it because my Tiger 750 is older than all of the technicians who work for him.  He gave me a couple resources that he uses (British Only being his best recommendation), and offered to give me any help I need.  There are plenty of shops around Florida that claim to know vintage motorcycles, but I was warned about them as well (I won't name them here). 

So I thought that was the end of the road as far as technicians go.  If he wouldn't let his own shop turn wrenches on his bikes, then neither will I.

Going through my dads library of guides, manuals, and such, I found 4 amazing books on Triumphs published in the 60's-80's.  Speed tuning, repair, service, and, rebuilding manuals.  I even found the original owners manual for the Tiger.  I was so excited! That's a gold mine.  If I can get the part numbers off of what I need to replace, I know I can handle the rest.  It is going to be a long process, but that will give me plenty of time to educate myself.  I can't start working on it just yet.  I don't have the space.  But I'll be sure to document my work once I start!

-J

The Florida Summer

Reason number 367 why Florida is not a motorcycle-friendly...the rain.

 

Florida is unique in that when the weather forecast predicts "30% chance of rain", it doesn't mean "It might rain", it means "It's always raining, there's just a 30% chance that it'll be in your area."  Which of course means "you're going to get wet."  By default, it's always a 30% minimum chance of rain in Florida during the summer.  You'll almost never see it below that from mid June-September.

 

 

Florida doesn't have your average weather patterns.  Of course every state is going to have their own various versions of this proclamation, but seriously, unless you've lived or tried to vacation here, you won't understand just how accurate that statement is. 

 



 



Now sure, you may say "eh, it's just a little rain. Stop whining." But one thing you must understand, is that it isn't "just a little rain."  Florida is the lightning capital of the world.  More people are struck by lightning per-capita in the Sunshine State than anywhere else. When these storms hit, they spring up quickly, and even though they may not stay in the area for more than a few hours, they dump enormous amounts of water, standing water develops quickly on the roads, and many times the accompanying wind can topple trees and power poles.  Visibility drops pretty quickly as well. To make the issue worse, the cool water hitting hot surfaces such as roads causes enormous amounts of steam, which further lowers visibility.

 

 

What causes such powerful storms? The answer is simple: Florida's high heat and humidity, combined with being a peninsula, is a perfect recipe for powerful thunderstorms.  Native Floridians have learned to practically set our watches for the daily storms.  It's guaranteed to be raining by 3pm every day.  There are occasions when the storms roll through and cause a temporary lull in the high temperatures, but most of the time the sun will immediately burst through the cloud cover - turning the region into a sauna. 

  

The humidity level is unreal.  It causes the heat index to be 20-30 degrees higher than the actual temperature.  This is really the primary reason why it's practically impossible to ride your motorcycle in full gear during the summer.  You'll be dying before you leave your driveway.  If your only mode of transportation is a motorcycle, I strongly do not recommend living here.  Another issue to consider - Hurricanes.  But that's for a later post.

There are two sides to this, though.  Even though Summer is the worst time to ride a motorcycle in Florida, the development of these storms offer tremendous beauty.  One could literally watch the Thunder Heads build and turn dark as moisture builds.  Especially in my region of North Central Florida, locations such as Paines Prarie offer beautiful observation points for watching these giants form in the sky. 

 

(This video is NOT mine, credit goes to YT user 5.56NATO.)

Another great experience of these giants are heat lightning storms.  No thunder, no lightning strikes, just incredible shows of cloud lightning.  They happen very frequently during the summer nights. Massive amounts of built up static electricity is released in terrific light shows that stay in the clouds, but it's multiple times per second, and they'll last for many hours. It's really my favorite aspect of Florida, and I have fond memories of going with my dad to open fields at night and watching the lightning from the back of the truck. A magnificent demonstration of nature's power and beauty.

-James

Rest In Peace, Oh Captain, My Captain!

When people think of Robin Williams, especially those of my generation, they immediately reference Mrs. Doubtfire, Aladdin, or Hook.  Occasionally they'll reference Mork & Mindy.  They do this because it's what they remember from their childhood. 

I've never seen Mork & Mindy, only liked certain parts of Mrs. Doubtfire, but Hook and Aladdin were great.  However, when I think of Robin Williams, I think of Good Morning, Vietnam, Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society, and Bicentennial Man - but mostly, I think of his stand up comedy.

Robin Williams was the master of on stage comedy.  His 1986 Live At The Met stand up was phenominal.  I used to fall asleep listening to it when I was a kid.  It was so funny, and I always enjoyed going to sleep in a good mood.  His ability to improvise and change voices so quickly was just incredible.  He could tell stories so perfectly that I think people laughed just as hard at how he did it, as they did for the words themselves. 

My favorite act of all time was his 2002 Live On Broadway show.  I've watched it so many times, but it's just as funny as the first time.  If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.  Just don't do it while you're driving! Non-stop laughter!

I've lost my uncle and a dear friend to suicide, they were facing the same demons as Robin Williams. It's a tragic loss.   He was loved by so many people around the world. He sought treatment for his acohol and drug addiction problems, but when you naturally have an addictive personality, there's only so much that can be done. 

It's so hard to believe that a man could be so funny, bring love and joy to the hearts of millions, and yet he suffered so much from depression and addiction that it ultimately ended his life.  Let good come out of this.  I hope this raises suicide awareness.  But what people don't understand, is that an average 23 Veterans committ suicide every day.  It's a bigger problem than people realize. 

Robin Williams will be missed greatly by millions.  His impact on the entertainment world cannot be denied, nor will it ever be overlooked.  Regardless of your religious beliefs, we can all agree he's no longer suffering.



You're the man, Robin.  You will be missed.

-James

An Eventful Few Days

This past weekend was a weekend of "musts". With my wife returning to school later this month, and hopefully being hired full time,  I will need an alternative method of transportation when the weather doesn't allow for a motorcycle (which in Florida is 90% of the year).

 

She has a 2004 Mazda RX8 that she used to drive in high school, and we also drove it when we were stationed in Norfolk, Virginia.  It's been sitting in the garage since 2011. It's in excellent condition with incredibly low miles (less than 60K).  I'm hoping to use it as a daily driver.

 

 

I went to Advanced Auto Parts and picked up a new battery and fluids, and with fingers crossed, the car came to life. Pretty rough start, but it'll get better with time.

 

 

 

I'm going to need new tires, complete fluid flush, and brakes, but otherwise it will be ready to go. It's a fabulous little car and I loved driving it around. I hope everything works out.

 

We also ripped up the living room carpet in preparation for new flooring. Not much to report on that other than the tile that's going down will look great. Looks like wood flooring, even has texture that mimics wood grain. 

 

 

Updates to come on this and the car.
 

-James

#BlogLife

This past weekend, I broke 2,000 page views on my blog - you guys are awesome.

 

I started this blog as a way to share my travel and military experience(s), along with my love of motorcycles. I hoped people would be interested, but didn't think anything would come of it. I took an 8 month break from blogging, and I'm glad I did because it reinvigorated me. I've had more views since I came back than I did before. It's incredible, and I thank you guys so much for your comments, questions, views, and overall interest.

 

I know many of you have become regulars, and I really appreciate that. Blogs, YouTube, & other aspects of social media are great ways for people to share their experiences with others, and by doing so create connections. 

 

 

Yesterday, I posted about the 2K views milestone, and mentioned the Google Friend Connect gadget that makes it easier to follow my blog if you subscribe to it. A few of you asked if I could show it, so above is what it looks like. It's located on the right side of the page. If you could give that button a click, I'd truly appreciate it.

 

Once again I want to thank you all so much for your genuine support and interest. If you haven't already, please click that Subscribe button, and be sure to +1 any posts you like on Google Plus. I try to update a couple of times per week, and if there's anything specific you would like me to discuss, leave a comment below.  

 

Also be sure to check out my YouTube and Instagram page(s)! Use #TheFloridaRider when browsing Instagram, or tag your own photos with that hashtag and I'll see them.

 

I haven't had a chance to focus on YouTube too much, but I'm planning out a few videos that I'm sure you will enjoy.

 

I hope you have an awesome day. 

 

-James

Life As An American Military Veteran

I want to take a break from the motorcycle realm a for a bit, and focus on something much more important - Life as veteran.

I deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom & Enduring Freedom between 2009-2011.  Because I never served more than 90 consecutive days "boots on the ground" in Iraq or Afghanistan, I do not qualify for those respective campaign medals.  Instead, I received the Expeditionary Global War on Terrorism Medal, bronze star in lieu of second award.  This does not qualify me for any future medical compensation/lawsuits by veterans of those campaigns (Uncle Sam learned the hard way from the Vietnam Veterans & all of the Agent Orange claims).  I get what I get today, and unless the law changes, neither will my status.  So it's like saying "yes, you're a veteran...but those other guys are more veteran than you."  Last I checked, we all answered our nation's call.

The transition from military to civilian was incredibly difficult. The "transition classes" the military offered were really pathetic. They taught me how to write a resume, dress for an interview, and put emphasis on "getting out of the military is the biggest mistake you can make. You will end up homeless and alone." Those are the exact words I heard during my classes. What they don't tell you is you'll have so much personal freedom (compared to the military), that you won't know what to do with yourself. They tell you the best thing is to immediately go to college and get a job, but they also say "unless you worked in IT or Combat Systems, there aren't really any jobs for you."  Which of course is a lie.

The first thing I missed about the military is job security and benefits. It can be pretty difficult to find steady employment, especially in this economy. I couldn't find a steady job to save my life, and I had a wife and pets to provide for (thank God no children). The government gives 1 year unemployment benefits no questions asked when you get out of the service. But I was confident (and too prideful) to accept it, because I just knew I could find something. Well, I didn't. As a result, we burned through all of the money we had left. I will do everything I can to never put my family in that situation ever again.  My G.I. Bill finally kicked in and I was able to receive 7 months of back pay, it was a much needed and welcomed reprieve, but it didn't help the way I hoped it would.

So far, I've completed 2 semesters of college.  Going to class helped settle my nerves because I once again had an objective.  I didn't just wake up and not have a plan.  I had the goals and requirements I was desperately searching for.  I enjoyed college, except as a veteran, I stuck out like a sore thumb because most of the students are 18-19 years old.  Many people didn't know how to approach me because I've "killed people", as one girl put it.  Well, yes, but I'm not your enemy.  There were 2 questions I was asked frequently that I quickly got tired of...."did you kill people?" and "do you know my (insert relative here)?"  I never did like to entertain the first question, especially since the majority of people asking that were the kids who played Call of Duty on their Xbox and thought they could relate...hey, I played that game, too, but there was no "respawn" for me.  I grew tired of the second question as well.  1% of the American population may volunteer to serve in the military, but the Navy has over 320,000 personnel on Active Duty, that's not counting Reserves, or any other branch.  So there's no way I knew someone's cousin in the Air Force.  I had a work study position at the VA hospital, which turned into a full time job.  I took it, and here I am.  I plan to take online courses in the near future to continue my education.

I'm 24 years old, with the knees of a 75 year old man.  I have extensive damage to my knees due to a non-combat related accident while giving humanitarian aid in January 2010 following the earthquake in Haiti, as part of Operation Unified Response.  Does it hurt? Absolutely. Literally, every single day.  Hurts to stand, sit, walk, and sadly, ride a motorcycle.  I wince when I walk, and there are days where I can't even get up under my own power.  Physical therapy & exercise helps, but until science medicine can replace cartilage, there's no chance I'll be back to 100%.

I was finally able to see my doctor at the VA for the first time in 2 years last month.  Due to the excessive waiting lists for veterans, people get lost in the shuffle.  The VA lost me for 2 years, then suddenly I got a random call that said "because you have failed to show up for 5 appointments (spanning those 2 years), we have to assume you no longer want medical coverage and therefore, we must drop you to make room for other veterans. Goodbye."  Well, I live in the same city as my VA hospital (& work there), and no one has ever contacted me for any appointments, nor were any of my calls returned.

Turns out, they had my contact info completely screwed up, so some random person was getting notified.  I was able to sort that out, but needless to say, it was ridiculous.

Once I got back into the system, I was able to meet with my new doctor. She's incredible.  It's a shame that it took the death of our veterans awaiting treatment in Arizona for our government to notice how disheveled our VA Healthcare System really is.  But thankfully work is being done to correct it.  I can speak for that change because I have been waiting almost 1 year for my VA Compensation claim to be reviewed.  The expected completion time was in 2016.  But I got a phone call last week and I was informed of my appointment at the end of August to discuss my claim.  I'm so happy for that.  All of my claimed injuries have been well documented back to 2008, and so hopefully this works in my favor.

All that being said, I wouldn't trade any of it for the world.  It was an incredible, life changing opportunity.  I had always wanted to serve in the military, and I'm happy that I was given the chance.  I'm out now, and happier for it.  2013 was the most difficult year of my life because my mind & body were trying to make the transition. It took countless sleepless nights, anxiety attacks, and nightmares, but I was able to adjust.  It was incredibly difficult, but here I stand.  What I hope to do is help my fellow veterans in their transition to civilian life.  The military has since improved their transition classes, but no amount of instruction can prepare a veteran for the drastic changes they face when they get out.

-J
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How To Keep Your Ride Top Notch: My Products of Choice

Your motorcycle endures extreme environmental conditions throughout its life.  Snow, rain, dust, dirt, mud, salt, bugs...we all want our rides to look great and be protected, but with so many products out there, which do you choose?

 

 

The best product that I have found that cleans the body of your motorcycle is Pro Honda Spray Cleaner & Polish.  

 

 

Pro Honda acts as a cleaner and a protector.  You don't have to use it heavily, either.  Just a quick spritz on your bike and buff it with a clean, soft rag.  It is great for removing bugs, water stains, mud, and anything else your environment can throw at you.  Your ride will have a beautiful shine, and will also be protected from UV rays that can fade your paint over time! It's perfect for daily riders who leave their bikes in parking lots during the day.  You can use it to clean your windscreen and mirrors as well! Works perfectly and doesn't leave streaks.

 

Okay, well what about the rest of your bike? How do you clean your engine, chain guard, rims, frame, forks, (or even the chain itself!)? The best thing is WD-40.  Spray WD on a clean rag and wipe down your surfaces.  Your bike will look showroom quality, and will cost next to nothing! It's great at cutting through built up gunk, especially after a long trip, or if you've been slacking on maintenance.  If you take your front sprocket guard off, you'd be amazed at the amount of road debris, dirt, and grease that accumulates inside that guard.  Spray it with WD-40 and wipe it clean.  Your equipment will thank you for it!

 



 

Cleaning your chain is a great way to extend the life of your chain and sprockets.  I put the bike on a lift, and spray WD on a clean rag.  As I spin the rear tire, I run the chain through the rag and clean the face plates on the chain.  For in depth cleaning (especially around the rear sprocket), I use an old toothbrush and WD.  Constantly lubricating your chain without routinely cleaning it will result in heavy build up around your sprockets and engine.

 

 

For chain lubrication, my dad turned me on to a product called Chain Wax.  It lubricates and protects your chain from rain and dirt, and it also bonds to your chain so it doesn't sling everywhere when you start riding.  It is basically a wax, but it's loose enough to provide good lubrication and freedom of movement in your chain.  If you ride daily, it's good to lubricate your chain at least once a week.  Of course if you hit foul weather, go ahead and re-apply to protect your chain.  If you do that, it's also best to clean your chain once every couple of weeks.  I see motorcycles every where and they have dry, rusty chains and sprockets.  It blows my mind that people don't think to do BASIC maintenance.  Didn't we all lube our bicycle chains as kids?  It's the same principle, except your motorcycle chain is everything to your machine.  Don't be stupid, people.  Lubricate your chain, it's incredibly dangerous not to.

 

You can find Pro Honda at any motorcycle shop, WD-40 pretty much anywhere, but Chain Wax I'm starting to have difficulty tracking down.  You can order it online through Amazon, or if you find a local store that carries it, go ahead and stock up.  I did, so hopefully I won't have to worry about it for a while. 

 

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and if you liked it or have your own tips & tricks that you'd like to share, leave a comment and let me know!

 

-J