Monday April 8th 2024

This was the “Great American Eclipse” day if you listen to the news media. In this area of Florida the percentage of totality was around fifty percent. I more or less forgot about the eclipse after listening to the morning news. During the time of the eclipse, I stopped at Disney Springs to wander around the entertainment and shopping district.

All around the district people were pausing and looking at the sun through special glasses. There were a lot of excited people. That is when I remembered that a special solar event was in progress. If you didn’t know an eclipse was happening there were no real indicators. The sun wasn’t as bright, but the overall brightness was similar to a cloudy day. In August of 2017 I was in Utah during the eclipse. The percentage of totality was closer to eighty percent at that time and it only got a little darker than normal. I documented that story on the Rambling Road Trip here.

Disney Springs wasn’t very busy today. The upper two levels of the Orange parking garage were almost empty. The strong east wind kept the balloon ride from functioning and the chop on the lake made riding the amphibicars less than desirable, but the kid’s carousel had a couple of takers. There was plenty of room in the various stores to wander around and look at all the “junk”. I succeed in getting in and out of the stores without buying anything. The entertainment doesn’t start until five or six in the evening. I’ll visit in the evening another time.

Back at the RV resort this evening, it looks like a few more RVs have departed. I’m not located and oriented in the right direction to see the RVs depart. When I walk around is the only time I get a real look at the lower section of the park. I get a little better look at the upper section when I drive in or out. My guess is by the end of the month the departures will slow down and the occupancy will stabilize.