From sea to shining sea!

It's the 4th of July in the US (just)  (ok ok  - it's taken me soooooo long 4 July is long past) and that means they are celebrating Independence Day.

source: huffingtonpost.com

Independence Day, along with Thanksgiving, is probably one of the more important, and uniquely American, ceremonial days. Without turning this into a history lesson, I do want to note that John Adams (the 2nd President of the USA) wrote to his wife:

"I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."

I will not explore the ways by which one could demonstrate devotion to God Almighty with guns. Or even a house of devotion made out of guns.

I am going to highlight a few simple words: "....from one end of this continent to the other,..." and I am taking this as my tenuous theme cause if I was to go from one side of the US to the other I would find, of course, (you know what I am about to write) a Disney theme park.

Given the timing of the 2014 Conference (Please join me in some major begging here - getting the timing right in a Floridian summer is crucial), you may find yourself in the USA on the 4th of July (if they run the conference TOO late in the summer. Please Lynn McKenzie: no later than the 3rd week of June would be nice - just saying).

You will need more than Mr Ice Cream at that temp. and humidity

As predicted by John Adams there are an amazing variety of events across the country and we'll take look at how the Disney Theme Parks celebrate the day.

First thing to know is that 4 July weekend is up there with Christmas for crowd levels at both Disney Parks. Touring Plans, who are the most credible and longest running crowd tracking services, rated the weekend as 10 out of 10 for crowd levels combined with the height of summer temperatures and humidity - or otherwise described as "don't say we didn't warn you"

So you gotta eat, right?! Disney Food Blog showed some of the wondrous red, white and blue sugary confections that are guaranteed to have your pancreas letting off fireworks.

Apple, caramel, chocolate, sprinkles - The apples Disney offer today are way different from the one offered to Snow White.

So ..... take some marshmellowey sugar and dip it in some cooked caromelley sugar and then roll it in some multi-coloured sugar.

So whilst you are buzzed out that's a good time to buy all your Independence Day souvenirs. The Disney Parks Blog have shown some of the patriotic merchandise available:

You've got your tshirts, you've got your coffee cups .... I don't know if this suggests lack of imagination on behalf of Disney or the purchasing public who buy this stuff in bulk?!

Vinylmation Mickey visits the American Adventure Pavilion at Epcot

So we've eaten and we've shopped and it's time for some good old fashioned entertainment! Disney put on a special "illuminations" (or fireworks) show at each park. Jeff Lange DVD has provided a little film of the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the Polynesian Resort beach including the patriotic soundtrack:

If you were on the west coast at Disneyland, you would have watched the World of Colour celebration based on water fountains, lasers, and fireworks. Take a look at this much shorter video with it's full on dramatic ending:

Whilst Vinylmation Mickey was posing out the front of the American Adventure Pavilion, inside the pavilion the Voices of Liberty were showing great enthusiasm in their singing of the US national anthem.

I hope this helps you to decide where you want to be on 4 July 2014.

Happy 4th of July to all USA readers