One of the best and most memorable vacations that I ever took came during the Summer of 1977. As an impressionable lad of five, I’m quite convinced that it was this trip that solidified my love of Florida, Disney World, and vacations in general. Although I can’t be 100%certain of the dates of this trip, two photos from it were given by my parents to my Grandma Range. She dated the back of each photo as June 6, 1977. Although each photo was likely taken on a different day of the trip (one was at Disney and the other was out to eat at the Kapok Tree with Ira and Mildred), I have no reason to doubt that this was a valid date during the trip.
Therefore, I would date this trip as having taken place from Saturday, June 4 thru Sunday, June 12, 1977. My Dad confirmed that he recalled an early June trip and our concern that the Florida weather would not yet be all that warm.
The earliest memory I have of the trip came from our journey on the way from Dayton to Florida. My parents, sister, and cousin Lora all piled into our red 1977 Pontiac Grand Prix bright and early on Saturday morning, June 6, as we began our trek. With two kids and a baby, there was no question that we would take the trip in two days, doubtlessly stopping somewhere in southern Georgia. One of my favorite parts of my childhood family vacations was stopping at a little motel on the way – which served as a sort-of ‘vacation preview.’ Here we would swim, watch TV in our little air-conditioned room, eat coldcuts and soda, and watch the sun fall on the hot day, waking up early to start all over again – getting back in the car and commencing to play with my special car toys which usually included books, puzzles, Colorforms, and the like.
Denise combs Dad’s wet hair at our motel on the way down to Florida
So the first memory was when we had passed the Florida border and stopped for lunch. There we met another gentleman traveler who asked where we were headed. My answer was “Florida!” Everyone guffawed and explained that we were already in Florida. I’m surprised I didn’t just say “Vacation!”
Our actual final destination would be St. Pete Beach (after a two-day stop in the Disney World area), at the Odyssey hotel on Gulf Boulevard- the exact same place we had stayed two Summers prior when we had traveled with Bill and Dottie and their kids. Even at the young age of six, I already recognized nostalgia in this old place. I carefully scoped out my old stomping ground, the pool, the sand and ocean, and the seagulls that I would be spending ample time feeding.
I also met a girl. Her name was Mary and she became my ‘girlfriend’ for the week (sorry Andrea back home). We spent lots of time swimming, playing, and feeding the birds together. Feeding the seagulls was a favorite pastime and I did it both on the beach, in the courtyard, and from the balcony of our room.
I shyly caress the tree while posing with my gal Mary
Photo I snapped of Mary
Denise gets into the act of feeding the seagulls
I’m really trying to show off for Mary, wouldn’t you say?
Denise’s interest wanes as she focuses on her bottle
Feeding seagulls with Mary on a different day than above. I’m probably giving them my sandwich before heading out to Ira and Mildred’s for the day
Across the street from the Odyssey was Tussaud’s London Wax Museum, which I’m sure we must have frequented two years prior as I was adamant about visiting it again. I know from memory that it too had a nostalgic feel as a location from my past. It might be argued that I had my first Presidential encounter here where the wax figures of Abraham Lincoln, his wife Mary Todd, and another witness adorned one display. It was the scene of Lincoln on his death bed and I thought it a bit morbid that you could actually see the figure of Lincoln ‘breathing’. I also vividly remember the Chamber of Horrors scene with Frankenstein and the Wolfman. The wax museum had opened in 1963 and closed down in the late 1980’s. I once tried to find it again when I visited Clearwater in 1990, but alas it was already gone.
Dad’s photo of the Lincoln death scene from the London Wax Museum
My postcard of the wax figures of the WWII key players. I probably had no idea who they were at the time, but I remember that their names were printed on the bricks.
We visited Ira and Mildred’s house during the week and I have only one complete and totally distinct memory: exploring the bathroom toilet that they had had installed inside a bedroom closet. In fact, I took the kids to the beach in there. I also threw a fit when I realized that Lora was peering in at me through the crack in the closet door…and then lied about it to my parents. From their familiar condo, the Teakwood Village in nearby Largo, we all went out to eat at the Kapok Tree Inn restaurant – a very fancy place with lots of columns, gardens, fountains, and ample statuary. I’m certain that I misbehaved. The Kapok Tree had opened in 1958 and closed in 1991. All the memories just fade away…
Ira and Mildred with Dad, Denise, Lora, and me (with my camera in hand). Kudos to anyone who can explain why Dad’s hair looks like Buckwheat Thomas.
The great photo I snapped with that camera
Astride a lion statue in the Kapok Tree gardens
Denise tries to break free at the Kapok Tree. Grandma dated this photo as June 6, probably thinking that this was taken at Disney World
The Odyssey hotel itself played a huge role in my memory book as well. For a kid it was the ideal place to run around, up and down the stairs, in and out of the pool, down to the beach, and back into the air-conditioned room. The one thing I have no recollection of whatsoever is the interior of the room itself. The one very distinct memory I do have are of the neighboring bungalows (which were part of the Odyssey complex) and our last night at the hotel when Lora and I met up with some other kids – older kids of ten or eleven – and ran around the cabana area playing hide and seek as the sun began to set. The Odyssey no longer stands either.
Our view of the Odyssey from our room. Note the bungalow area behind the pool
Mary and me on our balcony getting ready to go down and feed the seagulls
Showing one of my many tricks for Mary in the Odyssey swimming pool
As far as a timeline of events, I can only assume that we arrived on Sunday evening in the Orlando / Kissimmee area and then went to Disney World on Monday, June 6th – as my Grandma’s photo indicates. We went to Disney on Tuesday as well and then headed over to St. Pete Beach on Wednesday morning.
Coming up next will be a photo collage of our time on the beach, followed by my triumphant return to Disney World and my memories of this, my first visit once I had really reached ‘retention’ age.
Up next: photos from the beach…
Bypass the trip and continue with 1977…
Duh, your Dad’s hair looks like that because Denise was into brushing it for him!!!
Darlene
August 7th, 2008
Kudos!
Brad
August 7th, 2008
Very cool pictures. We also stayed at the Odyssey many times over the years. In fact I met my wife on the beach in front of the Odyssey back in 1973.
Thanks,
Tyler
Tyler Glenn
March 12th, 2013