Arthur's Family Vacation (episode)

"Arthur's Family Vacation" is the first half of the fifteenth episode of Season 1. It originally aired on December 16th, 1996, along with "Grandpa Dave's Old Country Farm." It is based upon the book of the same name.

Summary
Instead of going with Buster to Camp Meadowcroak this year, Arthur has to go on a road trip with his family. After a series of misfortunes, the vacation may turn out better than he expected.

Plot
Arthur wants to go back to Camp Meadowcroak (from "Arthur Goes to Camp") with Buster for the summer and tries to get out of the family vacation to the beach. He changes his mind with the mention of lobster and after several impediments, they finally make it to the beach.

They lose their hotel reservation and stay in a leaky rundown hotel. It also rains a lot but things eventually start to get better. They go to a cow festival, on a safari, take a tour of Flo's Fudge Factory, and go to see a movie called JAWS.

Arthur has not been scared of thunderstorms, lightnings, and statics. On their last day the sun comes out and Dad takes a picture of Arthur burying D.W. in the sand. When Arthur gets home he asks Buster how camp was and Buster says that camp was okay until the Hurricane hit and pretty much ruined everything.

Trivia

 * The man in the JAWS movie that the Read Family go to see at the movies looks like Arthur's neighbor Mr. Sipple.
 * Flo's Fudge Factory could be a reference/play on Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Differences from the book

 * This story takes place shortly after the events of Arthur Goes to Camp, which also takes place before Arthur starts third grade. In the book, the story started out as Arthur's last day of school in third grade.
 * In the book Buster says that camp was great and that he missed Arthur while in the episode Buster says Camp was okay until they got hit by a hurricane.

Goofs

 * While the Read family was leaving the diner, David was holding a candy bar in one hand while he was driving. In the next few seconds, the candy bar is gone and he has both of his hands on the steering wheel.
 * Sharky's fins change different colors in different scenes.
 * For one second while Arthur said the word "No," his father had the same clothes like him. Although it wasn't true the next second.

Home Video
VHS: Arthur's Family Vacation DVD:
 * Arthur's Travel Adventures
 * Arthur's Family Vacation