Its Nice to Share 13 - 20th July 2008

[wicket2005]

Morning.

I set the alarm this morning for early because I wasnt sure if we are heading to Disney or not first thing. I didnt manage to catch the youngest son before he crashed out last night to ask him, the eldest was just happy to do anything.

So the choices are today either relaxing wander around Universal or a trip down to Animal Kingdom or Sea World. I will get him up and have a chat.

Looks like another hot start to the day. Cya.

[mandymouse]

Have another great day :)

[Snowy-girls]

Have a great day,whatever park you decide to visit.x.

[Mandy62]

Have a fab day.

[wicket2005]

Thanks we did. YOu know how we all do the single digit dance, can you do the sun dance now to make it sunny and hot when we come home?:yay:

This is what we have done today.

We ended up going to Animal Kingdom and it was a lovely place to celebrate our 23rd Wedding Anniversary.

We arrived at the park before the rope drop and saw Mickey climbing the Tree of Life (the parks centre piece). It was a glorious hot and humid, sunny day.

We followed our usual plan of riding and collecting fast passes for Expedition Everest. We walked straight on. I love this ride especially when it goes backwards fast for ages before dropping down forwards.

The safari ride was showing a 30 minute wait and it was too early to pick up another fast pass so we had a walk round Pangani Forest, viewing the gorillas. They are huge and so entertaining to watch. One, the alpha male, made himself a straw bed then suddenly went flat on his back with his legs up in the air which looked funny. We spent quite a while watching them. They live till they are 50 and the youngest one in the male group was 17. They also have a family group too.

We picked up fast passes for the safari ride. the attendant was impressed with our planning after spying fast passes for Everest in DH hands.

Back at Everest, normal wait time was 35 minutes at 10.15 am but we were straight on. Again we enjoyed this ride.

We headed up to Dinosaur but it was showing a wait time of 20 minutes so we went for some drinks and then picked up fast passes for it. We walked back to Safari using our fast passes for it up.

People were lining up, waiting 1/2 hour for this ride. I can never understand why people line up in Disney when they can use the fast pass system. I would hate to be lining up all the time, in the heat and sun. It makes sense to grab a fast pass then go off and do something else.

We enjoyed the Safari and saw many African animals including elephants and giraffes. I like seeing the hippos wallowing in the pools the best. You travel round in trucks and they appears to be no fences between you and the animals. One section is just like a plain and the animals have the right of way.

We walked back to Asia to go down the trail that has the giant fruit bats and tigers. It also has a Komodo Dragon which every year we go is just sitting basking in the same spot. It also has a tapir that was on its last legs last year and they expected it to kick the bucket at any time. It was still alive or they had a new one.

Back up to Dinosaur land and the dinosaur ride. I slid all over the place on the back row which was very jerky. I was afraid I was going to clash heads with DS17.

Lunch was at the Rainforest Cafe which has thunderstorms and moving animals. I had my favourite dish from last year, Macadamia crusted snapper (Gulf snapper fish coated with colo lopez and topped with macadamia and served with a tangy teriyaki and mango puree with rice and fruity salad), DH had this also. DS17 had rastapasta and DS19 a spicy pasta and prawns dish. The meal was delicious.

The car was red hot when we returned to it. That hot that anything metal burnt you. We went back to the hotel and spent some lovely relaxing time in the pool and by it. Just enjoying the rays and the rock music. There were a few fun hula hoop competitions and dances were the waiters, waitresses and life guards took part in. All giving the pool area a hip place to be. The DJ hosting it was really funny. The shop in the hotel shows live video from all the Hard Rock cafes in the world. I really enjoyed being by the pool and am praying the weather improves back home after being used to this lovely heat and sunshine. I have a feeling though I will be wearing several layers again.

After a while we left and headed to Universal. At Universal we tackled The Mummy, Twister, Jaws, Men in Black, The Simpsons, ET and Men in Black. We also picked up some fast food.

Now just back in the room, chilling. Cya.

[jockey]

Another busy day :)

[Pinky166]

Yet another great day....I love Animal Kingdom, I could spend hours watching the Gorilla's.

The sun in out in Hertfordshire at the moment....however it is only 8am so there's still plenty of time for rain! :lmao:

[jjk]

Another Lovely day , heres a little sun dance for you
:sunny: :smooth: :sunny: :smooth: :Pinkbounc :sunny: :Pinkbounc :sunny: :beach:

[Young Pooh]

Love your reports - think its a great idea to do them as you go along. Might have to try this next year.

The sun is out in Yorkshire today (not a million miles away from your home). Not upto Florida standard but not too bad.

[irongirlof12]

brilliant day - (glorious sunshine here today :thumbsup2 )

[Minniespal]

Another fantastic day:thumbsup2

[wicket2005]

Thanks.

Keep doing that sun dance and I will endeavour to bring some heat and sunshine home with me.:goodvibes

[Snowy-girls]

Excellent day+happy belated wedding anniversary to you both.x.

[Girlsontour]

I love the TV's in the shop, showing the other HRC around the world ...but then the shop assistant told me that they are just recordings and not live:confused3

[wicket2005]

Thanks for the belated anniversary wishes Snowy, I always endeavour to be on holiday for our anniversary. Next year we fly back to Orlando on 20th July so it felt a bit strange thinking as we were walking in Universal in exactly a years time we would be doing the same thing, only excited because we had just arrived and had all the holiday to look forward to.

Girls on tour - my hubbie just presumed they were live we were not told that so what you were told will be right. At least you were told that, in Animal Kingdom on the safari ride they tell all sorts of porkie pies. I know my husband on our first visit was convinced that big tree on the safari was a real 1000 year old tree, even though we told him it was a fake, even asked a CM who of course told him it was the real thing.

[jockey]

Lovely day :)

[arieljasmine]

Congratulations on your 23rd wedding anniversary. What a lovely way to celebrate it.

Laur's princess:

[mark&sue]

great place to celebrate your wedding anniversary


susan

[wicket2005]

Photos added.

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x156/wicket2005/Dis%20Forum/P1030272.jpg

Hard Rock pool

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x156/wicket2005/Dis%20Forum/P1030274.jpg

There were loads of grey squirrels about Universal this year, never seen so many.

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x156/wicket2005/Dis%20Forum/P1030276.jpg

The walk to Universal

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x156/wicket2005/Dis%20Forum/P1030277.jpg

Universal

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x156/wicket2005/Dis%20Forum/P1030279.jpg

Twister sign (obviously:goodvibes )

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x156/wicket2005/Dis%20Forum/P1030281.jpg

Outside The Mummy ride, advertising new film

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x156/wicket2005/Dis%20Forum/P1030283.jpg

Yellow cab outside pretend Macy's store in Universal

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x156/wicket2005/Dis%20Forum/P1030293.jpg

I would hate to see one of these in real life, I don't care if they accidentally mistake you for a seal, I still wouldn't be impressed.

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x156/wicket2005/Dis%20Forum/P1030300.jpg

Fear Factor scorpions, why do they do it? And why oh why do they eat the horrible mixture they make up and get rewarded with a mug - says it all

[Snowy-girls]

Great photo's.We love watching Fear Factor on the TV,but you would never get me doing anything like that for a mug.x.

[wicket2005]

Thanks. I quite agree. This year they had two couples doing the drinking, usually it has been two men in each group. The girls were not impressed and the bucket was used.:eek:

[arieljasmine]

I couldn't bring myself to watch the Fear Factor show - your picture is scary enough :scared1:

Laur's princess:

[wicket2005]

A few more photos.

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x156/wicket2005/Dis%20Forum/IMG_5068.jpg

AK opening

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x156/wicket2005/Dis%20Forum/IMG_5072.jpg

Mickey appears here

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x156/wicket2005/Dis%20Forum/IMG_5092.jpg

Hippos at AK