Dimplenose
09-06-2009, 04:32 AM
Libby’s 2009 Trip
Day 7 – Sunday August 2nd
(I don’t have all my photos for today - when I do get them uploaded I’ll add some to today’s report.)
Today I wake up a 6:30 am. I’m very achy, I have been every morning but today I’m particularly bad. The mattress is just a bit too firm for my liking.
Everyone else is asleep so I decide to go and get a coffee as the walk will help loosen me up (and I’d like a coffee). I do love the resort when it’s early and quiet and I wish the rest of my family would get up early too. (I could try waking them but it really isn’t worth the grumpiness).
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0654.jpg
At 8 I do start waking everyone but it’s taking longer every day to get us all (there are only 4 of us for goodness sake and we do have 2 bathrooms and I’m already up and dressed before I start to wake them … can you tell this irritates me?) It has done 9 before we get back to the food court for breakfast and gone 10 before we’re at the Magic Kingdom.
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0656.jpg
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0665.jpg
We take the ferry as the monorail line is very long (and because I like boats). It’s a late EMH today at MK and I had hoped to get in and out before the crowds built up but it is already heaving by the time we get there.
We ride the jungle cruise (as corny as ever)
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0674.jpg
and then the boys ride the Haunted Mansion (I really don’t like this ride although I enjoy the Phantom Manor at DLP – I don’t know what the difference is) while DD and I ride Pirates of the Caribbean (we ride this a lot this year – did I mention DD is a Johnny Depp fan?)
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0686.jpg
When we meet up again we find that the boys had time to ride pirates as well. The central timing boards are so inaccurate.
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMGP0031.jpg
Next we go to It’s a Small World. I don’t care what anyone says I love this ride. We board our boat but it doesn’t move off. We’re asked to remain seated. After a while a maintenance man appears and goes up to the control room. Very soon afterwards we are on our way and the ride is a sweet as usual. (And I’m not being cynical!)
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMGP0035.jpg
We then head for Hall of Presidents. They are just letting everyone in so we don’t think we’ll have to wait for long. Once we are inside the building we have to wait for 20 minutes before we’re allowed into the theatre part. The show is as dull as ever – we’ve only come to see the new Obama figure. The show is a tedious 25 minutes long and it is well after lunchtime by the time we exit and my hopes of getting to the Animal Kingdom this afternoon are fading.
We vote to return to the hotel for lunch (I did suggest Contemporary Resort but was out voted, it’s only later that DS realises how close Contemporary is to MK – once again I’ve forgotten the family isn’t as knowledgeable about WDW and I haven’t given them enough info to make an informed choice.)
DD is starting to get very stroppy now as she needs to eat. We have lunch at the food court and finish off with 4 huge ice creams.
DS wants to go to Disney Quest. ( On a previous trip the kids would run around DQ while DH and I positioned ourselves near the cheesecake factory – it’s a shame it’s gone.) So I suggest DH goes with him while I stay behind with a very tired DD.
I have a nap (I’ve been up since 6:30!) while DD watches TV. Then we play Top Trumps (Harry Potter) before we have the silly idea of doing “Mini DQ” by going to the hotel arcade and taking pictures. We don’t actually play the games we just make silly poses with them. We also do a bit of shopping – we both love the cat bowls but can’t justify buying one as we don’t own a cat.
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMGP0073.jpg
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMGP0061.jpg
When we get back to the room the boys have already returned.
No one is hungry after such a late lunch (and such huge ice creams). We decide we’d like to see the Boardwalk as we’ve never been there before. (This time DS decides to stay in the room, but he’s happy to be on his own.)
We drive over to the Boardwalk. At a crossroads, we can hear lots of car horns. We check that we’re where we should be and can’t see anyone else having a problem then we notice a bird standing in the road right in front of a car. That driver is sounding his horn and a woman in the car next to him has her window down and is flapping her arms wildly but the bird just stands there! Eventually the lights change and as the cars move off slowly the bird does move – and positions in front of another stationary car!
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0690.jpg
It’s about 7pm when we arrive and we have no problem parking. We just show id and are welcomed home. We walk down to the Boardwalk itself which is very attractive and very quiet this early in the evening. We walk all the way around stopping for a cold drink at one of the kiosks before carrying on taking photos as we go. There is some work going on at some of the buildings (including the conversion of Spoodles). We like the look of the Boardwalk Inn but don’t like the idea of being that close to the hustle and bustle of the Boardwalk itself.
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0695.jpg
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0696.jpg
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0700.jpg
As we carry on round we realise that we’ve arrived at the International Gateway so we take a diversion and have a look at the Friendship docks before carrying on to the Beach Club.
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0706.jpg
We’ve passed through this hotel very briefly on our way to an Illuminations Cruise back in 2002. This time we have time to look a little closer. It is a similar theme to Newport Bay Club at DLP but much, much nicer. I think I’ve fallen in love with this place and tell DH that if we do another trip without the kids then this is where I’d like to stay. (Before visiting them we were set on Polynesian or Port Orleans.) I think I’ll have a long wait before that trip!
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0715.jpg
As we return to our circular walk we see a campfire on the beach and guests toasting marshmallows – it looks so relaxed. We also have a glance at Stormalong Bay which looks great fun.
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0720.jpg
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0723.jpg
Once back at our starting point we return to the car and then to ASMu.
No one wants a proper meal so we get drinks from the food court and a box of doughnuts from the shop and snack in our room while we pack an overnight bag for tomorrow as we are going to Universal and spending the night at the Royal Pacific Resort.
Day 7 – Sunday August 2nd
(I don’t have all my photos for today - when I do get them uploaded I’ll add some to today’s report.)
Today I wake up a 6:30 am. I’m very achy, I have been every morning but today I’m particularly bad. The mattress is just a bit too firm for my liking.
Everyone else is asleep so I decide to go and get a coffee as the walk will help loosen me up (and I’d like a coffee). I do love the resort when it’s early and quiet and I wish the rest of my family would get up early too. (I could try waking them but it really isn’t worth the grumpiness).
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0654.jpg
At 8 I do start waking everyone but it’s taking longer every day to get us all (there are only 4 of us for goodness sake and we do have 2 bathrooms and I’m already up and dressed before I start to wake them … can you tell this irritates me?) It has done 9 before we get back to the food court for breakfast and gone 10 before we’re at the Magic Kingdom.
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0656.jpg
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0665.jpg
We take the ferry as the monorail line is very long (and because I like boats). It’s a late EMH today at MK and I had hoped to get in and out before the crowds built up but it is already heaving by the time we get there.
We ride the jungle cruise (as corny as ever)
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0674.jpg
and then the boys ride the Haunted Mansion (I really don’t like this ride although I enjoy the Phantom Manor at DLP – I don’t know what the difference is) while DD and I ride Pirates of the Caribbean (we ride this a lot this year – did I mention DD is a Johnny Depp fan?)
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0686.jpg
When we meet up again we find that the boys had time to ride pirates as well. The central timing boards are so inaccurate.
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMGP0031.jpg
Next we go to It’s a Small World. I don’t care what anyone says I love this ride. We board our boat but it doesn’t move off. We’re asked to remain seated. After a while a maintenance man appears and goes up to the control room. Very soon afterwards we are on our way and the ride is a sweet as usual. (And I’m not being cynical!)
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMGP0035.jpg
We then head for Hall of Presidents. They are just letting everyone in so we don’t think we’ll have to wait for long. Once we are inside the building we have to wait for 20 minutes before we’re allowed into the theatre part. The show is as dull as ever – we’ve only come to see the new Obama figure. The show is a tedious 25 minutes long and it is well after lunchtime by the time we exit and my hopes of getting to the Animal Kingdom this afternoon are fading.
We vote to return to the hotel for lunch (I did suggest Contemporary Resort but was out voted, it’s only later that DS realises how close Contemporary is to MK – once again I’ve forgotten the family isn’t as knowledgeable about WDW and I haven’t given them enough info to make an informed choice.)
DD is starting to get very stroppy now as she needs to eat. We have lunch at the food court and finish off with 4 huge ice creams.
DS wants to go to Disney Quest. ( On a previous trip the kids would run around DQ while DH and I positioned ourselves near the cheesecake factory – it’s a shame it’s gone.) So I suggest DH goes with him while I stay behind with a very tired DD.
I have a nap (I’ve been up since 6:30!) while DD watches TV. Then we play Top Trumps (Harry Potter) before we have the silly idea of doing “Mini DQ” by going to the hotel arcade and taking pictures. We don’t actually play the games we just make silly poses with them. We also do a bit of shopping – we both love the cat bowls but can’t justify buying one as we don’t own a cat.
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMGP0073.jpg
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMGP0061.jpg
When we get back to the room the boys have already returned.
No one is hungry after such a late lunch (and such huge ice creams). We decide we’d like to see the Boardwalk as we’ve never been there before. (This time DS decides to stay in the room, but he’s happy to be on his own.)
We drive over to the Boardwalk. At a crossroads, we can hear lots of car horns. We check that we’re where we should be and can’t see anyone else having a problem then we notice a bird standing in the road right in front of a car. That driver is sounding his horn and a woman in the car next to him has her window down and is flapping her arms wildly but the bird just stands there! Eventually the lights change and as the cars move off slowly the bird does move – and positions in front of another stationary car!
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0690.jpg
It’s about 7pm when we arrive and we have no problem parking. We just show id and are welcomed home. We walk down to the Boardwalk itself which is very attractive and very quiet this early in the evening. We walk all the way around stopping for a cold drink at one of the kiosks before carrying on taking photos as we go. There is some work going on at some of the buildings (including the conversion of Spoodles). We like the look of the Boardwalk Inn but don’t like the idea of being that close to the hustle and bustle of the Boardwalk itself.
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0695.jpg
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0696.jpg
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0700.jpg
As we carry on round we realise that we’ve arrived at the International Gateway so we take a diversion and have a look at the Friendship docks before carrying on to the Beach Club.
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0706.jpg
We’ve passed through this hotel very briefly on our way to an Illuminations Cruise back in 2002. This time we have time to look a little closer. It is a similar theme to Newport Bay Club at DLP but much, much nicer. I think I’ve fallen in love with this place and tell DH that if we do another trip without the kids then this is where I’d like to stay. (Before visiting them we were set on Polynesian or Port Orleans.) I think I’ll have a long wait before that trip!
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0715.jpg
As we return to our circular walk we see a campfire on the beach and guests toasting marshmallows – it looks so relaxed. We also have a glance at Stormalong Bay which looks great fun.
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0720.jpg
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo213/Libby1962/IMG_0723.jpg
Once back at our starting point we return to the car and then to ASMu.
No one wants a proper meal so we get drinks from the food court and a box of doughnuts from the shop and snack in our room while we pack an overnight bag for tomorrow as we are going to Universal and spending the night at the Royal Pacific Resort.