Jen80370
07-11-2002, 09:08 AM
Day Three: Blizzard Beach, Beaches & Crème, DisneyQuest & DD…A Flurry of Activity
A reminder…if you’d like faces to go with names, I have started a photo web site. It is at
http://members.photofun.com/Jen80370/clarkdisney I updated it since I started it, and will continue to as more pictures make their way back from York Photos.
Our cast of characters includes: Me (Jen) 31, planner of all things Disney; Bill (DH) 32, the yin to my yang; BJ (DS) almost 14, the reason for this trip…his graduation from middle school; Nico (DF) 14…BJ’s compadre; Bob (35) DB, Gina (35) DSIL, Steven (DN) 8, Brianna (DN) 2-1/2.
We woke up early and decided to split up for the day. Bob, Gina, Steven and Bri headed for a day at Epcot, as it is their favorite park. They are also not “water-park people.” So Bill, Nico, BJ and I headed for Blizzard Beach.
Bill’s Dad also drove in from Winter Haven to join us for a few hours. He has an AP and wanted to spend some time with us. Seeing as he is quite “Pooh-sized,” he was concerned how he would do with all of the walking and slides. He did just fine.
We started by following a tip of Dreamflight99’s that bears repeating. Once you enter Blizzard Beach and head for the lockers, there is a small stand that sells Mini-Donuts. They are fresh, piping hot and $3.00 a dozen. They are the size of Dunkin Munchkins, and are the best donuts I have ever had. We gorged on those for breakfast.
Then we headed for the family tube ride called “Teamboat Springs.” We made the mistake of bypassing the chairlift and walking the first time. BIG MISTAKE! In the Florida heat (which was intense today-no rain or clouds yet!) the stairs to the top were almost unbearable. Note: No matter how bad the line is…take the chairlift! If you are looking for speed, split up and go as single riders and meet at the top. This saved a bit of time and lung capacity.
Teamboat Springs was a blast. Then we headed to Cross Country Creek. This is a lazy river where you jump in and grab a tube and float your way around the park. It was wonderfully relaxing and a lot of fun. We were in there for almost two hours.
Then we took the chairlift up to the Slush Gusher (next to Summit Plummet). It is fast…and when they tell you to cross your legs and arms…please do! Otherwise you are liable to lose your suit or experience what one tourist called “Mickey’s High Colonic.” Yikes! I was ready to go back to the Cross Country Creek.
At this point it was around 1P.M. and a booming voice came over the loud speaker at the park. “Due to reports of a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING, we may soon be closing down attractions.” Great. Rain was ok, but lightning and water do not mix. We waited a half hour, heard the message again, and decided to make our way back to the Dolphin to get changed and go to lunch.
We could have easily done this park all day, but with a UHP, a half-day was fine as well. A few other notes…before and after you go, use a LOT of conditioner in your hair. This water is heavily chlorinated! Go early, so if thunderstorms hit in the early afternoon, you don’t miss out!
After changing, we decided to walk to Beaches and Crème to use some of our Connections Vouchers (For more info on these, see the Budget Boards. They have entire threads explaining these.)
Our server was Tim and he was fantastic! We showed him the vouchers as soon as we were seated, and he helped us make the most of them. We ate like pigs and it was all-wonderful! Our tab would have been $73 including tip, but with our vouchers, our total was $33. Nice! BTW, we could have ordered the kitchen sink. We saw one…WOW! But the thought made all of us want to seek winter hibernation.
Their milkshakes alone were fabulous. I particularly loved their onion rings.
After we waddled out of Beaches and Crème, we headed for DisneyQuest and Downtown Disney.
If you have boys…GO TO DISNEYQUEST! This place is amazing. Five floors of videogames and simulation games. We tried the River Rapids and Live the Comics as well as countless video games. Once you pay to get in, you pay for no games!
And thirtysomethings…on the third floor. There is an entire section of “old-school” videogames: Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Mr. Do, Moon Patrol, Centipede, Donkey Kong, Space Wars, Asteroids, Space Invaders…and these games were all in mint condition. I could have stayed there for days.
After a few hours, I left the boys and went exploring at the Marketplace. Note to Disney Club members-save souvenir shopping for here! Purchases over $25 get 10% off with your DC card! And it is a great way to spend time to avoid the beep beep bonk bonk of DisneyQuest.
I met the boys at the car when DisneyQuest closed at 11pm and we headed back to the Dolphin. Another note, bus service from some resorts to DD can be long, so we took the rental car and were there in a flash!
We got back to the hotel and took a quick late night dip at the pool before heading to the room. There we broke out some chips, pretzels, and sodas (it is vacation from dieting too) and had a late supper of junk du jour as we played Mad Libs. Another note: 14-year-old boys have one-track minds when playing Mad Libs. I never heard so many synonyms for bodily functions. It was a blast though. We turned in late (about 1 a.m.) but it was a great day!
Link to Day Two:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=229468
Link to Day One:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=228858
Link to Preamble
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=227144
Link to V & A Review
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=229459
A reminder…if you’d like faces to go with names, I have started a photo web site. It is at
http://members.photofun.com/Jen80370/clarkdisney I updated it since I started it, and will continue to as more pictures make their way back from York Photos.
Our cast of characters includes: Me (Jen) 31, planner of all things Disney; Bill (DH) 32, the yin to my yang; BJ (DS) almost 14, the reason for this trip…his graduation from middle school; Nico (DF) 14…BJ’s compadre; Bob (35) DB, Gina (35) DSIL, Steven (DN) 8, Brianna (DN) 2-1/2.
We woke up early and decided to split up for the day. Bob, Gina, Steven and Bri headed for a day at Epcot, as it is their favorite park. They are also not “water-park people.” So Bill, Nico, BJ and I headed for Blizzard Beach.
Bill’s Dad also drove in from Winter Haven to join us for a few hours. He has an AP and wanted to spend some time with us. Seeing as he is quite “Pooh-sized,” he was concerned how he would do with all of the walking and slides. He did just fine.
We started by following a tip of Dreamflight99’s that bears repeating. Once you enter Blizzard Beach and head for the lockers, there is a small stand that sells Mini-Donuts. They are fresh, piping hot and $3.00 a dozen. They are the size of Dunkin Munchkins, and are the best donuts I have ever had. We gorged on those for breakfast.
Then we headed for the family tube ride called “Teamboat Springs.” We made the mistake of bypassing the chairlift and walking the first time. BIG MISTAKE! In the Florida heat (which was intense today-no rain or clouds yet!) the stairs to the top were almost unbearable. Note: No matter how bad the line is…take the chairlift! If you are looking for speed, split up and go as single riders and meet at the top. This saved a bit of time and lung capacity.
Teamboat Springs was a blast. Then we headed to Cross Country Creek. This is a lazy river where you jump in and grab a tube and float your way around the park. It was wonderfully relaxing and a lot of fun. We were in there for almost two hours.
Then we took the chairlift up to the Slush Gusher (next to Summit Plummet). It is fast…and when they tell you to cross your legs and arms…please do! Otherwise you are liable to lose your suit or experience what one tourist called “Mickey’s High Colonic.” Yikes! I was ready to go back to the Cross Country Creek.
At this point it was around 1P.M. and a booming voice came over the loud speaker at the park. “Due to reports of a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING, we may soon be closing down attractions.” Great. Rain was ok, but lightning and water do not mix. We waited a half hour, heard the message again, and decided to make our way back to the Dolphin to get changed and go to lunch.
We could have easily done this park all day, but with a UHP, a half-day was fine as well. A few other notes…before and after you go, use a LOT of conditioner in your hair. This water is heavily chlorinated! Go early, so if thunderstorms hit in the early afternoon, you don’t miss out!
After changing, we decided to walk to Beaches and Crème to use some of our Connections Vouchers (For more info on these, see the Budget Boards. They have entire threads explaining these.)
Our server was Tim and he was fantastic! We showed him the vouchers as soon as we were seated, and he helped us make the most of them. We ate like pigs and it was all-wonderful! Our tab would have been $73 including tip, but with our vouchers, our total was $33. Nice! BTW, we could have ordered the kitchen sink. We saw one…WOW! But the thought made all of us want to seek winter hibernation.
Their milkshakes alone were fabulous. I particularly loved their onion rings.
After we waddled out of Beaches and Crème, we headed for DisneyQuest and Downtown Disney.
If you have boys…GO TO DISNEYQUEST! This place is amazing. Five floors of videogames and simulation games. We tried the River Rapids and Live the Comics as well as countless video games. Once you pay to get in, you pay for no games!
And thirtysomethings…on the third floor. There is an entire section of “old-school” videogames: Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Mr. Do, Moon Patrol, Centipede, Donkey Kong, Space Wars, Asteroids, Space Invaders…and these games were all in mint condition. I could have stayed there for days.
After a few hours, I left the boys and went exploring at the Marketplace. Note to Disney Club members-save souvenir shopping for here! Purchases over $25 get 10% off with your DC card! And it is a great way to spend time to avoid the beep beep bonk bonk of DisneyQuest.
I met the boys at the car when DisneyQuest closed at 11pm and we headed back to the Dolphin. Another note, bus service from some resorts to DD can be long, so we took the rental car and were there in a flash!
We got back to the hotel and took a quick late night dip at the pool before heading to the room. There we broke out some chips, pretzels, and sodas (it is vacation from dieting too) and had a late supper of junk du jour as we played Mad Libs. Another note: 14-year-old boys have one-track minds when playing Mad Libs. I never heard so many synonyms for bodily functions. It was a blast though. We turned in late (about 1 a.m.) but it was a great day!
Link to Day Two:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=229468
Link to Day One:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=228858
Link to Preamble
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=227144
Link to V & A Review
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=229459