Dimplenose
Stranger from the outside
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2002
Libby's Trip 2009 - Day 1
Day 2 Tuesday July 28th
Im awake at 1:30am and 3:30am (have a little chat with DH before he drops off again). AT 5:30am I give up and go and read in the bathroom for a while.
At 6:15 I decide to go and get drinks for the rest of the family who are beginning to stir. I spend ages putting on sun cream (Boots Once factor 40 good protection but its tinted and I find out later that its stained our clothes grrrr!). When I finally get outside its still dark.
I wander off to the food court and as Im passing the piano pool I saw a rabbit. There are one or two people about mostly smokers, but not many people are silly enough to be up this early. Its nice the way people say good morning. (Growing up in the Midlands this was the norm, but now I live in the South any eye contact or greetings are avoided!)
When I get back to the room its starting to get light. My tentative plan was to go to EMH at MK this morning but the kids want to have their first Mickey Waffles at the food court. Ive decided to try and over ride my compulsive planning instinct and go with the flow (later on Ill realise this only works when there is actually a flow to go with). So we decide to do that and if its too late to get to MK well head for Epcot instead.
I love the food court. If you want to confuse an American try asking for pankcakes without bacon or syrup (DD likes to have lemon juice and sugar, so we just collected these from the beverage station). We all had a good breakfast and it was still only just 8am. We decide to go with MK plan (with the option of hopping back on the monorail and off to Epcot if its super busy.)
Its an easy drive to the TTC and we park in Minnie 37 which is close enough to walk to the monorail. At the TTC the CMs are checking room keys as its still 8:30 and the monorail doesnt open to off-site guests until 8:45.
Id forgotten how long it takes to get to MK. This is one place where I think the buses have an advantage over the car (from ASMu), but we all wanted to go on the monorail.
At MK the bag checks were quick (too quick to be of any use I think) and we decide not to wait 15 minutes for the opening ceremony but head straigh for Splash Mountain. Its almost a walk on and for the first time I get a front seat and because of this I got soaked.
Then we went to BTMRR. Again a minimal queue. We were asked to hand in one of the red timing cards, but I hardly think it was worth it just timed how fast we could walk from one CM to the next. Once wed handed in the card we did have to wait a couple of minutes to board. It was a great ride. It took me years to be brave enough to ride this sort of ride but I really love it now.
Were getting a bit peckish now and decide to go back to Main Street to get some snacks. Im always disappointed that there arent more early eating options within the parks. On our way back we ride Pirates of the Caribbean. DD is a big Johnny Depp fan and I like the way they have incorporated him into the original ride.
Its now 9:45 and Main Street is very busy. We get some doughnuts and ice-creams and have a rest in the shade.
We go to tomorrowland to get fastpasses for the Buzz Lightyear ride. We have nearly an hour to kill. Monsters Inc Laughter thing is about to start so we go there. It was quite amusing but Im glad I hadnt spent a lot of time queuing for it.
We still had time to wait and as Stitch was only a 5 minute wait, and wed never done it before, we went on this. I thought it was a very lame attraction but the creatures were quite cute.
As we came out we went round to Buzz. I may have a mean streak but I do love walking past a long queue. This ride is a lot of fun but I have no idea where my shots are going, its just a case of keep shooting for a long as possible. Of the four of us I was the winner. We had a look at the ride photo but I didnt like it as I looked very fierce no wonder the kids at school walk in the corridor when I ask them to!
Were now very hungry and the park is very busy so we decide to leave and get a snack from the Polynesian Resort. We have decided that this will probably be a last family holiday at WDW and DH and I are interested in looking at some of the resorts in case we come back as a couple in the future so this should get us a nice snack and a look at the resort.
We get onto the resort monorail and get off at the Polynesian. On the way Im amused to see the Contemporary Resort monorail platform is carpeted!
Weve never been to the Polynesian Resort before and it takes us a while to find Captain Cooks. My first impressions of the resort are rather underwhelming. It has a very 1970s feel to it (not surprising really) and everywhere seems to be brown or orange and feels a bit tired. We eventually find the snack bar downstairs and make our orders on the touch screens. I have a pork sandwich with Polynesian chips (these turn out to be crisps made from random vegetables) and the boys have flatbreads. DD doesnt want to eat (shes beginning to get a bit stroppy which is a sure sign she needs to eat but being stroppy refuses to do so oh, the joy of teenagers!). We also buy soda at over $2 a cup it makes the refillable mugs good value.
Once weve paid were given a pager, get our drinks and find a table outside. There are a lot of ducks about. After 10 minutes or so the pager bleeps and we go back inside to collect our food.
We have a look around the gift shop and then wander around outside, lovely pool, wonderful view but Im not as impressed as I thought I would be (but then again we didnt see the rooms just the outside of the buildings.)
We walk back to our car and arrive back at ASMu at about 2pm. We hadnt been told that our room key works the automatic barrier so we are stopped by security as we enter the resort. (In practise we find that waving our key out of the window will also alert the security guard to open the barrier (DH then makes it his task for the rest of the holiday to see whats the furthest he can be from the barrier for the security guard to open it!)
We get back to our rooms to find that theyve not yet been made up. DH takes DD off to the food court to eat (mega-stroppiness is imminent if she doesnt). As they arrive back at the room so does housekeeping so we all decide to keep out of the maids way and go and get some drinks.
Finally we all get back to the room and have a nap. We so tired from a days travelling and an early start today. Later DD and I leave the boys asleep and go off to the piano pool. There is a lot of noise coming from the main pool but its not too bad here.
When we get back to our room we have to wake up DS who is still fast asleep. We decide well go to DHS for the evening. We arrive at 6pm and park in Stage 44. As we get the tram to the entrance I get a tingly feeling I love this park. We all want to ride the Great Movie Ride. It has a 20 minute wait posted but it doesnt feel that long before we are boarding. There is only one queue and our guide is a bit weak but overall its a great ride.
Next I want to have a look at the new Pixar courtyard. I know theres no chance of getting on the Toy Story ride but I still want to see it. I get a bit lost on the way but we soon find it. The monkeys a re just like some that I had as a child. It all seems very familiar even though Ive never been here before. (I think Ive been studying too many of the DIS board quizzes!)
We go to the Studio Catering Co for tea. The DSs pulled pork had been sitting in the air conditioning while the server got the rest of the order together and was quite cold by the time I was given it they did change it after about 3 people had prodded it! The Ceaser wraps from here were very nice, lots of chicken and cheese and not too much lettuce.
We wandered back to the wait board at the end of Hollywood Boulevard but find that most rides have 50, 90 or even 100 minute waits. As were going to be back early tomorrow we just do some window shopping before heading back to out hotel. I do like the early days of a holiday when we can always come back again.
At the hotel we refill our mugs and buy a box of doughnuts from the gift shop and head back to our room for a bit of TV and bed.
Day 2 Tuesday July 28th
Im awake at 1:30am and 3:30am (have a little chat with DH before he drops off again). AT 5:30am I give up and go and read in the bathroom for a while.
At 6:15 I decide to go and get drinks for the rest of the family who are beginning to stir. I spend ages putting on sun cream (Boots Once factor 40 good protection but its tinted and I find out later that its stained our clothes grrrr!). When I finally get outside its still dark.
I wander off to the food court and as Im passing the piano pool I saw a rabbit. There are one or two people about mostly smokers, but not many people are silly enough to be up this early. Its nice the way people say good morning. (Growing up in the Midlands this was the norm, but now I live in the South any eye contact or greetings are avoided!)
When I get back to the room its starting to get light. My tentative plan was to go to EMH at MK this morning but the kids want to have their first Mickey Waffles at the food court. Ive decided to try and over ride my compulsive planning instinct and go with the flow (later on Ill realise this only works when there is actually a flow to go with). So we decide to do that and if its too late to get to MK well head for Epcot instead.
I love the food court. If you want to confuse an American try asking for pankcakes without bacon or syrup (DD likes to have lemon juice and sugar, so we just collected these from the beverage station). We all had a good breakfast and it was still only just 8am. We decide to go with MK plan (with the option of hopping back on the monorail and off to Epcot if its super busy.)
Its an easy drive to the TTC and we park in Minnie 37 which is close enough to walk to the monorail. At the TTC the CMs are checking room keys as its still 8:30 and the monorail doesnt open to off-site guests until 8:45.
Id forgotten how long it takes to get to MK. This is one place where I think the buses have an advantage over the car (from ASMu), but we all wanted to go on the monorail.
At MK the bag checks were quick (too quick to be of any use I think) and we decide not to wait 15 minutes for the opening ceremony but head straigh for Splash Mountain. Its almost a walk on and for the first time I get a front seat and because of this I got soaked.
Then we went to BTMRR. Again a minimal queue. We were asked to hand in one of the red timing cards, but I hardly think it was worth it just timed how fast we could walk from one CM to the next. Once wed handed in the card we did have to wait a couple of minutes to board. It was a great ride. It took me years to be brave enough to ride this sort of ride but I really love it now.
Were getting a bit peckish now and decide to go back to Main Street to get some snacks. Im always disappointed that there arent more early eating options within the parks. On our way back we ride Pirates of the Caribbean. DD is a big Johnny Depp fan and I like the way they have incorporated him into the original ride.
Its now 9:45 and Main Street is very busy. We get some doughnuts and ice-creams and have a rest in the shade.
We go to tomorrowland to get fastpasses for the Buzz Lightyear ride. We have nearly an hour to kill. Monsters Inc Laughter thing is about to start so we go there. It was quite amusing but Im glad I hadnt spent a lot of time queuing for it.
We still had time to wait and as Stitch was only a 5 minute wait, and wed never done it before, we went on this. I thought it was a very lame attraction but the creatures were quite cute.
As we came out we went round to Buzz. I may have a mean streak but I do love walking past a long queue. This ride is a lot of fun but I have no idea where my shots are going, its just a case of keep shooting for a long as possible. Of the four of us I was the winner. We had a look at the ride photo but I didnt like it as I looked very fierce no wonder the kids at school walk in the corridor when I ask them to!
Were now very hungry and the park is very busy so we decide to leave and get a snack from the Polynesian Resort. We have decided that this will probably be a last family holiday at WDW and DH and I are interested in looking at some of the resorts in case we come back as a couple in the future so this should get us a nice snack and a look at the resort.
We get onto the resort monorail and get off at the Polynesian. On the way Im amused to see the Contemporary Resort monorail platform is carpeted!
Weve never been to the Polynesian Resort before and it takes us a while to find Captain Cooks. My first impressions of the resort are rather underwhelming. It has a very 1970s feel to it (not surprising really) and everywhere seems to be brown or orange and feels a bit tired. We eventually find the snack bar downstairs and make our orders on the touch screens. I have a pork sandwich with Polynesian chips (these turn out to be crisps made from random vegetables) and the boys have flatbreads. DD doesnt want to eat (shes beginning to get a bit stroppy which is a sure sign she needs to eat but being stroppy refuses to do so oh, the joy of teenagers!). We also buy soda at over $2 a cup it makes the refillable mugs good value.
Once weve paid were given a pager, get our drinks and find a table outside. There are a lot of ducks about. After 10 minutes or so the pager bleeps and we go back inside to collect our food.
We have a look around the gift shop and then wander around outside, lovely pool, wonderful view but Im not as impressed as I thought I would be (but then again we didnt see the rooms just the outside of the buildings.)
We walk back to our car and arrive back at ASMu at about 2pm. We hadnt been told that our room key works the automatic barrier so we are stopped by security as we enter the resort. (In practise we find that waving our key out of the window will also alert the security guard to open the barrier (DH then makes it his task for the rest of the holiday to see whats the furthest he can be from the barrier for the security guard to open it!)
We get back to our rooms to find that theyve not yet been made up. DH takes DD off to the food court to eat (mega-stroppiness is imminent if she doesnt). As they arrive back at the room so does housekeeping so we all decide to keep out of the maids way and go and get some drinks.
Finally we all get back to the room and have a nap. We so tired from a days travelling and an early start today. Later DD and I leave the boys asleep and go off to the piano pool. There is a lot of noise coming from the main pool but its not too bad here.
When we get back to our room we have to wake up DS who is still fast asleep. We decide well go to DHS for the evening. We arrive at 6pm and park in Stage 44. As we get the tram to the entrance I get a tingly feeling I love this park. We all want to ride the Great Movie Ride. It has a 20 minute wait posted but it doesnt feel that long before we are boarding. There is only one queue and our guide is a bit weak but overall its a great ride.
Next I want to have a look at the new Pixar courtyard. I know theres no chance of getting on the Toy Story ride but I still want to see it. I get a bit lost on the way but we soon find it. The monkeys a re just like some that I had as a child. It all seems very familiar even though Ive never been here before. (I think Ive been studying too many of the DIS board quizzes!)
We go to the Studio Catering Co for tea. The DSs pulled pork had been sitting in the air conditioning while the server got the rest of the order together and was quite cold by the time I was given it they did change it after about 3 people had prodded it! The Ceaser wraps from here were very nice, lots of chicken and cheese and not too much lettuce.
We wandered back to the wait board at the end of Hollywood Boulevard but find that most rides have 50, 90 or even 100 minute waits. As were going to be back early tomorrow we just do some window shopping before heading back to out hotel. I do like the early days of a holiday when we can always come back again.
At the hotel we refill our mugs and buy a box of doughnuts from the gift shop and head back to our room for a bit of TV and bed.
i only use ambre solaire nowdays.
