bubba's mom
<font color=red>Proud Redhead<br><font color=darko
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- Jul 14, 2004
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Friday, July 10, 2009
Day 12
Of course we slept in today. A bright, sunny day awaited us.
We had our breafast and served Bubba breakfast in his own bed before getting ready for the parks. After breakfast we got our acts together, put our swimsuits on and headed for IOA.
We were just getting off the boat at City Walk around 11am when BIL called saying he was checking into the Portofino. We just left! Had we known, we would've hung out and waited for them!
Oh well...we're at City Walk now....told him to call us when he was on his way to the park. View of City Walk outside IOA. View 2, 3 and 4.
We took the same picture of Margaritaville that we take every year....and, this year, one with Bubba & I's approval.
We headed into IOA and DH wanted to shoot some video and take some pix with his new videocamera. I decided to try and take some different pictures. Every year we see the same pictures from the same spots. I wanted to try and get some different views...so, off I went. Here's 3 Broomsticks being built and Mythos too. Here too. A pic of Suess Landing and Sneetch Beach. Harry Potter construction behind Jurassic Park Discovery Center. Me Ship the Olive. And, of course we were standing right underneath the HULK.
We asked Bubba what he wanted to ride first and, to our surprise, he said Dudley. This isn't a ride he's fond of, so I asked why. He said the conversation we had earlier about it made him feel better about riding. (He thought it was a 'free riding' ride. We explained the car you ride in is actually on a track..like a rollercoaster. We even pointed it out on the finale drop and that seemed to 'comfort' him about riding it.)
So...to Dudley we went. Passing thru Marvel Superhero Island on the way....snapping some pix on the way. This pic didn't turn out as well as last year's...but it's fun to try!
On our way, we saw Popeye & Olive Oyl posing for pix. Bubba is at "that age" where he doesn't want to pose with the characters, so I do! I went up and stood between them and said "coolest wet ride in the park". They loved that comment!!
After my picture, we rode Dudley. DH sat in the front with Bubba between us. As we were loading, the phone rang. It was BIL. We called him back when we got off the ride and they were on their way to the park. We told them we'd meet them at Popeye.
Now would be the place to ask if anyone's noticed the dryers outside Dudley...and Popeye for that matter? This is the first year we've seen them, and they are a freakin' riot!! Two people can fit in 1 and it costs $5. It doesn't say for how long you get your "blow dry", but I did see some guy using the one outside Popeye the next day. (Why I don't know because it was sunny and hot out?!?!)
We sat at the Popeye statue and waited for the crew to show. It wasn't too long before they arrived. First ride they wanted to do? Popeye of course! And, you don't think once is enough, do you? Nope. Not for this group...of course not. So, we took a couple more rides on Popeye. Pix:
DH & Bubba, BIL, around Me Ship the Olive, BIL, DH (in background) & Bubba, our SIL & niece, going up, Bubba watchin' where he's goin', the family, the brothers, Bubba getting nailed! Our nephew & SIL, cousins and our niece & I.
After a few spins on Popeye, it was time to have lunch. We decided to eat at Comic Strip Cafe....pretty decent food here. (I didn't take many pictures in here because I took a boatload last year. More pix in last year's trippie...link to that in my sig.) We ate here last year and decided because of the size of our group (8) and the selection available, it was a good choice. While everyone, but Bubba & I, went to stand in line to order, Bubba & I went to score some seats. Not easy looking for 8 seats together since it was busy with Brazillian tour groups. Luckily, the lunch gods were watching out for us that day, because as I approached the rear seating area, a big group got up...leaving an empty table of....yep....8!
I had Bubba sit at the one end of the table while I secured the other end. At least 3 different girls asked, at various times, if they could steal my chairs and I had to tell them sorry. While Bubba and I were sitting there (for a long time), I did notice a lot of these Brazillian tour groups are girls. Very few guys seem to be in these groups. If I were a Brazillian dude, I'd seriously think about trying to score a trip with these groups. 
Like I said, after a loooong wait, DH and crew returned with food. Bubba had a pizza, our niece Casey had spaghetti, other niece Corinne had the chicken and everyone else had a cheeseburger. Everyone said their food was good and had no complaints...especially when there's beer to be had! We were just finishing up when the rest of the family arrived and DH got a text from his cousin who lives in Orlando. Turns out he was in the park last night looking for us, but not only did we not have our phone on, we didn't even have it with us! Anyway, the rest of the family had checked into the Portofino and met us over at IOA. This group consisted of: Grumpy (SIL's Dad), Donna her Mom, Nana (obvious who she is), Sushi her sister and Peyton her baby boy. (Sushi's husband Zane was at work and would meet up with us later at HRH Beach Club for dinner.)
On our way over to Jurassic Park, we HAVE to stop and shoot the water cannons (from the bridge) at the unsuspecting people ending their Dudley ride. On our way, I saw this gal and had my picture taken with her. Go ahead, laugh...it's silly. But, I'm on vacation and I pay a lot of money to act silly! She was very nice and had the character's voice down to a 't'.
Picture over...onward to squirt the nice people
We stood here about 10 minutes just plunking quarter after quarter into the machines. After a while, we'd even holler to them and they'd look up at us on the bridge and smile and wave. Then, BAM!! 
Nailed 'em with the water cannon! Hehe...you have to laugh...even if you are the victim!! Worth $5 anyday for a good chuckle! Sometimes it's the little things, ya know?
I also happened to get a good picture of the Pteranodon Flyers ride at JP too for those who wonder what the ride actually is.
On the way into JP area, we all decided to trek over to JP River Adventure. Some of us rode JPRA while the rest went inside to the Burger Digs to get lunch and feed the baby. We weren't long on the ride before we met up with the rest of the troops. Sushi was still feeding the baby by the time we returned, and some of us wanted to ride DD and headed that way. Whoever wasn't riding, stayed put and we'd meet up when we were finished.
First let me mention, there are no pix
of the new/temporary entrance to Dueling Dragons because I left my camera in my bag back at Burger Digs with the family that wasn't riding DD.
Second, let me say how crowded that entrance way to DD is!
And...there is only 4 or 5 sets of lockers...instead of the usual 14 or 15, that I saw anyway! Makes for a confusing, crowded, hot mess if ya ask me. We walked the very new, very loooong walk around the Harry Potter construction to DD. We got to the bottom of the steps at the EP entrance and hear the announcement. Yep, of course. DD has been shut down due to thunder and lightening in the area. Well, we have EP. You don't think we're gonna stand there and wait, do ya?
Didn't think so.
So, we headed back the looong walk toward JP Discovery Center to hook up with the family we left behind, stopping by The Watering Hole along the way. Drinks in hand, we headed for the Discovery Center. This was one wicked storm that trapped us at the JP Discovery Center/Burger Digs for almost 2 hours. There was thunder and lightening and nobody was going anywhere in that...no matter we were dressed in swimsuits or not! Luckily, The Watering Hole was just around the corner and DH & BIL donned ponchos (had to keep the drinks dry) and kept running around back and forth for happy hour. We even tried to the get the weather radar to come up on BIL's phone, but it was just too stormy....couldn't get it.
Just after 4pm, the thunder and lightening part of the storm passed enough we could finally move on. We walked back toward the park over the bridge to the Lost Continent. 3 Broomsticks is shaping up in place of the Enchanted Oak. We saw this bird flappin' it's wings trying to dry off. Took a couple more pix of the Harry Potter area they're building and few pictures of the family back on the move. You can see Flying Unicorn here in the Harry Potter area.
We found ourselves in the LC carny games area. This is where they closed off the path to DD. Be nice when it's back open again....the long way stinks!
Anyway, we played some milk bottle toss, dart throw and ring toss. The kids had a good time...they deserved some fun after being so good 'trapped' at the Discovery Center (there's only SO much to see and do there...especially for almost 2 hours!) BIL won a big, fat nothing, while Bubba won a little monkey. Peyton didn't play, but he had fun anyway!
Speaking of Peyton, Sushi wanted him to take a ride on the Car-O-Suess-El....so, it was about 5pm, we headed toward Suess Landing to do that. We headed out of Lost Continent, passing Mythos, toward Suess Landing.
I don't know why we didn't ride anything else in Suess Landing, but we didn't.
Those of the group who rode had a good time... especially Peyton. He really had a good time! Bubba & Nana. our group, SIL and her "cool" ride.
After a spin on the Car-O-Suess-El, it was on to Spiderman. Party of 11 for Spidey. Always a good show...one of the best rides ever in my opinion!
Afterwards, we met those who didn't go across the street to plan the next stop. As you could imagine with 12 people, it takes a long time to make a decision and get from one point to another. Here's the gang hanging out and striking a pose.
The decision was to head to HRH since it was almost 6:30. We needed to stop at PBH for some stuff before heading to the Beach Club at HRH for dinner and dive-in movie. On the way out, BIL stopped at Cinnabon in Port of Entry.
I thought he was getting breakfast for the morning...well, I guess he was. But, he did cut 1 bun into quarters and gave each kid a piece on a fork. Since all that rain, the sun still hadn't come back out, I was chilly. I offered to carry the very warm box for BIL. Bubba's piece, Casey's piece and Corinne & Ricky's piece. SIL opted to wait for dinner.
As luck would have it, there was a boat at City Walk for the Portofino just filling up. I think this was the trip that we started the 'wave'. Family in the front of the boat and the back part. There were a few other goofy people getting in on the act...it was probably the weirdest ride we ever had on the boat, but all in good fun! IF the boat is already there, we take it (we won't "wait" for it). We decided to hop on the boat and cruise back to PBH. (with that very warm box on my lap
) DH took some video and pictures on the boat on the way back. By the time we arrived back at the Portofino, I had to apologize to my BIL for sucking all the warm out of his box of Cinnabons. 
(DH took pix of all 12 of us, and the stroller, in the elevator...cuz, that's a lot of people ya know 
)
While back at our room, I was so chilly, I changed out of swimduds and into regular shorts and sneakers with socks. (Had I had jeans with me, I woulda worn them...I was that chilly!)
Not too long after 7pm, we headed for the Beach Club. According to my niece, Casey, we were NOT to miss the dive-in movie starting.... Twilight. (No matter she owns the movie and has seen it a million times
) Luckily, it was not busy and we were able to put a few tables together for us and just have the kids' table next to us. While waiting for dinner, the kids played games and pool....apparently with all that rain, the pool was very cold and the kids didn't want to stay in too long.
We ordered and it didn't really take too long for our food. Bubba had grilled cheese and mozarella sticks, Ricky had the sampler, Corinne had the pizza and I can't remember what Casey had...pizza also I'm thinkin'? Either way, they were all very hungry (& some eager to see the movie) and devoured their dinners.
Chicken wings and nachos were ordered for appetizers.... always a big hit with this crew. I had a chicken BLT, BIL had a cheeseburger and SIL had some sorta salad and split a chicken sandwich with Nana. I know Peyton had a hotdog, but I don't remember what everyone else ordered....and, there aren't any pix? ...which is SO not like me...wonder what happened??
Toward the end of dinner, my SIL had an uninvited guest. While sitting and talking, DH noticed something jump on the table. He was just saying "what the heck is....." when it jumped again and landed on the side of my SIL's head! We noticed it was a small frog!! She started to freak out (but didn't want to hurt it) and managed to swoosh it off her head onto her arm, where she was able to finally see it and flick it into the planter tree behind her. Yes...she was freaking out. But, she's a trooper and she got over it pretty quick....sip of wine didn't hurt either . It was a great laugh....after the fact.....
Anyhow...we ate and hung out at the Beach Club for awhile....had to be around 10pm when we left.
We got home and Ryan decided to relax listening to some tunes before bed....again, that whole 'got my OWN room... cool' thing goin on....
A very long day....bed was after midnight. But, no matter, no reason to get up early tomorrow.
Day 12
Of course we slept in today. A bright, sunny day awaited us.
We had our breafast and served Bubba breakfast in his own bed before getting ready for the parks. After breakfast we got our acts together, put our swimsuits on and headed for IOA.
We were just getting off the boat at City Walk around 11am when BIL called saying he was checking into the Portofino. We just left! Had we known, we would've hung out and waited for them!
We took the same picture of Margaritaville that we take every year....and, this year, one with Bubba & I's approval.
We headed into IOA and DH wanted to shoot some video and take some pix with his new videocamera. I decided to try and take some different pictures. Every year we see the same pictures from the same spots. I wanted to try and get some different views...so, off I went. Here's 3 Broomsticks being built and Mythos too. Here too. A pic of Suess Landing and Sneetch Beach. Harry Potter construction behind Jurassic Park Discovery Center. Me Ship the Olive. And, of course we were standing right underneath the HULK.
We asked Bubba what he wanted to ride first and, to our surprise, he said Dudley. This isn't a ride he's fond of, so I asked why. He said the conversation we had earlier about it made him feel better about riding. (He thought it was a 'free riding' ride. We explained the car you ride in is actually on a track..like a rollercoaster. We even pointed it out on the finale drop and that seemed to 'comfort' him about riding it.)
So...to Dudley we went. Passing thru Marvel Superhero Island on the way....snapping some pix on the way. This pic didn't turn out as well as last year's...but it's fun to try! On our way, we saw Popeye & Olive Oyl posing for pix. Bubba is at "that age" where he doesn't want to pose with the characters, so I do! I went up and stood between them and said "coolest wet ride in the park". They loved that comment!!
Now would be the place to ask if anyone's noticed the dryers outside Dudley...and Popeye for that matter? This is the first year we've seen them, and they are a freakin' riot!! Two people can fit in 1 and it costs $5. It doesn't say for how long you get your "blow dry", but I did see some guy using the one outside Popeye the next day. (Why I don't know because it was sunny and hot out?!?!)
We sat at the Popeye statue and waited for the crew to show. It wasn't too long before they arrived. First ride they wanted to do? Popeye of course! And, you don't think once is enough, do you? Nope. Not for this group...of course not. So, we took a couple more rides on Popeye. Pix:
DH & Bubba, BIL, around Me Ship the Olive, BIL, DH (in background) & Bubba, our SIL & niece, going up, Bubba watchin' where he's goin', the family, the brothers, Bubba getting nailed! Our nephew & SIL, cousins and our niece & I.
After a few spins on Popeye, it was time to have lunch. We decided to eat at Comic Strip Cafe....pretty decent food here. (I didn't take many pictures in here because I took a boatload last year. More pix in last year's trippie...link to that in my sig.) We ate here last year and decided because of the size of our group (8) and the selection available, it was a good choice. While everyone, but Bubba & I, went to stand in line to order, Bubba & I went to score some seats. Not easy looking for 8 seats together since it was busy with Brazillian tour groups. Luckily, the lunch gods were watching out for us that day, because as I approached the rear seating area, a big group got up...leaving an empty table of....yep....8!
I had Bubba sit at the one end of the table while I secured the other end. At least 3 different girls asked, at various times, if they could steal my chairs and I had to tell them sorry. While Bubba and I were sitting there (for a long time), I did notice a lot of these Brazillian tour groups are girls. Very few guys seem to be in these groups. If I were a Brazillian dude, I'd seriously think about trying to score a trip with these groups. Like I said, after a loooong wait, DH and crew returned with food. Bubba had a pizza, our niece Casey had spaghetti, other niece Corinne had the chicken and everyone else had a cheeseburger. Everyone said their food was good and had no complaints...especially when there's beer to be had! We were just finishing up when the rest of the family arrived and DH got a text from his cousin who lives in Orlando. Turns out he was in the park last night looking for us, but not only did we not have our phone on, we didn't even have it with us! Anyway, the rest of the family had checked into the Portofino and met us over at IOA. This group consisted of: Grumpy (SIL's Dad), Donna her Mom, Nana (obvious who she is), Sushi her sister and Peyton her baby boy. (Sushi's husband Zane was at work and would meet up with us later at HRH Beach Club for dinner.)
On our way over to Jurassic Park, we HAVE to stop and shoot the water cannons (from the bridge) at the unsuspecting people ending their Dudley ride. On our way, I saw this gal and had my picture taken with her. Go ahead, laugh...it's silly. But, I'm on vacation and I pay a lot of money to act silly! She was very nice and had the character's voice down to a 't'.
Picture over...onward to squirt the nice people
We stood here about 10 minutes just plunking quarter after quarter into the machines. After a while, we'd even holler to them and they'd look up at us on the bridge and smile and wave. Then, BAM!! Nailed 'em with the water cannon! Hehe...you have to laugh...even if you are the victim!! Worth $5 anyday for a good chuckle! Sometimes it's the little things, ya know?I also happened to get a good picture of the Pteranodon Flyers ride at JP too for those who wonder what the ride actually is.
On the way into JP area, we all decided to trek over to JP River Adventure. Some of us rode JPRA while the rest went inside to the Burger Digs to get lunch and feed the baby. We weren't long on the ride before we met up with the rest of the troops. Sushi was still feeding the baby by the time we returned, and some of us wanted to ride DD and headed that way. Whoever wasn't riding, stayed put and we'd meet up when we were finished.
First let me mention, there are no pix
Second, let me say how crowded that entrance way to DD is!
Didn't think so.
So, we headed back the looong walk toward JP Discovery Center to hook up with the family we left behind, stopping by The Watering Hole along the way. Drinks in hand, we headed for the Discovery Center. This was one wicked storm that trapped us at the JP Discovery Center/Burger Digs for almost 2 hours. There was thunder and lightening and nobody was going anywhere in that...no matter we were dressed in swimsuits or not! Luckily, The Watering Hole was just around the corner and DH & BIL donned ponchos (had to keep the drinks dry) and kept running around back and forth for happy hour. We even tried to the get the weather radar to come up on BIL's phone, but it was just too stormy....couldn't get it.
Just after 4pm, the thunder and lightening part of the storm passed enough we could finally move on. We walked back toward the park over the bridge to the Lost Continent. 3 Broomsticks is shaping up in place of the Enchanted Oak. We saw this bird flappin' it's wings trying to dry off. Took a couple more pix of the Harry Potter area they're building and few pictures of the family back on the move. You can see Flying Unicorn here in the Harry Potter area.
We found ourselves in the LC carny games area. This is where they closed off the path to DD. Be nice when it's back open again....the long way stinks!
Anyway, we played some milk bottle toss, dart throw and ring toss. The kids had a good time...they deserved some fun after being so good 'trapped' at the Discovery Center (there's only SO much to see and do there...especially for almost 2 hours!) BIL won a big, fat nothing, while Bubba won a little monkey. Peyton didn't play, but he had fun anyway! Speaking of Peyton, Sushi wanted him to take a ride on the Car-O-Suess-El....so, it was about 5pm, we headed toward Suess Landing to do that. We headed out of Lost Continent, passing Mythos, toward Suess Landing.
I don't know why we didn't ride anything else in Suess Landing, but we didn't.
Those of the group who rode had a good time... especially Peyton. He really had a good time! Bubba & Nana. our group, SIL and her "cool" ride. After a spin on the Car-O-Suess-El, it was on to Spiderman. Party of 11 for Spidey. Always a good show...one of the best rides ever in my opinion!
Afterwards, we met those who didn't go across the street to plan the next stop. As you could imagine with 12 people, it takes a long time to make a decision and get from one point to another. Here's the gang hanging out and striking a pose.The decision was to head to HRH since it was almost 6:30. We needed to stop at PBH for some stuff before heading to the Beach Club at HRH for dinner and dive-in movie. On the way out, BIL stopped at Cinnabon in Port of Entry.
Bubba's piece, Casey's piece and Corinne & Ricky's piece. SIL opted to wait for dinner. As luck would have it, there was a boat at City Walk for the Portofino just filling up. I think this was the trip that we started the 'wave'. Family in the front of the boat and the back part. There were a few other goofy people getting in on the act...it was probably the weirdest ride we ever had on the boat, but all in good fun! IF the boat is already there, we take it (we won't "wait" for it). We decided to hop on the boat and cruise back to PBH. (with that very warm box on my lap
) DH took some video and pictures on the boat on the way back. By the time we arrived back at the Portofino, I had to apologize to my BIL for sucking all the warm out of his box of Cinnabons. (DH took pix of all 12 of us, and the stroller, in the elevator...cuz, that's a lot of people ya know ) While back at our room, I was so chilly, I changed out of swimduds and into regular shorts and sneakers with socks. (Had I had jeans with me, I woulda worn them...I was that chilly!)
Not too long after 7pm, we headed for the Beach Club. According to my niece, Casey, we were NOT to miss the dive-in movie starting.... Twilight. (No matter she owns the movie and has seen it a million times
) Luckily, it was not busy and we were able to put a few tables together for us and just have the kids' table next to us. While waiting for dinner, the kids played games and pool....apparently with all that rain, the pool was very cold and the kids didn't want to stay in too long. We ordered and it didn't really take too long for our food. Bubba had grilled cheese and mozarella sticks, Ricky had the sampler, Corinne had the pizza and I can't remember what Casey had...pizza also I'm thinkin'? Either way, they were all very hungry (& some eager to see the movie) and devoured their dinners.
Chicken wings and nachos were ordered for appetizers.... always a big hit with this crew. I had a chicken BLT, BIL had a cheeseburger and SIL had some sorta salad and split a chicken sandwich with Nana. I know Peyton had a hotdog, but I don't remember what everyone else ordered....and, there aren't any pix? ...which is SO not like me...wonder what happened??
Toward the end of dinner, my SIL had an uninvited guest. While sitting and talking, DH noticed something jump on the table. He was just saying "what the heck is....." when it jumped again and landed on the side of my SIL's head! We noticed it was a small frog!! She started to freak out (but didn't want to hurt it) and managed to swoosh it off her head onto her arm, where she was able to finally see it and flick it into the planter tree behind her. Yes...she was freaking out. But, she's a trooper and she got over it pretty quick....sip of wine didn't hurt either
. It was a great laugh....after the fact.....Anyhow...we ate and hung out at the Beach Club for awhile....had to be around 10pm when we left.
We got home and Ryan decided to relax listening to some tunes before bed....again, that whole 'got my OWN room... cool' thing goin on....
A very long day....bed was after midnight. But, no matter, no reason to get up early tomorrow.
- I reckon you must be the best trip report writer on all of the boards!! 
)...I know if it's not finished by the holidays, it won't get done.
