The travellers:
Me (Sue) DH (Jorge) & DD (Rebecca)
2 Parents (DM equipped with electric wheelchair)
2 Sisters, 2 BIL, 6 Nephews & 1 Niece
Day 7 MK & Spectromagic or not!
The weather reports do not look good today with the weather channel predicting a 50% chance of rain. Trouble is, today is the only day that Spectromagic is scheduled during our stay so its do or die! After breakfast we arrive at the TTC around 9.30am. We have to take the ferry across because of DMs electric scooter and we stand and watch the Castle looming up towards us. Beautiful. This is the best view in the world.
Once inside we find the courtyard outside City Hall filled with characters and spend ages getting autographs from them all. We even get Mickeys, which pleases DS as she has been dying to get a picture with him. After wandering up main street we come across the show on the forecourt stage. Excellent show which really gets us in the mood. Afterwards we drop DD (Rebecca) and DN (Katie) off to see Belles storytime while the older children and DH, armed with walkie talkies and orders to keep in contact, go off to do the mountains (Splash, Space & Big Thunder) Belles story lasts just long enough for us to enjoy our coffee outside in peace! The Teacups are next and then down into Mickeys toontown fair. Rebecca and Katie are most impressed that they are old enough (just!) at 7 to do Goofys Barnstormer on their own while the adults wait in the shop and try on funny hats how grown up of us! When the girls come back we take a tour of Minnie & Mickies houses with a discussion of why Minnie does not have a bedroom - does she sleep at Mickeys?? By the time we meet up with the others at Fantasyland I am reminded of why MK is my least favourite park- there are people everywhere and the atmosphere in Fantasyland is quite claustrophobic. We grab some FPs for Winnie the Pooh and take a lunch break in Pinocchios Café next to the flying Dumbo ride, which is displaying its customary 60 minute wait time. Lunch is OK. Burgers and sodas. We consider doing Its a small world but the queue is massive so we walk off the lunch by touring the park right down to Adventure land, stopping off at the Pirates of the Carribean which only has a 5 minute wait time. This is one of my all time favourites and everyone enjoys it even the teenage coaster freak boys. As its nearing parade time we head back to the castle to get our spaces for the parade. I was looking forward to the Share a dream come true parade but found it disappointing. Not long enough IMHO and putting the characters in glass cases made them seem inaccessible.
After the parade the clouds are looking darker so worries set in about Spectromagic, which is due to start at 7pm. After splitting back into our groups the boys go off to do the mountains (again) while we use our FPs on Winnie The Pooh, getting more FPs for Buzz on the way. WTP is good but Buzz is great I beat DH with a score of 103,000!!! (OK I hit a bonus panel by mistake but all the same!!) As the park is a bit quieter now we manage to do Its a small world after all and when we emerge the rain is falling steadily. All does not look good with the sky we begin to hear the first rumbles of thunder. Oh dear .. DS checks with a CM to see what the situation is with Spectromagic who says that no decision will be taken until 5 minutes before it is due to start but it depends on whether there is lightening about. By the time she gets back it is bucketing it down and we are all sheltering under a canopy near the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Shop. Nobody fancies hanging around in this weather for an hour on the off chance they will run the parade so reluctantly we squelch back to the vans. By the time we get to the car park the lightening has started and by 7pm it is in full swing. No chance of Specto being run so we made the right decision to leave. Cold comfort though as we wont have another chance to see it before we go home.
Driving back to the villa through the rain and thunderstorm is definately not fun and DS is terrified. By the time we get to the villa she is a wreck and I have to prise her fingers off the dashboard.
The rest of the evening is spent with a couple of beers at the villa (large Scotch for DS!) while watching some adverts interspersed with the odd bit of TV.
Day 8 Islands of Adventure
Another beautiful day with clear blue skies which is surprising after the thunderstorms of last night. Breakfast in the villa again and we drive up the I4 to Islands of Adventure. As this is the main park for rollercoasters we split up into our respective groups (ride freaks / wussies). Today I insist on going with the ride freaks while DM takes care of Rebecca so I am determined to make the most of it. The Hulk is first and we get FPs on our way in so that we can ride again immediately. 15 minutes wait and a fantastic ride later we are all rushing for the entrance again when DH announces hes lost the FPs. (No, I dont know how either!) A thorough search of his person fails to turn them up so reluctantly we move on to Dr Dooms Fearfall. I like this ride, and the view at the top is amazing but it could do with being a tad longer. Next is my favourite Spiderman, with only a 20 minute queue. The queuing area is excellent, as is the ride. As we come out of Spiderman we find DH (who doesnt like simulators) downing beer from a souvenir mug. At 11.30am!! Of course he has excuses: a) he is on holiday and b) the souvenir mug is great value as with it you get happy hour between 3-5pm with half price beer. (Trouble is they neglect to tell us that this is only available from the bar near the main entrance, of which we are nowhere near between 3 & 5pm a bit naughty of them I thought!) Still at this stage I fall for it and make him buy me one too. Time to meet up with the wussies who are just coming off the Flying Unicorn (about their limit as far as rides go). They have done Cat in the Hat - of which DS, aged 36, is strangely terrified, Carousussel and One Fish Two Fish. Followed by an argument and a soaking with the Talking Fountain.
The whole group moves through the impressive gates into Jurassic Park and we head for the River Adventure. I remember this ride as not being that wet and tell everyone so to persuade them to go on - even DD believes me so 11 brave souls start out on the cruise. DN (Katie) is terrified by the dinosaurs - and then we come to the drop! I could feel the water whooshing over me and thought Oh Dear .theyre gonna kill me! Luckily they all see the funny side, even though theyre soaked to the skin. As we are already wet we decide to do Dudley Do rights but it is closed - technical difficulties. Still 'Bilgerat Barges gives them another soaking so they are happy. DD and I decide that one soaking is enough for one day and stay on dry land while squirting them with water from the bridge. While they dry out we head back round for another go on Spiderman . Over to do Duelling Dragons and it is nearly time to go. One last go on the Hulk and collect the vans and head back down the I4 to Golden Corral for dinner. Brilliant value their All You Can Eat Steak Buffet is only $9.99 with a large range of food and freshly cooked steaks included. As we are all starving we do it justice but the amount of food thrown away is scandalous.
Our evening is finished off with a spot of retail therapy in Bargain World before retiring happy. Tomorrow we are off to NASA.
Me (Sue) DH (Jorge) & DD (Rebecca)
2 Parents (DM equipped with electric wheelchair)
2 Sisters, 2 BIL, 6 Nephews & 1 Niece
Day 7 MK & Spectromagic or not!
The weather reports do not look good today with the weather channel predicting a 50% chance of rain. Trouble is, today is the only day that Spectromagic is scheduled during our stay so its do or die! After breakfast we arrive at the TTC around 9.30am. We have to take the ferry across because of DMs electric scooter and we stand and watch the Castle looming up towards us. Beautiful. This is the best view in the world.
Once inside we find the courtyard outside City Hall filled with characters and spend ages getting autographs from them all. We even get Mickeys, which pleases DS as she has been dying to get a picture with him. After wandering up main street we come across the show on the forecourt stage. Excellent show which really gets us in the mood. Afterwards we drop DD (Rebecca) and DN (Katie) off to see Belles storytime while the older children and DH, armed with walkie talkies and orders to keep in contact, go off to do the mountains (Splash, Space & Big Thunder) Belles story lasts just long enough for us to enjoy our coffee outside in peace! The Teacups are next and then down into Mickeys toontown fair. Rebecca and Katie are most impressed that they are old enough (just!) at 7 to do Goofys Barnstormer on their own while the adults wait in the shop and try on funny hats how grown up of us! When the girls come back we take a tour of Minnie & Mickies houses with a discussion of why Minnie does not have a bedroom - does she sleep at Mickeys?? By the time we meet up with the others at Fantasyland I am reminded of why MK is my least favourite park- there are people everywhere and the atmosphere in Fantasyland is quite claustrophobic. We grab some FPs for Winnie the Pooh and take a lunch break in Pinocchios Café next to the flying Dumbo ride, which is displaying its customary 60 minute wait time. Lunch is OK. Burgers and sodas. We consider doing Its a small world but the queue is massive so we walk off the lunch by touring the park right down to Adventure land, stopping off at the Pirates of the Carribean which only has a 5 minute wait time. This is one of my all time favourites and everyone enjoys it even the teenage coaster freak boys. As its nearing parade time we head back to the castle to get our spaces for the parade. I was looking forward to the Share a dream come true parade but found it disappointing. Not long enough IMHO and putting the characters in glass cases made them seem inaccessible.
After the parade the clouds are looking darker so worries set in about Spectromagic, which is due to start at 7pm. After splitting back into our groups the boys go off to do the mountains (again) while we use our FPs on Winnie The Pooh, getting more FPs for Buzz on the way. WTP is good but Buzz is great I beat DH with a score of 103,000!!! (OK I hit a bonus panel by mistake but all the same!!) As the park is a bit quieter now we manage to do Its a small world after all and when we emerge the rain is falling steadily. All does not look good with the sky we begin to hear the first rumbles of thunder. Oh dear .. DS checks with a CM to see what the situation is with Spectromagic who says that no decision will be taken until 5 minutes before it is due to start but it depends on whether there is lightening about. By the time she gets back it is bucketing it down and we are all sheltering under a canopy near the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Shop. Nobody fancies hanging around in this weather for an hour on the off chance they will run the parade so reluctantly we squelch back to the vans. By the time we get to the car park the lightening has started and by 7pm it is in full swing. No chance of Specto being run so we made the right decision to leave. Cold comfort though as we wont have another chance to see it before we go home.
Driving back to the villa through the rain and thunderstorm is definately not fun and DS is terrified. By the time we get to the villa she is a wreck and I have to prise her fingers off the dashboard.
The rest of the evening is spent with a couple of beers at the villa (large Scotch for DS!) while watching some adverts interspersed with the odd bit of TV.
Day 8 Islands of Adventure
Another beautiful day with clear blue skies which is surprising after the thunderstorms of last night. Breakfast in the villa again and we drive up the I4 to Islands of Adventure. As this is the main park for rollercoasters we split up into our respective groups (ride freaks / wussies). Today I insist on going with the ride freaks while DM takes care of Rebecca so I am determined to make the most of it. The Hulk is first and we get FPs on our way in so that we can ride again immediately. 15 minutes wait and a fantastic ride later we are all rushing for the entrance again when DH announces hes lost the FPs. (No, I dont know how either!) A thorough search of his person fails to turn them up so reluctantly we move on to Dr Dooms Fearfall. I like this ride, and the view at the top is amazing but it could do with being a tad longer. Next is my favourite Spiderman, with only a 20 minute queue. The queuing area is excellent, as is the ride. As we come out of Spiderman we find DH (who doesnt like simulators) downing beer from a souvenir mug. At 11.30am!! Of course he has excuses: a) he is on holiday and b) the souvenir mug is great value as with it you get happy hour between 3-5pm with half price beer. (Trouble is they neglect to tell us that this is only available from the bar near the main entrance, of which we are nowhere near between 3 & 5pm a bit naughty of them I thought!) Still at this stage I fall for it and make him buy me one too. Time to meet up with the wussies who are just coming off the Flying Unicorn (about their limit as far as rides go). They have done Cat in the Hat - of which DS, aged 36, is strangely terrified, Carousussel and One Fish Two Fish. Followed by an argument and a soaking with the Talking Fountain.
The whole group moves through the impressive gates into Jurassic Park and we head for the River Adventure. I remember this ride as not being that wet and tell everyone so to persuade them to go on - even DD believes me so 11 brave souls start out on the cruise. DN (Katie) is terrified by the dinosaurs - and then we come to the drop! I could feel the water whooshing over me and thought Oh Dear .theyre gonna kill me! Luckily they all see the funny side, even though theyre soaked to the skin. As we are already wet we decide to do Dudley Do rights but it is closed - technical difficulties. Still 'Bilgerat Barges gives them another soaking so they are happy. DD and I decide that one soaking is enough for one day and stay on dry land while squirting them with water from the bridge. While they dry out we head back round for another go on Spiderman . Over to do Duelling Dragons and it is nearly time to go. One last go on the Hulk and collect the vans and head back down the I4 to Golden Corral for dinner. Brilliant value their All You Can Eat Steak Buffet is only $9.99 with a large range of food and freshly cooked steaks included. As we are all starving we do it justice but the amount of food thrown away is scandalous.
Our evening is finished off with a spot of retail therapy in Bargain World before retiring happy. Tomorrow we are off to NASA.
