mikki.young
Knows Dreams do come true!
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2000
- Messages
- 3,187
Tuesday 23rd January
It was about 1.30 am before we got to bed, so forgive us if we are up late today. It is another day away from parks. First stop was the Marketplace and another quick tour of World of Disney.
Now its already lunch time and we go up International Drive looking for Sweet Tomato somewhere Mikki says she has only good reports of. The directions say its on Kirkman but that takes us onto I-4 at that spot where if youre not careful you compound your difficulty by getting onto the Turnpike. The entrance was from I-Drive. The humans enjoyed the food at Sweet Tomato. Lots of choices of fresh salads made it probably the healthiest meal they have had so far in the trip. They didnt quite work out the system at first so although the staff were helpful and friendly, they felt a bit nervous. It may be just they need to go again to get used to it.
Next, it was back to Premium Outlets to check out the part we had not visited yet and to see if there was anything else we wanted on a Tuesday when Andrew can get over 50s discount from some stores. There was not but Mikki found a shirt in Character Premier. Although actually a golf shirt for men, Mikki has two she uses for tennis and finds them very comfortable. She was delighted to get one in a different colour at a discounted price in the outlet.
Finally, it was back home, get onto the internet and get the toy kitten to wear himself out putting up his trip reports.
Wednesday 24th January
Its a little colder today so we set off with warmer clothing to the Studios (well, the humans do: I have my fur coat same as usual).
For the first time, we find the line for Star Tours short enough for my impatient humans to ride it. It is nice to have a few little variations I these attractions like the added warnings of no eating, drinking, video taping, Jedi mind tricks or light sabre waving. We keep hearing Disney are thinking of updating the film in this attraction. What would they have instead? Is it my humans showing their age or were Episodes 1 to 3 as forgettable for others too?
Its a great day for pictures. Mikki takes some she doesnt want me to describe in detail and I get some with characters including some I have not met before. They congregate outside the Chinese Theatre. We suspect this is so they can get under cover quickly if it starts to rain. I have pictures with Jafar, Max (Goofys son) and Phil (Hercules trainer). I wont pass on what Mikki said about how well Andrew and Phil looked together. But the real thrill was to meet Marie.
We saw Marie come out and followed her to where she was going to stand. In all, we lined up three times. We came back the second time when Katie the cast member who was running her line (as well as Jafars working hard) offered to take the camera so we could all be in the picture. Just as she was taking the picture the batteries ran out on the camera so Andrew got back in line while Mikki changed the batteries. Soon we were back at the front of the line and this time Katie was able to take a great picture! Katie was very impressive in how she coped with two lines and taking pictures for families from both lines.
After that we went to One Mans Dream. The film at the end always brings a tear to my humans eyes. The opening and closing commentary are by Julie Andrews. There was debate between the humans whether this has changed in the last year or so. That bought us out near Animation Courtyard so a look round the Art of Disney store was in order. After that they decided that a brief rest at home would set them up better for a meet that night than more park adventures. They probably made a good choice because it rained a lot before they went out again and I might have got wet!
It was still damp in the evening so Mikki drove us to the Polynesian and made use of the DDE free valet parking for the first time. We were to meet Linda and her husband Gene for dinner at Kona Café. It was great fun and I got a cuddle from Linda as well.
Thursday 25th January
On the morning television, ABC GMA are announcing their winner of the first night in the suite in Cinderellas Castle. We get a brief view of the place And it does look rather special. Mikki decides we will go to the Magic Kingdom today. Its cool and may rain so Epcot and the Animal Kingdom are out and we went to the Studios yesterday.
We arrive as the stage show is starting. Mikki takes photographs. She likes the show better than the one they had last year which came from Tokyo Disneyland. It is much more in the traditional Disney style.
After the show, we go to Fantasyland and take advantage of the lack of a line to ride the Teacups. Mikki notes that it may be cold but Dumbo still has a significant wait.
We walk through Fantasyland and go to the Haunted Mansion as it, too, has no wait. There is a photopass cameraman at the exit so we have a picture by the hearse.
The park is quiet so Mikki thinks we should see if we can eat at Liberty Tree Tavern. Here, they ask where you are from. We have got into a habit of saying we used to live in London because it is too difficult to explain where Lincolnshire or anywhere else in England is. We decide in future we will say that we are 30 miles from the original Boston and just 3 miles from the village of Norton Disney. It wont help anyone but it sounds more impressive. The humans have crab cakes and sandwiches at Liberty Tree and I have some nice pictures taken. Mikki remembers that she has not yet ridden her favourite ride Big Thunder Mountain but decides right after lunch may not be the best time. We go to Tom Sawyer Island instead.
We walked round the island several times. Andrew even leads us through the caves. After doing the first half of the barrel bridge, Mikki decided I had better get into my carriage so she could have both hands free for the second half. Well, its better to be safe. We had quite a wait for the return raft. Although there was hardly anyone waiting when we got to the dock, the raft had to wait for the riverboat to go past. At least we got a good view of it while waiting.
Back on the mainland, Mikki decided it was still not time for Big Thunder so we wandered through Adventureland until we found the Jungle Cruise also had only a short line. We are the last group on at the back of the boat. Its a good spot for more pictures.
We leave the park to get ready for the evening. I am pleased when a photpass photographer recognises me just before we exit. He takes our photograph in front of the Mickey Head flowers. Outside, we go to Guest Services because Mikki has decided she wants to go to another Pirates and Princesses party. The cast member there calls me a dog! We help her education.
Mikki and Andrew spend the evening with their friend who lives in central Florida. She is staying at the Grosvenor on Hotel Boulevard because she is attending a professional seminar there. She is not happy with the hotel. Mikki and Andrew take her to eat at Raglan Road on Pleasure Island. It is new to them and convenient for the Grosvenor. They are seated next to the stage but get the staff to move them to another table before the music starts. Raglan Road is supposed to be themed on an Irish pub. Like anything in Disney, it is several times larger than any pub we know in Ireland. It was good to try it but they probably wont go back soon.
It was about 1.30 am before we got to bed, so forgive us if we are up late today. It is another day away from parks. First stop was the Marketplace and another quick tour of World of Disney.
Now its already lunch time and we go up International Drive looking for Sweet Tomato somewhere Mikki says she has only good reports of. The directions say its on Kirkman but that takes us onto I-4 at that spot where if youre not careful you compound your difficulty by getting onto the Turnpike. The entrance was from I-Drive. The humans enjoyed the food at Sweet Tomato. Lots of choices of fresh salads made it probably the healthiest meal they have had so far in the trip. They didnt quite work out the system at first so although the staff were helpful and friendly, they felt a bit nervous. It may be just they need to go again to get used to it.
Next, it was back to Premium Outlets to check out the part we had not visited yet and to see if there was anything else we wanted on a Tuesday when Andrew can get over 50s discount from some stores. There was not but Mikki found a shirt in Character Premier. Although actually a golf shirt for men, Mikki has two she uses for tennis and finds them very comfortable. She was delighted to get one in a different colour at a discounted price in the outlet.
Finally, it was back home, get onto the internet and get the toy kitten to wear himself out putting up his trip reports.
Wednesday 24th January
Its a little colder today so we set off with warmer clothing to the Studios (well, the humans do: I have my fur coat same as usual).
For the first time, we find the line for Star Tours short enough for my impatient humans to ride it. It is nice to have a few little variations I these attractions like the added warnings of no eating, drinking, video taping, Jedi mind tricks or light sabre waving. We keep hearing Disney are thinking of updating the film in this attraction. What would they have instead? Is it my humans showing their age or were Episodes 1 to 3 as forgettable for others too?
Its a great day for pictures. Mikki takes some she doesnt want me to describe in detail and I get some with characters including some I have not met before. They congregate outside the Chinese Theatre. We suspect this is so they can get under cover quickly if it starts to rain. I have pictures with Jafar, Max (Goofys son) and Phil (Hercules trainer). I wont pass on what Mikki said about how well Andrew and Phil looked together. But the real thrill was to meet Marie.
We saw Marie come out and followed her to where she was going to stand. In all, we lined up three times. We came back the second time when Katie the cast member who was running her line (as well as Jafars working hard) offered to take the camera so we could all be in the picture. Just as she was taking the picture the batteries ran out on the camera so Andrew got back in line while Mikki changed the batteries. Soon we were back at the front of the line and this time Katie was able to take a great picture! Katie was very impressive in how she coped with two lines and taking pictures for families from both lines.
After that we went to One Mans Dream. The film at the end always brings a tear to my humans eyes. The opening and closing commentary are by Julie Andrews. There was debate between the humans whether this has changed in the last year or so. That bought us out near Animation Courtyard so a look round the Art of Disney store was in order. After that they decided that a brief rest at home would set them up better for a meet that night than more park adventures. They probably made a good choice because it rained a lot before they went out again and I might have got wet!
It was still damp in the evening so Mikki drove us to the Polynesian and made use of the DDE free valet parking for the first time. We were to meet Linda and her husband Gene for dinner at Kona Café. It was great fun and I got a cuddle from Linda as well.
Thursday 25th January
On the morning television, ABC GMA are announcing their winner of the first night in the suite in Cinderellas Castle. We get a brief view of the place And it does look rather special. Mikki decides we will go to the Magic Kingdom today. Its cool and may rain so Epcot and the Animal Kingdom are out and we went to the Studios yesterday.
We arrive as the stage show is starting. Mikki takes photographs. She likes the show better than the one they had last year which came from Tokyo Disneyland. It is much more in the traditional Disney style.
After the show, we go to Fantasyland and take advantage of the lack of a line to ride the Teacups. Mikki notes that it may be cold but Dumbo still has a significant wait.
We walk through Fantasyland and go to the Haunted Mansion as it, too, has no wait. There is a photopass cameraman at the exit so we have a picture by the hearse.
The park is quiet so Mikki thinks we should see if we can eat at Liberty Tree Tavern. Here, they ask where you are from. We have got into a habit of saying we used to live in London because it is too difficult to explain where Lincolnshire or anywhere else in England is. We decide in future we will say that we are 30 miles from the original Boston and just 3 miles from the village of Norton Disney. It wont help anyone but it sounds more impressive. The humans have crab cakes and sandwiches at Liberty Tree and I have some nice pictures taken. Mikki remembers that she has not yet ridden her favourite ride Big Thunder Mountain but decides right after lunch may not be the best time. We go to Tom Sawyer Island instead.
We walked round the island several times. Andrew even leads us through the caves. After doing the first half of the barrel bridge, Mikki decided I had better get into my carriage so she could have both hands free for the second half. Well, its better to be safe. We had quite a wait for the return raft. Although there was hardly anyone waiting when we got to the dock, the raft had to wait for the riverboat to go past. At least we got a good view of it while waiting.
Back on the mainland, Mikki decided it was still not time for Big Thunder so we wandered through Adventureland until we found the Jungle Cruise also had only a short line. We are the last group on at the back of the boat. Its a good spot for more pictures.
We leave the park to get ready for the evening. I am pleased when a photpass photographer recognises me just before we exit. He takes our photograph in front of the Mickey Head flowers. Outside, we go to Guest Services because Mikki has decided she wants to go to another Pirates and Princesses party. The cast member there calls me a dog! We help her education.
Mikki and Andrew spend the evening with their friend who lives in central Florida. She is staying at the Grosvenor on Hotel Boulevard because she is attending a professional seminar there. She is not happy with the hotel. Mikki and Andrew take her to eat at Raglan Road on Pleasure Island. It is new to them and convenient for the Grosvenor. They are seated next to the stage but get the staff to move them to another table before the music starts. Raglan Road is supposed to be themed on an Irish pub. Like anything in Disney, it is several times larger than any pub we know in Ireland. It was good to try it but they probably wont go back soon.
