A Very British Trip report - Oct 2006 - Day 13

Kevin Stringer

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DAY 13 – SUNDAY 29th OCTOBER 2006

Whos’ going:

Me, Kev – Husband, father, friend and all round good egg.
Wife, Tam – she hates to be called ‘the wife’ so I left the ‘the’ off. Make sense?
India, nearly 16, eldest daughter.
Georgia, now 13, youngest daughter.
Deb & Matt – good friends
Susan – another good friend, joining us for part 2 of the holiday.

Awake at 7.45am. The aim is to leave at 8.45am to go to the Animal Kingdom so Susan can ride Expedition Everest. Unfortunately Deb has had a rough night and is feeling a little tired so she and Matt are going to have a relaxing morning.

The rest of us get the bus to the Animal Kingdom and are entering around 9.30am. Over to Expedition Everest where we get Fast Passes for 11.30am. As we walk past the monkey temple the monkeys are having a good time swinging on the ropes and generally entertaining the gathered crowd.

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We go to Dinosaur next and are on in less than 5 minutes. It’s India and Georgia’s first ever time, although Georgia doesn’t actually see much as she keeps her eyes closed the whole time. This isn’t going on her list of favourite attractions.

After this we take the train to Rafiki’s Planet watch. Susan has never done this before and we go into the rainforest sound booths before Georgia meets Pochahontas and has her photo taken. Daddy lurks at the back enviously.

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It could have been me she’s cuddling up to!

They are doing a routine check-up on a meerkat in the veterinary area and it is fascinating to watch the team of people at work. The poor little meerkat doubles as a pincushion he has so many injections. Susan says he must have pretty good health insurance with all the attention he’s getting.
You could easily spend a couple of hours here seeing all there is to see, but it’s time to use our Fast passes for Expedition Everest. When I say ‘we’ I don’t mean me. I have decided that discretion is the better part of valour and decide to sit this one out. I would love to do it again, but the resultant illness is just not worth it.

I sit in the viewing area at the bottom of the big drop and write up my trip report. India says she is going to wave her red Hooters hat (that’s my girl) as she goes past and I actually manage to spot her as they hurtle by.
Susan comes off the ride and says that she loved it. Constitution of an ox that woman.

It is now time for lunch and we choose the Flame Tree Barbecue. Perhaps it should be called a barbequeue as it takes nearly half an hour to get our food. The best part about this place is that the seating areas are split into many small sections covered in trees and vegetation so it never seems too crowded.
We sit close to the lakeside with a fantastic view across the water to Expedition Everest. The food quality is mixed, we enjoy the BBQ beef sandwich but the ribs are a little dry.

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This is a photo of my best friend Mr Beer enjoying the view of Expedition Everest

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Mickey and his friends noticed Mr Beer and came by to say hello.

Having enjoyed a few hours in the Animal Kingdom we now catch the bus back to the Boardwalk. Waiting for us on our pillows are invitations to visit ‘Ohana on Wednesday evening to celebrate both Georgia and Susan’s recent birthdays. Georgia is now 13,but wild horses will not make me divulge Susan’s age. A woman’s 60th birthday is her own business. Damn it, it just slipped out. You must admit from looking at her photos that she doesn’t look anywhere near this. She’s a sort of Petronella Pan.

A rest by the quiet pool is called for. There are a few people around, but no children, as they prefer the slides and fun of the main pool. It’s great just to relax and enjoy the perfect Florida sunshine, it’s 77° and clear blue skies today.

Back in the room we met up with Deb and Matt who have been out to the Disney MGM Studios.
Everyone showers and we are off to Epcot to eat at the Bistro de Paris in France at 5.40pm. This is quite a nice restaurant, but we don’t have the best table and it’s always going to suffer in comparison to last nights excellent dining experience at Victoria and Albert’s.

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Something that is quite unusual for dining in Epcot is that they don’t rush you at all, in fact we are still enjoying our meal over 2 hours after we first entered the restaurant.
I have the consommé to start, which is actually rather lacking in taste. Me, Tam and Georgia have the lamb as our main course, while India tries the venison. Both are pretty good.

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This is lamb something, with something in a bowl and a spot of something on the side.

Probably the best thing about our meal is the crepe suzette Tam and share for dessert. This is prepared at our table by our French waiter, Anthony. What sort of French name is that? Antoine or Maurice or something, but Anthony? This is probably just jealousy on my part as he is a rather good looking young chap and Tam and Ind are fawning over him like love struck schoolgirls, which is probably alright in India’s case, but somewhat embarrassing in Tam’s.

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Ze crepe suzette

Anway, he can’t even speak proper English like wot I can, with his ‘Zis is ze dezzert madam’. He do wanna lern to speak proper like we does in Gloucestershire.
Jealousy aside, he is actually a very personable and likeable server. The whole meal is not cheap, setting us back $200 for the 4 of us and this includes taking advantage of Deb and Matt’s Disney Dining Experience card. That’s the trouble with our girls growing up, cheap meals off the children’s menu are rarely an option even though I try to convince Georgia that the burger and fries are excellent here.

After the meal Deb and Matt go back to the room while the rest of us watch Reflections of Earth from Japan. This is a different experience for me and it’s ok, but never going to beat my favourite spot in Norway. One good thing is seeing the globe float out from close up.

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Back at the room we join Deb and Matt on the balcony for a nightcap. Matt and Georgia continue teasing each other as they have been doing all evening. When Deb tells Matt to stop it he says ‘Well, she started it!’
Time for bed at 11.00pm.

Kev
 
Someday you will be 60, too, Kevin and I hope to be there to announce it to everyone. BTW, I'm really the same age as Georgia--with 47 years experience.
 

Great day Kev, fantastic photos as always. Many many belated Happy Birthday wishes to Susan and Georgia :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:
 
Hi

Great trip report. Great pics.

Happy belated birthday Susan :bday:
 
I see that Georgia has got the same pink hat as me (though it looks a lot cooler on her :rotfl: ) Another great day :thumbsup2
 
Sounds like a good day, Kev. I like the picture of the monkeys.

ArielJasmine princess:
 
Love the pic of the beer watching Everest kev!;)
Another great day:)
 
Once again some blanks to be filled in. Our ruse works and peace and quiet descend on the room, and RELAX.

We get ready at a leisurely pace and decide to have a wander over to MGM. As with USF we have no burning desire to go on much other than wanting to see Lights Motor Action. We have a nice lunch at Mama Melrose, where we bump into Fantasia Sam who is remarkably sober (it is only noon though!) and meander over to the show.

A very good show I think and well worth seeing. A few pics taken from our seats...

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A couple taken from our balcony of Illuminations later that night...
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Finally, one of the Yacht and Beach Club across the water. The observant amongst you will see the light on top of a Friendship Boat as it crosses the lake...
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Great action photos, Matt, and very interesting that you were able to focus on both the bike rider and his shadow. Somehow capturing that shadow seems especially impressive. Wasn't that viewing place perfect for framing the fireworks? You and your trusty camera are great collaborators.
 
Crack'in Pictures Matt I really like the way you managed to capture the action in LMA.
 
tony64 said:
Crack'in Pictures Matt I really like the way you managed to capture the action in LMA.
Cheers mate, slowish shutter speed and pan the camera is the answer. Unsurprisingly you need to take a lot to get some reasonable shots.
 














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