And we're off!

[taylor91]

Glad to hear that you are having a fab time, even with a delay.

 

[Invisable89]

I've stayed in a villa in Indian Creek before, it's a lovely estate!

Glad you've had a good time so far.

 

[buzz for boys]

Nightmare Delay but like you say 1 in 20 years is not that bad really. It will be a distant memory by the time you come home anyway

Always good to hear that the kids are having fun. I think if the launch was defo happening i would have to drive up to see it - when in Florida and all that!!

 

[Peebee]

Well, I have to say that we passed on the launch...after listening to the local news last night that around 600,000 people were expected to descend on the area, and that we would need to leave at around 5am to have a chance of getting there. We've been lucky enough to see 4 or 5 other launches through the years...if we hadn't I might have got out of bed in the middle of the night.

It was actually pretty cloudy this morning, so visibility wasn't that great anyway, and we there was great coverage on the local tv channels, much better than the 5 minutes shown at home.

Anyway, this evening we did the next best thing to a shuttle launch...Star Tours 2! It was superb, very much better than the old one, and we'll definitely be going back later in the trip.

Just back from dinner at Red Lobster and then mini golf...so just time for a dip in the pool before bed

Paul

 

[wayneg]

I wonder how big the crowds will be for the last one, its going to be crazy. Half of me wants a delay til we get there in August, other half hopes its not delayed so I don't have to battle with the crowds, last one in Feb took us about 4 hours to get back.

 

[disneyholic family]

enjoying your live trip report so far!!

that orlando weather can be difficult, really can throw a wrench into travel plans.....

your mini-van sounds amazing!! i'm going to check dollar right now...
i have a mini-van reserved with alamo, but we've never gotten anything near as nice as what you described...

oh...and Wayne, you'd never heard of Herman's Hermits????????????????
are you kidding me????????????????
now i know how really young you are....
I'm Henry the eighth i am
henry the eighth i am i am
i got married to the widow next door
she's been married 7 times before
and every one was a henry..

i could go on.....i'm singing it out loud as i write it...

you NEVER heard of them???????

gosh i must be REALLY old....

 

[wayneg]

oh...and Wayne, you'd never heard of Herman's Hermits????????????????
are you kidding me????????????????
now i know how really young you are....
I'm Henry the eighth i am
henry the eighth i am i am
i got married to the widow next door
she's been married 7 times before
and every one was a henry..

i could go on.....i'm singing it out loud as i write it...

you NEVER heard of them???????

gosh i must be REALLY old....

Thats one of the songs they sang.
Just looked, all their records were before I was 2 year old(born in 67)
I can only guess they were not a band my Mum listened to, I know many others from the same era like Manfred Mann, Roy Orbison etc. for some reason HH's bypassed me.
1965 - Herman's Hermits
1966 - Both Sides of Herman's Hermits
1967 - There's a Kind of Hush All Over the World
1967 - Blaze
1968 - Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter
1969 - Rock 'n Roll Party (unreleased)

 

[disneyholic family]

Thats one of the songs they sang.
Just looked, all their records were before I was 2 year old(born in 67)
I can only guess they were not a band my Mum listened to, I know many others from the same era like Manfred Mann, Roy Orbison etc. for some reason HH's bypassed me.
1965 - Herman's Hermits
1966 - Both Sides of Herman's Hermits
1967 - There's a Kind of Hush All Over the World
1967 - Blaze
1968 - Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter
1969 - Rock 'n Roll Party (unreleased)

oh yeah.....one of my favorites...how could i forget....
and now i'm singing again.....

Mrs brown you've got a lovely daughter......(lovely daughter)....
girls as sharp as her are something rare....(something rare)..
but it's sad....
she doesn't love me now..
she's made it clear enough..
it ain't no good to pine..

she wants to return the things i bought her ....(things i bought her)..
tell her she can keep them just the same....(just the same)...
things have changed..
she doesn't love me now..
she's made it clear enough..
it ain't no good to pine..
etc etc etc

yes, you are a babe in arms Wayne....
i was born in 1955....HH was big when i was about 10 years old....(my sister's 6 years older, so i heard whatever she was listening to)..

so i guess HH performed at epcot?

When i was there a couple of years ago with DD, we heard Chubby Checker play....he's from way before my time, but everyone knows his music (the twist)..
he's in his 70's now....we thought the show would be stupid, but it was fantastic.....and free....really a great show!! (at that open air theater in epcot)..

sorry for hijacking the post!!

 

[wayneg]

Yes the stage in American Pavillion.

 

[Elise79]

I wonder how big the crowds will be for the last one, its going to be crazy. Half of me wants a delay til we get there in August, other half hopes its not delayed so I don't have to battle with the crowds, last one in Feb took us about 4 hours to get back.

Took us less than 2 hours to get back - left KSC at 10 and I know we were in the Outlets at Vineland Ave at 12 ( not sure exactly what time we got there though!) - I think the time of launch made a difference though as you had get up pre-Dawn to get there!

 

[wayneg]

The one in Feb was late afternoon 4pm? so ideal for most people. Also at least 2 accidents on way back.

 

[Peebee]

Hi everyone, just checking in...been busy having fun and chilling out, so apologies for the lack of posting

Spent yesterday at MK, getting there in time for the opening show in front of the castle. Walked slowly to Space Mountain afterwards for DDs first ride on it, and she was still smiling at the end, so that's a good sign! Not sure it will ever be as big a fave as the tea cups though.

Got in line for Rapunzel meet and greet (well DW did) and line didn't move for 30 mins. Apparently if you're not there at opening it can take 90-120 mins to see Rapunzel and Flynn. We'll go back another time and do that...DD waved at them, so good enough to keep her happy for another day

Did DQ last night. Kids both old enough/big enough now for Mighty Ducks pinball which is a sure-fire way to tire them out before bed

Today we got to AK for opening, did probably the best safari run we've ever had - the whole animal population seemed to be awake and posing for us. Plus the best driver I can remember: 'if you lose something from the vehicle, raise your hand. When I see it, i'll raise my hand, and then we can both wave bye-bye to it forever!'

Did Everest a few times, then it broke down on the last run...had to be evacuated off the ride from the 17th floor. No pics as they stopped us from taking any backstage, but if you've ever seen a car park or building site, that's about it - no magic behind the scenes. Got 2 anytime FPs good till end of the month for our trouble, and CMs were very good about the whole process, all very well-drilled on the procedure.

Back early for swimming and lunch at the villa, and about to head off now for dinner at Outback and then Fantasmic! Uploading photos to laptop as I type, so will have some photos to share later, I promise! Just one for now...

Paul

 

[disneyholic family]

the kids are ADORABLE!!!!

so where along the ride did it breakdown...
i think i would have heartfailure if i had to be taken off....
they'd probably have to give me tranquilizers first!!

 

[Peebee]

Just a few photos from the trip so far...including one near the end of where Everest broke down earlier - you can see where the track is refusing to 'flip over' to let us go down the mountain!

Paul

 

[disneyholic family]

very cool picture in EE!!! not a place you would ever normally be able to take a picture!

where is the slide your daughter is on? the roll of film slide..
it dawns on me that kids her age might never have seen a roll of film

 

[Peebee]

Beth, that is so true - that thought never occurred to me, but you are right - film rolls are a think of the past for most people now!

That's at the 'Honey, I shrunk the kids' playground at the Studios, behind the Studio Catering Co counter service location, and near the Backlot Tour.

Paul

 

[disneyholic family]

Beth, that is so true - that thought never occurred to me, but you are right - film rolls are a think of the past for most people now!

That's at the 'Honey, I shrunk the kids' playground at the Studios, behind the Studio Catering Co counter service location, and near the Backlot Tour.

Paul

oh sure!! my kids played there when they were little....i guess i never noticed that slide!! very cute!

 

[buzz for boys]

Fab pic In EE!! I also love the pic of Lotso though.
Hope you are still having an amazing time and If you get chance I have a little man desperate to know what the new Star Tours ride is like

 

[Girlsontour]

I love your little girls outfit in the 5th photo - she looks lovely in the flowery skirt. Weather looks boiling...have a great time xx

 

[Peebee]

Hi everyone, back online after a couple of days at the Hard Rock Hotel!

Gorgeous hotel, luxurious and lots of fun with music everywhere we went. It was a real advantage having the front-of-the-line passes from staying onsite too. I really think the experience on the last two trips has spoiled us rotten. When we walked up to the Popeye/Bluto boat ride on Saturday the wait time was posted at 75 mins, and we were on the ride in 2 mins...and soaked to the skin in 3...

However, our luck with ride breakdowns continues - rode HP twice and both times it stopped for a lengthy period. Worth it in the end though

We are now on-site at the Boardwalk, though that didn't go entirely to plan: the ground floor room request we made has somehow got us onto a higher floor - not ideal with the kids and access to the pool, so they are moving us today.

Had dinner at the Turf Club at SSR last night, a real hidden gem, with a lovely location, great food and really friendly servers. I had the lobster topped burger and DW had the lamb chops and loved them. Would recommend a visit.

Afterwards we went to MK but flaked out quite early after the parade and Wishes, and the rest of the family are still fast asleep while I type this. ZZZZZZzzzzzz

Louise, you can tell Cam that he will love the new Star Tours - it is so much nicer than the old ride, and gives it a real breath of fresh air. We couldn't take any pics inside till now, but will grab some this week.

If anyone has any questions while we are here, let me know. 6 more nights till we head off for the Dream, then back 5 days later for our last couple of nights at WL.

Paul