S
SpottyDog
Guest
DAY 6 Thursday
Mornin, didnt get up till 5.45 this morning and want to be at Universal for 9 so will make this short- .really. Back to basics stuff.
Anyway nowt much happened yesterday (well apart from the snake) so this wont take long.
So I got them out by 10 and we were MGM bound. It seemed naughty to be settin off so late. Were lovin this luxury lark but the discipline missin too much to do round the villa whereas I get bored rigid in the hotel so have motivation to get them up and out. If the panic I felt when I realised it was 5:45 and I was still in bed was owt to go by, that discipline will return as I start sleepin late.
Took them to MacDs for brekkie- its quicker and cheaper and then into MGM. The car park seemed busy and was ¾ full, given we had to park in Stage30. 45 minute lines for TT and RnRC and all the people we had to push through confirmed it was busy too. So we got fastpasses for TT and set off for Indys show.
V and the kids love this I can take it or leave it, but only coz weve seen it so many times. Still the funny bit is funny EVERY time and the action is well done.
Took V and Julie round the hotel and basement at TT then they scooted through the chicken exit while I rode alone, like the fearless time traveller I am. Gaz has finally plucked up the courage to tell me he hates TT and stayed outside. Come to think of it, hes had a migraine every time Ive tried to ride this with him since 2001.
The new drop sequence was great and I would normally have gone back on I had Gazs FP left but the wait to ride FP was still 15 minutes and wed wasted half the day already.
Got FPs for RnRC then went over to The Great Movie Ride but it was down so we went to Muppet 3D instead. We love this no matter how many times we see it, though HIStA at Epcot has now taken over as the firm favourite (well, for me and V anyway)
Back to RnRC, and the other downside of this late start lark became apparent. We were walkin backwards and forwards pickin and choosin rides to fit round FP, whereas wed normally do the lot in an ordered and followin-on route by bein there at openin.
V and J were impressed by the garage and amazed at the speed the limo takes off at. They couldnt get through the chicken door fast enough !
Gaz likes RnRC but its lost its buzz for me as its a bit tame (now Im a big coaster survivor) and a bit too bumpy/shaky compared to the rest.
It was red hot when we came out so we decided to go to Typhoon Lagoon a bit earlier than planned. That was packed to but we soon found a spot and I sat to save our spot and watch the bags while V and the kids went to get changed. Gaz was back first, just got changed in the loo, but V and Julie were ages. Seems there was a queue for the Girlies place and only me little angel came back. V was in a queue for drinks.
Gaz had already gone in the surf pool so Julie went to find him. V was ages and it dawned on uz everywhere looks the same her and if she took one wrong turn shed be lost but not know it .By the time she kept walkin and took another couple of wrong turns she could be anywhere. Can you feel the panic in me voice?
Too bloomin right, Id given her me wallet to get a beer for me and pop for the kids and now shes lost and I have no way of buyin another beer.
She turned up eventually and the beer was still cold, so that was a happy endin.
She went on the Lazy River and I sat talking to Bud. The kids came back and I sent Gaz off to find his Mam coz we had to go in half an hour for our Fantasmic Dinner PS.
She came back on her own but didn't say whod found her or showed her the way back.
We left around 4.30 hot but refreshed.
Oh, and the snake!
On our way in, this snake slithered across the path and into the bushes. The kids missed it but my peerin into the grass and bush to watch it gave the game away. Our Gaz was well impressed and said if we didnt get a move on he was goin.
I pointed out he might be safer here as we know where this one was!
He didnt see the funny side of that.
So thats three wildlife spots weve made so far. V saw gators baskin on water side twice as we left Epcot the other day one in WDW and one on the Osceola. Yer can imagine how thrilled our Gaz is.
The Dinner at H&V was very nice, though maybe a bit rich as everything was in a sauce. Service was pretty poor, I had to remind the guy after 10 minutes that Id asked for a glass of water and he left V and the kids without a drink for the last 10 minutes of the meal. He got a $5 bill and a note that Id reduced it from the planned 20% ($18) due to his lack of attention the note wasnt bein petty but to make sure he knew I wasnt just a bad tipper and was the recommended action on an interestin tippin debate on USDIS lately.
One pet hate of mine is the difference in tip: service ratio on site. Given the norm is 15-20% the WDW servers tip will be huge compared to restaurants off site and I find this means the ones off site have to work for their tips whereas the servers in WDW seem very complacent Ill get $10-$20 whatever I do. Not just bein mean or moaney, there has been a disappointin trend in lack of service on site probably accentuated by the excellent and attentive service get elsewhere.
(Mind it seems he got the last laugh. When V was reading the boards the other day after we got back, Dear Stranger, - it seems the gratuity is already included in the bloomin charge so (a) no wonder he was inattentive and (b) Im probably the only one in the bloomin restaurant givin him an extra tip as well as piece of me mind. I just shouldnt be let out on me own.)
The meal was good though and Julie was particularly happy as they had hot dogs. $90 meal and she wanted to gorge herself on $1 hotdogs. Gaz on the other hand wasnt that impressed coz of the sauces so he didnt really enjoy much other than the kids table of chicken nuggets .pizza and hotdogs.
We took our seats by 6.30 and though the arena was fillin up it was empty by busy standards. Took V to about 6 rows from the front ; just high enough not to get wet though it was so hot and muggy, that might have been nice. I wanted to see if I could get a better video angle for the finale on the mountain as the light gantrys in the way of me other video. We never tire of this show and the nearer view was a bonus as the acoustics were so much better down there and the spray caught what breeze there was every now and then ,which was nice.
Id picked an end of row seat so we could get straight out at the end. The car park was so full, I didnt want to get snarled up in the traffic. Neednt have bothered - V let a guy go passed and then he decided to stand and let every row ahead of him clear before movin up a step.
I wasnt a happy bunny trudging through the shoulder to chest mass of happy Fantasmickers.
Luckily, wed parked near the gates when we came back from Typhoon Lagoon so could walk back to the car and seemed to exit easily enough and were back in the villa by 8:10 so figured wed made good time.
Ah the bliss of drinkin Sam Adams on a comfy couches rather than perched on a bed.
Gaz had the TV control first and elected to watch George Bushs press conference. Impressed by the lads interest in current affairs we didnt have the heart to take the telly off him. His sister went to bed in the huff!
Bed by 10 , earlier start tomorrer which is now today.
Must dash.
FAMILY SUMMARY
Later Starts D6 V3 G8 J10
MacDs Brekkie D5 V3 G3 J10
ToT D10 G3
Indy D7 V8 G8 J5
RnRC D7 G9
Muppet3D D8 V10 G6 J10
Fantasmic D9 V10 G8 J7
Fantasmic Dinner D7 V7 G7 J3
Typhoon Lagoon D7 V9 G3 J9
Seein snakes and gators D9 V5 G-5 J-10
Julies Bit at the End
All I have to add is that I loved doing the dinner package it was worth the money just to get good seats for Fantasmic.
Oh unfortunately I was unable to get any money from dad today which was a disappointment but I still had some money left from the day before.
Mornin, didnt get up till 5.45 this morning and want to be at Universal for 9 so will make this short- .really. Back to basics stuff.
Anyway nowt much happened yesterday (well apart from the snake) so this wont take long.
So I got them out by 10 and we were MGM bound. It seemed naughty to be settin off so late. Were lovin this luxury lark but the discipline missin too much to do round the villa whereas I get bored rigid in the hotel so have motivation to get them up and out. If the panic I felt when I realised it was 5:45 and I was still in bed was owt to go by, that discipline will return as I start sleepin late.
Took them to MacDs for brekkie- its quicker and cheaper and then into MGM. The car park seemed busy and was ¾ full, given we had to park in Stage30. 45 minute lines for TT and RnRC and all the people we had to push through confirmed it was busy too. So we got fastpasses for TT and set off for Indys show.
V and the kids love this I can take it or leave it, but only coz weve seen it so many times. Still the funny bit is funny EVERY time and the action is well done.
Took V and Julie round the hotel and basement at TT then they scooted through the chicken exit while I rode alone, like the fearless time traveller I am. Gaz has finally plucked up the courage to tell me he hates TT and stayed outside. Come to think of it, hes had a migraine every time Ive tried to ride this with him since 2001.
The new drop sequence was great and I would normally have gone back on I had Gazs FP left but the wait to ride FP was still 15 minutes and wed wasted half the day already.
Got FPs for RnRC then went over to The Great Movie Ride but it was down so we went to Muppet 3D instead. We love this no matter how many times we see it, though HIStA at Epcot has now taken over as the firm favourite (well, for me and V anyway)
Back to RnRC, and the other downside of this late start lark became apparent. We were walkin backwards and forwards pickin and choosin rides to fit round FP, whereas wed normally do the lot in an ordered and followin-on route by bein there at openin.
V and J were impressed by the garage and amazed at the speed the limo takes off at. They couldnt get through the chicken door fast enough !
Gaz likes RnRC but its lost its buzz for me as its a bit tame (now Im a big coaster survivor) and a bit too bumpy/shaky compared to the rest.
It was red hot when we came out so we decided to go to Typhoon Lagoon a bit earlier than planned. That was packed to but we soon found a spot and I sat to save our spot and watch the bags while V and the kids went to get changed. Gaz was back first, just got changed in the loo, but V and Julie were ages. Seems there was a queue for the Girlies place and only me little angel came back. V was in a queue for drinks.
Gaz had already gone in the surf pool so Julie went to find him. V was ages and it dawned on uz everywhere looks the same her and if she took one wrong turn shed be lost but not know it .By the time she kept walkin and took another couple of wrong turns she could be anywhere. Can you feel the panic in me voice?
Too bloomin right, Id given her me wallet to get a beer for me and pop for the kids and now shes lost and I have no way of buyin another beer.
She turned up eventually and the beer was still cold, so that was a happy endin.
She went on the Lazy River and I sat talking to Bud. The kids came back and I sent Gaz off to find his Mam coz we had to go in half an hour for our Fantasmic Dinner PS.
She came back on her own but didn't say whod found her or showed her the way back.
We left around 4.30 hot but refreshed.
Oh, and the snake!
On our way in, this snake slithered across the path and into the bushes. The kids missed it but my peerin into the grass and bush to watch it gave the game away. Our Gaz was well impressed and said if we didnt get a move on he was goin.
I pointed out he might be safer here as we know where this one was!
He didnt see the funny side of that.
So thats three wildlife spots weve made so far. V saw gators baskin on water side twice as we left Epcot the other day one in WDW and one on the Osceola. Yer can imagine how thrilled our Gaz is.
The Dinner at H&V was very nice, though maybe a bit rich as everything was in a sauce. Service was pretty poor, I had to remind the guy after 10 minutes that Id asked for a glass of water and he left V and the kids without a drink for the last 10 minutes of the meal. He got a $5 bill and a note that Id reduced it from the planned 20% ($18) due to his lack of attention the note wasnt bein petty but to make sure he knew I wasnt just a bad tipper and was the recommended action on an interestin tippin debate on USDIS lately.
One pet hate of mine is the difference in tip: service ratio on site. Given the norm is 15-20% the WDW servers tip will be huge compared to restaurants off site and I find this means the ones off site have to work for their tips whereas the servers in WDW seem very complacent Ill get $10-$20 whatever I do. Not just bein mean or moaney, there has been a disappointin trend in lack of service on site probably accentuated by the excellent and attentive service get elsewhere.
(Mind it seems he got the last laugh. When V was reading the boards the other day after we got back, Dear Stranger, - it seems the gratuity is already included in the bloomin charge so (a) no wonder he was inattentive and (b) Im probably the only one in the bloomin restaurant givin him an extra tip as well as piece of me mind. I just shouldnt be let out on me own.)
The meal was good though and Julie was particularly happy as they had hot dogs. $90 meal and she wanted to gorge herself on $1 hotdogs. Gaz on the other hand wasnt that impressed coz of the sauces so he didnt really enjoy much other than the kids table of chicken nuggets .pizza and hotdogs.
We took our seats by 6.30 and though the arena was fillin up it was empty by busy standards. Took V to about 6 rows from the front ; just high enough not to get wet though it was so hot and muggy, that might have been nice. I wanted to see if I could get a better video angle for the finale on the mountain as the light gantrys in the way of me other video. We never tire of this show and the nearer view was a bonus as the acoustics were so much better down there and the spray caught what breeze there was every now and then ,which was nice.
Id picked an end of row seat so we could get straight out at the end. The car park was so full, I didnt want to get snarled up in the traffic. Neednt have bothered - V let a guy go passed and then he decided to stand and let every row ahead of him clear before movin up a step.
I wasnt a happy bunny trudging through the shoulder to chest mass of happy Fantasmickers.
Luckily, wed parked near the gates when we came back from Typhoon Lagoon so could walk back to the car and seemed to exit easily enough and were back in the villa by 8:10 so figured wed made good time.
Ah the bliss of drinkin Sam Adams on a comfy couches rather than perched on a bed.
Gaz had the TV control first and elected to watch George Bushs press conference. Impressed by the lads interest in current affairs we didnt have the heart to take the telly off him. His sister went to bed in the huff!
Bed by 10 , earlier start tomorrer which is now today.
Must dash.
FAMILY SUMMARY
Later Starts D6 V3 G8 J10
MacDs Brekkie D5 V3 G3 J10
ToT D10 G3
Indy D7 V8 G8 J5
RnRC D7 G9
Muppet3D D8 V10 G6 J10
Fantasmic D9 V10 G8 J7
Fantasmic Dinner D7 V7 G7 J3
Typhoon Lagoon D7 V9 G3 J9
Seein snakes and gators D9 V5 G-5 J-10
Julies Bit at the End
All I have to add is that I loved doing the dinner package it was worth the money just to get good seats for Fantasmic.
Oh unfortunately I was unable to get any money from dad today which was a disappointment but I still had some money left from the day before.
