S
SpottyDog
Guest
Day 7 Frider ; Vs Anniversary
Not a good day - or this year either, for that matter !
Got a lot to get done today so no time for a sit-down brekkie .Got them out by 9ish and was pleased to be parked in Universal,King Kong by 9.35. Did the old keep left trick as we approached the universal toll booths and must have saved at least a 15 car wait at every booth.
Took them to Islands of Adventure first to register our Aps though the plan was to do Universal this morning. Figured it would be best to take them on Spiderman while it was quiet told them it was like Test Track with 3D ( oh and yer fall off a skyscraper at the end but its alright coz Spiderman catches yer) then let the Boy try Hulk so he could go on it again if he liked it.
It took ages to get the Aps validated and our piccies taken at Guest Services and for that US/IoA wins the worst organized and worst waste of me holider time award. It was dead hot already and the stand in heat just made the experience more tedious and unpleasant.
Anyway, the Hulk line was only 10 minutes so took the boy on that and he seemed to like it doesn't say much our Gaz.
The line for Spidey was up to 35 minutes and the Express Passes were for much later so we did single riders. Was a bit worried about our J on her own as she can get a bit screamy, but figured if we put her between me and Gaz shed be ok (no use putting her with V in case she didnt like it either). Me and J got put in the same car but different rows. When I turned to check she was ok, the bloke beside her swapped with me so we could ride together that was nice of him. Ta, strange American blokey
I got a bad feelin as soon as it started. Id forgotten how bumpy and twisty/turny it can be and was sure it was gonna cost uz another t shirt or summat. No need, she loved it though I still offered to buy her one of them nice tie-dye t shirts.
V thought the effects were good but didnt like it coz of its movement. Shed closed her eyes when theyd fallen off the skyscraper.
Gaz was dizzy nuff said. I was gonna take him on Fire and Ice too, but decided to try that one another day.
We walked over to Universal and got Express Passes for Terminator 3D then made our way to The International Food & Film Festival Diner for bait. We like this one coz its like a food court so we can all have what we fancy. Me and V went Asian and the Kids were Americans their pressed sandwiches were a nice change from burgers.
We walked straight onto ET before headin back to see Arnie. Julie doesnt like this coz of the shootin and the explosion so we sat her down outside Schwabs Pharmacy, figurin there would always be someone near by there. Shed bought herself a cone when we came out so had kept herself amused.(She always seemed to have a stash of cash but Im only just figurin out why and how, reading her bit at the end!)
Oh, forgot. Wed caught a bit of The Blues Brothers before we went to T3D and made a note to go see the whole show next time we come.
Made good use of our refillable drinks bottle. Were into the habit of getting one at every park that does them now. But unfortunately not into the habit of bringin back the ones we took home last time to save us havin to buy new ones!! Still they save money in the long run. While not as cheap as me old routine of makin them drink at the free water fountains, the family seem happier with the new arrangements.
We did Earthquake next. Nearly missed this out coz I find the pre-show dated and too long with the three holdin areas. But since theres no Hitchcock or Kong for V to enjoy and no Hanna Barbera for me and J, we did this coz there wasn't much else. Course Id forgotten theyd revamped the pre show and now its much better and more relevant. We must have got a better carriage too, coz the earthquake experience seemed more intense.
Tried Jaws next, but the line was 40 minutes and it was so hot and humid we decided to head home via MIB. That line was longer again and we were too hot and bothered to be messin around with EPs ; we really just wanted to go home.
(Yes I know we were complainin about it bein dull and cold the other mornin. Were British its our job!)
One good thing about this livin in the sticks lark is that we get to see the countryside and all the lovely things weve missed before.
One such finding today was The Florida Mall, so we popped in there on the way home coz it was air conditioned. Gaz just loved traipsin around for no apparent reason and even V was ready to complain that her feet hurt too much to be shoppin.
Me little Girl said nowt. She knows where theres shops, theres a pretty good chance her Dadll buy her summat.
And thar she blows
The Build A Bear Shop
she quickly passed on the $12 Teddy I picked up for her and went lookin for much more expensive opportunities to get stuffed. She picked a cat that immediately called out name me Marmalade and we went and stood in the Marmalade Stuffin queue. And stood and stood .
Fearin The Boy was gonna explode with shoppinitus, I offered to buy him a $12 Teddy. He didnt want one, so I told V to find us in Old Navy a few doors down and told J where it was so she could take her Mam there.
Gaz wasnt bothered about owt in Old Navy not his sort of stuff and in the absence of a Nike or Levi shop we decided to sit on the very civilized chairs in the Mall.
And sat.
And waited.
And waited and sat.
We were just about to sit and wait when they returned, with Amber
I know, shell always be Marmalade to us.
Seems thered been a birthday party I front of them?!!? And the lady hostess was payin for around 12 stuffed items and there was a queue (obviously) while 12 stuffies got named and registered.
Back to the Villa the kids didnt want to swim so we just chilled waitin to go to The Rodeo woohoo .
So, was it worth it? (The Rodeo, not Amber)
Difficult call that one. I think it really is one of them things yer have to go do yerselves. At $15 each (under 12s $7) it wasnt cheap in my book. But the natives were friendly and there were quite a few Brits in the 100 or so crowd apparently we make up the second largest group of visitors after the locals. There was a lean-to bar (like the type we have at barn dances) that looked like it might be fun if I wasn drivin and a little café servin burgers ,pop , coffee and Bud.
In essence there were men tryin to stay on bulls and broncos for 8 seconds or more- none did, lots of lassoin and kids chasin calves.
The buckin broncos and bulls was too short and too repetitive it took much longer to prepare the riders than the actual buckin bit.
The lassoin might have been fun but the kids didnt like it when they caught calves by lassoin them and pullin them over backwards like a back flip so they could dismount and tie their little legs together (apparently thats the way they do it on the range). Come to think of it, I didnt either, poor little things. Im sure it mustnt hurt or they wouldnt do it, but a rider at speed draggin a poor little baby calf back on it hind legs is a bit unnerving the first (and every other) time yer see it. One calf took for ever to get up but was ok in the end, but it wasnt a happy part of the proceedins for us.
As if that wasnt fun enough, another competition was for pairs of riders. They rode together after a calf and one lassoed its head while the other lassoed its hind legs. Im sure this takes a lot of skill and they maybe have to pull it off its legs so the judges can see its lassoed head to toe but it looked like they were pullin the poor little thing apart to me.
Overall the Rodeo was too long and tedious to be honest. I tried to enjoy it as an experience and it was just that. An experience of a side of American life we seldom see and know little about. This is no exhibition. Its their history, culture and a sport to those that take part. Im glad we went coz I like to take in everything I can to make up me own mind.It seems only polite to try to take part and understand their pastimes and culture. But I wont be goin again. The kids were bored stiff.
We left at the interval after an hour, figurin the second half would be more of the same. A school party did too, so we figured the Organisers would know these things. Lookin back, it was as well we did coz I was droppin a bit by the time we got back so to wait another hour might have been dangerous the only trouble with my way of holiderin is yer have to be home by 9.30 or get a bus.
We were all whacked when we got home but it would have been rude to go to bed without first sayin Goodnight to Sam, so I did.
Animal Kingdom this mornin then Universal for Mardi Gas and David Lee Roth tonight.
BBye Now !
FAMILY SUMMARY
SpiderMan D8 V3 G5 J9
Hulk D8 V G8 J
IFFF Diner D8 V10 G7 J8
ET D6 V9 G6 J8
Terminator 3D D8 V10 G7
Earthquake D8 V9 G6 J8
FloridaMall D6 V6 G7 J10
Kissimee Rodeo D7 V7 G -2! J -10!
Julies Bit at the end
The one thing I hate about having a plan to follow is havin to wake up so early and rushing out of the villa without brekkie!
But was worth it because I love IoA and US.
I was really pleased about when we went on Spiderman that the nice American guy swapped seats with my Dad because although I told my dad I wasnt bothered about sitting on my own I was really nervous.
For lunch me and gaz had pressed sandwiches which were nice but strange.
They had ham, turkey, cheese, pickles and mustard.
Since we arrived in America for some reason Gaz had a fascination with calling me Ted Smith so when we went on ET as a joke I gave my name as Ted instead.
While everyone went on Terminator 3D I sat and waited with the drink.
As I sat Popeye and Olive walked past, and then the Flintstones came to join them.
I was getting bored and it was so hot that I decided to use some of Dads money on an icecream.
I think the best or at least the most hilarious moment of the holiday was when I saw an old couple in about their 60s came out of the shop with two massive icecreams and was just about to sit down when they saw a CM handing out beads so the dropped the ice creams on the ground and sprinted over to get some beads.
We went to Florida Mall, when I spotted the build a bear factory. This was good except the women took their job a bit to seriously but it is great for small children.
The rodeo was unbelievingly boring, I think writing a 9 page essay for history would have been more fun!!!
When it came to tying up the calves, I thought it was cruel and so did the girl behind me who started screaming thats cruel, let it go, let it go. It became quite annoying after the 10th time.
We went back to the villa and went to bed.
Another Great day!!!
Not a good day - or this year either, for that matter !
Got a lot to get done today so no time for a sit-down brekkie .Got them out by 9ish and was pleased to be parked in Universal,King Kong by 9.35. Did the old keep left trick as we approached the universal toll booths and must have saved at least a 15 car wait at every booth.
Took them to Islands of Adventure first to register our Aps though the plan was to do Universal this morning. Figured it would be best to take them on Spiderman while it was quiet told them it was like Test Track with 3D ( oh and yer fall off a skyscraper at the end but its alright coz Spiderman catches yer) then let the Boy try Hulk so he could go on it again if he liked it.
It took ages to get the Aps validated and our piccies taken at Guest Services and for that US/IoA wins the worst organized and worst waste of me holider time award. It was dead hot already and the stand in heat just made the experience more tedious and unpleasant.
Anyway, the Hulk line was only 10 minutes so took the boy on that and he seemed to like it doesn't say much our Gaz.
The line for Spidey was up to 35 minutes and the Express Passes were for much later so we did single riders. Was a bit worried about our J on her own as she can get a bit screamy, but figured if we put her between me and Gaz shed be ok (no use putting her with V in case she didnt like it either). Me and J got put in the same car but different rows. When I turned to check she was ok, the bloke beside her swapped with me so we could ride together that was nice of him. Ta, strange American blokey
I got a bad feelin as soon as it started. Id forgotten how bumpy and twisty/turny it can be and was sure it was gonna cost uz another t shirt or summat. No need, she loved it though I still offered to buy her one of them nice tie-dye t shirts.
V thought the effects were good but didnt like it coz of its movement. Shed closed her eyes when theyd fallen off the skyscraper.
Gaz was dizzy nuff said. I was gonna take him on Fire and Ice too, but decided to try that one another day.
We walked over to Universal and got Express Passes for Terminator 3D then made our way to The International Food & Film Festival Diner for bait. We like this one coz its like a food court so we can all have what we fancy. Me and V went Asian and the Kids were Americans their pressed sandwiches were a nice change from burgers.
We walked straight onto ET before headin back to see Arnie. Julie doesnt like this coz of the shootin and the explosion so we sat her down outside Schwabs Pharmacy, figurin there would always be someone near by there. Shed bought herself a cone when we came out so had kept herself amused.(She always seemed to have a stash of cash but Im only just figurin out why and how, reading her bit at the end!)
Oh, forgot. Wed caught a bit of The Blues Brothers before we went to T3D and made a note to go see the whole show next time we come.
Made good use of our refillable drinks bottle. Were into the habit of getting one at every park that does them now. But unfortunately not into the habit of bringin back the ones we took home last time to save us havin to buy new ones!! Still they save money in the long run. While not as cheap as me old routine of makin them drink at the free water fountains, the family seem happier with the new arrangements.
We did Earthquake next. Nearly missed this out coz I find the pre-show dated and too long with the three holdin areas. But since theres no Hitchcock or Kong for V to enjoy and no Hanna Barbera for me and J, we did this coz there wasn't much else. Course Id forgotten theyd revamped the pre show and now its much better and more relevant. We must have got a better carriage too, coz the earthquake experience seemed more intense.
Tried Jaws next, but the line was 40 minutes and it was so hot and humid we decided to head home via MIB. That line was longer again and we were too hot and bothered to be messin around with EPs ; we really just wanted to go home.
(Yes I know we were complainin about it bein dull and cold the other mornin. Were British its our job!)
One good thing about this livin in the sticks lark is that we get to see the countryside and all the lovely things weve missed before.
One such finding today was The Florida Mall, so we popped in there on the way home coz it was air conditioned. Gaz just loved traipsin around for no apparent reason and even V was ready to complain that her feet hurt too much to be shoppin.
Me little Girl said nowt. She knows where theres shops, theres a pretty good chance her Dadll buy her summat.
And thar she blows
The Build A Bear Shop
she quickly passed on the $12 Teddy I picked up for her and went lookin for much more expensive opportunities to get stuffed. She picked a cat that immediately called out name me Marmalade and we went and stood in the Marmalade Stuffin queue. And stood and stood .
Fearin The Boy was gonna explode with shoppinitus, I offered to buy him a $12 Teddy. He didnt want one, so I told V to find us in Old Navy a few doors down and told J where it was so she could take her Mam there.
Gaz wasnt bothered about owt in Old Navy not his sort of stuff and in the absence of a Nike or Levi shop we decided to sit on the very civilized chairs in the Mall.
And sat.
And waited.
And waited and sat.
We were just about to sit and wait when they returned, with Amber
I know, shell always be Marmalade to us.
Seems thered been a birthday party I front of them?!!? And the lady hostess was payin for around 12 stuffed items and there was a queue (obviously) while 12 stuffies got named and registered.
Back to the Villa the kids didnt want to swim so we just chilled waitin to go to The Rodeo woohoo .
So, was it worth it? (The Rodeo, not Amber)
Difficult call that one. I think it really is one of them things yer have to go do yerselves. At $15 each (under 12s $7) it wasnt cheap in my book. But the natives were friendly and there were quite a few Brits in the 100 or so crowd apparently we make up the second largest group of visitors after the locals. There was a lean-to bar (like the type we have at barn dances) that looked like it might be fun if I wasn drivin and a little café servin burgers ,pop , coffee and Bud.
In essence there were men tryin to stay on bulls and broncos for 8 seconds or more- none did, lots of lassoin and kids chasin calves.
The buckin broncos and bulls was too short and too repetitive it took much longer to prepare the riders than the actual buckin bit.
The lassoin might have been fun but the kids didnt like it when they caught calves by lassoin them and pullin them over backwards like a back flip so they could dismount and tie their little legs together (apparently thats the way they do it on the range). Come to think of it, I didnt either, poor little things. Im sure it mustnt hurt or they wouldnt do it, but a rider at speed draggin a poor little baby calf back on it hind legs is a bit unnerving the first (and every other) time yer see it. One calf took for ever to get up but was ok in the end, but it wasnt a happy part of the proceedins for us.
As if that wasnt fun enough, another competition was for pairs of riders. They rode together after a calf and one lassoed its head while the other lassoed its hind legs. Im sure this takes a lot of skill and they maybe have to pull it off its legs so the judges can see its lassoed head to toe but it looked like they were pullin the poor little thing apart to me.
Overall the Rodeo was too long and tedious to be honest. I tried to enjoy it as an experience and it was just that. An experience of a side of American life we seldom see and know little about. This is no exhibition. Its their history, culture and a sport to those that take part. Im glad we went coz I like to take in everything I can to make up me own mind.It seems only polite to try to take part and understand their pastimes and culture. But I wont be goin again. The kids were bored stiff.
We left at the interval after an hour, figurin the second half would be more of the same. A school party did too, so we figured the Organisers would know these things. Lookin back, it was as well we did coz I was droppin a bit by the time we got back so to wait another hour might have been dangerous the only trouble with my way of holiderin is yer have to be home by 9.30 or get a bus.
We were all whacked when we got home but it would have been rude to go to bed without first sayin Goodnight to Sam, so I did.
Animal Kingdom this mornin then Universal for Mardi Gas and David Lee Roth tonight.
BBye Now !
FAMILY SUMMARY
SpiderMan D8 V3 G5 J9
Hulk D8 V G8 J
IFFF Diner D8 V10 G7 J8
ET D6 V9 G6 J8
Terminator 3D D8 V10 G7
Earthquake D8 V9 G6 J8
FloridaMall D6 V6 G7 J10
Kissimee Rodeo D7 V7 G -2! J -10!
Julies Bit at the end
The one thing I hate about having a plan to follow is havin to wake up so early and rushing out of the villa without brekkie!
But was worth it because I love IoA and US.
I was really pleased about when we went on Spiderman that the nice American guy swapped seats with my Dad because although I told my dad I wasnt bothered about sitting on my own I was really nervous.
For lunch me and gaz had pressed sandwiches which were nice but strange.
They had ham, turkey, cheese, pickles and mustard.
Since we arrived in America for some reason Gaz had a fascination with calling me Ted Smith so when we went on ET as a joke I gave my name as Ted instead.
While everyone went on Terminator 3D I sat and waited with the drink.
As I sat Popeye and Olive walked past, and then the Flintstones came to join them.
I was getting bored and it was so hot that I decided to use some of Dads money on an icecream.
I think the best or at least the most hilarious moment of the holiday was when I saw an old couple in about their 60s came out of the shop with two massive icecreams and was just about to sit down when they saw a CM handing out beads so the dropped the ice creams on the ground and sprinted over to get some beads.
We went to Florida Mall, when I spotted the build a bear factory. This was good except the women took their job a bit to seriously but it is great for small children.
The rodeo was unbelievingly boring, I think writing a 9 page essay for history would have been more fun!!!
When it came to tying up the calves, I thought it was cruel and so did the girl behind me who started screaming thats cruel, let it go, let it go. It became quite annoying after the 10th time.
We went back to the villa and went to bed.
Another Great day!!!
Hmmm,not too sure about the rodeo - all my romantic views have been knocked for six now (hunky cowboys, stretched tight jeans, leather gloves . . . enough).
