Another Bloomin Holider (Part One) - Day 8

[SpottyDog]

DAY 8 – Saturder – Dad’s Day (well, the last bit anyway)

6:54am and half me day’s already gone! Not surprising since we didn’t get to bed till 11.30 last night after David Le Roth. The kids will probably lie in their little beds dreamin of him all mornin. But more of that later.

Got them out earlier than usual and called into MacD’s off Osceolla, before enterin Animal Kingdom around 9.30.
There was quite a queue for bag checkin and then enterin, so we detoured through Rainforest Café and had our own personal bag checker and turnstile – result!
It was overcast this mornin and V had wondered if she should wear a fleece as it was defo cool and might turn cold if it rained.
We went straight to The Safari and it was a walk on. They say the safari is better when it’s cool as the animals are more active. Don’t know if they were active or not but we certainly enjoyed this ride more than ever – it might have been the driver or the fact we got front seats , so saw more.
After Safari, we did Conservation Station or whatever it’s called now - Planet Watch – we liked the little train ride and V loved the exhibits, especially the Vet station where they were operatin on a lizard. The kids weren’t bothered here, as they wouldn’t look at the operation or the creepy crawlies and snakes or go in the sound booths – me and V did and they were good. Our Julie’s too old for the pettin zoo part now, so we left.
We were gonna do the Gorilla Trail next as we were there but figured it would be too much boredom for the kids all at once so we headed for DinoLand to liven things up a bit. It was startin to warm up already even though there was still complete cloud cover – one of them days you know is gonna be scorchin once the sun breaks through.

Me and J wanted to do Primeval Whirl coz it wasn’t opened when we were last here. We love the Hester and Chester area for atmosphere and livenin up the park. I know it detracts from the essence of AK but be honest, it is a bit dull without it isn’t it? Anyway, we’re just tacky people - so garish tastelessness is me life.
The line for PW was long and it took 20 minutes to get on but was worth it. We loved it, as I knew our J would. Like a crazy mouse ride with a spin twist to it. I got her two FPs to do it again while me and V did Tough to be a Bug.

Took Gaz to do Dinosaur next – the Girls still won’t try this one. And we just made it back from the Crustaceous Period or whatever time it was. An added bonus was Gaz got to carry the ride card from the start to the end of the line (which is how they check how long the line is to post the times). He doesn’t say much, but I could tell he was chuffed. (He might be taller than me and getting hairy ,but he’s still a Bairn at heart)

We walked all the way back to Africa to do the Gorilla walk the all the way back after that to do ITTBA while Gaz took Julie to do Primeval Whirl again. Gaz would sit body guard outside the ride coz he doesn’t ‘do’ owt that spins round (he’s gonna love bein drunk!)


We walked straight onto ITTBAB – again after the long walk into it and loved it. It’s a tough call between this and HIStA for us. When we came out it was getting really muggy and I knew V wouldn’t last long, particularly in AK as it’s a park she tends to get all hot and bothered in as it’s a bit too closed in for her when hot.
Went back to the kids and decided that was enough AK for one day. We didn’t want to spend time doin the shows and, for all it was hot, it wasn’t sunny yet to dry off so the kids didn’t want to do The Rapids. We let them decide what next….
Lunch and Disney Quest.. or.. Home for pool and snacks.
They chose pool and V was over the moon as her feet hurt. (I’m bein particularly careful with me feet this year and have only a minor blister on the side of me big toe which is why me feet haven’t featured yet in this trippy)

We got back around 2ish and the kids went straight into the pool. I kipped in the chair for a few minutes and V soaked her feet –as yer do. I noticed at Universal yesterder that the parade started at 5.30 and the park closed at 7, so rushed everyone to be ready to go by 4.30 – figurin there’d be a late queue to get into the car park from hell.
I wasn’t wrong, but then I wasn’t right either.
There was a queue to get into the car park, but the times I looked at were Mon-Fri and this was Satdy night and the parade didn’t start till 7:30. The kids were delighted to have been dragged out of the pool and made to eat their crisps and goldfish in the car coz we were late to find it didn’t start for two hours.
We used the time to do MIB. Me and the kids used single riders to beat the line while V sat in shade as it’s too spinny for her. I still haven’t a clue what I’m doin on this ride and only do it for the great scenery and effects. Me and V did Jaws then we all did Terminator. J plucked up the courage coz she didn’t like it last time. We must have got better seats coz she hated it this time. No t shirt or cuddly though coz she offered to go on, I’d have been happy for her to sit outside, so it’s not my fault ergo no need to pay.

We took up our spot just onto Hollywood Blvd around 7ish and refilled the kids cup with soda then I went in search of me mate Bud. The place was heavin, particularly around Bud’s house, but that’s where the concert was to be and it was packed with Theatre Goers already.

I wasn’t a great lover of the Mardi Gras in 99 and found the floats to be too samey so the whole thing was too repetitive for me- hence we didn’t do it in 2001 or last year. V had said they’d restyled the floats and they were much more interestin and the parade was very good actually. I enjoyed it and the bairn loves catchin the beads – though we can’t quite ‘get into’ all the whoopin and hollerin to get attention. Still the littlun’s got18 beads – which is a world record – as a result of us all catchin whatever we could for her. Our Gaz isn’t bothered about stuff like this, but he’s a really good Big Brother when it comes to lookin out for his kid sister.

Anyway, parade over, time for the main event.

LADIES and GENTLEMEN, I GIVE YOU…….

DAVID………..

LEE………….

ROTH (crowd goes wild)

(kids look bemused and embarrassed)

Well, let me tell you. The place was rockin. I hadn’t expected too much as he’s a bit passed it now and there was no Eddy Van Halen to ‘carry’ DLR but the band was really good and the lead (Brian Young) could have been air-guitarin to all the old stuff – he was that good.
We stood right at the back ,for the benefit of the kids and so me video camera wouldn’t get knocked out of me hand. I’d have loved to have been down the front or in the middle with a few beers – it was that good – but it was fine where we were. I thought he’d only do an hour at most but he did nearly 90 minutes.
The kids were delighted. I think they enjoyed the rodeo more!
But there was no way I was gonna leave till I had ‘Jump’ on tape.

It finished around 10 and we were home by 11, havin collected pizzas at ‘Little Caesar’s’ as recommended by DFM .

Sat and told Sam all about it and went to bed around 11.30 –hence this late report.

Fun Spot kartin on I Drive all day today, so no real hurry to get them up and about. It’s just gone 8:30 so I’ll let them lie till , oh, 9ish.

In the words of David Lee Roth

This feels just like livin in Paradise………….and I don’t wanna go home

See yers tomorrer.

FAMILY SUMMARY

AK Safari D8 V10 G8 J6
Planet Watch D6 V9 G6 J3
Primeval Whirl D7 J7
Dinosaur D7 G7
Paganini Trail D7 V8 G7 J6
ITTBAB D9 V8
M.I.B D6 G9 J8
Jaws D7 V7
Terminator 3D J0

Mardi Gras Parade D7 V9 G5 J8
David Lee Roth D8 V6 G -10 J -10

Julie’s Bit at the end

we went to AK. It was brilliant skipping the queue and going through Rainforest Café. The safari was better this year then it has ever been. I thought Planet watch was really boring except there was a few characters so that was good.

When we went to Dinoland USA, I went to the new spinning coaster thing that was great and has become my favorite ride in AK. It became hot and Mam started to complain about the heat so we decided to leave AK and go back to the villa and go in the pool.

We had only been in the pool for about an hour when Dad dragged us out to get ready to go to US. When we got there we found out that the parade didn’t start until 7:30 (I am so glad that we rushed around for no reason)

For the parade we stood behind an old couple coz mam thought at least they won’t be bothered about the beads (I wasn’t so sure after seeing the old couple coming out the ice cream shop on day 7)

If you have seen Gaz you will know he is a giant and that quality comes in handy when it comes to catching beads. He reached above the crowds and caught most of the beads that came his way. I ended up with 18 beads around my neck.
I thought to myself this has been a wicked day, the best day of the holiday so far but that was about to change…

I have to agree with me dad about the rodeo; it was definitely better the David Lee Roth at least there, there were horses to look at. But DLR was just a guy screaming down the microphone and a bunch of maniacs in the crowd jumping up and down. Me and gaz had some fun by doing impressions of people in the crowd. I said that I would have rather done an essay for history then watch the rodeo. Well I would have rather took my SATs

But the worst part is he has it on Video tape!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Astrid]

Well, I was wondering when blisters and aching feet would feature in your trip report - what, no ice buckets yet BB?! Glad yours are surviving the pace even though V's aren't doing so good.

David Lee Roth sounds fantastic, would love to have seen that, but how come G & J's scores say 10 when the report and J's bit seems to give the impression it was a bit like them watching paint dry (or doing SATS!)!!

Great report as usual - thanks

Astrid

 

[Sue F UK]

Sounds like you all had a fab day, Dave.

Great tip about AK/Rainforest Cafe - we must try that next time. Don't worry about Gaz and 'spinny' things though. DH hates them too and he get's drunk all the time - No problem!!

Thanks for the description of Mardi Gras, this is DD's favourite and she has amassed an amazing collection of over 100 beads in the last 3 years (I know, I regularly have to pick them up off the bedroom floor) Sad to say that the best we could manage as far as concerts go was the Village People!! Would much rather have seen DLR but there you go.....

Your trippy's are great reading Dave, keep up the good work.

 

[Fiona R]

Your holider's hottin up Dave!! I would have "jumped" with you, our children would have died of shame at the aged parents rockin'!!

 

[UKDEB]

We had only been in the pool for about an hour when Dad dragged us out to get ready to go to US. When we got there we found out that the parade didn’t start until 7:30

Julie - missed a bit of an opportunity to extracate some dosh from Dad, I reckon. Never mind, save it up for next trip.

But DLR was just a guy screaming down the microphone

Now, usually I'm with you Ju, sweetie, but ... well, what can I say ... one day you'll understand.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Great day Dave - especially the end bit with DLR

Julie, do you get embarrassed like my DD when I start to moan about who she's watching on the Sky music channels (if it's any consolation, I sound just like my parents did when I was her age ).

I love Animal Kingdom - but I know what V means by all being a bit closed in - it must be one of the smallest parks (or MGM?).

 

[KayleeUK]

Great report Good tip about Rainforest Cafe

 

[Minniespal]

I love trip reports - keep them coming!!!!!

 

[Minniespal]

Thanks for the fab report - luv reading them!!!