Monday Mar 12 - Pixie Dust - Front of monorail and Pirate Cruise (for kids); quiet breakfast (actually break-slow) at Grand Floridian (for parents).
Morning: Slep in a bit owing to late night and because couldn't fit much in with kids having to check-in at GF marina at 9:45 for Pirate Cruise. Took MK bus and headed for resort monorail...one man and child before us...No! Don't let them be asking to ride up front! We wanted to ask! Ask anyway; room for two more...ok, kids can ride up front and parents in next car. Kept checking out windows to see if kids were getting off at wrong stop. Didn't. One can hope, though. Tried to move up front with them when man and son got off at TTC, but Monorail driver not Mr. Congeniality "No, not permitted...once you're in a car, you have to stay there." sheesh! At least kids got to ride. Loved it!
Found GF marina, checked in, got lifejackets and bandanda on bodies and heads (respectively) and said goodbye to our little pirates (actually, not so little at 8&10...must have been oldest and biggest (most 6 or 6ish)) DH and I had nicei breakfast at GF Cafe. Had originally intended to go to Ponenesian's Kona Cafe for Tonga Toast, but too tired to make trip, so just took our time at GF Cafe, walked around a bit and soaked up sunshine (glorious) until ship returned to shore, priates singing "Hi-ho, hi-ho, a pirate's life for me." (actually, sounded mroe like Gregorian chant than song, but cute nonetheless). Funny thing - while waiting, watched seagull swipe entire chicken strips/fries mean (cardboard box and all) when a woman moved a few steps away from her outdoor table to talk on the cell-phone. Viscious birds, but they do say cell-phone use can be dangerous! Kids reported that cruise was fun...had stopped at five beaches in all, and at each one would just happen to find a bottle with scroll or the like with piece of the map/clues, leading them to the treasure. DS boasted that he'd been instrumental in figuring out where the treasure was hidden (no doubt true - probably used protractor, latitude, longitude, etc. as v. smart cookie. DD (Ivanna Lot) just loved all the "loot" she came away with (ring for every finger, bells for toes, fake lips, and lots of other high-class trinkets). Then took launch back to MK and Swan bus back to...very astute..Swan.
Afternoon: Decided to take car and go to Blizzard Beach by way of McD's again (couldn't get enough of those chirping happy meal toys!) BB v. fun, but crowded (TL not open today). Kids spent quite a bit of time at Ski Patrol Training Camp walking across icebergs, tubing, pulley-dropping, etc., then family went around cross-country creek (much easier than walking around World showcase countries!). Finally up the chairlift to Teamboat Springs family raft ride (always a favourite...kids especially love it when mom or dad gets most of the soaking). Was a nice, hot day, so even towards closing time (5:00), lines were quite longish and only had tiem for one run. Left at closing, snowcones in hand, and drove back to Swan.
Evening: Back to room to change and then caught bus to MK to catch MSEP (or die trying). Had time for couple of rides first, but Pooh once again all out of FPs, so got one from Peter again , and went to stake out spots for parade - got good ones on fence across from Liberty Tree Tavern. Had some popcorn and snacks while watching the parade. Was enjoyable, but maybe not as much as Spectromagic (was Spectro more Dinsneyesque? Or maybe was just because Spectro was our first family experience at MK...sentimental value..) After MSEP, went for first ever night-time Jungle Cruise, then back to Peter for our FPs, then tied to work our way out with throngs. Made snap decision to postpone exit for food mini-break (oops, forgot to eat supper!) Managed to cross Main St (event in itself) and work our way over to the Plaza Pavillion for sever (10?) orders of the yummy garlic breadsticks we love. Back to Swan (loving that the bus stop is much closer than that for ASMo), and flopped into bed again (living good life starting to catch up with us!)
Morning: Slep in a bit owing to late night and because couldn't fit much in with kids having to check-in at GF marina at 9:45 for Pirate Cruise. Took MK bus and headed for resort monorail...one man and child before us...No! Don't let them be asking to ride up front! We wanted to ask! Ask anyway; room for two more...ok, kids can ride up front and parents in next car. Kept checking out windows to see if kids were getting off at wrong stop. Didn't. One can hope, though. Tried to move up front with them when man and son got off at TTC, but Monorail driver not Mr. Congeniality "No, not permitted...once you're in a car, you have to stay there." sheesh! At least kids got to ride. Loved it!
Found GF marina, checked in, got lifejackets and bandanda on bodies and heads (respectively) and said goodbye to our little pirates (actually, not so little at 8&10...must have been oldest and biggest (most 6 or 6ish)) DH and I had nicei breakfast at GF Cafe. Had originally intended to go to Ponenesian's Kona Cafe for Tonga Toast, but too tired to make trip, so just took our time at GF Cafe, walked around a bit and soaked up sunshine (glorious) until ship returned to shore, priates singing "Hi-ho, hi-ho, a pirate's life for me." (actually, sounded mroe like Gregorian chant than song, but cute nonetheless). Funny thing - while waiting, watched seagull swipe entire chicken strips/fries mean (cardboard box and all) when a woman moved a few steps away from her outdoor table to talk on the cell-phone. Viscious birds, but they do say cell-phone use can be dangerous! Kids reported that cruise was fun...had stopped at five beaches in all, and at each one would just happen to find a bottle with scroll or the like with piece of the map/clues, leading them to the treasure. DS boasted that he'd been instrumental in figuring out where the treasure was hidden (no doubt true - probably used protractor, latitude, longitude, etc. as v. smart cookie. DD (Ivanna Lot) just loved all the "loot" she came away with (ring for every finger, bells for toes, fake lips, and lots of other high-class trinkets). Then took launch back to MK and Swan bus back to...very astute..Swan.
Afternoon: Decided to take car and go to Blizzard Beach by way of McD's again (couldn't get enough of those chirping happy meal toys!) BB v. fun, but crowded (TL not open today). Kids spent quite a bit of time at Ski Patrol Training Camp walking across icebergs, tubing, pulley-dropping, etc., then family went around cross-country creek (much easier than walking around World showcase countries!). Finally up the chairlift to Teamboat Springs family raft ride (always a favourite...kids especially love it when mom or dad gets most of the soaking). Was a nice, hot day, so even towards closing time (5:00), lines were quite longish and only had tiem for one run. Left at closing, snowcones in hand, and drove back to Swan.
Evening: Back to room to change and then caught bus to MK to catch MSEP (or die trying). Had time for couple of rides first, but Pooh once again all out of FPs, so got one from Peter again , and went to stake out spots for parade - got good ones on fence across from Liberty Tree Tavern. Had some popcorn and snacks while watching the parade. Was enjoyable, but maybe not as much as Spectromagic (was Spectro more Dinsneyesque? Or maybe was just because Spectro was our first family experience at MK...sentimental value..) After MSEP, went for first ever night-time Jungle Cruise, then back to Peter for our FPs, then tied to work our way out with throngs. Made snap decision to postpone exit for food mini-break (oops, forgot to eat supper!) Managed to cross Main St (event in itself) and work our way over to the Plaza Pavillion for sever (10?) orders of the yummy garlic breadsticks we love. Back to Swan (loving that the bus stop is much closer than that for ASMo), and flopped into bed again (living good life starting to catch up with us!)
