Day 2 - August 25, 2001; Recovery and Ransom
Deep in recovery mode DH and I do our best to sleep in on our glorious Late Start Day. Unfortunately, we neglect to educate DD on the traditions of Late Start Day, and she bounces in requesting a dawn swim. I admit to being helpless and yield to my DD's higher power. It's already warm at 7:30, and the pool actually feels great.
DD has just started ducking under the water, and we play a new game: the Tiki Room Splash. Directions: squat in water; place DD on knees; spin DD in a circle while singing the Tiki Room song; toss DD lightly to make a splash on third "room." Repeat ad infinitum.
Meanwhile, DS is holding firm to the true spirit of Late Start Day. We have returned from the pool, showered and changed and even sent MassDad and DD down to breakfast already by the time First Contact is made with DS. Eventually, I pry him off the couch and join MassDad and DD for breakfast. HIFS buffet is as satisfying as ever, although some items are cool (Late Start casualty)--I rediscover grits and brown sugar: mmmmmm and some exotic passion fruit. DD skips back from the gift shop to announce that she's found the PERFECT gift for today (she was limited to one purchase per day): a Minnie Lunch box, with a zipper (very important). It's divine.
Today we pitch the original ambitious Animal Kingdom and MGM plan in favor of a short day at Universal. We have only three MUSTs at Universal: Covered Parking, Curious George, and Men in Black. We bring DD's new Minnie lunch box tossing in a Barney to get with the Universal spirit.
As we cruise up Route 4 with little traffic, we congratulate ourselves for not forcing the agenda and letting the kids pace the day. Then we learn more of the disadvantages of Late Start Day. Covered Parking is the next casualty. They are parking on the roof by the time we arrive. Noooooooooo!!! No Covered Parking!!!!! First, It's A Small World is rehab and now this!?!?!
We are directed to the parking place officially designated as the Most Remote Spot in the garage. The late morning sun then pummels us for the next 10 minutes as we walk toward the moving walkway over the horizon. I huddle under a sun umbrella. DD falls asleep in her stroller before we reach the park.
I'm looking forward to making the Buzz Lightyear/Men in Black comparison, so we head first for Men in Black and grab express passes. MassDad and I take turns riding with DS while DD alternates between romping through Curious George land and resting in her stroller.
I confess that the shoot and score aspects of both Buzz and MIB are completely lost on me. I believe I hit a target or two, but I might have just earned pity points. I am impressed with the muppet aliens, or animatronic martians or whatever they're called. The set ups are dramatic and the scenes detailed and interesting. However, I tilt in favor of Buzz. Buzz was--well, FUN! Bright colors, silly, cartoony. MIB was impressive but rather dark. (Perhaps I should have removed my sunglasses).
DS has his own analysis - he likes being able to hold the controller and move around with it in MIB; he also likes that in MIB the controller registers by flashing green if you hit something. In the end, when I favor the CUTE Buzz, DS proclaims -- "Of course; you're a MOM."
Curious George is as wonderful as always and the kids enjoy the imaginative ball area and the water activities for a LONG time. Lunch is counter service at International Land -- otherwise known as food court fare, and the lines are LOOOOOONG. We are usually ahead of the curve eating early, but once again, LATE START day has thrown off our rhythm. DS and I go through the line while DH and DD get seats. When we finally get through the line and find MassDad and DD, DD's sobbing, "Mommy!! I wanna be with Mommy!" Er, how long has she been crying? Oh, the whole time. Everyone eats well, and we're all feeling revived. We sneak in a Barney show and some time at Fievel's Playland while DS and DH Fast, I mean, EXPRESS Pass Back to the Future.
While we're at Fievel's, someone kidnaps our Baby Bob balloon from our stroller. DH sneers at the Universal crowd certain that this would never have happened at you-know-where. I go to deliver the ransom money before DD will notice. When I mention to the clerk that someone stole our balloon, he kindly gives us another for free and just has us fill out a form. We are impressed that there appears to be a system for handling balloon kidnappings (and, no doubt, the more prevalent problem of balloon runaways). We briefly wonder what the balloon replacement budget might be as a percentage of annual gross revenues -- then we get soaked at Curious George again.
Finally, nicely roasted on all sides, we retreat from the midafternoon oven and cool off in the HIFS pool. We cuddle in our SEPARATE rooms with our respective entertainments: DS with his Nintendo game -- he beats the BOSS!!! -- of which employees, anyone's guess; but he is very happy nonetheless. DD in the living room watches the Aristocats, and DH and I nestle in our king size bed watch a show about currency and the devaluation of money. A fitting prelude to our AK and MGM day.
Deep in recovery mode DH and I do our best to sleep in on our glorious Late Start Day. Unfortunately, we neglect to educate DD on the traditions of Late Start Day, and she bounces in requesting a dawn swim. I admit to being helpless and yield to my DD's higher power. It's already warm at 7:30, and the pool actually feels great.
DD has just started ducking under the water, and we play a new game: the Tiki Room Splash. Directions: squat in water; place DD on knees; spin DD in a circle while singing the Tiki Room song; toss DD lightly to make a splash on third "room." Repeat ad infinitum.
Meanwhile, DS is holding firm to the true spirit of Late Start Day. We have returned from the pool, showered and changed and even sent MassDad and DD down to breakfast already by the time First Contact is made with DS. Eventually, I pry him off the couch and join MassDad and DD for breakfast. HIFS buffet is as satisfying as ever, although some items are cool (Late Start casualty)--I rediscover grits and brown sugar: mmmmmm and some exotic passion fruit. DD skips back from the gift shop to announce that she's found the PERFECT gift for today (she was limited to one purchase per day): a Minnie Lunch box, with a zipper (very important). It's divine.
Today we pitch the original ambitious Animal Kingdom and MGM plan in favor of a short day at Universal. We have only three MUSTs at Universal: Covered Parking, Curious George, and Men in Black. We bring DD's new Minnie lunch box tossing in a Barney to get with the Universal spirit.
As we cruise up Route 4 with little traffic, we congratulate ourselves for not forcing the agenda and letting the kids pace the day. Then we learn more of the disadvantages of Late Start Day. Covered Parking is the next casualty. They are parking on the roof by the time we arrive. Noooooooooo!!! No Covered Parking!!!!! First, It's A Small World is rehab and now this!?!?!
We are directed to the parking place officially designated as the Most Remote Spot in the garage. The late morning sun then pummels us for the next 10 minutes as we walk toward the moving walkway over the horizon. I huddle under a sun umbrella. DD falls asleep in her stroller before we reach the park.
I'm looking forward to making the Buzz Lightyear/Men in Black comparison, so we head first for Men in Black and grab express passes. MassDad and I take turns riding with DS while DD alternates between romping through Curious George land and resting in her stroller.
I confess that the shoot and score aspects of both Buzz and MIB are completely lost on me. I believe I hit a target or two, but I might have just earned pity points. I am impressed with the muppet aliens, or animatronic martians or whatever they're called. The set ups are dramatic and the scenes detailed and interesting. However, I tilt in favor of Buzz. Buzz was--well, FUN! Bright colors, silly, cartoony. MIB was impressive but rather dark. (Perhaps I should have removed my sunglasses).
DS has his own analysis - he likes being able to hold the controller and move around with it in MIB; he also likes that in MIB the controller registers by flashing green if you hit something. In the end, when I favor the CUTE Buzz, DS proclaims -- "Of course; you're a MOM."
Curious George is as wonderful as always and the kids enjoy the imaginative ball area and the water activities for a LONG time. Lunch is counter service at International Land -- otherwise known as food court fare, and the lines are LOOOOOONG. We are usually ahead of the curve eating early, but once again, LATE START day has thrown off our rhythm. DS and I go through the line while DH and DD get seats. When we finally get through the line and find MassDad and DD, DD's sobbing, "Mommy!! I wanna be with Mommy!" Er, how long has she been crying? Oh, the whole time. Everyone eats well, and we're all feeling revived. We sneak in a Barney show and some time at Fievel's Playland while DS and DH Fast, I mean, EXPRESS Pass Back to the Future.
While we're at Fievel's, someone kidnaps our Baby Bob balloon from our stroller. DH sneers at the Universal crowd certain that this would never have happened at you-know-where. I go to deliver the ransom money before DD will notice. When I mention to the clerk that someone stole our balloon, he kindly gives us another for free and just has us fill out a form. We are impressed that there appears to be a system for handling balloon kidnappings (and, no doubt, the more prevalent problem of balloon runaways). We briefly wonder what the balloon replacement budget might be as a percentage of annual gross revenues -- then we get soaked at Curious George again.
Finally, nicely roasted on all sides, we retreat from the midafternoon oven and cool off in the HIFS pool. We cuddle in our SEPARATE rooms with our respective entertainments: DS with his Nintendo game -- he beats the BOSS!!! -- of which employees, anyone's guess; but he is very happy nonetheless. DD in the living room watches the Aristocats, and DH and I nestle in our king size bed watch a show about currency and the devaluation of money. A fitting prelude to our AK and MGM day.
