malcolm silcock
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- May 26, 2002
- Messages
- 75
Holiday from May 19th to June 2nd
Staying at Shadow Bay Apartments, Kissimmee.
Players
Orion (Malcolm) 40 year old, Story teller, Grump and Organiser (if things go wrong).
DW (Maria Spanyardo) 34 years old, Saver of holiday money, Proposer of holiday and Organiser (if things go OK).
DS (Ben) 14 years old, six foot tall (going through the spot zone just now), very laid back (in love with Buffy the Vampire Slayer arent we all).
DD (Katie) 12 years old, two foot tall, is going to be an actress or a barmaid, unable to talk so sings everything to you (and anyone else that will listen).
DS (Keiran) 5 years old (Autistic) provider of the most fun and biggest problems.
DM (Elva) 260 years old pixie, thrill freak and recipient of the largest food portions in USA.
DF (Roy) 200 year old water park and water ride expert, talked a good talk about riding thrill rides but total score for the holiday NIL.
Day 2 Universal Studios
Saturday.
Woke up at 07.35am hanging off the side of the bed Keirans in and hes in his - 'jumping jack' sleeping position, which ensures that 95 percent of the bed is his!! . This was to be the pattern for the whole holiday.
Right, I know what Im supposed to do, Ive read all the trip reports. So like Janice says I run round getting every one up dressed and organised Maria says Im just being grumpy and military, this was also to be the pattern for the rest of the holiday.
Now one of the things wed kept pressing onto DM and DF was the size of the and cheapness of the buffet breakfasts in Orlando so first point of call was the Pondarosa on the 192. So pack kids, buggy and days survival kit into truck. While in the apartment sorting out the days plans with the humans (adults) we hear an alarm go off. Now yesterday we couldnt get the central locking on the truck to work at all, but this morning Keirans managed to get the alarm to go off while he's in it, the keys are in the ignition, the door is open and the air conditioning is running, but Keiran can still set off the alarm!!?? After pressing all the buttons on the key ring (it looks like an aircraft flight panel without the joystick) we manage to turn it off - morning fellow residents
Right, everyone is now loaded and we set off to find the nearest Ponderosa along the 192. This is just down the road and on entering we find that not only is it the same one we had used last time we were over (18 months ago) but the kids favourite waiter is here Vince. We all introduce ourselves like long lost friends and Vince pretends he remembers us. The kids tell DF and DM all about the system that's in place here, what and where you can get things. Stressing that they can get free refills and that they can even have ice-cream for breakfast as long as they dont break the two golden rules 1) You eat everything that you put on your plate. 2) You eat enough to last you until time tonight. With the grand parents up to scratch with the regulations, every one hits the buffet area (except Maria and Keiran Im filling Keirans plate with hopeful choices).
The kids (and the Grand parents) set out with good intention and got the fruit, cereal or cooked breakfasts before hitting the - syrup and pancakes, ice cream with choc chips (or all of the above).
DM cannot get over the size of the strawberries and goes for a second large portion (being as small as she is, they must have looked as big as melons to her).
On route to U.S. we need to run into Walmart, as the kids need sunglasses and Maria needs a baseball cap.
We find the entrance to U.S. without too much difficulty and park in the disabled parking using our UK Orange badge.
After the short 15-mile walk through shops, clubs, entertainment outlets, food booths, dancing fountains and photo opportunities we reach the entrance to U.S. I then have to explain to DM that we werent already in U.S. that this was just the entrance lets face it Orlando is the world centre for packaging - packaging is everything here.
Into the park properly and I go to the guest services to arrange for Keirans Special assistance pass Ive got all his papers, a letter from his Doctor and his register of disabilities. This has become necessary because a number of locally sick minded teenagers thought it would be good fun to act as Autistic KIds to get a Special Assistance Pass so they could cut the queue systems. I myself am very much in favour of letting these people do this providing I can make them permanently Autistic and Im sure theyll feel the trade off was worth while (stands off soap box again). Anyway no problem here (this area is one that the non Disney parks have still got it right and win hands over against Disney Disneys effort to follow in a TBA trip report) and we off to enjoy our first park of the holiday.
First attraction Terminator 3D, Katie didnt see this last year and again cant be persuaded to go in. Ben will if Katie isnt going in, DM and DF have no idea what the show is about and Im trying to explain the 3D effect mixed with the actors and summarise the whole film (theyd never seem or heard of it!!). Katie will now go in but Ben wont - if Katie is!!!??. OK time to lay the law down I explain that the humans in the party (a human is anyone over 16 years old who has left home and is independent) have already had enough of the uuggs behaviour (an uugg is a non human that sometimes live long enough to grow into humans) and that it ends now, at the beginning of the holiday. This seemed to work, as we didnt really get any of this type of behaviour again in the two weeks to follow. In the end Katie stays outside with Maria and Kieran. The snows good but once youve seen it once it takes the icing off it second time around. DM and DF thought it was very clever but noisy. Out of the show into the shop and while I know that every opportunity in all the parks and attractions within Orlando is designed to pull as many dollars out of each punters pocket as possible, it's still a bit 'in your face' with the excit from the rides some now always coming out into a shop!
Next we split up Maria, Katie and DM go to the E.T. ride and us boys take Kieran over to the kids zone were Ben takes him on the small roller coaster and later we let him out of his buggy to run around the interactive play zone.
We all meet up again and decide its time for a drink so head off to the 60s style café. Now they dont do beer here so I leave DF in the queue for the food and go over the road to the South American style food hall (dont remember its name) to get two beers, after queuing and getting to the check out - conversation goes like this
Two beers please.
Whos the beer for?
Me!
Whos the other beer for?
My Dad.
Can I see his ID.
I dont carry his ID, but as you can see I look about 110 years old (Ive had a hard life) therefore my dad will not be any younger than me!
No, but I still need his ID.
OK, so I cant buy more than one beer at a time, but can I come back and buy a single beer again?
Yes.
I take the single beer to the cashier and tell her Im getting two beers and will be back with the other one and that I'd like to pay for them together now to save me queuing again, this is accepted. I then put the beer behind the cashier telling him to keep an eye on it and not knock it over turn around order a second single beer and walk back over the road with the two beers what a stupid system. I know its set up so stupid people dont buy for under age drinkers but when youre in a café/restaurant outside the parks you can order as many beers as you want, why not apply this to the parks.
By the time I get back over the road everyone else has finished their drinks and DF thinks Ive done a runner with his beer.
We let Ben and Katie have a free 45 mins to go and do any ride/show that they want as long as they are back at our table within that time. This works OK, no one lost, no complaints from Universal Studio management and as far as I know they didnt break anything.
M.I.B next, this was one of our favourite rides (DM favourite of the whole holiday) great fun. Used the special assistance pass (SAP) here and split into two groups.
Jaws it was a little old hat the first time round but as DF and DM hadnt done it we went in again still fun if dated.
Did Twister again as much to show DF and DM, as we didnt think much of it the first time around.
Wild West Show we had missed this last year so were keen to seen it. It was at the start of this show that we came across a problem with Kieran that was to mean the changing of some of what we saw in the parks. Due to the high volume of sound (FAR TO HIGH), Kieran went into a fit and had to be taken out. The level of sound was/is just too high, there is no need for it and all the parks are as guilty as each other on it. I saw over the holiday a number of small children being out of various shows crying as soon as the sound blast hit them.
DF pushed Kieran round (and had a cigar) while we watched the show. Show was fun, with some good one liners and stunts.
Our plan was to see Earthquake and find a good location for the evening stunt show on the lake. This is one of the better rides and was just as good fun the second time around. Again we split up Maria and myself in the first wave, DM is very worried about her back (had a couple of vertebrates welded together years ago and has to watch what she does, also had to give up the Sumo wrestling which was a great blow to her), but she had no problems the whole holiday.
Katie now informs us that she has lost the sun Glass (with the special holder that clips onto your clothes so you dont loose them) that we bought her and Ben this morning well 8 hours is 6 hours longer than I expected them to last.
It was now around 6.00 pm and we settle down for the evening show with drink in hand. As we havent seen any one else standing around the lake railings we ask a CM what time the show is to start. Well its not on at the moment, seems its only on at certain times of the year. This part of the plan has gone wrong, so it must have been the part I set up!!
Well maybe its a good thing as weve all really tied and weve still got a 15-mile walk to the car park.
On the way out we came across the dancing fountains in the pavement and let Kieran out of his buggy for a run a freshen up. He had a ball and I got some great photos of him dancing with the water and being allowed to get wet.
On the way out the park we got completely lost. We got back onto International Drive but must have been heading north; it took us ages to find our way back. It reminded me of just how poor the sign posting is in this part of the world (re-active sign posting helps no one) and now bad all the local maps are (details, hah, you dont need details just the main roads details are for wimps).
As we had promised the kids they could have a Dominos Pizza (theyve never had one and associate them with the The Simpsons and you can't get them in Aberdeen). How like the Simpson's the kid have to have it delivered (again living 30 miles outside Aberdeen having food delivered to you haouse is a novoltey for the kid's - shelted life!). So Maria and myself drop everyone off at the apartment and need off to Wal-Mart to get some proper food stock's and an airbed for Kieran to sleep on. Back to the apartment to pick over the remains of the Pizza order pigs!!
Kierans running round like the twister but doing slightly more damage and its obvious that hes not going to go to sleep and give us any down time, so he comes to bed with us again the pattern for the whole holiday!! Why did I bother buying (and blowing-up) an airbed?
Crash out at about 12.00pm
Tomorrow its Blizzard Beach.
Staying at Shadow Bay Apartments, Kissimmee.
Players
Orion (Malcolm) 40 year old, Story teller, Grump and Organiser (if things go wrong).
DW (Maria Spanyardo) 34 years old, Saver of holiday money, Proposer of holiday and Organiser (if things go OK).
DS (Ben) 14 years old, six foot tall (going through the spot zone just now), very laid back (in love with Buffy the Vampire Slayer arent we all).
DD (Katie) 12 years old, two foot tall, is going to be an actress or a barmaid, unable to talk so sings everything to you (and anyone else that will listen).
DS (Keiran) 5 years old (Autistic) provider of the most fun and biggest problems.
DM (Elva) 260 years old pixie, thrill freak and recipient of the largest food portions in USA.
DF (Roy) 200 year old water park and water ride expert, talked a good talk about riding thrill rides but total score for the holiday NIL.
Day 2 Universal Studios
Saturday.
Woke up at 07.35am hanging off the side of the bed Keirans in and hes in his - 'jumping jack' sleeping position, which ensures that 95 percent of the bed is his!! . This was to be the pattern for the whole holiday.
Right, I know what Im supposed to do, Ive read all the trip reports. So like Janice says I run round getting every one up dressed and organised Maria says Im just being grumpy and military, this was also to be the pattern for the rest of the holiday.
Now one of the things wed kept pressing onto DM and DF was the size of the and cheapness of the buffet breakfasts in Orlando so first point of call was the Pondarosa on the 192. So pack kids, buggy and days survival kit into truck. While in the apartment sorting out the days plans with the humans (adults) we hear an alarm go off. Now yesterday we couldnt get the central locking on the truck to work at all, but this morning Keirans managed to get the alarm to go off while he's in it, the keys are in the ignition, the door is open and the air conditioning is running, but Keiran can still set off the alarm!!?? After pressing all the buttons on the key ring (it looks like an aircraft flight panel without the joystick) we manage to turn it off - morning fellow residents
Right, everyone is now loaded and we set off to find the nearest Ponderosa along the 192. This is just down the road and on entering we find that not only is it the same one we had used last time we were over (18 months ago) but the kids favourite waiter is here Vince. We all introduce ourselves like long lost friends and Vince pretends he remembers us. The kids tell DF and DM all about the system that's in place here, what and where you can get things. Stressing that they can get free refills and that they can even have ice-cream for breakfast as long as they dont break the two golden rules 1) You eat everything that you put on your plate. 2) You eat enough to last you until time tonight. With the grand parents up to scratch with the regulations, every one hits the buffet area (except Maria and Keiran Im filling Keirans plate with hopeful choices).
The kids (and the Grand parents) set out with good intention and got the fruit, cereal or cooked breakfasts before hitting the - syrup and pancakes, ice cream with choc chips (or all of the above).
DM cannot get over the size of the strawberries and goes for a second large portion (being as small as she is, they must have looked as big as melons to her).
On route to U.S. we need to run into Walmart, as the kids need sunglasses and Maria needs a baseball cap.
We find the entrance to U.S. without too much difficulty and park in the disabled parking using our UK Orange badge.
After the short 15-mile walk through shops, clubs, entertainment outlets, food booths, dancing fountains and photo opportunities we reach the entrance to U.S. I then have to explain to DM that we werent already in U.S. that this was just the entrance lets face it Orlando is the world centre for packaging - packaging is everything here.
Into the park properly and I go to the guest services to arrange for Keirans Special assistance pass Ive got all his papers, a letter from his Doctor and his register of disabilities. This has become necessary because a number of locally sick minded teenagers thought it would be good fun to act as Autistic KIds to get a Special Assistance Pass so they could cut the queue systems. I myself am very much in favour of letting these people do this providing I can make them permanently Autistic and Im sure theyll feel the trade off was worth while (stands off soap box again). Anyway no problem here (this area is one that the non Disney parks have still got it right and win hands over against Disney Disneys effort to follow in a TBA trip report) and we off to enjoy our first park of the holiday.
First attraction Terminator 3D, Katie didnt see this last year and again cant be persuaded to go in. Ben will if Katie isnt going in, DM and DF have no idea what the show is about and Im trying to explain the 3D effect mixed with the actors and summarise the whole film (theyd never seem or heard of it!!). Katie will now go in but Ben wont - if Katie is!!!??. OK time to lay the law down I explain that the humans in the party (a human is anyone over 16 years old who has left home and is independent) have already had enough of the uuggs behaviour (an uugg is a non human that sometimes live long enough to grow into humans) and that it ends now, at the beginning of the holiday. This seemed to work, as we didnt really get any of this type of behaviour again in the two weeks to follow. In the end Katie stays outside with Maria and Kieran. The snows good but once youve seen it once it takes the icing off it second time around. DM and DF thought it was very clever but noisy. Out of the show into the shop and while I know that every opportunity in all the parks and attractions within Orlando is designed to pull as many dollars out of each punters pocket as possible, it's still a bit 'in your face' with the excit from the rides some now always coming out into a shop!
Next we split up Maria, Katie and DM go to the E.T. ride and us boys take Kieran over to the kids zone were Ben takes him on the small roller coaster and later we let him out of his buggy to run around the interactive play zone.
We all meet up again and decide its time for a drink so head off to the 60s style café. Now they dont do beer here so I leave DF in the queue for the food and go over the road to the South American style food hall (dont remember its name) to get two beers, after queuing and getting to the check out - conversation goes like this
Two beers please.
Whos the beer for?
Me!
Whos the other beer for?
My Dad.
Can I see his ID.
I dont carry his ID, but as you can see I look about 110 years old (Ive had a hard life) therefore my dad will not be any younger than me!
No, but I still need his ID.
OK, so I cant buy more than one beer at a time, but can I come back and buy a single beer again?
Yes.
I take the single beer to the cashier and tell her Im getting two beers and will be back with the other one and that I'd like to pay for them together now to save me queuing again, this is accepted. I then put the beer behind the cashier telling him to keep an eye on it and not knock it over turn around order a second single beer and walk back over the road with the two beers what a stupid system. I know its set up so stupid people dont buy for under age drinkers but when youre in a café/restaurant outside the parks you can order as many beers as you want, why not apply this to the parks.
By the time I get back over the road everyone else has finished their drinks and DF thinks Ive done a runner with his beer.
We let Ben and Katie have a free 45 mins to go and do any ride/show that they want as long as they are back at our table within that time. This works OK, no one lost, no complaints from Universal Studio management and as far as I know they didnt break anything.
M.I.B next, this was one of our favourite rides (DM favourite of the whole holiday) great fun. Used the special assistance pass (SAP) here and split into two groups.
Jaws it was a little old hat the first time round but as DF and DM hadnt done it we went in again still fun if dated.
Did Twister again as much to show DF and DM, as we didnt think much of it the first time around.
Wild West Show we had missed this last year so were keen to seen it. It was at the start of this show that we came across a problem with Kieran that was to mean the changing of some of what we saw in the parks. Due to the high volume of sound (FAR TO HIGH), Kieran went into a fit and had to be taken out. The level of sound was/is just too high, there is no need for it and all the parks are as guilty as each other on it. I saw over the holiday a number of small children being out of various shows crying as soon as the sound blast hit them.
DF pushed Kieran round (and had a cigar) while we watched the show. Show was fun, with some good one liners and stunts.
Our plan was to see Earthquake and find a good location for the evening stunt show on the lake. This is one of the better rides and was just as good fun the second time around. Again we split up Maria and myself in the first wave, DM is very worried about her back (had a couple of vertebrates welded together years ago and has to watch what she does, also had to give up the Sumo wrestling which was a great blow to her), but she had no problems the whole holiday.
Katie now informs us that she has lost the sun Glass (with the special holder that clips onto your clothes so you dont loose them) that we bought her and Ben this morning well 8 hours is 6 hours longer than I expected them to last.
It was now around 6.00 pm and we settle down for the evening show with drink in hand. As we havent seen any one else standing around the lake railings we ask a CM what time the show is to start. Well its not on at the moment, seems its only on at certain times of the year. This part of the plan has gone wrong, so it must have been the part I set up!!
Well maybe its a good thing as weve all really tied and weve still got a 15-mile walk to the car park.
On the way out we came across the dancing fountains in the pavement and let Kieran out of his buggy for a run a freshen up. He had a ball and I got some great photos of him dancing with the water and being allowed to get wet.
On the way out the park we got completely lost. We got back onto International Drive but must have been heading north; it took us ages to find our way back. It reminded me of just how poor the sign posting is in this part of the world (re-active sign posting helps no one) and now bad all the local maps are (details, hah, you dont need details just the main roads details are for wimps).
As we had promised the kids they could have a Dominos Pizza (theyve never had one and associate them with the The Simpsons and you can't get them in Aberdeen). How like the Simpson's the kid have to have it delivered (again living 30 miles outside Aberdeen having food delivered to you haouse is a novoltey for the kid's - shelted life!). So Maria and myself drop everyone off at the apartment and need off to Wal-Mart to get some proper food stock's and an airbed for Kieran to sleep on. Back to the apartment to pick over the remains of the Pizza order pigs!!
Kierans running round like the twister but doing slightly more damage and its obvious that hes not going to go to sleep and give us any down time, so he comes to bed with us again the pattern for the whole holiday!! Why did I bother buying (and blowing-up) an airbed?
Crash out at about 12.00pm
Tomorrow its Blizzard Beach.
Krissy
