Christine
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Aug 31, 1999
- Messages
- 32,567
Day 4, Tuesday, we decided to do MGM in the morning and Animal Kingdom in the afternoon. By the way, so far the weather was really doing well for us in relation to heat. I was very worried about going to Florida in late June because I had fears of 100 degree days, but as luck would have it, so far it had only been in the upper 80s, albeit high humidity. Also lucky for us, it appeared we were escaping a Washington, D.C. heat wave where the temps were consistently holding at 95 degrees with no relief. But, on this 4th day, things would change!! When we arrived at MGM, we immdiately got Fast Passes for ToT and then ran over and caught the first showing of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire. I've only watched this show once or twice on TV and the kids never had, but we all had a great time. Didn't even come close to the hot seat. We then did The Great Movie Ride. Again, DS loved this ride as a 4-year old, but was starting to show signs of vomiting in line. Grampa ran out with him and then DS started fretting/complaining to his grandfather about how he wanted to go on the ride. I think he was really mad at himself for being so afraid. His grandfather kiddingly told him that he would have to sit on the bench with a few strangers while he went onto the ride. DS fell for it and decided he would rather ride than sit alone on a bench. He ended up enjoying the ride but was scared of the alien and the "Egyptian part" which I assumed was Indiana Jones. We all then proceeded over to ToT and Rockin Rollercoaster. I have ridden ToT a million times so I sat out with DS on "the chicken bench" while my daughter and the grandparents went on the ride. DD got to go twice in a row because we had 5 Fast Passes and only 3 riders. We did this throughout the trip so that DD got double the rides as did one of the adults. When then walked over to the coaster. Now, DD chickened out so just me and my mother went on. We had a 50 minute wait and it took the full 50 minutes. I really liked this ride but, unfortunately, starting last year, roller coasters have suddenly started giving me nausea (must be my old age creeping up although my mom did just fine). Usually it is only the "regular" coasters that bother me and not the upside down ones--go figure. But this one got me right in the first loop. So, I braced myself through the whole ride chanting my mantra, "this will only last 2 minutes, this will only last 2 minutes, this will ......" I felt pretty bad when I got off, but after sitting out for a few minutes I felt better. It was then lunch time and I got pizza at the stand near ToT--Rosie's I think it was. Not too bad. DD then wanted to go on ToT one more time before we left and someone had given us their Fast Passes. I decided to go because my parents had had enough and I really do LOVE the ride. Oh, I just couldn't believe it--ToT made me sick too. What is wrong with me?? If any doctors are reading this please enlighten me!!
We then headed over to Animal Kingdom. At that point, the car ride over made me sick. Then the tram ride from the parking area was a real doozy. We got a Fast Pass for the safari ride and while we were waiting we relaxed with a frozen lemonade and then took the train over to Conservation Station. This was nice and cool (and calmed) and helped me to regain my equilibrium again. We went back on the safari, saw lots of animals even though the heat had reached a brutal, humid 92 degrees (our first scorcher). Safari ride made me sick. We then went to Dinoland so my DD could ride Dinosaur. She was afraid to do this on our last trip but ended up loving it. DS and I sat out on this. Naturally, he was too skittish and I wasn't in the mood for anymore motion. We had a nice Mickey pop and a cool drink in some shade. DD loved Dinosaur. We then tried to do Kali River Rapids but no one was in the mood for a 60 minute wait. DS was very disappointed because he was SURE he wanted to ride this ride. We were all sick of lines and heat at this point (May trips really spoil you) so we decided to leave and go to the Cape May Buffet for dinner. It is another one of our favorites. I hate to seem boring here but as I said earlier, I had no planning so I had to rely on old standbys because I was lost otherwise. I don't know how people go to Disney "cold" not knowing anything and survive. We arrived at 5:30 and were seated within 10 minutes. The food was as good, if not better, than previous visits. The waiter told us that in the past 2 years they had gotten and new clams/mussels supplier and that they were better now. I have to agree that they were indeed. Nothing else had changed much and there was still a wonderful selection of mini-desserts.
Day 5, Wednesday, our first day at Magic Kingdom. We did the usual MK stuff. Nothing out of the ordinary to report. DS didn't ride much more than Space Mountain and BTMR. He was afraid of any indoor ride. He didn't even like the fact that the TTA went inside Space Mountain--too dark. All the rides he loved when he was 4, he wouldn't even attempt even though I knew he would love them if he would just try. He was getting more and more tired at this point and that wasn't helping matters either. We had lunch at the Columbia Harbour House and we all either had Fride Fish or Fried Chicken Strip platters. The fish was definitely better than the chicken and the meal was fine. Again, nothing to rave about. We left MK around 5:00. I was meeting a friend who lives in Orlando for dinner at Bahama Breeze while my parents were taking the kids to Wendy's for some familiar junk food. I had a very good chicken/steak kabob meal. I think Bahama Breeze does seafood better though, so stick to that. Also, their onion rings look positively wonderful but I didn't have the guts to order all that food. The kids and my parents went back to Epcot that evening for the Illuminations show which they all really liked.
Day 6, Thursday, we sort of finished up things on this day. We started at AK again because DS swore he would do the Kali Raft Ride. He made good on his word and rode it 3 times. It was early and cloudy so there was only a 10 minute wait. The heat was gone and we were back down into the 80s. DD got tired of Kali after the first ride, so she and I went over and rode Dinosaur again which, thankfully, did not make me sick!! We then did the safari again and tried to make the Lion King show but just couldn't get our timing right. The sun came out, heat came back, and AK really gets hot so we went back to the Magic Kingdom. We went to Splash Mountain because DS really had to do it again. It had a 100 minute wait and no hopes of a Fast Pass. I said I wouldn't wait 100 minutes for anything, so we started to head to another area. DS, at this point, decided to have a major meltdown (at age 6!!) and it was horrible. I was ready to just leave him there and I started to walk away but Grandma buckled and agreed to wait the 100 minutes with him. DD and I said "SEE YA" and we went on to do It's A Small World, Snow White, Buzz Lightyear, and Pirates of the Carribean, while they waited for that one ride. DS was pretty darn happy when and he behaved like an angel during his 100 minute wait in line. We then stopped to do the Jungle Cruise on our way out. I hadn't done this ride myself since I was 12 and never wanted to do it because it seemed hokey. DD really wanted to try it and I thought DS would find it mild enough for his weak constitution. Well, he chickened out despite the parade of infants going into the line. DD and I went and we really loved the corny humor of our guide. We kind of felt like we were back at the Hoop-Dee-Doo. DD is still telling everyone all the jokes she heard on the cruise.
We then left MK and decided to monorail over to the Poly for a 'Ohana dinner (another favorite). We were able to get a seat since it was early and the place NEVER got busy during our visit. God, I remember waiting an hour for this place during trips a few years ago. Our server was very good but the food was not up to par with past visits. The meat was still the same but the appetizers did not seem quite as tasty. We then considered doing some more park stuff but we wre tired and decided to go back to Vistana and start packing up.
Next report...our last day and my final thoughts on off-site, fast pass, and winging it.
We then headed over to Animal Kingdom. At that point, the car ride over made me sick. Then the tram ride from the parking area was a real doozy. We got a Fast Pass for the safari ride and while we were waiting we relaxed with a frozen lemonade and then took the train over to Conservation Station. This was nice and cool (and calmed) and helped me to regain my equilibrium again. We went back on the safari, saw lots of animals even though the heat had reached a brutal, humid 92 degrees (our first scorcher). Safari ride made me sick. We then went to Dinoland so my DD could ride Dinosaur. She was afraid to do this on our last trip but ended up loving it. DS and I sat out on this. Naturally, he was too skittish and I wasn't in the mood for anymore motion. We had a nice Mickey pop and a cool drink in some shade. DD loved Dinosaur. We then tried to do Kali River Rapids but no one was in the mood for a 60 minute wait. DS was very disappointed because he was SURE he wanted to ride this ride. We were all sick of lines and heat at this point (May trips really spoil you) so we decided to leave and go to the Cape May Buffet for dinner. It is another one of our favorites. I hate to seem boring here but as I said earlier, I had no planning so I had to rely on old standbys because I was lost otherwise. I don't know how people go to Disney "cold" not knowing anything and survive. We arrived at 5:30 and were seated within 10 minutes. The food was as good, if not better, than previous visits. The waiter told us that in the past 2 years they had gotten and new clams/mussels supplier and that they were better now. I have to agree that they were indeed. Nothing else had changed much and there was still a wonderful selection of mini-desserts.
Day 5, Wednesday, our first day at Magic Kingdom. We did the usual MK stuff. Nothing out of the ordinary to report. DS didn't ride much more than Space Mountain and BTMR. He was afraid of any indoor ride. He didn't even like the fact that the TTA went inside Space Mountain--too dark. All the rides he loved when he was 4, he wouldn't even attempt even though I knew he would love them if he would just try. He was getting more and more tired at this point and that wasn't helping matters either. We had lunch at the Columbia Harbour House and we all either had Fride Fish or Fried Chicken Strip platters. The fish was definitely better than the chicken and the meal was fine. Again, nothing to rave about. We left MK around 5:00. I was meeting a friend who lives in Orlando for dinner at Bahama Breeze while my parents were taking the kids to Wendy's for some familiar junk food. I had a very good chicken/steak kabob meal. I think Bahama Breeze does seafood better though, so stick to that. Also, their onion rings look positively wonderful but I didn't have the guts to order all that food. The kids and my parents went back to Epcot that evening for the Illuminations show which they all really liked.
Day 6, Thursday, we sort of finished up things on this day. We started at AK again because DS swore he would do the Kali Raft Ride. He made good on his word and rode it 3 times. It was early and cloudy so there was only a 10 minute wait. The heat was gone and we were back down into the 80s. DD got tired of Kali after the first ride, so she and I went over and rode Dinosaur again which, thankfully, did not make me sick!! We then did the safari again and tried to make the Lion King show but just couldn't get our timing right. The sun came out, heat came back, and AK really gets hot so we went back to the Magic Kingdom. We went to Splash Mountain because DS really had to do it again. It had a 100 minute wait and no hopes of a Fast Pass. I said I wouldn't wait 100 minutes for anything, so we started to head to another area. DS, at this point, decided to have a major meltdown (at age 6!!) and it was horrible. I was ready to just leave him there and I started to walk away but Grandma buckled and agreed to wait the 100 minutes with him. DD and I said "SEE YA" and we went on to do It's A Small World, Snow White, Buzz Lightyear, and Pirates of the Carribean, while they waited for that one ride. DS was pretty darn happy when and he behaved like an angel during his 100 minute wait in line. We then stopped to do the Jungle Cruise on our way out. I hadn't done this ride myself since I was 12 and never wanted to do it because it seemed hokey. DD really wanted to try it and I thought DS would find it mild enough for his weak constitution. Well, he chickened out despite the parade of infants going into the line. DD and I went and we really loved the corny humor of our guide. We kind of felt like we were back at the Hoop-Dee-Doo. DD is still telling everyone all the jokes she heard on the cruise.
We then left MK and decided to monorail over to the Poly for a 'Ohana dinner (another favorite). We were able to get a seat since it was early and the place NEVER got busy during our visit. God, I remember waiting an hour for this place during trips a few years ago. Our server was very good but the food was not up to par with past visits. The meat was still the same but the appetizers did not seem quite as tasty. We then considered doing some more park stuff but we wre tired and decided to go back to Vistana and start packing up.
Next report...our last day and my final thoughts on off-site, fast pass, and winging it.
