Four Go Wild In Florida (Mar 2001) - 13. IoA “What? One of my plans go wrong? Nah!”

[SpottyDog]

Four Go Wild In Florida

Previous drivel

1.The Plan and The Flight

2.We get off the plane

3.Discovery Cove

4."Walk this w..a...yyy!" MGM & Reflections

5.An unusually quiet day- Universal & Jungle Jim’s

6.Where's the Plan? !! (EPCOT)

7.The safe key incident

7 ½ .MGM

7 ¾ . Reflections With Janice

8. SeaWorld

9 . "Oh, what a Circus!"

10. Another day ; another early entry

11. Parades,Pet lips and Pageants

12. Busch and a mad dash to MGM

Four Go Wild in Florida – Day 12 – IoA “What? One of my plans go wrong? Nah!”

PLAN –I of A then WnW & E Night (meeting V’s brother and family too)
CHANGES TO PLAN None (yet!)
MISSED FROM PLAN TO DATE - Pleasure Island , Blizzard Beach, Downtown Disney, ToN, IoA, Seaworld (Clyde & Seamore, Pets on Stage), Epcot (Off Kilter and British Invasion).


Wide awake at 5.55, I leapt out of bed and did our, now, usual routine of coffee x2, shower, and another coffee x2 (V drinks the second offering) and general banging about to bring the family (who have no sense of urgency when me holiday’s runnin out) to order. It’s a testament to me patience and good nature that we didn’t get to Ponderosa till 8am. A good breakfast was had by all, ($24) and we managed to drag our Julie from the table in time to be on Universal Boulevard by 9.35. Second mistake of the day (hadn’t figured No.1 yet) – I correctly took position in the right hand lane to approach the ‘garage’. Should have stayed left and filtered into the traffic comin from that approach. They sailed right up to the booths. The rest of us in the right hand lane realised we were in a single line while the other lanes were free. Folk started to lane hop, and it got a bit chaotic. The resultant jam held us ‘till 10.15 when we gratefully drove up the ramp to park up. So much for another early start!
Mistake number 1 dawned as we walked towards IoA – we’d forgotten to get our E Night tickets for tonight. Never mind, we’ll get them when we go back to ASMu this afternoon.

Into Islands of Adventure. I was really looking forward to doin the big rides here but had already resigned meself to goin alone now we knew the boy had no ‘bottle’ for them. So we split up at the Port of Entry agreeing to keep in radio contact and meet up around lunch time. They headed for the water rides of Toon Lagoon while I joined the 20 minute line for Spiderman (the EPs were for ages later) – third mistake of the day (watch this space).
I enjoyed the theming in the Daily Planet offices but got a bit bored with them after I’d been there 30 minutes– it had broken down and we eventually waited 40 minutes to ride. But it was soo worth it. The overall experience is one I was sure V and the kids would have enjoyed (but you know what my track record’s like taking them on rides they don’t fancy). The smooth movement and backgrounds were magnificent and the feeling of height and flying was superb. No wonder everyone raves about this ride – so atmospheric, so exciting, so do it!
Next, Hulk. A 35 minute wait this time (have you spotted the 3rd mistake yet,Stranger?) and the queuing area was the least inspiring I can remember. I think standing on yer own in long lines just makes them seem longer – never mind we’re at the top now. First observation was the cars had a floor – good. Like the feet dangly ones now, but was pleased to find Hulk had one less place to fall out of! Nervous, as usual, as I entered the ‘last chance to run’ seating gate, the young lady in line for seat 1 asked me if I’d mind changing with her as she didn’t want to sit ‘outside’.
“No problem, Pet.”
“I’ll be taking you with me if I fall out, anyway!”
The launch is brill but not as fast as I expected (I think I’m getting used to these beasties now). The roll at the top was a real surprise though and quickly put me back in my novices place. The thrill of Hulk, for me, is the way it twists and turns in unexpected ways – not just swoops and loops ; and so smooth! Yep, that was a goody and a ‘must do again’ too.
Feeling very proud of me new found ‘I can ride anything’ swagger, I decided Dr Dooms Fearfall would be next on me ‘You don’t scare me’ list. I radioed V to brag and tell her I was gonna be a bit later than we’d planned. The kids were havin a great time and were soaked (luckily this was one of the hottest days we’d had). They’d both been on the Bilge Rat Barges and Me Ship,The Olive (that’s Popeye’s, not mine) and Gaz had done the Ripsaw Falls. They were heading for Jurrasic Park so I’d meet up with them there.
So as I headed for the Dr Doom entrance I noticed the line was posted at 15 minutes. Getting sick of standin on me own now it dawned on me! Mistake number 3 was ‘where are the single rider entrances?’ – or rather forgetting to find them. I remembered reading on the boards that the SR entrances aren’t posted at IoA you have to ask a CM for them. I then had the bright idea of actually reading the information in the map I had been given on entry – “Hey, I’m a bloke. We LIKE to wander around without regard to maps and information provided!” – The leaflet said “ Dave, if you ask the nice CMs, they’ll show you how to get to the single rider entrance and you’ll save loads of time. If you read this after standing 40 minutes for Spidey and 35 for Hulk yer not the planner you thought you were. What a pr**t!”
Sure enough the nice CM pointed me to the back door entrance of Doom, through the arcade, and I soon found myself outside the ‘elevator’ doors.
(Only problem with the SR ‘entrances’ is they are usually the exit to the ride and therefore not marked. I found Doom more by luck than judgement.)
So, I’m standin outside these doors wonderin if I was in the right place, did I really want to be here anyway, and I must be a fool to do this with no-one watchin to ‘milk’ applause etc.. The doors slid open too smoothly and too quietly for my liking. It was very eerie bein on me own. Faced with three ‘chairs’ strapped to what I assumed was the funfair equivalent of a bomb, I cautiously lifted meself into the one to my left. Yes, I would have expected me to choose the middle seat, too. Elevated off the ground, me feet dangled ominously in mid air and I fastened meself in the seat belt. Not a sole there. Did anyone know I was onboard? Not sure this using the back door was a good idea anymore. What if the ride’s closed and no-one knows I’m here? Maybe I should unclip me belt and go find a CM? But what happens if, coz they don’t know I’m there, the thing blasts off just as I unclip the belt? Why do I think so much!!!! Sitting in the most terror I’ve ever experienced, me brain rattled along sixty to the dozen (well the thought that occupied the area where a normal person’s brain would be, rattled around the space – hey, maybe it’s hereditary and that’s why the boy gets them headaches?), I resolved to sit until either someone came to untie me safely or accept the fact that I was likely to be catapulted in the air at ridiculous speed 50 times a day till they need the space for a bigger and better ride and come to dismantle me and Dr Doom.
The door opened and two young lads came in. The wave of relief swept over me but I was so busy doin me little jig, dangling me feet in mid air, that they’d strapped themselves in before I could ask them to go get help. Now they were trapped too! They’d come in the back door and I just hoped we’d get along since we were probably goin to spend eternity together. Another long wait and finally a CM came to check we were securely strapped to the bomb. More terror. Maybe it was the way I’d come in and the (seemingly) age I’d waited alone, maybe I’m just a scaredy cat, but I have never felt so scared as we waited for whatever was gonna happen. As we’d exchanged pleasantries, we three established none of us had done this before, no one was actually looking forward to it and we couldn’t find one good idea between us why we should do it. But we were too scared to release those belts!
W.H.O…O…O…S……..H !!!!!!
Up in the air, dangling our feet, we agreed there was nothing to be scared of and we couldn’t imagine what all the fuss was about. We were astronauts on our first mission and we were looking good! The chair bounced a little and (I think) we enjoyed the views around us. Hanging in the air, dangling our feet, we wondered if there would be another blast to the top? There wasn’t and we gently lowered to the ground. The ‘ride’ had been very smooth and we didn’t ‘feel’ the speed of the blast as much as you’d think watchin it from the ground. We felt very brave and proud of ourselves, havin conquered another ‘biggie’ – we’d brag about this for a very long time. If we could get off! The buckles wouldn’t open. All three of us were struggling to release our belts and laughing out loud in the way you do when you’ve just convinced yourself that was nothing – but you certainly don’t want to do it again. We were three brave, but retired, astronauts and I wondered which of us would be the first to scream for help. Me belt fell open and I jumped off that thing before it took off again. The two young lads were still struggling and how we laughed! I wanted to help them – we’d been through so much together- but was scared one might hold onto me on takeoff and I’d be doin me first spacewalk before me time! The CM walked in and we all fell about – you had to be there. Once free, we remembered we were tourists and totally ignored each other as we left the building.
Sorry to inflict that personal anecdote on you, Stranger. It was one of the most weird experiences of the holiday. What seemed to take forever was probably no more than five minutes start to finish but I couldn’t have built up the anticipation for that ride better if it’d been the way it was planned. Fear brought on by silence, suspense and imagination. Now if I could just channel what I felt in there into a themed ride I’d be able to pay off me debts.
Back on the Streets of Marvel Super Hero (they must have named it after me) Island, I must admit I wobbled a bit as I set off to find the family. As I walked past Spidey. I decided to get EPs for later. 3.15- 4.15 for SpiderMan and between 1.10 and 2.10 for The Hulk. I ‘found’ the SR entrance for Spidey – it’s actually marked! What a pr**t! Getting me EP for Hulk, I spotted Storm Force Accelatron – NO WAY !!
Past Toon Lagoon and into Jurrasic Park. The walk through the gates is a real tingler for me. The music swells into the theme music as if you were the star of the film and entering the gateway with Dickie Attenborough for that first time. Yep a little tear, but I wasn’t sure if it was for the film or delayed shock from Dr Doom!
Radioed V and she was actually in the place she told me she was, which amazed me. I figured she must have asked a passer by where she was when I asked. Standing at the foot of River Adventure watchin the boats emerge and agreeing with themselves that V & J were NEVER doin that! The boy was already on and they were watchin for him. I set off to do it alone – well I was on everything else on me own so why wait? Asked a CM if there was a single rider entrance but she said there wasn’t. Don’t think we waited too long and I got the front seat with a lady and her little boy. He told me his whole life story as we drifted around the river – so now I know how you feel poor Stranger! Not sure about this one. The animatronics were good – certainly impressed me little mate – and the finale did make us jump (before we fell), but there seemed to be something ‘ missing’ from the overall ‘feel’ of it for me. Mind, I’ll still do it again next time. We decided not to do anymore of Jurrasic as time was pushin on and we’d promised the kids could go to Wet n Wild before we went ‘home’ to meet Uncle John and Auntie Paula. The kids had been disappointed to be too tall for the Pterandon Flyers – strange coz the same ride at Lightwater Valley leaves them cold. On reflection we should have made the effort to see the Discovery Centre even just to run in and back out again.
Heading into the Lost Continent I was impressed by the way the theme music merges seamlessly from one area into another as you cross the bridge. I hoped Gaz would do The Flying Unicorn with me but his flyin days were well and truly over for that holiday. (You’ll be pleased to hear he went on a Kumba type ride when in Italy with his school band this June – but hated it, so still got some persuading to do for next year). Found the entrance for Duellin Dragons but was too stupid to ask for the SR entrance so walked all the way round the very dark castle. Great theming, mind, so I wouldn’t have liked to have missed this the first time but won’t be wastin me time next year as it was a very long walk. Got to the line which wasn’t too bad. I think I went on Ice but not sure – not scared anymore but nervous enough not to care what bloomin colour it was! Another really smooth ride and some good drops and swoops. Then the other car comes into the corner of yer eye and we all screamed and lifted our feet together to avoid clashing legs with the other coasterers. Now that was good! We missed them another couple of times and the one while yer upside down is an amazing experience. I was a bit shaky when I got off this one and wasn’t sure if it was due to the near misses, an overload of swooshing about or the fact we’d had nowt to eat for hours! I could have got straight on the other one (we’ll assume Fire) but decided the little fatlad had had enough for the moment. As I exited the ride I couldn’t make me mind up which was me favourite ride in IoA never mind the world. Hulk was special but I had already pegged Montu (Busch) as me best ride for the flying feeling at the top of the massive outside loop but Dragons was something else. The near misses were so exhilarating in a ‘we’re all gonna die, oh no we survived’ sort of way. So Dragon’s gets my vote in IoA with Montu the Daddy overall – I think.
We paused at the Mystic Fountain – great fun to watch and very nice for the kids given it was very hot today. We didn’t fancy Sinbad or Poseidon so skipped through The Lost Continent heading for Circus McGurkus for lunch. We’d read good reviews of this and had decided, now that I DO like circuses, this would be a perfect place for Julie and lunch too – wrong! The food was awful (JMO). The kids enjoyed the show and Gaz was ok on burger and chips (though he said it was dry) but the rest was the worst we’d had anywhere. Me and V got Lasagne while J got Chicken dinner and we all left all of it. It’s probably more to do with Culture than culinary skills. We just didn’t like the taste of the Lasagne – too cheesy (and not like we get at home) and the pasta too starchy . We figured that might be the way Americans like their lasagne so felt it would be wrong to complain. Julie’s dinner suffered the same way – the mash was ‘sweet’ and the gravy not what we expected. Mind the chicken was so dry she couldn’t stomach it so we maybe should have taken that back. So Circus McGurkus will be a drop in for a drink only next time – the show was good and the kids enjoyed it.
Gaz and Julie went on One Fish,Two Fish and we were soon back in the holiday swing again. I like the colour and happiness of Seuss landing. The kids love 1F2F and we all skipped into Cat in the Hat to get dizzy. We’d bought Julie the miniature book on our first visit so we enjoyed the ride more, knowing the story. My only criticism of CitH is the shop. You’d think a Spotty fatlad would be able to buy a spare hat here wouldn’t yer?
Time for me Hulk EP so I left V and the kids tucking into a waffle cone (EACH!) to replace the lunch they hadn’t had while I went to see if I was right to vote whichever Dragon I’d been on in first place. No line this time. I was so quickly to the front the CM offered me a front seat – “ Howay, Bonnie Lad ! I’m just comfortable with me new found bravery. We don’t want to spoil it watchin where we’re goin now, do we?”
I enjoyed the ride as much as the first time and it’s a really tough call as all the coasters in Florida are so different. Every one has it’s ‘set piece’. I love the twist at the top of the ‘gun’ and the first ‘loop’ which isn’t as it sends you back to the top of another twist. As a ride, Hulk has it all – except the near miss and it’s that that gives Dragons the edge for me.
I took Gaz to do Dudley DoRight’s Ripsaw Falls while Julie set about testing every seat on Bilge Rat Barges – V was gonna sit and try not to get lost. The wait for the falls was 30 minutes and a very tedious wait too. The ride was good but I’ll only do this again if I can get straight on it.
We went to meet Julie and V said she was just goin round and round so me and the boy decided it would be better to just go on our own rather than waste time waiting for her. There is a really long queuing meander on the barges and me and the lad were wending our way in and out (a la Shrek – if you don’t know, you’ll enjoy that bit!) and we must have taken a wrong lane coz we ended up in a dead end in the middle of the maze of rope – but right in the open with people looking at us if we were mad. Well we were embarrassed but couldn’t help gigglin, as there were four people who’d happily just followed us there as well. As we got to the turntable our Julie came running up to us. She’d been about to get in a barge and saw us so came to watch me getting wet. Ha! Well that’s not goin to happen. I pulled out me recycled flimsy plastic bag type poncho and covered me physique against the raging water that was about to soak every one but me. The kids and everyone on the boat and on the bridge, come to that, seemed amused that I cleverly pulled the hood down over me face and held it in place between me teeth – planning see. Feeling very smug we span away from the dock and the drop to the level below came as a bit of a surprise I can tell you. Should have worn the poncho on me feet – the water came in everywhere and me legs and shoes got soaked. That seemed to amuse the kids so I was pleased to see them enjoying themselves. We got off and I was dry apart from me squelchin shoes – so mission almost accomplished. The kids found some dry bits so said they were goin on again. Me and v were gonna do the tour so I could video the walk around the islands so we told them to just keep goin round till we got back. We had a leisurely squelch (blisters still painful BTW) and the kids managed to get wet head to toe so we were all happy.
I had me Spidey EP but it was just on 3 now. We decided if I waited for that it would impact too much on the kids WnW time so we left and I pondered if I’d had a good day or not so far. I really like the theming and changing atmosphere in each Island and it’s certainly got rides to entertain the whole family for the day. V didn’t like it as she doesn’t do rides anyway. She might feel differently next year as we’ll make time to do the shows and exhibits. Overall IoA suffered losing the first half day when the boy had his migraine. This meant we had to rush everything and miss a lot out. I still enjoyed it though.
(Note to plan – obviously too much sleep time allocated, cut that down in 2002.)

We got to WnW for 3.30 and the kids busied themselves running off the flumes. Their choice of fave flumes is 1.The Black Hole and 2.the Family Raft Bubba Tubba. Valerie’s conversation must have been scintiliating coz I haven’t got a note on anything at WnW, not even where we sat. I suspect I might have dropped off in me chair.

Nike bound at Premium Outlet Mall it was time to let the boy loose in his favourite Sports Store. We were runnin late now and had arranged to meet John and Paula at the ASSp pool at 6ish – it was already 5.40. We’d reccied this place on our first trip for shoes, so we banned the girls from getting out of the car and we lads ran in , picked up the training top Gaz fancied and hurried along the racks to pick something for John (our driver- remember him, Stranger?). We chose a nice sweat top and stuck to that choice – none of this “Shall we get this one? Or should we wait and see if there’s something nicer over there? Maybe we should put the three colours together and ask an assistant to help us decide which we like best?” Nope – sweatshirts are blue by law and Gaz’s favourite colour is red so that’s his top sorted – paid and exited – first thing that’s gone right today.
AsMu about 6.15, there’s a message from John. He’s confused about what time it is(?) seems he moved his watch whichever way you do when you get on the plane but the clock in the car and the room told him different times and now he’s really confused. He’s not sure if it’s 5.30 or 6.30 – and the call was timed at 4.45! Surprisingly, they weren’t beside the pool when we got there by 7pm. We’d gone via our reception as we’d remembered mistake 1 and had to detour to pick up our E Night tickets – “Sold out?” – don’t you just love it when a plan comes together? Course we were in the middle of Spring Break – haven’t had time to give you me opinion on this American holiday when I’M in Disney – so the tickets had gone quickly. So we sat by the pool at Sports (nice but not as nice as ours, we judged). So should we go to MK now we couldn’t stay for E Night? We used the flexibility my planning technique allows and chose Downtown Disney as we’d missed Disney Quest up ‘till now.
V loves the Christmas Shop so I’d kept her away from it till now. We could buy everything here and I get scowls and cold looks whenever they remember that I wouldn’t let them have a monorail to go round the Christmas Tree. Happy that they didn’t spend very much there, we decided we were hungry and couldn’t decide where to go. Too late to go to a proper restaurant (if we wanted to do DQ) MacDs was the fast and cheap (yes!) option.
Gazed dreamily at the tent as we approached West Side and was taken back to me little girls and the clowns and the trampoline. Mixed feelings. Was so looking forward to seeing Cirque again but knew there’d be tears as it was the beginning of the end.
Into DQ, the kids were straight to the queue for Buzz Lightyear’s AstroBlaster. Mighty Ducks Pinball next then we all had a go on the F1-2001 Racing . I’ll let you guess how good V was at this,Stranger! We headed for the basketball hoops and spent a little time here. We love these arcade games, and I even let then have a go or two even when I have to pay outside, but to get free goes – well it’s worth the admission fee (which is included in me UMP). Luckily we found 9ish to be the perfect time to visit DQ as it was fairly quiet and, apart from the more popular stuff, you could stay on things as long as you wanted without worrying if someone else wants a go (not that the spoilt brat with the overbearing Mother ever bothers about that at busy times – bet you’ve had him in front of you a few times too, Stranger). Then we found the internet lounge! “Bye kids, don’t break anything and come past here every half hour or so we can pretend to be caring parents looking out for their kids.” Free internet access – we were ‘home’ on the board in seconds. “Ahhhh, that’s better” Like a pair of favourite slippers, we were soon catchin up with all that had happened while we were away. The timer tells us our time is up and we get sad. But, wait. Here’s a refresh button and it reset the time! No one waiting, so we sat there for about two hours. “B****r the plan – this is DIS!” We posted a “hello – look at where we are” thread and wished Shirley a happy holiday coz she was flyin out while we were comin home. The kids seemed to have a great time, but I’ll let Pluto tell you about that. We decided enough was enough at 11.30 and we wandered to the bus, fell asleep on it and got to the room for 12ish.

Calamity !

Julie’s in a right state.

The remote’s bust!

 

[Minniespal]

Thanks for sharing - Wonderful reviews!!!!