I will start todays report with a question, why after travelling from the UK the day before then staying up to midnight US time do I wake up at 6.30am? The answer could be that Val is already up and getting ready and has the hairdryer blowing at industrial levels, also why is she asking me questions that I am in a no win situation when it comes to answering like what shall I wear or does this look ok? Look it is 6.30am and I dont care and whatever answer I give will result in an argument, so I take what I think is the bravest choice, I leave the room and go and get a coffee and hide in the food courtyard for 30 minutes!!
When I get back to the room the Spanish inquisition has stopped because dumb and dumber are now awake and starting their first argument of the day, so I quickly shower and change, notice I do not have to ask do I look ok in this, well I know I look fantastic!!
Although Scott has taken the belt of my trousers as he has not brought his and the excuse is well your trousers are not going to fall down are they old man!!
We leave the room at 7.45 and decide to drive to MK as we have to activate our APs and as it is an early morning [this is from memory so not 100% sure] it seemed the best choice. After parking, and I have to say we have never parked so close to the front before as we were able to walk to the TTC and to guest services. The cm here was great an older lady but so happy and talked to us about the UK, passes in hand we head off to the gate, the boys wanted to go by the monorail but Val and I chose the ferry, sorry boys we had a vote and you lost lol
We had to wait 5 minutes for the ferry, but that was long enough for Scott and Glenn to have a little fight, Scott had his MP3 player on and it was loud but Glenn decided he was the right person to tell him to turn it down, I had strong words with them, although they both appeared to ignore me they did calm down and we stopped looking like the family from hell!!!
The ferry journey in my opinion is always great as the castle gets closer and closer I always get quiet and just take in the view, we stood at the front upstairs as the ferry only had a few people on it, it felt like it was just for us. Finally docked we try out our APs in the machines and get the finger scans, I cannot believe it I am now inside the Magic Kingdom and the place is empty!! Val and I take a few moments together just looking down Main Street and I knew exactly what she was thinking The 10 months saving money, juggling bills is all forgotten, as this is what life is all about, you only live once
After spending a few minutes dawdling down Main Street we head off in the direction of the mountains, but on the way we decide to make our first ride POC as far as I am concerned this is one of the rides that define WDW. It is a walk on so even better, enjoyable as ever, as we leave the ride I can see the boys straining to get to the mountains, when we get there they are both happy as the wait is only 5 minutes, when we were last here at Christmas 2003 it was a zoo at least 60 minutes. We choose splash mountain first but Val decides to sit it out with some feeble excuse about getting her hair wet, really she does not like it also it means she can go to a shop.
We got straight onto the ride, still one of the boys favourites and one of the few bigger rides they ride together, wow no matter how many times I ride it my eyes are always shut on the drop, when we see the picture afterwards I look like an idiot while the boys are posing for the camera.
When we get outside we meet up with Val and ride BTM, three times in a row, it is hysterical listing to the strange noises Val makes while riding, it gives me 5 minutes respite from everyone teasing me!!!!!!
We walk to the haunted mansion and get on after 10 minutes, this was a good choice as this attraction was down for the rest of our vacation, we then decided on tomorrow land but not until I am forced to ride its a small world, this is not one of my favourites but Val loves it, at least she does not still have the annoying Disney watch that played the tune!!
Speedway is next as it is Glenns ride, the one we always hear about, Scott tries to pretend he is too cool to ride but then joins Glenn in the queue just to keep him company, or so he tells us, but when they get off they are arguing who won their race!! Off to the WDW transit authority which I know is not a thrill ride but an excuse for me to rest my weary legs, we if truth be told quite like this, the boys know the commentary off by heart and then always ignore the safety warnings like keeping their arms inside, this is done just to annoy me, when we leave Glenn is running onto carrousel of progress, for some reason he loves this [every trip to wdw we endure this at least 10 times], it does not matter how much I always try, I am always asleep by the time the theatre revolves to the second scene, not because I do not like the attraction but apparently it is because I am old and boring or so the family from hell tells me, this always makes Glenn mad and I am woken by Val thumping me several times, look there is no need to hit me so hard.
We then rode Buzz light-year, I dont care what the final scores said I won, then we did stitch for the first time, I managed not to get a seat, so I am the fool not sat down , my family desert me as I will not push people out the way to stay with them then I am stuck as nobody heard the move all the way to the left, Scott thinks it is amusing to come and grab me and help me find a seat, dad you are so embarrassing, I will remember that when he tries to get money from me. When we get outside Val says I am worst than a child all you had to do was find a seat and sit down, easy for her to say. This attraction is ok, but I may be one of the few but I preferred Alien!!
We stop to eat at cosmic rays, as Val is a veggie and they have a fixings bar and have a veggie burger on the menu, the food here is really good, in my opinion, I get accused of swallowing my burger whole, but everyone else would be able to eat in a timely manner if they just shut up, and yes I am entitled to eats Glenn chips [sorry French fries] if he is slow!
We decide to leave now, but not before Val and the boys ride the tea cups, I get sick if I ride them and Scott always insists on spinning it like a mad man, even if Sandra Bullock or Cameron Diaz asked me to ride with them I would refuse, but if they are reading I am ok on everything else lol
After that we ride the barnstormer, some how Val rode on her own, how do we always get split up we were together, Scott and I ended up on the ride after and we were sat at the front, we thought this really funny being wedged in together surrounded by small children, I told him he could hold my hand if he was scared,[ by the way Glenn had decided to stay outside to argue with himself, he would not ride as he saw there was a 15 minute queue, for some reason he has this aversion to queueing for anything, this will mean he will miss a lot during our vacation, the problem is we do try and get him on everything, but when he makes his mind up he is so stubborn, and when we have tried to drag him in on he makes a scene, so we look like evil parents. So we say to him it is up to you, you will miss out. I think his philloshy is if he loves the ride ie Speedway he will queue for hours to ride it, but if it is a ride he is not crazy about then unless it is 10 minutes or less he is not interested, this is frustrating for Val and I as it is a family holiday and we want to ride together but that is the way it is, Scott is the total opposite he would do every ride even if he is not keen and also he would queue for whatever time it takes, anyway back to the tour!!]
We then rode the train to Main Street and drove back to the All Stars. We got back about 4pm; the boys went for a swim, while I did the washing. I got a beer and located Val on the opposite side of the pool area, which is not where we had agreed to meet, why are you sat all the way over here? The response was the sun was not over the other side, I did offer to contact the front desk to see if they could move it for her, ok Val I may be a child.
We drove to the ponderosa in Kissimmee to eat, great value, not top quality main courses but the buffet is good, Scott who is in the eating competition at the next Olympics approves as he can visit the buffet non stop. We leave there stuffed and drive to Epcot as it is late night.
After entering we head to get our wristbands outside spaceship earth and then choose to ride it, I really love it.
We then head off to see illuminations, I notice Val is foaming at the mouth as she has to walk past mouse gears without going in lol.
We stand in the American section to watch illuminations, both boys are moaning about having to watch them, but when they start they stand there in silence. Val and I just love illuminations, we have the cd at home, which we always listen too when we need cheering up at. After they finish we walk over to test track but it took us over an hour to get on, although it is always worth it, but after along day and a queue time showing 20 minutes I have had enough, but as I knew how much Val wanted to ride Soarin we go and find it, after getting lost we find the queue, although it shows 45 minutes we choose to wait. I should explain Vals favourite place in the world outside of Orlando is San Francisco, and she is crazy about Alcatraz, and she knows it is on the flight. When we get on I thoroughly enjoy it, what a great attraction and Val was not disappointed of the view of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz
When we get off it is close to midnight and as far as I am concerned I assumed we are leaving, Val had planned to visit Mouse gears, but as I have lost the ability to read minds, I am not aware of this fact but apparently I should have known, too late I am getting the evil eye now, but at least she is too old to sulk lol.
I manage to get back to the All Stars, but not without Scott thinking having Tupac at full blast on the cd player will act like satnav, he is sitting in the front as Val still has smoke coming out of her ears and will not sit next to me, good thing we have a dodge caravan as the flames coming out of her mouth cannot reach the front, but I decide I know exactly how to make everyone laugh now I decide when we reach the All Stars to really lift the mood and make everything better by doing something really funny, as everyone except me is dozing Mistake!! Look there is no traffic around so when we reach the right turn at the end of the road at the movies I take the corner at about 20 but it flings everyone around it also throws a cup full of hot chocolate that has been hidden in the back by Glenn when we left all over the car and when it hits the floor it splatters everywhere, windows, roof you get the picture! So now I am really Mr Popular with everyone, it is ok I will walk back to the room on my own.
When we get back to the room, I break the silence with what idiot had the cup with chocolate? Ok I am not bright when dealing with women and children at 1am, I know that now!! I thought their responses were really out of order; apparently I am the idiot, only two weeks and 5 days to go!!!
When I get back to the room the Spanish inquisition has stopped because dumb and dumber are now awake and starting their first argument of the day, so I quickly shower and change, notice I do not have to ask do I look ok in this, well I know I look fantastic!!
Although Scott has taken the belt of my trousers as he has not brought his and the excuse is well your trousers are not going to fall down are they old man!!
We leave the room at 7.45 and decide to drive to MK as we have to activate our APs and as it is an early morning [this is from memory so not 100% sure] it seemed the best choice. After parking, and I have to say we have never parked so close to the front before as we were able to walk to the TTC and to guest services. The cm here was great an older lady but so happy and talked to us about the UK, passes in hand we head off to the gate, the boys wanted to go by the monorail but Val and I chose the ferry, sorry boys we had a vote and you lost lol
We had to wait 5 minutes for the ferry, but that was long enough for Scott and Glenn to have a little fight, Scott had his MP3 player on and it was loud but Glenn decided he was the right person to tell him to turn it down, I had strong words with them, although they both appeared to ignore me they did calm down and we stopped looking like the family from hell!!!
The ferry journey in my opinion is always great as the castle gets closer and closer I always get quiet and just take in the view, we stood at the front upstairs as the ferry only had a few people on it, it felt like it was just for us. Finally docked we try out our APs in the machines and get the finger scans, I cannot believe it I am now inside the Magic Kingdom and the place is empty!! Val and I take a few moments together just looking down Main Street and I knew exactly what she was thinking The 10 months saving money, juggling bills is all forgotten, as this is what life is all about, you only live once
After spending a few minutes dawdling down Main Street we head off in the direction of the mountains, but on the way we decide to make our first ride POC as far as I am concerned this is one of the rides that define WDW. It is a walk on so even better, enjoyable as ever, as we leave the ride I can see the boys straining to get to the mountains, when we get there they are both happy as the wait is only 5 minutes, when we were last here at Christmas 2003 it was a zoo at least 60 minutes. We choose splash mountain first but Val decides to sit it out with some feeble excuse about getting her hair wet, really she does not like it also it means she can go to a shop.
We got straight onto the ride, still one of the boys favourites and one of the few bigger rides they ride together, wow no matter how many times I ride it my eyes are always shut on the drop, when we see the picture afterwards I look like an idiot while the boys are posing for the camera.
When we get outside we meet up with Val and ride BTM, three times in a row, it is hysterical listing to the strange noises Val makes while riding, it gives me 5 minutes respite from everyone teasing me!!!!!!
We walk to the haunted mansion and get on after 10 minutes, this was a good choice as this attraction was down for the rest of our vacation, we then decided on tomorrow land but not until I am forced to ride its a small world, this is not one of my favourites but Val loves it, at least she does not still have the annoying Disney watch that played the tune!!
Speedway is next as it is Glenns ride, the one we always hear about, Scott tries to pretend he is too cool to ride but then joins Glenn in the queue just to keep him company, or so he tells us, but when they get off they are arguing who won their race!! Off to the WDW transit authority which I know is not a thrill ride but an excuse for me to rest my weary legs, we if truth be told quite like this, the boys know the commentary off by heart and then always ignore the safety warnings like keeping their arms inside, this is done just to annoy me, when we leave Glenn is running onto carrousel of progress, for some reason he loves this [every trip to wdw we endure this at least 10 times], it does not matter how much I always try, I am always asleep by the time the theatre revolves to the second scene, not because I do not like the attraction but apparently it is because I am old and boring or so the family from hell tells me, this always makes Glenn mad and I am woken by Val thumping me several times, look there is no need to hit me so hard.
We then rode Buzz light-year, I dont care what the final scores said I won, then we did stitch for the first time, I managed not to get a seat, so I am the fool not sat down , my family desert me as I will not push people out the way to stay with them then I am stuck as nobody heard the move all the way to the left, Scott thinks it is amusing to come and grab me and help me find a seat, dad you are so embarrassing, I will remember that when he tries to get money from me. When we get outside Val says I am worst than a child all you had to do was find a seat and sit down, easy for her to say. This attraction is ok, but I may be one of the few but I preferred Alien!!
We stop to eat at cosmic rays, as Val is a veggie and they have a fixings bar and have a veggie burger on the menu, the food here is really good, in my opinion, I get accused of swallowing my burger whole, but everyone else would be able to eat in a timely manner if they just shut up, and yes I am entitled to eats Glenn chips [sorry French fries] if he is slow!
We decide to leave now, but not before Val and the boys ride the tea cups, I get sick if I ride them and Scott always insists on spinning it like a mad man, even if Sandra Bullock or Cameron Diaz asked me to ride with them I would refuse, but if they are reading I am ok on everything else lol
After that we ride the barnstormer, some how Val rode on her own, how do we always get split up we were together, Scott and I ended up on the ride after and we were sat at the front, we thought this really funny being wedged in together surrounded by small children, I told him he could hold my hand if he was scared,[ by the way Glenn had decided to stay outside to argue with himself, he would not ride as he saw there was a 15 minute queue, for some reason he has this aversion to queueing for anything, this will mean he will miss a lot during our vacation, the problem is we do try and get him on everything, but when he makes his mind up he is so stubborn, and when we have tried to drag him in on he makes a scene, so we look like evil parents. So we say to him it is up to you, you will miss out. I think his philloshy is if he loves the ride ie Speedway he will queue for hours to ride it, but if it is a ride he is not crazy about then unless it is 10 minutes or less he is not interested, this is frustrating for Val and I as it is a family holiday and we want to ride together but that is the way it is, Scott is the total opposite he would do every ride even if he is not keen and also he would queue for whatever time it takes, anyway back to the tour!!]
We then rode the train to Main Street and drove back to the All Stars. We got back about 4pm; the boys went for a swim, while I did the washing. I got a beer and located Val on the opposite side of the pool area, which is not where we had agreed to meet, why are you sat all the way over here? The response was the sun was not over the other side, I did offer to contact the front desk to see if they could move it for her, ok Val I may be a child.
We drove to the ponderosa in Kissimmee to eat, great value, not top quality main courses but the buffet is good, Scott who is in the eating competition at the next Olympics approves as he can visit the buffet non stop. We leave there stuffed and drive to Epcot as it is late night.
After entering we head to get our wristbands outside spaceship earth and then choose to ride it, I really love it.
We then head off to see illuminations, I notice Val is foaming at the mouth as she has to walk past mouse gears without going in lol.
We stand in the American section to watch illuminations, both boys are moaning about having to watch them, but when they start they stand there in silence. Val and I just love illuminations, we have the cd at home, which we always listen too when we need cheering up at. After they finish we walk over to test track but it took us over an hour to get on, although it is always worth it, but after along day and a queue time showing 20 minutes I have had enough, but as I knew how much Val wanted to ride Soarin we go and find it, after getting lost we find the queue, although it shows 45 minutes we choose to wait. I should explain Vals favourite place in the world outside of Orlando is San Francisco, and she is crazy about Alcatraz, and she knows it is on the flight. When we get on I thoroughly enjoy it, what a great attraction and Val was not disappointed of the view of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz
When we get off it is close to midnight and as far as I am concerned I assumed we are leaving, Val had planned to visit Mouse gears, but as I have lost the ability to read minds, I am not aware of this fact but apparently I should have known, too late I am getting the evil eye now, but at least she is too old to sulk lol.
I manage to get back to the All Stars, but not without Scott thinking having Tupac at full blast on the cd player will act like satnav, he is sitting in the front as Val still has smoke coming out of her ears and will not sit next to me, good thing we have a dodge caravan as the flames coming out of her mouth cannot reach the front, but I decide I know exactly how to make everyone laugh now I decide when we reach the All Stars to really lift the mood and make everything better by doing something really funny, as everyone except me is dozing Mistake!! Look there is no traffic around so when we reach the right turn at the end of the road at the movies I take the corner at about 20 but it flings everyone around it also throws a cup full of hot chocolate that has been hidden in the back by Glenn when we left all over the car and when it hits the floor it splatters everywhere, windows, roof you get the picture! So now I am really Mr Popular with everyone, it is ok I will walk back to the room on my own.
When we get back to the room, I break the silence with what idiot had the cup with chocolate? Ok I am not bright when dealing with women and children at 1am, I know that now!! I thought their responses were really out of order; apparently I am the idiot, only two weeks and 5 days to go!!!
