Highlander & Slothful Trio Tour Orlando Hotels Day Thirteen

[highlander447]

Highlander
Main planner, grouchy at times Me : Steve (aka God "honest")
Slothful Trio
Peacemaker, maid, and chief: Jacquie (aka Wife puts up with me)
Chief spender, shopper, moody: Stephanie (15 aka Daughter & first born)
Chief pain, wind up merchant: Danny (13 aka the "boy" my heir)

Day 13 Tuesday 11th July Weather hot/cloudy/rain

I got up about 7am, today was actual wedding anniversary and I had forgot all about a card, so after a quick shower I pop over to Walgreen's get a card plus some hands free fans & batteries, I write the card while I have my coffee, I manage to arrange a meet with Rob on our last day (sadly our plans changed and it was not to be. I head back to the room around 9am, and they are still sleeping. I get DW's gift from safe before waking her, we exchange gifts and cards, and she did like them, DW had got me the Jack Daniel's stein, Shrek plush, & the book I had got signed at KSC, the kids gave us a card as well.

After everyone was dressed we headed out to Ponderosa for breakfast near Wet and Wild, Wet and Wild would be our next stop so it seemed like a good plan, Ponderosa was very busy but we only waited a few minutes for a table, I know its not everyone's cup of tea but there was plenty of choice and after drinks etc $25 it was ok,

after breakfast we headed to the water park, the weather today had been forecast as a pretty mixed bag and later on today we had twilight DC to attend. We managed to get a table in the shade this time at the park which was good, Danny disappeared to do some rides while Stephanie played in wave pool, Jacquie decided she needed a new swimming costume for DC, luckily I had my Universal AP with me that gives you discount so she got a dressy type costume for $48 after discount, we only spent a couple of hours here basically because Stephanie was in a teenage mood and bored, ( more likely wanted to see the boy she had met at hotel),

we packed up as a light shower began and got a trolley back down to hotel, by time we arrived the rain had disappeared and sun was out, the kids played in the pool, DD seemed happier wonder why?, we did some more packing and I arranged with Mears that we would do valet pick up at DTD on Thursday, about 2pm the hotel pool is closed due to storm passing us, we really hope it passes quickly as we get ready for DC, after 30mins the rain slows down we get the trolley to SW and use the courtesy transport from there to DC, by now the storm had passed but it was pretty cloudy.

 

[highlander447]

Check-in at DC goes smoothly both myself and DW show ID so our ID cards now marked 21, I imagine saves the bar staff asking for ID through day, we are left to wander down the path and I have to say for $250 each I'm not impressed, there's no sort of welcome at all for DC twilight guests and if this had been our first visit here we would have been lost as where to go, there's a photographer near end of path and we get the free photo taken, then we get our locker and vests, the swim time is 6:10pm at Sea Horse cabana, the kids think its great that everything is free although I have to say you got better choice and service when u paid for the stuff, we do get some strawberry ice cream lollies, beer, juice etc but no cocktails where available even to buy, also they had run out of pretzels and as they where nearly closing no more, this annoyed me as it wasn't nearly closing for us, the kids played in the pool, while myself and DW had read of our books,

 

[highlander447]

At 5pm the park started closing, this incl the bars etc as well so basically for an hour of our day there was nothing happening and it took the staff nearly 90mins to get day guests out, bars opened at 6pm again and actually where serving day guests, now u may think why not but as we where not invited to park till 3pm this actually was time we had paid for and I really think DC don't have the set up for this part of package. When we went to cabana the staff there had a cooler with soft drinks for us also a couple of trainers came in with a momma sloth and a baby sloth very cute and very hairy,

although the baby was very soft to touch and the mummy was coarse, then they did the usual video on dolphins and it was off to the swim, only DW and kids where doing swim, so I positioned myself for photos now the family really did enjoy the dolphin interaction and they had two dolphins, the interaction did last longer than day guests nearly an hour and I have to say pretty boring for me, I did try to slope off for a beer but the snack bar closed at 6:45pm. After the swim DD picked a couple of fridge magnets for pictures of their experience, then as everywhere was basically closed we got showered changed for dinner.

Now dinner was excellent, great choices, superb quality of food all freshly prepared, there where loads of waiting staff but most seemed pretty inexperienced for example my half full wine glass was refilled with water by one member of staff,

but the band where excellent and they played some kids games which where pretty funny,

I encouraged DS to do conga but he would only join in if I did so I did but it ended in a circle where everyone had to do a party piece, well DS ran off and left me standing in circle so I had to do my Russian dance arms folded and kicking,

this made the tribe laugh tremendously, and quite a few people had a laugh at my expense, DD asked the band to play Brown Eyed Girl for our anniversary and they did, plus they played a slow dance for us as well,

after we had sampled enough dinner from the various stations

And I have to say most of the chefs where pretty friendly and good fun, we headed to the desert station the desert station was where lunch is usually at DC and it was a desert lovers paradise, DS had numerous helpings as did we all, we also all got gourmet strawberry in chocolate tuxedo served as part of after dinner meal, I had a coffee as well and overall the meal,

entertainment where great, but I have to say we will not be in a hurry to return to DC I really feel they have let themselves down with this package and it comes nowhere near their advertising, well below expectations. We picked up our free photo plus the ones we paid for and got a taxi back to QII and lo and behold another Mears taxi driver that didn't know where QII was, but we got there and he got the fare not the meter fare. Once back at the hotel the kids played in the games room while I had a rum cocktail, we where all in bed by midnight, tomorrow last full day.

 

[SpideyHulk24]

Nice gift for the wife. I'm sure she loved them! Thank you for sharing your report!

 

[Disney owl]

What a great anniversary

 

[Minniespal]

Enjoyed reading your report ~ Thanx for sharing.