Mike Jones
<font color=993300>....nothing clever to say... ju
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2003
- Messages
- 1,372
The Cast:
Mike, 39, chief organiser, driver and brew maker
Heather, 40, wife and mum
Bethany, 11 (going on 20!), coaster addict, hates getting wet.
Adam, 9, (going on 8!), hates coasters (except BTMRR), LOVES getting wet!
DAY 9 BOXING DAY, FRIDAY 26TH DECEMBER 2003
Todays plan : Lazy day, possibly a Water Park. Last day at the Villa.
No reason for an early alarm call today, as we have very little planned. As its our last day, we want to spend a good part of the day in the Villa and pool. Weve got a water park pass left on our Hoppers, and although Heather and Beth wont be keen, Adam and I may go to Blizzard Beach (Typhoon Lagoon is under refurb) later if it seems warm enough for skin! I wake, naturally, at 730! Woo-hoo: lie-in territory for me! Adam hears me and trots out for breakfast. Hes been up since 615! We leave the girls asleep and both have breakfast. I make coffee and sit on the lanai. It seems coolish today and I check the weather forecast on the telly to see that 70 73 degrees is promised for the area, depending on which Channel you believe. (As usual, I always believe the most favourable!) Bethany appears at 800 and demands food.
I start nodding off again on the sofa, and, as the kids are watching Nickleodeon, I return to bed until 930am. I wake to find Heather still deeply under and decide that 11 hours is enough for anyone and poke her in the ribs until she stirs. Oh, sorry love, did I wake you? Ah well, might as well get up now then! We have a chat and she wants to lurk here today, to tidy up and do a bit of washing and stuff before we go to the Gulf tomorrow. I check with Beth, and shes not up for BB so Adam and I grab our stuff and set off to WDW. We arrive about 1100 (the water park opens at 1000) and the car park is almost empty just the first couple of rows are full. We enter without a wait, obviously, and make our way to Snowless Joes to hire a locker($7, $2 returned on key) and two towels ($1 each).
Im sure most readers will have a fair idea of the general nature of Blizzard Beach, but if not: the park is themed on an Alpine Ski Resort where all the snow has melted, leaving the former bob-sleigh runs and ski jumps as water slides. The ski lift is still there, and will take you to the top of Mount Gushmore, the highest point in the park. Piles of snow (white-painted concrete or plastic) lie around the place to reinforce this fantasy. In hot weather they reflect the sun and heat mercilessly, but today, at around 70 degrees, its fine!
We take the first bridge over the lazy river (Cross Country Creek) that surrounds the main attractions and slides and are intending to climb the mountain for the family raft ride (Teamboat Springs). An easy alternative offers itself as the Chairlift terminal is empty and we walk on to the next 3 man lift. (In busy periods many people treat this as an attraction in its own right and weve seen lines of possibly 100 bodies waiting to ride.) After a pleasant minute or so, where we dont make the chair swing and remain seated at all times we are stepping off at the top. On the way up you have a great view of the biggest body slide, Summit Plummet, which falls 120 feet from the top of the fake ski jump. The riders flash past at incredible speed, variously described as 55 60 mph! Ive done this one in the past, but found it quite painful on my hips and back. I much prefer the adjacent and slightly lower Slush Gusher which is slower, has bumps which launch you from the slide very slightly (but alarmingly) on a couple of occasions! I dont get bruised on this one!
We walk around the bends at the top of the mountain to Teamboat Springs. Were not even sure whether we count as a family, as the rafts take 5 or 6 people. The CM takes one look at us and decides we are carrying enough ballast between us and lets us climb aboard. TS is a continually loading ride where the rafts are returned to the top inside a discreet conveyor (thank goodness at Typhoon Lagoons family raft ride you have to roll the damn thing up the path to the start great fun). It claims to be the longest ride of its type in the world and is certainly one of our favourites for its sheer longevity. We are left speechless for a few seconds just after the launch, as the water splashing around us is icy! Weve never experienced this before in Florida!! I thought they heated the stuff? And take care at the bottom of the ride as you float towards the unload area; you pass under a covered area with more icy water cascading onto unwary heads.
From the end of TS we go right and take the anti-clockwise path through the tunnel to get to the start of the Run-Off Rapids. These enclosed and open tube slides are great fun, although here you DO need to collect a tube and drag it up about 100 steps (or drag 2 tubes up about 100 steps if you are a mug with a child). We repeat this journey 3 times, trying the different slides. The fully enclosed, dark one is my favourite, as the direction changes are completely unpredictable! We continue anticlockwise after the 3rd trip, passing the bottom of the Downhill Double Dipper (side by side tube rides that are launched together in race fashion. Timers at the bottom display who wins isnt it always going to be the fattest?!) Adam doesnt fancy these, as they seem perilously steep and very fast. I REALLY fancy these, as they seem perilously steep and very fast! He stays at the bottom while I leg it up and ride alone (how sad is that, on a do with yer mates ride?) I win, naturally (as both the fattest and only rider) and we climb the same steps to the mat rides, Snow Stormers. Again these are open (half tube) slides that you navigate on pre-shaped, sledge style, foam mats, with grab handles. Youre supposed to lie full length on your belly and fully extend your arms. Now, I know Im tall, but Im not an orang-utan when I do this Im not even on the mat! I compromise and keep my elbows bent. My elbows bash into the sides all the way down. Its still fun!
We repeat a couple of times to do all 3 slides and then we walk to the Cross Country Creek access nearby. Again we are struck by how quiet the park is at busy periods all the tubes here are taken, and great rafts of conjoined teenagers cruise past for minutes at a time before you can see water again! You could probably run across their chests and backs to the other side without getting your feet wet! Anyhoo, today we cant see a soul. The lifeguards dotted around the creek are all wearing fleeces and winter hats and I feel slightly silly floating past nearly naked. In truth, it is a bit cool to be staying still today, so we climb out after about a half circuit (10 minutes or so) and use the Chairlift (still empty) to have another ride on Teamboat Springs. Adam wants to do the wave pool next (Melt Away Bay), so in we go.
Im not mad about bobbing wave pools they just seem hard work. You cant swim properly and yet the waves are not relaxing either. If you are unlucky enough to fall over in the shallows here youll probably need a skin graft, as the waters-edge sand is actually sand encrusted concrete, aka sandpaper! I prefer the pool at Typhoon Lagoon, which doesnt even pretend to be relaxing 5 foot waves rarely are!
Adams happy enough, so I sit on the beach and watch him for a while. Im getting hungry now and yell cheeseburger? at him as he bobs past. Hes out like a whippet and we return to the lockers to dress and return our key (no thanks, I dont want a novelty drinking cup, I want my 2 bucks back, please). We walk back to the main shops/entrance area where Lottawatta Lodge is probably the best chance of a reasonable snack. We order 2 cheeseburgers w/fries, a coke and a coffee and sit in the sun outside to enjoy. Now that Im dry it actually feels almost hot!
We are back at the villa by 1:40pm. The girls are busy doing mysterious things with their foliage so I write up the mornings notes. Notice that Swiss Family Robinson is on TV I like their house more than the MK one! I go out onto the lanai and fall asleep for a period in the warm sunshine. Adam and Heather come out for a swim and I join them in the pool. Bethany has found a new hobby, it seems watching Emerill (the celebrity chef) on TV. Strange girl. We stay in the pool until 4:30 ish and then go back indoors for showers etc. No one is desperate for a full-service meal, and Flippers pizza at Old Town gets the vote. (My bank manager texts me his approval, too!). (It also gives Adam another chance to scour the toy car options in the store there.)
We leave by 5:30 and are parked at Old Town by 5:45. It feels a lot busier than last week. As its Friday, the car parade thing will be on again tonight. We are seated immediately at Flippers, which is virtually full, and order 2 large pizzas (veggie pie again and a meat-feast one). Adams going off pizzas so he gets a meatball sandwich. Heather and I have a beer and the kids order coke and lemonade. The pizzas are perfect and the bill is $40 + tip.
We cruise the two sides of the shopping street, where more of the cars are parked up on display than last week. Adam finally cracks and parts with some of his Christmas $$ to get a model Mustang from the store. My cold/allergy problem is kicking me now and my eyes are watering copiously between sneezes. We return to the villa by 8:15pm. I fall asleep in front of the telly again and I presume the kids go to bed cos theyre not there when I wake up at 10:00! I go to bed at 10:20, fed up with the sneezing. (But a bit excited about transferring to the Gulf tomorrow!)
Mike
PREVIOUS DAYS:
PART 1 - PRE TRIP AND JOURNEY
PART 2 - CELEBRATION, DTD, OLD TOWN
PART 3 - EPCOT, WILDERNESS LODGE
PART 4- UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, OUTBACK
PART 5 - MGM, AK, BOMA, ILLUMINATIONS
PART 6 - IOA, BEACHES 'N CREAM
PART 7 - MK, SPOODLES, EPCOT #
PART 8 - CHRISTMAS DAY AT EPCOT!
Mike, 39, chief organiser, driver and brew maker
Heather, 40, wife and mum
Bethany, 11 (going on 20!), coaster addict, hates getting wet.
Adam, 9, (going on 8!), hates coasters (except BTMRR), LOVES getting wet!
DAY 9 BOXING DAY, FRIDAY 26TH DECEMBER 2003
Todays plan : Lazy day, possibly a Water Park. Last day at the Villa.
No reason for an early alarm call today, as we have very little planned. As its our last day, we want to spend a good part of the day in the Villa and pool. Weve got a water park pass left on our Hoppers, and although Heather and Beth wont be keen, Adam and I may go to Blizzard Beach (Typhoon Lagoon is under refurb) later if it seems warm enough for skin! I wake, naturally, at 730! Woo-hoo: lie-in territory for me! Adam hears me and trots out for breakfast. Hes been up since 615! We leave the girls asleep and both have breakfast. I make coffee and sit on the lanai. It seems coolish today and I check the weather forecast on the telly to see that 70 73 degrees is promised for the area, depending on which Channel you believe. (As usual, I always believe the most favourable!) Bethany appears at 800 and demands food.
I start nodding off again on the sofa, and, as the kids are watching Nickleodeon, I return to bed until 930am. I wake to find Heather still deeply under and decide that 11 hours is enough for anyone and poke her in the ribs until she stirs. Oh, sorry love, did I wake you? Ah well, might as well get up now then! We have a chat and she wants to lurk here today, to tidy up and do a bit of washing and stuff before we go to the Gulf tomorrow. I check with Beth, and shes not up for BB so Adam and I grab our stuff and set off to WDW. We arrive about 1100 (the water park opens at 1000) and the car park is almost empty just the first couple of rows are full. We enter without a wait, obviously, and make our way to Snowless Joes to hire a locker($7, $2 returned on key) and two towels ($1 each).
Im sure most readers will have a fair idea of the general nature of Blizzard Beach, but if not: the park is themed on an Alpine Ski Resort where all the snow has melted, leaving the former bob-sleigh runs and ski jumps as water slides. The ski lift is still there, and will take you to the top of Mount Gushmore, the highest point in the park. Piles of snow (white-painted concrete or plastic) lie around the place to reinforce this fantasy. In hot weather they reflect the sun and heat mercilessly, but today, at around 70 degrees, its fine!
We take the first bridge over the lazy river (Cross Country Creek) that surrounds the main attractions and slides and are intending to climb the mountain for the family raft ride (Teamboat Springs). An easy alternative offers itself as the Chairlift terminal is empty and we walk on to the next 3 man lift. (In busy periods many people treat this as an attraction in its own right and weve seen lines of possibly 100 bodies waiting to ride.) After a pleasant minute or so, where we dont make the chair swing and remain seated at all times we are stepping off at the top. On the way up you have a great view of the biggest body slide, Summit Plummet, which falls 120 feet from the top of the fake ski jump. The riders flash past at incredible speed, variously described as 55 60 mph! Ive done this one in the past, but found it quite painful on my hips and back. I much prefer the adjacent and slightly lower Slush Gusher which is slower, has bumps which launch you from the slide very slightly (but alarmingly) on a couple of occasions! I dont get bruised on this one!
We walk around the bends at the top of the mountain to Teamboat Springs. Were not even sure whether we count as a family, as the rafts take 5 or 6 people. The CM takes one look at us and decides we are carrying enough ballast between us and lets us climb aboard. TS is a continually loading ride where the rafts are returned to the top inside a discreet conveyor (thank goodness at Typhoon Lagoons family raft ride you have to roll the damn thing up the path to the start great fun). It claims to be the longest ride of its type in the world and is certainly one of our favourites for its sheer longevity. We are left speechless for a few seconds just after the launch, as the water splashing around us is icy! Weve never experienced this before in Florida!! I thought they heated the stuff? And take care at the bottom of the ride as you float towards the unload area; you pass under a covered area with more icy water cascading onto unwary heads.
From the end of TS we go right and take the anti-clockwise path through the tunnel to get to the start of the Run-Off Rapids. These enclosed and open tube slides are great fun, although here you DO need to collect a tube and drag it up about 100 steps (or drag 2 tubes up about 100 steps if you are a mug with a child). We repeat this journey 3 times, trying the different slides. The fully enclosed, dark one is my favourite, as the direction changes are completely unpredictable! We continue anticlockwise after the 3rd trip, passing the bottom of the Downhill Double Dipper (side by side tube rides that are launched together in race fashion. Timers at the bottom display who wins isnt it always going to be the fattest?!) Adam doesnt fancy these, as they seem perilously steep and very fast. I REALLY fancy these, as they seem perilously steep and very fast! He stays at the bottom while I leg it up and ride alone (how sad is that, on a do with yer mates ride?) I win, naturally (as both the fattest and only rider) and we climb the same steps to the mat rides, Snow Stormers. Again these are open (half tube) slides that you navigate on pre-shaped, sledge style, foam mats, with grab handles. Youre supposed to lie full length on your belly and fully extend your arms. Now, I know Im tall, but Im not an orang-utan when I do this Im not even on the mat! I compromise and keep my elbows bent. My elbows bash into the sides all the way down. Its still fun!
We repeat a couple of times to do all 3 slides and then we walk to the Cross Country Creek access nearby. Again we are struck by how quiet the park is at busy periods all the tubes here are taken, and great rafts of conjoined teenagers cruise past for minutes at a time before you can see water again! You could probably run across their chests and backs to the other side without getting your feet wet! Anyhoo, today we cant see a soul. The lifeguards dotted around the creek are all wearing fleeces and winter hats and I feel slightly silly floating past nearly naked. In truth, it is a bit cool to be staying still today, so we climb out after about a half circuit (10 minutes or so) and use the Chairlift (still empty) to have another ride on Teamboat Springs. Adam wants to do the wave pool next (Melt Away Bay), so in we go.
Im not mad about bobbing wave pools they just seem hard work. You cant swim properly and yet the waves are not relaxing either. If you are unlucky enough to fall over in the shallows here youll probably need a skin graft, as the waters-edge sand is actually sand encrusted concrete, aka sandpaper! I prefer the pool at Typhoon Lagoon, which doesnt even pretend to be relaxing 5 foot waves rarely are!
Adams happy enough, so I sit on the beach and watch him for a while. Im getting hungry now and yell cheeseburger? at him as he bobs past. Hes out like a whippet and we return to the lockers to dress and return our key (no thanks, I dont want a novelty drinking cup, I want my 2 bucks back, please). We walk back to the main shops/entrance area where Lottawatta Lodge is probably the best chance of a reasonable snack. We order 2 cheeseburgers w/fries, a coke and a coffee and sit in the sun outside to enjoy. Now that Im dry it actually feels almost hot!
We are back at the villa by 1:40pm. The girls are busy doing mysterious things with their foliage so I write up the mornings notes. Notice that Swiss Family Robinson is on TV I like their house more than the MK one! I go out onto the lanai and fall asleep for a period in the warm sunshine. Adam and Heather come out for a swim and I join them in the pool. Bethany has found a new hobby, it seems watching Emerill (the celebrity chef) on TV. Strange girl. We stay in the pool until 4:30 ish and then go back indoors for showers etc. No one is desperate for a full-service meal, and Flippers pizza at Old Town gets the vote. (My bank manager texts me his approval, too!). (It also gives Adam another chance to scour the toy car options in the store there.)
We leave by 5:30 and are parked at Old Town by 5:45. It feels a lot busier than last week. As its Friday, the car parade thing will be on again tonight. We are seated immediately at Flippers, which is virtually full, and order 2 large pizzas (veggie pie again and a meat-feast one). Adams going off pizzas so he gets a meatball sandwich. Heather and I have a beer and the kids order coke and lemonade. The pizzas are perfect and the bill is $40 + tip.
We cruise the two sides of the shopping street, where more of the cars are parked up on display than last week. Adam finally cracks and parts with some of his Christmas $$ to get a model Mustang from the store. My cold/allergy problem is kicking me now and my eyes are watering copiously between sneezes. We return to the villa by 8:15pm. I fall asleep in front of the telly again and I presume the kids go to bed cos theyre not there when I wake up at 10:00! I go to bed at 10:20, fed up with the sneezing. (But a bit excited about transferring to the Gulf tomorrow!)
Mike
PREVIOUS DAYS:
PART 1 - PRE TRIP AND JOURNEY
PART 2 - CELEBRATION, DTD, OLD TOWN
PART 3 - EPCOT, WILDERNESS LODGE
PART 4- UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, OUTBACK
PART 5 - MGM, AK, BOMA, ILLUMINATIONS
PART 6 - IOA, BEACHES 'N CREAM
PART 7 - MK, SPOODLES, EPCOT #
PART 8 - CHRISTMAS DAY AT EPCOT!
hubby and I are going to Blizzard Beach next week but I'm not sure I'll be doing many of those slides, I might get stuck LOL. Still, sounds like you both had great fun.
