Part 4 Day 1 Friday 29th September
Other than my middle of the night loo trips we slept very well and didn’t wake up until Stitch and Mickey called at 07.30 to wish us a magical day.
Up, dressed and out of the door by 08.00 and on our way to Islands of Adventure. After parting with $10.00 for parking we exchanged our vouchers for tickets. I was worried about getting vouchers from Travel City Direct instead of actual tickets as on my first trip this caused me no end of problems getting them replaced but this time it was very easy. Our 7 day Magic your Way tickets were added to our Keys to the Kingdom when we checked in and the CM at IOA was very efficient and dealt with us quickly. We also chatted with her briefly about Halloween and that the US makes a big deal out of it and the UK don’t.
Tickets in hand we were at the turnstiles by 08.30 and like last year despite the queue not been very large they let us in 15 mins early at 08.45. Straight to Gavin’s favourite ride, Spiderman. We got a car to ourselves and both promised to keep our eyes open. We screamed like 4 year old girls all the way round, great fun! This was the first time I kept my eye’s open all the way round as I hate the bit where you fall down and I didn’t like it today either. That said it was fantastic as ever and we were both buzzing when we came out.
Off to Toon Lagoon and Gavin wanted to go on the Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges first ‘cos he’s scared of the drop on Dudley Do-Rights Rip-Saw Falls but he was out of luck as the Barges were roped off so straight onto Rip-Saw Falls. Again we were on our own. I love this ride and have no problems about been drenched at 09.00! After a through soaking we squelched over to Jurassic Park and onto River Adventure. On the way we stopped to take some photo’s and twice a CM jumped over and offered to take one of us together and Gavin commented that this was another perk of getting here early, the CM’s had more time for everyone.
After escaping the dinosaurs we went into the gift shop to look at the picture and both Gavin & I were ducked down, Gavin in fear and I was trying to hold my hat on that I forgot to remove and the American couple in front of us were laughing hysterically at us, they were very embarrassed when they realised we were just behind them but we didn’t mind, it was funny! I tried to take a picture of it but got told off! I don’t mind buying ride photo’s despite the price but this wasn’t really a keeper once the amusement had worn off.
We went back to Toon Lagoon to see of the Barges were open but they were still closed off. I asked the CM what time they opened if at all and was told 10.00. In hindsight had I asked this the first time we passed I could have saved us the backtrack but never mind.
Off to Seuss landing we ride the new train ride and Carro-seuss-el.
By now we were very hungry and headed to Confisco Grill but it was only 10.30 and they didn’t open for lunch until 11.00 so in the meantime we returned to Seuss landing and bought gifts for our friends kids birthdays. Kimberly & Natalie love The Cat in the Hat so we got them some pyjama’s each. A Thing 1 top for Kim & a Thing 2 top for Nat then matching shorts. $84.99 inc tax for the 2 sets I also got a couple of postcards here. One Cat in The Hat for Kim and Nat and one Spiderman for my pixie dust offer $1.39 inc tax.
Confisco Grill was open now so we went back for lunch. The food in here was nice but there was too many Nachos to qualify as a starter and my Pizza had too much cheese on it which made it a bit sickly after a while.
Small Nachos - $6.99
Buffalo Stingers - $6.79
Bacon Cheeseburger & Fries - $10.95
Vegetable Pizza - $8.99
Cokes X2 - $4.50
Tax - $2.49
Total - $40.71 plus tip
Despite been starving I didn’t finish either of my courses but Gavin managed everything but a handful of fries.
After lunch we headed back to Pop for a break. We hadn’t rode the Barges but we will be back!
On the way out Gavin wanted to get a Cinnabon takeout ‘cos he loved it last year and was an easy target for the cashier who suggested he got a box of 6 for $12.77. Bun’s bought we went back to the car and were in our room resting by 12.30.
After an hour or so we headed out to buy our marriage licence. This didn’t need to be bought in advance but we wanted to double check everything as it all just seemed too easy. On the way to the car we popped into to Everything Pop to refill our mugs and then stopped by the concierge to check all our ADR’s and enquire about internet access. We had to amend Gavin’s Keys to the Kingdom card to have charging privileges but that done we were good to go and left Pop at 14.30. We found Osceola Courthouse easily thanks to the instructions given to me by Karentan and arrived in 20 mins. When we got to the Marriage & Passport office there was no queue which was apparently lucky as they had just had a rush on.
Form filled in, passports & $97.50 handed over we had our licence in 10 mins. We were asked if we wanted to get married today but we declined.
Straight back to Pop as I didn’t want to carry all our id etc around for long, Gavin locked it back in the safe while I refilled our mugs.
We now ventured out to the Wal*Mart we had noticed on the 535 for some snacks and bum bag. For the first time I wasn’t taking a bag to the parks with me and we had struggled to fit everything into the money belt Gavin was wearing so we needed something a bit larger. The bum bag and snacks came to $30.10 in total.
Shopping done we returned to Pop to write up the two postcards I had bought this morning then bought some stamps and posted them then refilled our mugs at Everything Pop.
Around 18.30 we headed out the Passage to India on the 192 but when we needed to decide whether to go left or right we chose the wrong way and ½ an hour later admitted defeat and ‘U’ turned to go in the opposite direction. We ended up eating at Wendy’s, but Gavin didn’t get the receipt, as I was desperate for a pee and this was the first place we came to. We did drive a bit further along to ensure we knew where Passage to India was for next time before heading home.
Back at Pop I had a shower. When I had showered yesterday the head was all over the place, I didn’t want to call maintenance and risk our king size room if it wasn’t easily fixable so Gavin had held it up with a bit of bendy wire (no idea where he found it!) but the maid must have noticed because it was fixed now.
A bit of TV then bed around 22.00 with alarm call set for 08.00
Mug Refills - x3 for me & x4 for Gavin
Weather - Sun, cloud & breeze 86 degrees but very hot around 15.00 when breeze died down, around 92 degrees
Jodie
PART 5 HERE
Other than my middle of the night loo trips we slept very well and didn’t wake up until Stitch and Mickey called at 07.30 to wish us a magical day.
Up, dressed and out of the door by 08.00 and on our way to Islands of Adventure. After parting with $10.00 for parking we exchanged our vouchers for tickets. I was worried about getting vouchers from Travel City Direct instead of actual tickets as on my first trip this caused me no end of problems getting them replaced but this time it was very easy. Our 7 day Magic your Way tickets were added to our Keys to the Kingdom when we checked in and the CM at IOA was very efficient and dealt with us quickly. We also chatted with her briefly about Halloween and that the US makes a big deal out of it and the UK don’t.
Tickets in hand we were at the turnstiles by 08.30 and like last year despite the queue not been very large they let us in 15 mins early at 08.45. Straight to Gavin’s favourite ride, Spiderman. We got a car to ourselves and both promised to keep our eyes open. We screamed like 4 year old girls all the way round, great fun! This was the first time I kept my eye’s open all the way round as I hate the bit where you fall down and I didn’t like it today either. That said it was fantastic as ever and we were both buzzing when we came out.
Off to Toon Lagoon and Gavin wanted to go on the Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges first ‘cos he’s scared of the drop on Dudley Do-Rights Rip-Saw Falls but he was out of luck as the Barges were roped off so straight onto Rip-Saw Falls. Again we were on our own. I love this ride and have no problems about been drenched at 09.00! After a through soaking we squelched over to Jurassic Park and onto River Adventure. On the way we stopped to take some photo’s and twice a CM jumped over and offered to take one of us together and Gavin commented that this was another perk of getting here early, the CM’s had more time for everyone.
After escaping the dinosaurs we went into the gift shop to look at the picture and both Gavin & I were ducked down, Gavin in fear and I was trying to hold my hat on that I forgot to remove and the American couple in front of us were laughing hysterically at us, they were very embarrassed when they realised we were just behind them but we didn’t mind, it was funny! I tried to take a picture of it but got told off! I don’t mind buying ride photo’s despite the price but this wasn’t really a keeper once the amusement had worn off.
We went back to Toon Lagoon to see of the Barges were open but they were still closed off. I asked the CM what time they opened if at all and was told 10.00. In hindsight had I asked this the first time we passed I could have saved us the backtrack but never mind.
Off to Seuss landing we ride the new train ride and Carro-seuss-el.
By now we were very hungry and headed to Confisco Grill but it was only 10.30 and they didn’t open for lunch until 11.00 so in the meantime we returned to Seuss landing and bought gifts for our friends kids birthdays. Kimberly & Natalie love The Cat in the Hat so we got them some pyjama’s each. A Thing 1 top for Kim & a Thing 2 top for Nat then matching shorts. $84.99 inc tax for the 2 sets I also got a couple of postcards here. One Cat in The Hat for Kim and Nat and one Spiderman for my pixie dust offer $1.39 inc tax.
Confisco Grill was open now so we went back for lunch. The food in here was nice but there was too many Nachos to qualify as a starter and my Pizza had too much cheese on it which made it a bit sickly after a while.
Small Nachos - $6.99
Buffalo Stingers - $6.79
Bacon Cheeseburger & Fries - $10.95
Vegetable Pizza - $8.99
Cokes X2 - $4.50
Tax - $2.49
Total - $40.71 plus tip
Despite been starving I didn’t finish either of my courses but Gavin managed everything but a handful of fries.
After lunch we headed back to Pop for a break. We hadn’t rode the Barges but we will be back!
On the way out Gavin wanted to get a Cinnabon takeout ‘cos he loved it last year and was an easy target for the cashier who suggested he got a box of 6 for $12.77. Bun’s bought we went back to the car and were in our room resting by 12.30.
After an hour or so we headed out to buy our marriage licence. This didn’t need to be bought in advance but we wanted to double check everything as it all just seemed too easy. On the way to the car we popped into to Everything Pop to refill our mugs and then stopped by the concierge to check all our ADR’s and enquire about internet access. We had to amend Gavin’s Keys to the Kingdom card to have charging privileges but that done we were good to go and left Pop at 14.30. We found Osceola Courthouse easily thanks to the instructions given to me by Karentan and arrived in 20 mins. When we got to the Marriage & Passport office there was no queue which was apparently lucky as they had just had a rush on.
Form filled in, passports & $97.50 handed over we had our licence in 10 mins. We were asked if we wanted to get married today but we declined.
Straight back to Pop as I didn’t want to carry all our id etc around for long, Gavin locked it back in the safe while I refilled our mugs.
We now ventured out to the Wal*Mart we had noticed on the 535 for some snacks and bum bag. For the first time I wasn’t taking a bag to the parks with me and we had struggled to fit everything into the money belt Gavin was wearing so we needed something a bit larger. The bum bag and snacks came to $30.10 in total.
Shopping done we returned to Pop to write up the two postcards I had bought this morning then bought some stamps and posted them then refilled our mugs at Everything Pop.
Around 18.30 we headed out the Passage to India on the 192 but when we needed to decide whether to go left or right we chose the wrong way and ½ an hour later admitted defeat and ‘U’ turned to go in the opposite direction. We ended up eating at Wendy’s, but Gavin didn’t get the receipt, as I was desperate for a pee and this was the first place we came to. We did drive a bit further along to ensure we knew where Passage to India was for next time before heading home.
Back at Pop I had a shower. When I had showered yesterday the head was all over the place, I didn’t want to call maintenance and risk our king size room if it wasn’t easily fixable so Gavin had held it up with a bit of bendy wire (no idea where he found it!) but the maid must have noticed because it was fixed now.
A bit of TV then bed around 22.00 with alarm call set for 08.00
Mug Refills - x3 for me & x4 for Gavin
Weather - Sun, cloud & breeze 86 degrees but very hot around 15.00 when breeze died down, around 92 degrees
Jodie
PART 5 HERE
