Dimplenose
Stranger from the outside
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- Apr 2, 2002
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Libbys Trip Day 5 Typhoon Lagoon, Premium Outlets and MGM
Cast Me 43 in love with Mickey Mouse
DH (of 20 years) 43
DS 14 cynical teenager
DD 11 a stroppy little madam
Location 14 day holiday at Windsor Palms with 1 night trip to Royal Pacific Resort
Date August 11th to 25th 2005
Monday August 15th
Weve decided to go out for breakfast today but as DS and I are ready long before the others we go for a walk around Windsor Palms while they get up. Our villa is only 2 minutes walk from the club house and community pool. On the way there we see lots of little red flags in the grass verge indicating the electrical supply. It looks like there may be some new villas about to be built there is certainly room for a few but they would be backing on to the perimeter wall and just beyond that the new road.
The club house seemed well cared for there were some pool tables and a vending machine for video rentals. In another room were some comfy chairs and a rack of tourist leaflets. We continued on to the pool. This opened at 8am and looked very nice with a few sun loungers around it it was just a pool without any slides but it was quite large. I also noted that there was a sign to say there were no lifeguards.
Round the back of the pool was a seating area and a little shop that reminded me of shops that Ive used on caravan site in the UK. Most of the customers were English who were buying eggs and teabags. Most of the newspapers it sold were English so there are obviously a lot of us using this estate. The shop was a useful backup but with the WinnDixie at Formosa Gardens and a Publix not too far away we never needed to use it.
On the way back to the villa we saw a school bus doing a pickup outside the clubhouse. I hadnt realised that any of the houses here were residential, being a resort Id assumed they were all short term rental homes.
Back at the villa we had to nag the others to get ready before driving out to the 192 and finding a Golden Corral. There was a very good choice of food (apart from one slice of mouldy bread!) here and the service was excellent. We could have eaten very healthily if wed chosen to.
After breakfast we went to search for Publix to find some water shoes. I was surpised at how quickly the 192 became rural once we started heading away from Disney. The trip was a bit disappointing as they only had one pair of shoes that would fit any of us. DD however bought a huge inflatable ring to use in the pool at the villa which turned out to be a lot of fun even if she did have to put up with jokes about piles from her father.
Our breakfast had now settled and we went back to the villa to put our valuables in the safe and pick up our swimming things. I took just enough money for some snacks and drinks. It was now late morning and the 192 was very busy. We headed off to Typhoon lagoon.
On reaching TL Dh decided that he was going to buy swim shoes for himself and DD (these were $16 as opposed to $4.99 in Publix). What he failed to mention was that hed not brought any money with him so I had to use our snack money to pay for them (I think you might guess that I was not a happy bunny.). That left enough money for a locker. Only small lockers were left so I paid for one and planned to leave our towels on a chair.
It took us a long time to find our locker as Id been told to go over the bridge and turn right which we did. We then had to walk for a long time and just as we were giving up we found the lockers, but no where to change. We werent going to trudge back to the front of the park to change so we squeezed into our cosies in the nearby restrooms. Once changed DH wanted to put all our stuff (towels included) into a small (or should that be minute?) locker. He tries to ram the door shut at this point Im having visions of paying for a new locker. I insist we leave the towels on a chair.
At last we can swim. We head for the lazy river and very quickly find 4 tubes and float off and relax (I could stay here all day). After a full circuit we head off to the wave pool. The boys especially like this. I quite enjoy being swept along with the waves, but I dont enjoy not knowing who Ill land on or who will land on me.
Its now 1:30 and TL is heaving with people. We go to find gang plank falls the family raft ride but there is a 50 minute wait and were all getting hungry. Having no money for snacks we decide to leave.
Back at the villa we drop of our swimming things, grab our money and head to Premium Outlets. Its only once weve started that I realise I only have a vague idea of where were going. We have a Virgin map in the car so I consult that. We come off I4 at the correct exit and head in what I think is the right direction I had expected to see some signs but I didnt. The road takes us through what looks like an entrance to a housing estate. Were just about to give up when we see some buildings in the distance which turn out to be the Outlets.
Its now about 3:30 and very, very hot. The car park is full so we just drive around until we can find a space. Once parked we go to find some lunch. The food court is packed. I decide to queue up at Subway the others go to find pizza. Just before Im served half the Subway staff went off duty and I have a very long wait. I decide to buy a 12 sandwich as I think DD might help me eat it. I was right, by the time I get back to the others they have all finished eating and DD does indeed relieve me of half my lunch.
Once we have eaten we have a look around the Disney and Universal outlets but there is nothing that we want to buy. I wanted to look around the other stores but being so hot DH and DS start whingeing and I decide its better to give up now. I didnt really get a good look around but from what I saw I much preferred the mix of shops and the indoor malls at Belz unfortunately we didnt get there this time.
We headed off to MGM as I wanted to see Fantasmic. We left it until nearly the end of our holiday last time and then it had technical difficulties and finished just as the dragon appeared, so I want to get it in earlier this time. We park in Stage 41 about as close as we can get to the entrance without being in medical parking. We quickly walk to the park and go and get a hot dog for DS who is hungry again.
After we have eaten DH goes to get fast passes for Lights, Motors, Action and we stand outside Star Tours and watch the parade. As I got my camera out it indicated low battery. I had a spare, but there must be some sort of bad connection somewhere as it always takes quite a few attempts to change a new battery (luckily I only have to do it every couple of years). After much banging and tapping of the camera it whirrs into life. I take 2 pictures only for the film to run out. It seems to take forever to rewind the film but I manage to change it before the parade finishes and get some good shots.
After a restroom stop and more water its time for our fast passes. When we get there the fast pass queue isnt being let in and backs up a long way it looks like there are hundreds of people in the queue. Someone yells that fast pass holders need to move over to a different queue so we do that only to find it wasnt a CM who called out so we have to go to the back of the original queue. Were queued for about 15 minutes when we are let in part of the way. There is now an announcement that the show will be delayed due to technical difficulties. At least we are now waiting in the shade. We see an ambulance drive past and assume it is a normal safety precaution. There is more waiting and the announcements are now warning us that the show may be cancelled. 10 minutes later and it is cancelled all in all 40 minutes queuing with a fast pass.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of people spill out of the amphitheatre into the road. The kids and DH start arguing and PMT hits me big time. I sit down on a bench and give them the I didnt go back to work just to pay for your holidays .. speech and then burst into tears. They know its best to let me cry for a bit.
After I have calmed down we wander over to the Great Movie Ride. There is a 30 minute queue and a 22 minute ride so we decide it might interfere with our plans to get to Fantasmic early.
We stop on the corner of Sunset Boulevard and buy ice creams. They were very nice but my Toll House Cookie sandwich had 520 calories! We then go to the animation tour. It was quite good but the speaker had a speech impediment which combined with his accent made him very hard to understand. It wasnt how I remembered it I used to like the Robin Williams film. It was sad to see the blanked out windows where the animators used to work.
We head over to Fantasmic and stop to buy popcorn on the way. Were told we can buy it inside the theatre, but once inside cant see any stalls selling popcorn. We sit halfway down the Jafar section and DH heads out of the theatre to get the popcorn. While hes away I see someone wandering up and down the aisles selling popcorn from a tray. The wait for the show seems to be forever. The American mum in front of me is chatting to her husband about going home a day early so its not just me thats stressed out.
We join in the Mexican waves but they soon peter out. The show was excellent and Im pleased to say we got to see it all this time.
Afterwards we join the throngs heading to the car park. As were parked near the entrance we are able to make a quick get away and now that weve mastered Sherbeth Road (in both directions) we get back to the villa quite quickly. We see fireworks in the distance as we leave the 192 I assume they were at Magic Kingdom.
We pack the kids off to bed with the promise of a lie in tomorrow and then its off to bed for us too.
We havent had a daytime storm since Friday and its getting hot, hot, hot.
Libby
Cast Me 43 in love with Mickey Mouse
DH (of 20 years) 43
DS 14 cynical teenager
DD 11 a stroppy little madam
Location 14 day holiday at Windsor Palms with 1 night trip to Royal Pacific Resort
Date August 11th to 25th 2005
Monday August 15th
Weve decided to go out for breakfast today but as DS and I are ready long before the others we go for a walk around Windsor Palms while they get up. Our villa is only 2 minutes walk from the club house and community pool. On the way there we see lots of little red flags in the grass verge indicating the electrical supply. It looks like there may be some new villas about to be built there is certainly room for a few but they would be backing on to the perimeter wall and just beyond that the new road.
The club house seemed well cared for there were some pool tables and a vending machine for video rentals. In another room were some comfy chairs and a rack of tourist leaflets. We continued on to the pool. This opened at 8am and looked very nice with a few sun loungers around it it was just a pool without any slides but it was quite large. I also noted that there was a sign to say there were no lifeguards.
Round the back of the pool was a seating area and a little shop that reminded me of shops that Ive used on caravan site in the UK. Most of the customers were English who were buying eggs and teabags. Most of the newspapers it sold were English so there are obviously a lot of us using this estate. The shop was a useful backup but with the WinnDixie at Formosa Gardens and a Publix not too far away we never needed to use it.
On the way back to the villa we saw a school bus doing a pickup outside the clubhouse. I hadnt realised that any of the houses here were residential, being a resort Id assumed they were all short term rental homes.
Back at the villa we had to nag the others to get ready before driving out to the 192 and finding a Golden Corral. There was a very good choice of food (apart from one slice of mouldy bread!) here and the service was excellent. We could have eaten very healthily if wed chosen to.
After breakfast we went to search for Publix to find some water shoes. I was surpised at how quickly the 192 became rural once we started heading away from Disney. The trip was a bit disappointing as they only had one pair of shoes that would fit any of us. DD however bought a huge inflatable ring to use in the pool at the villa which turned out to be a lot of fun even if she did have to put up with jokes about piles from her father.
Our breakfast had now settled and we went back to the villa to put our valuables in the safe and pick up our swimming things. I took just enough money for some snacks and drinks. It was now late morning and the 192 was very busy. We headed off to Typhoon lagoon.
On reaching TL Dh decided that he was going to buy swim shoes for himself and DD (these were $16 as opposed to $4.99 in Publix). What he failed to mention was that hed not brought any money with him so I had to use our snack money to pay for them (I think you might guess that I was not a happy bunny.). That left enough money for a locker. Only small lockers were left so I paid for one and planned to leave our towels on a chair.
It took us a long time to find our locker as Id been told to go over the bridge and turn right which we did. We then had to walk for a long time and just as we were giving up we found the lockers, but no where to change. We werent going to trudge back to the front of the park to change so we squeezed into our cosies in the nearby restrooms. Once changed DH wanted to put all our stuff (towels included) into a small (or should that be minute?) locker. He tries to ram the door shut at this point Im having visions of paying for a new locker. I insist we leave the towels on a chair.
At last we can swim. We head for the lazy river and very quickly find 4 tubes and float off and relax (I could stay here all day). After a full circuit we head off to the wave pool. The boys especially like this. I quite enjoy being swept along with the waves, but I dont enjoy not knowing who Ill land on or who will land on me.
Its now 1:30 and TL is heaving with people. We go to find gang plank falls the family raft ride but there is a 50 minute wait and were all getting hungry. Having no money for snacks we decide to leave.
Back at the villa we drop of our swimming things, grab our money and head to Premium Outlets. Its only once weve started that I realise I only have a vague idea of where were going. We have a Virgin map in the car so I consult that. We come off I4 at the correct exit and head in what I think is the right direction I had expected to see some signs but I didnt. The road takes us through what looks like an entrance to a housing estate. Were just about to give up when we see some buildings in the distance which turn out to be the Outlets.
Its now about 3:30 and very, very hot. The car park is full so we just drive around until we can find a space. Once parked we go to find some lunch. The food court is packed. I decide to queue up at Subway the others go to find pizza. Just before Im served half the Subway staff went off duty and I have a very long wait. I decide to buy a 12 sandwich as I think DD might help me eat it. I was right, by the time I get back to the others they have all finished eating and DD does indeed relieve me of half my lunch.
Once we have eaten we have a look around the Disney and Universal outlets but there is nothing that we want to buy. I wanted to look around the other stores but being so hot DH and DS start whingeing and I decide its better to give up now. I didnt really get a good look around but from what I saw I much preferred the mix of shops and the indoor malls at Belz unfortunately we didnt get there this time.
We headed off to MGM as I wanted to see Fantasmic. We left it until nearly the end of our holiday last time and then it had technical difficulties and finished just as the dragon appeared, so I want to get it in earlier this time. We park in Stage 41 about as close as we can get to the entrance without being in medical parking. We quickly walk to the park and go and get a hot dog for DS who is hungry again.
After we have eaten DH goes to get fast passes for Lights, Motors, Action and we stand outside Star Tours and watch the parade. As I got my camera out it indicated low battery. I had a spare, but there must be some sort of bad connection somewhere as it always takes quite a few attempts to change a new battery (luckily I only have to do it every couple of years). After much banging and tapping of the camera it whirrs into life. I take 2 pictures only for the film to run out. It seems to take forever to rewind the film but I manage to change it before the parade finishes and get some good shots.
After a restroom stop and more water its time for our fast passes. When we get there the fast pass queue isnt being let in and backs up a long way it looks like there are hundreds of people in the queue. Someone yells that fast pass holders need to move over to a different queue so we do that only to find it wasnt a CM who called out so we have to go to the back of the original queue. Were queued for about 15 minutes when we are let in part of the way. There is now an announcement that the show will be delayed due to technical difficulties. At least we are now waiting in the shade. We see an ambulance drive past and assume it is a normal safety precaution. There is more waiting and the announcements are now warning us that the show may be cancelled. 10 minutes later and it is cancelled all in all 40 minutes queuing with a fast pass.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of people spill out of the amphitheatre into the road. The kids and DH start arguing and PMT hits me big time. I sit down on a bench and give them the I didnt go back to work just to pay for your holidays .. speech and then burst into tears. They know its best to let me cry for a bit.
After I have calmed down we wander over to the Great Movie Ride. There is a 30 minute queue and a 22 minute ride so we decide it might interfere with our plans to get to Fantasmic early.
We stop on the corner of Sunset Boulevard and buy ice creams. They were very nice but my Toll House Cookie sandwich had 520 calories! We then go to the animation tour. It was quite good but the speaker had a speech impediment which combined with his accent made him very hard to understand. It wasnt how I remembered it I used to like the Robin Williams film. It was sad to see the blanked out windows where the animators used to work.
We head over to Fantasmic and stop to buy popcorn on the way. Were told we can buy it inside the theatre, but once inside cant see any stalls selling popcorn. We sit halfway down the Jafar section and DH heads out of the theatre to get the popcorn. While hes away I see someone wandering up and down the aisles selling popcorn from a tray. The wait for the show seems to be forever. The American mum in front of me is chatting to her husband about going home a day early so its not just me thats stressed out.
We join in the Mexican waves but they soon peter out. The show was excellent and Im pleased to say we got to see it all this time.
Afterwards we join the throngs heading to the car park. As were parked near the entrance we are able to make a quick get away and now that weve mastered Sherbeth Road (in both directions) we get back to the villa quite quickly. We see fireworks in the distance as we leave the 192 I assume they were at Magic Kingdom.
We pack the kids off to bed with the promise of a lie in tomorrow and then its off to bed for us too.
We havent had a daytime storm since Friday and its getting hot, hot, hot.
Libby
