Dimplenose
Stranger from the outside
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- Apr 2, 2002
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Day 1
Day 2
Libbys 2009 Trip Day 3
Wednesday 29th July (Pictures are a bit random today)
Today we have an ADR for 11:30 at the Sci-Fi Dine In Theatre. So we are planning to start our day there.
We wake up at 6:30am and stay in bed until the alarm goes off at 7. Were all up and dressed and off to the food court by 7:45. Have I mentioned how great it is to have 2 bathrooms? Well thats the best bit of having connecting rooms for us and the kids - although its me and DH who are often left waiting while our two teenagers take a bathroom each!
The boys choose Mickey waffles again, DD pancakes and I go for a cinnamon roll and a fruit cup. Im just about to charge this to the room when I find I dont have my room key on me. DH buys the food and I leave everyone else eating while I nip (thats a joke as were at the furthest end of the resort) back to the room to look for my key.
As soon as I get back to the room (using DSs key) I see my own key on the table. I am so relieved as only yesterday I was thinking how easy it would be to use someone elses key as there are no ID checks and no signature required unless you spend over $50. (I also discover this is true for credit cards!!!)
(This is the table looking tidier than most days!)
Now Im not so panicked I decide to time my walk back to the food court. It takes 4½ minutes at a brisk walk. I get back to the others to find that DD isnt feeling too good and has only eaten half her breakfast.
Everyone waits while I eat and then, after rinsing our mugs we return to our room to drop them off.
DD is happy to try for a morning at DHS so we decide just to play it by ear well have lost nothing if we do decide to come back early but it might take her mind off things to keep busy.
Id hoped we would get there for opening but it is 9:10 before we are actually entering the park. We head straight for Toy Story Mania and find the queue is already 30 minutes long. The fast pass times clash with our lunch so DD and I say well hang around while the boys do RocknRoller Coaster. (Im going to treat DD VERY gently this morning.) The fast passes are going thick and fast and its not long until a convenient time slot comes up (I did toy with the idea of getting an early pass and using after its window but its really important to me to ride this attraction that I dont want to take a chance this time.)
Once weve got our passes I take DD to see One Mans Dream. I like this show and I think some air conditioning will help DD. We have a quick look around the exhibits (we have been here on our last trip) and within 5 minutes there is an announcement that the film is about to begin.
The film is introduced by an older lady CM who keeps forgetting her lines and having to correct herself. The theatre is almost empty so we are allowed to sit anywhere (no Move right to the end of the row! here.) The film is very moving and I am always sorry that Walt himself is no longer at the helm of his business.
After the film we meet up with the boys. We wander along to the times board and as there is only a 10 minute wait for Star Tours they decide to ride that. I still dont think its a good idea for DD to get shaken about, especially now that she thinks she might be able to manage some lunch so we go taking photos while the boys ride. The Jedi Academy is going on outside Start Tours but we dont stay and watch. (DD admitted that shes never seen any of the Star Wars films Im really surprised as we watch a lot of science fiction at home but then again Ive only seen the original 3 with Harrison Ford.)
After Star Tours we go to the animation tour (or talk). We enjoyed the film part of this with Mushu but the lady CM who introduced and interacted with the film had a speech problem which combined with her accent meant I couldnt understand her at all.
Unfortunately there wasnt time to stay for the drawing class at the Animation Academy.
It was now time for lunch. We love the Sci-Fi Dine In Theater Restaurant and its the only place weve eaten at on each of our 4 trips. DD still not feeling 100% so she and I share a rib meal. Ds also has ribs and DH had a chicken sandwich. Im really impressed when the meal is served as DD and my shared meal has been plated up beautifully on two plates (I dont know why but I had visions of one meal and an extra plate.) They are obviously used to people sharing meals.
After lunch we go to Toy Story Mania. I can see why its so popular (even if our first screen didnt work). I was sorry to have missed all the details in the regular line but I was glad not to have waited for too long to ride.
Its now 1pm and getting very busy in the park. WE go back to the hotel to pick up the satnav and some travellers cheques and head off to the Florida Mall.
It takes us about 25 minutes to get there Im not convinced that the satnav is totally reliable over here so Im not sure if we could have done it quicker. We park near JCPenney and enter the mall through the store.
We split up into boys and girls and set a meet up time then go off and shop. DD wastes a lot of our time by needing the loo (connected to this mornings off-colour, maybe) and by the time shes bought a necklace and a M&Ms t-shirt theres very little time left for me to have a look around before we are due to meet the boys again.
DH and DS spend most of their time looking for electronics or computer games shops. Overall we are not too impressed with the mall (although I might have been if Id been on my own). We have ice creams in the foodcourt before returning to ASMu.
We are all tired and have a rest in our rooms. DH and I watch Fox News theres lots of scary stuff going on locally. We are also very irritated by a car advert with a little blonde girl in it Come to Bob Dance where everybody drives and very amused by a Burger King advert Ive got these tiny hands which becomes something of a catchphrase for this holiday (in 2005 it was the Appliance Direct advert that amused us Wacky Noo Noo!)
At 5:30 everyone says that they are too tired to do another park this evening so we decide to wander over to ASMovies for tea and to take some photos.
Our trip starts well with a quick walk across the car park and into the Love Bug section. The layout of this resort is better than at Music with none of the buildings too far away from the food court (actually Might Ducks is even nearer to the ASMu food court than its own). We get to the food court and find a lot of improvements in the layout and accessibility of the food and beverage stations. I slightly prefer the way the seating is arranged at the other two All Star resorts as at Movies we are sitting with a full view of the serving counters.
While we are eating we notice that it is getting dark outside. After a quick look in the gift shop (much the same stuff as at Music) we start to head for the exit so we can take some resort photos. As we get to the door we find that a full blown storm is going on overhead and it is raining very heavily. The thunder and lightning are almost simultaneous and we decide it is probably sensible to get another drink and wait for half an hour or so.
We wait and wait, the storm must be circling. I take some photos through the window of the food court. It is very dark outside and the trees are taking a battering from the wind.
I went to get some park maps from reception so we can at least do some planning while we wait.
While I am in the lobby I notice an ambulance parked just outside the door and in the lobby a boy of about 9 or 10 is lying in recovery position. The adults who were with him were chatting and didnt look too distressed. I do hope he was OK I wondered if hed slipped on the shiny floor as lots of people were dripping water onto it as they came in from the rain.
We waited in the food court for 40 minutes and the rain is starting to ease. We have to trek across the car park again to get back to our own resort and although it is still raining, at least it is tepid rain.
Back in the room we dry off and watch So you think you can dance, Im fascinated by Cat Deeleys new accent my goodness shes gone a bit posh.
The rain continued for a couple more hours, but we didnt venture outside again. Were still having trouble coping with American time and Im beginning to wonder if well ever make it to see any fireworks this year!
Day 2
Libbys 2009 Trip Day 3
Wednesday 29th July (Pictures are a bit random today)
Today we have an ADR for 11:30 at the Sci-Fi Dine In Theatre. So we are planning to start our day there.
We wake up at 6:30am and stay in bed until the alarm goes off at 7. Were all up and dressed and off to the food court by 7:45. Have I mentioned how great it is to have 2 bathrooms? Well thats the best bit of having connecting rooms for us and the kids - although its me and DH who are often left waiting while our two teenagers take a bathroom each!
The boys choose Mickey waffles again, DD pancakes and I go for a cinnamon roll and a fruit cup. Im just about to charge this to the room when I find I dont have my room key on me. DH buys the food and I leave everyone else eating while I nip (thats a joke as were at the furthest end of the resort) back to the room to look for my key.
As soon as I get back to the room (using DSs key) I see my own key on the table. I am so relieved as only yesterday I was thinking how easy it would be to use someone elses key as there are no ID checks and no signature required unless you spend over $50. (I also discover this is true for credit cards!!!)
Now Im not so panicked I decide to time my walk back to the food court. It takes 4½ minutes at a brisk walk. I get back to the others to find that DD isnt feeling too good and has only eaten half her breakfast.
Everyone waits while I eat and then, after rinsing our mugs we return to our room to drop them off.
DD is happy to try for a morning at DHS so we decide just to play it by ear well have lost nothing if we do decide to come back early but it might take her mind off things to keep busy.
Id hoped we would get there for opening but it is 9:10 before we are actually entering the park. We head straight for Toy Story Mania and find the queue is already 30 minutes long. The fast pass times clash with our lunch so DD and I say well hang around while the boys do RocknRoller Coaster. (Im going to treat DD VERY gently this morning.) The fast passes are going thick and fast and its not long until a convenient time slot comes up (I did toy with the idea of getting an early pass and using after its window but its really important to me to ride this attraction that I dont want to take a chance this time.)
Once weve got our passes I take DD to see One Mans Dream. I like this show and I think some air conditioning will help DD. We have a quick look around the exhibits (we have been here on our last trip) and within 5 minutes there is an announcement that the film is about to begin.
The film is introduced by an older lady CM who keeps forgetting her lines and having to correct herself. The theatre is almost empty so we are allowed to sit anywhere (no Move right to the end of the row! here.) The film is very moving and I am always sorry that Walt himself is no longer at the helm of his business.
After the film we meet up with the boys. We wander along to the times board and as there is only a 10 minute wait for Star Tours they decide to ride that. I still dont think its a good idea for DD to get shaken about, especially now that she thinks she might be able to manage some lunch so we go taking photos while the boys ride. The Jedi Academy is going on outside Start Tours but we dont stay and watch. (DD admitted that shes never seen any of the Star Wars films Im really surprised as we watch a lot of science fiction at home but then again Ive only seen the original 3 with Harrison Ford.)
After Star Tours we go to the animation tour (or talk). We enjoyed the film part of this with Mushu but the lady CM who introduced and interacted with the film had a speech problem which combined with her accent meant I couldnt understand her at all.
Unfortunately there wasnt time to stay for the drawing class at the Animation Academy.
It was now time for lunch. We love the Sci-Fi Dine In Theater Restaurant and its the only place weve eaten at on each of our 4 trips. DD still not feeling 100% so she and I share a rib meal. Ds also has ribs and DH had a chicken sandwich. Im really impressed when the meal is served as DD and my shared meal has been plated up beautifully on two plates (I dont know why but I had visions of one meal and an extra plate.) They are obviously used to people sharing meals.
After lunch we go to Toy Story Mania. I can see why its so popular (even if our first screen didnt work). I was sorry to have missed all the details in the regular line but I was glad not to have waited for too long to ride.
Its now 1pm and getting very busy in the park. WE go back to the hotel to pick up the satnav and some travellers cheques and head off to the Florida Mall.
It takes us about 25 minutes to get there Im not convinced that the satnav is totally reliable over here so Im not sure if we could have done it quicker. We park near JCPenney and enter the mall through the store.
We split up into boys and girls and set a meet up time then go off and shop. DD wastes a lot of our time by needing the loo (connected to this mornings off-colour, maybe) and by the time shes bought a necklace and a M&Ms t-shirt theres very little time left for me to have a look around before we are due to meet the boys again.
DH and DS spend most of their time looking for electronics or computer games shops. Overall we are not too impressed with the mall (although I might have been if Id been on my own). We have ice creams in the foodcourt before returning to ASMu.
We are all tired and have a rest in our rooms. DH and I watch Fox News theres lots of scary stuff going on locally. We are also very irritated by a car advert with a little blonde girl in it Come to Bob Dance where everybody drives and very amused by a Burger King advert Ive got these tiny hands which becomes something of a catchphrase for this holiday (in 2005 it was the Appliance Direct advert that amused us Wacky Noo Noo!)
At 5:30 everyone says that they are too tired to do another park this evening so we decide to wander over to ASMovies for tea and to take some photos.
Our trip starts well with a quick walk across the car park and into the Love Bug section. The layout of this resort is better than at Music with none of the buildings too far away from the food court (actually Might Ducks is even nearer to the ASMu food court than its own). We get to the food court and find a lot of improvements in the layout and accessibility of the food and beverage stations. I slightly prefer the way the seating is arranged at the other two All Star resorts as at Movies we are sitting with a full view of the serving counters.
While we are eating we notice that it is getting dark outside. After a quick look in the gift shop (much the same stuff as at Music) we start to head for the exit so we can take some resort photos. As we get to the door we find that a full blown storm is going on overhead and it is raining very heavily. The thunder and lightning are almost simultaneous and we decide it is probably sensible to get another drink and wait for half an hour or so.
We wait and wait, the storm must be circling. I take some photos through the window of the food court. It is very dark outside and the trees are taking a battering from the wind.
I went to get some park maps from reception so we can at least do some planning while we wait.
While I am in the lobby I notice an ambulance parked just outside the door and in the lobby a boy of about 9 or 10 is lying in recovery position. The adults who were with him were chatting and didnt look too distressed. I do hope he was OK I wondered if hed slipped on the shiny floor as lots of people were dripping water onto it as they came in from the rain.
We waited in the food court for 40 minutes and the rain is starting to ease. We have to trek across the car park again to get back to our own resort and although it is still raining, at least it is tepid rain.
Back in the room we dry off and watch So you think you can dance, Im fascinated by Cat Deeleys new accent my goodness shes gone a bit posh.
The rain continued for a couple more hours, but we didnt venture outside again. Were still having trouble coping with American time and Im beginning to wonder if well ever make it to see any fireworks this year!
I love So you think you can dance. 
)
