Sue: Chief organiser and planner
Jorge: (DH) Happy as long as he's in Orlando
Rebecca: (DD 8) Happy as long as she gets her own way!
Day 7
Where the h*** is Winter Park?
The day starts with breakfast, again in the villa which seems so much easier than dragging ourselves to a restaurant. Or are we just lazy? We have decided to go somewhere new today and I have always fancied visiting Winter Park and doing the boat tour of multi million dollar houses. I know roughly where it is and, as the guidebooks are always mentioning it, I assume that it will be well signposted. My assumption turns out to be totally wrong. We get off the I4 OK, expecting to enter some leafy upmarket suburb. After driving for about 10 minutes we see signs, which include Winter Park (usually followed by the word Autos) but no lovely tourist area with scenic boat tour. We finally agree that we need to ask directions and after a further 10 minutes of arguing over exactly WHO is going to ask for directions I pull the car into a Publix and grab the first US citizen I see. She is lovely and very helpful, it seems we passed our turnoff some time ago and must now backtrack. Rebecca who hates being cooped up in the back of the car starts to whinge, not improving the atmosphere and were still lost! Tempers are becoming frayed and we make a last stop in Winter Park library to ask again. As we pull into the back of the Library our destination suddenly appears in front of us and with sighs of relief we quickly park up. After locating the boat dock and booking our seats for the next tour, which leaves in 25 minutes we walk back to Haagen Dazs for coffee and Ice Cream. As soon as we leave the shop the heavens open and we are quickly soaked. Somebody up there doesnt like us today!! Dejected we decide to go to Mall at Millennia and the Cheesecake Factory for lunch instead. Winter Park obviously just wasnt meant to be!
Mall at Millennia is packed!! We had thought that the Presidents Day crowds didnt extend outside the parks. How wrong we were. But there was no way Becky will stomach any more driving around so we park up and head for the Cheesecake Factory. This is one of my favourite restaurants so we decide to wait the 65 minutes for the next table. It was pleasant sitting watching the world go by and our table came up in no time. I had the biggest cheeseburger I have ever seen, Jorge had shrimp pasta, which he said was to die for and Rebecca had a pepperoni pizza. No childrens menu here though and we ended up taking half of it home. After all that we opted to share a piece of Chocolate Tuxedo Cheesecake, which was heavenly. All that and a couple of beers for Jorge came to $65. Not too bad I thought.
The mall was far too busy to venture in shopping and by this time we have wasted most of the day so we head back down the I4 and home to get ready for this evening. We are meeting up with our friends Richard & Wendy at the Stagedoor in Kissimmee for an evening of Karaoke. Now, normally you would have to drag me to a Karaoke by my hair, kicking and screaming, but they have assured us that this place is fantastic so we have agreed to go. As we both want to drink we order a taxi and we are picked up by an elderly couple who are driving a motor home. It turns out they run the taxi company from the motor home and pick up fares as they do so!! Only in America!!
The Stagedoor turns out to be a typical Brits Abroad place with a menu to match. Luckily we are still full of cheesecake so this doesnt matter. We order a couple of Pitchers of beer and settle in to chat to Richard & Wendy. The karaoke turns out to be more of a show between the owner and his mate and its not bad. The music is loud so it makes it difficult to talk and we decamp back to their villa (conveniently within walking distance of ours!) for another drink. Before we know it, its 2am and we carry a sleeping Rebecca back to bed.
I dont think well be up to much tomorrow
Day 8
Who brought the men with the hammers?!?
I awake at 7.30 and am surprised to find Rebecca already watching Disney channel. After her late night I thought she would be asleep for ages yet. We watch endless cartoons for an hour before I can summon the energy to make breakfast. As Jorge hasnt surfaced yet we go ahead without him. The smell of coffee eventually brings him out of the bedroom but he doesnt look a well man. Too much beer Jorge?!?! He says he is too sick to do anything today and goes back to bed! I hope he doesnt expect sympathy from me!
Luckily Rebeccas friend Thomas comes round and they disappear to play on the Playstation I knew that investment would pay off! I manage a couple of hours peace and quiet relaxing on a lounger by the pool. Allbeit wrapped in a towel as the wind is a little chilly today.
By mid afternoon Jorge is feeling better and joins me for a swim while Rebecca goes off fishing in the lake with Thomas. It feels really good not to be rushing off somewhere for a change and we all enjoy the day at home.
For dinner we decide on Carabas Italian Restaurant at Formosa Gardens. Predictably, as its Presidents weekend, the wait is an hour. Jorge is dispatched to Outback but their wait time is the same. The food is good and we all have pasta. But the meal is spoiled by the waitress who almost snaps Jorges head off when he questions a change on the menu. This may be because she is rushed offer her feet but we felt that there was no need for her attiturde. (In contrast the waitress at Boma had been just as busy but had still managed to be courteous and to smile once or twice!) The bill comes to $75 and we leave a very small tip to show our displeasure.
Our lazy day ended by the pool while reflecting on how busy everywhere was over the weekend. I am glad that we decided not to do any parks.
We had planned to go to US tomorrow but decide to leave that till Tuesday. Instead we will stick closer to home and visit Boardwalk.
Jorge: (DH) Happy as long as he's in Orlando
Rebecca: (DD 8) Happy as long as she gets her own way!
Day 7
Where the h*** is Winter Park?
The day starts with breakfast, again in the villa which seems so much easier than dragging ourselves to a restaurant. Or are we just lazy? We have decided to go somewhere new today and I have always fancied visiting Winter Park and doing the boat tour of multi million dollar houses. I know roughly where it is and, as the guidebooks are always mentioning it, I assume that it will be well signposted. My assumption turns out to be totally wrong. We get off the I4 OK, expecting to enter some leafy upmarket suburb. After driving for about 10 minutes we see signs, which include Winter Park (usually followed by the word Autos) but no lovely tourist area with scenic boat tour. We finally agree that we need to ask directions and after a further 10 minutes of arguing over exactly WHO is going to ask for directions I pull the car into a Publix and grab the first US citizen I see. She is lovely and very helpful, it seems we passed our turnoff some time ago and must now backtrack. Rebecca who hates being cooped up in the back of the car starts to whinge, not improving the atmosphere and were still lost! Tempers are becoming frayed and we make a last stop in Winter Park library to ask again. As we pull into the back of the Library our destination suddenly appears in front of us and with sighs of relief we quickly park up. After locating the boat dock and booking our seats for the next tour, which leaves in 25 minutes we walk back to Haagen Dazs for coffee and Ice Cream. As soon as we leave the shop the heavens open and we are quickly soaked. Somebody up there doesnt like us today!! Dejected we decide to go to Mall at Millennia and the Cheesecake Factory for lunch instead. Winter Park obviously just wasnt meant to be!
Mall at Millennia is packed!! We had thought that the Presidents Day crowds didnt extend outside the parks. How wrong we were. But there was no way Becky will stomach any more driving around so we park up and head for the Cheesecake Factory. This is one of my favourite restaurants so we decide to wait the 65 minutes for the next table. It was pleasant sitting watching the world go by and our table came up in no time. I had the biggest cheeseburger I have ever seen, Jorge had shrimp pasta, which he said was to die for and Rebecca had a pepperoni pizza. No childrens menu here though and we ended up taking half of it home. After all that we opted to share a piece of Chocolate Tuxedo Cheesecake, which was heavenly. All that and a couple of beers for Jorge came to $65. Not too bad I thought.
The mall was far too busy to venture in shopping and by this time we have wasted most of the day so we head back down the I4 and home to get ready for this evening. We are meeting up with our friends Richard & Wendy at the Stagedoor in Kissimmee for an evening of Karaoke. Now, normally you would have to drag me to a Karaoke by my hair, kicking and screaming, but they have assured us that this place is fantastic so we have agreed to go. As we both want to drink we order a taxi and we are picked up by an elderly couple who are driving a motor home. It turns out they run the taxi company from the motor home and pick up fares as they do so!! Only in America!!
The Stagedoor turns out to be a typical Brits Abroad place with a menu to match. Luckily we are still full of cheesecake so this doesnt matter. We order a couple of Pitchers of beer and settle in to chat to Richard & Wendy. The karaoke turns out to be more of a show between the owner and his mate and its not bad. The music is loud so it makes it difficult to talk and we decamp back to their villa (conveniently within walking distance of ours!) for another drink. Before we know it, its 2am and we carry a sleeping Rebecca back to bed.
I dont think well be up to much tomorrow
Day 8
Who brought the men with the hammers?!?
I awake at 7.30 and am surprised to find Rebecca already watching Disney channel. After her late night I thought she would be asleep for ages yet. We watch endless cartoons for an hour before I can summon the energy to make breakfast. As Jorge hasnt surfaced yet we go ahead without him. The smell of coffee eventually brings him out of the bedroom but he doesnt look a well man. Too much beer Jorge?!?! He says he is too sick to do anything today and goes back to bed! I hope he doesnt expect sympathy from me!
Luckily Rebeccas friend Thomas comes round and they disappear to play on the Playstation I knew that investment would pay off! I manage a couple of hours peace and quiet relaxing on a lounger by the pool. Allbeit wrapped in a towel as the wind is a little chilly today.
By mid afternoon Jorge is feeling better and joins me for a swim while Rebecca goes off fishing in the lake with Thomas. It feels really good not to be rushing off somewhere for a change and we all enjoy the day at home.
For dinner we decide on Carabas Italian Restaurant at Formosa Gardens. Predictably, as its Presidents weekend, the wait is an hour. Jorge is dispatched to Outback but their wait time is the same. The food is good and we all have pasta. But the meal is spoiled by the waitress who almost snaps Jorges head off when he questions a change on the menu. This may be because she is rushed offer her feet but we felt that there was no need for her attiturde. (In contrast the waitress at Boma had been just as busy but had still managed to be courteous and to smile once or twice!) The bill comes to $75 and we leave a very small tip to show our displeasure.
Our lazy day ended by the pool while reflecting on how busy everywhere was over the weekend. I am glad that we decided not to do any parks.
We had planned to go to US tomorrow but decide to leave that till Tuesday. Instead we will stick closer to home and visit Boardwalk.
