Day 3,4 & 5
Shop till we drop
So were we up at 3.00am no of course not try 2.30am!!! Couldn't get back to sleep either so I got up and put kettle on for DW and the coffee maker for me, oh I do love the smell from a coffee maker it is one of the things that always remind me of Florida back home. I also love the first morning (not the 2.30am bit mind you) there is something really special about it I am not sure why but perhaps because it sort of sinks in you a actually here. Anyway we get up and unpack only a few things as we will be moving to the Beach club in 3 more nights so it is pointless to unpack anymore. And as it turns out to be the theme for this whole trip time passes quickly and before we know it we have collected my DM and we are on our way to Friendlys for breakfast. We get there at 8.30am expecting it to be quite busy at that time of day but there is only two others in there we have the whole place almost to ourselves. We are warmly greeted and shown to a booth and we opt for 3 super sizzlin combo's 2 orange juices and one hot tea.
I didn't take a picture of the breakie but here is the official Friendlys picture
The breakfast is very good and goes down easily the orange juice is a different story. In the past at Friendlys we have had nice freshly squeezed juice this however was defiantly out of a carton oh well it must be a sign of the times it still tasted ok but in the land of oranges you expect the proper stuff
After that it was off to wallmart for some supplies like Cokes, chips and cookies also in the past we have really enjoyed their Christmas section but this time it is disappointing it just does not feel like Christmas at all. We go back to the Rosen to drop it all off and then it is off to Premium outlet to find some bargains.
Wow the prices have really gone up since we were last here but DW bought 1 pair of Clarks Roman sandles for $37 and a pair of Clarks shoes for $28 so about £42 for both pairs and I got a pair of Sketchers trainers for $22. As always in Florida diamonds and gold are dirt cheap but as this was the black weekend sales they were slashing even more. DW had told me she wanted a pink sapphire ring for Christmas so we were on the lookout for one. We found one she liked and what a bargain it was a pink sapphire and diamond ring reduced in the sale from $1000 to $500but because it was black weekend it was down to $300 (about £200) so we snapped that up.
So over the next couple of days it was pretty much of the same shopping and eating and resting. One thing we did notice was how much has closed down on Idrive especially at the north end quite a few empty shops around and the whole area is really looking run down which is a real shame and TBH we will not be returning on our next trip. Also IMHO since the Pointe Orlando has been redeveloped it has lost some of it's charm it seemed soulless to me. Times must be hard though because Lulu's bait shack has gone bust and is empty again a real shame. Just one final point on our stay at the Rosen plaza is about the staff there, they are some of the most miserable I have ever come across in Florida rarely smiling or showing any sign of courtesy to us not the end of the world I know but it costs nothing and makes all the difference. Ah well never mind tomorrow we move on to Disney's Beach club.
Day 3,4 and 5 DONE
Shop till we drop
So were we up at 3.00am no of course not try 2.30am!!! Couldn't get back to sleep either so I got up and put kettle on for DW and the coffee maker for me, oh I do love the smell from a coffee maker it is one of the things that always remind me of Florida back home. I also love the first morning (not the 2.30am bit mind you) there is something really special about it I am not sure why but perhaps because it sort of sinks in you a actually here. Anyway we get up and unpack only a few things as we will be moving to the Beach club in 3 more nights so it is pointless to unpack anymore. And as it turns out to be the theme for this whole trip time passes quickly and before we know it we have collected my DM and we are on our way to Friendlys for breakfast. We get there at 8.30am expecting it to be quite busy at that time of day but there is only two others in there we have the whole place almost to ourselves. We are warmly greeted and shown to a booth and we opt for 3 super sizzlin combo's 2 orange juices and one hot tea.
I didn't take a picture of the breakie but here is the official Friendlys picture
The breakfast is very good and goes down easily the orange juice is a different story. In the past at Friendlys we have had nice freshly squeezed juice this however was defiantly out of a carton oh well it must be a sign of the times it still tasted ok but in the land of oranges you expect the proper stuff
After that it was off to wallmart for some supplies like Cokes, chips and cookies also in the past we have really enjoyed their Christmas section but this time it is disappointing it just does not feel like Christmas at all. We go back to the Rosen to drop it all off and then it is off to Premium outlet to find some bargains.
Wow the prices have really gone up since we were last here but DW bought 1 pair of Clarks Roman sandles for $37 and a pair of Clarks shoes for $28 so about £42 for both pairs and I got a pair of Sketchers trainers for $22. As always in Florida diamonds and gold are dirt cheap but as this was the black weekend sales they were slashing even more. DW had told me she wanted a pink sapphire ring for Christmas so we were on the lookout for one. We found one she liked and what a bargain it was a pink sapphire and diamond ring reduced in the sale from $1000 to $500but because it was black weekend it was down to $300 (about £200) so we snapped that up.
So over the next couple of days it was pretty much of the same shopping and eating and resting. One thing we did notice was how much has closed down on Idrive especially at the north end quite a few empty shops around and the whole area is really looking run down which is a real shame and TBH we will not be returning on our next trip. Also IMHO since the Pointe Orlando has been redeveloped it has lost some of it's charm it seemed soulless to me. Times must be hard though because Lulu's bait shack has gone bust and is empty again a real shame. Just one final point on our stay at the Rosen plaza is about the staff there, they are some of the most miserable I have ever come across in Florida rarely smiling or showing any sign of courtesy to us not the end of the world I know but it costs nothing and makes all the difference. Ah well never mind tomorrow we move on to Disney's Beach club.
Day 3,4 and 5 DONE
