DAY 7 - WEDNESDAY
its a rest day today - I've decided this because I didn't wake up until 7.30 this morning. Isn't it funny though - every day so far, I have been up at the crack of dawn while everyone else is in the land of nod and yet at just the mere mention of a possible visit to the shops, DW is up with the lark and thrashing around in her desperation to get to the mall's. DS too has suddenly realised the potential of a visit to yet another Wal-Mart to sniff out a bargain laptop.
After a lengthy discussion with my navigator about the fact that "yes we do go north" on the I4 but technically it's actually "east" signs that we need to follow - we set off towards International Drive.
We speed past numerous exits - any of which would take us to our destination - in favour of a tour of some of the more "down at heel" parts of this glorious state.
Eventually we double back and find I-Drive. Belz Mall is the first stop.
I have to say that it feels a little run down since we came here last - but maybe that's just because the new malls like Festival Bay seem so light and airy.
Not a single purchase is made here and my wallet heaves a big sigh of relief as we exit.
However - at a shoe shop on the other side of the road I can't resist the "Two for one" offer and splash out $32 for two pairs of shoes (@ £18!!!!).
We pop in to Festival for a quick look - even though it is still half empty - and stumble into "The Land That Time Forgot" AKA Bass Pro World.
Their motto - "If it moves - shoot it, hook it, cut it, skin it, run it over and slap it on the barbeque".
Now for those of you who have not had the dubious pleasure of visiting this shop I should explain that it is the "All American" tribute to the outdoors and will sell you practically anything in the way of hardware connected with outdoor sport and adventure. And I really mean "anything". From a high power crossbow to a 40 foot dingy with leather upholstery and a built in cooker.
As we gaze in awe at the vast aisles of products - DW quite fancies one of those American Mail Boxes - you know - the ones with the little flag that stands up when you get a letter inside it. But these are no ordinary boxes - Oh no! - They are in the shape of various fish and animals. Yeah right! On our estate? It would last about 5 minutes before someone either nicked it or put a pooper scooper bag inside it!
Ross 4 Less, TJMaxx and Bed Bath and Beyond are next - pick up a few bargains in the bedding departments and set off for the 192.
We drive the length of I-Drive and on down I-Drive South where there is a lot of storm damage from Hurricane Charlie evident. There are numerous trees down and quite a lot of roof damage to property.
We pass Seaworld and Discovery Cove - shh! Its a secret! - The kids don't know were coming here next week. It was one of those "Misty eyed" moments when I accidentally logged on to the DC website and found a vacant slot during our holiday period. Should we/shouldn't we? Too late - I've pressed the button and now the only "Misty eyed" person is my bank manager!
We continue down to the 192 and find a Golden Corral for lunch - $43 for all - Stuffed! (Dont tell the manager of the Ponderosa - but I actually thought that this was a better selection than he had!)
Then we set off for Animal Kingdom Lodge - our home from Friday for the next seven nights.
This is an impressive hotel when you pull up outside - the guard at the gatehouse quizzes me on my reason to come in and is very accommodating when I tell him that we are merely coming to check on our booking for next week. You have to drive under the big thatched lobby entrance to get to the car park and the hotel's parking attendants are all eager to obtain your keys to "valet Park" your car. I run a couple over for fun - they didn't seem to mind!
As we enter the lobby there is a real "Wow" factor - absolutely stunning. The atmosphere is brilliant - the smells of the cooking coming from Boma and Jiko are delicious and the sounds of African music playing in the background are great. I think we are going to enjoy our time here.
I check with the booking desk to see if our request for bunk beds has been communicated by our travel company (Travel City Direct) and the lady confirms that "Yes - Bunk beds and close to the pool" are written on the booking form and have been transferred to their computer system. I'm now well impressed!
We have a wander around the lobby - full of big comfy sofas and a couple of TV's playing Disney Films. DD takes a fancy to this and as she is looking a bit weary we plonk her down with some other children who are engrossed in the film while we go for a walk round. The Savannah is really good - lots of animals out here - Giraffe and Zebra roaming around along side some other lesser known (To me!) animals and birds. I really don't want to leave here now - but it's beginning to get dark and we should get back as we have a tiring day tomorrow - Epcot for the day and hopefully Fanasmic in the evening.
On the journey home DS begins to sulk over the "missing laptop" again and to my horror DW has a lapse of mental stability and suggests that perhaps we can take a look at the $1100.00 model and maybe "help him out" a little! Oh dear Oh dear Oh dear..... That opens the floodgates..... "When can we go? Can we go now? Can we go tomorrow? What time? When? Etc. etc. The verbal battering continues all the way along the 192 and up the US27 - "This is much better than the one I wanted" "That one was rubbish really" "This one has a much bigger hard drive" "It's got a gazillion mega blobs of blah blah blah".
I don't know how much of this I can take!
After about half an hour it's just "White noise" In the background and I find myself able to hum the tune to Fantasmic whilst nodding and agreeing with everything that he is saying. This later turned out to be a big mistake - apparently during this conversation I had agreed to purchase a laptop of my son's choice no matter what cost!
Back at Bahama Bay I go for a stroll round the walk-in shower before bed.
Well - tomorrow it looks like a battle between Epcot and Wal-Mart! I wonder who's going to win!
Night all -
DS stays awake all night plotting of how he is going to over-throw the internet on his new laptop.
I Dream of Big Game hunting in AKL (or was it Bass Pro World)
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
its a rest day today - I've decided this because I didn't wake up until 7.30 this morning. Isn't it funny though - every day so far, I have been up at the crack of dawn while everyone else is in the land of nod and yet at just the mere mention of a possible visit to the shops, DW is up with the lark and thrashing around in her desperation to get to the mall's. DS too has suddenly realised the potential of a visit to yet another Wal-Mart to sniff out a bargain laptop.
After a lengthy discussion with my navigator about the fact that "yes we do go north" on the I4 but technically it's actually "east" signs that we need to follow - we set off towards International Drive.
We speed past numerous exits - any of which would take us to our destination - in favour of a tour of some of the more "down at heel" parts of this glorious state.
Eventually we double back and find I-Drive. Belz Mall is the first stop.
I have to say that it feels a little run down since we came here last - but maybe that's just because the new malls like Festival Bay seem so light and airy.
Not a single purchase is made here and my wallet heaves a big sigh of relief as we exit.
However - at a shoe shop on the other side of the road I can't resist the "Two for one" offer and splash out $32 for two pairs of shoes (@ £18!!!!).
We pop in to Festival for a quick look - even though it is still half empty - and stumble into "The Land That Time Forgot" AKA Bass Pro World.
Their motto - "If it moves - shoot it, hook it, cut it, skin it, run it over and slap it on the barbeque".
Now for those of you who have not had the dubious pleasure of visiting this shop I should explain that it is the "All American" tribute to the outdoors and will sell you practically anything in the way of hardware connected with outdoor sport and adventure. And I really mean "anything". From a high power crossbow to a 40 foot dingy with leather upholstery and a built in cooker.
As we gaze in awe at the vast aisles of products - DW quite fancies one of those American Mail Boxes - you know - the ones with the little flag that stands up when you get a letter inside it. But these are no ordinary boxes - Oh no! - They are in the shape of various fish and animals. Yeah right! On our estate? It would last about 5 minutes before someone either nicked it or put a pooper scooper bag inside it!
Ross 4 Less, TJMaxx and Bed Bath and Beyond are next - pick up a few bargains in the bedding departments and set off for the 192.
We drive the length of I-Drive and on down I-Drive South where there is a lot of storm damage from Hurricane Charlie evident. There are numerous trees down and quite a lot of roof damage to property.
We pass Seaworld and Discovery Cove - shh! Its a secret! - The kids don't know were coming here next week. It was one of those "Misty eyed" moments when I accidentally logged on to the DC website and found a vacant slot during our holiday period. Should we/shouldn't we? Too late - I've pressed the button and now the only "Misty eyed" person is my bank manager!
We continue down to the 192 and find a Golden Corral for lunch - $43 for all - Stuffed! (Dont tell the manager of the Ponderosa - but I actually thought that this was a better selection than he had!)
Then we set off for Animal Kingdom Lodge - our home from Friday for the next seven nights.
This is an impressive hotel when you pull up outside - the guard at the gatehouse quizzes me on my reason to come in and is very accommodating when I tell him that we are merely coming to check on our booking for next week. You have to drive under the big thatched lobby entrance to get to the car park and the hotel's parking attendants are all eager to obtain your keys to "valet Park" your car. I run a couple over for fun - they didn't seem to mind!
As we enter the lobby there is a real "Wow" factor - absolutely stunning. The atmosphere is brilliant - the smells of the cooking coming from Boma and Jiko are delicious and the sounds of African music playing in the background are great. I think we are going to enjoy our time here.
I check with the booking desk to see if our request for bunk beds has been communicated by our travel company (Travel City Direct) and the lady confirms that "Yes - Bunk beds and close to the pool" are written on the booking form and have been transferred to their computer system. I'm now well impressed!
We have a wander around the lobby - full of big comfy sofas and a couple of TV's playing Disney Films. DD takes a fancy to this and as she is looking a bit weary we plonk her down with some other children who are engrossed in the film while we go for a walk round. The Savannah is really good - lots of animals out here - Giraffe and Zebra roaming around along side some other lesser known (To me!) animals and birds. I really don't want to leave here now - but it's beginning to get dark and we should get back as we have a tiring day tomorrow - Epcot for the day and hopefully Fanasmic in the evening.
On the journey home DS begins to sulk over the "missing laptop" again and to my horror DW has a lapse of mental stability and suggests that perhaps we can take a look at the $1100.00 model and maybe "help him out" a little! Oh dear Oh dear Oh dear..... That opens the floodgates..... "When can we go? Can we go now? Can we go tomorrow? What time? When? Etc. etc. The verbal battering continues all the way along the 192 and up the US27 - "This is much better than the one I wanted" "That one was rubbish really" "This one has a much bigger hard drive" "It's got a gazillion mega blobs of blah blah blah".
I don't know how much of this I can take!
After about half an hour it's just "White noise" In the background and I find myself able to hum the tune to Fantasmic whilst nodding and agreeing with everything that he is saying. This later turned out to be a big mistake - apparently during this conversation I had agreed to purchase a laptop of my son's choice no matter what cost!
Back at Bahama Bay I go for a stroll round the walk-in shower before bed.
Well - tomorrow it looks like a battle between Epcot and Wal-Mart! I wonder who's going to win!
Night all -
DS stays awake all night plotting of how he is going to over-throw the internet on his new laptop.
I Dream of Big Game hunting in AKL (or was it Bass Pro World)
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
