mkingdon
Obsessed...and admits it!!
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2002
- Messages
- 408
Cast
Me - Craig, only just 33. Rucksack carrier and stroller pusher.
Louise - Wife, 34, slowly becoming addicted to WDW.
Emily - Aged 8. Moody, full of attitude and daddys girl.
Rebecca - Aged 6. Comedian, Olympic eater and worrier.
The Williams tour of Florida restrooms, sponsored by VISA.
Day Three Saturday 16th August Could this be the magic at last?
Surprisingly I didnt wake up until 6.30. I was expecting a 4.00am start today, but was quite pleased as it might mean we could do a normal day.
Everyone was up by 7, and by some miracle we were all ready and in the car by 8 after a breakfast in the house.
I cant tell you how I felt when we started to see the Purple WDW signs. But it was good!!!! As we passed under the Welcome to WDW arch a little shiver went down my spine, and I couldnt take my eyes of the view which consisted of the MGM watertower with ears, The Swan and Dolphin, and lots of signs to places like DTD, Blizzard Beach. Yep, wed arrived.
We got to MK at 8.30 and parked in Pluto. I even got a buzz from riding the tram, and hearing the CM on the back creating white noise through the speakers. Is it just me who cant tell a word they are saying?
So after a quick bag search (remember that rucksack? Well in it today was:
Camcorder (not a fancy new one but an old heavy one)
Camera
Autograph books
A small cool bag with an ice block in it
So it was quite light .watch this space) we were into MK. As we had left the monorail there was an express stroller CM asking if anyone wanted a stroller. Why did I walk straight past him?
Now I know my DDs are 6 & 8, but the chances of them walking around MK, in 90 degrees for a full day are about as likely as us not putting weight on during our holiday. They needed strollers, and not just one double one, oh no, that would be the cheaper option, so that was no good. They wanted one each. To be fair a double would be a squeeze, and they would end up fighting, and then Id have to take my belt to them (damn I wasnt wearing one), so it was for the best.
So I queued for the strollers. Kids firmly in place in the blue plastic things we are on Main Street. I had waited for this moment for 2 years, since I last left MK, giving one last glance over my shoulder at the castle as the monorail pulled away, lump in my throat and tear in the eye.
All the shops were there like Id left them, there were balloon sellers (different ones I think), those annoying photographers were there, and resisting my urge to sprint to Frontierland to do Splash, I stopped the stroller convoy half way up Main Street for a camcorder moment.
If only camcorders could record smells. WDW has its own smell I think (I hope thats not just me). Memory preserved for all time, we moved on towards Splash. We took a left at Caseys, past Crystal Palace, and walked at a pace past POC and eventually came out at Splash Mountain.
It was hot by the way.
10 minute standby for Splash. So I grabbed a FP for BTMR, and then we walked on to Splash. The 10 minute meant a walk on, and we were soon cruising through the Brer Rabbit story.
Last trip, two years ago, Rebecca had tried Splash and hated it. Emily had done it when she was both 4 and 6 and liked it. We were hopeful this time they would be much braver on the rides. How wrong we were, but more of that later.
After the big drop as Rebecca called it, the kids seemed OK, but didnt want to go on again. Hmm, not a good sign. We then used our FP on BTMR, and Emily was OK but Rebecca came off crying, saying it was too fast. Typical, does she not know how much this holiday cost. She may have to be left at the villa tomorrow!!
At this point a rest room was needed (a phrase you may see quite often from here on in) so whilst the girls did that, I got a drink and muffin from one of the kiosks in Frontierland. We sat and had those whilst applying sun cream to the girls.
Then it was over to the Haunted Mansion. The girls took this in their stride, so things may be looking up. I see something different on this ride every time.
Then we got a FP for Peter Pan as it was a 40 minute queue, and went on IASW. This is a favourite of the girls, and Louise. The girls then wanted to do Buzz Lightyear so off we went (to the other side of the park nearly, havent they read the three guide books in our house). We got a FP for Buzz, and I noticed that COP was open.
So we had to do that. We all loved this, and Rebecca sang the song for the next 14 days. Great!
It was now time for our Peter Pan FP, so off we went to the other side of the park again (remember Im carrying a 30 pound backpack and pushing 5 stones of child, but hey Im not one to complain).
It was now about 11.30 and we were starving. We went to Cosmic Rays. Burgers all round. I love the toppings bar here (OK so Im sad) and whilst I was balancing the tray, drinks and toppings I managed to drop a portion of fries all over the floor. Oh dear that is unfortunate I said (honest).
A CM appeared like the man out of Mr Ben and they were gone. Fries restored we chowed down and felt much better after some food.
After lunch we were about to head over to Buzz, but noticed a show starting on the Castle stage. We watched that in the blistering heat.
Eventually we got to Buzz. I was quite upset with my score of 98,400, as 100,000 is the next level up. However, I still trounced the rest of the family so thats all that matters.
For some reason we ended doing some shopping at this point. Revenge for the Buzz victory I think, but then we got a FP for Space Mountain for all of us. Now the girls were big and brave they would go on, right?
Whilst waiting for the FP slot we thought wed do POC. Oh, you mean POC at the other side of the park No, thats fine honestly.
So after another couple of restroom breaks along the way we make it to POC. Everyone liked this, and Louise noticed the ride references in the film, which wed seen a few days before leaving.
Then we did Jungle Cruise after a 5 minute wait. A very good CM on this, with many truly awful jokes. Guess what, now it was time for Space Mountain. At the other side of the park.
Off we went, got to the loading area, and the kids bottled it. Well, Emily bottled it, which meant Rebecca wouldnt go on either. We asked to do a baby swap, saying BABY loudly to give the girls a suitable complex about being such chickens.
Louise rode first, and we waited at the ride exit, then I went back up to the loading area on got on straight away.
On reflection we both thought the ride was far too rough for the girls and we were glad they didnt go on. Of course, we didnt tell them that.
It was now 4pm, and it had been about an hour since we had seen a restroom so off we went to do that, and then we sat down for a drink in the shade.
We were flagging at this point, and as watched the car ride in Tomorrow Land (cant think of the name) we decided to call it a day. However, as were booked in at Ohana at 6.30, we couldnt go back to the villa and back in time (we could if we had been on Clear Creek!!!). So we caught the monorail to the Contemporary, and had a nosey around, and browsed the shops.
I quite like the Contemporary but it seems quite cold and clinical to me. I prefer other Deluxes I think.
Then back on the monorail, after pretending to be rich for a while, and off to the Poly. Bought Rebecca a bracelet from the shop in Poly, and then booked in at Ohana. We were seated immediately, quite near the fire pit.
Our server was very good and very friendly to the kids, who of course wont shut up at home, but become mute when other people talk to them.
The starters were lovely, and like the pig I am, I ate far too much of them so I was full by the time the meat arrived. The girls had a hot dog as they are really cosmopolitan and exotic.
Louise had a back scratcher cocktail from the bar, and I had a lovely Diet Coke!!!
The meal was very nice indeed. I think maybe we were a little tired at this point and didnt get the most out of it. $75 was fair enough I thought as Louises drink was $8!!
We submitted to exhaustion at 8.00 and we drove home and were all in bed for 9.15.
Tomorrow - Epcot
Me - Craig, only just 33. Rucksack carrier and stroller pusher.
Louise - Wife, 34, slowly becoming addicted to WDW.
Emily - Aged 8. Moody, full of attitude and daddys girl.
Rebecca - Aged 6. Comedian, Olympic eater and worrier.
The Williams tour of Florida restrooms, sponsored by VISA.
Day Three Saturday 16th August Could this be the magic at last?
Surprisingly I didnt wake up until 6.30. I was expecting a 4.00am start today, but was quite pleased as it might mean we could do a normal day.
Everyone was up by 7, and by some miracle we were all ready and in the car by 8 after a breakfast in the house.
I cant tell you how I felt when we started to see the Purple WDW signs. But it was good!!!! As we passed under the Welcome to WDW arch a little shiver went down my spine, and I couldnt take my eyes of the view which consisted of the MGM watertower with ears, The Swan and Dolphin, and lots of signs to places like DTD, Blizzard Beach. Yep, wed arrived.
We got to MK at 8.30 and parked in Pluto. I even got a buzz from riding the tram, and hearing the CM on the back creating white noise through the speakers. Is it just me who cant tell a word they are saying?
So after a quick bag search (remember that rucksack? Well in it today was:
Camcorder (not a fancy new one but an old heavy one)
Camera
Autograph books
A small cool bag with an ice block in it
So it was quite light .watch this space) we were into MK. As we had left the monorail there was an express stroller CM asking if anyone wanted a stroller. Why did I walk straight past him?
Now I know my DDs are 6 & 8, but the chances of them walking around MK, in 90 degrees for a full day are about as likely as us not putting weight on during our holiday. They needed strollers, and not just one double one, oh no, that would be the cheaper option, so that was no good. They wanted one each. To be fair a double would be a squeeze, and they would end up fighting, and then Id have to take my belt to them (damn I wasnt wearing one), so it was for the best.
So I queued for the strollers. Kids firmly in place in the blue plastic things we are on Main Street. I had waited for this moment for 2 years, since I last left MK, giving one last glance over my shoulder at the castle as the monorail pulled away, lump in my throat and tear in the eye.
All the shops were there like Id left them, there were balloon sellers (different ones I think), those annoying photographers were there, and resisting my urge to sprint to Frontierland to do Splash, I stopped the stroller convoy half way up Main Street for a camcorder moment.
If only camcorders could record smells. WDW has its own smell I think (I hope thats not just me). Memory preserved for all time, we moved on towards Splash. We took a left at Caseys, past Crystal Palace, and walked at a pace past POC and eventually came out at Splash Mountain.
It was hot by the way.
10 minute standby for Splash. So I grabbed a FP for BTMR, and then we walked on to Splash. The 10 minute meant a walk on, and we were soon cruising through the Brer Rabbit story.
Last trip, two years ago, Rebecca had tried Splash and hated it. Emily had done it when she was both 4 and 6 and liked it. We were hopeful this time they would be much braver on the rides. How wrong we were, but more of that later.
After the big drop as Rebecca called it, the kids seemed OK, but didnt want to go on again. Hmm, not a good sign. We then used our FP on BTMR, and Emily was OK but Rebecca came off crying, saying it was too fast. Typical, does she not know how much this holiday cost. She may have to be left at the villa tomorrow!!
At this point a rest room was needed (a phrase you may see quite often from here on in) so whilst the girls did that, I got a drink and muffin from one of the kiosks in Frontierland. We sat and had those whilst applying sun cream to the girls.
Then it was over to the Haunted Mansion. The girls took this in their stride, so things may be looking up. I see something different on this ride every time.
Then we got a FP for Peter Pan as it was a 40 minute queue, and went on IASW. This is a favourite of the girls, and Louise. The girls then wanted to do Buzz Lightyear so off we went (to the other side of the park nearly, havent they read the three guide books in our house). We got a FP for Buzz, and I noticed that COP was open.
So we had to do that. We all loved this, and Rebecca sang the song for the next 14 days. Great!
It was now time for our Peter Pan FP, so off we went to the other side of the park again (remember Im carrying a 30 pound backpack and pushing 5 stones of child, but hey Im not one to complain).
It was now about 11.30 and we were starving. We went to Cosmic Rays. Burgers all round. I love the toppings bar here (OK so Im sad) and whilst I was balancing the tray, drinks and toppings I managed to drop a portion of fries all over the floor. Oh dear that is unfortunate I said (honest).
A CM appeared like the man out of Mr Ben and they were gone. Fries restored we chowed down and felt much better after some food.
After lunch we were about to head over to Buzz, but noticed a show starting on the Castle stage. We watched that in the blistering heat.
Eventually we got to Buzz. I was quite upset with my score of 98,400, as 100,000 is the next level up. However, I still trounced the rest of the family so thats all that matters.
For some reason we ended doing some shopping at this point. Revenge for the Buzz victory I think, but then we got a FP for Space Mountain for all of us. Now the girls were big and brave they would go on, right?
Whilst waiting for the FP slot we thought wed do POC. Oh, you mean POC at the other side of the park No, thats fine honestly.
So after another couple of restroom breaks along the way we make it to POC. Everyone liked this, and Louise noticed the ride references in the film, which wed seen a few days before leaving.
Then we did Jungle Cruise after a 5 minute wait. A very good CM on this, with many truly awful jokes. Guess what, now it was time for Space Mountain. At the other side of the park.
Off we went, got to the loading area, and the kids bottled it. Well, Emily bottled it, which meant Rebecca wouldnt go on either. We asked to do a baby swap, saying BABY loudly to give the girls a suitable complex about being such chickens.
Louise rode first, and we waited at the ride exit, then I went back up to the loading area on got on straight away.
On reflection we both thought the ride was far too rough for the girls and we were glad they didnt go on. Of course, we didnt tell them that.
It was now 4pm, and it had been about an hour since we had seen a restroom so off we went to do that, and then we sat down for a drink in the shade.
We were flagging at this point, and as watched the car ride in Tomorrow Land (cant think of the name) we decided to call it a day. However, as were booked in at Ohana at 6.30, we couldnt go back to the villa and back in time (we could if we had been on Clear Creek!!!). So we caught the monorail to the Contemporary, and had a nosey around, and browsed the shops.
I quite like the Contemporary but it seems quite cold and clinical to me. I prefer other Deluxes I think.
Then back on the monorail, after pretending to be rich for a while, and off to the Poly. Bought Rebecca a bracelet from the shop in Poly, and then booked in at Ohana. We were seated immediately, quite near the fire pit.
Our server was very good and very friendly to the kids, who of course wont shut up at home, but become mute when other people talk to them.
The starters were lovely, and like the pig I am, I ate far too much of them so I was full by the time the meat arrived. The girls had a hot dog as they are really cosmopolitan and exotic.
Louise had a back scratcher cocktail from the bar, and I had a lovely Diet Coke!!!
The meal was very nice indeed. I think maybe we were a little tired at this point and didnt get the most out of it. $75 was fair enough I thought as Louises drink was $8!!
We submitted to exhaustion at 8.00 and we drove home and were all in bed for 9.15.
Tomorrow - Epcot
