UKANGEL
Champagne Girls Rule!
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2002
- Messages
- 2,808
Directed by:
Angel (Mandy) Control freak, veteran of 14 trips, organizer extraordinaire
Chunkster20uk (Mark) also a control freak, and chief driver
Produced (& financed) by:
Dad Grandpa Clampet lovable, impatient & grumpy
Mum Grandma Clampet also loveable, much more patient and not so grumpy (but very hard of hearing)
Choreography:
Isobelle (Izzy) age 12, already a Diva
Chief Jester:
Elliott age 14, a lovable 6ft 4inch streak of lightning
..and starring..
Becky 19 my dd, beautiful, talented, takes after her Mum
Paul 22 - Beckys bf, no idea what hes let himself in for .
Tracey my little sis, hates planning, and being told what to do
Chris BIL see above
Jess 17 chief mourner, pining for her bf back in Swindon
All the holidaymakers have done Disney before, sis & family just once in 2001, for Mum & Dad its their 4th visit in 6 years, Paul was here 10 years ago and Mark, Becky and I have racked up nearly 30 trips between us ..
Day 5
Tuesday 23rd October
Today weve decided its time to chill at one of the water parks, and as Typhoon Lagoon closes for refurb later this week this is our choice for today. For most of the gang its their fave too so it works out well. (I prefer the family raft ride at Blizzard Beach but Im pretty easy going no, really!)
TL doesnt open til 10 am so Im hoping we have a good chance of actually getting there pretty early for a change. Mark and I are planning to go on somewhere else afterwards so true to form we take our own car, complete with dd & Paul, and let the others follow when theyre ready .its really the only way! We know from experience that if we want to get a spot big enough for us all we need to get there pretty quickly.
Our cunning plan works, we all have our swim stuff on, and have brought towels from the villa so dont need lockers, and as we arrive the park has just opened and we head straight for the right hand side. We have the advantage of having Mr Speedy (Paul) with us, who can move remarkably fast when he wants to (of if someone yells out free beer) and he spies a little place just back from the main area with a shady cover, lots of chairs and beds. Good work!
We manage to snag some beds and chairs for our Clampet gang, much to the obvious delight of those already sat in the shade. I could almost hear them thinking OMG what have we done? If any Dibbers had thought theyd get a little peace and quiet I can only apologise for our rabble.
It is an excellent position though, near enough to all the amenities, the wave pool, rides and lazy river and has enough shade for Dad, and enough sun for sis and I to bake in. We have some concerns that our Clampet family wont find us but Marks on sentry duty and he soon spies them all trooping in and in the right direction too .see, things may be looking up!
Spend some time in the pool getting crashed about by the big waves and screaming along with everyone else, then I seem to get left looking after the beds and bags etc while everyone else goes off to enjoy themselves .not quite sure how this happens! Thanks guys. Its very noticeable that most of the people here seem to be Brits and I keep looking round for DIBB lanyards, hats etc. Someone does spy my Castaway Cay bag though from our last cruise, and we have a chat about the Disney cruises as theyve just come back from one .jealous? moi?
When the Clampets decide to return Mark & I manage to sneak off to the lazy river by ourselves and spend a while floating around, its glorious, and although the skies look very stormy its still great so far today. I would have terrible trouble getting on one of those tires if it wasnt for my dear husband, who stands and holds it for me to very gracefully (yeah right) fall into.
As we come back to the start of the river (Shark landing?) theres an announcement that the shuttle should be taking off in 5 minutes great timing! Hurry back over to the Clampets and we all stand by the main pool, and actually manage to clamber onto some rocks to get a better view. Weve been told which direction to look and as peer excitedly up through the trees there it is!! WOW!!! I am soooo excited! We all forget to take a picture, were just so amazed. 14 trips and this is the first time Ive seen a launch! Its very clear even from this great distance so I imagine if you were one of the lucky ones to be at Cocoa Beach or Titusville you must have had an awesome view. I wasnt allowed to actually go to the launch but Im glad we saw it from here anyway. I do wish Id had my DVD cam with me, even just to film all those crowds watching it from the beach area; and when everyone starting clapping it just seemed right I thought.
Early in the afternoon it really looks like rain and I dont want to be here if the rain hits; the queues are now very long, especially for food, and we decide to head off. DD will return with the rest of the Clampets as theyre still all queuing for food. As we head out of the park we enquire at the gate about MNSSHP tickets, and although they have plenty left they dont have them for the night we were planning so we wait til we can ask the rest of the gang what they want to do about this.
Decide were too tired to go to DTD as wed planned and head back along the 192 instead, and stop at our fave fast food place, Taco Bell, by Formosa Gardens, for burritos, quesadillas and tacos yum! Weve promised to cook BBQ for the Clampets tonight and were on a mission to try and buy some disposable BBQs, so we pop into Winn Dixie .how can you pop into an American supermarket? .theyre huge!
Eventually we track down the BBQs of course theyre by the beer, why didnt we think of that? Buy more beer, lots of meat, chicken, burgers etc, plus some veggies for skewers for Becky, corn on the cobs it all comes to a very reasonable $130, good value considering the trolley is pretty full. I do notice the birthday cakes but cant slip one in the trolley without Mark noticing, so decide against that!
As we arrive back at the villa Tracey & Chris are just leaving and they give us some worrying news. Apparently Dad keeled over at Typhoon Lagoon just after we left, and theyre all worried about him. He wouldnt let them call a Doctor, or even the staff at TL (he is a very forceful man) and just sat in the shade for a while with cold towels on his forehead and drinking cool water , before they got him home. Hes lying down now and Mum says hes resting, but I am worried. I dont know what your Dads like, but mine will not see a GP unless its his own decision. He wasnt well before we flew out, but GP put it down to his sinuss .we hope thats all it is, as no amount of persuasion will make him go to a Doctor here. Hes very angry at all the fuss and insists he just got hot and hadnt drunk enough water. Hmmmmmm.
After all the pandemonium, we manage an old lady swim in the pool this afternoon. I tell Izzy on pain of death shes not to horse around for 20 minutes while her poor old Aunty Mandy gets a relaxing swim, and bless her she shes great, and we all relax quietly while worrying about dad still (if that makes sense).
While Jess, Mum & I are lying on pool side, Izzy keeps us all very entertained with a comedy sketch shes made up of some character whos a cross-between Jacques Cousteau & Steve Irwin, diving into the deep for strange animals (one is called a Mandynator, hate to think why). She is very, very funny, has a strange hybrid accent of Birmingham & Australia (heaven knows why) and will go far one day that girl! Manage to get some on film and I know this will make into my final cut for Christmas entertainment!
gig:
Its a quiet afternoon apart from the deep sea comedy in the pool, and some of the younger & older Clampets sleep while Mark 7 I plan the BBQ. Sis returns around 7.45 so we can at last get the BBQ started. Dad has made an appearance and insists hes now feeling much better, so we sit him down with a drink while we all get in each others way preparing dinner. Poor Mark! Trying to cook on 3 small disposable BBQs in the pitch black is no joke really (although its funny looking back on it). The pool area has only one very small light over the table so is no use at all (we cant sit out much at night for this reason), and we have to put the BBQs on the floor to use them so Mark has to crouch down in the dark cooking great!
Weve actually cooked most of the meat in the oven in the end as we dont want to give the group food poisoning, and eventually it does all get cooked, and its not bad really, but Mark is knackered and fed up its no quite the fun evening we had in mind though lots of alcohol does help. We do panic that the smoke will set off the smoke alarms at one point too and have to close the screen doors quickly what fun!
Dads seems to be recovering now and we discuss our plans for tomorrow. Its Marks Birthday and were supposed to heading off to the Hard Rock to stay overnight and do Universal and IOA, but were worried Dad wont be fit enough and dont want him to over do it. He says hell be fine if we can leave a little later than planned so he doesnt have to rush, and we decide to ask when we check in if we can have one room ready immediately if possible, so he can rest if he wants to. Its all getting very complicated, but I think we have it sorted so its off to bed and to pack an overnight bag. Im really excited as HRH is my fave hotel, and Im looking forward to introducing the Clampets to IOA for the first time. A little prayer that Dad feels better, and time to sleep.
Angel (Mandy) Control freak, veteran of 14 trips, organizer extraordinaire
Chunkster20uk (Mark) also a control freak, and chief driver
Produced (& financed) by:
Dad Grandpa Clampet lovable, impatient & grumpy
Mum Grandma Clampet also loveable, much more patient and not so grumpy (but very hard of hearing)
Choreography:
Isobelle (Izzy) age 12, already a Diva
Chief Jester:
Elliott age 14, a lovable 6ft 4inch streak of lightning
..and starring..
Becky 19 my dd, beautiful, talented, takes after her Mum
Paul 22 - Beckys bf, no idea what hes let himself in for .
Tracey my little sis, hates planning, and being told what to do
Chris BIL see above
Jess 17 chief mourner, pining for her bf back in Swindon
All the holidaymakers have done Disney before, sis & family just once in 2001, for Mum & Dad its their 4th visit in 6 years, Paul was here 10 years ago and Mark, Becky and I have racked up nearly 30 trips between us ..
Day 5
Tuesday 23rd October
Today weve decided its time to chill at one of the water parks, and as Typhoon Lagoon closes for refurb later this week this is our choice for today. For most of the gang its their fave too so it works out well. (I prefer the family raft ride at Blizzard Beach but Im pretty easy going no, really!)
TL doesnt open til 10 am so Im hoping we have a good chance of actually getting there pretty early for a change. Mark and I are planning to go on somewhere else afterwards so true to form we take our own car, complete with dd & Paul, and let the others follow when theyre ready .its really the only way! We know from experience that if we want to get a spot big enough for us all we need to get there pretty quickly.
Our cunning plan works, we all have our swim stuff on, and have brought towels from the villa so dont need lockers, and as we arrive the park has just opened and we head straight for the right hand side. We have the advantage of having Mr Speedy (Paul) with us, who can move remarkably fast when he wants to (of if someone yells out free beer) and he spies a little place just back from the main area with a shady cover, lots of chairs and beds. Good work!
We manage to snag some beds and chairs for our Clampet gang, much to the obvious delight of those already sat in the shade. I could almost hear them thinking OMG what have we done? If any Dibbers had thought theyd get a little peace and quiet I can only apologise for our rabble.
It is an excellent position though, near enough to all the amenities, the wave pool, rides and lazy river and has enough shade for Dad, and enough sun for sis and I to bake in. We have some concerns that our Clampet family wont find us but Marks on sentry duty and he soon spies them all trooping in and in the right direction too .see, things may be looking up!
Spend some time in the pool getting crashed about by the big waves and screaming along with everyone else, then I seem to get left looking after the beds and bags etc while everyone else goes off to enjoy themselves .not quite sure how this happens! Thanks guys. Its very noticeable that most of the people here seem to be Brits and I keep looking round for DIBB lanyards, hats etc. Someone does spy my Castaway Cay bag though from our last cruise, and we have a chat about the Disney cruises as theyve just come back from one .jealous? moi?
When the Clampets decide to return Mark & I manage to sneak off to the lazy river by ourselves and spend a while floating around, its glorious, and although the skies look very stormy its still great so far today. I would have terrible trouble getting on one of those tires if it wasnt for my dear husband, who stands and holds it for me to very gracefully (yeah right) fall into.
As we come back to the start of the river (Shark landing?) theres an announcement that the shuttle should be taking off in 5 minutes great timing! Hurry back over to the Clampets and we all stand by the main pool, and actually manage to clamber onto some rocks to get a better view. Weve been told which direction to look and as peer excitedly up through the trees there it is!! WOW!!! I am soooo excited! We all forget to take a picture, were just so amazed. 14 trips and this is the first time Ive seen a launch! Its very clear even from this great distance so I imagine if you were one of the lucky ones to be at Cocoa Beach or Titusville you must have had an awesome view. I wasnt allowed to actually go to the launch but Im glad we saw it from here anyway. I do wish Id had my DVD cam with me, even just to film all those crowds watching it from the beach area; and when everyone starting clapping it just seemed right I thought.
Early in the afternoon it really looks like rain and I dont want to be here if the rain hits; the queues are now very long, especially for food, and we decide to head off. DD will return with the rest of the Clampets as theyre still all queuing for food. As we head out of the park we enquire at the gate about MNSSHP tickets, and although they have plenty left they dont have them for the night we were planning so we wait til we can ask the rest of the gang what they want to do about this.
Decide were too tired to go to DTD as wed planned and head back along the 192 instead, and stop at our fave fast food place, Taco Bell, by Formosa Gardens, for burritos, quesadillas and tacos yum! Weve promised to cook BBQ for the Clampets tonight and were on a mission to try and buy some disposable BBQs, so we pop into Winn Dixie .how can you pop into an American supermarket? .theyre huge!
Eventually we track down the BBQs of course theyre by the beer, why didnt we think of that? Buy more beer, lots of meat, chicken, burgers etc, plus some veggies for skewers for Becky, corn on the cobs it all comes to a very reasonable $130, good value considering the trolley is pretty full. I do notice the birthday cakes but cant slip one in the trolley without Mark noticing, so decide against that!
As we arrive back at the villa Tracey & Chris are just leaving and they give us some worrying news. Apparently Dad keeled over at Typhoon Lagoon just after we left, and theyre all worried about him. He wouldnt let them call a Doctor, or even the staff at TL (he is a very forceful man) and just sat in the shade for a while with cold towels on his forehead and drinking cool water , before they got him home. Hes lying down now and Mum says hes resting, but I am worried. I dont know what your Dads like, but mine will not see a GP unless its his own decision. He wasnt well before we flew out, but GP put it down to his sinuss .we hope thats all it is, as no amount of persuasion will make him go to a Doctor here. Hes very angry at all the fuss and insists he just got hot and hadnt drunk enough water. Hmmmmmm.
After all the pandemonium, we manage an old lady swim in the pool this afternoon. I tell Izzy on pain of death shes not to horse around for 20 minutes while her poor old Aunty Mandy gets a relaxing swim, and bless her she shes great, and we all relax quietly while worrying about dad still (if that makes sense).
While Jess, Mum & I are lying on pool side, Izzy keeps us all very entertained with a comedy sketch shes made up of some character whos a cross-between Jacques Cousteau & Steve Irwin, diving into the deep for strange animals (one is called a Mandynator, hate to think why). She is very, very funny, has a strange hybrid accent of Birmingham & Australia (heaven knows why) and will go far one day that girl! Manage to get some on film and I know this will make into my final cut for Christmas entertainment!
gig: Its a quiet afternoon apart from the deep sea comedy in the pool, and some of the younger & older Clampets sleep while Mark 7 I plan the BBQ. Sis returns around 7.45 so we can at last get the BBQ started. Dad has made an appearance and insists hes now feeling much better, so we sit him down with a drink while we all get in each others way preparing dinner. Poor Mark! Trying to cook on 3 small disposable BBQs in the pitch black is no joke really (although its funny looking back on it). The pool area has only one very small light over the table so is no use at all (we cant sit out much at night for this reason), and we have to put the BBQs on the floor to use them so Mark has to crouch down in the dark cooking great!
Weve actually cooked most of the meat in the oven in the end as we dont want to give the group food poisoning, and eventually it does all get cooked, and its not bad really, but Mark is knackered and fed up its no quite the fun evening we had in mind though lots of alcohol does help. We do panic that the smoke will set off the smoke alarms at one point too and have to close the screen doors quickly what fun!
Dads seems to be recovering now and we discuss our plans for tomorrow. Its Marks Birthday and were supposed to heading off to the Hard Rock to stay overnight and do Universal and IOA, but were worried Dad wont be fit enough and dont want him to over do it. He says hell be fine if we can leave a little later than planned so he doesnt have to rush, and we decide to ask when we check in if we can have one room ready immediately if possible, so he can rest if he wants to. Its all getting very complicated, but I think we have it sorted so its off to bed and to pack an overnight bag. Im really excited as HRH is my fave hotel, and Im looking forward to introducing the Clampets to IOA for the first time. A little prayer that Dad feels better, and time to sleep.
