Wading in Flip Flops...Day 7 Part 5: What's not to like about....UPDATE 28.2

[princess_ariel_85]

Brilliant updates,

Artist Point looks amazing, congratulations on 5 years.

I agree with Vanda, lets see the pic!!

x

 

[Linda67]

So with DDs obsession with the Mickey and Minnie Wedding Set, you better start saving for the Wedding Pavillion right now

 

[cherjp]

great update and lovely photos.

 

[Chilly]

Just found your TR and am loving it! Your DD is too cute for words. Where in Berkshire are you from?

 

[queendisney]

ok I am seriously getting withdrawal symptoms..I need to read more I am finding myself checking twice a day for more as they are just so much fun to read

 

[disney_princess_85]

I'm really enjoying your report! Your daughter is lovely.

 

[Scoobymoons]

Hi,
Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.

Thanks for all the replies and sorry I haven't responded to them.

On Monday morning my school got the dreaded phonecall to say that Ofsted were arriving on Wednesday and staying for 2 days. That was two days of hell and four days of 17 hours solid work.

Not a fun experience - totally gruelling and exhausting
I have no recollection of what I have even eaten this week so definitely haven't been able to write anything!

My aim is to remedy that situation tonight so please don't give up on me - I haven't deserted the report!

 

[tinkbell13]

Claire,

I just had to reply to say what a delight I had reading your TR so far. I love reading about WDW from the perspective of others and yours is one of the best so far. I do so hope you don't mind if I join in and read your TR from across the pond?

Some of your phrasing and word usage reminds me so much of my dear grandmother, who still used the "Queen's English" as she called it right up to her last day, even though she had come over right after the war. You revived so many great memories for me tonight - thank you!

 

[linzdr]

Lovely report! Those food pics are making me drool slightly (lol). Will check for more updates soon!

 

[catherinen]

Hi Claire

I hope Ofsted went ok for you. DH is a headteacher so I sort of feel your pain. Eagerly awaiting more updates when you're feeling re-energised!

Catherine x

 

[Scoobymoons]

Loving your report! That chocolate pudding looked incredible!!

Sorry for the delayed response but yes, it was delicious! Highly recommended!!!

 

[Scoobymoons]

Another great day apart from you forgetting your bra That's the sort of thing I do.

I forgot the boys boxers and shorts one year when they were younger. Never entered my head as they were wearing long swim shorts when I rushed everyone out of the hotel. We had to borrow a couple of TL towels for them to sit on in the car on the way home as they were soaking.

Your DD is getting cuter by the minute

I'm glad it's not just me!! Thanks for lovely comments about DD.

love it...

you can tell that the wedding Mickey and Minnie are her pride and joy in that photo.

I do think you really should share your photo from TL though, its only fair!!

Oh yes, her pride and joy - she was slightly obsessed with weddings for the whole holiday. And in terms of the photo...erm...that'll be a....NO!!!
I have very little dignity as it is...that would just be the final straw!!!

Brilliant updates,

Artist Point looks amazing, congratulations on 5 years.

I agree with Vanda, lets see the pic!!

x

Yum....Artist Point...it's just lovely. Thanks for the congrats - it was the perfect way to spend an anniversary

Honestly, the picture has to stay hidden...I would like people to keep reading the report and the photo might just put them off

So with DDs obsession with the Mickey and Minnie Wedding Set, you better start saving for the Wedding Pavillion right now

Oh blimey....handn't thought of that...mental note to self...stay away from Grand Floridian.....

great update and lovely photos.

Thanks

Just found your TR and am loving it! Your DD is too cute for words. Where in Berkshire are you from?

Glad you found it Thanks for comments about DD - I think she's cute but I am terribly biased! I'm from Sandhurst...not far from you at all!! Small World! (cue for a song....)

ok I am seriously getting withdrawal symptoms..I need to read more I am finding myself checking twice a day for more as they are just so much fun to read

THANK YOU. You are most kind. Sorry for the temporary desertion. I promise I would rather have been writing than doing Ofsted....grrrr!

I'm really enjoying your report! Your daughter is lovely.

Thank you

Claire,

I just had to reply to say what a delight I had reading your TR so far. I love reading about WDW from the perspective of others and yours is one of the best so far. I do so hope you don't mind if I join in and read your TR from across the pond?

Some of your phrasing and word usage reminds me so much of my dear grandmother, who still used the "Queen's English" as she called it right up to her last day, even though she had come over right after the war. You revived so many great memories for me tonight - thank you!

Thank you. That's such a lovely thing to say. Please, please feel free to pond-hop as much as you wish!!!

Lovely report! Those food pics are making me drool slightly (lol). Will check for more updates soon!

Mmmmm....food. Am planning more writing as soon as I've finished these responses.

Hi Claire

I hope Ofsted went ok for you. DH is a headteacher so I sort of feel your pain. Eagerly awaiting more updates when you're feeling re-energised!

Catherine x

Thanks for the sympathy Catherine. The whole experience was gruelling and quite frankly horrible but thankfully is over now. I admire anyone who puts themself forward to be a Headteacher Looking forward to writing to send the Ofsted blues away

 

[Scoobymoons]

A couple of WL piccies by way of apology:


<a href="http://s1140.beta.photobucket.com/user/Scoobymoons/media/WDW%202011/MK%205-8-11/DSCF0686.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n577/Scoobymoons/WDW%202011/MK%205-8-11/DSCF0686.jpg" border="0" alt="5.8.11 photo DSCF0686.jpg"/></a>


<a href="http://s1140.beta.photobucket.com/user/Scoobymoons/media/WDW%202011/MK%205-8-11/DSCF0691.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n577/Scoobymoons/WDW%202011/MK%205-8-11/DSCF0691.jpg" border="0" alt="5.8.11 photo DSCF0691.jpg"/></a>


Having purchased the Mickey and Minnie wedding set - did I mention that when you press Mickey's foot it gives a full musical rendition of 'Here Comes the Bride'?...oh yes...it's true...and not at all annoying - we headed back to WL, had a drink and replaced absent underwear Oh and of course played 'weddings' repeatedly...


<a href="http://s1140.beta.photobucket.com/user/Scoobymoons/media/WDW%202011/MK%205-8-11/DSCF0684.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n577/Scoobymoons/WDW%202011/MK%205-8-11/DSCF0684.jpg" border="0" alt="5.8.11 photo DSCF0684.jpg"/></a>


I discovered at this point that DH knew some rather inappropriate alternative lyrics to the wedding march...how romantic

We decided to pop across to Magic Kingdom for the rest of the day and after a short boat ride we were there. Our first stop was Casey's - while I went to order food, DH and DD went into the shop to find a spot for us to sit. Let's just say DD was somewhat mesmerised by the black and white cartoons....


<a href="http://s1140.beta.photobucket.com/user/Scoobymoons/media/WDW%202011/MK%205-8-11/DSCF0714.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n577/Scoobymoons/WDW%202011/MK%205-8-11/DSCF0714.jpg" border="0" alt="5.8.11 photo DSCF0714.jpg"/></a>


We polished off a speciality hotdog meal between us and put the Crackerjack and candyfloss in our bag for later. Once we had peeled DD away from the screen (square eyes child ) we went out onto Main Street. Talk about perfect timing; just as we left Casey's, the afternoon parade was coming up the street. We had a perfect view and decided it would be rude not to stop and watch

The floats were great and all of the dancers seemed to make a beeline for DD - she seems to attract parade people and characters as you will see as the report progresses

Once the parade was done and dusted it was time for some rides so we wandered through to Fantasyland. A trip on the carousel was followed by a spin on the teacups - DH will not touch tea cup style rides with a barge pole whereas....

I promise you I was also in the cup - we did not let a four year old on teacups on her own!!! Blurry proof:

Despite DH's hatred of teacups, DD loves these rides as do I. Who'd have thought it...there is clearly a teacup ride gene...

As soon as we had wobbled off the teacups - I really feel like I have written teacups way too many times now - the heavens opened and there was a torrential downpour. I still can't quite get over how suddenly weather happens in Florida. You can go from 'getting a tan' to 'half drowned' in a matter of seconds...have they not heard of giving people a bit of warning?? I don't know

We dashed over to Tommorowland and went to the People Mover. Now despite having been to WDW three times previously I hadn't been on it - I don't know why, it just hadn't ever happened. So this was a soggy first.... We all really liked it - although I wasn't so chirpy during the Space Mountain section as I'm a total wimp - I'm not scared of the dark but that sense of the unknown gives me the heebie geebies (how the heck do you spell that???!) - DD was fine though - yes, I was shown up by a four year old...

We then used Fast Passes for DH's favourite ride...yes....you guessed it...it's Winnie the Pooh!!!! A true man my DH!!! I love this ride too - it is positively genius. While we were briefly in the FP queue we peered into the new interactive queuing system and whilst it did look good fun, we still didn't think it was worth it for the hour long wait. Fast Passes all the way for us!

Following WTP we had a quick trip on Small World - you've got to love that ride - before zipping back to WL by boat.

DD went straight to bed once we had hugged and kissed her....and wedding Mickey...and wedding Minnie - the things we do for kids!! DH and I sat on the balcony (yay) with a bottle of the rose from the anniversay basket. It was a bit too sweet for us but rather special Afterwards, I went to stretch my legs and popped down to the shop. I bought some postcards (in the vain hope that if we sent them at the beginning of a 3 week holiday there would be a slim chance of them getting home before us...) I also got DH a hoodie that he'd seen and liked on our first day and which was ta da! reduced - what's not to love about a Disney bargain?!?

My journey back to the room took me past the Territory Lounge and as I've been brought up properly and know it is rude to ignore people, I did the polite thing and went in to see the barmaid. While I was there I ordered a Widmer beer for DH and an Ultimate Long Island Ice Tea for me!

Guess where we drank them???...yes, you're right!

I eventually persuaded DH that it was a good idea for him also to be acquainted with Territory Lounge and was feeling proud of myself, until he returned with an enormous grin on his face, pretzels, Moosehead beer for him and, for me...a cocktail called Fountain of Youth....he thought it might help...

 

[loobzuk]

great TR so far and I'm pleased it's taking ages for you to write as it may just keep me going until we get back to WDW in 2013! Not far down the road from you either (Hook).

Great pictures and lots of detail, just perfect so please don't hurry too much!

 

[queendisney]

Yay the TR continues

I have the same gene as your DH...teacups

You do make me laugh Claire, you have a very talented knack of putting things.

Glad you went for 3 weeks because that means you still have LOTS and LOTS of writing todo.

 

[catherinen]

Welcome back Claire!

I'm glad you clarified DD didn't ride the teacups all by herself - that first picture made me feel really sorry for her! But it's quite amazing you were invisible - unless it was the G-force that squashed you out of the picture!

 

[Chilly]

love the photo of your DD "on her own" in the teacups

 

[Scoobymoons]

great TR so far and I'm pleased it's taking ages for you to write as it may just keep me going until we get back to WDW in 2013! Not far down the road from you either (Hook).

Great pictures and lots of detail, just perfect so please don't hurry too much!

Hmmm....yup...thinking it might take a little while. Can't believe you're only in Hook - that's soooooo close!

Yay the TR continues

I have the same gene as your DH...teacups

You do make me laugh Claire, you have a very talented knack of putting things.

Glad you went for 3 weeks because that means you still have LOTS and LOTS of writing todo.

So pleased you're enjoying it. It's comments like yours that just make my day and encourage me to write more. I genuinely smile from ear to ear and blush!!! Way too much writing to do plus a trip to DLRP not far off!!!

Welcome back Claire!

I'm glad you clarified DD didn't ride the teacups all by herself - that first picture made me feel really sorry for her! But it's quite amazing you were invisible - unless it was the G-force that squashed you out of the picture!

It's nice to be back! Thanks for the welcome Yeah freaky photo - perhaps it was the G-Force...good idea

love the photo of your DD "on her own" in the teacups

Thanks...I promise she wasn't....she'd never have moved...that wheel in the middle is pretty heavy to move!!

 

[cherjp]

hahaha ,funny trippie tho my first thought was when I saw your dd all alone in the teacups was, gosh those are fast those teacups .......that wee soul all alone !! surely not !!! it made me laugh to see you hadn't let her go on her own , phew ....!

great loving it keep it up...

 

[Scoobymoons]

The photo with DD in the tea cups on her own (but not) has caused some interest. I do blame my DH for the photo - he seems to have a skill for taking photos and making people invisible...bear with me now. We have a fab photo of from our honeymoon in NYC when we went down to see the Statue of Liberty. Near to where the boats were departing from, there was a lovely fountain which had literally hundreds of people playing in it. DH took a photo and when we got a print of it.....no people at all freaky!!! I have the opposite problem. I took a photo of my brother in law and DH on a bouncy castle and when we received a print of that....there was a small boy in between them....I swear he was not there when I took the shot...be afraid....be very afraid...

Anyway, enough of my random wafflage....back to the plot...

We had already decided that day 5 was going to be a rest day (we learned pretty fast in 2009 that rest days were crucial!) so we got up at 8ish and once we were ready for swimming we headed to Roaring Forks for breakfast.

DD had a grape cup while DH had a croissant and I had a bagel (I braved using the funky bagel/toast toasting machine...I suppose some might call it a...toaster...) with cream cheese. After eating, we took a quick stroll across the beach before having a paddle in the little pool. We then moved into the big pool and had lots of fun swimming and jumping in...and swimming...and jumping in....and jumping in...and jumping in....spotting a pattern??? Following this it was a shower and change, then hopping on a boat across to MK. From MK it was over to the TTC and getting the monorail to Epcot to go to our ADR. I don't think I've ever got the monorail from the TTC to Epcot and we all loved the way it circumnavigated Spaceship Earth before stopping at the station. Knowing that we had many days planned in Epcot, we ignored Future World and pressed on into World Showcase straight towards Canada. I have to admit that although I'd heard mixed reviews about Le Cellier, I was really looking forward to this meal.

We did have a few minutes to pop into the shop...

Once we had put the moose away, we went to the restaurant....oooh....exciting.

I must apologise for lack of food photos at the mo....when I find them, I'll post them. They'll probably appear randomly at an inappropriate moment...in the middle of Seaworld or something....brilliant! So, we were led into the restaurant and I have to admit that the service was fab...we were seated in a nice private booth and regaled with some info all about Canada. We were brought the breads...er...yum! DD loves bread....I may have mentioned this before (if that is the case, think how often I will have repeated myself by the end of 3 weeks...bwah hah hah! ) but when asked 'What are your favourite things?' at the start of school, her answer was 'flowers and sandwiches'....she's not wrong but it just shows her level of commitment to all things bread. These were really delicious
Our ordering was as follows:
DD: Apple juice, Carrot and celery sticks, apple slices, turkey macaroni with marinara sauce, ice cream.
DH: 2x Moosehead beers, coke, spicy chicken and chipotle sausage and roasted corn polenta, filet mignon with risotto, chocolate moose.
Me: Pomegranate lemonade, Pinot Noir, Cheese soup (assisted by DD!), filet mignon with risotto, maple creme brulee.
Now, I don't know what other people have been eating at Le Cellier to warrant complaining but...Oh.....my.....goodness....This was just deeeeeelicious. We loved it...every mouthful. YUM!!

After dinner, we wandered back through WS but sadly I wasn't too well again We slowly pootled over to Future World and took our first ride on Figment - one of DD's favourite rides.

The ending gets me every time - I leap out of the seat much to the amusement of DH...

After a visit to the little purple dragon (surely that's a euphemism for something...) we popped over to the fountains near Test Track where I was able sit down and drink water whilst DD played in the water!

She got totally soaked... We then decided that it was time to go home so we went towards the bus stop. On the way we saw Daisy Duck - one of DD's favourites but unfortunately she was just finishing her time at the front of Epcot (ok, that doesn't sound good either...sorry). Stitch was still there so DD got his autograph but every time we tried to get a photo, she ran out of it...I think she was chasing Daisy!!