The Cast:
Me (Im not telling my age): Chief decision maker, planner and organiser extraordinaire
Darren (39): Mr. Grumpy, Marathon Man and Map Reader
Mollie (10): Jekyll & Hyde pre-teen and big girls blouse
Kirsty (4): Scaredy Cat and Drama Queen
By the time Ive managed to rouse the troops this morning its already getting on a bit. As we are not going to make it to anywhere particularly early this morning we opt for having breakfast at Ponderosa, theres a supermarket next door which I need to visit as well. The plan this morning was to visit Blizzard Beach but unfortunately due to a slight hiccup of the female variety we have to rethink, so we decide to head back to AK.
We reach AK just after 10:00 and there still seems to be a lot of people making there way in so I think AK is going to be busy today again. Just before we head through the turnstiles a walking palm tree comes whizzing up to us, kirsty thinks the fact hes moving is great but when he starts talking shes ecstatic! He introduces himself as Wes Palm and they start chatting like old friends. After the inevitable pictures are taken we say our goodbyes, Wes says see you later alligator she responds in the proper fashion in a while crocodile this is her favourite goodbye which we say every morning as I leave for work so Kirsty is absolutely thrilled that her new best buddy Wes should know this.
The first thing we do is head round and pick up some fast passes for Dinosaur as we have never done this then we make our way to camp Mickey/Minnie to watch the Festival of the Lion King, a show which we all love. It was as great as ever although I did get somewhat distracted. We were seated right behind the row reserved for the disabled. In front of us was a young boy of about eight who was severely disabled but who so obviously loved the music as he was bouncing up and down in his wheelchair. Now, I have been fortunate enough to have had many occasions to witness my children in the throes of ecstasy, especially when you consider for Kirsty it takes no more than a talking bin or palm tree and for Mollie its allowing her friends to sleep over, but I dont think Ive ever witnessed such unadulterated happiness in any child, ever! I couldnt stop watching him. When he got picked to join in at the end with the cast the smile on his face was a picture to behold he was beaming from ear to ear and he danced and jigged as much as he could the whole time. I have to tell you his mum wasnt the only one needing her hankie!
Once outside Pocahontas & her friends was just about to begin so we popped in to see this too (a first). As both girls are animal daft, anything with animals will thrill them so they loved this, Darren also enjoyed this a lot but I think this had more to do with Pocahontas being a bit of alright, as I was reliably informed! Given that I resemble the talking tree more than Pocahontas hes treading on dicey ground.
We then made our way round to Dinoland, with a few character stops on route, where we let the girls go let off some steam in the Boneyard while we had a sit down in what little shade we could find. Our fast pass time came round for Dinosaur and Mollie chickened out so it was agreed that I would test it first and judge whether she would like it or not. I found it okay, although a bit bumpy this wasnt as scary as I had expected but I knew Mollie wouldnt think so, she would find it too intense but Darren I thought would enjoy it so when I got back I suggested he try it, he did and yes he liked it.
Darren and Mollie want to do Kali River Rapids again so we head round there to pick up a fast pass for them, Kirsty and I have decided to give this a miss this time strangely enough, my knickers are still wet from the last time, not that Im still wearing the same soggy pair I hasten to add! It is now getting very hot and Kirsty is beginning to flag a little, have to say though that her stamina throughout the holiday amazed us, not once did we have to hire a stroller and rarely did she ever complain about the amount of walking her little legs were asked to do, so Darren and Mollie go off to do ITTBAB while Kirsty and I do a little shopping to cool off. We meet up with them when its finished but its now time for their FP for Kali river Rapids so whilst they go off to get wet its agreed that Kirsty and I will pick up some refreshments and pitch our spot in the shade for the parade. Youll be surprised to hear they came back bone dry, much to Mollies disgust, well they would seeing as how they didnt have little old unfortunate me in the boat with them.
After the parade we decide to head home for a cool dip in the pool as its now very hot and AK is very busy.
We have a PS for 7.00 for dinner at Chef Mickeys so we get in the car and drive there in no time. Have a quick look round the hotel. I personally think this hotel looks ugly from the outside but it looked much better inside than I had expected. We have our picture taken with the big Chef Mickeys plate and then we go meet Mr. Donald Duck. Shortly we get shown to our table which is upstairs and near the back, there are only three other tables in this spot so its fairly quiet, not having been here before I dont know whether this was a good location or not but it didnt stop us having a great time. The characters, Mickey, Minnie, Chip & Dale and Goofy all come visit at our table several times throughout the meal. The food is buffet style and was very good. There was much flag waving and a few birthday celebrations as well. We really enjoyed this meal, lots of character interaction, good food and lots of fun, and will definitely be adding it to our list of must do for next time.
When we were finished we headed for DTD and for the first time this trip we actually make it. We have a wander round the shops. We are doing MNSSHP again and the girls have already decided on their outfits, Kirsty wants to be Cinderella (no surprises there) and Mollie wants to be Belle (in her evening gown) so we buy them their dresses and Darren gets persuaded that they really need the accessories to go with them (men and their money are easily parted when it comes to their little girls!).
After all that shopping I had to sit down and have a Margarita while the girls and Darren played with the lego. Darren and another man got into a competition about whose robot was the bestest and biggest, it was one of those silent but deadly battles and when Darren started trying to steal lego pieces from the little boy next to him in his quest to win I thought it time to leave, so I waved the white flag and dragged him off reassuring him that yes he had indeed built the best robot in the whole of Orlando! We head home and by 10.30 we are all fast asleep.
Kirsty Fav Thing: meeting Wes Palm
Lease Fav Thing: didnt have one (wayhey!!!)
Mollie Fav Thing: Kali River Rapid
Least Fav Thing: didnt have one
Darren Fav Thing: Dinosaur (told you hed like it)
Least Fav Thing: didnt have one
Me Fav Thing: Didnt make my baby cry today, yipeee!!!!! followed closely by watching the little boy at the Lion King Show
Least Fav Thing: the heat, it was way too hot today.
Annmarie
Me (Im not telling my age): Chief decision maker, planner and organiser extraordinaire
Darren (39): Mr. Grumpy, Marathon Man and Map Reader
Mollie (10): Jekyll & Hyde pre-teen and big girls blouse
Kirsty (4): Scaredy Cat and Drama Queen
By the time Ive managed to rouse the troops this morning its already getting on a bit. As we are not going to make it to anywhere particularly early this morning we opt for having breakfast at Ponderosa, theres a supermarket next door which I need to visit as well. The plan this morning was to visit Blizzard Beach but unfortunately due to a slight hiccup of the female variety we have to rethink, so we decide to head back to AK.
We reach AK just after 10:00 and there still seems to be a lot of people making there way in so I think AK is going to be busy today again. Just before we head through the turnstiles a walking palm tree comes whizzing up to us, kirsty thinks the fact hes moving is great but when he starts talking shes ecstatic! He introduces himself as Wes Palm and they start chatting like old friends. After the inevitable pictures are taken we say our goodbyes, Wes says see you later alligator she responds in the proper fashion in a while crocodile this is her favourite goodbye which we say every morning as I leave for work so Kirsty is absolutely thrilled that her new best buddy Wes should know this.
The first thing we do is head round and pick up some fast passes for Dinosaur as we have never done this then we make our way to camp Mickey/Minnie to watch the Festival of the Lion King, a show which we all love. It was as great as ever although I did get somewhat distracted. We were seated right behind the row reserved for the disabled. In front of us was a young boy of about eight who was severely disabled but who so obviously loved the music as he was bouncing up and down in his wheelchair. Now, I have been fortunate enough to have had many occasions to witness my children in the throes of ecstasy, especially when you consider for Kirsty it takes no more than a talking bin or palm tree and for Mollie its allowing her friends to sleep over, but I dont think Ive ever witnessed such unadulterated happiness in any child, ever! I couldnt stop watching him. When he got picked to join in at the end with the cast the smile on his face was a picture to behold he was beaming from ear to ear and he danced and jigged as much as he could the whole time. I have to tell you his mum wasnt the only one needing her hankie!
Once outside Pocahontas & her friends was just about to begin so we popped in to see this too (a first). As both girls are animal daft, anything with animals will thrill them so they loved this, Darren also enjoyed this a lot but I think this had more to do with Pocahontas being a bit of alright, as I was reliably informed! Given that I resemble the talking tree more than Pocahontas hes treading on dicey ground.
We then made our way round to Dinoland, with a few character stops on route, where we let the girls go let off some steam in the Boneyard while we had a sit down in what little shade we could find. Our fast pass time came round for Dinosaur and Mollie chickened out so it was agreed that I would test it first and judge whether she would like it or not. I found it okay, although a bit bumpy this wasnt as scary as I had expected but I knew Mollie wouldnt think so, she would find it too intense but Darren I thought would enjoy it so when I got back I suggested he try it, he did and yes he liked it.
Darren and Mollie want to do Kali River Rapids again so we head round there to pick up a fast pass for them, Kirsty and I have decided to give this a miss this time strangely enough, my knickers are still wet from the last time, not that Im still wearing the same soggy pair I hasten to add! It is now getting very hot and Kirsty is beginning to flag a little, have to say though that her stamina throughout the holiday amazed us, not once did we have to hire a stroller and rarely did she ever complain about the amount of walking her little legs were asked to do, so Darren and Mollie go off to do ITTBAB while Kirsty and I do a little shopping to cool off. We meet up with them when its finished but its now time for their FP for Kali river Rapids so whilst they go off to get wet its agreed that Kirsty and I will pick up some refreshments and pitch our spot in the shade for the parade. Youll be surprised to hear they came back bone dry, much to Mollies disgust, well they would seeing as how they didnt have little old unfortunate me in the boat with them.
After the parade we decide to head home for a cool dip in the pool as its now very hot and AK is very busy.
We have a PS for 7.00 for dinner at Chef Mickeys so we get in the car and drive there in no time. Have a quick look round the hotel. I personally think this hotel looks ugly from the outside but it looked much better inside than I had expected. We have our picture taken with the big Chef Mickeys plate and then we go meet Mr. Donald Duck. Shortly we get shown to our table which is upstairs and near the back, there are only three other tables in this spot so its fairly quiet, not having been here before I dont know whether this was a good location or not but it didnt stop us having a great time. The characters, Mickey, Minnie, Chip & Dale and Goofy all come visit at our table several times throughout the meal. The food is buffet style and was very good. There was much flag waving and a few birthday celebrations as well. We really enjoyed this meal, lots of character interaction, good food and lots of fun, and will definitely be adding it to our list of must do for next time.
When we were finished we headed for DTD and for the first time this trip we actually make it. We have a wander round the shops. We are doing MNSSHP again and the girls have already decided on their outfits, Kirsty wants to be Cinderella (no surprises there) and Mollie wants to be Belle (in her evening gown) so we buy them their dresses and Darren gets persuaded that they really need the accessories to go with them (men and their money are easily parted when it comes to their little girls!).
After all that shopping I had to sit down and have a Margarita while the girls and Darren played with the lego. Darren and another man got into a competition about whose robot was the bestest and biggest, it was one of those silent but deadly battles and when Darren started trying to steal lego pieces from the little boy next to him in his quest to win I thought it time to leave, so I waved the white flag and dragged him off reassuring him that yes he had indeed built the best robot in the whole of Orlando! We head home and by 10.30 we are all fast asleep.
Kirsty Fav Thing: meeting Wes Palm
Lease Fav Thing: didnt have one (wayhey!!!)
Mollie Fav Thing: Kali River Rapid
Least Fav Thing: didnt have one
Darren Fav Thing: Dinosaur (told you hed like it)
Least Fav Thing: didnt have one
Me Fav Thing: Didnt make my baby cry today, yipeee!!!!! followed closely by watching the little boy at the Lion King Show
Least Fav Thing: the heat, it was way too hot today.
Annmarie
