Mike Jones
<font color=993300>....nothing clever to say... ju
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2003
- Messages
- 1,372
Part 1
Part 2
What a Carry On! Part 3 Tuesday 19th August 2008
After a reasonably settled night, we both wake at about 5.00am. I turn on the tv to check the weather, and find virtually every Florida station and several national ones are sifting through the twists and turns of TS Fay in excruciating detail. It has apparently made landfall overnight, (still as a Tropical Storm, having failed to achieve Hurricane status over the water,) somewhere near Naples to the south and west of Orlando.
We get our trainers on and head out into the dark at 6.00am for a run around the community. Its very warm, and for the first time I can remember, I go jogging without wearing a shirt! (and may I extend my sincere apologies to anyone happening to glance out of their windows that may have been traumatised by this!). Exiting the community, we turn left and follow the road for a distance, but the sidewalk ends after a couple of hundred metres and we turn back. The full circuit of the estate, including the two or three cul-de-sacs contained within it takes about 15 minutes, and we do two laps.
Returning, sweaty but smug at having done some exercise on holiday, we find mum and dad up and about, preparing breakfast. We get showered and then sort our own breakfast, taking coffee out onto the lanai. The wind has risen and it has started to rain softly through the pool mesh.
The kids are roused with a poke to the ribs, and I have to insist that Adam takes a shower he was trying to resist on the basis that he had one last night, the little scum-bag!
My friend Maggie rang me: she and her two twin daughters, Sammie and Hannah (who has severe disabilities) are sharing a villa down the road at Grand Reserve, off the Old Lake Wilson Rd, with Hannahs carer, Gemma, and another friend (and former colleague of mine,) Julie, and her daughter, Olivia. We had said before the holiday (theyve been out a couple of days longer than us) that wed try and meet up and have an adult night out. I suggest Jellyrolls on Friday night, and we agree to talk later in the week to sort the details.
Theres a funny but familiar peeping noise from somewhere I track it down to a smoke alarm battery warning on the landing outside the master bedroom. As I can reach this, and the cell is a standard one, we dont bother alerting the Man Co to the crisis, but simply stick the battery make on our shopping list for later.
Everyones up and ready by 8.15, and off we go. The skies remain grey, and rain threatens, but, on the bright side, its already 81 degrees F! Todays agenda is (and it will always be, to me!) Disneys MGM Studios. Same old route off Sherberth Road, leads us to the back door entrance to MGM. We are parked in Stage by 8.35, within walking distance of the turnstiles,
..and are inside by 8.45. Unusually for Disney, the park is already open for business (its not an Extra Magic Hour day either) so we are spared the cheesy opening ceremony.
The four thrill riders (me, mum, Amanda and Beth) march smartly down to Tower of Terror, which is a walk-on. Dad and Adam are sent to Rock n Roller Coaster to obtain FastPasses for us.
The ride is terrific, as always. We are back outside just after 9.00, so we chance another ride before meeting the wimps, sorry, boys. Although we are back in front of the elevator doors inside 5 minutes, theres a minor technical delay and its 9.25 before we are out to meet them. Two cracking rides in less than 30 minutes!
Still dry, but feeling damp, and we are anticipating rain before long. Adam and Dad are waiting patiently, with our FPs. The slot opens in 5 minutes, so we send our assistants off to get Toy Story Mania FPs while we gatecrash Aerosmiths concert once more.
Although Ive done this sooooo many times that Im bored by the pre-show, its a million times better than the Paris one we experienced last year. Once through into the garage though, this is still an exciting ride!
We are out by 9.45. Dad and Adam are waiting once more, bless them! Theyve obtained FPs for TSM, but for 2.30 this afternoon! This must be one popular new attraction!
We stroll down the former Mickey Avenue to find it has been (attractively) re-modelled and renamed Pixar Studios.
Part 2
What a Carry On! Part 3 Tuesday 19th August 2008
After a reasonably settled night, we both wake at about 5.00am. I turn on the tv to check the weather, and find virtually every Florida station and several national ones are sifting through the twists and turns of TS Fay in excruciating detail. It has apparently made landfall overnight, (still as a Tropical Storm, having failed to achieve Hurricane status over the water,) somewhere near Naples to the south and west of Orlando.
We get our trainers on and head out into the dark at 6.00am for a run around the community. Its very warm, and for the first time I can remember, I go jogging without wearing a shirt! (and may I extend my sincere apologies to anyone happening to glance out of their windows that may have been traumatised by this!). Exiting the community, we turn left and follow the road for a distance, but the sidewalk ends after a couple of hundred metres and we turn back. The full circuit of the estate, including the two or three cul-de-sacs contained within it takes about 15 minutes, and we do two laps.
Returning, sweaty but smug at having done some exercise on holiday, we find mum and dad up and about, preparing breakfast. We get showered and then sort our own breakfast, taking coffee out onto the lanai. The wind has risen and it has started to rain softly through the pool mesh.
The kids are roused with a poke to the ribs, and I have to insist that Adam takes a shower he was trying to resist on the basis that he had one last night, the little scum-bag!
My friend Maggie rang me: she and her two twin daughters, Sammie and Hannah (who has severe disabilities) are sharing a villa down the road at Grand Reserve, off the Old Lake Wilson Rd, with Hannahs carer, Gemma, and another friend (and former colleague of mine,) Julie, and her daughter, Olivia. We had said before the holiday (theyve been out a couple of days longer than us) that wed try and meet up and have an adult night out. I suggest Jellyrolls on Friday night, and we agree to talk later in the week to sort the details.
Theres a funny but familiar peeping noise from somewhere I track it down to a smoke alarm battery warning on the landing outside the master bedroom. As I can reach this, and the cell is a standard one, we dont bother alerting the Man Co to the crisis, but simply stick the battery make on our shopping list for later.
Everyones up and ready by 8.15, and off we go. The skies remain grey, and rain threatens, but, on the bright side, its already 81 degrees F! Todays agenda is (and it will always be, to me!) Disneys MGM Studios. Same old route off Sherberth Road, leads us to the back door entrance to MGM. We are parked in Stage by 8.35, within walking distance of the turnstiles,
..and are inside by 8.45. Unusually for Disney, the park is already open for business (its not an Extra Magic Hour day either) so we are spared the cheesy opening ceremony.
The four thrill riders (me, mum, Amanda and Beth) march smartly down to Tower of Terror, which is a walk-on. Dad and Adam are sent to Rock n Roller Coaster to obtain FastPasses for us.
The ride is terrific, as always. We are back outside just after 9.00, so we chance another ride before meeting the wimps, sorry, boys. Although we are back in front of the elevator doors inside 5 minutes, theres a minor technical delay and its 9.25 before we are out to meet them. Two cracking rides in less than 30 minutes!
Still dry, but feeling damp, and we are anticipating rain before long. Adam and Dad are waiting patiently, with our FPs. The slot opens in 5 minutes, so we send our assistants off to get Toy Story Mania FPs while we gatecrash Aerosmiths concert once more.
Although Ive done this sooooo many times that Im bored by the pre-show, its a million times better than the Paris one we experienced last year. Once through into the garage though, this is still an exciting ride!
We are out by 9.45. Dad and Adam are waiting once more, bless them! Theyve obtained FPs for TSM, but for 2.30 this afternoon! This must be one popular new attraction!
We stroll down the former Mickey Avenue to find it has been (attractively) re-modelled and renamed Pixar Studios.
I don't like the 'clean' lines of the building interior either.. I much prefer the grungy, garage feel of the Florida one.
.
