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Published: January 5th 2011
Waiting for our vessel..
..Caitlin posing as we waited for the ferry to ferry across to the Magic Kingdom..Started the day at an Outlet Mall..the first one we went to on our arrival in Orlando and the one we have not been able to get near since due to the most amazing queues of traffic. Incredible backlogs and traffic jams as people sought to get that extra special pair of Nike running shoes... Regardless of all that, today it was oh so quiet, no queues of traffic and fine for a leisurely stroll the standard husbands 3 paces behind the good wife, carrying the purchases. Gentlemen, the shopping husbands club is universal..you take a seat next to the other 6 guys, bags from previous adventures piled around their feet and with the odd child concealed amongst them. The standard 'I feel your pain brother' eye contact and nod as you sit quietly and wait. The wives will call across occasionally to ensure a) you haven;t misplaced any of the children and more importantly, b) you did put up the credit card limit didn't you. There is palpable sympathy generated en masse for the poor sap whose wife comes across arms laden and asking the most stupid questions, like 'should I get the red one or the green one?' cos
A ferryboat..
..bit nicer than the monorial and a little slower so Americans just don;t have the time for it it seems.. you all know there is only one answer to that quasi rhetorical question and it is just how well you phrase that determines how well the rest of the day goes...the answer with some enthusiasm is always, 'they both look great, get them both.' She MIGHT say no and just get one, but really..
Sandy left with a Fossil handbag and a pair of ECCO shoes, Eddie Bauer jeans and a couple of tops.. as a long term survivor of the club this was a pretty good result! (this is all tongue in cheek, the shopping has not been nearly as tedious as perhaps may have been suggested..)
Next port of call at midday was the return to the Magic Kingdom. Same routine as yesterday but today took the ferry boat from the carpark or concourse across to the entrance so sailed into the Magic Kingdom.
Today we were told that the park was half full and that that was a very quiet day. Apparently yesterday had been close to a full park.
Regardless, we had a good day and without much waiting time as a result of some Fast Pass (okay we fluked it) playing
A large dog..
..first character we met today..apparently hes got important around here.. and dumb luck achieved a lot and spent more time in attractions then outside them almost. Caitlin met Pluto as soon as we entered the gates so stopped to get his autograph and standard photo...now this is time consuming and can seem just a little inane, but not to a 6 year old and when you see the thrill they get out of it and the absolute patience they display in waiting it is all very worthwhile..some more of that magic, I guess. Reubs and I went off and secured Fast Passes (shot round half the park to see what had the big waits) and settled on the Jungle Cruise.
Went back to find Caitlin still waiting but nearing the front of the line. The photo shows how much they love it...the little girls, not the dog - he's always grinning for some reason.
Wandered back to Adventureland and had picnic lunch there alongside a place selling fresh pineapple juice. Fresh fruit juice...went to get a couple for the kids, all those vitamins! Whilst in the queue noted I was the recipient of furious hand gestures from the Managing Director...these translated to mean that they had seen these
Pirates of the Caribbean..
..part of the scenery as you move through the queue.. things called pineapple floats and 'we' 'were' having those... A pineapple float is fresh pineapple juice in a cup with a 6 inch mound of pineapple flavoured snowfreeze on top.. I acquired two and they were, despite perhaps sounding somewhat odd, fantastic..this was borne out more so by the tonnage of these units being sold.
Another observation we made today was that the easiest way to identify the unhealthiest eating establishments in the parks is to a quick count of mobility scooters parked outside...the larger the number, the unhealthier the product. This could be published as a scientific paper with just a little work. Now I thought this was just me being unreasonable (again) but I knew I was on to something when Sandy raised it (out of hearing of the children). A mobility scooter is a wonderful invention to assist the disabled or those genuinely afflicted... in the parks and malls here it is an excuse for idleness and ill health and poses an inconvenience to others as those driving them, bearing the standard 'woe is me' expression, plough relentlessly through the crowds. When you see a person drive these but climb off to wander around shops or
Two Princesses..
..this is Cinderalla..first of three princesses that Caitlin met with today.. beat someone to the free checkout operator at the food stalls you kinda wonder if maybe they're extracting the Michael a little... The other advantage is, Fast Pass be damned, if you can get one of your party into a wheelchair or onto a mobility scooter then you will always be moved to the front of the lines. This is just too mercenary as this impacts on those generally in need of the resources and the priority treatment.
Moving on, after lunch went onto the Jungle Cruise...this is funny. Its a cruise, just like it says people, through a series of artificial jungle scenes with humourous shows and displays set up using animated model animals... it is 100% fake but it is well done and accompanied by this oh so predictable string of one liners but done so well...I laughed several times cos it appealed to my sense of humour, other people just looked at me but the guide was grateful..important to remember the patter was delivered in English...at this time of year or during our visits anyway, English is a minority language, far behind Spanish..so most of the others had not a clue about the double entendres even
Sleeping Beauty..
..this was number three.. if they did speak English...lines like for example, (and not one of the better ones) 'now ladies and gentlemen we are on the Nile, this is the longest river in Africa and was named the Nile because it goes on for niles and niles and niles...and if you don't believe that then you are the one in denial'. Like I said not a good one but you get the general idea.
Straight into Pirates of Caribbean and this was clearly the highlight of the day and really well done. From there moved onto the Tiki Tiki Room, voted the most annoying attraction at any of the Disneys (actually I just made that up) but this had been revamped from the original so as to include characters from Alladin and Lion King and was amusing.
Fast Pass then obtained for the Winnie the Pooh ride, one of the biggest lines in the park everyday and whilst waiting moved onto Toon Town. There Caitlin met 3 princesses, those from Sleeping Beauty, Cinderalla and one other (she wasn;t all that). Again, this took around 45 minutes and Reubs and I went for a wander.
Then into Mickey Mouses house...again kids
Famouse (get it) address..
..now I don't care who you are, right there, that's funny..Fa-Mouse.. thought this was a laugh and you walk through this to the pavillion where you join a line to meet Mickey Mouse who is in the next room. We stood in the line for around 25 minutes before gaining entry to the inner sanctum and into the presence of his eminence..The Mouse himself!!! And our joy knew no bounds because to our disbelief not only was the Mouse his'self ina house...so was his long term interest, Miss Minnie...she looks so much better than in the magazines! Well the kids were thrilled, Mum was just beside herself...we had photos of the kids individually with the mice, then a family shot (despite my pleas to be excused) with them ... and no!! I did not hug them...the Mickster shook my hand and gotta say for a mouse had a pretty firm grip! Now is the part for which I am going to be punished...for my wife, who has sat with Mountain Gorillas in the jungle of Uganda, entered the Ancient city of Petra at dawn, witnessed the grandeur of the Taj Mahal with its tale of unrequited love and borne all in the most stoic of manner...met two guys dressed up as
Caitlin meets local heroes..
..those mice eyes don't look right..wide eyed like that..they're stoned! Now theres a headline! vermin and came out with a tear in her eye. She denies it vehemently but I know after 19 years, 11 months, 3 weeks and 1 day of marriage I know...suspect will now not make the 20th anniversary, but dammit the truth needed to be told. Sandy loves mice! Joking aside it was a real buzz for the kids and well worth the effort, great moment...
After that did the Indy Speedway, Astro Orbitor and the Lilo and Stitch thing (did not get this at all this last one but Reubs loved it and knew all the characters) and then shot back and used our Fast Pass for the Winnie the Pooh thing. Very cutesy and awesome for little kids and both of ours thought it was quite good or very good. Kind of like the Dr Seuss thing at Universal.
Fed the kids and then set up to watch the fireworks at closing at 8 pm which were just amazing and then after killing time for half an hour to let the crowd thin out headed back to the car.
Had the kids home and in bed not long before 10.
A good day, this
Reubs joins in..
..boy adamant did not want to meet any of the characters except Donald Duck but in the end wavered when met this fine pair..much to my chagrin, wife insisted on a family photograph with these as well. is the way to experience the parks and frankly give it some serious consideration if planning at coming during the peak times of year. You pay an awful lot for the experience why have it diluted or sullied by an oppressive and unpleasant environment.
Again, weather wise a great day, just a little cooler so even more pleasant, and a couple of small patches of rain which helped even further...
Tomorrow is our last day in Orlando...
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Jacqui
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Go Sandra
Nothing wrong with shedding a tear Sandra don't be shy! How much longer are you away for? Will you be home for your 20 year anniversary? Good to see Caitlin getting good use out of her ears :-)