Sunday 14th September
We all slept so late this morning.....well, it is Sunday....isn`t that the day of rest........we can hear the ladies outside with the cleaning carts so we figure we better get a wiggle on and get out. Our room has always been cleaned early in the morning which is ideal for us as we sometimes come back mid afternoon to either change or just have a break before heading back out. Just at that the lady knocks on our door, so I open it and tell her we`ll be half an hour or so then we`ll be gone.....she says it`s fine......at that point the guy in the room opposite pops his head out and looks.....well, a bit rough and asks what day it is.........
oh dear.........I tell him it`s Sunday...he shakes his head and goes back inside.......we see him checking out later......lol.......did he really forget he was checking out or, well, I don`t know what he thought but he didn`t disturb us whatever fun he looked to have been having
So, we make it up to the lounge at around 9.00.......grab some fruit and make some toast, then thank Thomas again for sending the bubbly. We sit and chat for not very long today as it`s another beautiful day outside and we want to get to IOA again. We always thought this was our favorite park a few years ago, but even before the Potter expansion we always seem to spend longer in The Studios, but still love Islands. We nip back into room and get some sun screen on......we apologise to the lady who is cleaning our room for disturbing her, she says it`s no problem and looks on rather bemused as we smother ourselves in factor 30 for me and 50 for the two fairer skinned of the 3 of us. We tell her she is lucky not to have to do this every day.
But soon we are walking into IOA.......this is always a real pleasure......the theming in Port of Entry is beautiful, and you really should take the time to look at all the little touches.....the voices that come from the windows above ground level and the colors are gorgeous.......but today we are heading to the rides.......we go straight round as usual to The Hulk, Spiderman and the short but sweet Dr Doom.......park is fairly quiet
We just missed him by a few seconds........if we hadn`t ridden Doom about 8 times we would have got pictures. But to be honest we werent going to bother so much again this year with character pics as we had so many from previous years......excluding Scooby of course.......we thought The Hulk this morning was rough, so I only went on once, they did twice then on to Spiderman and of course Doom. It was so gorgeous today, the heat was just hot enough for us......I think it was around the low 90`s so just perfect for us. We stopped for some water and drank that in the bench to the side of Spiderman....park still didn`t look too busy at this time. Rides so far had been quiet too, but we still used our EP. The girl who scanned our passes had the name April, and I wondered if it was April who posts on here, I should have asked her but I didn`t. Tom always finds it amusing when I wonder who people are, if they are from the Dis in one way or another.
We wander very slowly around to JP and see the changes they are making there......we stop first to put coins in the shower things at Popeye`s ride.....we get a few boats with people in, but most coming through are empty, so we skulk off disappointed today......we put a fortune in those machines to soak people....but it`s so much fun. So as we pass Dudley we immediately see the big JP gates are down and this is where everyone is......
You can also see through and see Cabana Bay through where they are working.....not a pretty sight at all. But I say that as someone who just doesn`t like the look of the hotel at all. But I know there are many who do. However I`m sure this is temporary and when they finish the upgrades here you won`t be able to see what`s outside on Turkey Lake Road.
So round to JP....we walk into the Express queue and there`s about 5 people in the regular queue.......so she said sit where you like....so we sat on the 2nd row this time and set off.......why oh why do we always end up with the moron who can`t understand what no camera means.......this guy has this thing on his wrist and is videoing the whole boat and what`s around us.....he gets told once and doesn`t put it away......so mild mannered me tells him hey buddy.....I don`t get any further and it`s gone.......I would make a great TM
so now we can enjoy the ride, although I do get evils from this guy who is clearly miffed.......I don`t care.......it`s like people who think it`s ok to take flash pictures where you`re not supposed to......selfish!! (rant over)
We love this drop.....I always try leave the lapbar loose so you really feel it when you drop and boy this was a good one.........we think we are going to get soaked......but we are bone dry this time.......even Kyle who is the ultimate water magnet.....so we head around again........few more people in front this time.....so we get on and we`re in the 4th row.......this journey is fine.......get to the drop and wow.......we are soaked......drenched to the bone........then I look at Kyle and he is doubly drenched.......don`t know how he manages it. We want to go again, well we are soaked.....Kyle says he`ll pass...so we go again and this time there`s only two other people in the boat and we get a sprinkling of water on us.......love that drop!!!
We go back to Thunder Falls for lunch. It`s really nice in here but when you`re soaking wet....it`s freezing.....so we eat quickly. Kyle and I share the buffalo chicken wrap which is so fresh and Tom gets a burger that is just ok. I`m shivering now so I don`t take any pictures as I want back out in the blazing sun quick as possible. I`m a wimp when I`m cold. Now we head around to HP and it`s busy as usual but not mobbed by any means......I don`t feel like FJ today so I take their waist packs and head to visit Moaning Myrtle then sit at the fountain. I could sit here for hours.....it`s so funny and I love how people react to it. So I sit behind it as usual and watch. First person up is a woman I would say who is in her 30`s thinks it`s funny to stick her middle finger up the fountains face......lol....guess who gets soaked......some people!! He does make some dry comments about her which is funny. I sit a bit longer and drink some water and wait for them.
It`s so beautiful in this area, I hope they keep the fountain through any re-theming of this area. I don`t have to wait much longer and they are back, so we walk around and go on the Dr Seuss trolley ride and cat in the hat which doesn`t spin as much as it used to.....but still, it`s the weirdest ride ever.....but I wasn`t brought up on Seuss. First I knew of him was when my cousins brought over his books when we were around 9. Then of course The Grinch...which everyone loves I think. It`s so hot now and we decide to head back to the hotel and get some pool time in. We walk as we usually do when we come out of Islands as it`s so close. It`s always a beautiful walk and there`s plenty of shade as you go around.
We get changed, add more sun screen and head down to the pool and it`s not too busy. We get some loungers and 2 parasols so we`re covered up. Pool is beautiful, lovely and warm but cooling at the same time. It`s relaxing just laying back and sipping a non alcoholic drink....I had some kind of cocktail but it was so refreshing and I forget what is was called. We spend about an hour and a half then head up to a nice cool room and get showered and changed. Tonight I get to Longhorn.
We head up to the lounge as it`s far too early to head out for dinner.....as soon as we walk in Mike pours us 2 large chardonnays.......I get both as Tom is driving tonight......As I said we never use the lounge for main meals, we prefer to eat out but I do glance at it and have some salad as it looks gorgeous......main meal was something with noodles. Tom got some cheese and Kyle got some water. It was fairly quiet again tonight
I love the view from up here......but soon we were heading off to Lake Buena Vista to Longhorn. I knew one had opened up on IDrive, but we knew this one and knew we liked it plus it only takes 10-15 minutes or so to get there. When we arrive, as always it`s busy which is a good sign....but we get a table within a few minutes. I really like it in here. It`s always really friendly and food has always been lovely.
We order some strawberry lemonades and kyle a V daiquiri.......they do a gorgeous drink called blackberry firefly tea, but as I`d already had 3 large glasses of wine i think maybe I shouldn`t....so I don`t as it`s very strong. We order jalapeno shooters as an appetiser which are lovely, but again not too hot.......but it`s nice all the same and I would get them again. For main meal I order 9oz filet medium rare with sweet baked potato and brocolli, Tom orders Porterhouse, medium with fries and brocolli and Kyle as usual orders tenders....he thinks these are some of the nicest chicken he ever eats in here.
For some reason the portions don`t look as big as they were, especially my filet.....but they were a decent size and were cooked perfectly. I am fussy about steak and expect it to be perfect every time. Now I am full at this point.....but one of the reasons they love to come here is dessert. It`s called chocolate stampede....and it`s a sharing dessert........I`m sure everyone by now knows how my son loves chocolate desserts and I hate them.....but I do like ice cream and I can take a bit of that from them. When it arrives there is much discussion of who gets how much between the two of them........I mooch some ice cream while they come to an amicable decision and portions have been assigned.........
They demolish it.........they do enjoy this dessert so much, and I can only manage one scoop of ice cream.......we sit back for a bit after we have paid and just relax and finish our drinks. We head out and it`s raining.......so Tom goes round and brings the car round so we don`t get wet. It doesn`t get too heavy so roads are not bad at all thankfully. We have been caught in some real downpours in Orlando and trying to drive is impossible, but tonight is ok and soon we are back at hotel where Tom drops us off and goes and parks. We did think when we got back we may go to Citywalk for some mini golf......but it`s still raining a little, it`s nearly 10.30
and we are ever so tired........10.30....we really know how to live the high life
As we walk through Orchids lounge we see it`s closed....very unusual. They have closed every Sunday and Monday of our stay at this point as it`s so quiet.....they have a "gone fishin" sign up.....takes me days to get that joke......as it`s a sushi bar....."gone fishin"......
So it`s up to our room and put tv on while we all get ready for bed. Have our usual chat going over the day......I always ask if we want to do early entry and it`s always met by a resounding no!!! I agree.......absolutely no need for us to get up early. And with that we`re all sound asleep.
Carry on!
I find this happens at more "upscale" restaurants. I like my steaks medium well and usually order my filets butterflied to get them cooked enough without becoming charcoal on the outside. I have had waiters at fancy restaurants insist that the steak does not need to be butterflied and then they bring me a rare un-butterflied steak! I'm an adult and I think I know what I like by now! The servers at Outback never argue with me about my steak and it is always delicious! Sorry you didn't get the dessert you wanted!
my husband hates when I start telling him about my dreams.....I have very vivid ones and lots of them, and I always remember them....teeth falling out is a horrible one......but mix in a zombie........
So after thanking him again I went back down to the room to see kyle back in bed but awake. He said he just didnt feel great and was going to sleep. I think we had too much sun today, it sometimes happens in our first park day when it`s extra hot.....I knew plenty of water and sleep and he would be fine. But I wasn`t going to drive over to LBV to Longhorn when he was here, so we decided to eat in The Islands dining room for a change. Since we were not headed out in the car anymore Tom could get something to drink, so we opened one of the bottles of bubbly and had that before going downstairs. We had opened the drapes and were sitting by the window admiring the view, and the bubbly........the sunset was beautiful.
s
