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E. Cosgrove
 United Kingdom
5932 Posts
Joined: 26 Apr 2004
Status: offline |  Posted - 12 Apr 2005 : 14:51:23  
| Mardch 27th
Today was Sophie's last day. The plan was to get the forward party up and off to Downtown Disney for the 8am check in with Virgin. We were then planning to meet up at IOA.
This was the first morning that there were large patches of blue sky when we awoke, it looked promising
The customary early morning dip lasted a little longer today, the weather being so lovely we had no desire to leave the pool quickly and we kept out of the way of those who were on the early start, they did very well as they were out of the villa by 7.45am.
The remainder of us then showered and breakfasted ready to leave the villa 50 mins later.
Once again we splurged $4 with our annual passes on priority parking and as we had arrived early were almost able to fall into the park
David had problems getting his pass to admit him and in the end the attendant gave up and just let him in any way.
We made straight for the lockers to leave the rain ponchos...we weren't getting caught out again
We used the CC to pay for our locker but it would not work, kept getting a message to say that it had been locked by a previous guest. As directed by the mesage on the locker we went to stroller and wheelchair rental where the woman told us very unhelpfully that she had no idea what to do and that we would have to wait for the supervisor. When we asked her how long we might have to wait she told us she had already been waiting for her for half an hour and for all she knew she might be another 2 hours!!!
Not a happy bunny at this I went hot foot to guest relations, where 2 staff members were trying to deal with a customer's complaint about racial discrimination, I waited 10 mins but they did not even acknowledge I was there.
I returned to the party very disgruntled to find we had been joined by the others. At this point the sensible thing would have been to say what the hell and pay $8 for another locker but I had the bit between my teeth and was feeling particulalrly p***y so I suggested that the rest of the others left us whilst David and I stayed to sort it out, it wasn't fair to waste the short time that Sophie had. The others went off although Nat and James elected to stay with us. It was cutting off my nose to spite my face really, the supervisor had still not appeared and about 30 mins had elapsed
This time Davd went to Guest Relations. They had finishe dealing with Mr Angry and in no time at all they had contacted someone to sort out the locker situation
We headed for "The Hulk" there were lots of crowds around, Stu rang us on the mobile but we couldn't hear what he was saying it was so noisy! We decided to get express passes for this ride and then head off to spiderman. We bumped into Helen and Stu who had gone to get express passes for Spiderman whilst the kids queued for The Hulk, so we said we would ring them later.
On the way to spiderman we saw that the wait for Dr Doom was only 10 mins and although David initially said he would not go on I managed to persuade him ( he chickened out last time but I have been on twice before)As usual it is the waiting that is the worse, mouth virtually stuck together with the adrenaline. It is a great ride but over much too quickly and not worth queuing very long.
The line for Spiderman was 40 mins so we joined the single rider queue and virtually walked straight on. In the event Nat and James were sat together and David and I were in the same cars but different rows. I had forgotten that this ride was a simulator
James felt none too good either when he came off, but it is very clever.
From here it was off to Toon Lagoon and Rip Saw falls. The wait time showed 20 mins but in the event it was much longer and probably the longest wait we had all holiday. Part of the problem was they stopped to put more "logs" in to commission as the ride was so busy. I was soaked before we even started as the water from the ride above sloshed over the edges in the outdoor part of the queue
As the line "dog legged" round we passed the rest of our party ahead of us in the queue so they agreed to wait for us outside the ride.
It didn't bode well when I had to sit in a very wet seat, it goes without sayning that I got soaked but it was great fun.
We joined the others outside who were equally wet and decided that as we were so wet we might as well do Popeye and Pluto's Bilge Barges. We walked virtually straight on to this ride and we were all seated together. Nat had not done this before and as we launched down the first slope she viewed the wall of water behind her with horror, the words "you're having a laugh" had only just left her lips when she got absolutely soaked, we howled with laughter as one by one we took turns at gettng wet
This ride was such fun and later voted one of the best fun rides we had all holiday.
We left the ride dripping wet, clever marketing had outlets selling T shirts and shorts outside. Nic, Kitty and Sophie all bought new shorts, Helen bought a new T shirt whist the rest of us decided just to dry out, luckily it was hot and sunny
Whilst the girls were buying new gear the fellas went off to get express passes at Jurassic Park. Sadly they would be too late for Sophie to ride.
It was now time for us to ride "the hulk" and the rest of the party to do Spiderman, so we arranged to meet at the pizza and pasta place next to the hulk for some lunch. The hulk as always was a great ride. I kept my eyes open all the way round, so why were they shut on the photo?
We met the others for lunch, but with a shortage of tables we ended up eating outside with James and Nat whilst the remainder of them bagged tables inside. Lunch was good as fast food goes and none of us were even remotely tiring of pizza
There was no sign of the others so we went inside to see what was keeping them
Nic was sat with her foot up looking pale and shaken, apparently she had slipped on the wet floor and fallen awkwardly, hurting her foot and ankle, they had reported the accident to the staff who were disinterested, at first they offered ice for her ankle and then changed their minds saying that the machine was broken, I don't think it was but they possibly they thought that offering ice was tantamount to accepting liability. There was no offer to call a first aider but a wet floor sign did appear pretty damn quick!!
Sophie had to leave for the airport with Helen and Stu, so we all said our goodbyes and arranged to meet Helen and stu again at 5pm.
It was pointless everyone hanging around, so I stayed with Nic whilst Nick went in search of a first aider and a wheelchair and the rest made their way over to Jurrasic Park with instructions to wait until the last minute before they used their express passes.
The first aider duly appeared with a woman from guest relations, she ummed and ahhed but basicly left it up to us to decide whether or not we wanted Xrays. Nic decided to see how she felt later, they gave her an ice pack and a couple of pain killers and that was it. The lady from guest relations went off in search of a wheelchair and Nick stayed with Nic whilst I went to tell the others what was happening.
Jurassic Park was the furthest point away whichever way you travelled and I arrived as our express passes were reaching the end of their time span, we nipped on the ride and I brought the others up to speed with what was happening. Kitty was the only one to get wet on this ride....just as well I had only just dried out
Nick and Nicola were waiting when we emerged and although we offerred to wait whilst they did the ride neither of them were really that bothered. ( Nic had been give some express passes for the wheel chair and 3 guests)
In the kindest possible way everyone took the mickey and Nick and Nicola were nicknamed Brian and Barbara Potter...charaters I understand from "Little Britain" ( I never watch it!)
Next it was on to duelling dragons, where unless you wanted to queue for the first row, you could walk straight on. We rode first Ice then Fire...Kitty sat it out for he second ride and kept Nic company.
Nat and Nic fancied the flying Unicorn, we queued 25 mins for this 45 sec ride and the most fun we had was in the line when we kept telling Nic that she would be tied on the platform on the back in her wheel chair. The platform actually made a bridge to push wheelchairs and strollers from one side to the other.
It was time now to wander back and meet Helen and Stu who were waiting for us as planned. The girls wanted to ride Cat in the hat but I stayed off with the boys as it is another of those spinny rides.
Just for a laugh, the girls and James rode the Caro seuss el and although Nat would have liked to do One fish two fish we drew the line at waiting 40 mins.
Helen, Stu, Jonathon, Nick, Nic and Kitty all wanted to do Spiderman again which they managed to do quite quickly using the single riders queue, whilst Nic and Nick used their special express passes.
Kitty,Jonathon and Nick wanted to do Dr Doom as they had not done it yet, but following this we decided we were all theme parked out and headed off in search of food.
Much to Nats delight..as she had never been.... we ended up at Hard Rock. with our wheel chair guest we had to split in to 2 parties and as David and I both have annual passes for discount, I went with Nick, Nic and Helen whilst the others went upstairs. The food was good but we had very poor service, Helen and Nick both having alcoholic drinks waited nearly 40 mins for a drink and we had finished our starters long before they arrived, the others were seated a while after us but finished long before us, needless to say the tip was poor
So that was it, today we had lost one member of our party and disabled another.
What would tommrrow bring? |
Liz
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Curly Wurly
 United Kingdom
258 Posts
Joined: 11 Apr 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 12 Apr 2005 : 15:08:48
| Another great report liz. I can just picture IOA in my head now..... can't wait till august.
sorry to hear about nics accident though, hope it didnt spoil the rest of the holiday |
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caroline
 United Kingdom
6501 Posts
Joined: 29 Apr 2002
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LiesaAnna
 United Kingdom
11926 Posts
Joined: 04 Sep 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 12 Apr 2005 : 15:29:47
| well done Liz again brilliant!!!!!!!!
i love hearing the way you tell em (if you get me drift?) hows Nics ankle? take it, nothing broken?
please dont make us wait for to long for the next part! but then i dont want you to hurry as its so good i dont want it to end!!!!!!!!
Thanx Liz! |
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E. Cosgrove
United Kingdom
5932 Posts
Joined: 26 Apr 2004
Status: offline | |
Ray&Sarah
United Kingdom
10599 Posts
Joined: 11 Nov 2003
Status: offline | Posted - 12 Apr 2005 : 21:04:51
| quote:
Originally posted by E. Cosgrove
Already done!!quote:
Originally posted by Ray&Sarah
Another fantastic report Liz, waiting excitedly for the next instalment.
Just read it too, great job. |
Sarah
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The Hobgrove's hit Orlando! Part 7
Must catch up on the bits I have missed