After an early night we are all up and about by 7.00 a.m. and with the TV weatherman predicting storms and heavy rain by lunch-time we decide to make an early start. We grab a quick McDonalds bagel (why don't we have these in England?) and are at the gates to Animal Kingdom by about 9.00 a.m.
I have heard mixed reports about this park but I have to say we are all pleasantly surprised. The Disney obsession with detail is obvious throughout the park and the central Tree of Life is truly fantastic. We seem to stroll for miles, enjoying the wildlife before Kim and I head for the Kali River Rapids ride where we get a just a little wet! Not a problem in this heat though. This particular ride is okay but not as good as other similar rides at Busch and Islands of Adventure.
For lunch we each have a grilled chicken sandwich and drinks ($39) before visiting 'Africa' and taking the safari which was a great way to see lots of fabulous animals in a very natural environment. By 4.00 p.m. the forecasted storms have still not arrived and we head over to Dinoland where Kim and I queue for the Primeval Whirl Rollercoaster. I should just mention at this point that I have been suffering with a very stiff and sore neck since before leaving England but half way through the ride, I hear a massive and alarming crunch from my neck, I step of the ride at the end to find that the stiffness in my neck has completely and instantly disappeared! Wow that is Disney magic. Mum and Kim then insist on riding the Triceratop Spin which is a classic childrens ride! We round off out visit to Dinoland with a ride on Dinosaur, a dark ride through time before heading for the exit and a short drive home.
For dinner we visit one of our favourite restaurants, Wild Jack's Steak and BBQ. Big steaks and even bigger cocktails cost us $128 including tip which seems quite expensive. Half way through the meal the fire alarm goes off and Kim gets all hot and sweaty when a fire truck full of Orlandos finest turn up outside. Back to the Enclave for a few beers and we are in bed by 11.00 p.m.
Day 2 - Seaworld
Another beautiful morning reminds us why we love this place so much. DM was going to have a bath this morning but the mixer tap is stuck in shower mode. I suggest that the rest of us spend the day at Seaworld while she waits for the bath to fill from the showerhead!! But she politely refuses my kind offer and we report the problem to maintenance instead. The Ponderosa restaurant is just around the corner from the Enclave, so we enjoy an all you can eat breakfast buffet which includes Bacon, sausages, eggs, pancakes, Jelly, Ice cream and several unrecognisable but tasty items for just $3.99 each before heading off to Seaworld by 9.30 a.m.
We exchange our prepaid TCD voucher for four Flex tickets without any problem and then queue for a little while due to increased security and bag check, then we are in the park under an already hot sun. Seaworld is busier than I have ever seen it but we visit our familiar favourites starting with feeding the rays and a trip around the dolphin pool where a curious Dolphin comes high out of the water in an attempt to steal my camera. We laugh at the thought of a Dolphin taking snaps of the onlookers in the underwater viewing area. Next we move on to the most amazing and gentle creatures on earth, the Manatees. We could watch these amazing creatures for hours especially as some fool has just dropped a cap into the lagoon and one of the Manatees spends five minutes happily chewing on it before it can be fished out and returned in tatters to its owner!
Next up is the dolphin show which is filled to capacity. Once again we enjoy an amazing display by these fantastic mammals and their trainers. By now it is as hot as any day I have experienced and Dad is feeling a little weary. Kim and I head for Atlantis and a 45 minute queue while the oldies take a rest in the shade. After riding Atlantis we stroll down to the recently created and very colourful Waterfront area and enjoy a tasty lunch at the Seafire Grill ($30). We are entertained as we eat by a couple of singing piano players who display great skill at performing just about any request the audience can throw at them.
Time is flying by now and we check out a few gift shops where I buy a much needed pair of sunglasses, though I am disappointed with the current designs of Seaworld T-shirts on offer, so I settle on a souvenir Manatee mug ($6.99) and we head across the lake to find a decent seat in the Shamu stadium for the upcoming show which now includes the park's latest baby whale. I don't know what it is about this show and the dolphin show but no matter how many times we see these magnificent creatures, they still leave us with a lump in the throat and little misty eyed. After Shamu we proceed directly to Clyde and Seymour take Pirate Island, though this show really hasn't changed at all for several years and has always lacked a decent script. God I sound like a Luvee theatre critic but I always think that hotel Clyde and Seymour was better (For those of you with longer memories) Next up is the Shark Encounter which is always an enjoyable experience and more importantly it is air-conditioned. By now it is 4.30 and the sun is beating down relentlessly, even some of the park staff appear to be wilting in the heat and I apply yet another application of factor 20 to my exposed tootsies! We pay another visit to the gift shop to buy a gift for our neighbour who is kindly feeding the cats back home, after which we hang around at the Waterfront waiting for an appearance by the Groove Chefs, a bin bashing trio who entertain us for about 15 minutes with a display of drumming on old pans and buckets.
It is now 5.00 p.m. and with no let up in the heat we decided to show mercy on my Dad and call it a day, despite not having seen a number of displays or even ridden Kraken. Fortunately, we have Flex tickets so we will try and return later in the holiday. For anyone reading this who has yet to make a first visit to Florida, I can't recommend this beautiful park highly enough, it really is a must do attraction. For the first time ever I'm starting to realise why some people say It takes two days to see a Park, The American school Kids are on holiday and everywhere is much busier than during September when we normally visit the region.
After a long and tiring day we decide on a take-away from Pizza Hut which we enjoy with several glasses of beer and wine. During the day the Enclave maintenance guys have been in and completely replaced the shower head and tap in Mums bathroom. We must be adjusting to the time difference now as we managed to stay awake until gone 11.00 p.m. before collapsing into bed to dream of being a Seaworld trainer!.
Steve
Day 3 - Poinciana Stables - Horseworld
After a tiring day yesterday, we decide to give Mum and Dad a rest this morning so Kim and myself set off in search of Horseworld Riding stables, Im confident I know where it is and I assure Kim that the wrong turns are for sightseeing purposes!. As usual it is a hot sunny morning so we book the one hour nature trail and are soon gently trekking through the Florida forest on our trusty steeds, Mystery and Harley. Not much wildlife to be seen but we do spot a snake slithering through the undergrowth just a few feet away. I don’t know who decided that horses are suitable for sitting on, They are not, Ive also discovered why real Cowboys don’t wear shorts… Oooouch!
We last visited this place way back in 1993 and Kim is delighted to find that her horse from that visit is still there and is one of the oldest horses still working at over 30 years of age. The trail guide is even kind enough to bring 'Sweety' out for a reunion though somehow I don’t think Sweety remembered Kim as well as Kim remembered her! It's gone noon as we do our John Wayne walk back to the car and we stop off at McDonalds for a quick lunch and then head back to the Enclave to meet up with DM and DD. The plan now is to head for Epcot, but by the time I have been to organise the processing of my digital photos at a nearby store it is getting a little late so we abandon our Epcot plans in favour of a trip to the huge Wallmart on Sandlake Road where we magically spend around $200 on nothing much. Whilst inside we become aware of a loud roaring sound, which turns out to be heavy rain on the roof of the building. Fortunately, it lasts only ten minutes and we are all amused at walking across the Wallmart carpark through puddles of very hot water. We return to base with the groceries before a quick round of adventure golf during which Dad tries his usual collection of dirty tricks to prevent anyone beating him. Despite his best efforts I take the win from Mum then Dad with Kim a distant last and complaining loudly about the dubious tactics employed by my father. It is now 7.30 p.m. but still very hot and humid.
For dinner we decide to split up as Dad has a very limited taste in food, he even considers a cheeseburger to be a bit spicy! After a toss up between Chilis mexican restaurant and the Olive Garden, Kim and myself settle on a visit to our favourite Italian, the Olive Garden. For the first time ever it is within walking distance of the hotel, so we look forward to enjoying a bottle of cold white wine with our meal. We stroll along International Drive as far as Sandlake Road, then scratch our heads for a moment, we have been to this restaurant enough times to know where it is, so turn and back track until we come to a sad empty building with a For Sale sign on it. It's gone!!! Luckily it hasn’t gone far as they have opened up in a newer building further down International Drive, but as it is too far to walk to we switch to plan B and we head back to Chillies. Argh! The queue is out of the door and by now I am getting so hungry I attempt to eat an old flip-flop I find in the road, no good, not enough calories in Mouldy rubber and I am still hungry so we cross the road to TGI Fridays which is right opposite the Enclave Suites! Still, we have had a pleasant walk. We take a seat at the bar where our server takes our drinks order, one Bud and Pina Colada ($8.88). I get my Bud but five minutes pass and he has forgotten the Pina Colada. He does seem a bit preoccupied though as there are a bunch of guys on the TV with a bat and a ball and people are getting pretty excited about it. As for the food Kim opts for grilled garlic chicken and I choose a chicken and steak fajita combo. Both our meals are delicious and very reasonable at just $35 including drinks and tip. Mum and Dad don't have quite so much success as they return to Wild Jacks but the service is poor as is the food and the bill is exactly double ours at $70. Wild Jacks has always been a favourite of ours but it does seem to have gone down hill in both choice and standard and up hill in price since our last visit. As usual we are now all infected with Florida sleepy syndrome and retire to bed shortly after 11.00 p.m.
Steve
Dave