Kevin Stringer
Chat Host
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2000
Here we go again. A brief introduction to the happy band of wanderers for all of those that don't know us.
Me, Kev. 42. Handsome, articulate, staggeringly clever and really just all round wonderful. No, really I am.
Tam, my wife. 36. Trying to belie the ravages of time and not doing a bad job. Of course, compared to me she struggles, but then again who wouldn't. Stop that s******ing now!
India, daughter. 9. Top Disney fan and all round good girl. (Most of the time).
Georgia, daughter. 6. Will become 7 while on holiday. Getting a sunnier disposition the older she gets.
If you want to know more about this wonderful family, (and let's face it who wouldn't?) check out our previous trip on my web site at <A HREF="http://freespace.virgin.net/kevin.stringer/index.htm" TARGET="_blank">http://freespace.virgin.net/kevin.stringer/index.htm</A>
DAY 16 THURS. 26th OCT.
We wake up at 8:15. Oh no! This is our last full day so we had better get a move on. By a miracle we have eaten, got ready and are out the door by 9:00. We walk across to Epcot on a lovely sunny morning and enter through the International Gateway. It is a pleasant start to the day strolling through World Showcase almost alone.
We head for Journey Into Your Imagination and are the only people in the building. There have been no changes since we rode in January, still too many dark areas.
Into Honey I Shrunk The Audience. Tammy enjoys the True Colours pre-show as usual. I can't understand how old Wayne Szlinski (sp?) keeps winning the Inventor of the Year when all his creations seem to go wrong.
Over at the Land we do the boat ride which is always interesting, you always seem to find something that you have never seen before. This time it is 9 lb lemons. As she likes this ride so much I am trying to persuade Tam to work in the labs here while I drive monorails all day.
The girls then get taught how to make Toll House Cookies. This seems a good idea at the time but, after they have been given a chefs hat with their name on it, we wait for nearly half an hour while enough children are rounded up to complete the group. Not the best use of our time on our last day. In the end it takes about þ of an hour for the whole thing. At the end they get given a Mickey Mouse shaped cookie that must be nearly an inch thick and crammed full of chocolate chips. It tastes divine. Unfortunately it tastes so good that the children only let us have a little bit. (Mutter, mutter, selfish little pigs, mutter.)
Tam and I have to console ourselves with a Fajita Chicken Baked Potato which is very good. Tam decides that þ of an hour is a small price to pay for a cookie of this quality. She would probably camp out overnight to ensure she got a free cookie.
On to Spaceship Earth again. We have to ride this at least twice every trip.
As we exit we see the Art of Disney opposite. We are after the Animal kingdom Poster so in we go. We end up buying both this and a poster of Pooh and Piglet fishing by a pond. This is the old style classic drawing prior to Disneyfication and is very pretty. Both of these will be hung in our newly decorated bedroom.
Round to Test Track where we pick up Fast Passes for a 4:30 - 5:30 return before moving on to Norway to ride Maelstrom. Another short but sweet ride. After this we decide to leave the park so the girls can have a final swim. On the way out both India and Georgia get a Kaki-Gori, which has become a firm favourite with them.
Back to the main pool which is a bit crowded so we end up in the quiet pool. This always seems to lovely and relaxing with only about a dozen people about.
With typical timing we start up a conversation with a couple from Wales just as they are getting ready to go to the airport. So, if by any chance you get to read this Debbie, I hope you had a good trip home and enjoy your holiday next year. They are at the Boardwalk using their DVC membership for the first time the same as us and wished that they had joined earlier. there you go all you potential new DVC members, take the plunge.
After showers we return to Epcot at 4:45 and head straight to Test Track to use our Fast Passes. This is one occasion when Fast is not the word to describe this Pass as oit takes us 40 minutes to get on the ride. I think that the regular technical difficulties experienced at this attraction tend to mess up the Fast Pass system somewhat.
As we make our way across to watch the 6:00 Off Kilter show it starts to rain quite heavily. Out come the brollies for the first time. Tammy reckons you can tell the Brits because they all have brollies as well as a resigned expression on their faces. luckily the rain only lasts for 10 minutes.
Off Kilter is cancelled so a couple of beers (Labatts Blue Lite) is followed by fish and chips from the UK, excellent as usual. We walk on round to Morocco and have the Lamb Kabsa again as everyone enjoyed it so much last time. A cherry and apple funnel cake as dessert and we are all full and happy.
As this is our last night we decide to find a good place to watch Reflections of Earth and sit by the fence just before the stave church in Norway as it gave us such a great view on Tuesday. The other advantage of this spot is that you are close to the parade route for Tapestry of Nations and so get a fine view of that as well.
As we are waiting for the parade we get talking to a lady from Canada called Ingrid who has two little girls as well. we pass the time discussing all things Disney. Strange how we have talked to practically no one for the whole of the holiday and then on the last day we get into conversation with two different people. Must be the Disney gods ensuring that we are aware of the lovely folk that come to WDW in order to facilitate our swift return.
Reflections of Earth is stunning as usual, one day my face will fix in a permanent grin after this show as I just can't stop smiling as I watch. One thing that I notice is that they turn off the lights on top of the Swan and Dolphin to ensure that you can see only darkness at the start of the show. Just another small Disney touch.
5 minutes after the show finishes another firework display begins somewhere over by the Boardwalk. We had noticed tables being set up on the beach in front of the Yacht and Beach Club earlier on and so presume it is coming from there.
We walk back towards the fountain to watch one last time as it is so beautiful at night. When this finishes it is finally time to walk back to the International Gateway.
We get the boat back and as we step onto the dock at the Boardwalk another firework display begins in the Magic Kingdom area. this one is absolutely huge. I think perhaps it may be the American Pyrotechnics Association convention as I recall reading somewhere that it was going to be sometime around now. Whatever it is, it's certainly spectacular and just seems to go on and on. not bad for our last night, 3 firework displays. India says she thinks that it has been especially put on by Disney to tempt us back again next year. No problem there then.
After a slice of pizza from Spoodles and a cake from Seashore Sweets it is time to return to the room. we do so as slowly as possible, stealing last looks across the Boardwalk as we go.
Another wonderful trip finished apart from the boring flight home.
Regards
Kevin Stringer
Me, Kev. 42. Handsome, articulate, staggeringly clever and really just all round wonderful. No, really I am.
Tam, my wife. 36. Trying to belie the ravages of time and not doing a bad job. Of course, compared to me she struggles, but then again who wouldn't. Stop that s******ing now!
India, daughter. 9. Top Disney fan and all round good girl. (Most of the time).
Georgia, daughter. 6. Will become 7 while on holiday. Getting a sunnier disposition the older she gets.
If you want to know more about this wonderful family, (and let's face it who wouldn't?) check out our previous trip on my web site at <A HREF="http://freespace.virgin.net/kevin.stringer/index.htm" TARGET="_blank">http://freespace.virgin.net/kevin.stringer/index.htm</A>
DAY 16 THURS. 26th OCT.
We wake up at 8:15. Oh no! This is our last full day so we had better get a move on. By a miracle we have eaten, got ready and are out the door by 9:00. We walk across to Epcot on a lovely sunny morning and enter through the International Gateway. It is a pleasant start to the day strolling through World Showcase almost alone.
We head for Journey Into Your Imagination and are the only people in the building. There have been no changes since we rode in January, still too many dark areas.
Into Honey I Shrunk The Audience. Tammy enjoys the True Colours pre-show as usual. I can't understand how old Wayne Szlinski (sp?) keeps winning the Inventor of the Year when all his creations seem to go wrong.
Over at the Land we do the boat ride which is always interesting, you always seem to find something that you have never seen before. This time it is 9 lb lemons. As she likes this ride so much I am trying to persuade Tam to work in the labs here while I drive monorails all day.
The girls then get taught how to make Toll House Cookies. This seems a good idea at the time but, after they have been given a chefs hat with their name on it, we wait for nearly half an hour while enough children are rounded up to complete the group. Not the best use of our time on our last day. In the end it takes about þ of an hour for the whole thing. At the end they get given a Mickey Mouse shaped cookie that must be nearly an inch thick and crammed full of chocolate chips. It tastes divine. Unfortunately it tastes so good that the children only let us have a little bit. (Mutter, mutter, selfish little pigs, mutter.)
Tam and I have to console ourselves with a Fajita Chicken Baked Potato which is very good. Tam decides that þ of an hour is a small price to pay for a cookie of this quality. She would probably camp out overnight to ensure she got a free cookie.
On to Spaceship Earth again. We have to ride this at least twice every trip.
As we exit we see the Art of Disney opposite. We are after the Animal kingdom Poster so in we go. We end up buying both this and a poster of Pooh and Piglet fishing by a pond. This is the old style classic drawing prior to Disneyfication and is very pretty. Both of these will be hung in our newly decorated bedroom.
Round to Test Track where we pick up Fast Passes for a 4:30 - 5:30 return before moving on to Norway to ride Maelstrom. Another short but sweet ride. After this we decide to leave the park so the girls can have a final swim. On the way out both India and Georgia get a Kaki-Gori, which has become a firm favourite with them.
Back to the main pool which is a bit crowded so we end up in the quiet pool. This always seems to lovely and relaxing with only about a dozen people about.
With typical timing we start up a conversation with a couple from Wales just as they are getting ready to go to the airport. So, if by any chance you get to read this Debbie, I hope you had a good trip home and enjoy your holiday next year. They are at the Boardwalk using their DVC membership for the first time the same as us and wished that they had joined earlier. there you go all you potential new DVC members, take the plunge.
After showers we return to Epcot at 4:45 and head straight to Test Track to use our Fast Passes. This is one occasion when Fast is not the word to describe this Pass as oit takes us 40 minutes to get on the ride. I think that the regular technical difficulties experienced at this attraction tend to mess up the Fast Pass system somewhat.
As we make our way across to watch the 6:00 Off Kilter show it starts to rain quite heavily. Out come the brollies for the first time. Tammy reckons you can tell the Brits because they all have brollies as well as a resigned expression on their faces. luckily the rain only lasts for 10 minutes.
Off Kilter is cancelled so a couple of beers (Labatts Blue Lite) is followed by fish and chips from the UK, excellent as usual. We walk on round to Morocco and have the Lamb Kabsa again as everyone enjoyed it so much last time. A cherry and apple funnel cake as dessert and we are all full and happy.
As this is our last night we decide to find a good place to watch Reflections of Earth and sit by the fence just before the stave church in Norway as it gave us such a great view on Tuesday. The other advantage of this spot is that you are close to the parade route for Tapestry of Nations and so get a fine view of that as well.
As we are waiting for the parade we get talking to a lady from Canada called Ingrid who has two little girls as well. we pass the time discussing all things Disney. Strange how we have talked to practically no one for the whole of the holiday and then on the last day we get into conversation with two different people. Must be the Disney gods ensuring that we are aware of the lovely folk that come to WDW in order to facilitate our swift return.
Reflections of Earth is stunning as usual, one day my face will fix in a permanent grin after this show as I just can't stop smiling as I watch. One thing that I notice is that they turn off the lights on top of the Swan and Dolphin to ensure that you can see only darkness at the start of the show. Just another small Disney touch.
5 minutes after the show finishes another firework display begins somewhere over by the Boardwalk. We had noticed tables being set up on the beach in front of the Yacht and Beach Club earlier on and so presume it is coming from there.
We walk back towards the fountain to watch one last time as it is so beautiful at night. When this finishes it is finally time to walk back to the International Gateway.
We get the boat back and as we step onto the dock at the Boardwalk another firework display begins in the Magic Kingdom area. this one is absolutely huge. I think perhaps it may be the American Pyrotechnics Association convention as I recall reading somewhere that it was going to be sometime around now. Whatever it is, it's certainly spectacular and just seems to go on and on. not bad for our last night, 3 firework displays. India says she thinks that it has been especially put on by Disney to tempt us back again next year. No problem there then.
After a slice of pizza from Spoodles and a cake from Seashore Sweets it is time to return to the room. we do so as slowly as possible, stealing last looks across the Boardwalk as we go.
Another wonderful trip finished apart from the boring flight home.
Regards
Kevin Stringer
