Our last full day of what feels like the 17th trip report on the bounce. I have writer’s fatigue so I can’t imagine what you are going through. Probably because today didn’t involve Magic Kingdom, there didn’t seem to be as much emotion attached to it. It’s funny how the different parks affect you.
We decided on a hearty breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant, relaxed in the knowledge that our Front of Line would see us right no matter what time we strolled into the park.
There was about a fifteen-minute wait for a table and we all chose to have the buffet. No surprise there. We all made numerous visits and as buffets go it was nothing spectacular but is there such a thing as a bad buffet?
The servers must love it as they basically give you some spiel, point you at food, and then get a tip for topping up your coffee. The bill was $200 and it took longer than I would have liked for the server to reappear and sort the bill so he lost a percentage point or two.
We went directly to the water taxi and headed out to IOA. It was 11.30 by now.
An ECV and a stroller were secured before we made our way in. I also had to buy a new can of sun tan spray which to me was ridiculous with one day to go but apparently, skin cancer doesn’t know that so there goes another $20.
The first ride of the day was Spiderman…
but I had a pressing appointment with stall 3 so I left everyone else to it. With both things completed, I then took Freddie on again so Rebecca and Tom could ride the Hulk which was still above Freddie’s ever-increasing height.
Whilst we waited for them to return we got Freddie’s face painted.
Next, we rode Cat In The Hat in another “Where has the last 20 years gone” moment as it was only last week were taking the girls on this at a similar age to Freddie.
Then we walked all the way over to the Potter stuff. We all rode the ride in Hogwarts (why can I never remember what it’s called?).
I say all, of course, Dougie could not and Mum sat out with him.
We left the ride, happily avoiding the locker carnage having left Mum to mind every bag, and got some butter beers.
It was really, really busy in this part of the park as it always seems to be, and whilst Tom spent a fortune on a wand for Freddie.
The excessive heat and the crowds got a bit much for Rebecca at this point and she had a bit of a wobble and we just needed to get out of there. It was so crowded that Mum insisted I rode her ECV out as it was almost impossible not to mow folks down. We were very glad to emerge out into the seemingly fresh air of the “normal” park.
We made our way over to Velocicoaster and I was delighted to see that you could now use Express passes on it. There was no such delight at the remaining complexity of using lockers. It’s just all a bit stressful with staff shouting instructions at you as you try not to hold anyone else up.
I had a mild panic when I realised I had left my park ticket in my bumbag, now sat with Mum outside, and wondered how I would use a locker without it. Luckily, the Express Pass I was clutching worked too.
We still waited 30 minutes to ride but by Jingo it is worth it. It was Louise’s first time on it and she entertained the park guests and no doubt the staff watching the CCTV with her boobs falling out of her top halfway round with no way to put them back in until the ride ended.
Jurassic Park next and it was an uneventful affair until the wet drop at the end. Freddie was in tears, not due to any fear but because the water had ruined his face paint! He was consoled and wiped clean before we moved on to Kong. Mum, Louise and Dougie sat out in the hot sun like mad folks. The ride was more violent than I remembered, more in terms of the video footage of folks being eaten and Freddie seemed a little taken aback.
As we left someone close by described it as Fast and Furious in the jungle and ruined the ride forever, as F&F is the worst ride ever to exist.
Tom and Freddie invested in ponchos and decided to do the water rides. Everyone else declined/chickened out and sat on a bench with a drink instead. The prospect of sitting all moist in a restaurant in a bit was a deterrent enough.
The boys returned a little more than moist having had a lot of fun and by then it was time to head out to City Walk as we had a reservation at Cowfish.
We checked in and sat on the only available bench in the scorching sunshine.
We were seated bang on our reservation time upstairs on the top floor.
I cannot express to you how bloody cold it was in this restaurant. It came close to ruining the whole experience. At one point I was sat with napkins covering my arms to try and fight off hypothermia.
Food-wise, we had appetisers of Fried Pickles and Loaded Truffle Fries.
Shakes for some, which was foolish in that temperature.
Freddie had Tenders…
Tom had a double Elvis Has Left The Building Burger and I had the single version.
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Louise had Cheeseburgerooshi
Mum had a Longhorn burger
Rebecca had whatever this was. You can see Mum here trying to get warm with napkins.
The bill was $268 including tip, and the food was glorious. I would have paid double to have the heating on.
After the meal, some shopping happened for gifts etc whilst Tom took Freddie back into the parks for the last rides before home. Once we had finished shopping we sat enjoying the evening warmth for a bit waiting for the boys to return.
Rebecca had removed her trainers to rest her feet and saw a spider walking across one of them. She lovingly threw it at Louise, knowing her mortal fear of spiders and Louise panicked and threw the trainer away, hitting a poor lady who sat not too far away. Louise spent almost as long apologising as Rebecca did laughing.
With no sign of Tom and Freddie, Rebecca said she would walk Dougie in his stroller towards the parks to get him to sleep and the rest of us got the taxi back to the hotel. There was a lengthy wait to do so but we were all tucked up in bed by 10pm.
Till the next time….
Mkingdon's Blog 