DAY 10 - FRI 25th SEPT
We allow the girls to
sleep in until 8:30.
Breakfast in the room and then a debate about what we are
going to do. We are undecided as the weather forecast
calls for heavy thunderstorms and wind - chance of rain
100%, but the morning looks not too bad so we decide to
go to Disney MGM Studios.
Before we leave the
resort I think that I had better check with Guest
Relations about Rock n Rockets. Imagine my surprise when
I am told that it has been cancelled.
This is a real let down. What is annoying is that, had I
not bothered to check then we would have turned up
expecting it to be on. No one from Disney contacted us to
inform us that it was cancelled. I know they could have
left a message on the phone easily enough as we had a
message a day or two before telling us that the shop at
the resort was to close 2 hours early. They should surely
have let their guests know that a major ticketed event
was not to be held.
I actually agree that safety comes first and that if
there was any doubt about the weather, then they were
correct to call it off but I am angry that no one
bothered to tell us. I wonder how many people arrived at
the site expecting it still to be on.
OK, this is not going to spoil our day. All we are going
to miss is a few fireworks, there are many people who
have lost their homes or even their lives due to
Hurricane Georges.
This is the day that Georges hit the Keys so we feared
the worst but, as you will see, this turned out to be
just about the best day of the holiday to date weather
wise. The sun came out once or twice and the breeze kept
the temperature down. We had one downpour only that
lasted less than 10 mins. It just goes to show the
unpredictability of the Florida weather.
At the Studios: We are going to try to do most of the
things we have not done yet and one or two that we want
to do again. The Mulan parade has already been cancelled
due to the predicted bad weather.
We started with the Backlot Tour which has changed from
the last time I did it, it is now in 2 parts. Catastrophe
Canyon is still impressive and neither of the girls is
really scared.
On to the Saturday Morning Sound Show. This is one of the
few changes that I do not like. The old Monster Sound
Show with Martin Short was more fun and informative. The
101 Dalmatian show is too quick and does not make much
sense. Also the lady that is on the stage must be after
the record for getting through this show as fast as
possible. She talks so quickly that it is a job to
understand her, let alone take on board what she is
saying.
Superstar TV has not changed much but is good to watch as
it is different every time you see it dependent on the
people picked. India enjoys this a lot and tries to get
me to volunteer for everything. Likes to see her father
squirm with embarrassment, I think.
By the way, it is the same lady that was doing the Sound
Show, they must rotate between attractions. She seems
better in this.
We return to the Hunchback of Notre Dame Show for the
second time and are in better seats about 5 rows from the
front, in the centre.
Randy the Juggler is on and is very entertaining, he is
even more fun when things go wrong.
The Hunchback Show is even better second time round. If
you ain't seen it yet, DO.
Over to Beauty and the Beast in order to watch at a more
leisurely pace for the girls. We get the doves at the end
this time, they were missing the first time we saw it.
This Gaston does not seem manly enough to me, lets face
it the Beast would wipe the floor with him in a real dust
up. Heck, I think Tammy could give him a good run for his
money.
I am going to the Tower of Terror and India decides she
will ride it. More guts than her mother, who chickens out
again.
This is the first time I have ridden it with 2 drops and
it is great fun especially the way you seem to hang at
the top of the second drop. India is very brave and
really enjoys it. This girl will ride Tower of Terror and
Splash Mountain but doesn't want to do the Great Movie
Ride again because of the gun fire!
We have a late lunch at 3:30 in the Hollywood Brown
Derby.
Tammy and I share a Cobb Salad with chicken and a NY
Strip Sirloin. I had to have the Cobb Salad as I have
read so much about it. I'm glad I tried it but I don't
think I would have it again, you have to like blue cheese
to enjoy this.
The steak was fine and we split a Chocolate Pecan Bar for
dessert, which is very good. The girls share a child's
meal and the whole thing only costs $50 including drinks
and tip.
Oh yes, the place is very nearly deserted.
The whole park has been quiet all day, I suppose many
people stayed away anticipating bad weather.
The Magic of Disney Animation has also changed from the
last time and the part where you meet a Disney artist is
very informative. One thing that I learned is that they
no longer colour cells by hand, it's all done with
computer.
The film of classic Disney clips that they show at the
end of this tour always brings a lump to my throat.
One of my favourite shops in WDW is the Animation
Gallery. If I ever win the lottery I will have one room
in my house dedicated to Disney and filled with beautiful
statues, paintings and models from here and the Art of
Disney store.
We can't make up our minds whether to do the Backstage
Pass tour or not. In the end we do and I am very glad as
we all really thought this was excellent. The little
puppies they created for 101 Dalmatians are so lifelike
Tammy wants to take one home.
There is a production on one of the soundstages called
'Mortal Kombat Conquest'. This must be a genteel period
piece along the lines of Pride and Prejudice, I presume.
They end the tour with some of the props from 101
Dalmatians and this is great. The DeVil Mansion is
amazing and we spend a little while looking around here
when everyone else is gone.
Tammy runs over to Star Tours to get one last ride for
India as the park is closing, while Georgia and I take a
more leisurely stroll.
We had not intended to stay all day but had such fun that
we couldn't leave.
The girls still seemed raring to go and it is such a nice
evening that we head over to Epcot.
Straight to Mexico to ride the River of Time. This could
have been such a good ride had they put in some audio
animatronics instead of the cheesy films. It is still
quite fun though, the fireworks at the end are a nice
effect.
The girls buy the World Passports and get them stamped.
This is something I would advise anyone with young
children to do. Ours had great fun getting their books
stamped and doing little things at the activity stops.
On to Norway. Maelstrom is still fun but I'm sure the oil
rig section used to be darker and louder. Nearly everyone
walks straight through the film as it is getting close to
Illuminations. It must be very disheartening being a CM
there.
The girls get their passports stamped and a make a little
bracelet.
Outside we stop at the bakery for an open beef sandwich
for me and rice cream for Tammy. She has been on about
this all trip, having read about it on RADP. This has the
requisite number of calories to qualify for the Tammy
Stringer 'Mmm.. that's good' award.
I have acquired a Ringnes beer and we settle down to
watch Illuminations half way between Norway and Mexico.
It is better without so much smoke but is still
disjointed and unless you see one of the water screens
square on, you miss a lot of the laser effects.
This time India manages to watch it all, albeit crouched
with her fingers in her ears, but Georgia cries. I think
they have a sort of pact, only one happy child allowed
during the showing of Illuminations.
To be fair Georgia is very tired by this time, so........
Back to shower and bed.
After being disappointed at missing Rock n Rockets this
turned into an amazing, fun Disney Day.
