DAY 15 - WEDS 30th SEPT
Up at 8:30.
We decide on a relaxing day at Blizzard Beach before
meeting Ronnie and her family in Epcot tonight.
Breakfast is at the food court. The food here is OK but
not brilliant, it is more convenience eating than cordon
bleu.
We arrive at Blizzard Beach at 10:15 and station
ourselves beside the main pool area.
India and I go up on the chair lift while Tammy walks up
with Georgia. Once again we do the family raft ride and
then over to Runoff Rapids before we return to base camp
as Georgia is not feeling too well.
She has a nice long sleep to recharge her batteries while
India takes turns with Tammy and I to do some other
slides.
Me and India have a great time on the Toboggan Racers,
which I, of course, win, due to my skill and dexterity.
Or was it because I pushed off a bit earlier than the
rest of the racers?
We also try the Snowstormers which is OK but not as good
as the Toboggan thing.
India has a lot of fun messing about in the wave pool.
We obviously do not have enough time to do Summit Plummet
or I would have done it. Honest!
On previous trips I have preferred Typhoon Lagoon because
I think it is better themed and more relaxing. I think it
probably just about still gets my vote but we have spent
much more time at Blizzard Beach on this visit and I must
admit that the slides are probably better here.
I also think that Disney learned a few lessons with their
first big water park and that some improvements were
implemented when they opened Blizzard Beach.
The most obvious one is that you do not have to roll your
raft to the top for the family ride, which is also longer
and more thrilling than at Typhoon Lagoon.
The children's areas are also much better, with older
children catered for in the Ski Patrol Training Camp.
Anyway, after a shower back at the hotel we are on our
way to Epcot at 4:30.
We go straight on to Spaceship Earth for one last time.
Tammy likes the end of this better now, with the
twinkling light effects illustrating global
communication.
It is raining as we leave and we try to dodge the showers
as we head for the boat to Germany.
I cannot really moan about the weather, this is the first
rain that we have seen for a few days. I have read trip
reports from about the same time, that some people
thought it was hot for the time of the year. Well, after
the first week that we had, you will find no complaints
from me on that score, we were just pleased to see the
sunshine.
We walk from the boat to the American Pavilion as we
intend to do the American Adventure. Unfortunately the
next show is at 6:20 and we are due to meet Ronnie at
6:30, so we have to give it a miss.
If it comes to a choice between Ronnie and the American
Adventure, Ronnie wins every time.
As we have a while left, I do what I normally do when
confronted with minor disappointments. Have a beer.
We walk to Japan for the girls to get their passports
stamped and listen to the drummers for a while. Tammy
says she has butterflies in her stomach because we are
meeting Ronnie for the first time, I have to give her
some of my beer to settle her down. Man hath no greater
love.
Even though we have seen quite a lot of World Showcase, I
wish we had spent longer here. Sigh, it seems like two
weeks is just not long enough to do everything anymore.
Wait a minute, I have the solution. Three weeks next
time! I knew the answer would come if I drank enough
beer.
Back to Germany to meet with Ronnie.
We make our introductions and exchange gifts. I am now an
honorary Atlanta Braves fan. Just in case you don't know
Ronnie's family are husband Mike (top man, likes sport
and not adverse to a beer), her daughter Jill (a pretty,
fun little girl) and her mum (also named Ronnie and just
as fun-loving as her daughter).
We have a table booked in the Biergarten right by the
stage, which makes conversation difficult when the band
are going full blast. They are good fun but I am quite
pleased when they take a break so we can have a chat.
The food is not bad, all-you-can-eat buffet with beef,
chicken, German sausage etc. I must admit that I did not
notice the food too much as I was too busy talking,
however the glass of red wine and Beck's beer were
excellent.
We chat about what we have done and what Ronnie is going
to do and I give my thoughts on the Animal Kingdom, which
you are all probably bored silly with by now.
OK, what do you imagine Ronnie to be like?
Happy? Friendly? Full of fun? Bright? Witty? Let me tell
you she is all of these things and more. She makes us
feel completely at ease very quickly. We could not have
had a more wonderful end to a wonderful holiday than to
have spent our last evening with Ronnie and her family.
Poor Georgia is still not feeling any better and has
nothing to eat, she either sits in her stroller or on
Tammy's lap. It is a real pity as I am sure she would
have had great fun running around with India and Jill.
After eating we walk around World Showcase as it rains on
and off, Mike and I having a beer or two on the way and
discussing one of the things that bonds men together the
world over. Sport. It doesn't even matter that the sports
are different. Mike is a baseball fan and I like
football. (er.. soccer). Sport is sport.
We end up in the UK (obviously) to watch Illuminations
and have a proper pint of beer.
India and Jill get on marvellously. India is still
frightened of the fireworks and spends much of the time
running in and out of the restroom with Jill, who I think
is pretending to be frightened to make India feel better.
After Illuminations Georgia starts crying, so it is time
to make our way home. As we pass Spaceship Earth I have
to pause for a minute to look up and say farewell for
another holiday. And of course a fond last gaze at 'our
fountain'.
We all return to the All Star Music and say our goodbyes.
The only problem with the whole evening is that it has
just been too short. Let me advise you that if you have a
chance to meet Ronnie, then take it. You will not regret
it.
Georgia goes to bed but India asks if she can go for one
last swim. I agree to take her and lie on a sunbed (is it
a moonbed at night?) while she splashes around.
Bed at 11:30.
