DAY 5 - SUN 20th SEPT
Up early again at
7:30.
Quick breakfast and on the bus to the Animal Kingdom.
The only problem is, as we get off the bus, it starts to
rain. It is grey, overcast and miserable. Tammy and I
look at each other. This is not how we want to see
Disney's new park.
A quick decision is taken and an about turn sees us
waiting for the bus to Epcot. As we wait we see the bus
for the Contemporary, so we hop on and get the monorail
from there.
Ask to ride in the front again but this time we are told
we cannot because they have just stopped allowing
passengers to ride with the driver due to bad weather! We
never did get to ride up front, ah well, something to be
top of the list on the next trip.
In Epcot we head for the Universe of Energy, basically
trying to hit all the things that mean we can spend a lot
of time inside.
I prefer this latest version with Ellen although it
probably wouldn't stand too many repeat visits. The
dinosaurs are fun as always and the girls cope well with
the noise and dark.
A quick hop to the Wonders of Life sees Tammy going on
Body Wars while the girls and I play around on the
interactive exhibits. Goofy is in attendance dressed as a
tennis player so photos and autographs follow. We intend
to have a photo with every character so that they can put
them into their autograph books to provide a long term
momento.
We have an early lunch of chicken caesar salad and waffle
with bananas and raspberry sauce then go into the Making
of Me. Tammy has already had a little talk with India so
we get no awkward questions but I learn a thing or two
and keep on at Tam for the rest of the day.
'But how do the tadpoles get to the egg, eh, Tam, eh?'
She says she will show me tonight. Does this mean we will
have to watch a film again?
Cranium Command is fun, as ever and has me shouting
'Shape up, Scuzzy' at the girls all day.
Tammy is hoping that the Odyssey restaurant will be open
as she harbours fond memories of coconut cream pie from a
trip 5 years ago. It seems a shame to see this building
not in use.
On to Horizons which is starting to look like it is in
need of a rehab before we seem to run out of steam in the
dreary conditions and decide to head back to the hotel.
Apparently the bad weather is caused by a tropical storm
out to the west and on top of that Hurricane Georges is
waiting out to the east. Trust our luck, plan a trip for
18 months and hit 2 storms in one go.
They say on the TV that Georges may be the worst
hurricane since Hugo and we were in Florida for that. If
you e-mail me I will tell you next time we have a trip
planned and you can avoid being there at the same time as
us, I think we must be a jinx.
You would think that we would be used to the rain coming
from the UK but the main problem in Florida is - how do
you dress for it? It is so hot outside that you can't
overdress and those ponchos make you sweat but if you
wear shorts and a t-shirt and get wet, the air
conditioned rides are uncomfortably cold.
Our poor maid must have suffered during our first week
having to clamber around drying shoes and socks.
Anyway back at the room we all have a nice rest before
showering and heading off to the Poly for our 7:30
Priority Seating at 'Ohanas.
We arrive early for a look around. We have been to the
Poly before but it seems nicer this time. The girls enjoy
looking around the waterfall and seeing the parrots and I
enjoy a beer.
We are shown to our table and seated after'Aloha's' to
one and all. Funny, I never knew I had so many cousins.
At this point I should mention that most of the meal
information comes from Tammy's trip notes. Mine says
something like 'Had nice meal' while Tammy goes into
chapter and verse about every course and every piece of
food. So here is what we had, courtesy of my greedy wife.
Tammy starts with a Parrot Cocktail made of amerretto and
cherry brandy amongst other things. It comes with a
little glass parrot mixing stick and one cocktail
umbrella. Oh dear, one of anything is bad news when you
have two daughters. I ask the waiter if we can have
another umbrella for daughter number two and he returns
with a cup full of them! Good man.
I stick with the beer, why change the habit of a
lifetime?
The all-you-can-eat menu begins with pork dumplings and
vegetable spring rolls. The dumplings are delicious but
we don't ask for more because we have seen what is to
come.
The main course is served on a lazy susan ( I am assured
by Tammy that this is the correct culinary term, looked
like a turntable to me) and comprises chicken baked in a
banana leaf, lightly smoked salmon, oak grilled turkey
breast, king prawns and mesquite grilled steak. The meats
are barbecued over a large flaming pit in the centre of
the restaurant and are brought to your table on long
skewers.
If this all sounds nice, let me tell you, it tasted
better. For dessert we have fresh pineapple covered in
caramel sauce.
During the meal the children are organised in a game
where they have to push a coconut around a pathway using
a broom. India takes part and has fun but Georgia is a
little too shy. She's not too shy to get some sweets that
all the children are given after the game though.
The only bad thing about the whole evening is that
Georgia had a child's meal of hot dog and fries but was
still charged $8.95, the same as if she had the full
menu. Oh well, you can't let little things like that
upset you when you are on holiday.
The whole meal costs $94 including tax and tip and a
couple of beers. It really is more of a dining experience
than just a meal and the girls go around saying 'Aloha'
for the next day or two.
We are finished by 9:00 so we wander down to the covered
dock (it is still raining) to watch the Electric Water
Pageant, which is nice to watch if you happen to be
around when it is on. I would not make a specific journey
to see it.
Our journey back is a bit long winded. We take the
monorail to the TTC, I know we could have walked but we
are feeling lazy. The bus to Downtown Disney and then the
bus back to the All Star Music. Should have taken a taxi.
Ah well, live and learn. Bed at 11:00.
By the way, Tammy does show me about the tadpoles back in
the room. She uses a notebook and diagrams to explain
all. So THAT'S how it happens! I still don't believe her
though, I've seen the stork in Dumbo and this seems much
more likely to me.
