4 go mad in the USA

USA 3
DISNEY
Finally hit the Magic Kingdom yesterday
The heat dictated an early start so we were out by 8 and after parking, taking the tram and then the monorail; we were outside the gates at 9 – along with many thousands of other!!
We headed to adventure land and took a leisurely cruise on the Amazon followed by a ride around the pirates of the Caribbean.
The children moaned about the first one – and Lu refused to look at a lot of it in case it was ‘scary’ and both children refused to look at any of the second one – they have seen the film for goodness sake!! Couple of wimps
It got worse when we got to frontier land.
Dan and Nick hit Splash Mountain and loved it whilst Lu and I tried to get some respite from the heat in a shop. Unlike Universal, Disney don’t seem to mind if the guests die of heat stoke and make no effort to help in the heat, even trying to find a drink was difficult where as at Universal you could buy a large cup for $7 and refill it anywhere with ice cold water, Disney didn’t even open the cold drink stands that were there. Universal had fans spraying water on all the queues but Disney has the odd tree!
After the splash we all went on the thunder railway – our favourite from Euro Disney – with our fast passes, and got all the way to the front till Lucy started crying hysterically as we got in the car!! They operator told her he would slow it down for her, bless. So with everyone watching us holding down the screaming child the ride set off. Of course by the third bend she was screaming in delight!
Having got her through that we gave the splash mountain a go and she only started crying there when she saw the ‘last chance to exit’ sign, of course she enjoying that as well.
We wandered around more of the park, taking in lunch on the way but by 2ish we were all flagging so headed back to the villa for a swim and rest – bliss.
We returned to the park – now much cooler – only in the 80’s now- at 7pm and had a train ride in the dark before seeing the light parade. We bailed out of waiting for the fireworks but ended up watching them from the ferry (an alternative to the monorail) as we cruised across the lake back to the car.
Disney was packed and very hot but we may still pop back to do a couple more rides another day.
We are booked to see a medieval jousting dinner show tonight! And have upgraded to royalty as I’m sure many of you know Nick has long thought he is royalty so should fit right in tonight.
Have managed not to burn the kids yet but I spray/apply so much cream they gleam.
Dan is proving to be his normal self and tempts us to dump him at the side of the highway and drive off on many occasions.
And on a last note
Why
Oh why
Do normal people think it is acceptable to come on holiday here and have a t-shirt printed for every member of the their family, in matching colours, stating the fact – ‘smith vacation 07’ I even saw one thanking GOD for the fact they were able to vacation in Disney!!
These Americans!!

Our plan to go to a water park today was rather scuppered when we spent far too long lounging and swimming this morning, but then when you have your own pool out the window!!!
So a secondary plan was formed – shopping/ familiarisation and Disney quick visit later.
As it went we only ended up doing the shopping and having a late lunch/early dinner followed by a relaxed evening at home which even saw me in the pool for the first time.
We had a fab meal in a steakhouse and Dan is very proud of himself for eating a 10 oz steak!
Finally got inside a wall mart today – weird seeing George clothing – it was huge of course and lots of brits were buying stuff but not everything is cheaper.
The heat really got me today, It is just so hot it takes your breath away, Nick is much more used to it now than I am and Dan struggled a bit today, you end up going into shops just to be able to breath.
And tomorrow is meant to be hotter!
We are off to Disney kingdom tomorrow so up early to get there early to avoid the top heat. Mickey awaits.

Started the day in Denny’s diner and ended it in Joe’s crab shack! Its no wonder these people are the size they are - and we may soon be joining them!
Wednesday saw us at Universal Studios, where you park in the enormous car park – we were in cat in the hat, level 4 – and make your way along the moving walkway – woe betide one should walk anywhere – and enter the park.
We enjoyed the day, but compared to even euro Disney it’s not as good. There are a couple of rides but to fast pass you have to pay extra! The longest wait was for me and lu when we went on Jimmy Neutron and waited an hour! And I felt really sick as cos it’s a simulator one – Ugh
Dan enjoyed Men in Black and revenge of the Mummy, Luce came into Terminator with us then burst into tears half way through the into and we had to be let out the back – she still won’t let us talk about it!
It’s now eight in the morning on Thursday and the plan today is a water park.
The heat is absolutely amazing people try so many things to keep cool but in the end you just have to grin and bare it, the aircon in this fab villa is brill , you forget what its like outside till you open the patio door to the pool and the heat hits you like a blast from a jet engine. The children are in the pool as I write playing ‘ Jaws’ Dans the shark bait, which is ironic as that’s what we wanted to make him when he kicked off yesterday!!
Nick has also badly injured his wrist, I can see us ending up at a hospital before long! He did it lifting the bags and its getting worst.
Congrats to my mate Amanda on her new job – knew you could do it.
That’s all folks

I am writing this at 8.45 my time and 1.45 your time with about the most addled brain ever, so please forgive my mistakes.
My plan to have 2 rooms at the manchester travel lodge , so enabling all of us to sleep backfired when L woke N up at 3 and I woke up at 4 and we were all up by 5!!
however it meant we got to the airport early, shame the flight was late - powercut.
The flight started well - and went downhill.
Dan bored easily and was soon declaring he would never set foot on a plane again - shame we have to do it all again in 2 weeks!
and Luce was ace
till she pebbledashed the gangway, avoiding other passengers but covering 2 Virgin blankets and a carpet.
I only noticed the baggies afterwards.
Dan decided a 7 hour flight was the extent of his ability - shame it was an eight hour one!!
Nightmare
topped only by getting off the plane and getting to the front of the customs queue only for lu to vom again as we walk to the desk
and then he asked if we were bringing any food in!!!
I didn't say it but could have.
So we are now here in the villa - its brill and we have a huge crysler on the drive - nicks living the american dream - its white and looks like a pimp mobile
the kids have hit the booze and we have been in the pool - or the other way round.
and we have had an american macdonalds - it tastes the same
Off to bed

USA -2

The Internets down
Three little words that mean a huge problem!

It isn’t until the net crashes for a significant period of time that you realise how utterly dependant you have become on it!

It went down last night so when I picked up the lappy to msn my buddy Amanda it was as dead as a doornail – never understood that saying.

The impact on us was huge:
Couldn’t chat to my mate
Couldn’t check email – especially the one from the chap we are renting off in A
Couldn’t browse Facebook and see nothing had happened
Couldn’t check Virgin for when today’s flight actually left or what is permissible in hand luggage or whether it is each individual item up to 100ml (as I said) or in total (as N said)
Couldn’t write the blog!

However by the time we returned from Warhammer it was back on
I had phoned them twice by then!!

We are packed - nearly
And ready – nearly
And the house is a mess – really

USA -3

Why is it when you know you absolutely have to get on and get some work – or in my case packing – done you lose any inclination to do anything except sit on the settee and read facebook?
In truth we did do a few small preparatory jobs, like acquire American dosh and reacquire my old car - £600 and its yours!
It has now passed MOT and is ready to be passed on to the next happy motorist who wishes to buy it off me.
Also entered the travel debate:
Do you lock your case so some American customs officer can break the lock to check it (apparently they are allowed)
Or
Leave it unlocked so some American baggage handler can rob it?
It’s a toughie

USA -4
So
8AM sees me ringing the doctors after my paranoid (concerned) friend warned me about DVT on long flights, wise advice not to travel with an undiagnosed injury.
Popped in to see the nurse at 11 who promptly sent me down to casualty!
What a drag
Although it’s definitely got better since last I was there – no vomiting drunks – of course that may be because it was lunchtime on a Friday.
After an x-ray I was finally given the all clear on the fracture front and left with a rather dapper tubigrip bandage, should set my shorts off a treat!
Just in case you are a physio reading this please forgive my earlier gaff with the RICE - now corrected by me very clever friend Amanda.

USA -5

Well thankfully the R.I.C.E that’s Rest Ice Compression and Elevation, as the First Aid guy patiently explained to me yesterday - didn't dare tell him I am a First Aider! - Is working well and although sore my ankle is usable and I can walk tentatively on it.

This mobility enabled me to pay another visit to Warhammer for Dan to do another tournament - it feels like my second home, they have even introduced a loyalty coffee card!

Should have spent the day ironing and washing but have done nothing, guess it’s all on tomorrow or I shall be visiting America in my pants! That would shock Mr. Bush.

Posted at 09:12AM Aug 02, 2007 by null null in General | Edit | Comments[0]

Wednesday Aug 01, 2007
Going to America

Usa -6

Wed

Visited Lark in the Park today as a rest from being at home preparing for 'the trip' Here after known as TT.

Unfortunetely had a little trip any way and ended up in the First Aid tent having my ankle expertly bound by a large safety officer (no St Johns for this place) Apparently my £1500 Council tax isn't enough to prevend large pot holes appearing on the Rushcliffe parks, propably global warming - everything else is! So with 6 days to go I am sitting with foot up on the settee, hoping that I heal quickly

Will keep you posted