ORLANDO 20 JUNE - 5 JULY
2002
Thursday 20 June
Left Edinburgh at 10.45am and called in to see Dad and Pat
in Coldstream for lunch. Left at 1.30pm and arrived at the Holiday Inn in Newcastle at
3.15pm. Settled into our room (bathroom had under floor heating and a speaker
for the sound from the TV!) and got a carry-out meal from Burger King next
door. After watching TV and having a quick nap we all went down to the Health
Club for a swim. We were the only people in for a while so we tried out the
jacuzzi, sauna and steam room as well – wonderful!
Friday 21 June
Got up at 7.10am and had breakfast of sandwiches, which we
bought from the garage next door the night before. The minibus picked us up
from the hotel at 8.30am and took us to the airport. Check-in was open when we
arrived so it didn’t take us long to get rid of our cases and go upstairs to
see England getting beat 2 – 1 by Brazil. After a quick trip round the duty
free we proceeded to Gate 17 to wait for our plane. It was a wee bit late
coming in from Manchester, so we didn’t take off till 12.50pm (35 minutes late).
Scott, Ross and I were seated together with Jim across the aisle. We all had
TVs in the back of our seats but unfortunately, Jim’s and quite a lot of other
passenger’s were not working. They were compensated by free drinks and snacks.
Scott and I watched Oceans 11 and Ross watched Friends, My Family and Mr. Bean.
After our meal I swapped seats with Jim so he could watch the film. Then we
swapped back so I could fill in the immigration forms and watch another film
called Kate and Leopold. We finished off with another snack and drink before
landing at 4.10pm (9.10pm UK time). We managed to get through immigration and
customs and get our car from Alamo. We met up with Roy from my Competition Club
at Alamo. He’d come in from the Manchester Airtours flight. We drove from the
airport to our hotel and checked in and unpacked. We then went for a walk on
International Drive and bought Coke and water. We also had a light snack in
Burger King before retiring for the night. (10.30pm US time – 3.30am UK time)
Saturday 22 June
Awoken by Scott’s alarm at 2.30pm (he’d forgotten to cancel
it from the day before) and also by very loud thunder which shook the whole
hotel at 6.45am. We then had a torrential storm, which lasted until 8.00am. We
all had showers and then breakfast at McDonald’s before attending our Welcome
Meeting at the Ming Court. We bought 3-day tickets for Universal Studios from
the JMC Rep as they matched McDonald’s discount price. ($97) We then headed
South and called into the Rosen Centre where George and Doreen stayed. It’s a
beautiful hotel next door to the Convention Center.
We then headed off for the
Premier Outlets, as it was very overcast. Bought T-shirts for the boys in
Timberland and a Nike Just Do It T-shirt for Scott in Nike. Enjoyed a Chinese
meal for lunch in the food court and then visited the Levi and Reebok outlets,
whilst the heavens opened once again. After we left the Premier Outlets we
drove to the Reebok Outlet on International Drive and Scott, Jim and I got
trainers. (3 for 2) As it was still raining we drove to Walmart on Sandlake
Road and bought groceries, lager, socks and lace and embroidery thread (a
fraction of the cost at home). We drove back to the hotel and had cheeseburgers
from McDonald’s in our room with doughnuts for afters.
Sunday 23 June
Got up at 8.30am and watched an ambulance and 2 fire engines
arrive at our hotel. We think they were called to the family whose little girl
wasn’t well at the airport. Had breakfast of cereals and cup of tea with
biscuits (in our room) and then left to go to the Belz Factory Outlets. Started
off in Nike and Reebok before eventually getting a pair of trainers for Ross in
the Adidas outlet. Had pizza and tacos for lunch and a cookie each in the food
court. We then wandered round the rest of the shops before deciding to go and
see Spiderman the Movie as it was raining again. We all enjoyed the film and
then visited a few gift shops and Eckerd’s on the way back to the hotel.
Visited the McDonald’s drive-in, as the rain was too heavy to get out of the
car!
Monday 24 June
Awoke early again with various sirens and skip emptyings
outside our bedroom. Had breakfast in Denny’s then missed the turn off for
Universal Studios on the Interstate 4. Ended up on the Florida Turnpike! Pulled
into a service station to ask a sheriff for directions. Eventually got back
onto the I 4 after paying 2 tolls. Arrived at Universal and headed straight for
Twister. Got wet and blown about! Next stop was Animal Planet where various
animal actors were put through their paces. Then it was on to Back To The
Future – very bumpy as usual. We all enjoyed our ride with ET in the basket in
front of us. We were just in time to catch the Wild Wild West Stunt Show before
heading for Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Rock and Roll Review.
After that it was a
ride on Earthquake then Men In Black Alien Attack – brilliant.
When we came out
it had started raining. As it wasn’t too heavy we decided to chance Jaws as we
had an express ticket for it. We walked straight on but got more than a bit wet
on the ride and then soaking when we came off as it was chucking it down by
this time. We had to get our bag out of the locker at Men In Black by 3.55pm so
we made a run for it. We sheltered by the lockers. Had to make another run for
it to get to the restaurant.
Had pizza and drinks before setting off for
Terminator 2 3D. brilliant show. We then went on Hanna Barbera cartoon ride
and
then across to the Hitchcock experience, which explained a bit about some of
the films he made.
Then we queued for Kongfrontation. After the encounter with
King Kong we went back to the Men In Black Alien Attack and went on as single
riders (much quicker) 3 times in a row. We then had time for one last time at
Terminator 2 3D before the park closed.
Nearly got lost coming home when we decided
to go onto the I 4. We didn’t know you couldn’t turn off at Sandlake Road when
travelling westbound. We ended up coming off at the Seaworld exit and driving
up International Drive. We parked the car and got a carry out meal from
Popeye’s Chicken and Biscuit Restaurant.
Tuesday 25 June
Scott and Jim watched the Germany v South Korea football
match this morning. Then we had to wait for half and hour whilst the heavy rain
went off before we left to go to Bargain World, Pointe Orlando and the Mercado
where we had hot dogs, fries and drinks for lunch.
We then visited an Internet
Café at the Mercado as it came on rain again. We then decided to go to the
Florida Mall. We looked round the shops and then came back via Burger King for
a carry out meal where it came on rain again! Jim and I went out later to buy
water and postcards on International Drive.
Wednesday 26 June
Scott and Jim watched the Brazil v Turkey football match
this morning, before we set off for the Islands of Adventure at Universal.
Didn’t get lost this time! Booked the Express pass for Spiderman and then
visited Jurassic Park via Toon Lagoon to watch all the people getting wet on
the River Adventure.
Went back to see the Toon Lagoon Beach Bash Show but it
was mainly for small children to we headed back to Marvel Super Hero Island and
our trip on Spiderman – great ride. We then had a spin on Storm Force
Accelatron (like cups and saucers ride in Disney). Then it was time for lunch
of pizzas and home-made cookies in Circus McGurkus Café Stoo-pendous. We then
sat through a performance of the 8th voyage of Sinbad before Jim, Scott and
Ross went on the Flying Unicorn. We then joined a queue for Poseidon’s Fury and
the heavens opened just before we got undercover in the queue. We got a wee bit
wet but covered our heads with our maps.
When we came out it was still raining
so we sheltered for a while before taking a ride with the Cat in the Hat at
Seuss Landing. It broke down as we came to the end of it because someone had
dropped a towel on the rail, so they let us ride it again right away. Next we
went back to the Spiderman ride and went on as single riders. You walk straight
onto the ride – it’s brilliant. Sometimes you even get seated beside each
other. I went on twice and Jim and the boys went on 3 times.
After that we decided to leave, as it was still
raining (that’s 3 hours of rain). We went to Walmart to buy rain ponchos and
also got Scott some Wranglers and Ross some clip on sunglasses. We also bought
more doughnuts and cookies and cans of Miller. We got a McDonald’s carry out
and ate it in the room. Had a game of cards to finish off the day.
Thursday 27 June
Got up late, had showers and went to Denny’s for breakfast
again. As the sun is out for a change we had a game of Adventure Golf at the
Tiki Island next to our hotel.
We then went down to the Mercado to go to the
Internet Café. Jim checked the lottery numbers and looked up info on Daytona
greyhound racing. As the sun was still out we decided to go back to the hotel
and sunbathe and swim. Ross met a girl from his class at school, who had just
arrived, so while I went away to do the washing Jim chatted to her Mum and Dad.
We had a carry out Burger King meal and then had a game of cards and an early
night. (A whole day without rain!)
Friday 28 June
Got up early this morning for our 3rd day at Universal.
Started off in Toon Lagoon and Jim, Scott and Ross braved Popeye and Bluto’s
Bilge-Rat Barges with their ponchos on. They got soaked! Next it was on to
Dudley Do Right’s Ripsaw Falls and they got extra soaked on that one. We then
wandered into Jurassic Park and onto the Triceratops Discovery Trail, which was
a bit disappointing.
The Discovery Center was a bit better with all kinds of
experiments for us to try out. We also witnessed the birth of a dinosaur from
an egg!! We lunched in Circus McGurkus Café again before hitting Spiderman
again. Whilst Jim, Scott and Ross were on the ride I spied Spiderman in a shop
and filmed him.
When they came off the ride we all got our photos taken with
him, before leaving the Islands of Adventure to go across to Universal Studios.
First stop was Terminator 2 3D again and then the Ghostbusters Show. After that
we watched The Blues Brothers and then went for a ride with ET again. We then
hit Men in Black Alien Attack 3 times as single riders and then Jim, Scott and
Ross went on Back to the Future again. Then we went on Men in Black 4 more
times before it came on rain. We dashed across to have our last ride on
Kongfrontation before catching the last performance of Terminator 2 3D. Then it
was time to leave. We came back to our hotel and had a snack of crisps, nuts
and cookies!
Saturday 29 June
Got up quite early and went to Denny’s for breakfast
(Original Grand Slam Breakfast again for $2.99). Came back and went to the hotel
pool to sunbathe and swim (sun is out again!). In the afternoon we went to the
Flea Market and bought pens, a T-shirt and jewellery. It started to rain
heavily whilst we were inside, so we stayed and had a meal of soup, sandwiches
and drinks from Papa Jo’s stall. When the rain eased we left and went to the
Old Town in Kissimmee to see the classic car Saturday Nite Cruise. We then
wandered through all the shops and bought 4 bottles of Pepsi for a dollar, a
slush and a necklace for me. We came home up the I 4.
Sunday 30 June
Scott and Jim watched the World Cup Final at 7.00am this
morning. We all went back to sleep again after our cereal breakfast. We didn’t
get much sleep as the Brazilians were celebrating on International Drive
beating drums and honking car horns! We got up at about 11.00am and had cookies
and drinks. We were just about to go out when the rain came on again plus
thunder and lightning. We eventually left our room at twenty past two and went
to McDonald’s for something to eat. As it was still raining when we’d finished
eating we decided to go to the cinema again. Scott and Ross went to see Star
Wars Episode 2 and Jim and I went to see the Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya
Sisterhood. It was still raining when we left so we called in at Eckerd’s for ice
cream on the way back to the hotel. We had a good night in playing cards and
drinking lager.
Monday 1 July
We were awoken at 8.00am by the woman in the next room
complaining to the security man on the balcony about the assistant in the gift
shop. Her cockney accent was so loud that I’m sure the whole floor was woken up
by her! We got up and had cereals in our room and then Jim and the boys went to
the pool as the sun was out. I went for a walk to look at the gift shops on
International Drive. We went to Denny’s for a late late breakfast at 1.30pm,
before setting off for Wonderworks.
We spent 3 hours in there experiencing over
100 hands on experiments and then left and had a quick look round FAO Schwarz
toy shop in Pointe Orlando.
We then decided to go to the Greyhound racing just
off Highway 17-92 near Sanford. Got there just in time for the first race at
7.30pm. Had hot dogs and chips to eat and when Jim was putting his bet on he
spoke to the woman teller who asked where he came from. She then told him that
her boss was going to Scotland next month to play golf and we should speak to
him. After the next race Jim asked for him and we spoke to him for ages. What a
nice man – he’s Director of Mutuels. We had 3 winners altogether, but no
forecasts up.
We came home via the I 4 and then the John Young Parkway – a road
which actually tells you what speed you’re travelling at.
Tuesday 2 July
Got up and had showers before breakfast in Denny’s. We then
dropped the boys off at the XS arcade for the day to play all the games.
Jim
and I went to some shops, then the Internet café. We came back to check on the
boys and Jim stayed with them whilst I went to the shops in Pointe Orlando. It
came on torrential rain and thunder and lightning so I dodged from shop to
shop. The boys finished at 6.00pm then we went to Walmart to get milk, lager,
crisps and pretzels. On the way back to the hotel Jim got a carry out from
Popeye’s Chicken and Biscuit Restaurant and Scott Ross and I got a carry out
from McDonald’s. We played cards to finish the night off.
Wednesday 3 July
Got up and had cereals for breakfast before going down to
the pool to sun bathe. We left at 12.15pm for the greyhound track (the same one
we went to on Monday night) as the chap we met there, Roy, invited us for lunch
today. We took a wrong turn off the I 4 to try to avoid the traffic and had to
go back on to it again as we got lost. That made us a wee bit late, so before
we got there Jim asked the boys to pick 2 numbers and we would use them for our
first bet. Scott picked 5 and Ross picked 7. Whilst Jim was getting a message
to Roy to tell him we had arrived I put the bet on. Roy walked us across to the
restaurant and clubhouse and we watched our dogs come in 1st and 2nd. We got
$28.80 for the win on 5 and $130.20 for the forecast – all for a $4 bet. We
were gobsmacked! We ordered lunch and Jim put a bet on for the next race – 8 to
beat 4. 8 won but 4 wasn’t second. This time we collected $6.60 for the win.
After that we were too busy chatting to Roy and eating lunch to have another
bet. We spoke about lots of things and had a lovely afternoon in good company.
Roy insisted on paying for lunch, so we reluctantly accepted his hospitality.
He left us after the last race, as he had to go back to work. We had a look
round the rest of the building and then left to come back to the Cinemark to
see Men In Black 2. It was brilliant. After that we went to the Mercado, so the
boys could use up the rest of their Internet time. We then came back to our
room for snacks of pretzels and crisps and played cards.
Thursday 4 July
Got up, had cereals and went to find Toys R Us to see if we
could find Scott and Ross’s game CD.
We then went to a few more shops on
International Drive and ended up in Denny’s for lunch.
We then came back and
packed our cases as it was raining with thunder and lightning by then. It
cleared up about half past four so we all went down to the pool for a few
hours.
Jim and I went for a carry out McDonald’s and we ate that then watched
all the fireworks for Independence Day at Sea World, Disney and Universal. The
Universal ones were the best because they were the nearest. It was a lovely way
to end our holiday.
Friday 5 July
Got up and had cereals and tea and cookies. Packed the rest
of our belongings, checked out and left for the airport. We were the first to check-in
and then we went to a nearby shopping centre and walked round the Dollar Tree
and Walmart. We then had a lovely lunch in Subway and headed back to the
airport. We checked the car back into Alamo, but couldn’t leave the car as
torrential rain came on accompanied by the usual thunder and lightning. We
eventually got inside the terminal building after about an hour. We took off
about 35 minutes late but made the time up on the journey. We watched Bend It
Like Beckham and Snow Dogs also Alistair McGowan and the Kumars at No 42. After
we’d landed it took about 40 minutes for the cases to start coming through.