Always expect your first couple of nights sleep to be disturbed and you won't be disappointed. Julie had kindly put the ceiling fan on in the bedroom but after only a couple of hours kip I was woken by a constant clanging noise, now I know the air conditioning in Orlando and Cypress Point in particular can be noisy and so I put it down to this. At about 1.30am I decided to investigate briefly, but couldn't work out what the source of the constant noise was.
At this point I was deeply regretting not remembering to bring my ear plugs. Anyway after a 10 minute investigation of the apartment I give up and head back to bed for a restless 4 hours of sleep, finally giving up the ghost and getting up at 5.30. Julie isn't far behind me and despite her having ear plugs she too was kept awake by the clanging chimes of doom. HOWEVER she cheerfully informs me that is was the chord from the ceiling fan clashing against the fan blades every 10 minutes . WELL NOW I'M HAPPY !!
Whilst we do have our emergency stash of Bud Lite and Indian Pale Ale there isn't really anything edible in the room, and we don't intend to re-enact any of the gory scenes from the film Alive in order to stave off our hunger so by about 6.30 it's a jump into the car and off to Wal Mart for provisions.
I'm only buying breakfast but we manage to rack up a $90 shopping cart. The process is relatively smooth and unlike our previous food shipping trips we don't have a party member desperately clinging on to 4 cans of tomato soup, which will never be eaten, at the check out !! - MOTHER . The only difficulty we have is locating the aisle with the cans of energy drinks which are a must have. We should have realized that they would be kept between the cross bows from the Walking Dead and the Xmas tree lights from National Lampoons.
Back in the car and back to the hotel where we tuck into the fruits, cereals and toast purchased before jumping into the car at 8.30 for the 5 minute drive to Sea World. We are soon parked up at the main entrance and negotiating the extensive military security arrangement to gain entry to the park. Once inside we ignore the masses who head toward the first coaster in the park (Manta) and instead head to the back of the park where we are the first people to enter the freezing penguin world of Antarctica. The weather today is a little on the cold side, with the news reporting temperatures 15 degrees below the norm - circa 70 degrees F, but that's a drop in the ocean when compared to the temperature in the penguin exhibit
At this point I was deeply regretting not remembering to bring my ear plugs. Anyway after a 10 minute investigation of the apartment I give up and head back to bed for a restless 4 hours of sleep, finally giving up the ghost and getting up at 5.30. Julie isn't far behind me and despite her having ear plugs she too was kept awake by the clanging chimes of doom. HOWEVER she cheerfully informs me that is was the chord from the ceiling fan clashing against the fan blades every 10 minutes . WELL NOW I'M HAPPY !!
Whilst we do have our emergency stash of Bud Lite and Indian Pale Ale there isn't really anything edible in the room, and we don't intend to re-enact any of the gory scenes from the film Alive in order to stave off our hunger so by about 6.30 it's a jump into the car and off to Wal Mart for provisions.
I'm only buying breakfast but we manage to rack up a $90 shopping cart. The process is relatively smooth and unlike our previous food shipping trips we don't have a party member desperately clinging on to 4 cans of tomato soup, which will never be eaten, at the check out !! - MOTHER . The only difficulty we have is locating the aisle with the cans of energy drinks which are a must have. We should have realized that they would be kept between the cross bows from the Walking Dead and the Xmas tree lights from National Lampoons.
Back in the car and back to the hotel where we tuck into the fruits, cereals and toast purchased before jumping into the car at 8.30 for the 5 minute drive to Sea World. We are soon parked up at the main entrance and negotiating the extensive military security arrangement to gain entry to the park. Once inside we ignore the masses who head toward the first coaster in the park (Manta) and instead head to the back of the park where we are the first people to enter the freezing penguin world of Antarctica. The weather today is a little on the cold side, with the news reporting temperatures 15 degrees below the norm - circa 70 degrees F, but that's a drop in the ocean when compared to the temperature in the penguin exhibit
We take in Sea Lions, fishes , sharks etc and also throw in a couple of coaster rides, although disappointingly Mako isn't running cos it's too windy - wtf , why build a roller coaster incapable of operating in the wind, smells like leaves on train tracks to me.
What's annoying is that Sea World seems to have issued tickets to every school in the state of the Florida and the park is absolutely heaving with out of control ankle biters and every where you turn you are tripping over a herd of them ! . We seek sanctuary in the passholders lounge where we get our free coke products (the drink), which is a poor substitute for the days gone by of free bud products. The lounge is a welcome respite from the hordes and we have a lovely turkey sandwich before heading back out into the park.
Sea World is really pushing their conservation and rescue theme at the moment, with the performance shows for the whales and dolphins due to be phased out in the next year or so and so we head across to the Manatee rescue exhibit, where they have 15 or so rescued manatees who will be released back to the wild soon.
What's annoying is that Sea World seems to have issued tickets to every school in the state of the Florida and the park is absolutely heaving with out of control ankle biters and every where you turn you are tripping over a herd of them ! . We seek sanctuary in the passholders lounge where we get our free coke products (the drink), which is a poor substitute for the days gone by of free bud products. The lounge is a welcome respite from the hordes and we have a lovely turkey sandwich before heading back out into the park.
Sea World is really pushing their conservation and rescue theme at the moment, with the performance shows for the whales and dolphins due to be phased out in the next year or so and so we head across to the Manatee rescue exhibit, where they have 15 or so rescued manatees who will be released back to the wild soon.
Because we have a late night at Magic Kingdom we decide to leave the park at about 2pm and have some down time. We just chill in the room for a couple of hours before we take a walk down to Sweet Tomatoes for some major salad time !! Unlimited salad for about $10 - bargain and refreshing.
At 7pm it's time for a Disney Vacation Club special event at Magic Kingdom and despite Julie and sat nav's best efforts I manage to get us into the parking lot. We manage to completely bypass the parking booth but not my problem !!
We are soon progressing through Disney's security and into the park. We take things nice and easy with a couple of fast passes on Big Thunder and Space Mountain. The park isn't too packed and once the event starts at 10pm the crowds initially thin out more.
At 7pm it's time for a Disney Vacation Club special event at Magic Kingdom and despite Julie and sat nav's best efforts I manage to get us into the parking lot. We manage to completely bypass the parking booth but not my problem !!
We are soon progressing through Disney's security and into the park. We take things nice and easy with a couple of fast passes on Big Thunder and Space Mountain. The park isn't too packed and once the event starts at 10pm the crowds initially thin out more.
The biggest queues seem to be for the characters, we briefly stand in line for a picture with Genie and some chimp but realize life's too short and go back to the rides. There is a special fireworks display at midnight and it's stunning, the best I've ever seen. The crowds have really dropped off and the night seems young at 1am when the park closes. We've lasted which is a real surprise, especially as Julie fell asleep on the Little Mermaid and the Haunted Mansion !!
We have a free hot dog and chick tenders and the jump on the monorail and then walk back to the car. It's 2.20 am when we get back to the room and we collapse into bed - not even time for a beer. We are even more knackered than last night - WHAT A DAY
We have a free hot dog and chick tenders and the jump on the monorail and then walk back to the car. It's 2.20 am when we get back to the room and we collapse into bed - not even time for a beer. We are even more knackered than last night - WHAT A DAY