Gemini's Florida Adventures

[Gemini]

Well, since I last posted, no thunderstorms, and the very lightest of rainshowers on the day we went to Hollywood Studios. It has however been cold for Florida over the last 2 days. Idon't mind, as Florida heat is too much when doing theme parks, which is why we came in March. However,it would be better if I had more warmer clothes with me!
It is wonderfully sunny though, and temperatures rising again tomorrow.

We had good days at Disneys Hollywoood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Seaworld. Today is a free day. As although sunny it is cool, it remains to be seen whether we will brave the pool or not!

I have had a lot of pain from my left knee ( it was the right one I had X rayed in November) which then affects my back, and need regular painkillers to get me through a park day. Last Sundays 'day off'' helped a lot, so hopefully todays will too.
Oh, and I somehow hurt my big toe a few days ago! I got my foot caught in a big towel I was carrying out of the bathroom and tripped. My toe hurt. A lot. It never bruised but swelled up and can't be bent. The swelling is going down and I can move it more. No idea if I have broken a tiny bone. OH thinks not as there is no bruising.
Honestly, maybe I should just stay at home, I am a liabilty!!

[Nana]

Hiya Gem. It sounds as though you're both having a wonderful time. Other than your back, knee, toe & the heat you sound as though you're both having a fantastic time. Hoping you enjoy the rest of your holiday.

[Clover]

Gem,despite all your infirmaties (only joking) you seem to be packing a lot in and doing all you intended.I'm so glad you are having a lovely time. I don't "do" heat very well so would soon get exhausted if it were too hot so sunshine and a bit cooler would suit me.Now why didn't I stow away in your suitcase.

[Elisi]

Take some water with it Gem

[Gemini]

Hello everyone, time for an uppdate

We had a fun packed day at Universal, including a very kind lady who walked us across the park to get us immediate priority admission ahead of the queue for a ride we told her, conversationally, we hadnt got on and were now too tired as the wait was 60 minutes. We felt like VIP queuejumpers!!

Yesterday was the second visit to Epcot. Another good day, but all these good days are telling on us!
We decided to change our plans and take a non park day today, and now, mid evening we feel better for it.

Tomorrow is the last full day. We wil return to Universal, repeat a few favourite rides then join the long queue to ride the Hogwarts Express, which ends up in the next door Islands of Adventure park. Hopefully we will do a couple of rides there, then that is the end of theme parks for this trip!

Yesterday at Epcot the new 'Frozen Ever After' ride had a wait time of 135 minutes, and that was at 7pm! I had secured us a Fastpass a month before, so our wait was short. OH couldn't imagine why anyone would wait that long, but if that was the all important ride for your child you would, wouldn't you?!

We haven't had many long waits, but I am prepared to wait as long as it takes tomorrow for The Hogwarts Express. I don't think it will be anywhere as long as the Frozen queue

[Nanto2girls]

Hope you don't have to queue too long for Hogwarts Express.
When you get home, you will need a holiday to get over this holiday.

[Nana]

You sound as tho' you've both had an amazing time. I hope you enjoy your Hogwarts Express trip today.

[Daisy]

Gem, I'm sorry I'm only now catching up on all your adventures. It's many years since we last went to 'do Disney' etc, and it sounds as though things have changed a lot, except the heat. We always had to go in August because that's when my holidays were, so it was always crowded and hot. There were no fastpasses then, so we used to make an early start for the popular rides - I'm not very good at queuing or waiting. But at least we didn't mind the heat too much. We used to cram everything we could into one week and then go down to Naples for the second week to relax and do some gentle sightseeing - like riding fanboats in the Everglades!

I look forward to hearing about your Hogwarts experience. I hope the train is on time. I can't imagine waiting for 135 minutes for a ride if you've got children with you. I know there are various distractions to help, but it's still a long, long time.

Your holiday is going so quickly - enjoy your last day. I hope your knees, back and toe all behave. xx

[Elisi]

An Amazing holiday!

[Gemini]

Well, today was our last full day and we packed a lot in.
Universal Studios to repeat a couple of favourites, then lunch in a nice quiet spot by the water. We took our lunch with us most days. Not only did it save money, it saved the queuing and crowds, and we always found quiet places in each park.

After lunch we boarded the Hogwarts Express, which takes you into Islands of Adventure, the other Universal Park. Kings Cross and Diagon Alley are in one park, Hogsmead and Hogwarts in the other. It is really well done. I was prepared to stand in line as long as it took to go on this ride, but in fact the queue wasnt bad at all.
Once in the other park we repeated a couple of favourites, as we did in the first park. We also rode the raft ride, twice. We have done it before, so know how wet you get. No matter what you do you get soaked, ,but we find wearing a poncho with hood up at least stops the ice cold water going down your neck, and keeps your top half mostly dry. We take spare clothes for the bottom half though, and a plastic bag to put the wet stuff in! Our wet clothes are going round in the washer now. We ride it twice, then change into the dry stuff

From there we drove to Disneys Hollywood Studios to watch Fantasmic at 8.30, and also saw the Magic Kingdom fireworks as we made our way out of the park. An added bonus, as we had seen them at Magic Kingdom at the end of our day there on Saturday, which I forgot to write about.

A lovely holiday. I have learned something from it too. I over organise our Disney holidays, and while that was OK when I was younger, it is too tiring now, and hard on the body. I'm not sure OH and I would do this again by ourselves (but never say never!) but we would with family, which is something which has been talked about.

We fly home tomorrow evening, arriving in Manchester at 7.30 am on Thursday. We should hopefully be home by 11am, maybe earlier.

I will be human approximately 4 days later

[Gemini]

Hope you don't have to queue too long for Hogwarts Express.
When you get home, you will need a holiday to get over this holiday.

Exactly Nan2!!!

[Gemini]

Gem, I'm sorry I'm only now catching up on all your adventures. It's many years since we last went to 'do Disney' etc, and it sounds as though things have changed a lot, except the heat. We always had to go in August because that's when my holidays were, so it was always crowded and hot. There were no fastpasses then, so we used to make an early start for the popular rides - I'm not very good at queuing or waiting. But at least we didn't mind the heat too much. We used to cram everything we could into one week and then go down to Naples for the second week to relax and do some gentle sightseeing - like riding fanboats in the Everglades!

I look forward to hearing about your Hogwarts experience. I hope the train is on time. I can't imagine waiting for 135 minutes for a ride if you've got children with you. I know there are various distractions to help, but it's still a long, long time.

Your holiday is going so quickly - enjoy your last day. I hope your knees, back and toe all behave. xx

Daisy things have changed a lot since we last went, which was only 7 years ago!! The booking of fastpasses online weeks before yyou go is hard, and pins you down to certain parks on certain days, or you lose your booked fastpasses, and popular ride queues can be so long without them. I like a break on the gulf coast afterward too, and wish we had one booked this time!!

Back , knees etc on good behaviour today I am happy to report

[Daisy]

Gem, I think by the time you see this you will be packing/packed up ready for the journey home. I really look forward to hearing more about the best rides, it's so long since we've been, but you're right about not over-planning. It's a sign of the times that you have to book the fastpasses so far in advance - not much chance for spontaneity and deciding one evening what to do the next day. I imagine going with the family will be both harder and easier - you can only go at the pace of the slowest (probably youngest/oldest member of the group) so it's more spaced out, but then there are more wishes to fulfil.

Safe journey home and chance to give your back, knees and toe a rest. xx

[Nana]

Safe journey home you two. What a holiday! 😎

[Gemini]

Thanks for reading and input everyone!

I am back and will update this thread over the weekend