Mapman in Orlando Dec 01

[mapman]

Trip Report for visit to Orlando, Florida - December 8 - 23rd 2001

The cast :-
Steve - photographer, driver and chief map reader (obviously).
Steph - chief shopper, roller-coaster incompatible, main sun-cream dispenser.
Kieron - age 14, not reached "Kevin" status, yet . . .
Verity - age 9, half inch too small for the big coasters (shame).

Apologies for spelling, I'll blame it on the jet-lag.

Sunday 9th Dec 01 - Woke about 6am, beds very comfortable (unlike most hotels we've been too). Much more refreshed after showers and raring to go. The First Choice reps had organised a meeting at the Pirates Dinner Adventure for 9.30am. So we left for I-Drive at 8.30 to find it. Traffic much easier this morning, arrived at 9am in plenty of time. Sorted out the hotel reservation problem (with many apologies). Meeting over, decided on breakfast so drove up I-Drive and found a Ponderosa (which I'd read about in Brit's Guide). Amazing: Nothing can prepare you for this. So much good quality food and very cheap. Nice to try some of the things you've never heard of before. Very friendly. Well over the top but great. We all want to go again soon.
After brecky decided to find a Walmart for shampoo etc (& Melatonin for jet lag on way home) - ended up spending $120 - brilliant place, so big and so much choice. Many things about half price to what we're used to. Certainly an experience not to be missed.
Things we've noticed while driving about - the buildings, all different shapes and sizes, and the colours, all the colours of the rainbow (UK planners would have a field day here). Very flat but lots of trees.
Back at hotel for an afternoon by the pools to recover from the flight, the hot-tub is 104° wonderful. Kids having a great time in the flume. Met a Canadian couple, she was born in Edgware, London and moved to Canada when she was five. He's been to England before with the narrow roads and narrower cars. He did like Hay-on-Wye and Bourton-on-the-Water. Spent all afternoon by the pools just chilling out after yesterday and getting syked up for Magic Kingdom tomorrow. We might go to Downtown Disney tonight to get "in the mood".
Arrived Downtown - enormous and it just kept going. We wanted (I wanted) to try the Rainforest Café and eventually found it round the other side of the lake. A lot more people here (but I dread to think what it would be like in the summer), so we didn't think we'd get a table. But we only had to wait 10 minutes before our "safari" was ushered into the Gorilla Room. This place was amazing. The themed rooms fantastic, and we adored the "animal bar stools". Thunder and lightning, real raindrops an earthquake, brilliant. Good food but expensive - but who cares with an experience like that. Can highly recommend the smoothies (cold drinks with fruit and yoghurt etc, yummy yummy).

[Guest]

Great start
can you explain Melatonin for jeg lag ?
Hot tub sound nice
We have never been to Down town Disney
looking forward to the rest  .

[mapman]

Hi Anita, I'll find the info that I've got tucked away somewhere about the Melatonin and post on a separate thread.
You must visit Downtown Disney sometime, it's great and free.

cheers,  .

[Guest]

Thanks Steve
I'm sure Elise mentioned it in her trip report too
.

[Carole]

I like the way you've just relaxed (and shopped .) on the first day. Sounds like a good plan.

I love Downtown Disney and especially the Rainforest Cafe.

[ANGEL]

what? no mention of pickled pig's feet then Steve? .

[Guest]

Good choice by taking you first day easy!!!!!!!

The themeing of Rainforest Cafe in London is also fantastic but i always get disappointed with the food, we must try the one at Downtown and see if it is any better, the smoothies are definately to die for!!!!!!!

Eda

[Guest]

I love shopping on my first day,I love Downtown Disney and we allways visit Walmart.

 .   .

[AlisonB]

We did Rainforest Cafe at Animal Kingdom on our first day too.

Great fun!
Off to day 3 now...

[Kazzie]

We always take it easy on our first day too.A nice way to ease yourself in to the spirit of the holiday .