| Friday 5 October | |
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Day 21 – Friday 5th October 2007 Shopping/Swimming/Downtown Disney Slower start this morning, no alarms. We wanted to check out the factory outlet store that’s very close to this resort, while kids were keen to watch their new dvd’s and swim, so my lovely husband volunteered to stay at the unit with all 5 kids to finish their dvd’s (younger ones watching Samson’s new power rangers and Lauren’s Dora, and big 3 watching Hoodwinked), he then took them all for a swim at the resort. Meanwhile, Karen, Michael L and I went to the factory outlets. I thought we’d be gone a couple of hours….major underestimation of the Lucas’ ability to shop! I’d finished in 2 hours, we’d agreed to do the centre anti-clockwise and meet back at the car. They weren’t at the car so I sent a text and started walking back hoping to meet them. Got half way round the centre, thought I must surely have missed them, so walked back to car again…..and no one there. My Michael meanwhile is texting that children are hungry (and no food in unit). So I text’d the Lucas’ again saying I was going to supermarket to take food to Michael and would come back for them. So picked up bagels, bread, ham and salad ingredients, dropped it to Michael’s door then ran out again (he looked hopeful that he might escape at this point, but given that only I knew where the car park meeting spot was, I had to drive back). So I get back, expecting to see them waiting….but no. So I set off walking backwards round the complex again, still no sight of them. It’s also raining, but I think I’d better go stand near the car, in case they’re sitting in a store somewhere watching the car. So there I am, standing for about 20 mins (rain had eased to light spots), when I finally spot them, they were only ¾ of the way round the complex…..2 hours after I’d finished! They made a bee-line for the car when they saw me and we headed home (and they haven't been able to charge their mobile since getting off the cruise, so hadn't got my texts). I think they’ll try and head back later today. We headed off separately later this afternoon as Madeleine was doing gymnastics training at a local gym and we went to Downtown Disney. Kids and Michael loved Downtown Disney, went to Disney Quest, a 5 storey complex full of interactive as well as regular arcade games. Lots of virtual reality type ones, a Pirates one where 1 of us steers the pirate ship and the others shoot cannons trying to sink other boats, and an Aladdin’s magic carpet where you strap this head gear on and it looks like you’re on a magic carpet that you have to fly to collect jewels. They also have an animation studio where you have lessons in drawing the various characters, the girls and I did Pluto & Minnie, it was lots of fun. I’ll load a photo of Hayley’s on the site, it was very good (and excuse the Americanised date on the drawing, they copied how the instructor told them to write it). Kids made some interesting comments on way home, they were discussing how much fun they were having, but then they all started piping up about how wonderful Australia was and how they’d never want to live anywhere else, and certainly not America. We couldn’t agree more, but I’ll have to dig a bit deeper with them about what they see as a negative (besides missing family & friends), it is interesting what they pick up and good to know that all the razzle dazzle of the US hasn’t taken them in. Reinforces what I’ve always thought the best part of seeing the world is, that you get a real appreciation for how good we have it at home! We didn’t get back to hotel till about 9.20pm as Disney Quest was so entertaining, and were warning the kids it was late, we have a big day at Sea World tomorrow so they had to have quick showers and straight to bed. So we get to the door, and the neither of our computerised room keys work. So Michael waits with kids at doorstep and I drive back to reception and join a LONG line (with only 1 person on the desk). 25 mins later I’m finally issued with new keys, and they also called security to get them to meet me at the door and ensure no more problems…so I fly back home……and the new keys don’t work. We wait 10 minutes, but no security turns up….so Michael drives back to reception to see whats happening, while the kids and I wait. Not long after security arrives, lets us in and we eventually get issued with new room keys, so kids don’t get to bed till well after 10pm. Lucas’ are still out and about so couldn’t even crash at their place. Anyway, at least the internet is working tonight, we really missed it last night when it was down. |