This was our last full day at WDW. We all slept in just a bit, but the kids wanted to go swimming, so they got up. Today they wanted to go to the main pool. They swam for a couple of hours. I asked them how the pool slide was, and they said it was kind of slow, but okay. The pool is very pretty, with the slide & Jacuzzi on one side, and a waterfall on the other. There are cannons that shoot water, but you cannot get to them.

Today, Dad wanted to go to Downtown Disney and do some shopping and pack for tomorrow. Neither he nor Lucila wanted to do a theme park. We all had one day left on our all-in-one hopper's, except Lucila, who had two. The kids & I all wanted one last day of fun. We decided to do both. I called the desk to tell them we wanted late check-out @ 1:pm, and I was told I had to call back after 5:pm.

We dropped them off at Downtown Disney, in front of the World of Disney, and headed to the West Side. Our agreement was that the kids & I would do DisneyQuest for a couple of hours and meet them back at DTD at 1:pm. We were there early for DQ, and there was a small line to get tickets. I didn't realize it at the time, but I could have got a discount with my MKC or AAA discount card. By the time I did find out, I had already tossed the receipt, so it didn't do me any good.

DisneyQuest was a blast! There are 5 floors of fun there, and the two hours we had was not enough time to explore it all, but we did the major games and got lunch. When you walk in, you get a map of the place. You immediately enter an elevator that takes you up either to the 2nd or 3rd floor. At the side of the elevator on each floor is a map, so you can get easy reference how to get to the various games. There are also stairs you can run up or down (as we did). The first game we did was the rollercoaster. There was no line yet, so BJ & Kelly went to one computer, while Nick & I went to another. You get a card to scan in, then Bill Nye the Coaster Guy explains how to design your virtual coaster. The easiest is a Level 1, and the roughest is a Level 5. BJ & Kelly designed a Level 5, while Nick & I designed a Level 2. Then you go to another line, and they run your card through so you get to ride the coaster you designed. The CMs can let you ride another coaster, if you'd like. There are 8 rooms with simulators in them. Outside these rooms are two screens - one shows the coaster being ridden, and the other shows the riders. You go into the room, and step into the simulator - which looks like a pod. You are harnessed in, and the top is closed. When they close the top, the screen is right in front of you. Whatever you see on the screen is what the pod simulates. If you put a loop in your ride, the pod goes upside down. That is why you have to take things out of your pockets & take your glasses off, and lock them up - so they don't fall off. The ride was a lot of fun, and when we all got off, the kids were talking a mile a minute. Next we went to the Aladdin VR ride. This one was my favorite. There are 12 seats in 3 sections - kind of like sitting on a bike or motorcycle. You put on a plastic lining on your head, and the VR helmet goes over that. There are also handlebars hanging that you grab hold of. We four sat in a section, and after putting on our visors, I looked over at the kids. Instead I saw 3 little monkeys, who look like Abu, sitting on different colored magic carpets. We could also talk to each other through our helmets. When I said, "Hey, kids," all three monkeys looked at me! It was so weird. I told them to nod their heads, and the three monkeys all nodded. That in itself impressed me. As we played the game we could see and talk to each other. It was a lot of fun.

Next we decided to go up to the first floor, and we went on the Virtual Jungle Cruise. Here we sat in inflatable rafts, and had oars with wheels instead of paddles. There are six rafts, and all 4 of us fit in one. In front was a screen with a river. When the game started, the raft inflated, and we moved as if we were on a river. I don't think we paddled right, and none of us really got this game. Next time I'll ask the CM what we're supposed to do. I think the pressure of the paddles on the sides of the raft "guide" you, but we stunk at this one. We then decided to try Treasure of the Incas. There are a bunch of screens set up and steering wheels. The number on the wheel corresponds to a jeep. You drive through a maze, and I think you can get the treasure. I'm not too sure of the goal of this game, but it was fun driving around. It's dark, and the jeeps have their headlights on. I stopped playing, and the kids continued. As I walked around the room, I looked down, and saw under the floor the very jeeps being driven. The maze is underneath, and there is Plexiglas so you can see the cars go. I had fun trying to find the kids' jeeps, which wasn't too hard, because the corresponding numbers were in plain view.

Time was running, so we decided to do Hercules in the Underworld. Again all four of us got to play together. We wore 3-D glasses, and stood in a little room - 2 on the bottom tier, and 2 on the top tier so we could see each the huge screen. You get to pick which character you want to be - Hercules, Pegasus, Meghara, or Phil somehow, I got Phil, to the kids' delight. The object is to collect lightning bolts, and then get Hades. This game was a lot of fun for us, and we all were shouting and laughing while doing it. There are four Hercules rooms here.

We went to the 2nd floor to do the Cyberspace Coaster again, but there was a line, and we didn't have enough time to do it. We went up to the 5th floor, and all got a bite to eat at the Cheesecake Express. They have pizza, burgers, hot dogs, and other grill-type food up there. My chilidog was delicious, and the kids enjoyed their food, too. By now it was time to go, so we made our plans for the day. We'd go to Typhoon Lagoon, then MGM studios to see Muppets & Backlot tour (we missed them the first time) and go on TOT one last time, then we'd return to DQ for more fun in the evening.

We left to pick up Dad & Lucila - perfect timing. They were walking out as we drove up. We all headed back to the resort. Dad & Lucila were looking forward to a relaxing day, and the kids changed their clothes for TL. We left the folks at the resort and headed to the Lagoon. Although it was late (around 1:30 or so), we got a parking spot really close to the entrance. It was cloudy but still quite warm. The kids gave me their backpacks & headed straight for the wave pool. They had just left me when the skies opened up and it started pouring down rain. Everything was pulled down and put away, but since there was no lightening, the kids weren't called out of the water. The rain didn't last too long, and soon enough the sun was shining through the clouds. Although it was Sunday, the park wasn't very crowded. The kids went on some of the slides, and Kelly went to the Shark Reef again. She really loved getting in that freezing cold water & swimming with the fish.

By 3:pm, I got the kids & we went back to the resort to change. This time we were in for a huge surprise by Kelly's beanies, Mel & Iggy! Somehow, they had got the walking creatures (that the kids had got at WS) up on the ceiling fan, and the beanies were at the wall switch to turn it on!!! Good thing we got to the resort on time. No telling what those beanies would have done if we hadn't arrived until that evening as planned! Nick & BJ saved the creatures, while Kelly got her beanies away from the switches. The kids were laughing hysterically, and yes, I was grinning, too. Kelly put the animals away, and scolded them, telling them not to pull anymore shenanigans while we were away.

Beanies settled, we were off to MGM! Once inside, we headed straight for Tower of Terror. The kids wanted an ice cream, so I got us all a Mickey bar (can't let them eat alone, you know). There was virtually no line for TOT, and the Mickey bars being the normal, bite 'em & break your teeth type of cold, we were still working on our bars when we got to the head of the line. The doorman let us in the area before the library (?) so we could finish our ice creams & go on the attraction. I now had time to kind of explore the area, and pointed out to the kids the sign with the fallen letters that spell out "evil tower." These were not an anagram. Soon, we finished our bars, and went on the ride. It was the 2nd time for me, and the 3rd for the kids. We sat in the 2nd row this time, and it was just as fun as the first time. I'm really impressed with this attraction.

After the ride, we walked through the gift shop. Nick still hadn't found a cap. Kelly had the TOT one, and he didn't want to get one like hers, even though he really liked the ride. BJ had his from Adventureland, too. As we walked out, we glanced to our right at the huge guitar standing at the entrance to the RocknRollercoaster ride. Hey, it was open!!!! I asked the kids if they wanted to go on it, and heard a resounding YES!!!! So, we walked through all the empty bars, right inside the building. There was a line, but it wasn't long, and it gave us a chance to "absorb the atmosphere" of the ride. Disney is the line-master. There is always something to see at a Disney line. We all enjoyed the pre-show (although the kids had no idea who Aerosmith is). We were invited to go to the alley, and hop in a waiting limo that would whisk us through Hollywood to go to the concert. The doors opened, and we entered a room set up like an alleyway. Waiting for us was a super-super-stretch limo. Nick & I rode together & Kelly & BJ were right behind us. We were harnessed in, and ready to go. I glanced at Nick, who was wiping his palms on his shorts. This was going to be his first multi-loop ride ever. I wasn't ready for the speed that the limo took off at. We went right into a loop. Most of the ride was in the dark, with Hollywood signs flashing at us, and Aerosmith music blaring away-very exciting. As Nick said, when we got off the ride, "It was AWESOME!" We loved it! That ride got a double 8 thumbs up from us. It was over more quickly than I would have liked, but I think Disney times these rides to get more people through them faster. It was a very fun ride. Well, like many rides, this one also went through a gift shop, and here is where Nick decided he would get his WDW cap. It has Mickey, Goofy, et al, riding on a coaster on it - very cool.

We now wanted to go on Muppet 4D, so we walked over to it - no line. We had the best luck. It was Sunday, 4th of July, and MGM had a small crowd. I can only imagine that everyone was over at the Magic Kingdom, which was good for us. The show was excellent, and very funny. The old guys in the balcony had their usual zingers, and the kids enjoyed repeating them the rest of the day and laughing and laughing. We all enjoyed this show. After Muppet 4D we headed to the Backlot Tour. We got as far as the area to load the trams, but the ride was then closed for some reason. The kids decided that now would be a perfect opportunity to return to DisneyQuest.

By 7:pm, we were at DisneyQuest (the tickets are good for all day, so we just used our tickets & hand-stamps). We were all hungry, so went straight up to the 5th floor and the food court. The burgers & pizza were delicious. Now fortified, we played the same games we had that morning. There were lines this time, so we played them once and went to something else. On the 3rd floor they have the Mighty Ducks Pinball Slam. There are 12 (I think) pedestals with handles (kind of like a scooter with a round base), and a huge screen in front. Each ball on the screen is manipulated by the person moving the pedestal. I won this game. This is the one game that I could beat the kids at, as I reminded them over and over again. It was so much fun to compete at these games. After that, we went to the Lightyear Astroblaster - bumper cars that require two, one to drive, and one to shoot plastic balls >from the cannon-gun at everyone. Kelly & I were in one, and the boys in another. They got stuck & couldn't get out. I couldn't figure out why my cannon didn't get any balls for me to shoot. Of course, we got hit a few times, which sent us into a spin. After the ride was over, I noticed the balls in the middle, between the two of us. As you drive over them, they get scooped into the car in a little area between the two riders. Kelly just gave me "that look" and said that I could drive the next time, and she would shoot. Ha ha We all rode on this again, and were much more successful, so it was more fun (now that we knew what the heck we were doing). After riding on this we decided to try the "Ride the Commix" - we ended up in these seats with these wand type things that once the VR visors were on, turned out to be light sabers that were activated by pushing the buttons. It was fun fighting the enemy, although without the visors, the people looked pretty funny when you watched them swinging at air. We rode another ride - Invasion, An Extraterrestrial Alien Encounter. Nick was the pilot, while BJ, Kelly & I fought off the aliens. After this, we kind of split up to explore the different floors. At 10:30, I found the Internet up on the 4th floor, and told the kids they could find me there for the rest of the night. I had fun checking out the boards. By 11:30, Nick was ready to go. We found Kelly & BJ playing some type of railroad game, where you have to pump the handle up & down - it was funny to watch them. They were ready to go, too, and by the time we arrived at the resort, it was already midnight. We all just tumbled into bed, but not before I made arrangements for Mickey to wake me up the next morning. When we checked in, I asked for late check-out, and was told to call the day before we left. The desk wouldn't take my request in the morning, and since we were out at the parks in the afternoon, I hadn't called the resort after 5:pm, so I figured that we would have to be out of our rooms by 11:am, and I still needed to pack.

Explore Some More
Search the entire site
Home to the top page
Or jump back to the...