mInNiE
19-10-2008, 08:35 PM
Chill Out, Florida Mall and MK – 6th August 2008
Today was our first lie in of the holiday after a few action packed days. We had a lie in, not that much of a lie in though – I think we were still up before 10am. For breakfast I had a bagel and cup of tea and then went out by the pool with my book for a few hours in the sun. After a while, we came back in and watched some TV.
All over the news this morning (and the past few days) was the story of a little Floridian girl who had gone missing, Caylee Anthony, they had arrested her mother and were questioning other family members also. Other channels were covering the Olympic build up and Michael Phelps the US swimmer was given more than a few mentions! We were looking forward to watching some of the Olympics next week after getting home from the parks. It worked out well for us with the time difference as the coverage seemed to start between 9-10pm which was around the time we seemed to be getting home. Also, unavoidable was the whole Obama/McCain sage, although I loved watching it, it all seems so much more interesting than our politics!
So after catching up with the news and other American TV, we decided to get a move on. We got showered and ready and headed out to the Prime Outlets. I didn't buy anything here, neither did DM but my DF bought a North Face jacket for much less than back home and some shorts from Ralph Lauren, Alun also bought a navy hat and shorts from there too.
From what I remember it was absolutely boiling walking around and we spent and hour or so here before heading to Golden Corral by about 2pm ish to fill ourselves up for the afternoon of shopping we had planned! :D
Golden Corral
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/3b8ad0d1.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/0e3c1919.jpg
We then headed to Florida Mall and found it to be quite busy, by now it was about 3.45pm. We parked the car by Saks Fifth Avenue and made our way through the store into the Mall. We decided to split up and my DF and Alun headed off ahead leaving me and my DM to explore. I only took photo’s outside sorry, was too busy hitting the shops as soon as we got in!
Us arriving at the Florida Mall
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/e9a5df94.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/aec8fffd.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/e84217b1.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/86ad3d7b.jpg
We made our way around, stopping in a few shops but then we spotted Sephora. I love this shop and could have spent hours in there even though it’s not that big! We did spend over half an hour in there though which didn’t go down too well with DF and Alun lol!
For any men reading this and those of you who don’t know, Sephora is a make up and cosmetics shop and has so much choice in there! It sells all the different ranges, Mac, Stila, Dior, Lancome, Benefit etc etc. I was looking for a mascara and one of the staff helped me choose one, I also bought a blusher brush and some Stila eyeshadow for a fraction of the price at home.
My DM also bought a mascara and a few other bits. Whilst we’d been browsing in Sephora, Alun had been in and out twice to try and hurry us up and see how long we’d be… oops! They were fed up of waiting for us so after we left here, we decided to split up and me and Alun arranged to meet them near Saks in an hour.
An hour is not long at all to whizz around the Florida Mall and we didn’t get it all done, we spent some time in Abercrombie and Fitch and I bought myself some perfume in there, Alun bought a t shirt and some aftershave and then we went to a few more shops before it was time to head back to meet them. When we got there, my DF was sitting on a bench waiting for us, he had bought a mouse for is lap top so we then all sat and waited for my DM.
We didn’t have to wait long, she was coming towards us with an extra bag than when I’d left her. She’s bought some of the Origins moisturiser she uses from the little Origins shop, again for a fraction of the price compared to back home.
Back at the car, we all grabbed a drink from the cool box in the boot while we waited for the air con to cool down the car. The next stop was the MK for the first Spectromagic parade. We parked the car and made our way to the Transportation Centre on the tram. This time we decided to take the monorail and had a little wait. I then took some pics while we were on the monorail as we stopped mid air, just after the Contemporary and just before the MK stop.
I then took some pics while we were on the monorail as we stopped mid air, just after the Contemporary and just before the MK stop.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/190e347e.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/c837bb4c.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/bb4bd0b5.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/0b88d459.jpg
As we approached the entrance, we spotted another PhotoPass man and stopped for what would be the first of many stops as we made into the park, down Main Street and towards the castle. These are a few of the photos that we took along the way.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/996517ef.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/d435b2c1.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/image157.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/image158.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/image159.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/image168.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/d8b49332.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/845f3911.jpg
The castle
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/7da6abff.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/b54dc457.jpg
It was really humid in the park tonight and we all felt it, much more than any other night! Once down Main Street, we made our way over to Frontierland which was where we had planned to watch Spectromagic. Before we made it there we had to stop in a shop to cool down and we had a bit of a laugh with the Minnie and Mickey ears as you can see..
Practicing for next summer ;)
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/7d7aca5f.jpg
After the shop, we headed to get some refreshments. A dole whip for my DF and a chocolate icecream for Alun, neither my DM or me fancied anything but we shared a little bit of theirs.
DF and his dole whip
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/78fe3f58.jpg
We then made our way to another shop where I decided to buy myself a Minnie pin. I attached it to my bag next to my Segway pin that we’d all been given yesterday! (Forgot to mention in Day 3 that they gave us pins after we completed the tour)
We then took our places outside the shop, facing Tom Sawyer’s Island and waited for the parade to start. It was very busy along the ropes but we found a spot which was empty and all settled there. Alun had to go back into the shop because he got so hot, I don’t think he’d expected the heat and humidity especially as it was dark lol!
The music started up as the Parade approached and we got our first glimpse of the lights as they come around the corner, I always get choked at this point. These are some of the Parade pics.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/4190fbeb.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/dab8643a.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/23cca9c6.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/92c3eb70.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/995580f1.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/c3edb982.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/9a4a1edc.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/12e5ea5f.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/920daac1.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/1eaf4f14.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/b640462e.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/c477c7e8.jpg
After the Parade we did some rides until it was time for Wishes. At just about ten to ten, we were passing ‘It’s a Small World’ and it was posting a 5 minute wait. It looked like a walk on and so my DM and I thought it would be a good idea to go on. My DF was not convinced, let’s just say it’s not his favourite ride in the park and he thought we’d miss Wishes (which none of us have ever seen) if we went on! Alun hadn’t been on the ride before but knew what my DF thought about it! We managed to convince them and made our way down to where you get on. There was a slight queue and after a few minutes we were on our way…
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/a0df59c3.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/ce2b3c63.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/15ebf750.jpg
It must be the cheesiest ride in the MK but I love it, and also the song! However, as we were happily sailing along, we began to hear loud bangs which sounded like they were coming from right above us. Yes you guessed it Wishes had started and we were missing it for IaSW!! It's a good job we were planning to come back to see it again!
My DF smiling, happily enjoying It’s a Small World lol
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/ec3e6770.jpg
As soon as the ride came to a halt, we all jumped out of the boat and along with everyone else almost ran towards the bangs! As soon as we got out, it seemed like we’d only missed a little bit but we were not standing where we would have, had we not gone on IaSW! We were in Fantasyland at the back of the castle. We were much closer to the fireworks than we would have been at the front of the castle and the fireworks were overhead so we had to look straight up! Also, we couldn’t hear the commentary, or see the effects of the fireworks behind the castle but we could still tell that it was an absolutely amazing show with the best fireworks I have ever seen at the MK or anywhere in the world for that matter!
When we saw Wishes later in the holiday it seemed like the fireworks were coming from the same place, but tonight, we could see that they were actually coming from everywhere, all around us, it was so so loud and we seemed to be right in the middle of it! As soon as a firework went off we all looked up at that, then one would go off from behind us and everyone would spin to look at that one! It was amazing we all loved it and couldn’t wait to see it properly at the front of the castle. I suppose we wouldn’t have experienced this side of Wishes if we hadn’t gone on IaSW so my DF has that to thank us for lol.
These are some of the pics that came out
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/4bf4c162.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/452361c5.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/a5925811.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/da82bc1e.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/355b206f.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/ac5421e8.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/fc012454.jpg
After Wishes finished, we decided that we should do the Fantasyland rides as they were walk-ons :banana1:
We went on ‘Peter Pan’s Flight’, ‘Snow White’s Scary Adventures’ and ‘The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh’. After this, the CM’s seemed to be closing the queues and so we made our way out of the park stopping for some more PhotoPass pics on the way out…
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/image205.jpg
Back at the villa we all decided to finish of the evening by going for a dip in the hot tub with a glass of wine for me and my DM and a beer for Alun and my DF. It was such a nice way to end the day and even though we hadn’t been that busy today it was still nice to have a soak and recharge the batteries ready or another busy day tomorrow.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/21c22f3a.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/bdeb43cd.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/6d573f24.jpg
We then dried off and came in, said goodnight and padded off to our bedroom to bed and soon fell fast asleep as we had an early start at MGM tomorrow!
Today was our first lie in of the holiday after a few action packed days. We had a lie in, not that much of a lie in though – I think we were still up before 10am. For breakfast I had a bagel and cup of tea and then went out by the pool with my book for a few hours in the sun. After a while, we came back in and watched some TV.
All over the news this morning (and the past few days) was the story of a little Floridian girl who had gone missing, Caylee Anthony, they had arrested her mother and were questioning other family members also. Other channels were covering the Olympic build up and Michael Phelps the US swimmer was given more than a few mentions! We were looking forward to watching some of the Olympics next week after getting home from the parks. It worked out well for us with the time difference as the coverage seemed to start between 9-10pm which was around the time we seemed to be getting home. Also, unavoidable was the whole Obama/McCain sage, although I loved watching it, it all seems so much more interesting than our politics!
So after catching up with the news and other American TV, we decided to get a move on. We got showered and ready and headed out to the Prime Outlets. I didn't buy anything here, neither did DM but my DF bought a North Face jacket for much less than back home and some shorts from Ralph Lauren, Alun also bought a navy hat and shorts from there too.
From what I remember it was absolutely boiling walking around and we spent and hour or so here before heading to Golden Corral by about 2pm ish to fill ourselves up for the afternoon of shopping we had planned! :D
Golden Corral
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/3b8ad0d1.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/0e3c1919.jpg
We then headed to Florida Mall and found it to be quite busy, by now it was about 3.45pm. We parked the car by Saks Fifth Avenue and made our way through the store into the Mall. We decided to split up and my DF and Alun headed off ahead leaving me and my DM to explore. I only took photo’s outside sorry, was too busy hitting the shops as soon as we got in!
Us arriving at the Florida Mall
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/e9a5df94.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/aec8fffd.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/e84217b1.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/86ad3d7b.jpg
We made our way around, stopping in a few shops but then we spotted Sephora. I love this shop and could have spent hours in there even though it’s not that big! We did spend over half an hour in there though which didn’t go down too well with DF and Alun lol!
For any men reading this and those of you who don’t know, Sephora is a make up and cosmetics shop and has so much choice in there! It sells all the different ranges, Mac, Stila, Dior, Lancome, Benefit etc etc. I was looking for a mascara and one of the staff helped me choose one, I also bought a blusher brush and some Stila eyeshadow for a fraction of the price at home.
My DM also bought a mascara and a few other bits. Whilst we’d been browsing in Sephora, Alun had been in and out twice to try and hurry us up and see how long we’d be… oops! They were fed up of waiting for us so after we left here, we decided to split up and me and Alun arranged to meet them near Saks in an hour.
An hour is not long at all to whizz around the Florida Mall and we didn’t get it all done, we spent some time in Abercrombie and Fitch and I bought myself some perfume in there, Alun bought a t shirt and some aftershave and then we went to a few more shops before it was time to head back to meet them. When we got there, my DF was sitting on a bench waiting for us, he had bought a mouse for is lap top so we then all sat and waited for my DM.
We didn’t have to wait long, she was coming towards us with an extra bag than when I’d left her. She’s bought some of the Origins moisturiser she uses from the little Origins shop, again for a fraction of the price compared to back home.
Back at the car, we all grabbed a drink from the cool box in the boot while we waited for the air con to cool down the car. The next stop was the MK for the first Spectromagic parade. We parked the car and made our way to the Transportation Centre on the tram. This time we decided to take the monorail and had a little wait. I then took some pics while we were on the monorail as we stopped mid air, just after the Contemporary and just before the MK stop.
I then took some pics while we were on the monorail as we stopped mid air, just after the Contemporary and just before the MK stop.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/190e347e.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/c837bb4c.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/bb4bd0b5.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/0b88d459.jpg
As we approached the entrance, we spotted another PhotoPass man and stopped for what would be the first of many stops as we made into the park, down Main Street and towards the castle. These are a few of the photos that we took along the way.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/996517ef.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/d435b2c1.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/image157.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/image158.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/image159.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/image168.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/d8b49332.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/845f3911.jpg
The castle
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/7da6abff.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/b54dc457.jpg
It was really humid in the park tonight and we all felt it, much more than any other night! Once down Main Street, we made our way over to Frontierland which was where we had planned to watch Spectromagic. Before we made it there we had to stop in a shop to cool down and we had a bit of a laugh with the Minnie and Mickey ears as you can see..
Practicing for next summer ;)
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/7d7aca5f.jpg
After the shop, we headed to get some refreshments. A dole whip for my DF and a chocolate icecream for Alun, neither my DM or me fancied anything but we shared a little bit of theirs.
DF and his dole whip
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/78fe3f58.jpg
We then made our way to another shop where I decided to buy myself a Minnie pin. I attached it to my bag next to my Segway pin that we’d all been given yesterday! (Forgot to mention in Day 3 that they gave us pins after we completed the tour)
We then took our places outside the shop, facing Tom Sawyer’s Island and waited for the parade to start. It was very busy along the ropes but we found a spot which was empty and all settled there. Alun had to go back into the shop because he got so hot, I don’t think he’d expected the heat and humidity especially as it was dark lol!
The music started up as the Parade approached and we got our first glimpse of the lights as they come around the corner, I always get choked at this point. These are some of the Parade pics.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/4190fbeb.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/dab8643a.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/23cca9c6.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/92c3eb70.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/995580f1.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/c3edb982.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/9a4a1edc.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/12e5ea5f.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/920daac1.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/1eaf4f14.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/b640462e.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/c477c7e8.jpg
After the Parade we did some rides until it was time for Wishes. At just about ten to ten, we were passing ‘It’s a Small World’ and it was posting a 5 minute wait. It looked like a walk on and so my DM and I thought it would be a good idea to go on. My DF was not convinced, let’s just say it’s not his favourite ride in the park and he thought we’d miss Wishes (which none of us have ever seen) if we went on! Alun hadn’t been on the ride before but knew what my DF thought about it! We managed to convince them and made our way down to where you get on. There was a slight queue and after a few minutes we were on our way…
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/a0df59c3.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/ce2b3c63.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/15ebf750.jpg
It must be the cheesiest ride in the MK but I love it, and also the song! However, as we were happily sailing along, we began to hear loud bangs which sounded like they were coming from right above us. Yes you guessed it Wishes had started and we were missing it for IaSW!! It's a good job we were planning to come back to see it again!
My DF smiling, happily enjoying It’s a Small World lol
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/ec3e6770.jpg
As soon as the ride came to a halt, we all jumped out of the boat and along with everyone else almost ran towards the bangs! As soon as we got out, it seemed like we’d only missed a little bit but we were not standing where we would have, had we not gone on IaSW! We were in Fantasyland at the back of the castle. We were much closer to the fireworks than we would have been at the front of the castle and the fireworks were overhead so we had to look straight up! Also, we couldn’t hear the commentary, or see the effects of the fireworks behind the castle but we could still tell that it was an absolutely amazing show with the best fireworks I have ever seen at the MK or anywhere in the world for that matter!
When we saw Wishes later in the holiday it seemed like the fireworks were coming from the same place, but tonight, we could see that they were actually coming from everywhere, all around us, it was so so loud and we seemed to be right in the middle of it! As soon as a firework went off we all looked up at that, then one would go off from behind us and everyone would spin to look at that one! It was amazing we all loved it and couldn’t wait to see it properly at the front of the castle. I suppose we wouldn’t have experienced this side of Wishes if we hadn’t gone on IaSW so my DF has that to thank us for lol.
These are some of the pics that came out
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/4bf4c162.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/452361c5.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/a5925811.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/da82bc1e.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/355b206f.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/ac5421e8.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/fc012454.jpg
After Wishes finished, we decided that we should do the Fantasyland rides as they were walk-ons :banana1:
We went on ‘Peter Pan’s Flight’, ‘Snow White’s Scary Adventures’ and ‘The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh’. After this, the CM’s seemed to be closing the queues and so we made our way out of the park stopping for some more PhotoPass pics on the way out…
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/image205.jpg
Back at the villa we all decided to finish of the evening by going for a dip in the hot tub with a glass of wine for me and my DM and a beer for Alun and my DF. It was such a nice way to end the day and even though we hadn’t been that busy today it was still nice to have a soak and recharge the batteries ready or another busy day tomorrow.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/21c22f3a.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/bdeb43cd.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn166/rhianje/Florida%2008/6d573f24.jpg
We then dried off and came in, said goodnight and padded off to our bedroom to bed and soon fell fast asleep as we had an early start at MGM tomorrow!