It's been just over a week since the Disney World trip. What an amazing vacation.
It was the first time that we have flown together as a family. Our previous vacations were all road trips. It was nice not having to worry about finding a gas station or place to eat or driving for 6 or so hours. Airport security was not as bad as I originally anticipated - I still think it is a farce, nothing more than security theatre - but that was only because the lines were not too long.
The best resource if this will be your first trip to Disney or if you have no been a long time is to buy a copy of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. It is an amazing source of information providing all sorts of details including positive and negative feedback from visitors on every thing Disney World.
Though we did not use them in the end, the touring plans will save valuable time on busier days. The information in the book we found most useful was the description of all the sit down restaurants, the rides and the shows.
Also coming in handy via the website TouringPlans.com (purchasing the book gives you free access to all of the website for a year) was a crowd level guide and which parks you should visit and which parks you should avoid. Helps you plan which park to attend on which day to improve your experience.
Initially we began planning our trip using the vacation planner at the Walt Disney World website, but the number of options and so forth made it difficult to plan it. I finally went to our local CAA (AAA) office and went over the trip. I booked it.
Advantages of booking through CAA? You get all documentation and items in one package. Also, the travel agent will check to see if there are any better deals on your hotel portion. We got a package that was about $100 cheaper than originally planned PLUS a $200 gift card to use at the park. We booked our restaurants through CAA - a time and money saver since there is no toll-free number for Disney Dining (though it is my understanding that the restaurant reservation system should be online in the near future, if not already)
Disney Magical Express - the bus that takes you between the Disney World and Orlando International Airport - comes highly recommended. Don't let the long line at DME check in scare you. It moves along at a good pace. That said, this would be a good time for the rest of your party to visit the washroom, grab a snack or drink, or to change into more appropriate clothes. It was nice not to have to worry about lugging your luggage and storing it at hotel if you arrive before 4:00 PM.
The parking situation at Disney is not well documented nor well explained. When you check in at a Disney resort, you are given a parking pass. This is your ticket to free parking throughout Walt Disney World. What they don't explain is how to use it when visiting the hotels - you usually need your Park Pass and sometimes a picture ID. At some resorts you can swipe your card for automated access.
We used our AAA/CAA Diamond Parking pass whenever possible. No problem using the pass at Magic Kingdom. Diamond parking was not available at Epcot during our stay and we never drove to Hollywood Studios (choosing the boats instead). We did encounter a problem at Animal Kingdom in that the Cast Member did not believe our passes were real. I told her that was a problem between Disney and AAA/CAA.
The Disney Dining Plan seemed to work out, especially at lunch. We had absolutely no problems using the plan - most Cast Members were helpful in maximizing the value of the plan. Because it wasn't hot during our stay, we found that we didn't drink or snack as much during our visits to the park. So we used the snack credits to get a bunch of fruit and baked goods to use as our breakfast. We did bring bagels, instant oatmeal and a few other pre-packaged foods with us to cut down on breakfast costs.
The Boardwalk Villas are fully equipped. Dishwasher. Stove. Microwave. Washer. Dryer. Utensils, cookware and dishes. You could cook a meal if you wanted to. Best part? Housekeeping would wash everything for you. We always had two single load boxes of detergent. Having the washer and dryer was a god send. We were able to pack half the clothes, freeing up room for souvenirs on the trip back home.
We didn't see every single attraction or spent the entire day at every park. The longest day was at Magic Kingdom - where we did the majority of attractions. The shortest day was at Animal Kingdom - where we visited a single area. We didn't get a chance to checkout World Showcase at Epcot. But that was a good thing. It gives us the opportunity to check out 'new' attractions the next time we visit. And there will be a next time.
Posted by Adam
Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts
Saturday, 24 January 2009
Friday, 16 January 2009
Disney World - Day 6 - Home Sweet Home
Back to A Cold Reality
The Disney Magical Express was on time and the driver loaded our bags. The bus was full and we made one stop before heading to Orlando International Airport. The driver was a hoot. Making jokes and telling funny stories.
The airport was busy but the check in at Spirit Air was light. I used the self-service machine to get our boarding passes and luggage tags before handing our luggage to one of the staff. Then it was up to departures and getting through security. Fortunately, airport staff directed us to the family line and we proceeded quickly through the area - though I did have to take off my belt. Really?
A fast tram ride to our airside terminal and then a period of waiting. Our flight was pushed back about 45 minutes - it was late from Puerto Rico. But when it arrived at the gate, staff emptied and boarded the plane very quickly. Then the pilot was gunning it to the runway to avoid waiting to take-off.
The flight was uneventful. Those of us with a NintendoDS played it, while others read books or did crossword puzzles. There were no clouds between Orlando and Detroit, thereby offering an amazing view of the lit up cities below. The descent into Detroit was wild but smooth.
We had to walk a good distance before making our way down to the baggage claim section. While the rest of the gang waited for our bags, I put on my leather coat and readied myself for the extreme cold outside, hoping that our van would start with no problems.
It was freezing cold outside. I quickly found the van and turned key. No hesitation. Started right away. Turned on the heat and fans to full and left the garage. Tina had the luggage ready. As I parked the van she came out and I got the rest of the luggage. None of us could believe how cold it was.
No problem through Canadian customs. We grabbed a couple of pizzas at Little Caesar's for a very late supper. Guinea the Guinea Pig was happy to see us.
It was nice to be home after an amazing vacation. Thank you Babcia.
Posted by Adam
The Disney Magical Express was on time and the driver loaded our bags. The bus was full and we made one stop before heading to Orlando International Airport. The driver was a hoot. Making jokes and telling funny stories.
The airport was busy but the check in at Spirit Air was light. I used the self-service machine to get our boarding passes and luggage tags before handing our luggage to one of the staff. Then it was up to departures and getting through security. Fortunately, airport staff directed us to the family line and we proceeded quickly through the area - though I did have to take off my belt. Really?
A fast tram ride to our airside terminal and then a period of waiting. Our flight was pushed back about 45 minutes - it was late from Puerto Rico. But when it arrived at the gate, staff emptied and boarded the plane very quickly. Then the pilot was gunning it to the runway to avoid waiting to take-off.
The flight was uneventful. Those of us with a NintendoDS played it, while others read books or did crossword puzzles. There were no clouds between Orlando and Detroit, thereby offering an amazing view of the lit up cities below. The descent into Detroit was wild but smooth.
We had to walk a good distance before making our way down to the baggage claim section. While the rest of the gang waited for our bags, I put on my leather coat and readied myself for the extreme cold outside, hoping that our van would start with no problems.
It was freezing cold outside. I quickly found the van and turned key. No hesitation. Started right away. Turned on the heat and fans to full and left the garage. Tina had the luggage ready. As I parked the van she came out and I got the rest of the luggage. None of us could believe how cold it was.
No problem through Canadian customs. We grabbed a couple of pizzas at Little Caesar's for a very late supper. Guinea the Guinea Pig was happy to see us.
It was nice to be home after an amazing vacation. Thank you Babcia.
Posted by Adam
Disney World - Day 6 - Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Redux
It was our last day at Disney today. We showered, ate breakfast and finished packing. An itemized bill was left under our door and there was no need to check out if all was in order. The luggage was left with Bell Services and we headed to the boat dock to take the boat to Hollywood Studios.
My original plan was for us to go to Magic Kingdom. However, since we had done most of the attractions in Magic Kingdom, we wanted that experience to remain positive. So Tina and I decided the night before to give Hollywood Studios another try. It was closer to the hotel which meant we could spend more time in the park before coming back to the hotel for the trip back to Orlando International Airport.
It was cool - jeans and a sweater were appropriate attire. The boys had mitts and hats on. But it was very sunny, making for a pleasant day. We arrived after 9:30 AM and the park was not as busy as it was on Monday.
We managed to make it in time for the Jedi Training Academy - a live show that children participate in. To our relief, both Corbin and Jeremy were chosen to participate. The kids were given Jedi robes and lightsabers. Jeremy had some difficulty putting on his robe, so the 'Jedi Master' helped him out - Jeremy was front and centre.
The Jedi Master trained the kids in how to use the lightsaber. Then out of nowhere, Darth Vader appeared with two Stormtroopers. Darth Vader challenges the children to a one-on-one battle to see if they will join him. I don't think Jeremy or Corbin will ever forget this. All the kids were given certificates.
We took in some other shows and took some pictures with Power Rangers and Lightning McQueen and Mater. Another spin on Toy Story Mania (of course) before taking the Great Movie Ride - an attraction that takes you through various movie scenes and includes both live and animatronic characters. Other attractions included Muppets 3-D (a show that needs some serious updating) and Prince Narnia (Tina wasn't too impressed).
Lunch was at the ABC Commissary. We did some more shopping and watched a street performance of a director filming a scene. While Tina got our free 5 x 7 photo, Jeremy and I sat on a bench. The movie director introduced himself to Jeremy who had him audition for a scene. Jeremy played along. For his effort, Jeremy received a 'gold' plated cup and a business card.
It was time to leave Hollywood Studios and return to the hotel to wait for Disney Magical Express. While saddened to leave the park, we couldn't have finished on a better and happier note.
Posted by Adam
It was our last day at Disney today. We showered, ate breakfast and finished packing. An itemized bill was left under our door and there was no need to check out if all was in order. The luggage was left with Bell Services and we headed to the boat dock to take the boat to Hollywood Studios.
My original plan was for us to go to Magic Kingdom. However, since we had done most of the attractions in Magic Kingdom, we wanted that experience to remain positive. So Tina and I decided the night before to give Hollywood Studios another try. It was closer to the hotel which meant we could spend more time in the park before coming back to the hotel for the trip back to Orlando International Airport.
It was cool - jeans and a sweater were appropriate attire. The boys had mitts and hats on. But it was very sunny, making for a pleasant day. We arrived after 9:30 AM and the park was not as busy as it was on Monday.
We managed to make it in time for the Jedi Training Academy - a live show that children participate in. To our relief, both Corbin and Jeremy were chosen to participate. The kids were given Jedi robes and lightsabers. Jeremy had some difficulty putting on his robe, so the 'Jedi Master' helped him out - Jeremy was front and centre.
The Jedi Master trained the kids in how to use the lightsaber. Then out of nowhere, Darth Vader appeared with two Stormtroopers. Darth Vader challenges the children to a one-on-one battle to see if they will join him. I don't think Jeremy or Corbin will ever forget this. All the kids were given certificates.
We took in some other shows and took some pictures with Power Rangers and Lightning McQueen and Mater. Another spin on Toy Story Mania (of course) before taking the Great Movie Ride - an attraction that takes you through various movie scenes and includes both live and animatronic characters. Other attractions included Muppets 3-D (a show that needs some serious updating) and Prince Narnia (Tina wasn't too impressed).
Lunch was at the ABC Commissary. We did some more shopping and watched a street performance of a director filming a scene. While Tina got our free 5 x 7 photo, Jeremy and I sat on a bench. The movie director introduced himself to Jeremy who had him audition for a scene. Jeremy played along. For his effort, Jeremy received a 'gold' plated cup and a business card.
It was time to leave Hollywood Studios and return to the hotel to wait for Disney Magical Express. While saddened to leave the park, we couldn't have finished on a better and happier note.
Posted by Adam
Thursday, 15 January 2009
Disney World - Day 5 - Cape May Cafe
Seafood Fare
Knowing that we wouldn't have the rental car on our last night at Disney, I had booked a reservation at Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club Resort which is across from the Boardwalk Inn and Villas. So no need to travel far tonight to eat.
We caught a boat over to the Beach Club and walked from the dock to the restaurant. Didn't have to wait too long to be seated but the table they were going to put us at was awkward with a column between two people. I asked to be seated at another table. If you have an odd number of people - like five - the seating is awkward at Cape May Cafe.
The boys had their usual food. Macaroni, pizza, chicken fingers and so on. I filled up on some shrimp, fish fillets and chowder. Everyone else enjoyed the dinner and especially loved the desert selection. The food was good and hot, but nothing to get excited over. If you love clams, this is the place to come. Next time we'll probably try the Flying Fish at the Boardwalk.
Full of food, we strolled back along the boardwalk to the hotel. It was cool but it was nice to get some exercise and fresh air after a good meal.
Posted by Adam
Knowing that we wouldn't have the rental car on our last night at Disney, I had booked a reservation at Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club Resort which is across from the Boardwalk Inn and Villas. So no need to travel far tonight to eat.
We caught a boat over to the Beach Club and walked from the dock to the restaurant. Didn't have to wait too long to be seated but the table they were going to put us at was awkward with a column between two people. I asked to be seated at another table. If you have an odd number of people - like five - the seating is awkward at Cape May Cafe.
The boys had their usual food. Macaroni, pizza, chicken fingers and so on. I filled up on some shrimp, fish fillets and chowder. Everyone else enjoyed the dinner and especially loved the desert selection. The food was good and hot, but nothing to get excited over. If you love clams, this is the place to come. Next time we'll probably try the Flying Fish at the Boardwalk.
Full of food, we strolled back along the boardwalk to the hotel. It was cool but it was nice to get some exercise and fresh air after a good meal.
Posted by Adam
Disney World - Day 5 - Animal Kingdom
A Short Day
Decided to sleep in today and take it easy. We set off to Animal Kingdom, arriving before 10:00 AM. It was noticeably cooler today, but it was sunny.
Parking was interesting in that I had to put up with a Disney employee lecturing me about the Diamond Parking Pass. She was telling us that the coupon in our book is not valid - that it was a copy and that we were supposed to have a card. I said the coupon is not a copy and that any issue she had should be taken up with her management, not me. Eventually, I parked in the Diamond parking area and we walked to the front entrance. I complained at the customer service desk about that experience.
On our way in, we could smell the animals. We visited only two areas of Animal Kingdom: Discovery Island and Dinoland U.S.A. We took in the "It's Tough to be a Bug!", a 3D show that included crawling bugs in your seat. Jeremy was afraid of the show, but the rest of us liked it.
Next, we booked it over to "Finding Nemo - The Musical". We made it just in time, so no waiting in line. This was a live show based on the Finding Nemo movie and everyone loved it, even the kids. It was an interesting adaptation of the movie and included performers moving through the audience. Very well done and kept the attention of both our five-year old and 10-year old.
A short walk to Dinoland U.S.A. Corbin and I took a spin on Primeval Whirl - a spinning roller coaster - while Tina and Jeremy went on TriceraTop Spin - another Dumbo/Magic Carpet clone. Tina bought some tokens for the boys and they played a few carnival games.
Then we spent some time in the gift shop, where we all bought something. I purchased a WDW baseball cap, Jeremy picked out a bunch of stuff, Corbin a few things and Tina picked up some gifts.
It was close to lunch time so we grabbed a bite to eat at Restaurantosaurus. On the way out we listened to a band play African music. Jeremy danced like there was no tomorrow.
We walked back to the parking lot and I dropped the gang off at the hotel because I had to bring the rental car back to the Dolphin Hotel. We took it easy in the afternoon, hanging out in the hotel. My mom and Tina went out to the Boardwalk to do some browsing and shopping.
The boys and I chilled out in the room, watching TV and playing games on our Nintendo DS. I started getting some things ready for packing.
Posted by Adam
Decided to sleep in today and take it easy. We set off to Animal Kingdom, arriving before 10:00 AM. It was noticeably cooler today, but it was sunny.
Parking was interesting in that I had to put up with a Disney employee lecturing me about the Diamond Parking Pass. She was telling us that the coupon in our book is not valid - that it was a copy and that we were supposed to have a card. I said the coupon is not a copy and that any issue she had should be taken up with her management, not me. Eventually, I parked in the Diamond parking area and we walked to the front entrance. I complained at the customer service desk about that experience.
On our way in, we could smell the animals. We visited only two areas of Animal Kingdom: Discovery Island and Dinoland U.S.A. We took in the "It's Tough to be a Bug!", a 3D show that included crawling bugs in your seat. Jeremy was afraid of the show, but the rest of us liked it.
Next, we booked it over to "Finding Nemo - The Musical". We made it just in time, so no waiting in line. This was a live show based on the Finding Nemo movie and everyone loved it, even the kids. It was an interesting adaptation of the movie and included performers moving through the audience. Very well done and kept the attention of both our five-year old and 10-year old.
A short walk to Dinoland U.S.A. Corbin and I took a spin on Primeval Whirl - a spinning roller coaster - while Tina and Jeremy went on TriceraTop Spin - another Dumbo/Magic Carpet clone. Tina bought some tokens for the boys and they played a few carnival games.
Then we spent some time in the gift shop, where we all bought something. I purchased a WDW baseball cap, Jeremy picked out a bunch of stuff, Corbin a few things and Tina picked up some gifts.
It was close to lunch time so we grabbed a bite to eat at Restaurantosaurus. On the way out we listened to a band play African music. Jeremy danced like there was no tomorrow.
We walked back to the parking lot and I dropped the gang off at the hotel because I had to bring the rental car back to the Dolphin Hotel. We took it easy in the afternoon, hanging out in the hotel. My mom and Tina went out to the Boardwalk to do some browsing and shopping.
The boys and I chilled out in the room, watching TV and playing games on our Nintendo DS. I started getting some things ready for packing.
Posted by Adam
Wednesday, 14 January 2009
Disney World - Day 4 - Chef Mickey's
Character Dining Experience #2
Tonight was the 'main' character dining experience - Chef Mickey's.
We drove up to the Contemporary where the security guard gave us a third option for parking - drop the passengers at the front door and then park in the Valet Parking lot. Thank you very much. I do have to say it's nice to have a vehicle.
It was busy at Chef Mickey's. They are renovating a part of the restaurant so space is limited. About 20 or so minutes later, our buzzer buzzed. Tina had wanted a quit corner but that was another 30 minute wait. We were shown a table near the buffet and only beside one table, so that worked for us.
As we got our food from the buffet, the characters would come around. Donald Duck surprised Tina and the boys. Corbin had fun talking about Donald's misadventure in Philharmagic. The buffet was your typical Disney fare - there was lots of food. The highlight food wise was the desert bar. Soft serve ice cream and all sorts of toppings plus cakes and cookies. Watch out if you have a sweet tooth.
Other visitors included Goofy, Pluto and Minnie. The boys hugged the characters and posed for pictures. It made for a longer than usual dining experience.
It took a while for Mickey to come our area - be forewarned, seems everyone wants his autograph. But he did make it to our table and we took the mandatory picture or two. The boys ate it all up - the food and characters.
We purchased a picture of the five of us along with standard picture of the Disney characters. My mom stopped in a store to buy an album before we drove back to the hotel for some rest and relaxation.
Posted by Adam
Tonight was the 'main' character dining experience - Chef Mickey's.
We drove up to the Contemporary where the security guard gave us a third option for parking - drop the passengers at the front door and then park in the Valet Parking lot. Thank you very much. I do have to say it's nice to have a vehicle.
It was busy at Chef Mickey's. They are renovating a part of the restaurant so space is limited. About 20 or so minutes later, our buzzer buzzed. Tina had wanted a quit corner but that was another 30 minute wait. We were shown a table near the buffet and only beside one table, so that worked for us.
As we got our food from the buffet, the characters would come around. Donald Duck surprised Tina and the boys. Corbin had fun talking about Donald's misadventure in Philharmagic. The buffet was your typical Disney fare - there was lots of food. The highlight food wise was the desert bar. Soft serve ice cream and all sorts of toppings plus cakes and cookies. Watch out if you have a sweet tooth.
Other visitors included Goofy, Pluto and Minnie. The boys hugged the characters and posed for pictures. It made for a longer than usual dining experience.
It took a while for Mickey to come our area - be forewarned, seems everyone wants his autograph. But he did make it to our table and we took the mandatory picture or two. The boys ate it all up - the food and characters.
We purchased a picture of the five of us along with standard picture of the Disney characters. My mom stopped in a store to buy an album before we drove back to the hotel for some rest and relaxation.
Posted by Adam
Disney World - Day 4 - Epcot
Future World
The day began like any other. Showers. Breakfast. Getting our stuff together. I didn't feel like walking to the front of Epcot so we drove over. It was cool but very sunny.
Epcot was already buzzing with activity. Corbin and I headed over to Mission: Space (choosing the non-spinning version). Then Tina, Corbin, Jeremy and myself took a spin on Test Track. Everyone loved the ride, especially Jeremy who liked the cold and hot rooms and the fast part of the ride.
All five of us went on Spaceship Earth. The boys liked the interactive exhibits inside the pavilion while Babcia was amazed at the electronic post card with a picture of her from the ride. Corbin and I went on Soarin', which was a cool ride - Corbin ducked when the golf ball came towards us.
Other attractions we visited included "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" - which needs an update and Living With the Land - a ride that the kids actually found interesting.
We grabbed lunch at the Sunshine Seasons food court in the Land Pavilion. It has an excellent selection of foods, deserts and drinks. One of the best food courts at Disney and it was recently renovated.
Just after 1 PM or so, we were done with Epcot. We decided not to explore World Showcase, because the boys were already losing steam - and we like to end things on a high note.
Tina and Jeremy headed to the hotel, while Babcia, Corbin and myself took a trip to a nearby outlet mall (which turned out to be a disappointing visit).
Posted by Adam
The day began like any other. Showers. Breakfast. Getting our stuff together. I didn't feel like walking to the front of Epcot so we drove over. It was cool but very sunny.
Epcot was already buzzing with activity. Corbin and I headed over to Mission: Space (choosing the non-spinning version). Then Tina, Corbin, Jeremy and myself took a spin on Test Track. Everyone loved the ride, especially Jeremy who liked the cold and hot rooms and the fast part of the ride.
All five of us went on Spaceship Earth. The boys liked the interactive exhibits inside the pavilion while Babcia was amazed at the electronic post card with a picture of her from the ride. Corbin and I went on Soarin', which was a cool ride - Corbin ducked when the golf ball came towards us.
Other attractions we visited included "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" - which needs an update and Living With the Land - a ride that the kids actually found interesting.
We grabbed lunch at the Sunshine Seasons food court in the Land Pavilion. It has an excellent selection of foods, deserts and drinks. One of the best food courts at Disney and it was recently renovated.
Just after 1 PM or so, we were done with Epcot. We decided not to explore World Showcase, because the boys were already losing steam - and we like to end things on a high note.
Tina and Jeremy headed to the hotel, while Babcia, Corbin and myself took a trip to a nearby outlet mall (which turned out to be a disappointing visit).
Posted by Adam
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Disney World - Day 3 - Crystal Palace
Character Dining Experience #1
We had no idea what to expect from Character Dining except that it can be a chaotic experience. The characters at Crystal Palace are: Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger and Winne the Pooh.
Fortunately, we had an early reservation for the Crystal Palace. That meant it wasn't too busy inside. In fact, it wasn't too crazy nor too loud. Perfect after a full day at Magic Kingdom, especially a wet afternoon.
Standard Disney fare at the buffet. Prime Rib and Rotisserie Chicken were the feature items. The kids ate up the Mac & Cheese with Mickey shaped pasta, chicken nuggets and french fries.
I ate my fill of food. Going up several times. Everyone had a great time. The boys got to follow the characters around the restaurant in a parade not once but twice. This was the perfect ending to an awesome day.
Posted by Adam
We had no idea what to expect from Character Dining except that it can be a chaotic experience. The characters at Crystal Palace are: Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger and Winne the Pooh.
Fortunately, we had an early reservation for the Crystal Palace. That meant it wasn't too busy inside. In fact, it wasn't too crazy nor too loud. Perfect after a full day at Magic Kingdom, especially a wet afternoon.
Standard Disney fare at the buffet. Prime Rib and Rotisserie Chicken were the feature items. The kids ate up the Mac & Cheese with Mickey shaped pasta, chicken nuggets and french fries.
I ate my fill of food. Going up several times. Everyone had a great time. The boys got to follow the characters around the restaurant in a parade not once but twice. This was the perfect ending to an awesome day.
Posted by Adam
Disney World - Day 3 - Magic Kingdom
A Great Day
Time to experience Magic Kingdom in a full day visit that also included Character Dining at the Crystal Palace. They were calling for some light rain in the afternoon, so we made sure to take our rain ponchos and umbrellas. Drove to the parking lot and walked over to the monorail station at the Ticket and Transportation Center.
We arrived about 20 minutes before the official opening. Tina positioned herself to rent a stroller and Corbin and I positioned ourself near the front to head over to Tommorowland and take a spin on Space Mountain.
It all worked out. Corbin and I didn't have to wait at Space Mountain. In fact, Corbin was able to sit in the first car of the train. He was scared and excited - I reassured him that Space Mountain has no loops. He loved the ride. FYI - Space Mountain is closing in March or April for a refurbishment that should take about 6 to 9 months. Babcia, Tina and Jeremy were waiting for us.
Next it was a spin on the Astro Orbiter (one of Jeremy's choices), Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and the Tommorowland Speedway. Corbin had a chat with the Mad Hatter and Alice in Wonderland before the boys and I took a spin on the Mad Tea Party (another Jeremy 'must go on' ride).
Then it was time to line up and wait at Dumbo The Flying Elephant. Tina took a great picture of me waving and Jeremy waving AND sticking out his tongue. Sure to become a Szymczak classic. We did a few more rides and shows in the area before a frustrating wait in line to get an autograph from Winnie the Pooh and friends.
It started to gently rain. It was still warm but we put on our rain ponchos. A few more attractions before grabbing yet another filling lunch. Some more rides and shows before heading over to Pirates of the Caribbean.
We spent a lot of time in the gift shop at Pirates of Caribbean. A long time. But we used our $200 gift card to get a bunch a stuff that we had delivered to our hotel (that service comes in very handy). It was still raining but we did go on the Jungle Cruise. Corbin and I went on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The next attraction was the Haunted Mansion, which was a hit with the boys, especially the part where they flip your car around and you see a ghost sitting beside you. Freaky.
Decided to go back to Tomorrowland and do some of the attractions we skipped over in the morning. The boys posed with Buzz Lightyear. We had done much of Magic Kingdom - or at least enough before anyone got tired and ornery. It was time for our first Character Dining experience.
Posted by Adam
Time to experience Magic Kingdom in a full day visit that also included Character Dining at the Crystal Palace. They were calling for some light rain in the afternoon, so we made sure to take our rain ponchos and umbrellas. Drove to the parking lot and walked over to the monorail station at the Ticket and Transportation Center.
We arrived about 20 minutes before the official opening. Tina positioned herself to rent a stroller and Corbin and I positioned ourself near the front to head over to Tommorowland and take a spin on Space Mountain.
It all worked out. Corbin and I didn't have to wait at Space Mountain. In fact, Corbin was able to sit in the first car of the train. He was scared and excited - I reassured him that Space Mountain has no loops. He loved the ride. FYI - Space Mountain is closing in March or April for a refurbishment that should take about 6 to 9 months. Babcia, Tina and Jeremy were waiting for us.
Next it was a spin on the Astro Orbiter (one of Jeremy's choices), Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and the Tommorowland Speedway. Corbin had a chat with the Mad Hatter and Alice in Wonderland before the boys and I took a spin on the Mad Tea Party (another Jeremy 'must go on' ride).
Then it was time to line up and wait at Dumbo The Flying Elephant. Tina took a great picture of me waving and Jeremy waving AND sticking out his tongue. Sure to become a Szymczak classic. We did a few more rides and shows in the area before a frustrating wait in line to get an autograph from Winnie the Pooh and friends.
It started to gently rain. It was still warm but we put on our rain ponchos. A few more attractions before grabbing yet another filling lunch. Some more rides and shows before heading over to Pirates of the Caribbean.
We spent a lot of time in the gift shop at Pirates of Caribbean. A long time. But we used our $200 gift card to get a bunch a stuff that we had delivered to our hotel (that service comes in very handy). It was still raining but we did go on the Jungle Cruise. Corbin and I went on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The next attraction was the Haunted Mansion, which was a hit with the boys, especially the part where they flip your car around and you see a ghost sitting beside you. Freaky.
Decided to go back to Tomorrowland and do some of the attractions we skipped over in the morning. The boys posed with Buzz Lightyear. We had done much of Magic Kingdom - or at least enough before anyone got tired and ornery. It was time for our first Character Dining experience.
Posted by Adam
Monday, 12 January 2009
Disney World - Day 2 - Boma
Dining African Style
A later reservation to Boma meant that we had some time to relax in the hotel before heading out to eat. Despite the cooler temperature, Corbin went for a swim in the outdoor pool that also has a water slide. He grabbed some pool noodles and spent close to 45 minutes in the pool. The cooler weather didn't seem to slow him down.
After drying off and relaxing some more, we walked to the car and drove over to Animal Kingdom Lodge. Took less then 10 minutes to get there.
It was busy at Boma, but it didn't take to long for our buzzer to buzz. We were shown to a booth close to the buffet. Our server was top notch and knew how to handle the boys. He was very friendly, adding to the excellent atmosphere. We lined up and piled on the food.
The feature was prime rib (medium or well done). There was a great range of African-themed food to choose from. I went up three times before hitting the desert buffet. The boys finished early and laid down on both sides of Tina - I knew that the booth would come in handy.
The desert selection was excellent. It was difficult to choose a few items. Everyone was full. We recommend Boma as a place to eat.
On the way back stopped at the gas station near our hotel to see if I can pick up some milk, OJ and baked goods. Was able to score the milk and OJ (from concentrate - this stuff should be banned in Florida) and some junk food. Then we had to deal with Jeremy needing to go pee right away - of course.
Posted by Adam
A later reservation to Boma meant that we had some time to relax in the hotel before heading out to eat. Despite the cooler temperature, Corbin went for a swim in the outdoor pool that also has a water slide. He grabbed some pool noodles and spent close to 45 minutes in the pool. The cooler weather didn't seem to slow him down.
After drying off and relaxing some more, we walked to the car and drove over to Animal Kingdom Lodge. Took less then 10 minutes to get there.It was busy at Boma, but it didn't take to long for our buzzer to buzz. We were shown to a booth close to the buffet. Our server was top notch and knew how to handle the boys. He was very friendly, adding to the excellent atmosphere. We lined up and piled on the food.
The feature was prime rib (medium or well done). There was a great range of African-themed food to choose from. I went up three times before hitting the desert buffet. The boys finished early and laid down on both sides of Tina - I knew that the booth would come in handy.
The desert selection was excellent. It was difficult to choose a few items. Everyone was full. We recommend Boma as a place to eat.On the way back stopped at the gas station near our hotel to see if I can pick up some milk, OJ and baked goods. Was able to score the milk and OJ (from concentrate - this stuff should be banned in Florida) and some junk food. Then we had to deal with Jeremy needing to go pee right away - of course.
Posted by Adam
Disney World - Day 2 - Hollywood Studios
Disney's Hollywood Studios aka Crazyville
Our first full day at Disney. After a quick breakfast, we walked down to the Boardwalk and grabbed a boat to Hollywood Studios. The weather was overcast but warm enough to wear shorts with sweaters.
The place was buzzing as we walked up to the front gate. Jeremy and Corbin were excited. Tina and I noticed a lot of groups of Brazil. Like everywhere. We walked over to the Tower of Terror ride. Corbin didn't want to go on it, but I did manage to talk Tina into going.
Like all Disney rides, the waiting line is broken up into section. First, you get herded into a room where Rod Sterling appears on TV, telling you what happened at the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Then you end up in the basement. Next, you are guided to a number on the floor in front of the elevator doors. The doors open and you take your seat, buckle in and wait in anticipation. The ride moves up and you are treated to some more Disney theatre.
All of a sudden the 'car' moves forward and then into a completely dark room. Oh oh. Then the car drops. And I mean it drops. Then it goes back up. It drops. Up. Drops. I swear that on one drop the hang time was at least 5 or so seconds. Tina was screaming. That was a great ride. Exiting the ride, there was a boutique that had your picture. And there was Tina and I in our glory - me with my eyes closed (or looking away from the camera) and Tina with one of the best terrified looks ever. So we had to get the picture.
Corbin and I walked over to the Rock and Roll Roller Coaster and got a FastPass despite the tour groups were taking all the FastPasses. We wandered around some more, and ended up in the Pixar area. The wait for Toy Story Mania was at least 50 minutes. FastPass was available for 4:00 PM - I kid you not. So we waited in line to take pictures with Buzz Lightyear and Woody.
I noticed that the line to Toy Story Mania was much shorter and the wait was only 30 minutes. Part way through the line is a talking Potato Head that has a conversation with you. So Corbin had an excellent chat. Toy Story Mania is a ride - two people per car - where you wear 3D glasses and shot a gun at different scenes. It's a blast. Even my mom loved the ride.
Headed back to the Rock And Roll Roller Coaster. Didn't have to wait too long with our FastPass. Had an issue after boarding the ride in that Corbin put his arms inside the restraint. A castmember came over and politely told Corbin to put his arms outside. Then it was launch time. That was an amazing launch. Then loops and rolls and all sorts of crazy things. Stopped in at the photo booth and purchased the photo of Corbin and I for delivery to our hotel.
Grabbed our first Disney Dining Plan counter-service during lunch time. An ample individual pizza, salad, pop and a desert. Corbin gobbled up the pizza. Jeremy did too. The desert was good. We were all full.
Tina had had enough of Corbin's anxiety of waiting in line and walked over with Corbin to Customer Services to obtain a Guest Assistance Card. The rest of us shopped in the stores. My mom bought a beautiful jacket to keep her warm. The great thing about staying in the park is the ability to charge purchases to your room. No need to keep a lot of cash or credit cards on you.
The Guest Assistance Card made a difference. We were able to utilize the FastPass line when available. It also enabled us to wait in a more quiet area for any shows. It came in handy for the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. One of the Castmembers even gave us a tip about how to beat the crowd out (wait for Indy to shoot the gun and the explosion and then leave - where you can head over the Star Tours or Jedi Training Academy and beat the crowd). The Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular was a hit. We all loved it. Jeremy and Corbin were speechless.
Next we took a ride on Star Tours and then walked around some more going to a few more rides and attractions before calling it quits due to the high crowd levels. Those tour groups really messed up the day.
Posted by Adam
Our first full day at Disney. After a quick breakfast, we walked down to the Boardwalk and grabbed a boat to Hollywood Studios. The weather was overcast but warm enough to wear shorts with sweaters.
The place was buzzing as we walked up to the front gate. Jeremy and Corbin were excited. Tina and I noticed a lot of groups of Brazil. Like everywhere. We walked over to the Tower of Terror ride. Corbin didn't want to go on it, but I did manage to talk Tina into going.
Like all Disney rides, the waiting line is broken up into section. First, you get herded into a room where Rod Sterling appears on TV, telling you what happened at the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Then you end up in the basement. Next, you are guided to a number on the floor in front of the elevator doors. The doors open and you take your seat, buckle in and wait in anticipation. The ride moves up and you are treated to some more Disney theatre.
All of a sudden the 'car' moves forward and then into a completely dark room. Oh oh. Then the car drops. And I mean it drops. Then it goes back up. It drops. Up. Drops. I swear that on one drop the hang time was at least 5 or so seconds. Tina was screaming. That was a great ride. Exiting the ride, there was a boutique that had your picture. And there was Tina and I in our glory - me with my eyes closed (or looking away from the camera) and Tina with one of the best terrified looks ever. So we had to get the picture.
Corbin and I walked over to the Rock and Roll Roller Coaster and got a FastPass despite the tour groups were taking all the FastPasses. We wandered around some more, and ended up in the Pixar area. The wait for Toy Story Mania was at least 50 minutes. FastPass was available for 4:00 PM - I kid you not. So we waited in line to take pictures with Buzz Lightyear and Woody.
I noticed that the line to Toy Story Mania was much shorter and the wait was only 30 minutes. Part way through the line is a talking Potato Head that has a conversation with you. So Corbin had an excellent chat. Toy Story Mania is a ride - two people per car - where you wear 3D glasses and shot a gun at different scenes. It's a blast. Even my mom loved the ride.
Headed back to the Rock And Roll Roller Coaster. Didn't have to wait too long with our FastPass. Had an issue after boarding the ride in that Corbin put his arms inside the restraint. A castmember came over and politely told Corbin to put his arms outside. Then it was launch time. That was an amazing launch. Then loops and rolls and all sorts of crazy things. Stopped in at the photo booth and purchased the photo of Corbin and I for delivery to our hotel.
Grabbed our first Disney Dining Plan counter-service during lunch time. An ample individual pizza, salad, pop and a desert. Corbin gobbled up the pizza. Jeremy did too. The desert was good. We were all full.
Tina had had enough of Corbin's anxiety of waiting in line and walked over with Corbin to Customer Services to obtain a Guest Assistance Card. The rest of us shopped in the stores. My mom bought a beautiful jacket to keep her warm. The great thing about staying in the park is the ability to charge purchases to your room. No need to keep a lot of cash or credit cards on you.
The Guest Assistance Card made a difference. We were able to utilize the FastPass line when available. It also enabled us to wait in a more quiet area for any shows. It came in handy for the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. One of the Castmembers even gave us a tip about how to beat the crowd out (wait for Indy to shoot the gun and the explosion and then leave - where you can head over the Star Tours or Jedi Training Academy and beat the crowd). The Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular was a hit. We all loved it. Jeremy and Corbin were speechless.
Next we took a ride on Star Tours and then walked around some more going to a few more rides and attractions before calling it quits due to the high crowd levels. Those tour groups really messed up the day.
Posted by Adam
Sunday, 11 January 2009
Disney World - Day 1 - Magic Kingdom
Magic KingdomAs I drove pretending to know where everything is, I could not believe the amount of traffic. Buses. Cars. Monorails. Taxis. Busy.
I showed my parking pass at the booth and asked where the Diamond Parking (a CAA/AAA Vacation perk) area is - "follow the blue line" said the man. So I followed it. And I went too far. So I went around and followed it again. Was able to park not to far from the parking tram stop and from the sidewalk to the Ticket and Transportation Center.
We walked up to the monorail and one pulled in not too shortly. We boarded the iconic vehicles. The excitement was thick. Despite being awake for 10 or so hours, we still had some energy left. As the monorail got closer to Magic Kingdom, the boys got more vocal.
Finally, we pulled into the station. It was hot and there were people everywhere. Went through "security" then put out cards into the readers and were asked to record our finger print. The purpose of the fingerprint is to prevent someone from using your card. More on that in a later post.We walked under the railroad and, finally, we were in Magic Kingdom. People here. People there. People everywhere. Walking up main street we stopped at Casey's Corner for a quick bite to eat. We did not use our Dining Plan (a five night stay means only five days of food). It was good to eat and drink.
People were lining up for the afternoon parade - Disney Dreams Come True Parade - so we decided to hang around and watch it. It had tons of characters in it. Both Corbin and Jeremy were glued to the parade. Check one thing off the list.We managed to squeeze in a ride on the Magic Carpets of Aladdin. Tina got squirted by a camel when Corbin moved the carpet up. Fun times.
It was close to 4:00 PM, so we headed back to the hotel to unwind, relax, recover and get ready for supper. Posted by Adam
Disney World - Day 1 - Disney Magical Express
Orlando International Airport to Boardwalk Villas
The trip from the airport to the hotel took about 30 or so minutes. The Boardwalk Inn & Villas was the first stop, which was fine by us. Did I mention that it was sunny and hot?
I checked us in. Our room was not yet ready, but we did get our passes (which are also our room keys) and a whole bunch of information. While the rest of the gang waited in the hotel lobby, I booked it over to the Dolphin Hotel to pick up the car rental. It was a Toyota Rav 4. Nice. Drove back to the hotel and parked the car. Tina checked our carry on bags with Bell Services.
Since the room wasn't ready and we were hungry, we decided to drive up to Magic Kingdom to get into the Disney spirit.
Posted by Adam
The trip from the airport to the hotel took about 30 or so minutes. The Boardwalk Inn & Villas was the first stop, which was fine by us. Did I mention that it was sunny and hot?
I checked us in. Our room was not yet ready, but we did get our passes (which are also our room keys) and a whole bunch of information. While the rest of the gang waited in the hotel lobby, I booked it over to the Dolphin Hotel to pick up the car rental. It was a Toyota Rav 4. Nice. Drove back to the hotel and parked the car. Tina checked our carry on bags with Bell Services.Since the room wasn't ready and we were hungry, we decided to drive up to Magic Kingdom to get into the Disney spirit.
Posted by Adam
Disney World - Day 1 - Detroit Metro Airport
Windsor, ON to Orlando, FL
4:00 AM
Time to wake up, have a quick shower and breakfast and load up the van for the drive to Detroit Metro Airport. Thankfully is stopped snowing. Everyone eventually woke up, had some food and got dressed.
5:15 AM
Left the house and headed toward the Ambassador Bridge. Two customs booths open. No waiting and only a few questions. I-94 was limited to one or two lanes but was drivable. The North Terminal was a bustling place at 6:00 AM. Unloaded the van and had a porter take the bags and do curbside check in while I parked the van.
6:30 AM
Made it through security with no problem - talk about organized mayhem. A few more benches to put on shoes and coats would be useful. Walked over to the gate for Spirit Airlines and waited. Tina grabbed some hot food from McDonalds. More waiting. Corbin, Jeremy and myself played games on our Nintendo, Tina read a book and Babcia watched the action on the tarmac.
8:35 AM
Boarded the plane and had to wait while a replacement crew member arrived. First time on an airplane for Corbin and Jeremy. Both were a little anxious. Jeremy just wanted to play with his Nintendo DS and Corbin just wanted to get to Disney. Jeremy has numerous washroom visits.
It was cloudy most of the way, so there wasn't much for the boys to see. Over Florida, the clouds began to break and the boys got excited. I got excited because there was no snow on the ground.
11:50 AM
We made it to Orlando. Sun. Warmth. Palm trees. Tina simply loved it.
We checked in at the Disney Magical Express line. It was long but moving at a good pace. About 15 minutes or so later we were on the bus to Disney.
Posted by Adam
4:00 AM
Time to wake up, have a quick shower and breakfast and load up the van for the drive to Detroit Metro Airport. Thankfully is stopped snowing. Everyone eventually woke up, had some food and got dressed.
5:15 AM
Left the house and headed toward the Ambassador Bridge. Two customs booths open. No waiting and only a few questions. I-94 was limited to one or two lanes but was drivable. The North Terminal was a bustling place at 6:00 AM. Unloaded the van and had a porter take the bags and do curbside check in while I parked the van.
6:30 AM
Made it through security with no problem - talk about organized mayhem. A few more benches to put on shoes and coats would be useful. Walked over to the gate for Spirit Airlines and waited. Tina grabbed some hot food from McDonalds. More waiting. Corbin, Jeremy and myself played games on our Nintendo, Tina read a book and Babcia watched the action on the tarmac.8:35 AM
Boarded the plane and had to wait while a replacement crew member arrived. First time on an airplane for Corbin and Jeremy. Both were a little anxious. Jeremy just wanted to play with his Nintendo DS and Corbin just wanted to get to Disney. Jeremy has numerous washroom visits.It was cloudy most of the way, so there wasn't much for the boys to see. Over Florida, the clouds began to break and the boys got excited. I got excited because there was no snow on the ground.
11:50 AM
We made it to Orlando. Sun. Warmth. Palm trees. Tina simply loved it.
We checked in at the Disney Magical Express line. It was long but moving at a good pace. About 15 minutes or so later we were on the bus to Disney.
Posted by Adam
Saturday, 2 August 2008
Ottawa Vacation - Day 4
Last day of the NACAC conference. Tina pulled off another amazing breakfast service. Again, she went to the conference and we headed to the pool.
One family in the pool today, but they eventually left. We spent a few minutes in the hot tub, which Jeremy loves. Back in the pool. It was nice and relaxing. Spent about a good hour in the pool.
Went up to the room, changed and then went down to Laurier Centre to check out the shopping mall. Jeremy knew the way from his previous visit with Tina. One smart kid.
We wandered around and killed some time. I almost bought the boys some Indiana Jones figures at a specialty toy store, but balked at the price. Surely Walmart is cheaper. Complete with our tour of the mall, we went back to our room to prepare to check out. Tina was already in the room.
So I called to get our van one last time - did I mention I LOVE valet parking? By time we were packed, the van was waiting right at the door, and Rob, our boys best friend at the Westin, helped us load the van. Corbin gave Rob a tip. Rob asked where we were heading, and we said Windsor. "Long drive" was his reply and said to say "hi" to St. Thomas, his hometown. One last goodbye to Rob and we were on our way home.
Because the 417 was closed, we took the scenic route down the Rideau Canal. We grabbed lunch at McDonalds and made our way over to the 416 in Neapean. It was around 12:30 PM.
The drive to Windsor was, for the most part uneventful. We did have to deal with some pop-up showers and thunderstorms, but they were short-lasting. We stopped at the rest centres as required. The drive through Toronto was typical. Lots of traffic but nothing major.
When we got to Cambridge, I decided it was time for supper. We pulled off at Highway 24 and had supper at the Boston Pizza. With our tummies full of food, we made the final push to Windsor. A quick stop at the Pilot Travel Center in Tilbury for gas and we arrived in Windsor shortly after 9:30 PM.
For a short vacation with over 16 hours of driving time, it was a great vacation jam packed with things to do and people to see. Tina was glad she attended the conference and I got to spend some much needed time with my boys. It was nice to see Steve, Pam, Owen and Laura and Sarah again. Ottawa is full things to do and see and we will definitely be back.
Posted by Adam
One family in the pool today, but they eventually left. We spent a few minutes in the hot tub, which Jeremy loves. Back in the pool. It was nice and relaxing. Spent about a good hour in the pool.
Went up to the room, changed and then went down to Laurier Centre to check out the shopping mall. Jeremy knew the way from his previous visit with Tina. One smart kid.
We wandered around and killed some time. I almost bought the boys some Indiana Jones figures at a specialty toy store, but balked at the price. Surely Walmart is cheaper. Complete with our tour of the mall, we went back to our room to prepare to check out. Tina was already in the room.
So I called to get our van one last time - did I mention I LOVE valet parking? By time we were packed, the van was waiting right at the door, and Rob, our boys best friend at the Westin, helped us load the van. Corbin gave Rob a tip. Rob asked where we were heading, and we said Windsor. "Long drive" was his reply and said to say "hi" to St. Thomas, his hometown. One last goodbye to Rob and we were on our way home.
Because the 417 was closed, we took the scenic route down the Rideau Canal. We grabbed lunch at McDonalds and made our way over to the 416 in Neapean. It was around 12:30 PM.
The drive to Windsor was, for the most part uneventful. We did have to deal with some pop-up showers and thunderstorms, but they were short-lasting. We stopped at the rest centres as required. The drive through Toronto was typical. Lots of traffic but nothing major.
When we got to Cambridge, I decided it was time for supper. We pulled off at Highway 24 and had supper at the Boston Pizza. With our tummies full of food, we made the final push to Windsor. A quick stop at the Pilot Travel Center in Tilbury for gas and we arrived in Windsor shortly after 9:30 PM.
For a short vacation with over 16 hours of driving time, it was a great vacation jam packed with things to do and people to see. Tina was glad she attended the conference and I got to spend some much needed time with my boys. It was nice to see Steve, Pam, Owen and Laura and Sarah again. Ottawa is full things to do and see and we will definitely be back.
Posted by Adam
Friday, 1 August 2008
Ottawa Vacation - Day 3 - Part 2
This evening we drove back over to Steve and Pam's house for some pizza, beer and good old hanging out.
I thanked Steve for his suggestion about the Canadian Aviation Museum. He was right, it was cheap and the boys liked it. I also said that I loved valet parking - it's so convenient to not have to drag your kids to the parking lot or garage, especially when the valet attendants park the van right outside the door. Now that is service.
Pam ordered pizza from a nearby pizza place, using us as guinea pigs. We were fine with that. It' can't be that bad, right.
The kids played and played and played. We sat on the patio and chatted away the night. The pizza came and the kids ate inside while the big kids - us adults - ate outside. For the record, the pizza was just fine.
All good things must come to an end and we had to leave. It was getting late and everyone needed some rest. We thanked Steve and Pam for having us over, again, and that we will definitely be back.
Posted by Adam
I thanked Steve for his suggestion about the Canadian Aviation Museum. He was right, it was cheap and the boys liked it. I also said that I loved valet parking - it's so convenient to not have to drag your kids to the parking lot or garage, especially when the valet attendants park the van right outside the door. Now that is service.
Pam ordered pizza from a nearby pizza place, using us as guinea pigs. We were fine with that. It' can't be that bad, right.
The kids played and played and played. We sat on the patio and chatted away the night. The pizza came and the kids ate inside while the big kids - us adults - ate outside. For the record, the pizza was just fine.
All good things must come to an end and we had to leave. It was getting late and everyone needed some rest. We thanked Steve and Pam for having us over, again, and that we will definitely be back.
Posted by Adam
Ottawa Vacation - Day 3 - Part 1
Tina pulled off another excellent breakfast. Who needs hot cinnamon rolls? After breakfast and showers, Tina headed off to the conference and the rest of us headed down to the pool.
The pool wasn't empty. There were a few families, which gave Corbin a chance to play with other kids. We spent about an hour before going up to the room and getting ready for the rest of the day.
The boys and I drove over to the Canadian Museum of Civilization over in Gatineau, Quebec. Originally, I was considering taking the boys on a local bus, but then I thought about having to wait at the end of long and busy day. The van was easier and parking cost the same as the bus. It took about five minutes to drive from the hotel to the museum. Parking is underground - which is nice.
In the lobby, I was presented with an assortment of choices. Aye carumba. I settled on the Museum, the Wild Ocean IMAX movie and the Greeks special exhibition. It was just over $40 for the three of us. The Canadian Museum of Civilization is a group of museums and permanent and temporary exhibits.
Our first stop was the Canadian Children's Museum which includes the outdoor Adventure World. The web site suggests that you "allow three hours for a visit with children". That is an understatement. The boys could have spent the whole day just in the Children's Museum. The place is amazing.
Kids are given a passport. They find stations where they insert the proper page of their passport and stamp it. The place was filled with all kinds of hands-on exhibits from a ship to a pyramid to a market to a house to, well everything.
Located outside, the Adventure World is a wonderful bonus. Kids can go fishing, fly a plane, drive a boat or make cool crafts. When we headed outside I was faced with the dilemma of Corbin wanting to be outside and Jeremy wanting to play inside. So I left Corbin to his own devices and said we will be back in a half an hour.
Jeremy played on the ship, first cleaning the deck, then loading and unloading some cargo and finally piloting the ship. He could have spent all day on the ship. We wandered around (more like me following Jeremy) before finding Corbin outside.
Fortunately, Corbin's natural clock was working and he was heading up the walkway with a boat in his hands. Apparently, the kid who didn't like crafts, made a boat from wood, corks, straw, paper and a bottle cap, all by himself. Who is this kid?
After spending enough time in the Children's Museum, we grabbed a quick bite to eat (overpriced and poor quality). I grabbed some popcorn and we lined up for the movie. A few minutes later the doors opened and we found some seats. Wild Ocean is a story about the sardine migration off the east coast of Africa and circle of life along the KwaZulu-Natal Coast. Who knew a movie about sardines could be so exciting. It was an amazing presentation and I highly recommend it.
We headed over to the Grand Hall and the First Peoples Hall where we learnt about the history of the First Peoples (aka natives). Corbin was naturally attracted to any exhibits with weapons while Jeremy was Jeremy as in "when are we going back to the Children's Museum".
A quick run through The Greeks exhibit which contained some amazing artifacts, including jewelry that was well over 2000 years old.
Next was the Face to Face: The Canadian Personalities Hall and the Canada Hall. The boys showed some interest in the exhibits, but what caught their attention was the Justice in New France dramatic presentation. Corbin and Jeremy sat and watched the full length of the presentation, which is part theatre and part interactive. Who are these kids?
I let the boys free in the Children's Museum to let off some more energy - if that is possible. Six hours later, we were back in Ottawa, struggling to get to the Westin - traffic was at a standstill. We managed to make it to the hotel, where Rob, the valet attendant, was greeted by the boys.
We could have spent all day at the museum and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting or living in Ottawa-Gatinuea area. We didn't even get a chance to visit the Canadian Postal Museum. If you have kids, you may want to plan two days to take in the whole facility or come when it opens and leave when it closes. Parking is $10 for the day and is located underground with direct access to the museum.
Posted by Adam
The pool wasn't empty. There were a few families, which gave Corbin a chance to play with other kids. We spent about an hour before going up to the room and getting ready for the rest of the day.
The boys and I drove over to the Canadian Museum of Civilization over in Gatineau, Quebec. Originally, I was considering taking the boys on a local bus, but then I thought about having to wait at the end of long and busy day. The van was easier and parking cost the same as the bus. It took about five minutes to drive from the hotel to the museum. Parking is underground - which is nice.
In the lobby, I was presented with an assortment of choices. Aye carumba. I settled on the Museum, the Wild Ocean IMAX movie and the Greeks special exhibition. It was just over $40 for the three of us. The Canadian Museum of Civilization is a group of museums and permanent and temporary exhibits.
Our first stop was the Canadian Children's Museum which includes the outdoor Adventure World. The web site suggests that you "allow three hours for a visit with children". That is an understatement. The boys could have spent the whole day just in the Children's Museum. The place is amazing.
Kids are given a passport. They find stations where they insert the proper page of their passport and stamp it. The place was filled with all kinds of hands-on exhibits from a ship to a pyramid to a market to a house to, well everything.Located outside, the Adventure World is a wonderful bonus. Kids can go fishing, fly a plane, drive a boat or make cool crafts. When we headed outside I was faced with the dilemma of Corbin wanting to be outside and Jeremy wanting to play inside. So I left Corbin to his own devices and said we will be back in a half an hour.
Jeremy played on the ship, first cleaning the deck, then loading and unloading some cargo and finally piloting the ship. He could have spent all day on the ship. We wandered around (more like me following Jeremy) before finding Corbin outside.Fortunately, Corbin's natural clock was working and he was heading up the walkway with a boat in his hands. Apparently, the kid who didn't like crafts, made a boat from wood, corks, straw, paper and a bottle cap, all by himself. Who is this kid?
After spending enough time in the Children's Museum, we grabbed a quick bite to eat (overpriced and poor quality). I grabbed some popcorn and we lined up for the movie. A few minutes later the doors opened and we found some seats. Wild Ocean is a story about the sardine migration off the east coast of Africa and circle of life along the KwaZulu-Natal Coast. Who knew a movie about sardines could be so exciting. It was an amazing presentation and I highly recommend it.We headed over to the Grand Hall and the First Peoples Hall where we learnt about the history of the First Peoples (aka natives). Corbin was naturally attracted to any exhibits with weapons while Jeremy was Jeremy as in "when are we going back to the Children's Museum".
A quick run through The Greeks exhibit which contained some amazing artifacts, including jewelry that was well over 2000 years old.Next was the Face to Face: The Canadian Personalities Hall and the Canada Hall. The boys showed some interest in the exhibits, but what caught their attention was the Justice in New France dramatic presentation. Corbin and Jeremy sat and watched the full length of the presentation, which is part theatre and part interactive. Who are these kids?
I let the boys free in the Children's Museum to let off some more energy - if that is possible. Six hours later, we were back in Ottawa, struggling to get to the Westin - traffic was at a standstill. We managed to make it to the hotel, where Rob, the valet attendant, was greeted by the boys.
We could have spent all day at the museum and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting or living in Ottawa-Gatinuea area. We didn't even get a chance to visit the Canadian Postal Museum. If you have kids, you may want to plan two days to take in the whole facility or come when it opens and leave when it closes. Parking is $10 for the day and is located underground with direct access to the museum.
Posted by Adam
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Ottawa Vacation - Day 2 - Part 2
The plan for tonight was for Sarah to hang out with us. Sarah is Corbin's former worker who recently moved to Ottawa (she is from Ottawa). Sarah and Corbin have a special bond - she was one of the few workers who was able to spend two hours playing Playmobil with Corbin. We were sad when Sarah left Windsor.
When Sarah moved back to Ottawa, we promised Corbin that if we were ever in Ottawa, we would call her up and get together. We just didn't expect to happen this quick.
Sarah works in Gatineau, Quebec. She didn't have too much of a problem finding the hotel. Corbin and Jeremy were excited to see her.
We went down to the Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant for dinner. Everyone seemed to like their food, and I enjoyed my pint of Guiness. After supper, Sarah took us into Byward Market to have some Beaver Tails, an Ottawa specialty. It's dough that is flattened out, deep fried and then topped with powdered sugar and cinnamon. It was very tasty.
We wondered around the market. At one point I had to take Jeremy to the washroom - I was able to find one and Jeremy was happy to have relieved himself. We walked back to the hotel, changed into our swimsuits and joined the mayhem in the pool. Tons of kids to keep Corbin occupied. Sarah helped Jeremy with his swimming. Tina relaxed in the hot tub. I just swam around.
Corbin and Jeremy liked hanging out with Sarah, and it was good to see her again. It was time to say our goodbyes to Sarah.
A nice ending to an awesome day.
Posted by Adam
When Sarah moved back to Ottawa, we promised Corbin that if we were ever in Ottawa, we would call her up and get together. We just didn't expect to happen this quick.
Sarah works in Gatineau, Quebec. She didn't have too much of a problem finding the hotel. Corbin and Jeremy were excited to see her.
We went down to the Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant for dinner. Everyone seemed to like their food, and I enjoyed my pint of Guiness. After supper, Sarah took us into Byward Market to have some Beaver Tails, an Ottawa specialty. It's dough that is flattened out, deep fried and then topped with powdered sugar and cinnamon. It was very tasty.
We wondered around the market. At one point I had to take Jeremy to the washroom - I was able to find one and Jeremy was happy to have relieved himself. We walked back to the hotel, changed into our swimsuits and joined the mayhem in the pool. Tons of kids to keep Corbin occupied. Sarah helped Jeremy with his swimming. Tina relaxed in the hot tub. I just swam around.
Corbin and Jeremy liked hanging out with Sarah, and it was good to see her again. It was time to say our goodbyes to Sarah.
A nice ending to an awesome day.
Posted by Adam
Ottawa Vacation - Day 2 - Part 1
Day one of the NACAC Conference. Tina prepared breakfast for the rest of us (oatmeal) plus made a coffee for herself and me.One by one the boys woke up and Tina fed them. She went down to register (changing the registration from name to her name).
Once I had a shower and the boys were fed, the three of us went to the pool while Tina went to the Conference. We spent about 45 minutes in pool - we were the only ones. The pool has a great view of the Chateau Laurier and downtown Ottawa.
We changed and chilled out in the hotel while I read the Globe & Mail and figured out what us boys are doing today. Steve had mentioned the Canadian Aviation Museum. I know the boys like planes and the admission was very reasonable and there was free parking. I called the front desk to get my van from valet parking and in about 10 minutes the van was ready - right at the front door. I think I am going to like Valet Parking.
The drive to the museum took us along Sussex Drive. We went by the embassies, 24 Sussex Drive and the Governor-General's residence. The Canadian Aviation Museum provides free parking in a surface lot. The facility is also accessible by public transit.
It wasn't too busy so we were able to walk around the museum at a leisurely pace. Corbin liked the planes, especially the bomber with the gun turrets. Jeremy like the idea but wanted to go back to the hotel and jump in the pool. Halfway through our visit, we came upon a lady standing beside an ejection seat with a helmet and g-suit. That got the boys attention. Corbin and Jeremy put on the helmet and took a turn sitting in the chair. They were pumped.
It wasn't too busy so we were able to walk around the museum at a leisurely pace. Corbin liked the planes, especially the bomber with the gun turrets. Jeremy like the idea but wanted to go back to the hotel and jump in the pool. Halfway through our visit, we came upon a lady standing beside an ejection seat with a helmet and g-suit. That got the boys attention. Corbin and Jeremy put on the helmet and took a turn sitting in the chair. They were pumped.
After 3 or so hours at the museum, we headed back to the hotel. Tina wasn't back from the conference, so the boys and I went for a stroll. We crossed the Rideau Canal and watched the honour guard at the War Memorial. Corbin and Jeremy seemed very interested.
We walked over to Sparks Street where busker's festival was underway. A busker was just starting his show, so we stopped and watched. He was a juggler who juggled torches. At one point, I became part of the show having to toss the third and final torch at the juggler. He thanked me for not burning him.
After the show, we walked some more and watched another show down the street. Then we headed back to the hotel walking past Parliament Hill. Tina was back and the boys were excited to tell her what we saw.
Pictures forthcoming.
Pictures forthcoming.
Posted by Adam
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Ottawa Vacation - Day 1 - Part 1
Woke up at 5 AM, packed the van and left at 6:00 AM. The boys were in their pyjamas and half asleep, watching whatever was in their DVD player.
Pulled into the Pilot Travel Center in Tilbury for some gas and grub. This service centre is many times better than the Ontario service centres. They are cleaner and have people helping you out.
We arrived in Toronto around 9:45 AM - missing rush hour traffic but still having to slow down here and there. Had a quick pit stop in Pickering for a washroom 
break, coffee and DVD change.
The drive between Toronto and Kingston was uneventful. It rained a few times, but nothing major. We arrived in Kingston around 1:00 PM and took a break at Cataraqui Town Centre where we had a late lunch and walked around for about an hour.
It was the final stretch - 401 to 416 to 417. No problems save for typical traffic on the 417. Managed to find the Westin Hotel and pulled in just before 4:00 PM. Ten hours on the road (about eight hours of actual driving time) and we all survived.
We decided to use Valet Parking. A little more expensive but a lot more convenient. Tina registered us and up we went to our room for a much needed unwinding.
Posted by Adam
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