Heiss Family Boondoggle - January 2008

Date: January 12-19, 2008
Cast: me, Beth, (ageless) - DH, Mark, (kid at heart) - DS, Matt, (kid, 19)

DAY 3
Monday - The Other Park

We decided to take a non-Disney day (yes, I know - blasphemous! sacrilege!). We headed over to Universal and were only going to get tickets for Universal Studios. I'd been to Islands of Adventure years ago, and frankly, all the rides either soak you, spin you until you're nauseous or both. Since it was about 60 degrees outside and I was not in the mood to be nauseous, we were going to skip it. The two park ticket, however, was only $6 more, so we figured why not. We could ride Spiderman (which doesn't spin or soak you) and be happy.

The park, by the way, was deserted.

We headed over to Men In Black first. This is a Buzz-like ride, but with MIB instead of Zurg. It was a hoot-and-a-half. I was loving it, until about halfway through, when the darn car gave a spin or two. What is it with this park and the spinning? Still, we went on again, and we spun some more and I came off feeling a little woozy but okay.

Over to Jaws, one of my favorites. Yes, I know this will get wet, but I also know where to sit so I can stay pretty dry. From there we headed over to what used to be Earthquake and is now Disaster! (it wasn't officially open yet, but they were doing previews). It's a lot of the same, but they use a lot of people as "extras" for their disaster movies. Some really cool effects. The CM was looking for somebody to play evil, so I immediately volunteered. She then said she needed three evil people, so Mark and Matt were volunteered along with me, much to their dismay. We were brought into another room where we were given lab coats, safety goggles and hardhats. We were instucted to emote. We were told we were the reason gas was $4 a gallon - that's how evil we were supposed to be. There were several other people who were also extras, and after we all finished filming we were brought into a different room where the subway train from the old Earthquake ride still is. We got on board and they did the whole Earthquake thing and then showed us the "movie" they had made. It was fun, and both Mark and Matt ultimately forgave me.

Mark then went on the Mummy while Matt and I listened to the Blues Brothers. Then we walked on to Twister, then a quick lunch. Matt and I bumped into the Simpsons on the way over to the Terminator (they're putting in a Simpsons ride where Back to the Future used to be, and there's already a Quik-E-Mart nearby). We rode Terminator (very cool) and then ET and then headed over to Islands of Adventure.

We only rode a few things over here. Spiderman of course, and then we just wandered, pointing out things that had doused us the last time we were there (I was almost drowned on Popeye). Mark and Matt decided to risk Jurassic Park (after donning their handy-dandy rain ponchos). Mark came off the ride looking pretty soaked anyway. A quick stroll thought the Discovery Center, then we headed to Seuss Landing. We rode the Trolley (cute, but a little too treacly for my tastes). Mark and Matt went on the Cat in the Hat, and thought it was much improved because it didn't spin them until they got sick. Then the CM told them their car was broken and let them ride again, in a nausea- inducing spinning car. I opted for the Caro-Seuss-el, which doesn't spin and is dry. Mark headed back to Universal Studios while Matt and I rode Spiderman one more time.

After a nice dinner we headed to the Character Warehouse, which was a disappointment. It's a new store but there just didn't seem to be anything with a good price. Lots of kids' stuff, but not much for the grown-up.

Back to POP and bed.

-Beth in CT
whose head is not spinning

DAY 4 - Tuesday
Additional Cast: Dad, 80
Stepmom, Glenda, forever young
(hereafter known collectively as D&G)

My dad and stepmom spend the winter near West Palm Beach, so they're coming up to spend the day with us. We get up, get breakfast and head over to the park formerly known as Disney-MGM. We immediately set out for the Great Movie Ride and walk right on. Again, there are almost no lines in this place. We see the gangster version, which is a little dismaying because it seems it's the only version we ever see. We head over to Star Tours and then go to the Backlot Tour. They're not getting volunteers for the water portion because it's so cold (those Florida people are such wimps), and we head off to the trams after an abbreviate special effects demo.

We really don't have time to do much else, so we head down Hollywood Boulevard and meet my folks. DH gets a wheelchair for Dad (he has serious mobility issues - he can walk, but slower than a snail and it would drive the rest of us nuts). We decide to get a manual chair - ds wants to push his grandfather around for the day. We take them on TGMR, and we see the cowboy version! We're so excited! I explain to Glenda that there are two versions. She and Dad love it.

We then head over to the 50's PrimeTime for lunch. Our waitress is okay but not as interactive as I was hoping. Lunch is good and Dad picks up the tab so I won't complain too much.

We take D&G over to the Backlot Tour and again get the shortened special effects show. Glenda gets a little paranoid about the idea of "catastrophe canyon", but they both have a blast. We head over to Lights! Motors! and have really good seats because of Dad's wheelchair. They both love this show, especially Glenda. I'm a little surprised, I never knew she was such a car enthusiast, but I'm glad they seem to be enjoying themselves.

From there it's over to Muppetvision. I know Glenda will adore this, and she doesn't disappoint me. She laughs through most of it. DS is hungry so we head to Pizza Planet for dinner then over to see Fantasmic. Again, Dad's wheelchair gets us an excellent seat. Considering that the park has been so empty all day, Fantasmic is totally full. The show is as wonderful as ever and D&G really have a good time.

I've gotten D&G a room at POP for the night, so we return the wheelchair and head back and help Dad check in. They get the adjoining room, which is great. Even better, it's handicapped accessible which just makes things so much easier for Dad.

I've already told D&G that next year I'll take them to AK. Then they'll have done all the parks.

-Beth in CT
adjusting to CT cold (which is 50 degrees colder than Florida cold)

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