Day 7: Surf Lesson, Ohana and Storybook Dining

Today was the first day our alarm woke us for a crazy-early 5.45am get up for Steve’s surf lesson at Typhoon Lagoon. He’s tried surfing when we’ve visited Cornwall, but the idea of surfing in something other than freezing cold water appealed to him much more, so I paid for it as an early birthday treat. 

We were up and out of the hotel by 6.10am (no idea how we managed that!). We got a Lyft for the short journey. As we were waiting Winnie asked what car it was going to be. I told her it was a Toyota Corolla and she replied, ‘Oh, I’ve heard that’s a really fast car!’ No idea where she’s got that from!! During the journey we realised it’s the first time the girls have been outside in the dark since we arrived! They loved looking at the different lit-up hotels we passed and got very excited about the gondolas (or donglers as Polly calls them, her reason being that they dongle down!) 

At 6.45am a cast member came to the entrance of Typhoon Lagoon to collect the group of 12 surfers and 4 spectators, and after signing a disclaimer we were let into the park. It was quite surreal being in an empty water park. The surf lesson consisted of a brief intro with some technique training before getting to surf in the wave pool for the rest of the time (around 2 hours although it felt like 90). Steve had a brilliant time. He got loads of waves in and managed to stand up on most of them, but as spectators we were literally pools of melted flesh on the side of the pool! Honestly, if the maintenance man had pointed his hosepipe our way we would have slid away down the nearest drain. It was not pretty! I really didn’t think it would be so hot, but that last hour was like a feat of endurance. The poor girls were sweltering, but I stuck their chairs in the shade and let them loose on Instagram stories which was all fun and games until I realised they’d actually published them!! Still, it kept them occupied and took their mind off the fact that we were in a place hotter than the centre of Mount Vesuvius on an erupting day! I love my husband dearly, but if he ever has a surf lesson there again he’ll be going alone!!! 

Next stop was a breakfast reservation at Ohana. I love the look of the Polynesian hotel but the lobby makes the immigration hall at Orlando airport look quiet and serene which has put me off staying there up to now. We went to the restaurant and checked in. You then get to meet Pluto whilst waiting for your table, which is cute, but you could sense that it was absolutely heaving.

As always (in our experience) they were running very behind, and when we got to 35minutes past our reservation time Steve went up to see how long we’d be. The lady took pity on him (he must have looked rough after 3 hours of surfing!) and bumped us up to be seated right away (it’s a good job I have him as I’d never say anything and may well still be sat there now!) I have no idea how long we’d have been waiting otherwise but I heard a few people complaining they’d been waiting over an hour. We then waited ages for our server and by this point had almost lost the will to live but decided that at least we had a seat in an air conditioned building, so tried not to get stressed. The food here is all you can eat but served at your table. You start out with some delicious coconut and pineapple bread (stodge central…perfect for that bikini body!!) followed by a platter of fruit and then as many skillets of hot food as you like (ham, sausage, potatoes, waffles and egg. What is it with Americans and their over-cooked scrambled eggs? I have no idea how they create it. Mind you, Steve did once cook scrambled eggs for the girls and they turned out grey, so I guess they’re a step up from that!!) It’s out 3rd visit here, and the only reason we booked was because the girls wanted to meet the characters (who were fabulous). Whilst we enjoyed the bread and fruit, the breakfast skillet just isn’t my thing, but we knew that would be the case beforehand and it’s no reflection on the food, just my picky nature.

By this time it was 1pm. We did have a fastpass for 7 Dwarves Mine Train before our Storybook Dining meal but decided after the long, hot morning we’d have a quick swim then cool off in the room and get some bits re-packed/ unpacked, so we cancelled the fastpass in the hope we would make someone’s day. We were at the pool for about an hour, but it was so hot that once the girls were done we decided to head for the room. I take my hat off to anyone who can sit out in the sun all day in this heat/ humidity. I just don’t have the willpower.

Our dinner reservation was at 4.45pm but as we were ready early we decided to head there and see if we could get an earlier slot. We got lucky and were seated straight away. I really like this meal, and for one credit it’s great value. You get an assortment of starters and desserts plus your choice of main.

The characters (Dopey, Grumpy and Snow White) come to the tables and are really good fun. Dopey was really lovely, and Grumpy is hilarious. Snow White was great but but my two find interacting with the human characters much more difficult and essentially turn into statues! The exception to this is the Evil Queen who is brilliant and completely drew the girls in.

Afterwards Polly said it was the best food she’d ever eaten but did say there was an explosion brewing and it wasn’t coming out of her mouth (such a classy child!!) She even waited for our server to come back so she could ask him to tell the chef how delicious it was! She’s such an old man at times! Both girls are now fast asleep and snoring like good ‘uns and Mummy won’t be far behind tonight as I’m crazy tired! 

Not sure what tomorrow will hold yet as we have a few different plans, but I’ll be sure to share our adventures with you!