Last week I watched the weather report closely and picked the perfect day for our first use of the Annual Pass this year: Saturday started off with heavy rain, clearing to general greyness by breakfast time. We ate our bagels, put our shoes on, and left the house. We are impressively fast at leaving the house these days.
And indeed, it was not too crowdy. Some rides we could walk straight on to, and our longest queue was for the boating school, but there are trays of lego to entertain the kids while they wait. The Small Boy went on a fast ride which he hated [I don't want this! he said, clinging to my arm], and on a slowly-train which he loved, and there was no queue at all so he went on it again]. He also revisited the driving school, and did a little better than he managed last September, but of course he still isn’t three. All will change in two months’ time, and he will immediately know how to steer.
At lunchtime we went to the Burger Ranch. This I do not recommend, but perhaps I shouldn’t have expected much. Bernard was provided with a kids’ meal, consisting of dry burger, processed cheese and a white bun; chips; an apple and a carton of milk. He opened up the box and whooped with joy: a HAPPLE! I was very proud.
Miniland provoked the usual tantrum when we wanted to leave. That child could stand and watch trains all day long. Pete avoided a tantrum of his own because he really wants to go on a roller coaster, but neither of us will go with him. We were all very tired by the end of the day, and realise that we can’t go too often because we were all exhausted. Once you have an Annual Pass, though, it’s not an expensive day out.