Eclpz314
<font color=red>ADDICOMNIAC<br><font color=teal>I
- Joined
- May 15, 2003
- Messages
- 13,347
After our day at DC yesterday, you'd think we'd had enough of water for a while. Instead we opt to go to Wet n' Wild. We took a taxi @ $4.00 instead of waiting for the next shuttle run. Wn'W is, as someone on these boards described it, "a cement jungle" The only thing I would add to that is "hot" Water shoes are a definite plus as the sun beats down on the cement! They do have little sprayers all over at ankle height but still ended up following trails of people hopping from one wet spot or shaded area to another. We got to the park early, rented a locker, and rented towels . NOTE: they charge a deposit for anything you rent here PLUS the rental, I think we had about $15 tied up in deposits during the day. They give tokens to bring back to get your deposit back. We weren't impressed with this park. After doing Blizzard Beach a few years back, as well as other water parks in our area, Wn'W lacks atmosphere and space. Food for lunch satisfied but it was really difficult to find a shaded spot to eat. If you get there as the park opens, lines for rides are bearable....after 12 or so, probably wouldn't want to wait that long for any of the rides. DS17 and I went on the (you slide down a long tube and then swirl around in a bowl thing 3 or four times & literally drop out a hole in the bottom?) Once was enough on that. DS17 go out and had a small cut on his shoulder from the tube. Me? let me put it this way, there's not really a way to land gracefully. Other slides in the park were not that impressive to us...not the thrilling "let's do that again" type. The "Lazy River" only had a few tubes. I guess that's to make you pay to rent one. Besides, there were so many people walking in it you couldn't move anyway. Sons went on one "Blast?" and said that's about all it did was blast water at you or dump it on you. We did not try the new HydroBlasters because the line was long and it just didn't look worth the wait. The Kneeboard ride was not running that day either. We did see a place in the back that you could ride inner tubes behind a jet ski for $4 extra for 3 laps around the lake. DS17 and I decided to try that. We put on our life jackets, sat in the two tubes on a ramp, and the jet ski took off. Now, we had watched other people circling the lake on their rides, saw a couple of them get dumped, and it looked like a lot of fun, but nothing........nothing, prepared us for our ride. I told my son "hang on tight, don't let go and you won't get dumped" They give you instructions at the beginning, a signal for "slow down" and one for "stop" The ride started out fun and we were laughing as we zigzagged back and forth across the wake. I don't know the top speed of a jet ski, but I'm pretty sure we were close to it. I flew up in the air once and when I landed heard something crunch in my chest followed by pain.....hmmm, this can't be good. So I readjusted the way I was sitting, still a little pain but bearable. I look over to see where my son was and his tube was empty. "where'd you go Bud?!!?" As the waterspray cleared (because we were finally going slow enough to see around) I saw my son bobbing in the water way behind me. The ski circled and waited while my son made a couple of attempts to get back on the tube. The first attempt flipped the tube over his head. Note: these tubes have a covering over the bottom. I hear his voice "Aw man! this won't work!" Soon, he is settled back into the tube the right way and we continue our ride at breakneck speed. I am determined that this maniac won't dump me! He continued the zigzagging for our 3 laps. By this time I was seriously considering giving the "slow down" signal, but that would mean letting go....no way! We were nearing the pier and I thought "finally! our 3 laps are done!" but Nooooooo! They were changing drivers on the other jet ski so we got to do another lap! After the ride is over my son and I find it hard to swim up to get out....there's absolutely no strength left in our arms.....and my chest is still hurting (did not give that driver the satisfaction of knowing that though!) As we walked away, DS17 said the reason it was so rough is that the guy was sticking his tongue out and making faces at him the whole time... As soon as he saw my son let loose for a second to adjust his bathing suit...boom! dumped! DH said that he could tell by watching that our ride was much rougher than the others. We wandered the park after this, ate lunch, and then decided to try a few more slides. We only made it to the 4 person raft ride. As we got out of the raft at the end, I found just pushing up with my arms sent me into excruciating pain in my chest again. I ended up going to "first aid" and was told I probably tore cartilage in my chest......oh great, I didn't even know that existed there! The dr. said it would take 5-7 days to heal "IF I don't do anything strenuous" The family was relieved I would be ok (I.e., vacation could continue) We got all of our deposits back (amazing how that added up $2 here, $4 there) and we called for a taxi and headed back to RPR. Wow, was it great to be back there again, scorched feet and all. We went over and wandered the parks and ate dinner. About 11pm we headed back to RPR and decided a little r&r was in order for the next day. So I said I would try and rent a cabana for the next day and just relax. It was too late to check so I was told to go to the gym anytime in the morning to see about renting one. geez, I remember seeing the sign on the gym door "Open at 6am..............hope I can drag myself out that early.
