A No Snooze Bar Christmas, Harry & Mickey are Waiting..it is done

[momabaarjo]

From Space Aliens to Sea Creatures​

On our way to the next attraction we encounter the Coke Mister...of course they had to try it even though it cool outside and we are already wet from the rain

and then finally to Men in Black...MIB!

Once again, we were forced to store the backpack in those evil lockers. I keep complaining about the lockers because on most rides they want you to check your bags it makes no sense...and this is one of those rides. We make our way back to the locker area only to find a massive amount of people trying to do the same thing! So like all good tips tell you, head to the back because everyone stops at the front. We make our way to the back and sure enough, the wait line is only a couple of people instead of a long line. As we wait our time, we do a little people watching...this is a great place to see the worst of people. The kids and I get a little chuckle at all the people cursing the lockers and trying to figure out how to make them work (only a little chuckle, because we could very well be on the receiving end of the frustration in the next few minutes). With our belongings safely stored we make our way through the express pass entrance and down a long hallway...the only thing bad about express pass is that you miss a lot of the queuing meant to entertain you and immerse you into the ride experience...we did this during the past year having our movie nights so it did not really bother me much. Finally the long hallway leads to

and then the loading area. Boo is excited that this is an interactive ride, complete with alien weapons. I have to admit that both Ab and I were excited too! As we leave the loading area Will Smith emerges on the screen to give us our instructions, and off we go on our training mission…shoot the aliens.

When the ride ends Boo is in first place, and as we pass by the photo of our adventure I am too slow with the camera to get a picture before the words appear over our faces. I need to get better at t his! The ride dumps right into another gift shop where the kids look around. Ab finds these

She decides to buy a package to share with her friends back at home. Of course she had to dare mom and brother to eat one too…but only if she eats one!

The Fear Factor show area is up next, but the show in not for another hour. We had already decided to skip it…I am not sure why they even have this anymore since the show is long out of production, that my kids really have no clue about what it even is. I did notice earlier that the show was on again a couple of times, but then disappeared off the schedule.

Its time to head into Aminty and visit its most famous resident, Jaws. This is one movie night we did not see, and will not see…but the plot is simple and both the kids understand it. Boo complains he is hungry so on our way in he picks up some ice-cream from a vendor and does his best Jaws imitation. The kids freak out over the how long the line is inside the boat shop, but I assure them that the line really is short…the express pass follows the wall around instead of snaking back and forth across the interior. As we stand in line, I am feeling a little nostalgic; because this time next week the ride will be closing for good…so I make sure I take a few pictures to have for the memories.

Finally it is our time to load on the boats and head off on our ill fated cruise around the harbor.

After the arriving back in port and disembarking it is time to explore San Francisco (and all of the crowds).

I notice that the time is getting late in the afternoon (around 3:00) and we have dinner reservations at NASCAR at 5:00. I call Jeff to check in and see how Goo is feeling since we watched them walk away. After talking for a few minutes, we decide to head back to the hotel. As we make our way out of the park, we pass by some of the Macy balloons

and I get excited about what I have planned for tonight, watching the parade! On my bucket list for my life includes a trip to see the Macy's Day Parade in NYC on Thanksgiving...I grew up in awe of the parade! Before getting on the water taxi, I stop and have Ab and Boo take the famous globe picture

with the question Will we having dinner at NASCAR the restaurant I specifically picked out for Goo lingering in the back of my mind?

 

[momabaarjo]

I am so sorry Goo was still sick. That is not fun... glad you got to stay though. Too bad the rides you went on though turned out to not appeal to your kids.

I felt guilty the whole time we were at the park with them back at the hotel...

Sounds fun! DH and I used to watch the Simpsons all the time when we were in college... 20 years ago. I told him about your experience and he suggested we might want to catch a few episodes before we go to Universal. Yeah, probably wouldn't be a bad idea, huh?

Some people are Simpson people...some are not, we are of the not type! I think you could have some really fun movie nights...

No clue where I left off at. I'll come back and try to figure it out when I have more time but I'm here!

No worries...not going anywhere anytime soon...I need to pop over to yours and see what is happening!

I haven't been on the simpsons ride (not brave enough) but love ET and love the way he says your name at the end.

I think you could handle the simpsons...it just feels like you are moving!

 

[annmarieda]

I really home that Goo was feeling better by this point. I can't wait to hear how dinner went.

Jaws is now closed. I am glad that we went there once... but honestly, I think I will be more sad that we will never ride Snow White again than Jaws.

 

[lovethattink]

Men in black is my favorite Universal attraction!! I so wish Anakin could ride it. I bet he would love it.

What did Ab buy? My eyes must be bad, I couldn't make it out on my phone, so I went to the lap top and even bigger I can't figure it out.

So glad you got to see and ride Jaws before it went down!

 

[momabaarjo]

Men in black is my favorite Universal attraction!! I so wish Anakin could ride it. I bet he would love it.

What did Ab buy? My eyes must be bad, I couldn't make it out on my phone, so I went to the lap top and even bigger I can't figure it out.

So glad you got to see and ride Jaws before it went down!

I love MIB too...probably because it is interactive and a competition!

 

[reelmom]

Please tell me those worms are not real.

 

[momabaarjo]

I really home that Goo was feeling better by this point. I can't wait to hear how dinner went.

Jaws is now closed. I am glad that we went there once... but honestly, I think I will be more sad that we will never ride Snow White again than Jaws.

I hear you...Snow White is a classic ride starting the whole park...sad to see it gone!

Please tell me those worms are not real.

Sorry...they were VERY real, and yes I ate one. The BBQ seasoning took over any taste they might have had. Hence the almost title of my TR, the things we do to make our children's trip...

 

[momabaarjo]

Major Attitude Adjustment Needed​

We make it back to the hotel, and I truly expected Jeff and Goo to be ready to head out to dinner on City Walk. I was so excited about the evening I had planned for us…dinner at NASCAR (Goo loves anything to do with cars, and so does his dad…although we are not NASCAR fans), then back to USO to see the park at night and to view the Macy’s Parade. But my plans were dashed; Jeff does not think it is a good idea to head to the restaurant just yet. But we have too... our reservations are at 5:00 pm…then change them. I give him the seriously disgusted face…this is the busiest time of the year on City Walk, you just don’t walk up and change reservations and the longer we wait the busier the place is going to be. And with that I go into a major pouting fit that I am not proud of, and looking back now it really did not ruin a lot of plans, but at the time I was majorly disappointed. Ab and Boo decide they really would like just to hang out for awhile…but I am too upset trying to figure out what we are going to eat, when Boo calls out pizza, after all for the last 2 days we have had pizza flyers appear under our door. Jeff decides to walk down and talk to concierge about pizza delivery, Ab decides to get a book out, Goo is content watching TV and Boo heads down to swim…me well I am pouting, remember!

When Jeff and Boo return to the room, Jeff is excited because he has learned the best place to get pizza delivered and sets out to order. I am still trying to figure out how to pull up my big girl panties while watching the news, but what I see on the news does not make me feel any better…WDW has decided to close Blizzard Beach tomorrow because of low temperatures tomorrow…great the day we are going to Discovery Cove it is going to be the coldest day of the month. This news is enough to push me over the edge, so I decide to find the laundry room and do a load of clothes (not that I needed to wash, but because I needed to get away and pout some more without my family around). I gather up the wash just as the pizza is being delivered and head out. The laundry room was not hard to find and I set about the task of getting the wash going while trying really hard to pull up those big girl panties.

With the wash started I sit down to relish in my disappointment…and to post on the DIS in my PTR about my disappointment and catch up on my friends…always a place to cheer me up. Feeling a little better after that, I try to turn the TV station…currently it is on BET and some loud rap music that is now annoying me…but the remote is nowhere to be found and I can’t find any buttons the TV itself.

Thank goodness by this time the laundry is about done. I make my way back up the elevator willing myself to be in a better mood…after all, do you really want to ruin Discovery Cove with a sick child after all the headaches to get the tickets. Better to have a night off, then to ruin a full day. The boys are happily watching some movie on TV and Ab is reading. I try to put on a smile, but I am still really sad when I look out the window and see this…

Well there is something good about the evening. Jeff tries to get me to take Boo and Ab back out and see the parade, but I pass on it. They are happy relaxing; I am just going to have to adjust plans for Thursday to make up for what we have not done at USO. And with that I grab a piece of pizza…oh my, probably the best delivery pizza I have had in a VERY LO
NG TIME. If you need delivery pizza in Orlando, be sure to check out Flippers!

YUM-O…feeling a little better we decide to call it a night, after deciding not to do early entry to HP in the morning before Discovery Cove…but what will the morning bring? Will Goo be ready for a full day of adventure? Will the temperatures put a freeze on swimming with the dolphins?

 

[annmarieda]

I am so sorry that your plans had to change for the evening. Things to have a tendency to work out... but boy, when a monkey wrench is thrown into my plans like that it is enough to make me just sob

Can't wait to read all about Discovery Cove day!!!

 

[BrerMama]

So glad to know that I am not the only one who sometimes needs to pout on a trip. You handled it very well. I probably would have been cursing and ruining the evening for everyone else. I hope that when my time comes -- and I know it will -- I handle it as well as you did.

I have to say, I'm pretty sure my trip to the laundry would have required a detour to the pool bar, though.

 

[momabaarjo]

I am so sorry that your plans had to change for the evening. Things to have a tendency to work out... but boy, when a monkey wrench is thrown into my plans like that it is enough to make me just sob

Can't wait to read all about Discovery Cove day!!!

I think you and I both had moments like this on our trip...and I remember you posting in PTR trying to console me...I know that any trip I have gone on I have had a moment like this...

So glad to know that I am not the only one who sometimes needs to pout on a trip. You handled it very well. I probably would have been cursing and ruining the evening for everyone else. I hope that when my time comes -- and I know it will -- I handle it as well as you did.

I have to say, I'm pretty sure my trip to the laundry would have required a detour to the pool bar, though.

I really don't think I handled it very well...but better than I usually do to have the melt down in front of my family. I just did not want to ruin the day...so the quiet laundry room did the trick....WHY THE HECK DID I NOT THINK OF THE BAR...

 

[momabaarjo]

Wetsuits Required​

Wednesday morning found us enjoying a day to sleep in a bit, since we agreed no need for early entry in HP and no need to really shower or get around since today would be spent in the water at Discovery Cove. The kids and I are excited about the day before us (remember Jeff seems just to be along for the ride on this trip) because they have seen the pictures of their favorite aunt/uncle and cousins at Discovery Cove. Of all the things my sister and her family did in Orlando, their favorite hands down was what we were about to experience. The morning began with a quick look at the weather on the news, while I made sure that we had everything packed for our day. No, the weatherman had not missed the forecast; they were still predicting lower 60s for the day with current conditions being 48. Normally to us that would be balmy by our standards, but when you plan a day outside that incorporates water…BRRRR. We made our way down to the lobby and found Tony happily greeting us in his slight Jamaican accent as we loaded into his van. What a great guy he is as he spent the entire 15 minute drive to Discovery Cove asking the kids all about their adventures so far and telling us all about the Sea World Parks. When we arrive,

Tony and I discuss pick up times, he is worried that we might get too cold today and be sure to call him if we want to leave earlier then the time I had scheduled (5 pm-Discovery Cove Closing). The time is now officially a little past 8 am. I had learned that although Discovery Cove officially opens at 9 am, check in begins at 8 am along with breakfast and it is better to get their earlier so you can get an early dolphin swim time and have the rest of the day to enjoy the rest of the park without having to watch the clock. We walk into the main building

and are not sure how check in works…there appears to be a line down the center with check in stations along the sides of the building. I see several open check in stations, and assume that the line is for people who have already checked in but are waiting to be called into the park so we head to one of the open podiums…still not sure if we are doing the right thing because there is no one at the door directing us. We are greeted and I hand over all my paperwork for the day, and the first thing Jeff and I are asked for is our ID. What? We need ID? Of course, I did not bring that with me…assuming that the paperwork would be enough. The man looks at me and assures me that it will be okay, they just need the ID to prove that I am of legal age to drink…seriously, do I really look younger than 21? Without the ID I can’t get a drink…the last thing on my mind on this could day is going to be a frozen tropical drink, now maybe if you are putting a little Bailey’s in hot chocolate. Everyone gets photographed and given their ID badges that must be worn for the day,

given instructions about breakfast, the park, and times for our dolphin swim (10 am) before we are sent on our way out the door and down a lush tropical path

where we are met by a photographer wanting to take our picture. NO I AM NOT POSTING THIS PICTURE…it was awful and that was an understatement! I do not for the life of me understand why they would take a picture when your hands are full belongings…speaking of which, YOU DO NOT NEED TO PACK YOUR OWN TOWELS, they have plenty! I sure wish I would have known about not needing our own towels the entire trip because I could have packed 1 less suitcase. As are directed to continue down the path towards the building that will be used for both breakfast and lunch (all complimentary with the admission price, in fact the whole day is inclusive…snacks and drinks to your heart’s content).

We decide to go ahead and stop now for breakfast before the crowd gets too bad. Breakfast is set up like a cafeteria with lots of cold and hot choices available, the selections are plentiful and not bad for a cafeteria.

We set outside because the smell inside is about to push my 2 boys over the edge, how on earth do they eat at school? Goo seems to be on the mend, but refuses to eat anything but a little bit of yogurt…even though he picked out a huge plate of food. Somehow I knew this would happen and I only got a bowl of oatmeal & toppings and ate the rest off his plate. With our stomachs full we get back on the never ending path

where at each wetsuit/locker room we are instructed to keep going to the next one. Finally, we make it to the very back of the park and go about the task of selecting wet suits. You have many options to chose from…full length/full sleeve, full length/half sleeve, half length/half sleeve, or vest and during any part of the day you may change but you have to have one of the options on.

I go for the full length/half sleeve (so do the boys), while Ab (and Jeff) picks out the full length/full sleeves…whimps! I am pretty grateful for the wet suits, although being sucked into one seems pretty scary because I know for the most part we will stay warmer. The attendants do an awesome job at selecting the sizes for you…I was pretty scared at first of even knowing what size to ask for, but you don’t have to they hand one over to you and tell you to come back if you want it tighter or more fitted. Along with our wetsuits, we are given a mesh bag with snorkel, mask, and sunscreen and then directed to the changing rooms and lockers. This is one time that I am glad that Jeff gets to deal with the boys. Ab and I head in and after changing she decides she needs a smaller one, oh such a pain for someone so tiny and goes back out to get a different one, mine on the other hand fits great! She returns, changes, and we head out to store our things in the locker, expecting the boys to be waiting on us…but when we make it outside they are nowhere to be found. Ab and I wait for what seems like forever, when they emerge with Jeff looking a little frazzled…I want to say, welcome to my world but bite my tongue and help him store their things in the lockers beside ours.

Noticing the time we have about 30 minutes before our dolphin swim, so what should we do that does not involve getting hair wet?

 

[BrerMama]

I would love to do Discovery Cove, but it's just too much $$ for Dan the Budget Man. I'm hoping once the kids are at college I can talk him into it.

 

[annmarieda]

I am pretty excited to read about your day here. I have briefly looked into DC... but the cost has always been so high. Course, I am not sure I realized that all food and drink were included. What if you had had your id? Would you then have been able to have frozen adult beverages? Those aren't included, are they?

 

[Mom&RN]

I can't wait to hear about your day at Discovery Cove. This is something I have always wanted to do! Money has held me back in the past but I am already planning for a BIG GRADUATION CELEBRATION trip for June 2013. I graduate with my Masters in Nursing (and become a Nurse Practitioner) in December 2012 and my son graduates from high school in June 2013 so we are planning on going BIG. Discovery Cove is definately on the table so looking forward to all the details!

 

[lojo]

Thank you so much for this really superb description of the whole Discovery Cove process - it's something we plan to do too.

 

[hlrababy]

Yay!! I am all caught up now! Can't wait to read more!!

 

[momabaarjo]

How to Snorkel and Keep Your Hair Dry

Disclaimer: I am not sure what happened to this pictures to wash them out so bad. I used those underwater disposable cameras and got great pictures when I had them developed, but the CD pictures are washed out. The colors are so pretty...so I guess I will take some time the next couple of days to scan the actual photos to share with you!​

My mission for the next 30 minutes was to keep my hair relatively dry and in place, so that maybe we will get a decent family picture with the dolphins. So what to do? Wade with stingrays and watch the boys try to figure out how to snorkel. At the far end of Discovery Cove is the Grand Reef…a place to explore the world of colorful tropical fish and rays.

After finding Goo a life jacket, Jeff sets out to teach the boys to snorkel…not that he has really done it,

while Ab and do our best to wade around keeping our hair dry! We basically have the entire reef to ourselves for the net 30 minutes to enjoy from above the water looking at all the rays and fish swimming beneath us,

but boys will be boys...will I keep my hair dry?

 

[momabaarjo]

I would love to do Discovery Cove, but it's just too much $$ for Dan the Budget Man. I'm hoping once the kids are at college I can talk him into it.

It is very pricey...but my TA that I used for part of our trip found a great loop hole...purchase 1 Busch Garden Annual Pass and you can purchase up to 5 Discovery Cove tickets at a reduced rate...we ended up saving over $300 doing this!

I am pretty excited to read about your day here. I have briefly looked into DC... but the cost has always been so high. Course, I am not sure I realized that all food and drink were included. What if you had had your id? Would you then have been able to have frozen adult beverages? Those aren't included, are they?

Yes, food and drink are included...they have great snack bars all throughout the park and adult beverage stands (they can your ID to enforce the drink limit) with the drinks also included! Jeff has his ID, so he had a couple of beers!

I can't wait to hear about your day at Discovery Cove. This is something I have always wanted to do! Money has held me back in the past but I am already planning for a BIG GRADUATION CELEBRATION trip for June 2013. I graduate with my Masters in Nursing (and become a Nurse Practitioner) in December 2012 and my son graduates from high school in June 2013 so we are planning on going BIG. Discovery Cove is definately on the table so looking forward to all the details!

YAY for you...Discovery Cove is well worth the price! But you are right the price is very ! See my hint above in the first quote about how to save a little money! Congrats on all the graduations! What a great way to celebrate!

Thank you so much for this really superb description of the whole Discovery Cove process - it's something we plan to do too.

Thanks...you make me

Yay!! I am all caught up now! Can't wait to read more!!

Welcome, glad you are caught up and joining in on the fun!

 

[annmarieda]

I love your last comment "boys will be boys" I know if I were trying to stay dry... I for sure wouldn't. It is only when I don't care that i manage to in situations like this.