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

[momabaarjo]

A Happy Whistle, That's a Dolphin Saying Hello​

Boys will be boys and splash, but momma stayed far away from them! A few minutes before 10, I round the guys up and we head over to Dolphin Lagoon where we are directed into huts according to our assigned dolphin swim area. There I go about the task of filling out liability releases for all us...I hate for the poor person that I had to read my handwriting and put it into the computer…thanks to shivering I am sure it was not very legible.

With everyone’s paperwork turned in we watch a short video on dolphins before taken to our part of the lagoon where we met our trainer and are instructed to wade into the lagoon which is not very easy since the rocks that we are walking on our slippery as I am trying oh so hard not to get my hair wet! In our group is a woman by herself and then another family of 3. As we make our way to the edge of the rock shelf our trainer, Stacey calls our dolphin to welcome us. Before we know it, there is Luna swimming right in front of us with her tail fluke waving! Luna is a female bottlenose dolphin who was born at Discovery Cove in 2008. Stacey and Luna spend the next 20 minutes showing us how to use hand signals and positive reinforcement to encourage her to perform behaviors.

This time is truly interactive, as we get to perform the signals and have Luna respond and Ab is enjoying every moment of the experience. She is the main reason I booked Discovery Cove because she loves dolphins and has always wanted to meet on up close and personal like this. Boo is enjoying his time, but Goo, not so much…he would rather off be swimming back with the sting rays instead of being help up on the rock shelf by his mom because he is too short to stand (hey, why did I get this job and not dad). Which by the way he keeps making me slip, but my hair is still dry. As the session begins to come to an end we are grouped by family and take our picture with Luna,

each of us give her a kiss good bye (Goo will not kiss her)

and then she is sent away back to her holding area to be replaced by Calypso who is a 7 year old dolphin born at Sea World Orlando and is noticeably a lot larger than Luna.

After spending some time getting to know Calypso, each of us swim out one at a time into deeper water for our deep water swim with Calypso who will bring us back to shore. Surprisingly, Goo decides he is going to swim with Calypso, too!

When everyone has had their turn, Calypso is rejoined by Luna and together they swim off with the rest of the pod to perform a series of jumps and flips for us as a grand finale.

The kids are all chatter (and that is not from the cold) as we say goodbye to Dolphin Lagoon and the dolphins. As we try to leave we are met by a park photo employee who insists that we take time to look at our pictures, right now! Really, right now…I am starting to freeze my hiney off and you want me to look at pictures!!! Will he get his way and lead me off when all I want to do is grab a towel or get back into the water somewhere to stay warm?

 

[momabaarjo]

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.

You know exactly what I mean having 2 boys yourself! The key is to keep distance between me and them...even though I really wanted to off and try to snorkel because they sounded like they were having so much fun!

 

[BrerMama]

Oh, to swim with the dolphins. Interesting fact: I am fish phobic. But I love the idea of water mammals.

Some. Day.

 

[momabaarjo]

Oh, to swim with the dolphins. Interesting fact: I am fish phobic. But I love the idea of water mammals.

Some. Day.

I have the same issues with fish...but being able to see them in the clear blue water is different...

 

[annmarieda]

what an amazing day! you can see the joy in ABs face. glad your hair managed to stay dry for pics. you look great for them, so mission accomplished!

 

[momabaarjo]

Now I Can Get My Hair Wet​

Obviously if I have pictures from Discovery Cove the persistent park employee got his way and I ended up in the "photo cabana" but to DC credit it was heated! So my bad mood at being drug in there to look at pictures was quickly warmed up. I had already planned to buy pictures, so he was going to have an easy sale. I opted not to get the video portion of our experience. I seriously wonder why anyone would spend the extra $75 for something that has no sound. I think I spent almost $200 (I had it in my budget)...it included 5 5x7 pictures of my choice, a CD with copy write permission of all the pictures taken during the day (they have a photo pass type system, but you have to literally insist and track down the photographers to get pictures...they don't come to you), 2 key chains with a picture of your choice, 4 3x5 pictures, and a really nice picture frame. After taking care of the package order, I headed back to the Grand Reef where I found the family happily snorkeling with the stingrays and fish and I quickly joined them. The stingrays are totally amazing and cool to watch, while the fish swimming beneath you and around you is quite the experience. We all decided that we needed to go some place tropical sometime and snorkel in the ocean!

Funny story about the time...along the far edges of the Grand Reef are glassed in aquariums full of less friendly creatures...like moray eels and sharks. You can swim and snorkel right up to the glass and not even realize there is glass. That is exactly what happened to Ab, she was snorkeling up in front of Jeff when all the sudden she shot straight out of the water with a scream. She has just passed the moray eels for the first time, and these guys just as she was passing by decided to come out of their holes and become activity. She had not discovered the concave glass separating her from them...it was pretty funny to witness from across the reef and Jeff said it was even funnier being near her as it happened!

Words cannot even begin to describe how much fun we had the next hour or so, but like all good things, the peacefulness and the fun quickly came to an end because....

 

[momabaarjo]

Hungry Tummies & New Adventures​

I guess all that snorkeling made the boys decide that they were hungry and according to the time lunch was being served in the cafeteria. We all agreed that it would be a good time to eat and quickly searched out towels and more towels to keep us warm as we walked back to the front of the park to where the cafeteria is. Remember that breakfast, lunch, drinks, and all the snacks you want are included in the price of your ticket. The line was not too bad, so while Jeff took the boys in to pick out their meal, Ab and I scouted a table in what sun we could find...which let me tell you was not too easy as everyone had the same idea. With the table secure I send Ab in to tell the boys where we were and to get her lunch. The lunch selections were pretty basic...hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken fingers, club sandwich, jambalaya, and a pasta dish.

Along with a large selection of pasta, fruit, and green salads. There was also a great selections of desserts. I had a hamburger, which for cafeteria food was much better than that Cheeseburger in Paradise I had a couple nights prior at Margaritaville. Goo still claiming he did not feel well took a couple of bites of hot dog, proclaimed he was done, and then set his sights on chocolate cake. Me being mom, told him no way unless he hate his hot dog and dad being dad said...we are on vacation, have that chocolate cake...and he did!

After finishing up lunch we decide to check out the other side of Discovery Cove which includes Serenity Bay and Wind Away River.

As we make our way into the waters, we quickly discover that this was the place we should have been all along...the water is WARM, in fact a constant 80 degrees, which feels like we have died and gone to heaven! As we play around in the bay for awhile Boo spots a cave which lures us all in and we find is the start of the Wind Away River...

Ride the soothing currents of a tropical river as it winds past sandy beaches, through a dense rain forest, beneath the rocky terrain of cascading waterfalls, and through an underwater cave. Glance down as you travel and take in the wonders that exist beneath the surface of the crystal-clear water​

What a fun place and experience...the whole river tip probably took 20-30 minutes and we all had fun diving looking for all the sunken treasure below us and playing in the various waterfalls.

About 1/2 way through the river experience you come upon the Explorer's Aviary...

Venture beyond the beaches and waterfalls of Discovery Cove and enter a hidden treasure, the Explorer's Aviary, where an inspiring natural habitat sings with the rhythm of wings and the melodies of birdsong. Watch as hundreds of colorful birds soar above and around you. Feel your heart soar as a feathered friend glides in to meet you and nibble fruit from your hand.​

So the kids and I decide to climb out of the warm water and take a look. Jeff on the other hand is content to stay in the warm tropical water...he was the smart one because no sooner did we get out did we wish that we were back in the water...but the lure of the birds called us farther down the path. We came across a bird keeper feeding some of the birds and were offered a cup of baby mice fetus' to give to the birds...

then we continued quickly down the path father in out of bird areas until we finally found the river again...

ahhh, I am sure the birds were neat but the water was ahhhhh. We floated our way back to where we left Jeff and continued around the river

until we reached Serenity Bay once again. "Now What?, " Boo asks.

 

[BrerMama]

Oh, floating around in 80 degree water does sound like heaven.

I had to laugh about the bird aviary. My Tater hates birds. I was telling his sister how fun it would be to get him in the river and floating and then watch him freak out when he realized there were free flying birds everywhere. And mice fetuses? His vegetarian self would totally lose it. Kind of like your Ab with the Moray Eels. That did make for a good laugh.

 

[FosterA]

wow! i was never really interested in Discovery Cove before but now that I see your photos, I'm pretty darn interested!
That cave area looks so cool!

It sounds like a near perfect day with the only snafu being the cold. If it was hot out, it would have been perfection!

 

[Mom&RN]

Wow, I was way behind!! I'm really enjoying your Discovery Cove descriptions. I'd love to do this on our next visit but, unfortunately, I'm not so sure my son would love it - he really doesn't like to snorkel and a lot of what you're describing sounds like it wouldn't be as fun if you didn't use the snorkel.... we'll have to see!

 

[momabaarjo]

An Afternoon of Snorkeling & Floating​

I look at the time at it is only a little past 1:00 and Tony is not due for another 4 hours, and I realize either this is going to be a very long cold afternoon or we can cut the day short and try to make up for some lost time at USO/IOA due to Goo being sick. I ask the kids what they want to do and between teeth chattering, we decide to have Tony pick us up around 4:00 which gives us about 2 hours to play so we spend the rest of the time we have at Discovery Cove going back and forth between Wind Away River and the Grand Reef. Here are a few more pictures...

Grand Reef

Wind Away River

About 3:00, I signal to the boys that I am going to go and change so that I will have time to pick up our picture package before we leave. Ab decides she has had enough and leaves with me. We make it to the lockers to gather our stuff, but I should have known that everyone else in the park that day is also thinking of cutting the day short before the sun gets lower in the sky and the temperature get colder. The locker room area is packed, so Ab and I decide to go down the trail towards the entrance and try another locker room. Discovery Cove fills up locker rooms from the back to the front of th park...if you get there early you are in the back and at full capacity...the locker rooms closer to the entrance are filled last so they are not at capacity. We make it to the next locker room and it is basically empty. Ab and I shower and change, then I send her back to tell the boys about the locker while I head to the front to the photo area. When I finally make it to a sales clerk, I find that the pictures that I had taken 2 hours ago are not on my account yet, so they spend the next 15 minutes tracking down the photographer to get my pictures and get the CD burned. By the time I am done, no sign of my family anywhere and I look at the time knowing that Tony will be waiting in a few minutes (something I love about this guy he is 5-10 minutes early, just like me). So I head back down the path to the locker rooms where I find them seated at one of the snack bars enjoying some frozen slushies (brrrr...but we are warm now was their excuse) and a nice soft pretzel. I let them enjoy the few extra moments before dragging them off to find Tony, who of course is waiting with his "I told you smile." He instantly engages the kids and asking them about their day, hey how come when I ask the kids about what they did all I get is "nothing!"? As we travel back to the hotel, Tony lets us know that we are going a different route back in order to avoid the traffic on the freeway. Before long with no waiting in traffic, we pull up to the RPR and bid Tony farewell until Friday morning when we will be leaving the RPR for BWV. We make it up to the hotel room, where we drop our things off and head right back out the door...but where do we go, since our dinner reservations are not until 7:00 pm?

 

[momabaarjo]

Oh, floating around in 80 degree water does sound like heaven.

It was like heaven, but I don't think during the summer it would feel that way!

I had to laugh about the bird aviary. My Tater hates birds. I was telling his sister how fun it would be to get him in the river and floating and then watch him freak out when he realized there were free flying birds everywhere. And mice fetuses? His vegetarian self would totally lose it. Kind of like your Ab with the Moray Eels. That did make for a good laugh.

That sounds like an evil plan that I would hatch up!

wow! i was never really interested in Discovery Cove before but now that I see your photos, I'm pretty darn interested!
That cave area looks so cool!

The cave was pretty cool, and it lures you right in! The whole river area was so much fun! Beats lazy rivers at any water park I have been to!

It sounds like a near perfect day with the only snafu being the cold. If it was hot out, it would have been perfection!

Wow, I was way behind!! I'm really enjoying your Discovery Cove descriptions. I'd love to do this on our next visit but, unfortunately, I'm not so sure my son would love it - he really doesn't like to snorkel and a lot of what you're describing sounds like it wouldn't be as fun if you didn't use the snorkel.... we'll have to see!

I would say then that DC would not be his thing...it was a day of snorkeling and floating!

 

[momabaarjo]

I finally have decided to take the pludge and dive into the deep end of scrapbooking...I am going digital. I just can't find the time or space to traditionally scrapbook anymore and once I get the hang of digitially scrapbooking it should go a lot farther. So tonight I was playing around and came up with this first page for our album...

I know I am supposed to post credits and all when I post, but bear with me I am learning this stuff. All my page elements came from Creative Memories Noel Kit.

Overall I am pretty pleased with my first attempt...I see a few things I want to go back and change...like the color of the frames, but it is a start!

 

[annmarieda]

I think your day looks like it was pretty successful.. despite the cold.

chocolaate cake on vacation... well... yes, I think I go out of my way to eat like that while on vacation

the warm cave... i am sure it was a welcome change after chattering your teet all day.

 

[Nalshersmom]

I love all of your pictures, especially the ones of the kids swimming under the water! It looks like an amazing experience, and I will def. look into it when my kids get a little older.

 

[BrerMama]

I've been a digital scrapbooker for over seven years, so if you need help navigating the digi-community let me know. I love digital. It's just so beautifully easy and yet such an amazing way to capture memories.

 

[FosterA]

Yay! Glad you are going digital. I am so glad I made the switch from paper. Your page looks amazing. The only thing you might want to play with is shadowing to put behind the photos and elements to give an illusion of depth.

Can't wait to hear what you all did next on your vacation

 

[momabaarjo]

I've been a digital scrapbooker for over seven years, so if you need help navigating the digi-community let me know. I love digital. It's just so beautifully easy and yet such an amazing way to capture memories.

Yay! Glad you are going digital. I am so glad I made the switch from paper. Your page looks amazing. The only thing you might want to play with is shadowing to put behind the photos and elements to give an illusion of depth.

Can't wait to hear what you all did next on your vacation

Thanks for the support...I am sure I will be asking lots of questions. I decided to us the Creative Memories software...simply because I have used in the past so I am familiar with it somewhat. I was not ready to take on the huge learning curve of photoshop elements just yet. My intention is to get pages done and all the boards that I have scoped gave me the advice to use SBM...remembering Creative Memories...easy pages, completed albums. It was so cool to play for the last hour and have 2 pages nearly completed. I am sure I will go back and tweek...gonna check out the shadowing!

I decided the page needed a pop of color so I added the red into...

Have you ever visited mousescrappers. com? It a lot like the DIS in terms of boards...but their boards are full of layouts!

 

[momabaarjo]

I think your day looks like it was pretty successful.. despite the cold.

chocolaate cake on vacation... well... yes, I think I go out of my way to eat like that while on vacation

Me too...but this child needed some protein!

the warm cave... i am sure it was a welcome change after chattering your teet all day.

I love all of your pictures, especially the ones of the kids swimming under the water! It looks like an amazing experience, and I will def. look into it when my kids get a little older.

I loved the underwater too...I have none of Boo because everytime I turned around he was way out in front of us. He has a tendency to disappear like that...middle child syndrome? Oh well, he was enjoying himself. I was so glad that the underwater cameras worked. I just cant figure out why when I downloaded off the disk all the colors got washed out...and I have not had time to scan them over to show you how blue and colorful everything was!

 

[momabaarjo]

A Seuss Makeover and an Angry God​

When the kids were asked, it was a loud "Seuss Landing" that got the vote. I guess they just love this place, because it seems that we keep ending up there...and to think that I had only a little time scheduled this is area of the park. Really, it was a good choice since dinner will be a little further around in the next island. So first up to ride is Cat in the Hat.

From there we head onto One Fish, where Ab decides to ride to spare me...what a sweet girl, but this time she was smart and made little brother sit on the outside.

Next up was the Caro-Seuss-el

and then a little shopping trip into Mulberry Street

where Boo finally decides to make a purchase...

I convince the kids to skip High in the Sky for now, promising that we will come back later. My reasoning is that I would like to get Poseidon’s Fury in before dinner so that we can go and walk through WWofHP after dinner. So we cross over the bridge into the Lost Continent

and find this time that Poseidon’s Fury is indeed open this time, and with our express pass we walk almost directly into the show.

The plot line for Poseidon is pretty easy to follow…just think Indiana Jones and there you have it. It is our job to find the Triton and return it to Poseidon. Ab and Boo love all things to do with mythology so I thought this would be fun for them. I can say that they enjoyed it, but loved it…well, not really. Goo however loved the special effects, especially in the last chamber.

As we exit Poseidon, I notice that it is close to our reservation at Mythos, I wonder if we can check in early and get seated?