Who:
Me
Mom, chief obsessive tour planner, kids wild ride companion
DH
coaster-phobic
DS1
age 9, junk food expert
DD
age 6, thrill seeker, food allergies
DS2 20 months, the little guy, Pooh fan, his first Disney trip
Grandmom
my mother from New Jersey
Granddad my father from New Jersey, chief stroller pusher
Day 5, Wednesday, October 1
We started off the day with 8 am PS at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian. I loved the food there, but the waiting area and the buffet always seems very chaotic. We visited with Mary Poppins in the waiting area. DH said that Alice and the Mad Hatter stopped by our table. All during our breakfast, we kept hearing a little voice shouting Pooh! Pooh!. DS2 overcame his fear of the characters to visit with his all time favorite Pooh.
After breakfast, we returned to the Polynesian and got in the car to go to SeaWorld. My parents decided to go to Epcot and rest for the afternoon, instead. Our first ride a SeaWorld was Journey to Atlantis. DD barely made the height requirement, but was dying to go on the ride. I was a little apprehensive for her after seeing the size of the first big drop, but she loved it. Because of her height, she did have a tendency to bump her head on the plastic of the seat back. She was fine as long as I put my arm behind her. There was no wait for Journey to Atlantis, so we rode again. While DH waited for us to finish our rides, he and DS2 found a great spot to visit in the Journey to Atlantis gift shop. One room off of the gift shop has different aquariums in the walls and the ceiling and the floor! DS2 loved it! He looked so funny lying on the floor, staring at the fish below.
Next we hurried over to the 11:15 Shamu show. DS1 wanted to sit in the soak zone. We compromised by sitting towards the top of the first section of seats in the soak zone, but far enough away that we had a good chance of escaping a soaking. The show was great, but by the end we were surrounded by grumpy kids. DS2 was crying, DD was demanding a drink NOW, and DS1 was upset that we didnt get wet. I refrained from feeding them to the killer whales, although I was pretty tempted at the moment! Instead we headed for Shamus Happy Harbour play area. DH took the kids in to play while I headed off in search of food. After a successful hunt, I returned with two Shamu kids meals (corn dogs & fries), an extra order of fries, and two Shamu kids drinks. Mango Joes had much tastier options on their menu, but I didnt have a good way to transport the food back to the troops. The Shamu kids meals came in buckets and the kids drinks had lids and closing straws.
After lunch and some playtime, we headed for Wild Artic. DH took DS1 and DD on the helicopter ride, while DS2 and I did the walking tour. DS2 loved the beluga whales. The workers loved watching him run around the base, pointing and laughing. We saw the polar bears on the land part of the exhibit, but got up close views of the walrus and whales in the underwater viewing area. DD managed to bump her head twice. The kids went to explore the bears den mockup and were scared silly when the recorded bear growl started playing!
We came out to find it sprinkling. After the Shamu show, they handed out some free coupons for a mid-way style game. The kids really wanted to use the coupons, so we headed over to the arcade area. We stopped to check the underwater viewing area for the killer whales, but didnt see any. DD had a complete meltdown at the arcade, refusing to leave. We finally had to do the goodbye, see you later and walk away routine before she would go with us. I felt awful, but shes a little big to pick up and carry away kicking and screaming! I offered to take her picture in from of the Clydesdale horse statue. Nope. So as we started to leave, she started crying and screaming again because she wanted her picture taken! Argh! (I know that all of you readers have perfect kids who would never even THINK of acting this way!)
We visited with the live horses, marveling at their size. Next stop eels, barracuda, and sharks! We loved the moving sidewalk with the aquarium arching overhead at Shark Encounter. DD really wanted to ride Journey to Atlantis again. First, though, we stopped to visit the penguins at Penguin Encounter. DS2 thought the penguins were pretty funny. We rode Journey to Atlantis again twice. After our last ride, we exited the gift shop with a pink stuffed sea horse and a SeaWorld bag of mixed rocks. We escaped pretty cheaply in the souvenir department, but thats what they wanted! We were all pretty tired by now, the rain was getting heavier, and DS2 was sleeping in his stroller, but we decided to swing by the manatee exhibit. DS1 had studied manatees in school last year and wanted to take some pictures back. The class had even sponsored a manatee. DH stayed with DS2, while DD, DS1, and I watched the movie and visited the manatees. The highlight for the kids was seeing one of the manatees poop! On our way out, we stopped by Dolphin Cove and touched the stingrays at Stingray Lagoon. They do feet like wet portabella mushrooms! We drove back to the Polynesian, stopping to refill our gas tank and purchase some necessities of life milk, orange juice, and Cheerios.
Back at the Polynesian, DH and I were worn out from the long day and from dealing with DDs tantrums. I had a quick chat with my parents and arranged a special treat they agreed to watch the kids for an hour while we ate dinner! I put out some food for the kids to eat while we were out. My mother was amused when DD begged her to Please, please, please! open the canned green beans! DH and I went to the Kona Café where I had a classic Mai Tai and Pan Asian Shrimp Pasta. Yum! DH had the Asian Marinated Prime Rib and a strawberry-banana smoothie. He loved the prime rib, but didnt enjoy the potatoes and vegetables. For dessert, we shared a delicious Kilahuea torte. Properly refreshed, and ready to deal with Little Miss Grump again, we headed back to the room. We took the kids down the pool, while my parents headed the Kona Café for their own dinner. DH took DS2 back to the room about 7:30, but the other kids and I stayed and watched the fireworks from the beach by the pool. We went back to the room and watched the Electric Water Parade before bed.
LaurenS
P.S. Did I mention that my parents are great?!
Me
Mom, chief obsessive tour planner, kids wild ride companionDH
coaster-phobicDS1
age 9, junk food expertDD
age 6, thrill seeker, food allergiesDS2 20 months, the little guy, Pooh fan, his first Disney trip
Grandmom
my mother from New JerseyGranddad my father from New Jersey, chief stroller pusher
Day 5, Wednesday, October 1
We started off the day with 8 am PS at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian. I loved the food there, but the waiting area and the buffet always seems very chaotic. We visited with Mary Poppins in the waiting area. DH said that Alice and the Mad Hatter stopped by our table. All during our breakfast, we kept hearing a little voice shouting Pooh! Pooh!. DS2 overcame his fear of the characters to visit with his all time favorite Pooh.
After breakfast, we returned to the Polynesian and got in the car to go to SeaWorld. My parents decided to go to Epcot and rest for the afternoon, instead. Our first ride a SeaWorld was Journey to Atlantis. DD barely made the height requirement, but was dying to go on the ride. I was a little apprehensive for her after seeing the size of the first big drop, but she loved it. Because of her height, she did have a tendency to bump her head on the plastic of the seat back. She was fine as long as I put my arm behind her. There was no wait for Journey to Atlantis, so we rode again. While DH waited for us to finish our rides, he and DS2 found a great spot to visit in the Journey to Atlantis gift shop. One room off of the gift shop has different aquariums in the walls and the ceiling and the floor! DS2 loved it! He looked so funny lying on the floor, staring at the fish below.
Next we hurried over to the 11:15 Shamu show. DS1 wanted to sit in the soak zone. We compromised by sitting towards the top of the first section of seats in the soak zone, but far enough away that we had a good chance of escaping a soaking. The show was great, but by the end we were surrounded by grumpy kids. DS2 was crying, DD was demanding a drink NOW, and DS1 was upset that we didnt get wet. I refrained from feeding them to the killer whales, although I was pretty tempted at the moment! Instead we headed for Shamus Happy Harbour play area. DH took the kids in to play while I headed off in search of food. After a successful hunt, I returned with two Shamu kids meals (corn dogs & fries), an extra order of fries, and two Shamu kids drinks. Mango Joes had much tastier options on their menu, but I didnt have a good way to transport the food back to the troops. The Shamu kids meals came in buckets and the kids drinks had lids and closing straws.
After lunch and some playtime, we headed for Wild Artic. DH took DS1 and DD on the helicopter ride, while DS2 and I did the walking tour. DS2 loved the beluga whales. The workers loved watching him run around the base, pointing and laughing. We saw the polar bears on the land part of the exhibit, but got up close views of the walrus and whales in the underwater viewing area. DD managed to bump her head twice. The kids went to explore the bears den mockup and were scared silly when the recorded bear growl started playing!
We came out to find it sprinkling. After the Shamu show, they handed out some free coupons for a mid-way style game. The kids really wanted to use the coupons, so we headed over to the arcade area. We stopped to check the underwater viewing area for the killer whales, but didnt see any. DD had a complete meltdown at the arcade, refusing to leave. We finally had to do the goodbye, see you later and walk away routine before she would go with us. I felt awful, but shes a little big to pick up and carry away kicking and screaming! I offered to take her picture in from of the Clydesdale horse statue. Nope. So as we started to leave, she started crying and screaming again because she wanted her picture taken! Argh! (I know that all of you readers have perfect kids who would never even THINK of acting this way!)
We visited with the live horses, marveling at their size. Next stop eels, barracuda, and sharks! We loved the moving sidewalk with the aquarium arching overhead at Shark Encounter. DD really wanted to ride Journey to Atlantis again. First, though, we stopped to visit the penguins at Penguin Encounter. DS2 thought the penguins were pretty funny. We rode Journey to Atlantis again twice. After our last ride, we exited the gift shop with a pink stuffed sea horse and a SeaWorld bag of mixed rocks. We escaped pretty cheaply in the souvenir department, but thats what they wanted! We were all pretty tired by now, the rain was getting heavier, and DS2 was sleeping in his stroller, but we decided to swing by the manatee exhibit. DS1 had studied manatees in school last year and wanted to take some pictures back. The class had even sponsored a manatee. DH stayed with DS2, while DD, DS1, and I watched the movie and visited the manatees. The highlight for the kids was seeing one of the manatees poop! On our way out, we stopped by Dolphin Cove and touched the stingrays at Stingray Lagoon. They do feet like wet portabella mushrooms! We drove back to the Polynesian, stopping to refill our gas tank and purchase some necessities of life milk, orange juice, and Cheerios.
Back at the Polynesian, DH and I were worn out from the long day and from dealing with DDs tantrums. I had a quick chat with my parents and arranged a special treat they agreed to watch the kids for an hour while we ate dinner! I put out some food for the kids to eat while we were out. My mother was amused when DD begged her to Please, please, please! open the canned green beans! DH and I went to the Kona Café where I had a classic Mai Tai and Pan Asian Shrimp Pasta. Yum! DH had the Asian Marinated Prime Rib and a strawberry-banana smoothie. He loved the prime rib, but didnt enjoy the potatoes and vegetables. For dessert, we shared a delicious Kilahuea torte. Properly refreshed, and ready to deal with Little Miss Grump again, we headed back to the room. We took the kids down the pool, while my parents headed the Kona Café for their own dinner. DH took DS2 back to the room about 7:30, but the other kids and I stayed and watched the fireworks from the beach by the pool. We went back to the room and watched the Electric Water Parade before bed.
LaurenS
P.S. Did I mention that my parents are great?!
