Annual Orlando Pilgrimage

[d4est]

Okay, so I'm not a great trippie writer like some of you...but here goes.

In attendance:
Me--the planner extraordinaire
Dh--just puts up with me as long as he's fed well
The boy--he's 11 1/2 and is a thrill seeker like me

We left the house on Monday, 2/9 and stayed in the nastiest Econologe ever, in Syracuse NY. A lesson learned--never again. Our flight to Orlando was to leave at 6 AM on 2/10, and the flight was uneventful. We had a connecting flight out of JFK and that was fine, too.

We landed in Orlando just before noon, grabbed our luggage and hit the road with our driver, from Murray Hill. We arrived at the HRH just before 1 PM and our room was ready. Club level king, room 7106. I didn't take any pics this year. Same set up as we had last year but instead of a pool view, we had a view of the waterway for the boats. We were a little closer to the club this time, but not by much. This is my only complaint w/the HR. I always request a room close to the elevators, due to a knee injury, and I never get it. Of course, I never complain so...squeaky wheel and all that.

We settled in, briefly, and headed to US.

We already had our tickets, so we headed on in. We went straight to the Simpsons. What a fun ride. Dh doesn't do coasters. I told him that the simulation was pretty close to what it feels like. He still has no desires...

Next we hit MIB and then made our way over to the Mummy. Always fun! Dh did it last year, but wasn't interested this time around.

We decided to have a late lunch at Finnegan's and then head back to the room so the boy could swim. We planned to get to bed at a decent hour since our day started so early. The pool was as enjoyable as ever.

Because it was Tuesday, the week before Pres. Week, crowds seemed low and there weren't many in the pool. Here's Dh chilling

and pics of the nearly empty pool:

We went back up to the room and relaxed. We hit the club for beers and snacks around 5:30 PM. There were little deep dish pizzas, egg rolls and some other stuff. At dessert time, there were cookies, cannolis and deep fried cheesecake bites. Then it was time for bed. Tomorrow we hit both parks and the pool...

 

[Metro West]

Laurie...so far so good...continue!

 

[jopaly]

....Can't wait for more!

 

[macraven]

i love it !!

 

[pixeegrl]

can't wait for more!!!

 

[Rags]

Can't wait for more!!!!!!!!!

 

[tlinus]

off to a great start

 

[donaldduck352]

Im here,great so far.Need more!!

 

[scotlass]

Hey youse...


Great trippie,we want more !!

 

[d4est]

Glad you are all enjoying it so far. I apologize for my rather boring writing style...

Day 2, 2/11, we...well, I , am up rather early (for vacation). 7:30 AM, but I thought it was 8:30 AM. The radio by the TV was an hour fast. I jumped out of bed and nudged the boy so we could go to the club for breakfast. I got my usual "everything" bagel, OJ and some fresh pineapple and watermelon. The boy grabbed milk, pineapple & watermelon and a croissant. We took our food to the room and ate a leisurely breakfast while Dh slept. I made myself a cup of joe in the room. Last year we had Emeril's coffee and I really like it. This year they offered something else (don't remember, sorry) and I didn't care for it. Dh finally sat up and I gave him 1/2 my bagel even though I really didn't want to share. I love those bagels! We all got ready and we were at IOA around 8:45 AM. We wandered in and the boy and I headed straight for the Hulk. The wait time was only 5 min, but we used the express lane and jumped right in the last row. The Hulk is never dull and we whooped and screamed and loved it. Dh, as I mentioned earlier, is not a thrill rider. Thankfully, he's patient and never complains when he has to wait for us. Usually (a bit later in the day) he just finds a spot to fill his pilsner and heads for a smoking area while we have our fun.

After the hulk, the boy and I hit Spiderman. Again, just a 5 min wait. This time we did the regular queue and were able hop right on w/no waiting. We rode with some foreigners who've never ridden and it was quite comical. One woman would scream and giggle every time "someone" would jump on our car. Too funny.

Here's a pic of how empty it was:

And the boy in front of Spiderman:

After Spiderman, we wandered through Toon Lagoon and over to Jurassic Park. We were sad to see that JPRA was closed. The boy and I love this ride. At some point during the day, he decided to spend some of his money on the rock wall. Here he is climbing away:

And giving me the thumbs up after ringing the bell:

He really enjoys this and he also climbed the brick wall at the Studios but I didn't take any pics of that. Bad mommy.

After wall climbing, we walked over so we could ride DD. The lines were still wicked short, so we did the regular queue. We'd never used it and it was really neat, of what I saw of it. Walking through with an eager 11 year old boy means we didn't exactly stroll and take in the scenery! We jumped right on the 2nd to last row on fire and away we went. Loved it. We then found Dh and headed over to see when we could do Poseidon's Fury. It wasn't opening for quite some time so we decided we'd hit it later (we've never done it) or tomorrow. We wandered through Seuss Landing and then checked out the menu at Confisco's. We decided we'd give that a try for lunch tomorrow.

We headed out of IOA and hit UO for a quick bit. We did Twister and the Mummy again. This time we used the regular queue, again--something we'd never done. I tried to get the boy to slow down and check things out. He's always in such a hurry. I did get him to help me out with the hand on the cartouche thing. We touched the scarab but no one was there to get blasted. So then we are off and on the front row. I don't remember getting so wet (mist) last year?? Was it always like that? Also, I finally spotted the Kong statue! Oh. This is where we had our one minor snafu. As we were on our way down the ramp to view our pic, the boy noticed that his zip pouch is missing from the end of his brand new Mardi Gras 2009 lanyard. We turned around and let the TM know. She said they'd keep an eye out for it and to go to the front desk at HRH to get a new one printed. Luckily, there were no charging privileges and it did NOT contain his park ticket. I had a new card printed, easy peasy.

We then headed back to the HRH to have lunch by the pool and let the boy swim:

Lunch. Dh had the Ahi Tuna salad, but I didn't get a pic.

I had the nachos. Sooooo yummy!

The boy ate...what he almost always eats...chicken fingers:

After relaxing at the pool for awhile:

We went up to the room to chill and then headed out for supper at Pat O'Briens. This meal was okay. Dh had some steak and I had the appetizer sampler. I also had a hurricane. Very strong! The boy ate a chicken sandwich, which he didn't care for. Service was extremely slow. The boy was panicking that he wouldn't get back in time to swim. Pool closes at 9 PM! Oh to have such worries in life...

Day 3 to follow...

 

[macraven]

i'm enjoying your trippie.
i love the way you are writing it.


now that i don't take my sons with me, i get to do everything i want.
i never knew what all i missed all those years in zooming thru the express lines to get to the rides.......



sounds like the boy loves the rides and especially the pool!

 

[ldmilton]

Wonderful Trippie! How nice that your DH is so patient while you and your son get your thrills!! Can't wait to hear more...thanks so much for sharing. DH and I leave in only 6 days for a week at RPR and reading your report just adds to the excitement!!

 

[ky07]

Great trip report and pics

 

[d4est]

i'm enjoying your trippie.
i love the way you are writing it.


now that i don't take my sons with me, i get to do everything i want.
i never knew what all i missed all those years in zooming thru the express lines to get to the rides.......



sounds like the boy loves the rides and especially the pool!

Thanks, Mac.

Not that I want to rush my time w/my son, since he actually likes hanging out with me at this point, but I do look forward to the days when I can take my time!

Yes, he loves to ride (can't wait for HR3) and LOVES the pool. He's got gills hidden somewhere, I swear, and has been swimming on his own since he was 3 1/2. He's now interested in becoming an "animal trainer" so he can work with the dolphins at Discovery Cove. Honestly, it would be a great job for him. Time will tell...

 

[d4est]

Wonderful Trippie! How nice that your DH is so patient while you and your son get your thrills!! Can't wait to hear more...thanks so much for sharing. DH and I leave in only 6 days for a week at RPR and reading your report just adds to the excitement!!

Thanks. Glad I can help pass the time! I know you will enjoy yourselves and I hope you have the beautiful weather we lucked out with.

 

[d4est]

Great trip report and pics

Thanks. I wish I had more pics. I ended up deleting some of my pics, in a panic, but we'll get to that on day 8 (a Sea World day)...

 

[jopaly]

Can't wait for the next instalment......great trippie

 

[avic77]

Great so far I'm waiting for more

 

[macraven]

Laurie...............i'm still waiting............

 

[Disneyof3]

Keep going! This is helping me alot. The pictures of the nachoes look amazing!!! I have seen another picture of them at RPR at pool side and can't wait to try them in 9 days