Can a single Mom take 3 teenage boys to Universal and survive?

[Motherfletcher]

Room charges: 329.33 supersaver rate for garden, gold upgrade to deluxe
6 nights, 1975.99
plus room tax 247.02
parking plus tax 76.68
food..all including meal plans, snacks, everything 931.62
other stuff, souveniers, ponchos, mummy pics 172.57
total- 3403.88
Some day I will get to come on the off season and see what the difference is.

And the boys kicked in how much?
You will have to go off season. The most I can remember paying for a deluxe, without an upgrade, but free breakfast is $259.
Note to self... Stay home on Spring Break!

 

[JMCDAD]

Thanks again for your reports
and your info on the expenses
it really helps

 

[AlexandNessa]

I am enjoying your report. Conspicuously absent from this TR: one icky BF. Glad you dumped him!

 

[damo]

You got up early and went for a drink and fried ravioli. I hope your idea of early and mine are different!!!! ::

 

[lindalinda]

I am enjoying your report. Conspicuously absent from this TR: one icky BF. Glad you dumped him!

It was way easier without him this time!


Wednesday, day 5


I woke up around 8 am. Looking toward the window......believe it not....sunshine! I pulled open the drapes and woke up the boys. Not a cloud in the sky! Hooray! I got ready and headed to the pool bright and early (wanted to make sure I had a chair. Boys wore their trunks and went to the park for the "wet rides"

I stayed at the pool for 3 hours or so, though I did make sure I had lots of sunscreen on. I ordered some of those fried raviolis again....man are they good.

This was a perfect day, truly. It was 90 degrees and clear as a bell!

I headed to the park and met the guys in front of Universal

Arent they cute?

We went to see Jimmy Nuetron, since we hadnt hit that show yet

Then we headed back to Jaws. We saw a short line and took it as our opportunity for the pic

We then saw Fear Factor. It was really good this time, a close race at the end. Usually someone is really good and wins by a landslide.

We did ET and tried to do a funny name ... we tried South Oldham Football Rocks.....but for some reason they wouldnt take football. Said it wasnt a name. HUH??? oh well

The Hollywood Horror Makeup show was hilarious as usual. This time the makeup person was a woman. At first Me and my son were thinking it wouldnt be the same, but as it turned out, I think she was even funnier! So did my son!

We went back for some swimming, since it was beautiful, guys wanted some pool time!

heres a few more hotel pics. I just love the little alleyways

 

[lindalinda]

You got up early and went for a drink and fried ravioli. I hope your idea of early and mine are different!!!! ::

By the time the wait staff was there, it was after 11. Hey I was on vacation!

 

[Foxfiregrrl]

I'm enjoying your report! The hotel is beautiful!!

Sounds like you had a nice relaxing time. That is good, you need some relaxation!

What I notice is conspicuously missing are any pictures of you, Linda!? Come on, there has to be at least one!!

And, I know I've seen Kevin before, but for the life of me I am not sure which one he is.... maybe you could label one of the pics w/ all three boys to identify who's who? I think he is the one in the middle in the black shirt in the most recent photos? not sure though... am I right?

Can't wait for the rest! Keep it coming!

 

[macraven]

i think double linda is invisible and she doesn't show up in the pics.

i have waited a long time to see who she is also.
but, if we find out she is a young thin blonde, my pic will never be shown on any thread........

 

[lindalinda]

I'm enjoying your report! The hotel is beautiful!!
What I notice is conspicuously missing are any pictures of you, Linda!? Come on, there has to be at least one!!

And, I know I've seen Kevin before, but for the life of me I am not sure which one he is.... maybe you could label one of the pics w/ all three boys to identify who's who? I think he is the one in the middle in the black shirt in the most recent photos? not sure though... am I right?

Can't wait for the rest! Keep it coming!

i think double linda is invisible and she doesn't show up in the pics.

i have waited a long time to see who she is also.
but, if we find out she is a young thin blonde, my pic will never be shown on any thread........

Ummm....my image doesnt show up on film??

Amber, Kevin is the little one....those are his football buddies. He buzzed his hair so he looks different. I think he is too small for football, but what do I know?

And mac....not to worry....I'm old, short chubby and brunette! For just a sec I was gonna photoshop a tall svelte blonde in some pics for entertainment purposes only.

too tired to post TR stuff tonite.....

 

[lookingforward]

Great report! I have two teenage boys and I think US/IOA is the best vacation. I love that I can hang out at the hotel and relax and that they can wander around without having to get in a car, bus, etc. They love the independence. Great pics!

 

[lindalinda]

Thursday, last day in the park.

Another gorgeous day! Since it was our last day , we wanted to make sure we didnt miss anything!

We always start with the mummy....and finish with the mummy!


Kevin took some shots of the mardi gras decorations.

The guys had a blast dancing with this street band.

In the afternoon we spent some more time at the pool cuz it was HOT! I couldnt find a chair at first so I just plopped down on the concrete. Eventually, a woman sent her little girl to offer me her chair, which I thought was very sweet!

Kevin ordered some more of those yummy raviolis, but I didnt eat them this time!

These are some goofy guys!

In the evening we went back for one more time. I made the boys ride one fish two fish. Once again, they fought this tooth and nail....and that ride is hilarious! I am sorry we missed it for so long! Kevin said to tell you guys that the instructions dont work! (reference staying dry). We were soaked. This ride puts Dumbo to shame!

We also rode the new suess sky trolley ride. I loved this one too. Just a teeny bit scary for the little ones (height). We rode both sides. Then I went to ride Spidey and the Hulk one last time.

I left the boys and went back to the hotel to pack.

Heres a pretty pick on the bay at the hotel.

Tomorrow I'll give a little overview and comparison (since I'm a member of the Ive been to all 3 club now). It was truly a wonderful trip!

 

[lindalinda]

Just to give my overall feelings about staying at this hotel:

The hotel itself is beautiful, the room was amazing, the upgrade to a deluxe was awesome, the piazza was charming and the staff was wonderful over all.

The one thing it doesnt have......and I hesitate to even mention it....but both me and my son said it repeatedly......it doesnt have the Bula Grille! I know it seems a little silly to care about the quality of the poolside grille, but Royal Pacific wins this one hands down. At PBH, since the idea is to hang out at the piazza, all the restaraunts are up there. The Splendido at the pool closed at 5!!! Not that I didnt LOVE the piazza thing. Emotionally, I thought it was wonderful. I loved sitting up there for dinner, or an ice cream. I dont know, maybe since I'm kind of just an amateur drinker, but I like to have a fruity silly concoction by the pool tho, which of course you could do during the day...but there was no place there to HANG OUT. I'm not sure if I'm explaining this right, but I give credit to the bartenders and the atmosphere of the Bula Grille I guess. Sitting under the grass roof until late at night chilling. Of course you can hang out at the piazza, and I liked that too, but it just didnt have the same feel to us.

But I still say PBH is the best value (even tho I paid an arm and a leg for it!). The room size and bathroom size were wonderful.

All that being said and all things taken into consideration, next time, I think we'll be trying the HRH again! I really want to see the renovations, and we love the short walk to the parks too!

I do think, if RPR had larger rooms or a deluxe room upgrade, I would probably rank it #1, but as it is I have to put PBH #1 as my favorite!

Thanks for reading my report.....

 

[macraven]

invisible double linda, i have really loved your report.
it's enjoyable, easy to read and i give it a 10.......


thank you for sharing your trip with us.

 

[damo]

I had to laugh at the faces of the boys in the pool. They remind me of the funny smiley faces the sixteen month old twins I babysit make when I tell them to smile.

 

[JMCDAD]

Thanks for a great report

 

[macraven]

look at the last pic of linda's son. you see the 2 guys and a few musicians in the back ground. the boys look like they are dancing.


when i first saw it, i thought, how did kevin get that little bitty hat to stay on his head when he was in the park.


after seeing the pic a few times, i realized that itty bittie white cowboy hat really is on the head of the musician that is behind him in the distance.



my blondness is showing through again

 

[Fan2CSkr]

look at the last pic of linda's son. you see the 2 guys and a few musicians in the back ground. the boys look like they are dancing.


when i first saw it, i thought, how did kevin get that little bitty hat to stay on his head when he was in the park.

after seeing the pic a few times, i realized that itty bittie white cowboy hat really is on the head of the musician that is behind him in the distance.



my blondness is showing through again

It's one of the theme park photo ops.

Linda, Awesome TR! Loved the whole thing and your pictures are really incredibly clear. Had to be a hoot of a trip with three teen boys along.

 

[lindalinda]

I had to laugh at the faces of the boys in the pool. They remind me of the funny smiley faces the sixteen month old twins I babysit make when I tell them to smile.

They were an incredibly goofy group, but they were no trouble at all! Lots of fun to be around!

look at the last pic of linda's son. you see the 2 guys and a few musicians in the back ground. the boys look like they are dancing.


when i first saw it, i thought, how did kevin get that little bitty hat to stay on his head when he was in the park.


after seeing the pic a few times, i realized that itty bittie white cowboy hat really is on the head of the musician that is behind him in the distance.



my blondness is showing through again

I know! I noticed it too, and actually had to take a second look! I think I will show it to my son, he'll get a hoot from that!

 

[macraven]

i am amazed on how clear and sharp your pictures are.

what type of camera do you use?
i bought a digital and hoping the one you have is what i have...

 

[Mari annie]

Excellent!

Spent 2 weeks there and just got back and homesick already..........
you cheered me up, it's sickening raining and COLD here today..........
had the MOST gorgeous weather in MCO and cannot wait to return.......
in less than 30 days!!!!