Coach's Mardi Gras Trip to UF 2010 Updated- #11- Final Update

[Coach81]

So we (Chase and I) conquered HR3, and Zach was just itching to ride some rides.. so off we went.. first up was Twister-

Zach loved the flying cow part of the show so he posed for this pic afterwards:

Next it was on to THE MUMMY:

We all really enjoyed the Mummy.. Zach was a bit rattled by it... so he spent the entire ride with his head buried in Mommy's lap He did get better with it.. but the Mummy would come back later in the week to "Haunt" us.. more on this story later...

So we head back to the resort.

I am an early riser.. I normally get up around 4 or 5 am.. and go work out for an hour or so before the rest of the family gets up.. this vacation was no different.. so I got up around 5 and decided to walk around and take some early morning pics of the resort.. (another "ritual" of mine).. so enjoy:

Next up- No battery... thank God for the Iphone!!!

 

[schumigirl]

Super pics again, I just love the RPR

Hope Zach didn`t have too bad a time on the Mummy.

Looking forward to more

 

[Brave teacher]

It all sounds great Randy!

 

[Worfiedoodles]

What wonderful memories you've brought back!

I got up every morning and hit the gym when it opened for a quick 3M before ds even got up. It was really neat to see everything before the masses descended...I especially love the elephants in the courtyard!

Maria

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

great update ... looking forward to more ...

 

[longing2Batdisney]

fun update!
Thanks for the photo tour of the RPR...I can't wait
Danny and I were just talking about what we had left to cover for the upcoming trip and the one extra night at RPR (that we have not decided to keep or CX keeps coming up) your pictures make me want to push to keep it! :

I did not do the Mummy last year and if Zach were not too sure maybe I'll be skipping it again this year...I mean someone has to sit with Ashton :
can't wait to hear about the "Haunt"

I'm happy to hear you guys had a great time at NOMA...

 

[Coach81]

Super pics again, I just love the RPR

Hope Zach didn`t have too bad a time on the Mummy.

Looking forward to more

Nah he did ok.. he said he liked the "sounds" of it.. I love to take pics at that time.. great to see the resort without all the people.

It all sounds great Randy!

Thanks for hangin' Megan.

What wonderful memories you've brought back!

I got up every morning and hit the gym when it opened for a quick 3M before ds even got up. It was really neat to see everything before the masses descended...I especially love the elephants in the courtyard!

Maria

3M= 3 miles??
Yeah one of my favorite things.. to get up early and experience the resort when all are still sleeping. Yeah the courtyard is just awesome to look at.

fun update!
Thanks for the photo tour of the RPR...I can't wait
Danny and I were just talking about what we had left to cover for the upcoming trip and the one extra night at RPR (that we have not decided to keep or CX keeps coming up) your pictures make me want to push to keep it! :

I did not do the Mummy last year and if Zach were not too sure maybe I'll be skipping it again this year...I mean someone has to sit with Ashton :
can't wait to hear about the "Haunt"

I'm happy to hear you guys had a great time at NOMA...

We wish we were at RPR right now It really is a great resort.. and with the club level...
The Mummy is a great coaster.. it does a good job of messing with you before and during the ride... If you are not a coaster lover.. or if you have a problem with dark places.. you may want to skip it..

Happy Hump Day everyone!!!

 

[Coach81]

So as I am finishing up with my early morning "tour" of RPR.. I notice my battery is going out on my camera.. so I think ok no problem I'll just charge it up when I get back in the room... and then it hit me I remember putting the charger NEXT TO my camera bag right before we left.. but never actually putting it IN THE BAG.... a sickening feeling came over me... oh no.. a vacation without pictures??? What to do.. what to do..???

So what does any husband do? He goes and wakes up his wife at 6:00 in the morning while she is sleeping good to ask her if SHE saw the battery charger, or if she somehow packed it up, that 's what! Poor Alisa.. she was sleeping so good to..

Of course she tells me she hasn't seen it.. and reminds me that the camera is "my deal" not hers...

So we decide that we will just use our new Iphones to take the pictures.. so in the next update I will post a few pics taken with the Iphone so bare with me if they don't look quite as good..

Why do you vacation so much??? How can you go to Orlando all the time.. don't you get tired of Disney/Universal???

I get this question asked to me quite often with family and friends.. my response? BECAUSE WE LOVE IT!!!! My family just has the best time at either Disney or Universal.. not to mention Nick Hotel, Seaworld and Aquatica! For me personally..here are my reasons:
1. When we are on vacation.. I can spend all my time WITH MY FAMILY.. no teaching.. no personal training.. no coaching.. just my beautiful wife and fantastic boys!!!
2. My boys are hanging all over me.. they can't wait to ride the next ride, or see the next show with Dad!!! I'm dreading the day when Dad is not so cool, and great.. and my boys may not want to hang with me as much.. so as long as I can.. and as long as I'm still DAD I will treasure and enjoy every minute of it!!!
3. It's just good to get away from "the real world" and escape to a lovely resort, and go hang out with your favorite Characters.. the room is cleaned up for you.. the towels are washed.. you get to eat "out" all the time.. it is just fantastic, and it's why we do it!!!

Next up.. more pics with the Iphone, and the "splurging" begins from the diet!!!! Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. here we come!!!

 

[Worfiedoodles]

3M= 3 miles??
Yeah one of my favorite things.. to get up early and experience the resort when all are still sleeping. Yeah the courtyard is just awesome to look at.

3M does indeed equal 3 miles. I bet you wondered just what I was doing!

I haven't been to Bubba Gump in a few years, I can't wait to hear all about it!

Maria

 

[keishashadow]

I agree with Mommy!

sign me up, thus far the non-FOTL wait-time would allow me to save face w/my family.

nice pics, specially of son beaming he made the mark, such a right of passage.

re the battery charger, you're in good company...

RP has a special drawer @ concierge desk full of left behind battery & cellphone chargers they are happy to share...jik it happens again

 

[DISNEYLOVER70]

Great update! The hotel looks absolutely gorgeous.

I always get the same questions from people. Why Florida, why Disney, why US/IOA...I say WHY NOT? And we do it for all the same reasons you enjoy it. No worries, no cooking, no cleaning, and the kids want to be with US, what more could you ask for? My time is definately limited. My daughter got her first car and is taking her drivers road test tomorrow. Oh yeah, my time is definately limited!!

Can't wait to read more and see some iphone pics! I can't wait to ride the Mummy. Last time we were there it was still in construction....

 

[xApril]

Another fabulous update!

My friends don't understand why I enjoy the theme parks as much as I do. I've been going to Universal a lot this year and I've had to keep it to myself since they'd think I'm crazy for going so much (not to mention most of it has been by myself). Some people just don't get it! I've grown up with the parks and I don't think I'll be sick of them for a long time.

I'm jealous of your iPhones! They seem nice but I think it'd take me awhile to get used to a touchscreen for texting and stuff.

Can't wait for another update. I'm living through your report...helps me get through the week!

 

[Brave teacher]

Hm...I didn't know about the missing charger. I guess that's why I haven't gotten the call to watch a DVD.

You know we get the same thing about going to WDW so much. I like my family time and memories thank you very much!

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

While we haven't forgotten our battery chargers (yet), I've gone to the parks without a second fully charged battery on more than one occasion

 

[keishashadow]

our problem is we travel with so many different types of battery chargers. the camcorder plugs right into wall socket...it'd be too easy to have them all standard i suppose

 

[Coach81]

3M does indeed equal 3 miles. I bet you wondered just what I was doing!

I haven't been to Bubba Gump in a few years, I can't wait to hear all about it!

Maria

3 miles every morning.. wow That is IMPRESSIVE!!! I'm planning on running about that much with Brave teacher and her husband in about two months.. right before our next Disney trip in May I'm hoping I can keep up with them!

sign me up, thus far the non-FOTL wait-time would allow me to save face w/my family.

nice pics, specially of son beaming he made the mark, such a right of passage.

re the battery charger, you're in good company...

RP has a special drawer @ concierge desk full of left behind battery & cellphone chargers they are happy to share...jik it happens again

Thanks.. I do love to take pics.. which is why I went into straight panic mode when I realized I didn't have my charger
Yeah.. my little boy is fast becoming not so little anymore.. that is good, but it is kinda sad as well.. he is growing up too fast

Great update! The hotel looks absolutely gorgeous.

I always get the same questions from people. Why Florida, why Disney, why US/IOA...I say WHY NOT? And we do it for all the same reasons you enjoy it. No worries, no cooking, no cleaning, and the kids want to be with US, what more could you ask for? My time is definately limited. My daughter got her first car and is taking her drivers road test tomorrow. Oh yeah, my time is definately limited!!

Can't wait to read more and see some iphone pics! I can't wait to ride the Mummy. Last time we were there it was still in construction....

Yes, RPR is fantastic.. we love it.. and when you add in club level.. WOW..
Oh no.. your little girl is driving!!!!
Iphone pics coming in this weekend's update.. the Mummy is a great coaster.. but it did "get us"...

Another fabulous update!

My friends don't understand why I enjoy the theme parks as much as I do. I've been going to Universal a lot this year and I've had to keep it to myself since they'd think I'm crazy for going so much (not to mention most of it has been by myself). Some people just don't get it! I've grown up with the parks and I don't think I'll be sick of them for a long time.

I'm jealous of your iPhones! They seem nice but I think it'd take me awhile to get used to a touchscreen for texting and stuff.

Can't wait for another update. I'm living through your report...helps me get through the week!

Thanks for hangin' around April...
Totally agree with your thinking about the parks.. I am sooo jealous!!!

I have to be honest here.. I don't know if I could SURVIVE without my Iphone.. both my wife and I have become completely addicted to them. They make life so much easier!!! They are very expensive, but I think they are totally worth it.. Iphone pics coming up this weekend!

While we haven't forgotten our battery chargers (yet), I've gone to the parks without a second fully charged battery on more than one occasion

You just gotta hate it when that happens..

our problem is we travel with so many different types of battery chargers. the camcorder plugs right into wall socket...it'd be too easy to have them all standard i suppose

Yeah.. that would just be too easy

TGIF!!!! Have a great day everyone!!!

 

[Brave teacher]

3 miles every morning.. wow That is IMPRESSIVE!!! I'm planning on running about that much with Brave teacher and her husband in about two months.. right before our next Disney trip in May I'm hoping I can keep up with them!

You can do it Randy!

 

[Coach81]

So we decide to just use the Iphone for pictures as we depart for Universal Studios Florida the next morning...
First thing the boys wanna ride is the Simpsons:

We were lucky enough to catch Homer outside of the kwik-e-mart
I love Homey!!!

Mommy and the boys loved the Simpsons ride.. I did not dare try it with my motion sickness.. but I did tell the boys that I would brave it before we left to come home!

So then we went walking around.. and Zach ran into a great white..

And then.. it happened.. everyone wanted to ride the Mummy again...well just as the coaster starts to pick up speed and bounce around a bit.. Alisa loses her lanyard it was as if the Mummy himself came out and grabbed the lanyard off her kneck... you know the one holding ALL OF OUR TICKETS, OUR CREDIT CARD, AND HER DRIVER'S LICENSE??? Yeah that one.. and this is NOT THE FIRST TIME something like this has happened to her (another story)!!! So we immediately tell the TM about it.. and they say come back tonight at closing.. check the lost and found.. So we are destroyed... talk about a bummer!!!

Despite the major setback.. we press on and head out to one of favorite places to eat, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co... Can you tell Alisa is "forcing a smile" here with what just happened?

A few more pics from lunch:

Food was good.. and we did our best to try and put the Mummy Haunt behind us...

Meanwhile later in the day I travel to the most unbelievable mall I have ever seen.. in my quest to get a new charger.. here are just a few shots.. I was totally intimidated by the place..

Long story short.. I find a Sony Store and get a new Charger..

It was quite an eventful day... but despite it all.. we were still having a great time...

Next up- What happened with the lanyard, and there goes the diet!!!

 

[Brave teacher]

I know both times were accidents, but that is some unfortunate luck Alisa has. I know it was tearing her up inside all day.

Sam thinks Zach looked silly inside the shark's mouth.

 

[schumigirl]

Oh dear what a thing to happen to the lanyard, what are the chances???

Don`t blame you for not doing the Simpsons............I was very ill on it, came off it a nasty shade of green.........never again..........and I can do any coaster. But that ride never again.

LOVE LOVE LOVE Millenia Mall.......................it`s the only Mall we visit really and always have about four visits per trip............shops are great.....and there`s the Cheesecake Factory Yum Yum

Looking forward to rest of your trippie, really enjoying it so far