Day 5 - Seaworld

pooky_uk

Mouseketeer
Joined
Sep 20, 2004
Messages
232
Day 5 - Seaworld


Cast:

Me - mother and dutiful wife…and biggest kid of them all!! 34
DH – Affectionately known as Squirrel…ageing punk rocker and tattoos to boot…40
DD – our princess Millie…..6, and turns 7 in WDW!

When we booked Discovery Cove we had the choice of 14 days entry to Seaworld or Busch Gardens – we opted for Seaworld…obviously!! The reason for this was that we thought that we would get animals and a couple of coasters in at the WDW parks & Seaworld….plus, although hubby and I would have LOVED the big coasters @ Busch Gardens, I think Millie would have been a tad too short for them…and we had decided from the off that this would be a “family” holiday so we aimed do things that we could all join in on! Maybe we’ll do Busch in a few years ….that’s my excuse anyway!

Now Millie can be quite unpredictable at times…..she is really quite confident when she’s in familiar surroundings etc. but if she is faced with something new coupled with the fact there are a lot of strangers about she can be quite reclusive….and the words “no mummy, I don’t want to do that” tend to crop up……sooooo I was a wee bit anxious about the Dolphin swim. We booked DC for the day after her birthday as a birthday present. Millie is very good at getting excited about doing things but when push comes to shove she often backs out – I was a bit like that at her age and hated being in the limelight (hence the very embarrassed Millie @ Chef Mickey’s on day 1!!!!) so I don’t push it with her….I am waffling again! Anyway, the trip to Seaworld would hopefully get her accustomed to the Dolphins!

We didn’t hire a car for the holiday but it was fine! I had enquired about how to get to Seaworld at guest services earlier in the week and they informed me that they have regular Mears buses picking up at the resort – the lady gave me a number to ring mears and make the seat ressies…$42 round trip for the 3 of us.

We hopped on the bus @ 8.20 and we were at seaworld for 8.45am. I had remembered to bring a copy of the DC booking as this would act as our entry ticket for the day……problem: how to get into seaworld without Millie knowing about the DC booking?! DH is dutifully asked to keep Millie occupied as I talk to the lady at the DC booking desk….she checks the papers and I ask her not to mention the DC bit when DH & Millie come back – she obliges  We wait a couple of minutes for the park to open and then we are in !

Shamu was right by the entrance so a quick photo and autograph was sought. Millie hadn’t brought her autograph book with her so Shamu signed his stadium on the park map 

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Quick look at the map to orientate ourselves…..and guess what?? YUP! Straight off to Kraken !! BOY…how big is this coaster?…..don’t you just love the sound of the coasters the closer you get! Makes your hair stand on end. Millie’s “O no mummy…I AM NOT GOING ON THAT!”..LOL, she so did not want to go upside down. This was fine and as it turns out Millie was a tad too short for this one. Daddy went on first as Millie & I walked round to the exit and we waited right by the loading on/off of Kraken. Millie was giggling at Daddy..and so was I!

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LOL – look at his legs….as if saying “where’s the floor gone!” Again, you can also see how quiet it is…he’s the only one on that row! One last wave at DH as he is cranked up the incline for the first drop!

By now I have major butterflies…..DH gets off, huge grin and his eyes watering and I get in……grabbing on, the whites of my knuckles showing…..it’s at this stage I keep checking my over the shoulder harness and during the slow crank up the first incline all sorts of horrors are rushing through my head – you know the stuff, what if the harness comes lose? what if………..then WHOOOOOSH…..arrrrggggggg…..screaming like a banshee as we zoom down that first drop…….my stomach 20 foot above me……(>>>@@@###%%%&&&&&£££””****>>>)…. I cannot possibly type here but I am sure you know what choice words were screeching from my lips!...there is one bit that REALLY turned my stomach – you kind of turn into a loop half upside down – that was “YIKES”!....the ride was amazing – totally loved it…..one of my “good scared” rides  Millie & DH were in hysterics when I got off – convinced they heard me screaming all the way around!! Easily the best coaster I have ever been on.

We were quite gutted to see that “Atlantis” was closed for maintenance….we were really looking forward to this too  but we were told it would be open again on the 12th..so we noted this, this was the day we were to be at DC and planned to come back into Seaworld after we had finished @ DC……you know, good plans and all that!

The Clyde & Seamore show was soon to start so we decided to catch this now before heading back around to the Manatees. The mime artist was HILARIOUS….we were laughing so loudly…he was just soooo rude!!! LOL Then the show started, it was great – we thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish – all of us had huge grins all the way through and plenty of laughs – the highlight of the day for me & DH.

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We then took a slow walk down to the Manatees – these animals are so peaceful – we spent a good 15-20 minutes here just watching them. We then went to the show underneath: “Manatees, the last generation” – lovely, informative film about the future of these animals. Millie was full of questions again about why people kill animals etc. – she was really bemused by this, pretty like she was about “baby red” at animal kingdom – you could see she was deep in thought for quite a while afterwards.

Dolphin Cove was also closed so no Dolphin show today! So we walked down to Dolphin encounter – lots of mad dolphins leaping about, swimming up close …just having fun all by themselves, no planned tricks etc. just completely spontaneous activity – Millie loved it and was asking when can we swim with them? (a good sign!!)…I explained that we couldn’t do this here, she looked a little disappointed…A couple came up pretty close so we were able to touch them…..it’s so cute how they look like they have permanent smiles on their faces! We spent quite a while here just watching these Dolphins being….well…Dolphins!

Wandered down to the Stingray pool and grabbed Millie a quick hotdog here – also bought a big refillable sports cup full of diet coke – easily paid for itself by the end of the day. Whilst Millie was eating her hotdog I popped into one of the shops and bought her a tiny plush Dolphin (for her birthday – I plan to have this sat on a note “fancy coming for a swim with me”) and a strappy dolphin top.

Walked through the shopping and food area (can’t remember what this is called)…it’s linked by a bridge over to the Shamu area. We noticed that the sky tower was also closed!!!

We had a slow walk up to the Shamu stadium to catch the 1 o/c show….we had to…didn’t we?? YUP! Millie and I sat right on the front row, in the middle in the “Splash Zone”…daddy sat a LOT further back to keep the camera etc dry. We were bold, stupid brits and refused to buy the rain macs! However, clever mummy had packed Millie a pair of shorts, just in case it turned hot – she was wearing a strappy vest and hoodie….so, off came her ¾ trousers, hoodie, socks & trainers and on went her top and shorts! I just took my hoodie off.

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(I’m the one at the bottom right in the green T Shirt)

Took the opportunity to buy a “Shamu: soak zone victim towel” as I thought this would come in handy!!

The show was great – and shamu came up nice and close - DH took a few pics

People who were sat in the soak zones to the left and right, lower down got soaked as Shamu flapped about and waved water all over them – as we were sat in the middle, by the platform we didn’t get soaked….YET! Right at the end, the trainer warned everyone again about the soak zone and that this was the last chance to move before their biggest whale came out – I can’t remember the size and weight but it was a good 1/3 bigger than the whales that we had just seen…it was funny seeing so many people move…then he came out!! BLIMEY!!!! Within the first soakings on the left, loads more people moved to the back – me and Millie just looked at each other and giggled!! We weren’t wet……YET! We were really laughing at the people down on the right – they were DRENCHED!!! Then it happened – we were just hit by this huge wave of cold water!! Millie’s smile washed away and she just looked at me! I just burst out laughing and was greeted with a “it’s not funny mummy!”…..she was so trying to be serious and then just started laughing!

Whilst the soaking was great fun – it was the whales that were amazing to watch!

We then made a dash to the toilets to get dried and changed – well, Millie got changed! I took my T shirt off and put my hoodie back on – had to make do with wet trousers and undies! They soon dried though 

DH & I then grabbed some food – we had tortillas which were pretty yummy and Millie had cookies (which came in a cute plastic shamu bowl) as she had not long had a hot dog. The weather was on and off today – one minute quite warm and sunny, then overcast (but not cold!)

Next stop was the wild artic – DH & I decided that it would be more fun for the “air” option – didn’t give Millie a choice!! LOL. I just explained that we were going to go in a pretend helicopter and see some polar bears etc. Yup, she was happy with that! I explained that if she felt funny on the helicopter that she should just close her eyes and remember that it’s all pretend! We loved this – great fun again. We spent ages watching the polar bears afterwards….

Time was plodding on now so we had a slow walk around - we were going to do Kraken again but to be honest, I was pretty tired and DH wasn’t too bothered. We stopped by the Dolphin nursery to watch the mums and babies – no real young ones there but it was nice to see them. Walked back down by the stingray pool to the pin shop and bought Millie a shamu pin.

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It was time to leave – hopped back on the mears bus at 5pm.

Back in our room, we found that mousekeeping were having fun and games! Millie has also developed a fantastic habit of making her bed “just like the lady does” each morning and leaving a “Thank you” note for her!

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I hasten to add that these toys have not been bought since we arrived!!...well pal mickey was and the pluto hat and the minnie ears and the princess blanket.....!

Needless to say, the bed making habit was dropped when we got home!

We had a lazy evening back at home – Millie coloring, DH had a pint – and I’m pretty sure we must have eaten in the evening but I can’t remember!!



Early to bed – Tomorrow: EE to MGM and Late entry to EPCOT!!!!
 
Hi Laura, I loved this report, I haven't been to SeaWorld for a few years and all my memories came flooding back. I loved the description of Kraken, I have never been brave enough to go on a floor-less ride, but if I did I think I would've used the words you used. I see that the Clyde & Seamore show is still the 'Pirate' show - it's about time they changed that as its been going a few years, but it is fun and that 'mime guy' is hilarious too. I've only once been soaked by Shamu, but my goodness it was like having 2 freezing cold buckets of water thrown over me - LOL

Anyway thanks again for a great report and lovely photos

mandymouse :earsgirl:
 
i'm really enjoying reading these, can'y wait for the next one

cami
x
 
Have enjoyed reading your first 5 days of your fab holiday, can't wait to hear all the rest especially the cruise as we will be on the Wonder in May with our 2 :earsgirl: :earsgirl: .
As I read your trip reports I always end up smileing ,Thankyou
Chucklechops, from down the road from you all :)
 

Great to read about Seaworld as we ran out of time last year, but are definatley going to do it this year. The first time we went Kraken had only been open about 3 months and we just had to give it a go, I have'nt suffered with my bad sinus's since lol.

Sue :wave:
 
Lol - if you liked Kraken you really need to goto IOA next time and ride Hulk. It's got more loops than a box oh Cheerios! The start of Hulk is particularly good, slowly moving up the enclosed lift hill so you don't get a sense of being up high. The lights inside the tunnel are all flashing green and motioning you upward as you hear Bruce Banner saying It's Ok, looks good. Oh no!. Somethings wrong ..... then whoooooosh! The car accelerates rapidly, shoots you out of the tunnel and within about 2 seconds you're upside down at an insane speed before spinning over to shoot down towards water!

It is the most intense start to a coaster I've ever been on!
 
Really enjoying your reports..looking forward to hearing about DC!!
 














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