Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina
Life is short. Live it well.
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2008
- Messages
- 13,825
Hello everyone! 
After what feels like a very L-O-N-G hiatus, I think it’s time for me to get back on the boards and started on a very much long-overdue autumn trip report. 
As many of the “regulars” know (and who keep up with my crazy life on Facebook), it’s been a chaotic few months in the Bo-Bina household: most recently, we have pulled up roots from our Canadian homeland and transplanted ourselves in small-town Michigan
. There have been a lot of hard endings, a lot of new beginnings, and a ridiculous amount of emotions (and paperwork!) since the middle of September, which sadly has kept me away from one of my favorite past-times: hanging out here on the Disboards. That said, we’re finally pretty much fully settled in, and while life is far from what we could consider “normal” (or at least, the old version of normal) it’s getting a little more predictable every day. We’ve actually enjoyed not one, but TWO trips since all the hullaballo began (one in October, and one at Christmas) but I think I’ll report chronologically so it stays all straight in my head .
Introductions are probably warranted, for anyone new who might be joining in. Links to all of my previous trip reports are in the link in my signature, if you really want to get to know us better…..but for the short summary, here we are:
I’m Gina, and the big guy next to me is my husband Steve. This May, we will celebrate 24 years of wedded bliss: I can easily say we are not only spouses, we are best friends. We share the same goals, the same dreams, and the same tastes….and we often finish each other’s sentences. When it comes to our Florida vacations, we also share the same goals: lots of fun, a little relaxation, great food, and at least one new experience added in along the way.
This trip, from the outset, had a distinctive theme: doubles.
There were only two of us travelling: our son, Jake, was now graduated from college and living on his own, and work commitments kept him from joining Mom and Dad.
For only the second time since our love affair with Orlando began, we would be enjoying a full two weeks of vacation [our sole other two-week vacation was back in August 2014].
We would be staying at two different resorts: our “old favourite”, Sheraton Vistana Resort:
and a first stay at Wyndham Cypress Palms:
We had tickets to two Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Parties.
We had reservations for two days at Discovery Cove.
We had plans to spend two days at SeaWorld, and two days at Aquatica.
We had two official “resort days” scheduled in (could we actually RELAX twice in one trip? 
).
We would be attending two different dinner shows: Pirates Dinner Adventure and Capones.
It was our 11th Florida vacation (okay, so maybe the two one’s was pushing the whole “doubles” thing, but yet……..).
In addition to doubling up on several of the major park and events, we also had a selection of single activities planned……Madame Tussauds, Sea Life Aquarium, the Orlando Eye, and the Museum of Military History, to name a few. There was also a plethora of offsite dining involved, including several new experiences (places like Longhorn’s Steakhouse, Texas de Brazil, and Maggiano’s) as well as a bundle of old favourites.
Our dates, selected way back in February 2016 (as soon as flights were released by Jetblue) were October 14th to October 28th.
I hope you’ll join me on this Halloween-inspired trip report…..I have to say, over the past few months I have missed the humour and friendship of the “regulars” who so kindly keep up the chatter and entertainment here on my threads. We all have a lot of catching up to do!
As always, there will be lots of photos, lots of honest feedback on what we liked and what we would take a pass on next time, and a whole bunch of useless information that I inevitably feel compelled to share. And as an added bonus, ya'll will get to "meet" some of my inlaws who joined us for part of the two-week extravaganza.
We kick off our adventures in the next entry!
After what feels like a very L-O-N-G hiatus, I think it’s time for me to get back on the boards and started on a very much long-overdue autumn trip report. As many of the “regulars” know (and who keep up with my crazy life on Facebook), it’s been a chaotic few months in the Bo-Bina household: most recently, we have pulled up roots from our Canadian homeland and transplanted ourselves in small-town Michigan
. There have been a lot of hard endings, a lot of new beginnings, and a ridiculous amount of emotions (and paperwork!) since the middle of September, which sadly has kept me away from one of my favorite past-times: hanging out here on the Disboards. That said, we’re finally pretty much fully settled in, and while life is far from what we could consider “normal” (or at least, the old version of normal) it’s getting a little more predictable every day. We’ve actually enjoyed not one, but TWO trips since all the hullaballo began (one in October, and one at Christmas) but I think I’ll report chronologically so it stays all straight in my head .Introductions are probably warranted, for anyone new who might be joining in. Links to all of my previous trip reports are in the link in my signature, if you really want to get to know us better…..but for the short summary, here we are:
I’m Gina, and the big guy next to me is my husband Steve. This May, we will celebrate 24 years of wedded bliss: I can easily say we are not only spouses, we are best friends. We share the same goals, the same dreams, and the same tastes….and we often finish each other’s sentences. When it comes to our Florida vacations, we also share the same goals: lots of fun, a little relaxation, great food, and at least one new experience added in along the way.
This trip, from the outset, had a distinctive theme: doubles.
There were only two of us travelling: our son, Jake, was now graduated from college and living on his own, and work commitments kept him from joining Mom and Dad. For only the second time since our love affair with Orlando began, we would be enjoying a full two weeks of vacation [our sole other two-week vacation was back in August 2014]. We would be staying at two different resorts: our “old favourite”, Sheraton Vistana Resort:
and a first stay at Wyndham Cypress Palms:
We had tickets to two Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Parties.
We had reservations for two days at Discovery Cove.
We had plans to spend two days at SeaWorld, and two days at Aquatica.
We had two official “resort days” scheduled in (could we actually RELAX twice in one trip? ).
We would be attending two different dinner shows: Pirates Dinner Adventure and Capones.
It was our 11th Florida vacation (okay, so maybe the two one’s was pushing the whole “doubles” thing, but yet……..).
In addition to doubling up on several of the major park and events, we also had a selection of single activities planned……Madame Tussauds, Sea Life Aquarium, the Orlando Eye, and the Museum of Military History, to name a few. There was also a plethora of offsite dining involved, including several new experiences (places like Longhorn’s Steakhouse, Texas de Brazil, and Maggiano’s) as well as a bundle of old favourites.
Our dates, selected way back in February 2016 (as soon as flights were released by Jetblue) were October 14th to October 28th.
I hope you’ll join me on this Halloween-inspired trip report…..I have to say, over the past few months I have missed the humour and friendship of the “regulars” who so kindly keep up the chatter and entertainment here on my threads. We all have a lot of catching up to do!
As always, there will be lots of photos, lots of honest feedback on what we liked and what we would take a pass on next time, and a whole bunch of useless information that I inevitably feel compelled to share. And as an added bonus, ya'll will get to "meet" some of my inlaws who joined us for part of the two-week extravaganza.
We kick off our adventures in the next entry!
So glad to have you reading AND posting! Please don't be shy.....feel free to chime in whenever you feel so inclined. I have a really fun group contributing to my threads, and would love to have you joining in the chatter.
)
.
.
. I feel a little like a fish out of water with not currently have another trip officially in the planning stages. I would give my eye teeth to be heading back in under a month!
).
.
.
.
. I am always so grateful that people take time out of their day to read my ramblings. Without you all, these reports would be mighty boring. Welcome aboard! 
. You guys are good for the soul. Glad to have you along, as always 
.
.
.
.
.
