Father Son Day 1

marknj05

Earning My Ears
Joined
Mar 16, 2005
Messages
49
I am finally getting around to doing my trip report...mainly to relive the experience now that I am back at work and already counting the days til my next Orlando vacation.

DAY 1- Left Newark airport at 12:30pm. The forecast was for 7 inches of snow which was starting to fall pretty heavy as the plane took off. Landed in Orlando to be greeted by the sun shining and a comfortable temp of 75 degrees woo hoo!!! I had prearranged for the Mears shuttle. We had to wait about 20 minutes before we were loaded into the shuttle. Van made two stops before dropping us off. Total transit time to the hotel about 40 minutes.
We pull up to the Royal Pacific Resort. Kinda reminded me of the Polynesian, but I feel the theming is pulled off much better at RPH. Check-in was a breeze. After being on the boards, I requested a room on a high floor after being given a room on the 2nd floor. I aslo requested to be not close to an elevator. Got room 2620, had a nice view of the Citywalk garage surrounded by palm trees. We aslo looked out over a garden area of the hotel. Not bad view for a standard room. The room was about half the size of our room at the Poly, but forgot to mention the trip is me 43 and DS 11, so we had more than enough room. I had decided to try and let my son call most of the shots on vacation. His first choice "RIDE THE HULK". Great.
I am petrified of roller coasters...mainly because I have not been on one in about 4 years and certainly not ones that go upside down.
We found the water taxi, waited about 10 minutes and we were on our way. the water taxis are very nice. We used them for most of the trip, unless we were in a hurry and then we would use the walkway from the hotel, which takes about ten minutes and was a nice landscaped trail.
Arrived at IOA and walked right to the entrance as I had purchased my tix ahead of time. I told my son I was nervous about Hulk so we agreed that we wouyld do Spiderman first (which is the ride I was looking forward to). We used our room key to do FOTL. The posted wait was 60 minutes, but in 10 minutes thanks to FOTL, we were on Spiderman. What an awesome ride. We are very excited about all the other rides now. It is now time for me to ride the Hulk. 15 minutes on FOTL and I am strapped in ready to go. Can't help but notice my sons looks of concern "thanks for going dad, you'll be OK!"
The coaster starts to climb up that green flashing tube. I was anticipating that first drop with a knot in my stomach, when all of a sudden I am being fired out of the tube at about 40mph. I was not expecting that. By the time i realized it the ride was half over. Believe it or not I liked it. Very smooth. Son immediately wanted to ride again. I suggested riding it later in the dark. It was getting near dinner time and son wanted to do Jurrasic park next. Another awesome ride, but we got a little more soaked than I anticipated. We ended up going back to the hotel to change into some dry clothes. We went to Citywalk and had dinner at NBA city (see my review under dining). A good meal. Afterwards son announced that it was dark and time to ride the Hulk again. I obliged. It was much cooler at night, seeing all the lights of the park whizzing by. Because of FOTL we rode one more time before heading back to RPH dead tired from our first big day. Off to SeaWorld tomorrow!!
 
Thanks for the report. Looking forward to day 2, going there next! By the way - you are braver than me - I wouldn't let my DS talk me into the Hulk :blush:
 
marknj - 2 years ago my then 14 yo DS had withstood a long year of medical 'challenges' and the two of us snuck off for a few days at the RPR and USF - the hotel was brand new that summer. Anyway, he wanted me to ride Hulk with him in the worst way - on prior trips I always chickened out and he would 'adopt' a nice family in line to ride with. So this trip he uses my own words back on me that I had been saying to him all year - challenge yourself - try it at least once and then decide! So of course I had to try it - just like you, I actually liked it !!! - the picture flash caught me giving him the thumbs up - it's one of my favorite pictures ! We then rode Fire & Ice, too ! Can't wait to read the rest of your reports - thanks for jolting my memory! :smooth:
 

Great first day! You are a brave Dad and I bet your son thought so too :goodvibes Cant wait to continue to your next report!
 
I love those Father/Son trips! We (Father, Son and Daughter) were there during the same time period. In fact if you were staying in 2620 you could see our hotel which was Sheraton Studio City (the one with the big globe on top of the 21st floor). We could see from the HRH to the Peabody from our 12th floor room.
We might have been at NBA City at the same time. Its my DS16's favorite place in the World. They could serve mud and he wouldn't know. If I let him call the shots we'd still be there.
My kids got me on Kraken and Hulk a little over a year ago. Their look was not one of "you'll be OK, Dad" but one of " I bet this will kill him!" I later rode the Hulk at night with my son during HHN. Some guy ahead of us lost this lanyard and it hit me in the face. I don't think I could go to dinner and jump on the Hulk for desert!
I'm on to read Day 2. Good report!
 














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