Happy New Years Spencer Style day 2 (part 2 incl.)

[fizz13]

january 2nd

After a disturbed nights sleep from the kids (love you too guys) we were up and ready to go about 7:30am. We stopped off at Ponderosa for a breakfast fillup. I know this place doesn't get good reviews but its cheap, hot and everyone is guaranteed to find something they like. Charlie ate a bowl of oatmeal with some bananas, the kids devoured a stack of pancakes and I tried a bit of everything from the hot plates. I do love american biscuits aka. scones. We also started our love affair for the holiday; pink lemonade.

Hit the road again and pulled up to Seaworld around 8:30. This means we got a great parking space and loaded up the pushchair. We bought a double with us and it proved to be invaluable for bag storage as well as kid storage. After picking up the placemat or map (trust me its that big) we decided to head straight for Kraken. Passed some turtles and flamingoes on the way as well as some gorgeous flower beds. Seeing Kraken up close after 3 long years was a happy moment and we did the first of many baby swaps. The boys went first (James and Alex), followed by Lyndsay and myself. This is probably the smoothest ride in Orlando as well as the highest and has multiple loops and twists (sorry coaster affecionados, you know what I mean: Camelback, corkscrew). Boy, that'll wake you up in the morning.

Next stop for some was Journey to Atlantis as its next door. Me and James really didn't feel like getting wet so early, so Alex and Lyndsay offered to take Cara (she checks in at around 421/2" so just made it) while we had a look around and agreed to meet by the penguins. I found my sunglasses for the trip at a bargain $12.99 and walked in to the penguin exhibit. I like how this is laid out. The tank is big enough to show you above and below the water level from the walkway. They also have 2 walkways going: first is a moving walkway, then behind a standing area to take your time. We tried both and the boys were fascinated. We must have spent a good 15 minutes here just letting them absosrb it. They liked how the penguins had their own snow machines. We went outside and saw our soggy daughter coming towards us. Apparently the ride itself hadn't been too bad but she had got drenched near the end as a fountain shot over them, you know, one of those random ones that can hit or miss.... it hit big time. She was soaked right through to her underwear. Luckily, it was a warm day and she didn't seem to mind too much.


oh oh, time to pick Cara up from school , I'll be back later....

 

[Miffy2003]

We love pink lemonade too Claire

 

[fizz13]

Lets see if I can get this finished in one go....

I had decided that working around the park clockwise would be the best way to go, so next on our list was the Clyde and Seamore show. This involves 2 sealions, an otter and a huge walrus in a pirate ship skit. Very funny and very clever animals. My kids roared with laughter in all the right places and it was a hit with all,except Charlie who would much rather have crawled along the row. This would be a developing pattern throughout the week. Well, to be fair, why should he find a clever sealion amusing at 11months old?

Shark Encounter came next. Another well done exhibit where the sharks are viewing you instead of the other way around. You walk through in an underwater tunnel with the sharks and morays all around. We must have been fairly boring as a couple of them had decided to sleep on top of the tunnel. Very creeepy in here mum, said Dean. Yes it was... There is also a piranha display as well as other deadly fish if you like that sort of thing. I quite liked seeing daylight again but james would have stayed all day. I think he fancies the swim with the sharks programme. Just push me a little bit more honey, and its all yours, I promise!

A little bit more walking brought us to the biggest kidtrap in the park, Shamu's Happy Harbour. I could instantly see that this place is designed to throw off any organised touring plan for a good couple of hours and make you stay in the park longer...well done Seaworld. We lined up for a giant bouncy castle, played the steel drums loudly (oh joy) cuddled a meet n greet Shamu (really, cuddly Shamu? It's called a killer whale for a reason guys) and the kids led the guys astray in the biggest enclosed play area I have ever seen. The guys got stuck while the kids got lost and ran wild. Lets just say, i don't know who needed the nap more after this. Oh yes, there was a token splash zone thrown in as well, but we managed to keep them dry this time.

While they played, Lyndsay and I went in search of food and found mango Joes Cafe. Good choice on the menu: taco salads, steak and fajita sandwiches, fries and burgers and the cutest kids meals you ever saw. these were PB & J sandwiches (uncrustables, they're called which had way too much jam in them and tasted disgusting) and a bag of goldfish crackers each. this came in a mini Shamu lunchbox. Very cute, shame about the food.

With energy replenished, it was off to Wild Arctic. There are 2 routes here, simulator (by air) or by foot (simulator film with no ride). We chose foot because the ride had a height attraction but honestly I don't think we missed much as we got to see the film anyway. What a treat inside: polar bears and a tank with a walrus swimming. It is always amazing to me how graceful these big creatures are once in water. It is a ncely laid out attraction in the theme of an Arctic research base and we enjoyed this one a lot.

Still with me...lets keep walking but not too far, cos just opposite was Shamu Stadium with the whale show due to start in 20 minutes. Big mistake waiting this long to take a seat as we all had to split up to see the show. What a show though. Big creatures being graceful again and how! They leap, they flip, they dance and they soak people just for the fun of it. If you are a man, please consider carefully the consequences of participating in the Shamu show. If you are a woman, please go right ahead, thats all I'm saying.

We were just about done for the day but stopped off at the dolphin tank and nursery on the way out. We knew the trick of laying our hands still in the tank for them to swim over but maybe it was too late in the day for them as they just wanted to be left alone I think. The dolphin nursery was really adorable. I had never seen one so tiny....cute, cute, cute!

And so concludes our Seaworld day... do your feet ache too? I hope not because we have anight of fun to come. It was about 3:30pm when we left and took the kids home for a nap. We left Alex on babysitting duty and took off for the nearest Publix. Lyndsay started her collection of odd American sweets and snacks (beef jerky, twinkies, cinnamon chewing gum etc.) and odd things generally (cereal bowls with straws that link to the bottom of the bowl). i invested in alcohol, cereal, bread etc. Jointly though, I think it came to about $180. What do you mean that's a lot?

Back home and time to get ready for DTD. With tomorrow being the first park day (Disney park) I needed autograph books and lanyards. I had been stocking up pins from Ebay for a couple of months, you know, really cheap ones so the kids could get good ones without parting with a ton of cash. This happened to be a great idea and it worked out beautifully.
Cara really wanted to go to Rainforest cafe but the line was very bad so we headed for Earl of Sandwich. I'd heard only good things about place and boy, was the DIS spot on. Gorgeous sandwiches and we saved a ton of money! Kind of balanced out Publix actually.... anyway.... a quick browse around World of Disney, picked up the required merchandise as well as playing cards and off home. Kids were out like a light and after a couple of rounds of Blackjack, so were we.

Yeah, onto Epcot tomorrow. C U soon,
Claire

 

[KayleeUK]

A great day Claire

 

[MsPennieLane]

Another great day Claire, sounds like you had a great time at Seaworld I love the dolphins there. I too have been buying pins off Ebay - I've tried not to look since we've gotten back from our trip as I had gone a bit mad lol! Off to read more.

Anz

 

[fizz13]

bump

 

[florida sun]

Another great day at Seaworld Claire.

Sue

 

[wicket2005]

Thanks Claire, loved your report. I love the penguins and walruses at Sea World. Is the Earl of Sandwich an eat in sandwich place or a takeaway establishment? Never heard of it before.

 

[Minniespal]

Great report ~ Thanx for sharing.

 

[fizz13]

Earl of Sandwich is both. You can eat in or take away, but do not miss it!