KingPennington10
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2003
- Messages
- 18
Just back (Well, for a few days now!)
Drove down from Maryland with DW, and 2 DS's : 6 & 2. We split the way down into 2 days and it took 16 hours total. Kids were great thanks to coloring books, DVD player, snacks, and counting "South Of The Border" signs! (We counted 51 Pedros Southbound.)
Stayed the first 2 nights at Holiday Inn Family Suites. This is a great place for kids! They loved the kidsuite w/ it's bunkbeds and their own TV. The pool was great. It rained but there were still lots of people swimming (no lightning, obviously.)
We planned to go to SeaWorld Sunday, but it poured and poured. Luckily, we did not buy our tickets ahead of time. We stayed at the hotel (arcade, etc.) Free breakfast was great. We did venture out to Ripley's museum (big hit w/ 6yo) and Disney Marketplace.
The weekend was just the appetizer for the main course: The Hard Rock Hotel. We arrived on Monday around 11AM. Our room (pool view $135 Entertainment rate) was not ready and there were no upgrades available. Kids did get goody bags w/ hackey sack, visor, inflatable guitars (which double nicely as swords BTW,) and temporary tattoos. DS showed report card and they were out of cups but A+ was noted on his room key and he did get free drink the only time we ate at the hotel (Beach Club.) We were offered several new choices for Lowes program but opted for the cookies and milk which were delivered promptly on our first night. We also received the USA Today each morning. We got our room keys and went over to IOA.
My 2yo is a big Hulk fan and was excited to see the big inflatable Hulk. We had never been to IOA before and were immediately impressed with the attention to detail. We bought an autograph book and refillable Sponge-Bob (which was a great investment) and were on our way. 2yo old loved Suess Landing. Both kids were pretty scared during Poseiden's Fury, but as soon as it let out, they wanted to go again, so no long term damage, I hope. Other hits were Flying Unicorn, JPRA, Burger Digs for lunch, Dudley Do-Right (6yo's favorite ride), and, of course, Spiderman. The only bad part of the day was when I lost sight of our 2yo for a few minutes in Camp Jurassic. It was about 2 minutes but seemed MUCH longer.
Those who have read this far have heard this time and time again: FOTL is the greatest perk in the world! We will never go back without staying on property as long as this is offered. In my opinion, the parks were pretty crowded (45-60 min wait for major attractions, up to 90 min for Shrek) but we were able to do everything in just a few hours without feeling rushed. We went to the parks every day around 11 (DW likes to sleep late on vacation) and by far, the longest lines that we encountered were the ones to get into the park.
We walked to the park each time that we went. We found the path to the left of the hotel (if you are standing in the front and facing the hotel) to be quicker but not by much. We took the boat one time and it was slower than walking but the boys liked it.
Universal Studios was awesome as well. DW and I had been there before but it's been several years. Favorites here were MIB, Shrek, Jimmy Neutron, Jaws (an oldie but a goodie), and (for 2yo) Barney. Both kids also loved Curious George Goes to Town and I got pretty wet as I was GLUED to our youngest. Seeing Shaggy and Scooby was also a highlight. We were kind of disappointed with Twister (thought we would feel more a part of the tornado) but it was still OK.
We ate at NASCAR Cafe, Hard Rock Cafe (used the "buy 1 entree get 2nd Free" coupon from Sunday paper a few weeks ago) Monster Cafe in USF, and Beach Club at HRH. All meals were good, but none spectacular which was fine by me. I wouldn't know whick fork to use at Emeril's etc!
One negative turned into a positive. 2 yo DS had had enough by Thursday and was acting very lethargic (VERY unlike him.) We took him to the first aid office in IOA. It's in the Lost Continent. He had a fever of 103. After some Tylenol and ice pops, he cooled back down to normal. The staff could not have been nicer and drove us back to the HRH. The EMT took our names since we had to leave the park early and said that the next time we return (within the next 30 years) we would get free admission! Hopefully we'll remember.
We didn't pool hop and loved the HR pool. 6yo loved the slide, 2yo loved the beach. We rented a cabana for a half day on Wednesday (# 8 by the kiddie pool.) The pool was not that crowded so we didn't NEED to do it, but we all wanted to do it at least once. It was very cool to have and we would do it again, but not every day. We had our dinner delivered there, which was cool. The pool was the sight of the only unpleasantness of our entire vacation, though. A woman accused me of stealing her son's swim goggles! My DS had the same goggles as his and I guess that boy lost his and saw that I had the identical ones. He asked me (nicely) if I was sure that I did not find his by mistake. I assured him that the ones that I had belonged to my DS. His mother then tried to say that my DS lost his goggles and picked up her sons in their place. After I explained to her that this was impossible, because either my DS or I was in possesion of the goggles the entire time, she left. Then she approached me AGAIN as we were leaving to accuse me again. Luckily, it was me and not my DW that was at the pool at the time, because I am the non-confrontational one in the family. Anyway, I told her that I was sure that I had the right goggles and she still was not satisfied, so lady, if you are reading this, I hope you found your son's goggles and I hope that he does not follow your example by falsely accusing someone of lying and stealing. I guess if that was my mother I would have been afraid of what she might do to me if I lost something, too!
We checked out on Friday and drove straight through-15 hours.
I would be happy to answer any questions that I can. The people on these boards helped us make our vacation a great one and I would love to help out someone else, if possible.
Thanks for reading!
Drove down from Maryland with DW, and 2 DS's : 6 & 2. We split the way down into 2 days and it took 16 hours total. Kids were great thanks to coloring books, DVD player, snacks, and counting "South Of The Border" signs! (We counted 51 Pedros Southbound.)
Stayed the first 2 nights at Holiday Inn Family Suites. This is a great place for kids! They loved the kidsuite w/ it's bunkbeds and their own TV. The pool was great. It rained but there were still lots of people swimming (no lightning, obviously.)
We planned to go to SeaWorld Sunday, but it poured and poured. Luckily, we did not buy our tickets ahead of time. We stayed at the hotel (arcade, etc.) Free breakfast was great. We did venture out to Ripley's museum (big hit w/ 6yo) and Disney Marketplace.
The weekend was just the appetizer for the main course: The Hard Rock Hotel. We arrived on Monday around 11AM. Our room (pool view $135 Entertainment rate) was not ready and there were no upgrades available. Kids did get goody bags w/ hackey sack, visor, inflatable guitars (which double nicely as swords BTW,) and temporary tattoos. DS showed report card and they were out of cups but A+ was noted on his room key and he did get free drink the only time we ate at the hotel (Beach Club.) We were offered several new choices for Lowes program but opted for the cookies and milk which were delivered promptly on our first night. We also received the USA Today each morning. We got our room keys and went over to IOA.
My 2yo is a big Hulk fan and was excited to see the big inflatable Hulk. We had never been to IOA before and were immediately impressed with the attention to detail. We bought an autograph book and refillable Sponge-Bob (which was a great investment) and were on our way. 2yo old loved Suess Landing. Both kids were pretty scared during Poseiden's Fury, but as soon as it let out, they wanted to go again, so no long term damage, I hope. Other hits were Flying Unicorn, JPRA, Burger Digs for lunch, Dudley Do-Right (6yo's favorite ride), and, of course, Spiderman. The only bad part of the day was when I lost sight of our 2yo for a few minutes in Camp Jurassic. It was about 2 minutes but seemed MUCH longer.
Those who have read this far have heard this time and time again: FOTL is the greatest perk in the world! We will never go back without staying on property as long as this is offered. In my opinion, the parks were pretty crowded (45-60 min wait for major attractions, up to 90 min for Shrek) but we were able to do everything in just a few hours without feeling rushed. We went to the parks every day around 11 (DW likes to sleep late on vacation) and by far, the longest lines that we encountered were the ones to get into the park.
We walked to the park each time that we went. We found the path to the left of the hotel (if you are standing in the front and facing the hotel) to be quicker but not by much. We took the boat one time and it was slower than walking but the boys liked it.
Universal Studios was awesome as well. DW and I had been there before but it's been several years. Favorites here were MIB, Shrek, Jimmy Neutron, Jaws (an oldie but a goodie), and (for 2yo) Barney. Both kids also loved Curious George Goes to Town and I got pretty wet as I was GLUED to our youngest. Seeing Shaggy and Scooby was also a highlight. We were kind of disappointed with Twister (thought we would feel more a part of the tornado) but it was still OK.
We ate at NASCAR Cafe, Hard Rock Cafe (used the "buy 1 entree get 2nd Free" coupon from Sunday paper a few weeks ago) Monster Cafe in USF, and Beach Club at HRH. All meals were good, but none spectacular which was fine by me. I wouldn't know whick fork to use at Emeril's etc!
One negative turned into a positive. 2 yo DS had had enough by Thursday and was acting very lethargic (VERY unlike him.) We took him to the first aid office in IOA. It's in the Lost Continent. He had a fever of 103. After some Tylenol and ice pops, he cooled back down to normal. The staff could not have been nicer and drove us back to the HRH. The EMT took our names since we had to leave the park early and said that the next time we return (within the next 30 years) we would get free admission! Hopefully we'll remember.
We didn't pool hop and loved the HR pool. 6yo loved the slide, 2yo loved the beach. We rented a cabana for a half day on Wednesday (# 8 by the kiddie pool.) The pool was not that crowded so we didn't NEED to do it, but we all wanted to do it at least once. It was very cool to have and we would do it again, but not every day. We had our dinner delivered there, which was cool. The pool was the sight of the only unpleasantness of our entire vacation, though. A woman accused me of stealing her son's swim goggles! My DS had the same goggles as his and I guess that boy lost his and saw that I had the identical ones. He asked me (nicely) if I was sure that I did not find his by mistake. I assured him that the ones that I had belonged to my DS. His mother then tried to say that my DS lost his goggles and picked up her sons in their place. After I explained to her that this was impossible, because either my DS or I was in possesion of the goggles the entire time, she left. Then she approached me AGAIN as we were leaving to accuse me again. Luckily, it was me and not my DW that was at the pool at the time, because I am the non-confrontational one in the family. Anyway, I told her that I was sure that I had the right goggles and she still was not satisfied, so lady, if you are reading this, I hope you found your son's goggles and I hope that he does not follow your example by falsely accusing someone of lying and stealing. I guess if that was my mother I would have been afraid of what she might do to me if I lost something, too!
We checked out on Friday and drove straight through-15 hours.
I would be happy to answer any questions that I can. The people on these boards helped us make our vacation a great one and I would love to help out someone else, if possible.
Thanks for reading!
