If we stay at BLT we'll actually SAVE money & other little white lies*UPDATE!! 4/27

[mkluvsmickey]

Pass the popcorn please!

 

[Poohtigeey]

Hi Monica - I'll be your number 4 follower! I love reading TR's and I think it's great that you folks all got together at WDW and it looks like you had a great time! Can't wait to hop between the TR's!

Nancy

Hi Nancy! Thanks for joining in! It'll be an interesting comparison reading both of our reports.

Hi Monica
Jumping on board, very cute kiddos!

Thanks! We think we'll keep them!

Hi Monica,

I followed you over from Sara's report. So nice that you got to enjoy Disney with friends.

You have such cute children.

Look forward to hearing more.

Erika

Hi Erika! I've "seen" you around. I'm gad you followed me over. Thanks!

Joining in!!!

Yay!

joining in as well, can't wait to hear more xx

Thanks for joining. I hope to update tonight.

I am sitting with Sara eating way too much popcorn, more trip report please .

More popcorn please!

Pass the popcorn please!

Ha ha. You know...I think I've changed my mind. I'm not going to finish this thing.

I'm planning to update tonight. Just trying to decide how detaied I should be with our first day and half since we were at Sea World. What do you all think?

 

[Zuzu03]

Ha ha. You know...I think I've changed my mind. I'm not going to finish this thing.

I'm liking all the popcorn being passed around, BUT, updates are very much preferred! Do they have a smilie begging?

 

[Poohtigeey]

My alarm went off at 2:45 am on Groundhog Day. Yes, we are THOSE people who drive 15 1/2 hours straight thru with two kids to get to Disney. We had pretty much packed everything into the van the night before. Mom had made sandwiches. We were ready to go. We got the kids loaded up and prayed they would go back to sleep. They talked for awhile, but eventually they were off to dream land once again. As we pull out of the driveway I turn on the handy dandy GPS and set it to take us to our hotel. Ms. GPS coordinates us and informs us that we will be pulling into Sheraton Suites in Orlando in a mere 19 hours. Um, EXCUSE ME?

Monica: "Dave, she can't be right!" (Yes, we call our GPS "she")
Dave: "She'll recalculate once we get going."
Monica: "She's usually right as soon as we pull out of the driveway."
Dave: "Don't worry. It's just because it's so far away."

I sit and stew. And worry. She takes us to the freeway, into Kentucky and then.... tells us to get OFF of the freeway. We proceed to drive 40 mph down a state route.

Monica: "Honey, can you please pull over and check the GPS. I really think it's wrong."
Dave: "It's fine. How could it be wrong?" Dave keeps driving.
Monica, trying not to nag even though I really want to: "Please pull over."

We pull over. Check the GPS and guess what?! That dumb thing was set on shortest distance and not quickest way. GRRRRR.

Monica: "I TOLD YOU SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" He he he. I didn't really say that.

Ok, what's a trip with us without a 30 minute detour?

The rest of the trip was uneventful and quite enjoyable. We arrived at our hotel for the night around 7. It was very nice and a good size. It turns out it was a vacation club place. We all agreed we wouldn't want to stay there too long though. Kind of dated. However it was right across the street from Sea World so that was a plus. The kids took a dip in the spa tub and we hit the sack.

**I'm going to leave out the part where I discovered that the new, expensive luggage bag for the top of the van leaked and some of the luggage got wet. Megan's clothes were damp and the shirt I made her bled a bit. I was a bit irate to say the least.

The next morning we packed up and headed to Sea World. Let this vacation begin!!!!
This is our view from the screened in porch

When we got to Sea World we were cracking up at how people were dressed. It was supposed to be around 67 that day which sounded like heaven for us since we had just left 10 degree weather. The dress ran the gauntlet from shorts to winter coats and gloves. Our first stop were the flamingos!

Hunter loved touching the sting rays. Megan, not so much.

We love the dolphins. Sea World has changed how they do the dolphin feeding. It's $7 per person to go to a seperate area. It's about the only way to get to touch them unlike before where you could snag a touch after someone else paid the money for the fish. My mom thought this was awful. I thought it was nice because we didn't get crowded with people. It's very organized and we got lots of dolphin time. With that said. You are instructed to keep your fish tray covered so the birds don't sweep down and snag them. EW. I hate fish and I hate birds. All I wanted to do was pet a dolphin. Needless to say, if you're trying to cover your tray of fish, your 4 year old's tray of fish and try to feed a dolphin you aren't getting many pictures!!

Not only would Megan not touch one after all she did was talk about the dolphins, she wouldn't even turn her back to them so I could get a pictue! She did feed them though.

Hunter was so excited to see rides! He loved "Journey to Atlantis" which got him and Dave very wet even with ponchos. He was a hair too short to ride the two big rides. He was disappointed and had them recheck him the next day in case he grew 1/2 an inch.

We love these guys!!!!

One of Hunter's favorite things was this animal show. They were so cute and all of the animals are rescued. When the show was over a couple came out to meet the audience.

We ate some lunch out on a patio with 2 other people. It really was a great time of year to go to Sea World. Then while we waited for the others to finish Hunter and I tried on some hats!

Next up: We check into Bay Lake Tower and we see.......

**I don't usually rush through my updates and I have a ton of pictures, but I wasn't sure how much of Sea World to cover.

 

[mom2mek]

Woo-hoo!!!! Great update Monica! That picture with the bird and the dolphins is freaky - that would creep me out to have the birds come over me like that, but those dolphins are SOOOO cute!!! I adore the seal pictures too!

They have a show at Busch Gardens near us called Pet Shennanigans that sounds exactly like that one - I always wonder how on earth they train a cat to do anything....or a mouse! Crazy! I loved the bulldog at the end though - did that show have a bulldog?

What's up with the 1/23/10 date on your pics?

Keep going....

Sara

 

[mrsksomeday]

I loved the Sea World update! Bill and I probably will never go there so I get to see it through your eyes. The pictures were great, the kids looked so happy, thanks for sharing.

 

[wisegal]

Monica: "Dave, she can't be right!" (Yes, we call our GPS "she")


OUr is a her as well... a friend of mine even named her... its Emma . i have to learn to trust her, some times i do not listen to her and get lost.

I am enjoying your trip

 

[mkluvsmickey]

Loved the update Monica! I really need to get back to SeaWorld. I love the dolphin pictures. Did you actually feed them fish then? Not sure I could touch the fish but I'd want to pet the dolphin for sure. Last time I was at SeaWorld (2004) that show (Pets Ahoy I think?) was my favorite. I remember Sam coming home and trying to train our dogs and cats to do those things.

Keep it coming, I don't think anyone minds the SeaWorld portion!

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

Monica:

Loved the update. Sea World is a favorite of ours. The dolphin pictures are adorable.

Can't wait to hear about BLT.

Erika

 

[Poohtigeey]

Woo-hoo!!!! Great update Monica! That picture with the bird and the dolphins is freaky - that would creep me out to have the birds come over me like that, but those dolphins are SOOOO cute!!! I adore the seal pictures too!

They have a show at Busch Gardens near us called Pet Shennanigans that sounds exactly like that one - I always wonder how on earth they train a cat to do anything....or a mouse! Crazy! I loved the bulldog at the end though - did that show have a bulldog?

What's up with the 1/23/10 date on your pics?

Keep going....

Sara

The birds in general aren't as bad at Sea World as you would think. They do start to congregate when a show would start in hopes of snagging a fish. The seals are so cute and they bark their little heads off to get your attention.

I don't remember if there was a bulldog, but if you look at the picture you can see a pig butt under the sign "The End" which was really funny. Also, a bunch of weiner dogs came out of the hot dog cart.

The pics w/ the wrong date are from Hunter's camera. I hate that I missed that. Most of his pictures are already zoomed in so I can't crop it out either.

Thanks for reading!

I loved the Sea World update! Bill and I probably will never go there so I get to see it through your eyes. The pictures were great, the kids looked so happy, thanks for sharing.

Thanks! Hunter really enjoyed Sea World. They have lots of workers stationed around so he could ask lots of questions. He loved it there.

Monica: "Dave, she can't be right!" (Yes, we call our GPS "she")


OUr is a her as well... a friend of mine even named her... its Emma . i have to learn to trust her, some times i do not listen to her and get lost.

I am enjoying your trip

I know!!! Why can't I trust that thing? I've gotten lost w/ "her" too because I think she's wrong. LOL!

Thanks for reading!

Loved the update Monica! I really need to get back to SeaWorld. I love the dolphin pictures. Did you actually feed them fish then? Not sure I could touch the fish but I'd want to pet the dolphin for sure. Last time I was at SeaWorld (2004) that show (Pets Ahoy I think?) was my favorite. I remember Sam coming home and trying to train our dogs and cats to do those things.

Keep it coming, I don't think anyone minds the SeaWorld portion!

Yes, I fed the dolphins. It was gross and slimy, but how often do you get to do that?! They have sinks with lots of soap and hand sanitizer right there which helps. Yes, trained cats are very interesting!

Monica:

Loved the update. Sea World is a favorite of ours. The dolphin pictures are adorable.

Can't wait to hear about BLT.

Erika

Hi Erika! Thanks for reading. We love Sea World and feel that they do a great job at educating people.

 

[Kelrykengab]

Fabulous pix, adorable family and fun trip-report! I'm in.
Your pix make me want to add SW to our trip. Sigh.

 

[Poohtigeey]

Fabulous pix, adorable family and fun trip-report! I'm in.
Your pix make me want to add SW to our trip. Sigh.

Thanks for the compliments and thanks for reading! We Sea World. It's clean, they have some rides, the shows are fabulous, the staff is knowledgeble. You should try to go sometime.

 

[skyshark82nd]

Monica, Monica, Monica.... This is the same disney math that Sara pulled on me. Blah blah Blah disney good, disney cheep, we save money, we just have to spend 1 million to save 100K. LOL!!! This logic must be part of the female code. See a sale and wammo! Eyes glaze over, hot flashes start, dollars appear as giant gold Mickey bars and six months later I am looking out my window at a volcano and the Magic kingdom.... I am glad you all plan all this because I would take the kids to a drywall factory or something.

Cheers
Shawn

PS Sara will most likely beat me for this..... I hope...... JK . no really...

 

[Zuzu03]

Yay! Those are adorable Sea World photos! And the dogs are so sweet - it's awesome that they were all rescued. And you have a beautiful family!!!

We haven't been to SW in years, it may be time to return!

 

[OhioTony]

Took me a while to remember my log in over here but.....

Lynn's in the house!

Please carry on with the picture party!

 

[mkluvsmickey]

Monica, Monica, Monica.... This is the same disney math that Sara pulled on me. Blah blah Blah disney good, disney cheep, we save money, we just have to spend 1 million to save 100K. LOL!!! This logic must be part of the female code. See a sale and wammo! Eyes glaze over, hot flashes start, dollars appear as giant gold Mickey bars and six months later I am looking out my window at a volcano and the Magic kingdom.... I am glad you all plan all this because I would take the kids to a drywall factory or something.

Cheers
Shawn

PS Sara will most likely beat me for this..... I hope...... JK . no really...

Very funny Shawn!

Took me a while to remember my log in over here but.....

Lynn's in the house!

Please carry on with the picture party!

Hi Lynn!

 

[Poohtigeey]

Monica, Monica, Monica.... This is the same disney math that Sara pulled on me. Blah blah Blah disney good, disney cheep, we save money, we just have to spend 1 million to save 100K. LOL!!! This logic must be part of the female code. See a sale and wammo! Eyes glaze over, hot flashes start, dollars appear as giant gold Mickey bars and six months later I am looking out my window at a volcano and the Magic kingdom.... I am glad you all plan all this because I would take the kids to a drywall factory or something.

Cheers
Shawn

PS Sara will most likely beat me for this..... I hope...... JK . no really...

Shawn!! I about fell out of my chair when I saw that I am lucky enough to have you read my report! Then I read your comments... You love Disney and you know it!! And by the way, you were part of my ploy to get Dave to go since I told him that he'd have a guy to talk to. Take him to the drywall factory. He'd love it!!

Yay! Those are adorable Sea World photos! And the dogs are so sweet - it's awesome that they were all rescued. And you have a beautiful family!!!

We haven't been to SW in years, it may be time to return!

Thanks! You should go back. It's so much fun. The animals were very cool. I'm always facinated with a trained cat! (Easily ammused, I know)

Took me a while to remember my log in over here but.....

Lynn's in the house!

Please carry on with the picture party!

LYNN!! Yay!!!!!!!!! I'm home alone tonight so I hope to get an update posted. So glad you logged on. I hadn't been on in awhile either. It's all coming back to me though. Smilies and siggies.

 

[pigletforever]

Looks like this is going to be a fun ride.

 

[crazyfordisney2000]

Thanks for the SW review, it looked awesome! We are planning on going to SW next trip (May 2011) and are staying off site to force us to go this time!!

 

[MickeyisBeast]

Great report, I'm definatly subbing