IOA Saturday Night March 5th - Amerisuites pictures

[robvia]

Cast Me (40), DW (34), DD (13), her friend (13)

Drove up from Plantation FL to see the Pat Parelli horse show which was incredible. If you love horses, you need to see Pat Parelli when he comes to your state. That night, the wife and kids went to Dixie Stampede, and I went to IOA/USF for a couple hours. Many ask, can you do anything if you check in late. The answer is definately yes.

We checked into the Amerisuites at about 4pm, room was ready, no hotel smell, I was impressed. My web site with pictures is here.

http://www.nogodforme.com/Amerisuites.htm

After getting cleaned up and bringing all our stuff to the room, I set out for IOA at about 5pm. As I walked to the front of the hotel, I saw a few people standing around. I asked if there was a shuttle going to the park. They said no, it's not running anymore, they've got a taxi coming. I asked if I could ride over with them if I tipped the driver and they said yes.
A limo pulls up, it's a Lincoln Town car. There are 4 who need to sit in the back seat, a guy and his girl friend, a young girl, and another guy. I'm in the front. The driver isn't supposed to let 4 people in the back, but the girl friend sits on the lap of her boy friend. They're already partying, both drinking a beer and very friendly. I'm drinking a rum and coke I made in the room. We pull up to the light at Kirkman and Major Blvd and there is a cop a few lanes over. The girl is ducking under the window so she won't be seen. She's on the floor in front of her boyfriend. We're all laughing about it, you had to be there. So we pull up to the garage unloading area, and I tip the driver a 10 spot because he's going to school, his books are in the middle area of the car. I thank the people for letting me ride with them, they high five me for tipping the driver, and I walk up the stairs.

So there I am, walking thru city walk with a rum and coke in my hand, the music playing, perfect weather, it's about 6pm, and everyone is leaving. What more could you ask for?

I enter IOA, visit the backwater bar, it's still happy hour. I get a Sangria, it's $3, I give the girl a $5 and say you da woman. I'm very happy at this point from getting a ride over. I head towards Spiderman because I wanted to get an onride POV. To my surprise, the wait for Hulk and Spiderman is only 20 minutes. The express pass machines for Spiderman are still working. I get an express pass and go on the ride with no wait. I shoot my POV and it's on this page if you'd like to view it.

http://www.nogodforme.com/ioapovs2005.htm

Happy with my ride, I head thru Jurassic park and stop at the bathrooms next to the Pizza Predattoria to take some pictures of the land. It's rumored there will be a new Flyer built back here. I don't see anything, so I continue to Dueling Dragons and ride Fire a couple times. I shoot a POV in the dark but it doesn't come out very well. From here, I high tail it over to USF and ride the Mummy. Ride is great, and everyone on the ride has the script at the end memorized. It's about 8pm, and I'm hungry and want to go take pictures of the restaurants across from the parking garage. The Mardi Gras parade is about to start. I quickly walk down the street before the parade starts and exit USF.

I walk thru the parking garage, across Kirkman Road, to the restaurants across the street and take pictures.

http://www.nogodforme.com/AcrossUSF2005.htm

I walk up to the Orlando Ale House and get a beeper. There is a crowd outside, but it's not that bad. I walk around the buildings taking more pictures, and about 10 minutes later, my beeper goes off. I go in and a booth is ready. I have Cajun Chicken Pasta and it's the best. Definately visit this restaurant, the food is great, and they also have locations in Davie and Coral Springs FL.

I walk back to the Amerisuites, the wife and kids make it back from Dixie Stampede and say the show was great. Sunday morning, we eat breakfast downstairs in the lobby. Let me tell you, the breakfast is amazing and free. They've got a waffle iron to make your own waffles. I've never seen that in a hotel. They also have eggs and sausage in a heating tray. Put them on a bagel with cream cheese, and you've got an egg Mcmuffin. We check out, go to the Parelli show, and drive home that afternoon. Perfect trip.

So there you have it. You can go to the park for a couple hours and have a great time during non peak months. Look at how much I got done in two hours. I shot a POV of Spiderman, rode Dueling Dragons twice in the front row, rode the Mummy, and took lots of pictures.

End of report.

 

[highlander447]

Sounds like u had a laid back evening, how did u manage to ditch the family with no guilt also can I ask as we have just purchased tix for the stampede in Sept is it a good show food wise etc as well thanks

 

[robvia]

Yes, the trip was laid back and I had fun.

I've been to Dixie Stampede 2 times already.
I took the daughter, and her friend last year while Laurie stayed in the HRH room with our lab.
So this year, I told Laurie I wanted to visit IOA for 2 hours, and she would take the kids this time. It worked out really well as I had the confirmation number, directions to the event, and made sure she had her AAA and credit card.

The food is really good, slightly better than Arabian nights, which we've also been to a few times. It's a full chicken, the kind you would buy in the deli section of grocery store. You eat it with your fingers, the meat falls off the bone. They don't pass out any silverware. You start with a cream soup in a cup with a bisquit. Then two baby potatoes. A piece of meat (think it's pork), corn on the cob, and a fluffy apple turnover for desert along with unlimited soda.

They don't have free beer or wine like Arabian nights, and the pre show bar only has slushie drinks sold in a boot along with popcorn (this is a family show). The pre show has a guy on a horse who sings, rides into the crowd going up stairs and down, and does some whip tricks, so arrive early to see this show. The food is amazing, and you'll like the show. It's a bunch of contests between the north and south. People cheer for their side, wave flags ($2 each), and stomp their feet real loud.

They have pig races, osterage races, barrel races, people from the crowd doing a funny sack race, and a few others, about 11 I think, plus a few musical acts. The final tribute is all the animals and performers circling the arena at the same time as they sing America the Beautiful, it's touching.

As you walk in, they take your picture. If you don't want to be bothered during the show with them trying to sell you the pictures, just keep moving.
Tip your server near the end of the show, look at the souvineers as you exit, pet the horses on the way out, and it will be a great evening. Drive is about 20 minutes from Disney or IOA.

 

[highlander447]

Thanks for that it sounds pretty good we got a good deal which incldes free flags boot cups and popcorn also after checking their website the other day Dixie Stampede now including free beer & wine thanks for the quick reply