Part 4: Day 1: Islands Of Adventure
Wake up at 5.00 5.15 5.30, you get the picture. Got up at 6.30 and had a bath while Gavin got a peaceful half hour in before the alarm clock at 7.00
IOA is the plan for today. I bought Express pass pluses for us as a treat for our first day. Also I didnt want Gavins first experience of the parks to be queuing. As it was high season I paid top wack for the plus tickets but cant remember what it converted to in GBP.
Ready at 7.20 and found USF car park with no problems. Cinnabon for breakfast Gavin had a Cinnabon Classic & I have the Stix. Very nice but very sweet. With two cokes the bill was $10.92.
Straight to IOA now. Think we arrived in at 9.15 and my first stop was the Hulk. Gavin is petrified of rides that go more than 2ft above the ground. He isnt scared of heights as such just unsure of things he hasnt done before. He will go on rides at Blackpool that he did as a kid because he knows he will come to no harm, but is reluctant to try new thrill rides. I was aware of this before we came and my tried and tested method is to ask him if he wishes to ride then leave him alone to decide.
I am sure you have all guessed I rode Hulk alone! I didnt need my Express plus pass as the queue was only 10mins. I do love roller coasters but in my old age I find they make me a bit dizzy when I get off and the better the ride the longer I am walking in circles after!
Over the next two hours we rode Spider Man: Excellent! Bilge rat Barges: Wicked and Ripsaw Falls: Could I be any wetter! All of these were virtual walk-ons, perhaps the Express pluss werent needed after all.
We left IOA at 11.45 for our PS at Hard Rock Café at 12.00. We were a bit worried they wouldnt let us in as we were still soaking wet! On the way to Hard Rock we realized when Gavin had last used the camcorder he hadnt stopped recording when he put it away so we now had 40mins of bag! Plonker.
No problems with getting in the Hard Rock. They must be used to all sorts turning up! We were starving so decided to order starters and a main course. We didnt want the same things so didnt split the food. Erm how can I put this politely? We must have been barmy! I had Nachos to start then Herb grilled Chicken and Gavin had Chicken strips then A Chicken Club. Suffice to say we ate about 1/3 if not less of our food. We left so much I was embarrassed! Along with two cokes the bill was $50.24 plus tip.
After lunch we waddled back to IOA, showed our stamped hand and headed for River Adventure. We did need to use our Express pluss here as the queue was 40mins.
After a through soaking we decided to go home for a while as we were both tired. We left IOA at 14.00 and went to bed for 3 hours!
Completely refreshed we headed back out at 18.00. We made a detour on the way back to IOA as I had been suffering from Earache since last night so needed to call at the pharmacy for some advice, bought some painkillers and eardrops and told not to go swimming. No swimming, how can I not go swimming? I shall reserve judgement on no swimming until my water park days come around. Arrived at IOA around 19.00 but a storm was closing in so most of the rides had closed. We did use our Express pluss to go on Spiderman again which is now officially Gavins favourite ride.
Left IOA at 21.00 and wondered around Ciywalk for a while. Popped into Wendys on the way home (I was gutted when McDonalds bought out Wendys in Leeds!) had a bath then bed around 23.00.
Jodie
Wake up at 5.00 5.15 5.30, you get the picture. Got up at 6.30 and had a bath while Gavin got a peaceful half hour in before the alarm clock at 7.00
IOA is the plan for today. I bought Express pass pluses for us as a treat for our first day. Also I didnt want Gavins first experience of the parks to be queuing. As it was high season I paid top wack for the plus tickets but cant remember what it converted to in GBP.
Ready at 7.20 and found USF car park with no problems. Cinnabon for breakfast Gavin had a Cinnabon Classic & I have the Stix. Very nice but very sweet. With two cokes the bill was $10.92.
Straight to IOA now. Think we arrived in at 9.15 and my first stop was the Hulk. Gavin is petrified of rides that go more than 2ft above the ground. He isnt scared of heights as such just unsure of things he hasnt done before. He will go on rides at Blackpool that he did as a kid because he knows he will come to no harm, but is reluctant to try new thrill rides. I was aware of this before we came and my tried and tested method is to ask him if he wishes to ride then leave him alone to decide.
I am sure you have all guessed I rode Hulk alone! I didnt need my Express plus pass as the queue was only 10mins. I do love roller coasters but in my old age I find they make me a bit dizzy when I get off and the better the ride the longer I am walking in circles after!
Over the next two hours we rode Spider Man: Excellent! Bilge rat Barges: Wicked and Ripsaw Falls: Could I be any wetter! All of these were virtual walk-ons, perhaps the Express pluss werent needed after all.
We left IOA at 11.45 for our PS at Hard Rock Café at 12.00. We were a bit worried they wouldnt let us in as we were still soaking wet! On the way to Hard Rock we realized when Gavin had last used the camcorder he hadnt stopped recording when he put it away so we now had 40mins of bag! Plonker.
No problems with getting in the Hard Rock. They must be used to all sorts turning up! We were starving so decided to order starters and a main course. We didnt want the same things so didnt split the food. Erm how can I put this politely? We must have been barmy! I had Nachos to start then Herb grilled Chicken and Gavin had Chicken strips then A Chicken Club. Suffice to say we ate about 1/3 if not less of our food. We left so much I was embarrassed! Along with two cokes the bill was $50.24 plus tip.
After lunch we waddled back to IOA, showed our stamped hand and headed for River Adventure. We did need to use our Express pluss here as the queue was 40mins.
After a through soaking we decided to go home for a while as we were both tired. We left IOA at 14.00 and went to bed for 3 hours!
Completely refreshed we headed back out at 18.00. We made a detour on the way back to IOA as I had been suffering from Earache since last night so needed to call at the pharmacy for some advice, bought some painkillers and eardrops and told not to go swimming. No swimming, how can I not go swimming? I shall reserve judgement on no swimming until my water park days come around. Arrived at IOA around 19.00 but a storm was closing in so most of the rides had closed. We did use our Express pluss to go on Spiderman again which is now officially Gavins favourite ride.
Left IOA at 21.00 and wondered around Ciywalk for a while. Popped into Wendys on the way home (I was gutted when McDonalds bought out Wendys in Leeds!) had a bath then bed around 23.00.
Jodie
Really have to have one of those buns..yummy!!!
)
Hubby loves Hulk. It's our tradition that when we get to IOA we have Cinnabon for breakfast. Looking forward to reading more of your reports.
