Kidani, HRH & BLT in 6 nights- Yes! We are THAT crazy!Nov 04-10,2009 OBX 4/16/10

[KirstenB]

I love the way back pictures!! Sean looks so happy, giddy, really!! We loved the Cat in the Hat ride too. Our older dd and my dh would split off to do the coasters, while Zoe and I stayed in Seuss land and the Jurassic park indoor place.

I hope Sean works his way back to enjoying Seussland.

 

[Flossbolna]

Your "darkside" pictures make me really want to venture there... I think Harry Potter will finally make me go there. I am just afraid that this might be case for so many that it would be horrible crowded the first year after HP opens...

 

[podsnel]

I had a few pics of our 1st visit to see Aunt Irma as a family that I'd love to show you. As I said, it used to be that we would go out to dinner when we went to visit. The first time, she took us to her favorite spot. It was a biker bar! Go Irma!

The boys were 4, 6, & 9. They were runnin' AMUCK the entire night- well, in the part where all the games and stuff were before we actually ate. It was very funny. Here are the couch pics from that same visit-

See the Popeye and blue star? Those were prizes T&T won playing hoops at IOA- they had no idea who Popeye was, and Tyler kept calling him "puh-pie". They were so PROUD of those prizes!!

Ok- have to run & get my nails done, and go for one last visit to the gym, and pack my snorkel gear!! Yay!! Time for STJ!!!!

 

[podsnel]

Your boys look so little in those pictures! How cute!!
Again, thanks for all of your "darkside" pictures! I used to love Dr. Seuss....especially the Sneetches! They are the ones that had stars on their belly's
As always your food pictures do not disappoint! Mythos looks like a really fun restaurant and the food....YUM!
Have a wonderful time on your trip! What a great time of year to get away to some blue skies and sunshine!

Tracy

Sure...Sneetches- they've got stars upon thars... That's not one of his faves, but we do have the book- we have a LOT of Seuss books at our house!!

I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo looking forward to tomorrow at 12:40 (11:40 our time)- that's when we land. Thanks for the good wishes!

I love the way back pictures!! Sean looks so happy, giddy, really!! We loved the Cat in the Hat ride too. Our older dd and my dh would split off to do the coasters, while Zoe and I stayed in Seuss land and the Jurassic park indoor place.

I hope Sean works his way back to enjoying Seussland.

Me too! I really hope he'll want to explore it the next time we go- they finally opened that one ride- the one that goes over your head and through Circus McGurkus- I know the ride is pretty dull, but after looking at the empty track all these years and wondering what it was/ if it was going to be, i kind of wanted to check it out! Oh well... no biggie!

Your "darkside" pictures make me really want to venture there... I think Harry Potter will finally make me go there. I am just afraid that this might be case for so many that it would be horrible crowded the first year after HP opens...

Well, I guess we'll see what happens soon with the crowds- it's opening this Spring.

If I don't get a chance to post again before we leave (have to go to bed pretty early tonight), I'll see you next week!

 

[DB&KS]

Have a great trip!

 

[podsnel]

Hey there! I'm back- we had a fabulous time in St John- great weather, beautiful beaches, one or two cocktails ......Anyway, I came home sick, so sorry for the delay- I'll be back with an update soon!

 

[kid-at-heart]

Yea! You are back. I hope it is warmer around your home than it is around mine.

 

[Tinks "SS"]

Ellen, so sorry that you came home sick from the islands. That stinks!! Hope you feel better soon cause i can't wait for some updates!! I only have 7 more days until i leave for BLT and can't wait to hear how it was!!

 

[dallastxcpa]

So sorry to hear you are not feeling well. Hope you get better soon. I have been anxiously awaiting your next update.

 

[podsnel]

Yea! You are back. I hope it is warmer around your home than it is around mine.

Well, we've had snow once this week and are expecting 8" Friday night...so.....

Ellen, so sorry that you came home sick from the islands. That stinks!! Hope you feel better soon cause i can't wait for some updates!! I only have 7 more days until i leave for BLT and can't wait to hear how it was!!

So sorry to hear you are not feeling well. Hope you get better soon. I have been anxiously awaiting your next update.

Thank-you very much for all the get well wishes! I am feeling much better, and have been running around like a nut getting ready for a Superbowl party- in addition to talking to all my kids teachers this week. Ugh. Welcome home INDEED!! Anyway, I will try to finish up with Universal now- I DO want to get on to BLT, especially for you Tinks "SS"!

 

[podsnel]

Ok...I think before I left for paradise we were moving by Harry Potter 2B and then....Pods and the boys wanted to ride the Jurassic Park River Adventure, and I was hopeful Sean would go into the Jurassic Park Discovery Center while we waited (which he wouldn't do with me last time). Great news! Sean was happy to go inside and explore all the cool dinosaur stuff.

We tried to play with the dinosaur eggs, but really couldn't figure out what to do, but that was ok- there was plenty of other stuff in there to check out- just like in the movie. Well, no velociraptors! We went outside just in time to see this-

They like that ride alot- the last drop makes a BIG splash! Timmy was starting to get his mojo goin', and was LOVING being all wet. I was SO EXCITED to see, when we moved past Jurassic Park (and weren't allowed to ride the Pteranodon Flyers because my kids are TOO BIG), that for the first time EVER when we have visited, Dudley DoRights Ripsaw Falls was OPEN! I had heard that that flume is INSANE, and while there was no way I was gettin on that thing, I knew Pods & Tyler would be into it. I was completely shocked when Tim said he wanted to go, too! Here's a clip from youtube-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYbbsfy-8Ho

That's not my family, but this is-

I am freaked by waterflumes, so this is most definitely NOT for me! I'm nervous on Splash Mountain, and SM is not NEARLY as crazy as this ride. But they all seemed to really enjoy it-

Timmy was especially proud of how soaked he was-

But that was NOTHIN compared to what they were heading for next! Also for the first time we have been to IOA, Popeye & Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges was open! Like many other rides in the park, T&T hopped right on.

Did I say they were soaked when they got off the last ride? Then they were DRENCHED TO THE BONE when they got off this one!

Universal actually has dryers placed by these rides so you can dry off if you're totally drenched. How wonderful is that? Well, it's actually NOT so wonderful for my kids- because they have ME in the group, and I have only one thing on my mind at this point...finish riding at IOA and RETURN TO THE MOTHERSHIP!!!!! So, no matter how much my baby Timmy said, "C'mon, it's RIGHT THERE! I'M SOAKED!!" I said, "No, no, little man- you're fine. Practically dry already. Let's GO!"

Let's see if any of you calls me Mother of the year NOW!!

Next it was Pods' turn to wait with Sean while I rode the Amazing Adventures of Spiderman with T&T. This is one of my MOST favorite rides of all time. It's a combo 3-D/motion but it's also on a track- it REALLY is incredible, and it never ceases to make me laugh and giggle. Timmy kept on complaining he was cold...but I am SURE he was practically dry! (Actually, FWIW, Timmy had a big smile on his face the whole time he was complaining). We only had 2 more rides in the park to go- and one of them, Sean was happy to get on (also for the first time. YAY!!) Storm Force Accelatron is pretty much the Tea Cups on steroids. And due to the total lack of crowds, we rode 3 times in a row. Pods took our pic-

Our Shawnee loves to spin! Finally, Pods & Tyler hit the HULK one last time. THEY WALKED RIGHT ON. Crazy! Timmy still would have none of it, though. I can tell you, though, that I think he regrets that decision now. But that's ok- we'll be back.

Next up- we're headed to the NBA Cafe for a little hoop action before heading out and moving on to BLT.

 

[podsnel]

We were walking out of the park, and I suggested we stop at the NBA Cafe to see what was in there before we left. The NBA Cafe is not the run-of-the-mill sports bar....everything is basketball, and there is a pretty good arcade with only basketball type games. So we went to see what there was to see....

He was one TALL hoopster! As with everything else that day, we had (almost) the whole place to ourselves.

See? Practically dry- he's fine!

The entrance has all these bronze basketballs, all with different NBA stars' handprints. In case you were wondering....those boys have got some BIG HANDS!!!!

It would have been nice to see all the memorabilia inside the bar & restaurant, but we'll have to do that on another day. It was time to go back to HRH, and then go on to....you know where!

A few pics while we waited for our car....

And then.....wave good-bye to the Darkside, it's time to go back to the Happiest Place on Earth!

But just to be clear- the Darkside rocks!

 

[petbren]

I am sooooo loving your report. I have read the whole thing, but refresh me.....when did you go exactly that Universal was so dead? I have been thinking about spending a day or two on the "Dark Side" on our next trip, sadly not 'till march 2011. My kids are not really into the big thrill rides, is there a lot else for them to do? DD is into basketball, so the NBA thing looks good.Not sure they'd do the flume ride, or Hulk, but maybe they'll surprise me by then.
Looking forward to more fun..........

 

[podsnel]

I am sooooo loving your report. I have read the whole thing, but refresh me.....when did you go exactly that Universal was so dead? I have been thinking about spending a day or two on the "Dark Side" on our next trip, sadly not 'till march 2011. My kids are not really into the big thrill rides, is there a lot else for them to do? DD is into basketball, so the NBA thing looks good.Not sure they'd do the flume ride, or Hulk, but maybe they'll surprise me by then.
Looking forward to more fun..........

Hi there! Glad you're enjoying my vacation! We were there at the beginning of November- on a weekend. Sunday was especially dead. It was wonderful! But I don't know if that will be the case once Harry Potter opens this spring. I guess only time will tell.

When we started going to Universal, our kids were little, between 4 and 9, and there was plenty for them to do. At Universal there is a whole park we did not even visit this time that is geared towards younger kids, not to mention all the Nickolodeon stuff everywhere. And at IOA, thay not only have that whole DR Seuss area, but there is also marvel superhero stuff (they all come out and greet the kids- we are "too old" for that now, so we just kept walking this time when that occured) as well as a "boat" over in Toontown that my kids enjoyed when they were younger. AND YOU would be allowed to go on the Pteradon Flyers!

Thanks for reading!

 

[Tinks "SS"]

The last time we went to the dark side, my boys were quite a bit smaller and we only went to Universal. skipped IOA. I think they would enjoy it more now though. although my youngest has all of the sudden gotten squimish on some of the scarier rides lately. not sure what that is about (hope it's just his age 7). Definitely still enjoying and absolutely loved the "practically dry" shots of Timmy!! had to laugh when i saw his butt soaking wet. So sounds like something i would do!

 

[dvc4life]

Ellen - glad you are back. Sorry to hear that you were not feeling well when you got back from your trip. Will you be doing a trip report for that trip as well? Last year's was really good and I so enjoyed reading it. Just wondering.

The dark side looks really fun. We have never taken our girls over there and the oldest DD would love to go when the Harry Potter place opens.

So excited to hear your take on BLT. It looks so awesome!!!!!!

 

[rmonty02]

I just found and read your TR. Totally fun to read and I LOVE your story and family Air-dry is soooo appropriate in my mommy book

I'm just trying to figure out your DH's name. I love "Pods". Is that just an online name?

 

[disney1474]

Great trip report as usual!! I haven't taken the family to Universal yet.
My girls are 4 and 6. I think after seeing your pictures, I will be taking them next year!! Keep those pictures coming!!!

 

[podsnel]

The last time we went to the dark side, my boys were quite a bit smaller and we only went to Universal. skipped IOA. I think they would enjoy it more now though. although my youngest has all of the sudden gotten squimish on some of the scarier rides lately. not sure what that is about (hope it's just his age 7). Definitely still enjoying and absolutely loved the "practically dry" shots of Timmy!! had to laugh when i saw his butt soaking wet. So sounds like something i would do!

Ah...so YOU'RE a mother-of-the-year, too! If it had been cold, I really would have had him dry off in one of those things- I thought it was excellent that they have them, every park should! But it was pretty warm out, so...suck it up, mister! And Timmy is like that with the rides, too- sometimes he's all in, other times he's not going on anything. Guess you have to be flexible as a parent, right?

Ellen - glad you are back. Sorry to hear that you were not feeling well when you got back from your trip. Will you be doing a trip report for that trip as well? Last year's was really good and I so enjoyed reading it. Just wondering.

The dark side looks really fun. We have never taken our girls over there and the oldest DD would love to go when the Harry Potter place opens.

So excited to hear your take on BLT. It looks so awesome!!!!!!

I think I'm doing an STJ TR- want to finish this one, first. I'll try to upload some pics from paradise today.

And BLT WAS awesome!! We loved it there! So convenient to be on the monorail, absolutely loved it.

I just found and read your TR. Totally fun to read and I LOVE your story and family Air-dry is soooo appropriate in my mommy book

I'm just trying to figure out your DH's name. I love "Pods". Is that just an online name?

Ah-hah! Another mother-of-the-year!

Pods is his nickname from college. DH's real name is Ken. When he was a kid, he liked this candy that the band sold called PODDLES. So, for about 2 weeks of his young life, some of his family called him Pods. His first week at college, someone from home came to visit and called him Pods as a joke. His new roomate heard it, and made the name stick. He is one of those with a nickname that IS his name- I call him Pods, not Ken (EVER!)....our bridesmaids in our wedding (most of whom went to college with him, too) called him Pods and had no idea what his real name was when we were getting married. Not too many call him Ken- his clients do, the women that work for him, people from the baseball league in town- but anyone in our life who has come into our life through me calls him Pods. Thanks for reading!

Great trip report as usual!! I haven't taken the family to Universal yet.
My girls are 4 and 6. I think after seeing your pictures, I will be taking them next year!! Keep those pictures coming!!!

Wonderful! I hope they (and you) love it! There is SOOOOO much in the Orlando area to do- and so hard to fit it all in. We haven't been to Seaworld with the kids (and I LOVE Seaworld) and always want to fit it in, but there is just never enough time....need to work on that, I guess.

 

[manntra]

your boys looked PERFECTLY dry to me! Very cool about the dryers though...nice touch On the ride like Kali (I'm too lazy to look back on what the name of it was haha) your son looks like he is all by himself!
Thanks for the trip to the Darkside and happy you are on your way back to the Mothership! Are we headed to BLT next?

Tracy