Back the Badge
Brilliant!
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2003
- Messages
- 80
Picking up where I left off.
Wednesday we set off to conquer IOA.
Heading into the Park we feel like royalty with our Season passes and FOTL access.
Went straight to spiderman. This IMO was the best ride at either park. Best ride I have ever been on. I also really enjoyed the old school Back to the future.
Rode Spiderman 3X in a row. Could not get enough.
From here went to Dr. Dooms fear fall. NEVER AGAIN! I am a whimp when it comes to heights and my stomach cannot take the roller coasters well. This was one ride all of us agreed to ride. I thought it didn't look bad...boy was I wrong. I am glad no one was in ear shot of me because I said a few naughty words as I got blasted toward the sky. Yes I admit I closed my eyes heading to the top and for the first drop.
My 6 and 8 year old were laughing at me. I literally kissed the ground when it was over and promised to never do a ride similar to that again. My sons are still giving me grief. They went right back on it again with their Mom as good old dad held the backbacks and drinks.
After finally gathering my senses we headed for Toon lagoon. It was a beautiful day and we planned on getting wet, however, we skipped the water rides and planned on doing them in the afternoon. Our intent was to stay dry in the morning and then change into the swimming suits for the afternoons festivities.
Got a few photos with popeye and all of us and then headed to my 6 year olds favorite movie JUrassic park!
Had to look on the web site could not remember the name when i did the first report but the cool cave area was called camp Jurassic. Started exploring this area and had no idea what was around the next corner. Get up to about the 3rd level and see some what appears to be water cannons. I walk over to investigate further and get BLASTED with water by some 6 and 8 year old thugs who were waiting for a foolish victim to stumble across.
I am soaked head to toe....so much for waiting for the afternoon.....Its on now. I take my post and my wife joins in to defend my honor. We ended up battling it out with our sons and some other youngsters. I could not have gotten more wet. I must admit I thought our position was better up high but the young people below had more powerful water cannons and took it to us.
We must have stayed here an hour goofing around and exploring.
Since i was already wet I figured what the hey time for the Jurassic park river adventure. Could not talk my 6 or 8 year old into joining me so my wife watched while I went on the ride. This was really cool and I was enjoying it up until the 500 foot drop (or whatever it was) on the last plunge. Once again eyes went shut for some reason and i just remember the thrill of the ride. think the young man sitting next to me knew somehting because he just smiled at me at the bottom.
Made our way from here to the Discovery Center and then headed for Dueling Dragons. I unselfishly let my wife take the 8 year old while my 6 year old and I cheered them on. They came off just loving it. I decided I would try it "another day".
Headed into Posiedens fury as a family, however my 6 year old got scared so we walked back outside. We chased around lizards and birds until Mom and my 8 got out. We then found ourselves right in time for the Sinbad show.
This was really cool and my sons really got into booing and jeering the witch and other bad guys.
Ate at the enchanted oak. This was good. Split two adult meals between us. Corn on the cob and muffin were really good. Got our pictures with Merlin. This guy dressed as Merlin was really fun and goofed with us and the kids.
Its about 2 P.M. now and we are off to Seuss landing.
Rode the carousel with the kids twice and then 6 year old discovered one fish two fish red fish blue fish ride. I did this at least 7 times in a row with him. In the meantime the older boy and my wife headed over to the "If i ran the zoo" play area. Met up with them after being made about as dizzy as i could possibly be.... Scratch that more diziness comes later.
Let the kids play here for about 45 minutes then i decided it was time to get wet. This was a beautiful warm day about 80 degrees!
Went on Dudly Doo Right and then Popeyes barge. Did Popeyes twice actually.
After getting soaked we walked around drying off. I had gotten the nerve to go on the Hulk with my 8 year old. It was about 5 P.M. now and the lines were long....except for one small thing FOTL!! Straight up headed for the front row of Hulk when my 8 year old tells me he is having second thoughts. I do not even attempt to talk him into it because I am with him all the way. We dodge people and head to the nearest exit.
We decide to try Storm Force. My boys absolutely loved it. We must have rode this 8 or 10 times. They loved the fact I could make the car spin so fast. I was not sooo much loving it after about the 3rd trip.
Finished the day until they closed on this ride. Had another great day at the park!
Ate at NBA city on the way back to the hotel. I had a really good Cobb Salad and the wife had another Philly. It was just OK though. I really was not that impressed with this place. Thought their would be more memorabilia or FREE interactive stuff to do for paying customers. Expected some "theme" dinner choices like the Iverson Philly Steak or Shaq attack fries...something. Maybe even a Kobe DNA sample platter
Back to the room and hit the pool again. Another great day.
Thursday: This was our day to re-do all the rides we wanted to at both parks and try a couple we had not done yet.
Had a great day did a few log rides and headed back to the room at around 3. Spent the rest of the day at the pool and then later in the evening hit Buffalo WW for some awesome wings and a couple Guiness.
Slept in a bit check out at about 1030A was smooth. I hauled all our bags myself. Guess I am cheap like that but I am an able bodied man and did not want to pay again for something I could easily do.
Started working our way to St. Pete for our late evening flight. We really wanted to hit the beach and see the Ocean up close and personal before we left. Concierge gave us directions to Treasure Island (a town/island) over by St pete.
We made the trip over after stopping for Brunch. This place is just beautiful. Found a great public sugar sand beach. Rented a cabana and spent the next three hours playing with the kids in the ocean. And kicking back in the Cabana. I went without any sunblock because i wanted a bit of color to rub in to the guys and gals at work. Water was very chilly, however. not as cold as some I have water skiied in back in April on the Mississippi in Iowa.
After spending time at the ocean some nice people we met on the beach told us we had to check out the Boardwalk area full of cool shops and eating and drinking establishments.
This place was just gorgeous. Felt like I was on the set of a Unviersal movie. Cool little shops, great views and nice little taverns tucked away for about a half mile board walk and 3 or so block downtown area.
Ate supper and did some shopping and then headed over to St Pete airport for our flight.
Of course it was delayed the standard 45 minutes. We were set to launch at 9:30 local time, however, our flight was delayed leaving o hare so they had to turn it around quickly. We launched at 10:15 E and were in Chicago at 11:30 local.
Got to our car after waiting for our bags and our Park and Ride shuttle.
Made it home at 0330 A.M. Good to be back but really missing the weather. Dark, dreary miserable day. Stayed inside all day and we cranked the furnace up to 80 degrees (about 10 above normal for us).
That pretty much sums things up. We had an awesome time and intend on going back with in the year....Besides we HAVE to don't we since I bought us all season passes
Wednesday we set off to conquer IOA.
Heading into the Park we feel like royalty with our Season passes and FOTL access.
Went straight to spiderman. This IMO was the best ride at either park. Best ride I have ever been on. I also really enjoyed the old school Back to the future.
Rode Spiderman 3X in a row. Could not get enough.
From here went to Dr. Dooms fear fall. NEVER AGAIN! I am a whimp when it comes to heights and my stomach cannot take the roller coasters well. This was one ride all of us agreed to ride. I thought it didn't look bad...boy was I wrong. I am glad no one was in ear shot of me because I said a few naughty words as I got blasted toward the sky. Yes I admit I closed my eyes heading to the top and for the first drop.
My 6 and 8 year old were laughing at me. I literally kissed the ground when it was over and promised to never do a ride similar to that again. My sons are still giving me grief. They went right back on it again with their Mom as good old dad held the backbacks and drinks.
After finally gathering my senses we headed for Toon lagoon. It was a beautiful day and we planned on getting wet, however, we skipped the water rides and planned on doing them in the afternoon. Our intent was to stay dry in the morning and then change into the swimming suits for the afternoons festivities.
Got a few photos with popeye and all of us and then headed to my 6 year olds favorite movie JUrassic park!
Had to look on the web site could not remember the name when i did the first report but the cool cave area was called camp Jurassic. Started exploring this area and had no idea what was around the next corner. Get up to about the 3rd level and see some what appears to be water cannons. I walk over to investigate further and get BLASTED with water by some 6 and 8 year old thugs who were waiting for a foolish victim to stumble across.
I am soaked head to toe....so much for waiting for the afternoon.....Its on now. I take my post and my wife joins in to defend my honor. We ended up battling it out with our sons and some other youngsters. I could not have gotten more wet. I must admit I thought our position was better up high but the young people below had more powerful water cannons and took it to us.
We must have stayed here an hour goofing around and exploring.
Since i was already wet I figured what the hey time for the Jurassic park river adventure. Could not talk my 6 or 8 year old into joining me so my wife watched while I went on the ride. This was really cool and I was enjoying it up until the 500 foot drop (or whatever it was) on the last plunge. Once again eyes went shut for some reason and i just remember the thrill of the ride. think the young man sitting next to me knew somehting because he just smiled at me at the bottom.
Made our way from here to the Discovery Center and then headed for Dueling Dragons. I unselfishly let my wife take the 8 year old while my 6 year old and I cheered them on. They came off just loving it. I decided I would try it "another day".
Headed into Posiedens fury as a family, however my 6 year old got scared so we walked back outside. We chased around lizards and birds until Mom and my 8 got out. We then found ourselves right in time for the Sinbad show.
This was really cool and my sons really got into booing and jeering the witch and other bad guys.
Ate at the enchanted oak. This was good. Split two adult meals between us. Corn on the cob and muffin were really good. Got our pictures with Merlin. This guy dressed as Merlin was really fun and goofed with us and the kids.
Its about 2 P.M. now and we are off to Seuss landing.
Rode the carousel with the kids twice and then 6 year old discovered one fish two fish red fish blue fish ride. I did this at least 7 times in a row with him. In the meantime the older boy and my wife headed over to the "If i ran the zoo" play area. Met up with them after being made about as dizzy as i could possibly be.... Scratch that more diziness comes later.
Let the kids play here for about 45 minutes then i decided it was time to get wet. This was a beautiful warm day about 80 degrees!
Went on Dudly Doo Right and then Popeyes barge. Did Popeyes twice actually.
After getting soaked we walked around drying off. I had gotten the nerve to go on the Hulk with my 8 year old. It was about 5 P.M. now and the lines were long....except for one small thing FOTL!! Straight up headed for the front row of Hulk when my 8 year old tells me he is having second thoughts. I do not even attempt to talk him into it because I am with him all the way. We dodge people and head to the nearest exit.
We decide to try Storm Force. My boys absolutely loved it. We must have rode this 8 or 10 times. They loved the fact I could make the car spin so fast. I was not sooo much loving it after about the 3rd trip.
Finished the day until they closed on this ride. Had another great day at the park!
Ate at NBA city on the way back to the hotel. I had a really good Cobb Salad and the wife had another Philly. It was just OK though. I really was not that impressed with this place. Thought their would be more memorabilia or FREE interactive stuff to do for paying customers. Expected some "theme" dinner choices like the Iverson Philly Steak or Shaq attack fries...something. Maybe even a Kobe DNA sample platter
Back to the room and hit the pool again. Another great day.
Thursday: This was our day to re-do all the rides we wanted to at both parks and try a couple we had not done yet.
Had a great day did a few log rides and headed back to the room at around 3. Spent the rest of the day at the pool and then later in the evening hit Buffalo WW for some awesome wings and a couple Guiness.
Slept in a bit check out at about 1030A was smooth. I hauled all our bags myself. Guess I am cheap like that but I am an able bodied man and did not want to pay again for something I could easily do.
Started working our way to St. Pete for our late evening flight. We really wanted to hit the beach and see the Ocean up close and personal before we left. Concierge gave us directions to Treasure Island (a town/island) over by St pete.
We made the trip over after stopping for Brunch. This place is just beautiful. Found a great public sugar sand beach. Rented a cabana and spent the next three hours playing with the kids in the ocean. And kicking back in the Cabana. I went without any sunblock because i wanted a bit of color to rub in to the guys and gals at work. Water was very chilly, however. not as cold as some I have water skiied in back in April on the Mississippi in Iowa.
After spending time at the ocean some nice people we met on the beach told us we had to check out the Boardwalk area full of cool shops and eating and drinking establishments.
This place was just gorgeous. Felt like I was on the set of a Unviersal movie. Cool little shops, great views and nice little taverns tucked away for about a half mile board walk and 3 or so block downtown area.
Ate supper and did some shopping and then headed over to St Pete airport for our flight.
Of course it was delayed the standard 45 minutes. We were set to launch at 9:30 local time, however, our flight was delayed leaving o hare so they had to turn it around quickly. We launched at 10:15 E and were in Chicago at 11:30 local.
Got to our car after waiting for our bags and our Park and Ride shuttle.
Made it home at 0330 A.M. Good to be back but really missing the weather. Dark, dreary miserable day. Stayed inside all day and we cranked the furnace up to 80 degrees (about 10 above normal for us).
That pretty much sums things up. We had an awesome time and intend on going back with in the year....Besides we HAVE to don't we since I bought us all season passes
down the days until our trip in April.
