Pirates, Princesses, an Evil Empire and a few Rebel Forces-UPDATED 8/05

[live4christp1]

Wanted to add a comment about SWW and costumes. I worried about DS a lot as it was HOT! A couple of times he seemed to be struggling, like he couldn't catch his breath. This got worse the closer it got to the Padawan Mind Challenge, he admitted that he was really nervous about doing it but wanted to proceed, so I think it might have been some anxiety going on there. Kept trying to convince him to change into shorts & tshirt but he wouldn't have any of that. Continued to push lots of liquid in him and we went into ABC Commisary on a couple of occasions as it wasn't very crowded in there, still close to the SWW action and it was cool. Plus the little clips they run on the TV's kept them occupied for just long enough to cool down.

 

[live4christp1]

Monday June 9th – BUSCH GARDENS here we come!!!!

Up and off early this morning as Busch Gardens opens at 9:00 AM and it’s about an hour drive. Our mapquest directions are right on spot and we are pulling in to the parking area about 8:50. WOW….compared to WDW parking lots at this hour……this place looks like a ghost town. After a short tram ride we are at the ticket window getting our “Hero’s Salute” tickets……Thanks!

The kids meet a stilt walker animal (can’t tell you what they were) and get pictures! Grab a park map and off we go. Prior to our trip I had checked out info on the park, looked at maps etc. but I think the first time in any park is kind of confusing . DS decides we need to go see the chimps and gorillas first so away we go. We see several chimps but it’s early on and they still seem to be a little lazy. We never spotted any gorillas but planned to come back later in the day.

We walk around through another area with hippos – minus the hippos…..they were cleaning the tank. We got to see people in the hippo tank .

The hyenas were laying right in front of the glass but they pretty much were just lying there, one did eventually raise his head up and look around for a minute….then back to sleep. The kids had fun playing in the safari jeep there though .

We head on…….after stopping for a moment at a little stand to buy a Powerade and the kids each by an animal. The gentleman here was so helpful and told us lots about the different areas.

DS has noticed on the map the safari jeeps…….they have two sets……Rhino Rally which is like KS at AK and then another that you pay extra for. DS wants to do the extra one…(tried to keep this info a secret but it’s marked clearly on the map )…..he is a huge animal lover and DH decides he wants to take him on this……..seeing as how it didn’t cost us anything for tickets, I can’t complain.

We spend a few minutes at the plains viewing area and get great pictures of the giraffe, zebras and antelope, etc. They were really close and there were lots of them out there, got to get pictures of them drinking (which looks really awkward for a giraffe) water and eating leaves from the trees.

We go over and book DH and DS on the safari. DD is too little and would have been frightened probably anyway. She’s scared of everything on this trip. They were able to get on the 11:00 or 11:30 (can’t remember)tour and also got a discount so they both got to go for just under $50.00. We walk over to the Clydsedale barns to see them before trip time. The kids got a cute photo with a donkey…..he/she was a really pretty donkey……looked so soft and fluffy .

They have to be back for tour 15 minutes before time so we walk back. DD and I had planned to take the train ride around the park…..but in route she spots some flamingos walking with a keeper. Flamingos are DD’s favorite…… they are pink after all. These are the second set we have seen being walked around the park. So we head over to the little area they are headed to and there is a whole bunch of flamingos. As you approach their area they come over to check you out. DD was so excited about this. We played with the flamingos almost the whole entire time the boys were gone. These are really friendly flamingos. DD got to pet several of them and if you lean over they will preen your hair. She tried this but wasn’t so sure it was fun.

We spent a little time looking at the other animals and back to the flamingos. Still waiting for the boys to return we head off in search of a bathroom and about that time the boys call and say they have finished their safari. DS was beaming! He had a wonderful time. Got to pet giraffes and feed them. Giraffe chewed on his hair. DH said that he (DS) answered most of the questions that the guide had. At the end of the tour and their return to the station keeper told DS that he should be a zoo keeper when he grows up. DH just smiled…….he knows DS is way ahead on that plan. Watching the video of the safari ride…..DS was on cloud 9… ..he was smiles from ear to ear. This was another highlight for his vacation.

DD has to take DS & DH to see the flamingos now and show them that “they know how to comb hair”…..mom got to be the designated volunteer for this though. We looked around at all the other animals in the area. We walk back around toward the lions and they are out now, still just lazy but we did get some pictures and video. We check out the menu at place that overlooks the plains and it looks rather good and not to expensive so we make a note to come back for dinner.

Off to Rhino Rally. This was a fun ride though I would have preferred a better guide. The only way she knew how to drive was gas or brake so it was almost like getting whiplash. It's much like KS at AK but with supposed to be corny jokes like on Jungle Cruise. Our guide seemed to have a bit of an attitude problem though and they came across more of obnoxious or smart aleck. One cool thing here is when you go on the bridge it really does break away and your jeep floats down the river. Very cool!

We walk around and look at rhino's, alligators and other animal and bird assortments. I get a frozen lemonade......so yummy......it hit the spot, DD took it over though and drank about half of it. DH got a drink and a bag of chips. DS and DD got dippin dots but after DD got my lemonade DH finished off the dippin dots.

Next we decide to hop on the train over to Stanleyville to see the animal show. We see lots more animals on our train ride around and get great pictures.

Next up: Dogs, cats, birds and a thunder storm = show canceled.

 

[live4christp1]

The only show that we timed it right in getting to for the day was Critter Castaways. It started out really cute, lots of cats, dogs, and various other animals doing little tricks to interact with the cast. Huge clouds are approaching though and soon we are hearing the rumblings of thunder. The show got cut short before it even really got going good. It is evident that the rain is coming so we decide this would be the best time to grab something to eat, but we don’t want to go all the way back to Crown Colony House (good thing too, we would have gotten soaked). The closest place is the pizza place inside the Hospitality House. No indoor seating….as we are walking toward the entrance though I spot a little area across the way that has about 4 or 5 tables and chairs and it’s covered so I send DH and the kiddos over while I go get pizza. While in line the storm hits, it is pouring outside!!!! Order pizzas (they serve them with a huge amount of fries) and sodas. By the time I get the food the rain has lessened a bit so I am able to make it over to the table without getting completely soaked. We sit and watch the rain and eat. The kids are amused by a couple of squirrels who come to our table wanting food and they proceed to feed them French fries. These were wild squirrels but they are so used to people the kids touched them and they did not run away.

Started getting some pretty good thunder and lightening. DS hates storms. He was ready to leave. Told him it was better to be in the shelter than walking through the park to the exit. There were lots of people standing around out in the storm getting soaked, having their two free drinks. So we just sat and waited the storm out and people watched and squirrel watched. DD curled up in DH's lap and they napped. While I convinced DS that we did not need to leave.

Storm finally ended. We had passed the dragon kiddie area as we came over and DD wanted to go back so we head over there. Oh, they have a water area for the kids to play in. Didn’t think to bring swim suits or a change of clothes. Didn’t want the kids to ride back to Kissimmee in soaked clothes so we bought them a swim suit from a little stand and they weren’t as outrageous as I was expecting. DD was dying to have a “kini” and her color is pink so she found a cute little white bikini with hula girls and pink trim and it had a little pink grass skirt with it. She thought she was the stuff. DS got some swim trunks for $14.00 and they say Busch Gardens on them. It was so funny. DH took him down to buy them and while DH was paying for them DS had stepped behind the counter and changed, right there…… …Oh my goodness… …..he was a little to overly excited to go play.

DH had been dying to ride the coasters but had wanted to stay with us and not stand in the long lines alone. The park had emptied quiet a bit as the storm had lasted for about an hour. So after watching the kids for a while and they are having a blast I suggest that he go ride a few of the coasters while they play, lines shouldn’t be to long. So off he goes. The kids rode the rides in the dragon area and played some more in the water. DS played in the climbing tower and fort. The bouncing pillow was closed as they were trying to dry it off. I had fun just watching them play.

DH came back shortly and said he had found the tigers so off we go in search of tigers. All I can say is, they were absolutely beautiful! We got great pictures. I think tigers are some of the most beautiful animals in the world.....love, love, love tigers! The rain had cooled it off so they were pretty active. We watched them and took pictures for about ½ an hour. Then we moved on to the Pirates 4-D ride – definitely not Disney! It was just okay. Nothing grand. DD thought it was horrible, getting a bucket of water in the face and bird pooo on your head.

After the movie she wanted to ride the carousel and then DH took DS on the little run away train type ride. We looked around some more. DS decides he wants to ride the sky buckets across the park. Yeah.....I really hate sky lifts and sky buckets. I have this horrible fear that they will fall off the cable. Off topic, but just a few weeks ago I was watching the news out of New York (we are planning a trip there and had been considering the Bronx zoo) and the buckets at the Bronx zoo got stuck around 4:00 PM and at 10/11 PM they were just getting those people out of the buckets.....unloading them from the buckets in the sky into a backet on a crane..........I would have died!!!!!!

The kids wanted to go back to dinoland. So I sent DH off to do the other three coasters. Think he was able to ride them all (all in different corners of the park) in under an hour. The kids and I looked at the birds and things as we walked back toward the dino area. They played some more. Soon it was closing time.

We had a blast at Busch Gardens, while the magic that is Disney is not there, it was a very fun day. I didn’t feel so much pressure to get everything done as there were lots of rides that the kids couldn’t do so it was a nice break. This is a huge park though and I would have liked to had another day there.

We head out and decide to get something to eat. I had spotted a Boston Market right next to a Burger King as we drove in……I love Boston Market and haven’t had any in so long. Asked DH to go through their drive thru so I can order something and I’ll take it in BK. Pull up to the drive thru and the lady says, “I just need to let you know we are completely out of all of our meat.” No Boston Market.

Tomorrow – Off day – relaxing, swimming, and DTD shopping!

 

[live4christp1]

Tuesday was our down day, recovery, rest, relaxation day. We spent several hours at the resort pool early in the day. Westgate has a ton of pools to choose from. After swimming we went for a game of mini golf on the resort course which is Dino themed. Everyone was getting hungry so we decide to head up to our room and have some lunch. Rested some more and just hung out. Waiting for evening to approach so the temps will drop somewhat.

Pretty good thunderstorm rolls in after we eat lunch. Did I tell you DS hates storms....he's almost as bad as a nervous dog when it comes to storms . Wants to know if there is going to be a hurricane, a tornado, do we have to go to DTD if it's storming.....on and on and on. It only lasted an hour or so though. I sat out on the balcony and napped while the kids played quietly inside.

Finally we can’t wait any longer and head out to DTD. As we are driving along, from the back seat DD says “mom, I saw cotton”. I’m thinking she is saying the clouds look like cotton candy. This really frustrates her that I can’t understand what she is talking about. After several attempts at telling me “cotton” she finally says, “the big ball – cotton”. Oh, “Epcot”. Gotta love her……Epcot translates “Cotton” because there is a big ball.

We do a little shopping in DTD. Not a lot as we have a few more days. We enjoy looking around. DD did decide to spend a chunk of her $$$ and bought the Jasmine outfit. It looks really cute on her but upon wearing it one time probably 1/3 of the sequins came off just from wear….you’d think for almost $70 they’d be a little more sturdy.

We enjoyed some delicious ice cream treats (not even going to attempt to spell the name of the place off the top of my head-you all know where I’m talking about) before heading back to our resort. DH and I have decided we don’t want to go back to the Best Western Lakeside for Friday and Saturday (not making that mistake again) so it looks like we will be heading for home on Friday instead of Sunday . Will have to consult the hours/plan chart and see what I need to do to adjust. We had planned only two more days in the parks so it’s not that big of a deal.

The day has been relaxing and enjoyable and hopefully everyone is recharged. We have decided it’s back to the MK tomorrow.

Trying to add the rest of this report.....maybe I procrastinated to long.