Sun, Shopping, Sand, Surf, Sweat & Shamu: A Splashin Summertime Sabbatical at SVR!

[pigletto]

Yes, we had a ball at the go-kart place . I was glad you forewarned us about the "tax" thing, though, or I will admit that would have annoyed me.

I am so glad you are enjoying your resort!! Did you have tickets to the Villains party? I hear that the event didn't go so well. You must be getting excited about MNSSHP! Its coming up so fast!

SeaWorld was awesome!!! We kicked off the day being selected as winners by the 50th anniversary Surprise Squad......we won VIP passes for all of us! Free all day dining passes, free reserved seating at the shows, free Quick Queue, free sea lion, dolphin and sting ray feeding, and all done with our personal guide (there was another family who also won the same prize, so we were a small group of 9). We stayed open to close, and are soooo weary tonight . I think we'll be taking tomorrow off to recuperate!

That's awesome Gina!!! What a great surprise!!!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

That's awesome Gina!!! What a great surprise!!!

I was soooo excited! The rest of my crew had no idea who the Surprise Squad was, but I recognized them immediately. When they approached us and said we were the "big winners of the day", I may have screamed just a little .

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

What a great treat to be picked. I love SW so this would have been awesome (although I haven't heard of this promotion either)

 

[Mysteria]

Yes, we had a ball at the go-kart place . I was glad you forewarned us about the "tax" thing, though, or I will admit that would have annoyed me.

I am so glad you are enjoying your resort!! Did you have tickets to the Villains party? I hear that the event didn't go so well. You must be getting excited about MNSSHP! Its coming up so fast!

SeaWorld was awesome!!! We kicked off the day being selected as winners by the 50th anniversary Surprise Squad......we won VIP passes for all of us! Free all day dining passes, free reserved seating at the shows, free Quick Queue, free sea lion, dolphin and sting ray feeding, and all done with our personal guide (there was another family who also won the same prize, so we were a small group of 9). We stayed open to close, and are soooo weary tonight . I think we'll be taking tomorrow off to recuperate!

How exciting!! Can't wait to read all about it.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

What a great treat to be picked. I love SW so this would have been awesome (although I haven't heard of this promotion either)

You can read all about the promotion here:

http://seaworld.com/en/celebration/sea-of-surprises/surprise-squad/

I think it goes until March 2015, but don't quote me on that.

How exciting!! Can't wait to read all about it.

I took 247 pictures during our SW visit yesterday . I can't wait to share some of them with you all!!

In other news, I met another Diser and his family today! We were enjoying a leisurely afternoon in the Fountains pool here at the Vistana, and they recognized us and came up said hello. So, a big shout out to The Fab Four.....what a delight to meet you guys in person!!! (and have a safe journey home ).

 

[dancin Disney style]

Wow Gina what an awesome thing to win. Even better since you are such big SW fans .

We are in Buffalo trying to sleep and worrying about my girls already.

Can we attempt to met up either Friday night or Saturday? I'll be a little incommunicado tomorrow until we get into the MGV but I'll check back in here at some point.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Wow Gina what an awesome thing to win. Even better since you are such big SW fans .

We are in Buffalo trying to sleep and worrying about my girls already.

Can we attempt to met up either Friday night or Saturday? I'll be a little incommunicado tomorrow until we get into the MGV but I'll check back in here at some point.

I have PM'd you, my friend! I have also PM'd Lynne G in the hopes that she could join us as well.

How exciting!!! A possible Dismeet! Look out, Orlando!

 

[The Fab Four]

You can read all about the promotion here:

http://seaworld.com/en/celebration/sea-of-surprises/surprise-squad/

I think it goes until March 2015, but don't quote me on that.



I took 247 pictures during our SW visit yesterday . I can't wait to share some of them with you all!!

In other news, I met another Diser and his family today! We were enjoying a leisurely afternoon in the Fountains pool here at the Vistana, and they recognized us and came up said hello. So, a big shout out to The Fab Four.....what a delight to meet you guys in person!!! (and have a safe journey home ).

Thanks Gina, it was great meeting you and your family also. The resort was everything you said it would be. Very relaxing after doing 6 theme parks in 5 days in 100+ degree heat and humidity. We just got home to NJ a few hours ago, always sad to see the vacation end but we were met at our door by our 2 cats so that helped to make coming home easier. Thanks for your advise about Downtown Disney, we went Thursday night and got there about 4PM, traffic wasn't bad and there was plenty of parking. That wasn't quite the same when we left after 8PM, it was total chaos. Disney should add this as one of their newest Thrill Rides, "Downtown Disney Parking Mayhem." Have a safe trip home tomorrow and we will be looking forward to future posts.

 

[pigletto]

I'm just stopping by to say hello and I'm sorry your trip is almost over. I bet it flew by.
The good news? You own at SVR and you can get to planning the next trip as soon as you get back! Looking forward to your trip details. Have a safe flight home!

 

[momof2n2]

Yes, we had a ball at the go-kart place . I was glad you forewarned us about the "tax" thing, though, or I will admit that would have annoyed me. I am so glad you are enjoying your resort!! Did you have tickets to the Villains party? I hear that the event didn't go so well. You must be getting excited about MNSSHP! Its coming up so fast! SeaWorld was awesome!!! We kicked off the day being selected as winners by the 50th anniversary Surprise Squad......we won VIP passes for all of us! Free all day dining passes, free reserved seating at the shows, free Quick Queue, free sea lion, dolphin and sting ray feeding, and all done with our personal guide (there was another family who also won the same prize, so we were a small group of 9). We stayed open to close, and are soooo weary tonight . I think we'll be taking tomorrow off to recuperate!

This is SO GREAT! What a treat. After all the people you've helped on this board this prize went to the right family!! I'm so happy to read this !!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

This is SO GREAT! What a treat. After all the people you've helped on this board this prize went to the right family!! I'm so happy to read this !!

Aw, thank you!!!

We did SeaWorld again today, had a rockin' good end to our vacation. Shamu's Light Up The Night was FANTASTIC and I am so glad we re-jigged the schedule to be able to go. I just adore that park. I really do.

I'm just stopping by to say hello and I'm sorry your trip is almost over. I bet it flew by.
The good news? You own at SVR and you can get to planning the next trip as soon as you get back! Looking forward to your trip details. Have a safe flight home!

I will admit to indulging in a few tears tonight over a glass of wine. I hate endings. Even though this trip was a full two weeks plus, it still didn't seem long or drawn out in the slightest. I could seriously stay forever.

Steve's comment was the same as yours....."at least we know we're coming back" . And you are both so right (my head knows it, my heart is just wanting me to feel a little sorry for myself tonight ). I can't wait to have a ticker in my signature again, so this week's mission is to book the next vacation (May 2015).

And now I get to enjoy hearing about YOUR trip in December while I whittle away my time until spring. I am so gosh-darn excited for you!!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Thanks Gina, it was great meeting you and your family also. The resort was everything you said it would be. Very relaxing after doing 6 theme parks in 5 days in 100+ degree heat and humidity. We just got home to NJ a few hours ago, always sad to see the vacation end but we were met at our door by our 2 cats so that helped to make coming home easier. Thanks for your advise about Downtown Disney, we went Thursday night and got there about 4PM, traffic wasn't bad and there was plenty of parking. That wasn't quite the same when we left after 8PM, it was total chaos. Disney should add this as one of their newest Thrill Rides, "Downtown Disney Parking Mayhem." Have a safe trip home tomorrow and we will be looking forward to future posts.

I am so glad you guys arrived home safe and sound. I, too, am looking forward to giving my wee kitty a great big Momma hug as soon as I walk in the door. She, my mom, and my brother are really the only things I miss from home.

I am also thrilled that you loved the Vistana . We had one more splash in the Fountains Pool this evening, and it was blissful. Definitely not looking forward to returning to our Northern chill tomorrow night. It was 107 with the humidity again today in Orlando!

We might give DTD a go tomorrow afternoon. We never did get Sweetie there over the past two weeks, and we have some time to kill before the rental needs to be back at 5:30 pm (since check-out is 10 am). The parking shouldn't be too bad when we're there so early.

Again, it was great to meet you and your adorable family!

The full trip report should hopefully get underway toward the end of the week.....just as soon as I get myself unburied from being away for more than two weeks!!!

 

[Lynne G]

Yes, we had a ball at the go-kart place . I was glad you forewarned us about the "tax" thing, though, or I will admit that would have annoyed me.

I am so glad you are enjoying your resort!! Did you have tickets to the Villains party? I hear that the event didn't go so well. You must be getting excited about MNSSHP! Its coming up so fast!

SeaWorld was awesome!!! We kicked off the day being selected as winners by the 50th anniversary Surprise Squad......we won VIP passes for all of us! Free all day dining passes, free reserved seating at the shows, free Quick Queue, free sea lion, dolphin and sting ray feeding, and all done with our personal guide (there was another family who also won the same prize, so we were a small group of 9). We stayed open to close, and are soooo weary tonight . I think we'll be taking tomorrow off to recuperate!

Yes, we also did the Villains party. It was very crowded and very unorganized. On the boat leaving at the end, a woman next to me said she was glad Disney had so many Guinea Pigs. If it happens again, we would probably would not go to orlando just for that. I am not sure we would go again at all.

Up tomorrow is the first mnsshp, and visiting the MK all week, we are getting excited seeing all the Halloween decorations going up. I hope it is less crowded than the Villains. For one, MK is a much bigger park. We also did the Frozen Party last night. Great treats, good seats and that although it was crowded, but very well organized, so that was a better hard ticket event for us.

I will say, we actually like the bands. They have worked well, and when DD lost hers on Space Mountain, they gave her one to use. We did not like the fast pass selection process and it was a pain to wait in line to make changes. The other thing I did not like was we park hopped frequently. You could not make fast pass ressies for two or more parks and you could only make ressies when you got to the second park, in that park, if you had used you first three already. Not much was left when we got to the second park.

 

[pigletto]

Aw, thank you!!!

We did SeaWorld again today, had a rockin' good end to our vacation. Shamu's Light Up The Night was FANTASTIC and I am so glad we re-jigged the schedule to be able to go. I just adore that park. I really do.



I will admit to indulging in a few tears tonight over a glass of wine. I hate endings. Even though this trip was a full two weeks plus, it still didn't seem long or drawn out in the slightest. I could seriously stay forever.

Steve's comment was the same as yours....."at least we know we're coming back" . And you are both so right (my head knows it, my heart is just wanting me to feel a little sorry for myself tonight ). I can't wait to have a ticker in my signature again, so this week's mission is to book the next vacation (May 2015).

And now I get to enjoy hearing about YOUR trip in December while I whittle away my time until spring. I am so gosh-darn excited for you!!

Awwww. I know that feeling well. We plan and plan and then it's over so quick. I think it's wonderful that you still aren't burnt out on vacation after two weeks though. It really makes it clear that you made a great decision buying into SVR.
It looks like you will be coming back to rain. I think it's a law that it has to rain on the first day of school. I can't remember many where it didn't.
We went to Disney in May a few years back. The weather was superb. It was still hot, but not as hot as the summer, and sunshine all day long.
Just think, by your next trip Jake will be done his first year of college! And I will be whining and weepy about my dd being just about ready to graduate and leave the nest. Big year for us my friend. We'll chat away the time and mark the milestones together while we plan our trips.

 

[tristyp]

Hi Gina:

I hope you and your family had a great trip and very safe travels back. I am really looking forward to reading all about your escapades

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Yes, we also did the Villains party. It was very crowded and very unorganized. On the boat leaving at the end, a woman next to me said she was glad Disney had so many Guinea Pigs. If it happens again, we would probably would not go to orlando just for that. I am not sure we would go again at all.

Up tomorrow is the first mnsshp, and visiting the MK all week, we are getting excited seeing all the Halloween decorations going up. I hope it is less crowded than the Villains. For one, MK is a much bigger park. We also did the Frozen Party last night. Great treats, good seats and that although it was crowded, but very well organized, so that was a better hard ticket event for us.

I will say, we actually like the bands. They have worked well, and when DD lost hers on Space Mountain, they gave her one to use. We did not like the fast pass selection process and it was a pain to wait in line to make changes. The other thing I did not like was we park hopped frequently. You could not make fast pass ressies for two or more parks and you could only make ressies when you got to the second park, in that park, if you had used you first three already. Not much was left when we got to the second park.

So sorry to hear that the Villians party was a bust . We were so close to buying tickets to that event.....so I am glad my frugal side overtook my live for the moment philosophy in this instance. Hopefully MNSSHP tonight will be awesome and amazing! Let me know how it goes .

Awwww. I know that feeling well. We plan and plan and then it's over so quick. I think it's wonderful that you still aren't burnt out on vacation after two weeks though. It really makes it clear that you made a great decision buying into SVR.
It looks like you will be coming back to rain. I think it's a law that it has to rain on the first day of school. I can't remember many where it didn't.
We went to Disney in May a few years back. The weather was superb. It was still hot, but not as hot as the summer, and sunshine all day long.
Just think, by your next trip Jake will be done his first year of college! And I will be whining and weepy about my dd being just about ready to graduate and leave the nest. Big year for us my friend. We'll chat away the time and mark the milestones together while we plan our trips.

I am feeling a little melancholy today. Back-to-school is tomorrow, but its so very different this year. No putting that kiddo on a bus in the morning, or dropping him off at the door of the school . The changes are all good changes, but still strange nonetheless. Couple that with the official end of summer, the end of our vacation, and this cloudy, dreary weather......yep, I am melancholy. I think I'll go for a walk later and see if a little fresh air doesn't give me a little pick-me-up. That, or I will call and book our next vacation.....that's a guaranteed mood enhancer right there .

Your trip is going to get here soooo fast!!!! The next few months are going to absolutely fly by . I am jealous that you have something so awesome to look forward to so soon while my next adventure is another 8 months away!

Hi Gina:

I hope you and your family had a great trip and very safe travels back. I am really looking forward to reading all about your escapades

Thank you! Stay tuned!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Well my friends, its over.

Our flight left Orlando on time last night at 7:30 pm, and we arrived back in Syracuse 20 minutes ahead of schedule . By the time we collected luggage, called the shuttle to take us back to the park and fly hotel, reloaded the luggage into the Journey (and man....was there a LOT of it!!!), and grabbed coffee at Tim Hortons, it was about 11 pm. We stopped once at the border for a bathroom break and to make our alcohol purchases at the Duty Free store, then were through customs in about 5 minutes. We pulled in the driveway at 1:40 am . Poor kitty needed a little lovin' (okay, a LOT of loving!) so we were in bed around 2:30.

Yep, we are tired today.

I am glad we chose to come straight home last night versus staying in Syracuse and making the drive in the morning. Once the journey home began, I just wanted to get here. It was nice to sleep in our own bed, wake up in our own rooms, shower in our own shower, and get right to the unpacking. And the drive last night was marvelous, with no traffic or construction or delays. Today, I am sure, would have been a much different story.

I hope to start the official trip report, with a zillion photos, later this week!

 

[ZehnJahren]

Glad you had such a great vacation and that you are home safe and sound. I'm looking forward to getting to read more about it when you start up a trip report. It was fun to see your updates as the trip went on!

 

[crazyfordisney2000]

I'm with you on the part, reality sucks!! But as they say, there's no place like home!!! Glad you had a safe trip home! I'm looking forward to your report!

 

[dennise]

So happy to hear your vacation turned out so well. I am back at looking towards the next vacation within 24 hours. By the way I finally booked our flight to Orlando for April 7, got a good price. Now to book a flight home. Still not sure if this is a 10,11 or 12 day trip.