TigerLilly's Mom
<font color=FF99FF>Victim of a drive-by tagging!
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2002
- Messages
- 1,471
Monday, March 1, 2004
At the last minute, the night before, we decided to visit Sea World today. We tried to go last summer, and it was a disaster. It was hot, crowded, and we didn't get anything done. Steve wanted to catch the HRH shuttle which left at 8:55am. I knew we should be there at 8:45 to buy tickets and be right at the gate. So, I woke up at 6:00, got showered, got the kids ready and got breakfast to bring back up to the room. It was 7:30. After Steve had showered it was 7:45. I suggested that instead of waiting over an hour for the HRH shuttle, we just grab a cab.
So, we did. It was $12, and we were there at about 8:40am.
Sea World is so pretty, and we really got to enjoy taking our time and looking at things. We headed over to Kraken first to get it out of the way. Steve rode with Chandler, and then I rode with him. It was an awesome coaster! Very smooth and lots of inversions. We waited about 5 minutes for the front row both times.
We then went to the Penguin encounter, I'm not sure what this was called, but we all loved it. We actually went through twice.
We make our way slowly around browsing in the shops and taking in the scenery. What a difference from the hot, miserable summer!! We go through the shark encounter right when it opens at 10:00am. This was what Chandler wanted to do most last time and we missed it. He really enjoyed it. We decided to try and eat here for lunch.
From here, we walked over to the Clyde and Seamore show. The kids loved this and it was very funny. I honestly think it is almost the same as when I was a kid. The mime in the beginning is so funnny too.
It is about 11:30, so we head over to the Underwater Grill for lunch. There was about a five minute wait and then we were seated. It is so cool to have lunch with the sharks swimming around. I would actually prefer to sit where we sat - it was the seats furthest away, but highest up and we had a great view and it was a very private booth. The floor seats right next to the tank were tables and they were all right on top of each other. Another thing I liked about this restuarant was that they had a Jr. Kids Menu for older ones. Chandler was able to order the Popcorn shrimp and it was a generous portion.
From here, we walked over to the area that had the Artic Expedition. This was a very long wait for us and I really think this needs to be refurbished. It is a very dated simulator ride, kind of like Star Tours in MGM. I definately wouldn't wait in line again for this. But, the Polar Bears at the end were cool. The ceiling when you enter looks like the night sky and Tatum said "Mom, is it night already!". She really thought that we were outside!
After this we headed over to the Key West Area that had the Dolphins, Sting Rays, and Turtles. We watched all these animals for a while, and fed the Sting Rays. It wasn't dolphin feeding time, but luckily we had done this last summer. We would have liked to have fed them again though.
We all debated on going on the Journey To Atlantis flume ride, but we decided we didn't want to get wet. We did some gift shopping and caught a cab back to the hotel.
The kids were ready for a swim and Steve and I were ready for a drink ,
so we headed to the pool, and a great time was had by all.
We decided to go to IOA for a few rides and some fun at Camp Jurassic. On the walk over, I talked Chandler into trying Dr. Doom with me. He said yes, so Steve and Tatum went on the Cat in the Hat, and Chandler and I did Dr. Doom. I think he was surprized at the sudden lift to the top (I did tell him about it, but it is still a bit shocking), but he enjoyed floating down a lot.
We met Steve and Tate at Port of Entry and did Cat and The Hat together as a family. Chandler and Tatum sat in the front together and had a great time giggling together. These kids are so close, it makes me happy. We only had about 20 minutes after this to do Camp Jurassic, so we ran over and enjoyed our last time there. Really, if anyone is going soon, make it a point to go to Camp Jurassic the 30 minutes or so before the park closes, it so fun, it feels like you are right in your own backyard on a warm summer night, playing before bedtime.
We decide that we want to eat at Margaritaville one last time, so we go over and they tell us it will be an hour
. We figure that everywhere will be that long, so we sit and wait. After a few minutes it becomes clear that the kids will not make it. We decide to head to The Kitchen back at the Hard Rock again. We go in and are seated next to a huge party. The crowd is loud and the music is louder and we are all just miserable. We ask our super waiter if we can sit at one of those peaceful tables outside, and he brings us right out. Ahhh, much better. Nobody is too hungry, except Chandler, so Steve, Tatum, and I get some appetizers to share. We get the 3 cheese pizza, some kind of asian rolls, and a combo platter that has lettuce chicken wraps, BBQ ribs and spring rollls. I loved everything except the Asian rolls, there was too much pickled ginger in them. The spring roll was sooooo good, and there was only one of them, which Steve and I shared. Chandler was hungry so he ordered the meatloaf dish. It came with carrots and mashed potatos. He loved it!
When the waiter came to pick up our plates, he asked who had helped Chandler finish the meatloaf because it was all gone. We told him that Chandler had eaten it all and he was shocked. He said he doesn't see most grownups finish that meal. Sometimes I feel bad for Chandler in this family, we are all tiny eaters and he is this big strapping boy who is always hungry. Often I will say, "But, Chandler, none of us are hungry". and he will say "But, Mom, You guys are never hungry!!". So, I try to be mindful that he just has a different appetite from us, and he is still a healthy boy.
We all head up to bed, sad because tomorrow we are leaving. I hate it when vacation comes to end!!
Here are some pictures from today: http://www.amazon.ofoto.com/ShareLa...t_signin=BrowsePhotos.jsp?showSlide=true&Ux=1
Stay tuned for our last day....
At the last minute, the night before, we decided to visit Sea World today. We tried to go last summer, and it was a disaster. It was hot, crowded, and we didn't get anything done. Steve wanted to catch the HRH shuttle which left at 8:55am. I knew we should be there at 8:45 to buy tickets and be right at the gate. So, I woke up at 6:00, got showered, got the kids ready and got breakfast to bring back up to the room. It was 7:30. After Steve had showered it was 7:45. I suggested that instead of waiting over an hour for the HRH shuttle, we just grab a cab.
So, we did. It was $12, and we were there at about 8:40am.Sea World is so pretty, and we really got to enjoy taking our time and looking at things. We headed over to Kraken first to get it out of the way. Steve rode with Chandler, and then I rode with him. It was an awesome coaster! Very smooth and lots of inversions. We waited about 5 minutes for the front row both times.
We then went to the Penguin encounter, I'm not sure what this was called, but we all loved it. We actually went through twice.
We make our way slowly around browsing in the shops and taking in the scenery. What a difference from the hot, miserable summer!! We go through the shark encounter right when it opens at 10:00am. This was what Chandler wanted to do most last time and we missed it. He really enjoyed it. We decided to try and eat here for lunch.
From here, we walked over to the Clyde and Seamore show. The kids loved this and it was very funny. I honestly think it is almost the same as when I was a kid. The mime in the beginning is so funnny too.
It is about 11:30, so we head over to the Underwater Grill for lunch. There was about a five minute wait and then we were seated. It is so cool to have lunch with the sharks swimming around. I would actually prefer to sit where we sat - it was the seats furthest away, but highest up and we had a great view and it was a very private booth. The floor seats right next to the tank were tables and they were all right on top of each other. Another thing I liked about this restuarant was that they had a Jr. Kids Menu for older ones. Chandler was able to order the Popcorn shrimp and it was a generous portion.
From here, we walked over to the area that had the Artic Expedition. This was a very long wait for us and I really think this needs to be refurbished. It is a very dated simulator ride, kind of like Star Tours in MGM. I definately wouldn't wait in line again for this. But, the Polar Bears at the end were cool. The ceiling when you enter looks like the night sky and Tatum said "Mom, is it night already!". She really thought that we were outside!
After this we headed over to the Key West Area that had the Dolphins, Sting Rays, and Turtles. We watched all these animals for a while, and fed the Sting Rays. It wasn't dolphin feeding time, but luckily we had done this last summer. We would have liked to have fed them again though.
We all debated on going on the Journey To Atlantis flume ride, but we decided we didn't want to get wet. We did some gift shopping and caught a cab back to the hotel.
The kids were ready for a swim and Steve and I were ready for a drink ,
so we headed to the pool, and a great time was had by all. We decided to go to IOA for a few rides and some fun at Camp Jurassic. On the walk over, I talked Chandler into trying Dr. Doom with me. He said yes, so Steve and Tatum went on the Cat in the Hat, and Chandler and I did Dr. Doom. I think he was surprized at the sudden lift to the top (I did tell him about it, but it is still a bit shocking), but he enjoyed floating down a lot.
We met Steve and Tate at Port of Entry and did Cat and The Hat together as a family. Chandler and Tatum sat in the front together and had a great time giggling together. These kids are so close, it makes me happy. We only had about 20 minutes after this to do Camp Jurassic, so we ran over and enjoyed our last time there. Really, if anyone is going soon, make it a point to go to Camp Jurassic the 30 minutes or so before the park closes, it so fun, it feels like you are right in your own backyard on a warm summer night, playing before bedtime.
We decide that we want to eat at Margaritaville one last time, so we go over and they tell us it will be an hour
. We figure that everywhere will be that long, so we sit and wait. After a few minutes it becomes clear that the kids will not make it. We decide to head to The Kitchen back at the Hard Rock again. We go in and are seated next to a huge party. The crowd is loud and the music is louder and we are all just miserable. We ask our super waiter if we can sit at one of those peaceful tables outside, and he brings us right out. Ahhh, much better. Nobody is too hungry, except Chandler, so Steve, Tatum, and I get some appetizers to share. We get the 3 cheese pizza, some kind of asian rolls, and a combo platter that has lettuce chicken wraps, BBQ ribs and spring rollls. I loved everything except the Asian rolls, there was too much pickled ginger in them. The spring roll was sooooo good, and there was only one of them, which Steve and I shared. Chandler was hungry so he ordered the meatloaf dish. It came with carrots and mashed potatos. He loved it!When the waiter came to pick up our plates, he asked who had helped Chandler finish the meatloaf because it was all gone. We told him that Chandler had eaten it all and he was shocked. He said he doesn't see most grownups finish that meal. Sometimes I feel bad for Chandler in this family, we are all tiny eaters and he is this big strapping boy who is always hungry. Often I will say, "But, Chandler, none of us are hungry". and he will say "But, Mom, You guys are never hungry!!". So, I try to be mindful that he just has a different appetite from us, and he is still a healthy boy.
We all head up to bed, sad because tomorrow we are leaving. I hate it when vacation comes to end!!
Here are some pictures from today: http://www.amazon.ofoto.com/ShareLa...t_signin=BrowsePhotos.jsp?showSlide=true&Ux=1
Stay tuned for our last day....
