Walking on Sunshine : Celebrating Spring at Universal & SeaWorld - an April/May 2016 PTR

[pigletto]

So close!!!!!!!!!!!!! 10 more sleeps for me Gina, and only FOUR for you!!!

I'm so excited I can barely stand it! It's been over a year since Orlando (Universal trip last March) and a year and half since Disney. I am so ready!!!

 

[pattyw]

Have a great trip, Gina! Can't wait to hear about your new adventures!

 

[samheatherwhite]

Have a great trip!
We had also heard to pick the hairiest, ugliest oyster and it worked out really well for us. We did ours in Epcot and my daughter got the largest pearl of the day and my sister lucked into an oyster that had two similar sized pearls in it. She was able to make a really nice pair of pearl earrings.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

This is so true but it is often hard to accept gifts for me too. I always want to be the giver but to be honest I do love getting gifts too I wanted to do the pick a pearl at Disney back in 2009 and never got around to it, so I am happy to see Universal has that option too! I must know where it is?? LOL Anyone?

I hemmed and hawed over doing SW but we are skipping Sea World this time I really wanted to go but we decided to splurge for a one night stay at RPR for express pass for 2 days at almost a $600 savings! So even though we have the time share, it'll be worth it since we are unsure how busy it'll be the week of Memorial Day. Maybe we'll do a trip down to see FIL sometime and just do SW and not Disney or Universal he lives down in Venice.

I can't wait to read your trip report!!

I think a LOT of moms have trouble being good receivers. By design, mothers in particulars are generally natural givers....so "taking" something becomes very un-routine. I know even my own mom, who is well into her 70's, laments that she feels bad if we do something special for her or bring her something she wasn't expecting for no particular reason. Even though she has reached the age where she SHOULD be pampered by the people that love her, it just is a very unnatural feeling.

According to this link:

http://www.pearl-factory.com/store-locations

there is a Pearl Factory at the Studios, IOA *and* at City Walk. You should totally to it on your next trip! If you do, be sure you come back and post your setting here for us all to see!

If your budget will allow for it, try to pick up the SeaWorld AP's when they are offered buy one, get one free on Black Friday weekend. That would make it very affordable for your family, especially if you can get more than one visit from the passes . The SeaWorld parks are so much fun, I think your crew would really enjoy them. Discovery Cove too......it's unbelievably fantastic!

Yup can't wait to see how many minions make their way North

LOL, much as I have big minion dreams, there are only so many we can cram into the luggage. So I am hoping for one or two. Any more and we will have (another) packing crisis on departure day .

So close!!!!!!!!!!!!! 10 more sleeps for me Gina, and only FOUR for you!!!

I'm so excited I can barely stand it! It's been over a year since Orlando (Universal trip last March) and a year and half since Disney. I am so ready!!!

Which reminds me....I have to PM you my cell number! We are at the Jays/Rays game in St. Petersburg on the 30th (which is the day your arrive, correct?) and then move over to the Residence Inn SeaWorld on the 1st. Hopefully we can catch up with you for a drink and a hello after our park days have both ended!

Have you seen the weather forecast so far? It's looking sah-weet! https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/Orlando+FL+USFL0372:1:US

Fingers crossed it doesn't change!

Have a great trip, Gina! Can't wait to hear about your new adventures!

Thank you pattyw! I can hardly believe we're on the final countdown .

Have a great trip!
We had also heard to pick the hairiest, ugliest oyster and it worked out really well for us. We did ours in Epcot and my daughter got the largest pearl of the day and my sister lucked into an oyster that had two similar sized pearls in it. She was able to make a really nice pair of pearl earrings.

Hairy and ugly it shall be!! (oh, that sounded worse than I intended it to )

I wonder if they will clean out the oyster shell and let you keep that, too?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Some fun news from a friend today that pertains to our Krispy Kreme addiction......April 28th is National Superhero Day, and they are celebrating with a buy one dozen, get one free promotion. I guess its easy to figure out where we will be that evening!

http://investor.krispykreme.com/pre...cial-Offer-and-Super-Sweepstakes/default.aspx

The first person to mention anything about the calories associated with this little indulgence should run .

 

[pattyw]

Hairy and ugly it shall be!! (oh, that sounded worse than I intended it to )

Go for it @dancin Disney style

 

[dancin Disney style]

So close!!!!!!!!!!!!! 10 more sleeps for me Gina, and only FOUR for you!!!

That's just cruel and unusual punishment for the rest of us

Hairy and ugly it shall be!! (oh, that sounded worse than I intended it to )

Orlando is just too warm for a wool sweater in April

 

[dancin Disney style]

The first person to mention anything about the calories associated with this little indulgence should run .

Pay back time.....



catch me if you can

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

That's just cruel and unusual punishment for the rest of us


Orlando is just too warm for a wool sweater in April
View attachment 163126

Oh, my eyes . I can't unsee that!!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Pay back time.....
View attachment 163127


catch me if you can
View attachment 163128

That was SO mean!!!

 

[jennasmommyinMS]

To cheer you up for that calorie post, here's a little Krispy Kreme tip! When you're in your condo, put a couple of donuts on a little plate and put them in the microwave for a few seconds--all of a sudden, they turn into "Hot Donuts Now," and they'll just melt in your mouth. Then you won't worry about any silly calories!

 

[Callie]

Now I'm craving a hot krispy kreme! So good! They also freeze well...if you think about transporting them.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Have a great trip Gina, hope the last four days of prep go well!

 

[Lynne G]

And we're down to 3. That's so exciting. Have an awesome trip.

 

[bankr63]

catch me if you can
View attachment 163128

Speaking of hairy and ugly, you really should do something about those ankles Dancin'


Hooray for 3-days, Gina. Are you feeling ?

 

[jvars]

See my response on the Vistana thread, but IIRC the VIP checkin at SVR is on the up and up...

We had VIP check in last year and yes indeed it did save time! They indicated it was to give owners a little extra attention. 2 weeks until our next trip and so far no email about using the VIP this year so possibly it is not every year and just random selection? :-(

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

To cheer you up for that calorie post, here's a little Krispy Kreme tip! When you're in your condo, put a couple of donuts on a little plate and put them in the microwave for a few seconds--all of a sudden, they turn into "Hot Donuts Now," and they'll just melt in your mouth. Then you won't worry about any silly calories!

I like the way you think. Anything we can do to reduce the amount of calories in our favourite foods is right up our alley .

Now I'm craving a hot krispy kreme! So good! They also freeze well...if you think about transporting them.

I suggested we freeze one dozen and bring them home to my mom, but apparently my Steve thought considered that a preposterous idea. He thinks that the three of us could easily polish off both boxes while they are still fresh . He's apparently gone crazy.

Have a great trip Gina, hope the last four days of prep go well!

Thanks, my friend. I am skipping the pool tonight and dedicating my time to packing after I'm done at my hair appointment. It's time to get serious!

And we're down to 3. That's so exciting. Have an awesome trip.

Thanks Lynne. My last couple of work days are super busy so I have a feeling that the rest of this week will FLY.

Speaking of hairy and ugly, you really should do something about those ankles Dancin'


Hooray for 3-days, Gina. Are you feeling ?

Well, we got a bit of troubling news at noon, so that's definitely weighing on us a bit. Steve's grandfather fell and broke his hip today, and was being taken by ambulance to the hospital for emergency surgery. He is 92 and in frail-ish health (I suppose that's not a surprise for a 92 year old....he has a sharp mind and a fiesty spirit, but definitely old age has taken its toll on his body). Things like these tend to often spell the worst for our beloved older loved ones, so I think everyone is rather worried. I would hate for anything to happen to him before we leave or while we are away. We're definitely saying lots of prayers as we wait for more news.

We had VIP check in last year and yes indeed it did save time! They indicated it was to give owners a little extra attention. 2 weeks until our next trip and so far no email about using the VIP this year so possibly it is not every year and just random selection? :-(

Take heart, we just got our email from the VIP concierge last Saturday (8 days before our arrival). You may just get your yet! Great to hear the positive feedback from someone who has experienced it very recently.....it sounds like it has the potential to be a really nice feature!!

 

[JenLanDisney]

Sorry to hear about the fall and broken hip, Gina. It is remarkable that Steve still has a grandparent. We are around the same age and lost all of ours years ago.

 

[goofygal531]

Gina,

I'm sorry to hear about the broken hip. He sounds like a fighter, I hope he heals well. Sending you prayer.

I have two questions for you:

1) Best outlets? This is the first time we'll have a rental car and I'm dying to go to the Character warehouse. But which location? Also, Nike Clearance vs. Nike Outlet what's the difference? My boys want to visit Nike.

2) we arrive Saturday. Forecast is calling for 60's in the evenings, is that chilly and breezy? That's 60's here in NYC! Don't know what to pack for the evenings? Next week is calling for 90's during the day. I much prefer traveling in the summer when it's hot, hotter and crazy hot! ;-)

Loving your Pre Trip excitement!
Mare

 

[Callie]

Gina sending my best wishes for Steve's grandfather. My grandma fell and broke her hip when I was 8ish, and it was rough. She was late 70's at the time I'd say. Thankfully she was able to be operated on, and recovered decently for her age. Wasn't able to get around as well.
Sadly, she fell again when she was 90, almost 91. She sadly passed away about two weeks later, but it wasn't from the broken hip. Not sure they could have operated on her with her health. She pretty much sadly had given up, and stopped taking her heart medicine and died from the heart attack. So hearing of other people's grandparents breaking their hips brings back bad memories Hopefully his dad is strong, and can recover.