Welcome, Foolish Muggles! IoA/US/MK/SW *July 2013 Trip Report Link*

[natebenma]

I showed this beautiful shell building in my Food Porn Post. This area hosts a restaurant, viewing windows and an acrylic tunnel offering views of a variety of sharks, sawfish, barracuda, tarpon and other reef creatures.

When you first enter the building and look up at the ceiling, there are beautiful paintings on the dome.

After you descend a set of stairs, there is a tank displaying spotted rays and a few viewing windows:

Then, around the corner, is the Predator Tunnel. We didn’t spend quite as much time here on this trip as we did the last time. In 2009, this was closer to our room at the Beach Towers so sometimes when we were coming or going to the waterpark, we would take this route.

We found that this tank, and some of the others, had more algae problems than in our past visit. I am assuming that is was at least partly due to the weather conditions in February vs. April.


Tunnel:

I love how these pictures look like the sharks are in the sky:

Sawfish:

Great Barracuda:

After exiting the tunnel, there are more viewing windows with Goliath Groupers, lobsters, tarpon and some other fish, but I don't really have decent pictures of these from this trip.


Next Up: Paradise Lagoon

 

[jenseib]

I have a picture of that ceiling too! This area I do remember.

Let's see, you have already been to some placesI neeed to go, so you just stay home and I'll keep traveling to catch up. LOL OR I should send you off to some dream places, with hopes the stars aline and I can follow!

 

[taymorel]

Thanks for all the tips on touring Universal and Islands of Adventure. We are going there next year and your report has helped my planning so much.

I have got to figure out all those walking shortcuts you took!

 

[natebenma]

I have a picture of that ceiling too! This area I do remember.

Let's see, you have already been to some placesI neeed to go, so you just stay home and I'll keep traveling to catch up. LOL OR I should send you off to some dream places, with hopes the stars aline and I can follow!

How about Hawaii or the South Pacific? I'm game for trying those out if you are!

Thanks for all the tips on touring Universal and Islands of Adventure. We are going there next year and your report has helped my planning so much.

I have got to figure out all those walking shortcuts you took!

You are very welcome! I am so glad you enjoyed the report. I thought that approaching it as a Disney visitor in a newbie environment would be helpful.

Where are you staying?

I can post the Portofino shortcut if you are staying there.

 

[MEK]

.

I LOVE this picture! Nicely done.

I am all caught up and went back and read more about the food. Some of your meals do look yummy. I love that you will be going around Disney saying, "Do you know how much this would cost in Atlantis?" That is too funny. Hope you have a wonderful trip. I am leaving next week so maybe I will use your line if my DH complains about food prices.

Atlantis really does look like a beautiful place and the Dig site looks amazing. I did not know that bridge hotel room was $25K a night, although I knew it was pretty pricey. But WOW!

 

[HockeyMomR]

Shark ceiling pics are wonderful. Beautiful predator pictures too. Love the predator sign warning no beach access....large teeth.

Yes, wow the helmets fit better in your recent pictures, kids do grow so quickly. It is fun to see the change documented in this way.

Enjoy your trip, will look forward to your report!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Aw Dee, Ben looks like a wee dote as we Irish like to say in his "young throne" pics but very much the handsome lad now! Thought I'd better redeem myself in case he's reading this (wee dote might just sound too mumsy).
Love the flying shark pictures-did you plan them or did you get a surprise when you developed them? I often take pictures where I'm so busy concentrating on the main subject I dont fully look at the whole picture and then get pleasantly surprised
Ilaughed when I saw the photo of Nate and Mark walking through the tunnel-Nate has perfected the teenage way of walking (arms folded like I'm so cool I'm here to please the parents)

 

[natebenma]

I LOVE this picture! Nicely done.

I am all caught up and went back and read more about the food. Some of your meals do look yummy. I love that you will be going around Disney saying, "Do you know how much this would cost in Atlantis?" That is too funny. Hope you have a wonderful trip. I am leaving next week so maybe I will use your line if my DH complains about food prices.

Atlantis really does look like a beautiful place and the Dig site looks amazing. I did not know that bridge hotel room was $25K a night, although I knew it was pretty pricey. But WOW!

Thanks! I love that picture too. It is cool that you can look up through the tank at certain places into the Atlantis grounds.

I am sorry I have not been involved in your TRs or pretrippies, but I plan to get in on the ground floor of your report for your upcoming visit! Have a fantastic trip!!!

Shark ceiling pics are wonderful. Beautiful predator pictures too. Love the predator sign warning no beach access....large teeth.

Yes, wow the helmets fit better in your recent pictures, kids do grow so quickly. It is fun to see the change documented in this way.

Enjoy your trip, will look forward to your report!

Sharks are such beautiful creatures. Sleek. Powerful. They are one of Ben's favorite animals and I think "Shark" was one of Ben's first 5 words when he started talking.

It is fun to see the changes in the boys. I especially like the change in Nate's hair.

Aw Dee, Ben looks like a wee dote as we Irish like to say in his "young throne" pics but very much the handsome lad now! Thought I'd better redeem myself in case he's reading this (wee dote might just sound too mumsy).
Love the flying shark pictures-did you plan them or did you get a surprise when you developed them? I often take pictures where I'm so busy concentrating on the main subject I dont fully look at the whole picture and then get pleasantly surprised
Ilaughed when I saw the photo of Nate and Mark walking through the tunnel-Nate has perfected the teenage way of walking (arms folded like I'm so cool I'm here to please the parents)

Ben is definitely starting to look more mature now.

Nate is a teen alright!

I couldn't remember if I intentionally framed the shark photos, but I checked and one of them (the first one) is actually Ben's photo. We used 3 cameras to film this vacation- My Panasonic Lumix, my Olympus and Ben had a Samsung. I have all of the pictures uploaded together.

I think I just took that second picture and the shark happeded to be in the right place at the right time. We have a few of these from the previous trip, too.

 

[natebenma]

Well it looks like this is it folks! I had hoped to finish up the Atlantis trip before I headed off to Florida, but I still have 5-6 updates to go, and the To Do list I have for today is pretty long...

Like packing.

I'll get back to this when I can, but I have a feeling the Disney TR will take precedence for the next several weeks!

Practice sessions for the trip are done/in process:

Friday I chaperoned a field trip to Boston with 160 5th graders- note for future trips- don't forget ear phones/plugs- 11 year old girls like to scream/sing pop songs ALL THE WAY TO THE FIELD TRIP DESTINATION!!!

I currently have 4 13 year olds asleep on my family room floor and 2 11 year olds upstairs asleep. Just because.

Had my first trip nightmare last night- I dreamed I missed the bus taking us to the airport and I couldn't get in touch with anyone to let them know I was on the way.

So it looks like it is time to "Storm the Castle"

Talk to you when I get back!

Dee

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Have a brilliant trip Dee
We will all be here waiting for all the details on your return
Good luck

 

[JanetMom]

Love that you dug up the pictures from the previous trip. You must be feeding your kids something nutritious occasionally, because they are clearly growing!

Have fun this week. Looking forward to your report. Try to bring back lots of pictures that illustrate the "moooommmmm" expression you will no doubt be seeing. I'm guessing you will also see a few fleeting proud expressions when you wow the group with your unlimited list of Dis tips and tricks.

 

[DrMomof3]

I LOVE your shark pictures!!! That looks awesome!

I hope you have a wonderful trip to Disney! I agree that an alcohol-free trip with a bunch of teenagers is still better than a day at home.

Amanda

 

[jenseib]

Have fun!!!

 

[momabaarjo]

Late to the party...how did I not know you had an active TR/PTR going? Have fun on the 8th grade trip...

 

[natebenma]

Have a brilliant trip Dee
We will all be here waiting for all the details on your return
Good luck

Thanks!!!

The ideas for the TR are already mulling around in my mind.

My DH asked- "Are you going to write a report for this trip?" DUH!!!

But I'll have to be careful with pictures and names- don't want to post about other kids on the trip.

I think I mentioned earlier- the names will be changed to protect the guilty.

Love that you dug up the pictures from the previous trip. You must be feeding your kids something nutritious occasionally, because they are clearly growing!

Have fun this week. Looking forward to your report. Try to bring back lots of pictures that illustrate the "moooommmmm" expression you will no doubt be seeing. I'm guessing you will also see a few fleeting proud expressions when you wow the group with your unlimited list of Dis tips and tricks.

As you know, it is fun to compare pictures from previous trips. I'm glad we have a few of the same pics from the former trip.

I LOVE your shark pictures!!! That looks awesome!

I hope you have a wonderful trip to Disney! I agree that an alcohol-free trip with a bunch of teenagers is still better than a day at home.

Amanda

Thanks! Getting excited! But I'm at the point where the things I want to do before the trip will take more time than I have!

Have fun!!!

Thank you!

Late to the party...how did I not know you had an active TR/PTR going? Have fun on the 8th grade trip...

Well, in your defense- the main TR was from this summer's trip and I have just been extending it with our spring travel (Puerto Rico and Atlantis).

I haven't done a formal pre-trip report for the class trip, but folks here know the details because I have been chatting about it in this report and on the Beach Club board.

I just tried replying to your TR, but my post is frozen. Weird!

 

[Queila]

Have a wonderful trip Dee.
Cannot wait to hear all about it.

Q

 

[MHTeacher]

Love "walking" around Atlantis with you!

Hope you have a great trip with all the kids! Can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Wow I haven't been here in a while!
Love all the pics!!! Why can't teenage boys be more cooperative when you want pictures of them!!?? My DS15 (his b-day was yesterday) is the same way. And my DH says the same thing to him too

I can't believe the Disney trip is already here! Hope you are having a fabulous time!

 

[Missyrose]

I hope you (and all your teenagers) are having so much FUN!!!! Have a Mickey bar for me!

Can't wait to hear all about it when you get back.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I hope that you and the teenagers are having a fantastic time! I can't wait to hear how the trip went.