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

[rusty4]

Loving it. It seems so relaxing and beautiful.

 

[HockeyMomR]

Dee - First - congrats on your return to your BC home!!! How exciting. Yes, I know the story of missing Robyn. It happened several times, even a couple thinking we had a plan! Don't know what we are doing for Connor's graduation trip. Of course I would love Disney, but waiting for Connor to choose. We will be vacationing somewhere July 13 - 21.

Love the animal pictures. As an animal lover, agree with you regarding the question of treatment of the photographed animals. That baby leapard (?) is so cute.

 

[natebenma]

Loving it. It seems so relaxing and beautiful.

The resort is relaxing and beautiful. I know that is something you are looking for...

However, my next update will kick up the action a notch or so- some truly death-defying activities!

Dee - First - congrats on your return to your BC home!!! How exciting. Yes, I know the story of missing Robyn. It happened several times, even a couple thinking we had a plan! Don't know what we are doing for Connor's graduation trip. Of course I would love Disney, but waiting for Connor to choose. We will be vacationing somewhere July 13 - 21.

Love the animal pictures. As an animal lover, agree with you regarding the question of treatment of the photographed animals. That baby leapard (?) is so cute.

It has been 3 years since I have been at the Beach Club! I can't wait to get back. I'll be having dinner with Teena one night while we are there.

July 13-21, huh?

Robyn's trip is June 29-15. I'm there July 16-20. (we are doing US/IoA first)

Let us know if Connor picks Disney!!!

Yes, the baby leopard was really cute. I hope he or she is treated well. I forgot to add that my kids think it is hilarious that I took contraband photos. Nate tried to get one of the leopard later that morning, but they told him no. Then when we saw animals, my boys would pretend to pose, and I would pretend to take pictures of them, to get the prohibited pictures!

Adding that to my report now.

 

[JanetMom]

Bonus Nature Post- The Land and Soarin

"Wildlife abounds at the mighty Barceló"- as quoted by a member of the UBM board

First off- my apologies to anyone who is coming here expecting something completely different (and Disney-related). This Land and Soarin update pertains to critters that walk on the land and birds that are soarin in the sky.

Iguanas

Okay, that teaser was slightly unfair. Yes, you were accurate, but I was expecting some parasailing! However, it was still a fine update!

The iguanas freak me out a bit. I'd be fascinated by them and constantly on the lookout, but cautious and scared of them at the same time. Do they come up to the people? Are they more like a Disney pool duck, or a timid Disney rabbit?

 

[natebenma]

Okay, that teaser was slightly unfair. Yes, you were accurate, but I was expecting some parasailing! However, it was still a fine update!

The iguanas freak me out a bit. I'd be fascinated by them and constantly on the lookout, but cautious and scared of them at the same time. Do they come up to the people? Are they more like a Disney pool duck, or a timid Disney rabbit?

Sorry, no actual soarin' in this update, but I promise you some serious soarin' in the next one.

I would compare the iguanas more to the alligator that was hanging out by the BCV quiet pool.

They don't really come up to people, but they hold their ground until you get pretty close. When I approached them for a close-up picture, they hid in a nearby hole. The picture of the head popping up is the iguana checking to see if it was "all clear" and safe to come back out.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Love that the rebel in you got your kids in on the act to take some "forbidden" pics Way to go Dee!

 

[natebenma]

Love that the rebel in you got your kids in on the act to take some "forbidden" pics Way to go Dee!

Yup, I corrupt 'em young!!!



I didn't manage to get the two-fer, though (taking Nate's picture without permission while pretending to take pictures of the animals)

 

[HockeyMomR]

Dee - I will certainly let you know if Connor picks Disney. I could possibly meet both you and Robyn. Wow! Lucky you dinner with Teena planned!

Rebecca

 

[JanetMom]

Yup, I corrupt 'em young!!!



I didn't manage to get the two-fer, though (taking Nate's picture without permission while pretending to take pictures of the animals)

That would have been a true score. I hope you will attempt to achieve this goal on your next trip to WDW.

 

[natebenma]

That would have been a true score. I hope you will attempt to achieve this goal on your next trip to WDW.

I did get a couple of stealth photos of the boy in Mexico, and even one of him reading (taken with a long zoom), so I am not complaining!

 

[natebenma]

Dee - I will certainly let you know if Connor picks Disney. I could possibly meet both you and Robyn. Wow! Lucky you dinner with Teena planned!

Rebecca

That would be cool!

You did finally meet Robyn on one trip, didn't you?

I am so excited to see Teena! The only time I have visited with her in person was during our first trip to the Beach Club in 2009. She was out in Vegas during our 2010 trip and we were not able to hook up while I was at "The Dark Side" in 2011 or on the middle school class trip last June. It has been way too long!

 

[natebenma]

Time to Xplor (and Soar)

On Monday, our second full day of the trip, we spent the day at Xplor Zipline and Adventure Park. We really enjoyed our day there in 2011 and again this year.

This is an all-inclusive adventure park featuring 2 separate zip-line circuits (a total of 14 different ziplines, 3 with splashdown), a water slide, two trails where your family can drive amphibious vehicles through caverns, over bridges and through puddles, and cenotes (water-caverns full of stalagtites and stalagmites) that you can swim and raft through. Throughout the park, there are drink stations with unlimited fruit drinks and a delicious buffet lunch is included in the entry price. Lockers are also provided for each bag that you bring. There is a chip in each of the helmets triggering cameras that take your picture during the activities.

I love the organization of this place!


We walked from the resort out to the highway around 8:15. Within just a minute or so, a colectivo (the local transportation) approached and flashed its headlights. I held up my fingers signaling we needed 4 seats, and the van pulled over. We told the driver our destination. The cost was $3 per person. A taxi from our resort would probably be about $20 each way.

We arrived shortly before opening, filled out paperwork, got our helmets and we were on our way.

The activities are all accessed by trails radiating out from the home base or heart of Xplor:

We started with the zipline courses.

Last time we were here, I was amused by the inspection certificate, which had both a spelling and grammatical error:

I was pleased to see the sign had been corrected since our last visit!

There are two circuits: Jaguar and Deer. I think there are around 14 different drops, including 3 splashdowns and there is also a waterslide on the course. You zipline over a pen of jaquars and a pen of crocodiles on one of the ziplines.

Here are some pictures from the ziplining:

Splashdown!

Cheating on this picture- it is from our 2011 trip

Continued in Next Post

 

[natebenma]

Xplor, Continued From Previous Post

When we finished the two zip-line courses, since we were wet from the splashdowns and water slide, we decided we would go to the cenote swim.

I had filled up the memory card on my camera during the ziplining and I didnt want to put a new card in my camera while it was wet, so we stashed it in the locker. The rest of the pictures I have are from Xplors cameras. I purchased the memory stick for $124. It included all of the pictures from our ziplining, cavern swim, ATV ride and another series of ziplining. I think a total of about 50 pictures of us. It also includes some beautiful stock photos and videos.

It is a LONG walk over to the cenote swim/rafting, at least 15 minutes through picturesque caverns. Then the 20-30 minute swim. And another 15 minute walk back to the "heart". Visit the restrooms before heading on this part of your adventure!!!

We did the long swim, about 20 mintues. We saw bats flying around and hanging from the ceiling. Pretty cool, as long as they didnt get too close to us.

We chose not to do the rafting through the cenote- we did it last time and the rafts were really difficult to operate with the hand paddles they give you.

After the swim, we headed to lunch.

Unfortunately, I didnt have my camera at lunch, so I dont have pictures of the yummy food and drink at the buffet, but I do have Xplor buffet pictures in my 2011 report.

Xplor, 2011 "Don't Look Down!"

After lunch, we did one of the ATV tours, a 30 minute course through caverns, over a bridge, through the forest.

There were a few differences from last time we did this. In 2011, most of the vehicles only carried two people and only a few had seats for four, so we had to split up. This time, all of the vehicles sat 4. Also, this time we all went as a group in caravan fashion when before I think once we were loaded, we could start driving.

Ben called "Shotgun!"

The most notable thing about this part of our day: the two guys who were ahead of us. The Road Bros

As we approached this bridge

The guys jeep had hit the left side of the bridge, blocking us, and they couldnt figure out how to back up.

Finally, the people bunched up behind us all shouted instructions Turn the wheel to the RIGHT and they were able to get moving again.

Later in the trip, they almost hit the side of a cavern.

Near the end of the drive, we rounded a corner and somehow they had managed to hit a stump on the side of the trail, and now could not move their vehicle. Again, we were blocked. My husband was going to get out to help, but they didnt even shut off the car when they were trying to pull it out and there was no way it was safe for him to get in front of or behind the vehicle when they were driving.

Someone from Xplor came to free them.

Were they done? Nope, a little further down the road they drove up on a curb.

There was one more ATV trail we could have done, but we decided to skip that and go back to do the two zipline courses again.


When we were done, we changed into dry clothes, stashed our wet things into an XL Ziploc bag, checked out the gift shop where Ben purchased a t-shirt and I bought the photos.

We crossed the highway and almost immediately an empty colectivo pulled up and transported us back to the Barcelo.

What a great day!!!

 

[jenseib]

This sounds like a lot of fun, but kind of scary too. Neat to see another family doing it though!

 

[DrMomof3]

What a fun day!!!
There are bad drivers everywhere, huh?

Amanda

 

[MEK]

That looks and sounds seriously cool. Love all the pictures.

The guys in the jeep ahead of you - not cool! But, I should not laugh because that would probably me.

Definitely fun stuff. The place looks amazing.

 

[rusty4]

OMG! We would love that! Looks like such fun.

 

[mickeystoontown]

What a wonderful day at Xplor! I'd love love love to do something like that but John probably wouldn't like the cave portion. I enjoy doing cave tours and have done them since I was a little bitty girl. Was the water in the cave deep? That's the only thing that I don't think I'd like.

 

[natebenma]

This sounds like a lot of fun, but kind of scary too. Neat to see another family doing it though!

We had a fabulous time!

The last time we went, I had a panic attack on our second round of ziplines, in the afternoon. I was fine that morning, and I was fine this time, both in the morning and afternoon when we did the ziplines, but I was definitely having anxiety back in 2011.

What a fun day!!!
There are bad drivers everywhere, huh?

Amanda

Yes, bad drivers everywhere. That's funny!!!

That looks and sounds seriously cool. Love all the pictures.

The guys in the jeep ahead of you - not cool! But, I should not laugh because that would probably me.

Definitely fun stuff. The place looks amazing.

Xplor was definitely cool! So worth it. I think admission is around $120 per person, which includes everything- food, drink, activities- except photos. Ben was half price, but I think this is the last year he would be at a child rate.

The guys in the jeep- not cool! But posting their picture on a public forum? Probably not cool either. So we're even!

OMG! We would love that! Looks like such fun.

So.Much.Fun!

What a wonderful day at Xplor! I'd love love love to do something like that but John probably wouldn't like the cave portion. I enjoy doing cave tours and have done them since I was a little bitty girl. Was the water in the cave deep? That's the only thing that I don't think I'd like.

Now I'm surprised to hear you say that. Would you zipline?

If I recall correctly, you are not a big fan of heights. Heights don't normally bother me, but I even had an attack of the nerves at one point. Not this year, but on our prior trip.

The water in the cave was not very deep. I think we could stand the whole way or most of it. It wasn't very warm, though.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Even though I'm afraid of heights, I think that I could do the zipline because it would be a different neat experience. But, if you got a case of the nerves, then I might not be able to do it. I wondered about the water being cold in the cave since all of the caves that I have been in are cold.