What's the Big Deal With Staying On Property Anyway? *Goodbyes* 12/17 p.114

[eandesmom]

Love the feeding the shark/holding the stinky shark bait face! that's priceless

YEAH an update!

 

[mommytothreeboys]

YAY!! So glad to see you back with an update!

I agree with Owen.....GROSS!!!

Your boys are adorable as always...there's always one ham in every group isn't there?!

 

[jordanyosh]

6 months into a TR....no worries...life happens and really, you're parenting alone right now...so we understand.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Hurray! So glad you got the photobucket issues all worked out.

 

[Emma's Dad]

Great update, Carissa! Glad to know I'm not the only one note finished with a TR

 

[dismagiclover]

Great update! Love all the Sea World pictures. We really want to get over there one of these trips! We just always have trouble swallowing the money for admission when an extra day at DW is $3. (Disney marketing geniuses) Your pictures inspire me to shell out the big bucks though

 

[praisehisname]

Sea World looks like a lot of fun! We'll have to try and squeeze it in one of these times.

Denise

 

[Charleston Princess]

Your boys are such good sports walking like penguins!!!

Whew, what a relief that everyone escaped with all their limbs after feeding those skeery sharks!

 

[DisneyJo]

Beautiful photos, it looks like you all had a great time

 

[GSD4ME]

Glad you had fun at SeaWorld . . . don't tell Disney, but we almost love going to SeaWorld more than Disney!! Shocking, I know - but I'm a really big animal lover. When we went in 2007, we did a behind the scenes tour and got to touch a penguin. It was really neat - and they feel like feathers, which is NOT what I was expecting. I thought they'd feel more rubbery, I guess.

Love the look on Owen's face, too!

 

[carissanboys]

Love the feeding the shark/holding the stinky shark bait face! that's priceless

YEAH an update!

I know - it's shocking!

YAY!! So glad to see you back with an update!

I agree with Owen.....GROSS!!!

Your boys are adorable as always...there's always one ham in every group isn't there?!

I don't know - I think there's 3 in my group.

6 months into a TR....no worries...life happens and really, you're parenting alone right now...so we understand.

Thanks J - things have been a bit overwhelming lately.

Hurray! So glad you got the photobucket issues all worked out.

Me too! And glad I didn't have to break down and pay for a pro account!

Great update, Carissa! Glad to know I'm not the only one note finished with a TR

Definitely not alone! I have to get over to yours and get caught up. Maybe I won't be far behind? ;-)

Great update! Love all the Sea World pictures. We really want to get over there one of these trips! We just always have trouble swallowing the money for admission when an extra day at DW is $3. (Disney marketing geniuses) Your pictures inspire me to shell out the big bucks though

I don't know if I'd paid full price for Sea World. We love animals, but we've been to a lot of great zoos and aquariums over the years. I'd rather spend my money on Disney.

Sea World looks like a lot of fun! We'll have to try and squeeze it in one of these times.

Denise

It was fun. Had a very different feel from WDW.

Your boys are such good sports walking like penguins!!!

Whew, what a relief that everyone escaped with all their limbs after feeding those skeery sharks!

I know, eh?!

Beautiful photos, it looks like you all had a great time

Thanks Jo - have a great trip!

Glad you had fun at SeaWorld . . . don't tell Disney, but we almost love going to SeaWorld more than Disney!! Shocking, I know - but I'm a really big animal lover. When we went in 2007, we did a behind the scenes tour and got to touch a penguin. It was really neat - and they feel like feathers, which is NOT what I was expecting. I thought they'd feel more rubbery, I guess.

Love the look on Owen's face, too!

That would be very cool - to touch a penguin. I would have loved to go to Discovery Cove and been in the water with the dolphins. Just too much money for us. Maybe someday.

 

[carissanboys]

Finishing up with Wild Arctic, we backtracked to the Happy Harbor. That’s where all of the kid’s rides are located. Unfortunately, since it had rained, the huge climbing structure was closed. The boys were really bummed about that.

Sully decided he wanted to do the roller coaster. Let’s just say it was much tamer than Goofy’s Barnstormer and he wasn’t very impressed.

Owen wanted to go on the Flying Fiddler.

All three boys wanted to do the Swishy Fishies ride. If you’re wondering why they didn’t all go in the same cup, that’s because Sully loves to spin. And Owen is prone to motion sickness.

Around this time I spotted Shamu out for pictures. Owen was the only one who wanted to go see him, so off we went.

We said goodbye to Shamu. Then came my favorite part of the day.

We found the dolphin nursery.

We had so much fun watching the young dolphins swim around. We made our way to the back where it was pretty empty of people and had some great encounters with this one dolphin. He/she kept swimming very close to us and would just stare. It was so cool and I got a bit carried away with the pictures.

We reluctantly said goodbye to our new friend and decided to get some ice cream before getting in line for the big show – Believe!

We sat outside the shop to eat our treats and were approached by an employee asking if we’d take a short survey of our visit. I said, “Sure!” and proceeded to tell him about our experience at the gate and the i.d. fiasco. He shook his head and said, “We tell them all of the time, but they just don’t get it.” So, with that off of my chest, we headed to the Believe! stadium about an hour early to ensure some good seats.

The boys hanging out before they let us in:

Chuck didn’t want to sit in the splash zone, so we got the closest seats we could without getting wet. Before the show officially started, they paid tribute to the men and women in the armed forces and asked them all to stand. Then they also asked that the families of these men and women stand up. I got a bit teary eyed looking across the stadium at all of the military families.

I took a TON of pictures from this show, but I will spare you and only show my favorites.

We really enjoyed the show, although I watched most of it from behind the camera. When the show was over, we decided to head out. We were all pretty tired.

Overall, I'd say we enjoyed our time at Sea World. I can't say we were blown away, but it was practically free for us and a nice way to spend an off Disney day.

We got back to our room at POR and took a short rest before heading to the food court for dinner. I decided to be a bit different that evening and had the beef, potato, corn, and corn bread. It was okay. Chuck had the make-your-own-pasta again, but went with the marina this time and said it wasn’t as good as the pesto or alfredo.

After dinner, Chuck took the boys to use their 30 minute arcade card while I did a load of laundry. Sadly, it was time to pack up as we’d be heading home the next day. But, we still had a character breakfast and another park to visit first!

The boys watched Cars for a bit and were asleep by 8:15.

Up Next – Breakfast with Stitch

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Best update yet! I just love dolphins and killer whales. They are both so beautiful!

 

[Charleston Princess]

What a darling picture of Owen and Shamu!

Your pictures from the dolphin nursery and the Shamu show are fantastic!!! What a great ending to your Sea World day!

 

[MRYPPNS]

I love Sea World but I was less than impressed with Believe. I found it very corny with the whole necklace thing and the trainers.

So cool that you got a meet n greet with Shamu! I've never seen him.

 

[carissanboys]

Best update yet! I just love dolphins and killer whales. They are both so beautiful!

Yes they are. I could have watched the dolphins all day.

What a darling picture of Owen and Shamu!

Your pictures from the dolphin nursery and the Shamu show are fantastic!!! What a great ending to your Sea World day!

Thanks Jackie

I love Sea World but I was less than impressed with Believe. I found it very corny with the whole necklace thing and the trainers.

So cool that you got a meet n greet with Shamu! I've never seen him.

I definitely agree about the show. The story is super cheesy, but I loved seeing the whales. I would have preferred more stunts and less story line.

 

[mousescrapper]

YAY about figuring out what was wrong w/ accessing your pictures!!!! and so happy to see new updates! I can't believe I finished my TR before yours but sad that your trip is coming to an end too

Sea World looked like it was a worth well visit and practically free to boot...that is always a plus. I love all the pictures...the skerry sharks, icky fish food, Owen w/ Shamu- too cute and the shots from Believe look really awesome.

I have not been to SW since I was probably one of your boys ages...I'm not sure if we'd plan an off-site trip to do it, w/ the great Chicago Aquarium and Zoo's so close to home, and not sure I can justify the time away from Disney so I'm glad to live vicariously thru your memories!

PS live the Mickey swril shirt Owen was wearing did any of you get zazzed for wearing "mickey stuff" at a competion park? over the summer at a trip to Great America up here, some store employee razzed me for wearing "the mouse" in their park

looking forward to hearing about the end!

Scrappie J-

 

[MagicShell]

Sea World looks like fun, I would like to visit one day. I would probably go to Sea World San Antonio since my brother lives near San Antonio and I wouldn't have to use Disney time to see it.

 

[carissanboys]

YAY about figuring out what was wrong w/ accessing your pictures!!!! and so happy to see new updates! I can't believe I finished my TR before yours but sad that your trip is coming to an end too

Hey Julie! I would never have guessed that it would take me this long to finish my TR. And thanks for commenting on my blog.

PS live the Mickey swril shirt Owen was wearing did any of you get zazzed for wearing "mickey stuff" at a competion park? over the summer at a trip to Great America up here, some store employee razzed me for wearing "the mouse" in their park

Thanks - I made those shirts for our first trip (or was it the 2nd?). And no, I don't remember anyone saying anything about wearing Mickey stuff.

 

[carissanboys]

Sea World looks like fun, I would like to visit one day. I would probably go to Sea World San Antonio since my brother lives near San Antonio and I wouldn't have to use Disney time to see it.

That sounds like a good plan. We saw Sea World in Australia back in 2005. I think I liked the layout of that park more, but it didn't have the huge show like Believe (although they did have a very nice dolphin show).