Finally she gives a report! Family trip June 07 LOL **Updated 11/3** About This Page:

[Tonichelle]

After the Dolphins we had to head all the way to the other end of the park to get to Shamu Stadium, which we kept walking around but couldn't figure out where they heck it was. We could see it but couldn't find where to enter.

We did make it just in time and I was so sun sick it wasn't funny. We were trying to hurry and I was overheated and I could tell because I was dizzy, and couldn't get my head wrapped around anything and had this massive headache. So while I'm dealing with all of that mom goes running off to find water as well as a juice or something that I would drink lol. And I got a lecture from dad about staying hydrated and blah blah blah. Which I had been very good, except for after the Dolphins I didn't drink anything and we were hurrying around and yeah lol

I was so sick feeling I didn't even argue with him I just zoned lol. Every place mom stopped they were out of water and lemonade. All they had was that strawberry lemonade nastiness (which I refuse to drink, I'd rather die lol) and sodas... so mom asked for a cup of ice (to melt down basically) and a sprite for me so I could choke down an ibuprofen so that I could at least see straight.

Once that kicked in I was ready to go. Duane demanded we sit in teh splash zone, so we were sitting on the very left hand (from stage) side of the stadium but we were right there, though I was a couple of rows above where Duane and dad were sitting because I had the camera.

Orcas are some of the most beautiful creatures ever created. I absolutely love them, and I've been in a very small boat while a pod of them swam up numerous times (gotta love fishing in Alaska, eh?) and I just love them. So this was a highlight for me. I absolutely love whales of all sorts, but Orcas are right there at the top.

I really liked this show as it's about a boy's dream to become a whale trainer (though come to think of it that's basically the same message of Blue Horizons but whatever lol). I could really see Duane out there, not sure if he was inspired or not but I liked it, and mom got weepy at one point lol.

If you want to get wet, I don't suggest going and sitting where we did, we didn't even get close to getting wet AT ALL. Which really bummed us out as lets face it, it was hot, and everyone wants to be all wet when it's hot! But it was still a very good show even if we did stay dry (which since we had the Luau right after that it was probably a good thing).

I think it would be so glorious just to ride atop a whale, but I hate swimming so yeah that's out lol. They're just such beautiful animals... love them love them love them!

After the show we had a bit of time so we went through the shark exhibit before heading to the Luau. When dad and I traveled on a church youth trip in 98 we got to sleep in the Shark Room... which apparently does not exist anymore as all we got to do was walk through the tunnel. And I can unashamedly say that I did the whole Jaws theme while we were on the way too quick moving walk way (it was so nice and cool in the tunnel). I think I freaked a few people out with that (Jaws 3 anyone? ) but if you don't like the idea of Jaws, then why go under the tank? LOL

Besides, JAWS does not live at Sea World, he has a show over at Universal Studios that he must preform for.

Anyway we moaned and groaned about not getting into the shark room, but I'm wondering if that went away to build the resteraunt that's there now (which I don't remember it being there before?)

Then we made our way over to the Luau which had to have been the best part of the day for me. Not so much because it was air conditioned and really good food but OMG the dancers were soooooooo awesome (and CUTE). It was so much fun!

The food was killer I loved it, I'm a picky eater but I was so hungry I even attempted to eat the salad and the pineapple/bannana bread. Which the bread lead to some controversy at our table because my dad HATES bananas. Can't stand them. Even the smell. When I was little if I had 'Elmo's Tutti-Fruity bubble bath and shampoo' he wouldn't kiss me good night because of the banana smell! It has something to do with his illness as a toddler. It just turns his stomach inside out. Anyway we're sitting downa nd munching on the bread and dad can't believe how good it is and mmmmm I'll finish yours! And then we find out it has bananas in it (which I kept saying it did because my piece tasted just like banana bread lol). He just about died. lol. So apparently he can eat bananas and live, but at that moment he was seriously trying to leave this world for the next.

When you enter you are given a lei and a drink to tied you over (either lemonade or an alchoholic beverage. You also get your picture taken with one of the girls. When they call you to dinner they use these huge Konk shells which was just so cool! It totally sets the mood!

The luau show was amazing. Absolutely incredible. Loved every minute of it. The dancing was just spot on and most of the dancers you could tell were very passionate about what they were doing.

Because I was starving I spent more time eating than taking pictures (that and I wasn't sure it if was allowed at first, and then I was all for pictures and stuffing my face). But when they got all of the kids on stage and tried to teach them to dance I had to get a few of my brother. He suffers from white boy rhythym something awful. It was hilarious.

I do admit I drooled heavily over the pretty dancer boys... they were... well... mighty fine. Oh yeah the girls were good too

After the show we were waiting for theplace to clear out a bit before we got up and my mom looked at the side. They had light projections of dancers (in drawings similar to native drawings I guess is what they were) on the wall and one fell on the double doors. Where his *area* would be were the door handles. Mom made some comment of it being a very crude look at what 'love handles' are... so yeah we were pretty much GONE after that. Dad just shook his head and covered Duane's ears as they got up to walk off. It was hysterical.

Ok I gotta leave the college and head for home... I will have more later!

oh and albums that follow these stories are
Album 3 - Krakken, Clyde & Seymore, Blue Horizons, Believe, Luau, & part of Shamu Rocks

[Colexis Mom]

Great pictures of the Shamu show, and the luau Glad you had a great time

[DyanKJ130]

Looks like you had a great time at Sea World! The luau sounds fun! Too funny about your dad and the bananas!

[vfair]

Wonderful report so far! Love your pictures. More please...

[mcc0313]

Great pictures of the Orca show....I love Orcas they are just so cute...

Glad you headache went away and that you were able to enjoy the rest of the day.

The Luau sounded great...did not even know they did a Luau there until this board...maybe another trip.....

[stefffe]

am caught up with your TR...what a great trip you guys are having..... the Luau looks like a lot of fun......


more please

[Tonichelle]

steffe! Where'd you get that clip of the princesses making faces that you have in your siggy??? That is too cute!

[Tonichelle]

After the Luau we headed over to the Rays and the manatees. Duane and dad played in the ray tank for quite a while petting and feeding them while the girls sat and chatted and giggled over our love handle joke. We were full and tired and glad the day was almost over. All we had left was to kill time before "Shamu Rocks".

After we got our fill of the rays, we headed over to the Manatee exhibit. Manatees are the cutest little things ever! I love big sea cows. I demanded we spend a lot of time both above and down below. Everyone else got to see their favorites, it was my turn now. We spent a great amount of time, and we sang the "Barbara Manatee" song (from VeggieTales!), and we bought lots of stuff in the manatee gift shop (my daddy bought me a stuffed animal manatee and a key chain. he's so sweet lol).

Then we headed for Shamu Stadium again hoping to get into a better spot... well we were able to get in the center down front, but you couldn't see anything because it was the very first row... and I didn't want to get THAT wet. So the four girls went way up to the nose bleeds while dad and Duane stayed in the drowning section.

When dad and I were in Sea World in 98 this is the show we saw and it is one of the best parts about Sea World, IMHO. The Orcas are definitely the stars of the show, and this show is way better than Believe

Every time Shamu would come out and splash we knew dad and duane were getting majorly wet and we had a great time laughing at them. Then when Shamu came out and spashed with his tail and this wall of water came right down on top of them mom was sure they were going to die (it was a good thing we bought manatee and shamu towels lol).

Instead of watching the fireworks we wanted to get back to the bus. Mears stinks, but I think most of us already know that (I've decided if we ever do something outside of WDW again while staying at WDW we're using a different service). They lost our tickets before we got to Sea World and they had 'no record' of our reservation, even though we had the 'confirm number' and they took our $$. Incredibly annoying. The bus driver yelled at us like it was our fault. Um, yeah. Customer service? No. lol

We didn't care though once we got on the bus and it was all good after that. He put on a movie on the little TVs and it was The Mask of Zorro (that's the first one, right? LOL) which my mom LOVES because it's Anthony Hopkins and *Antonio Banderas* (he's her favorite actor lol). And the rest of us slept until we got back to the hotel.

We went right up and went to bed. We were planning to get up as early as possible so we could get to MGM. Star Wars weekends were happening and I was hoping to at least witness some of it. (Big mistake consider I don't do well in crowds lol). But I was glad to be back at Disney. The magic immediately returned and it felt like home. I know I'm obsessed with teh CSR, but I love that resort. It just fit! We grabbed danishes on the way up to our room for breakfast and after that I don't remember a thing...

more coming later oh and here's the second album of Sea World photos
Album 4 - Shamu Rocks, all three photos lol

[lablady]

Great TR so far! I'd never go to WDW in the summer again! We did our first WDW when I was in high school back in 1987 in July. Talk about insane! I'd have liked to melt. Now that I'm in charge...October is the earliest that we go.

Can't wait to hear more!

[Tonichelle]

yeah the first florida trip I took was in July... UGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH lol

June was the only time my aunt would let us do it... it was not the best idea but *shrugs* it's all I had lol

[Colexis Mom]

Great pictures of the Shamu show More please

[clio]

I love your pictures of Shamu. I remember how hot it gets in Florida in the summer. That's why we go in October now. Can't wait to read more.
Liz

[DyanKJ130]

Great update, Toni! Shamu rocks looks like great fun! Too funny about your dad and Duana sitting in the splash zone. Did you get any pictures of them looking like drowned rats?? Glad you made it back to CSR! We it there too! More please

[Tonichelle]

Did you get any pictures of them looking like drowned rats??

Unfortunately no... my batteries didn't last that long.... (I was dumb and forgot to turn off the camera quite a few times)

[stefffe]

Originally Posted by Tonichelle

steffe! Where'd you get that clip of the princesses making faces that you have in your siggy??? That is too cute!

i found it at photobucket.....isnt it funny?????

feel free to pilfer it at any time