The "Every theme park BUT Disney (this time) Spring Break, family vacation, cheerleading competition tour!!! PTA" **Updated 5/24** COMPLETE About This Page:

[B.M.]

Great update, sounds like yall are getting tired. Cant wait to hear more.

[Colexis Mom]

Another great update! Glad you had fun at IoA!!

[Angileyze1]

Day 9 Sea World/Aquatica

This morning I decided to change things up a bit. I let everyone sleep in and took a shower. Aftwerward, I applied a LOT of sunscreen as this was our water-park day and my sunburn from last week was all too fresh in my mind. In fact, even on the way there, I was still applying.

We started out at SeaWorld at guest services to get some info on the shuttle to Aquatica. We were told that we should actually to THAT park first, since they close after a certain number of guests and the gentleman we spoke to said that in the past 3 weeks, it has happened more than not. Ok so we caught the shuttle there. They actually were opening the gates earlier than advertised, so we went in and grabbed our chairs UNDER an umbrella for the day. This is important for pale northerners prone to burns. There is NOT a lot of shade at Aquatica. Get a chair early or you’ll be out of luck. The wave pool was extremely warm and obviously heated. I had been wanting to rent a cabana but couldn’t see spending the extra cash. I wanted to see what they looked like and so I walked around with my waterproof camera and took some shots. Currently, they are not developed so I’ll add them to the end of this TR. We let the kids go their own way and we did some fun stuff just DH and I. the wave pool was crowded as they didn’t open up the second one for hours. Lifeguards actually stood at the edge, not letting people go in. The rapids attraction is a lot of fun. We didn’t get to do the dolphin slide alas, because we were stupid and didn’t get in THAT line first. Don’t let this happen to you. The kids rode it though. When you get there, drop your stuff and get in line. When we got in line, it was about 1.5 hour wait. They only let 2 got down at a time. With a few hundred in line well, you can imagine. In fact, with only letting in a maximum number, there was sure a lot of people there. Also, if you take the shuttle from Seaworld, make sure you ASK for a map at the check-in because apparently they hand them out at the car gate and we didn’t have one. DSC03969.JPG

At this point, we had bought the Banana Beach Buffet lunch ticket. There are two options to choose from. The all day option, where you can eat all day back & forth, or the one time through but all you can eat once. We did the latter. We knew we were not going to be there all day. The food was awesome. For park food, I’d have to say this was very good and well worth the price. We all filled up our plates 2x and had dessert. I highly recommend this lunch deal.

Shortly after lunch, we left for Seaworld. Well 3 of us did. DS did NOT want to do another park that had animals. So, at 14 he’s pretty responsible so we explained that the shuttle comes by every 15-30 minutes and where it picked up. Seaworld was right across the street. We told him where to meet us and what time. We went to Seaworld and noticed something right away. There was NO WAY we were going to be able to see and do it all starting now. We quickly decided on our favorites and went from there. Even though a combo pass ticket for these two parks is avail for purchase, unless you have two days, I do not recommend it especially if you have kids under 16. You will miss a LOT. We rushed everywhere, from shows to attractions, to animals, ect. I got some pretty impressive blisters even in my very comfortable Teva’s. I recommend the Sealion show for sure.DSC03979.JPG

And you HAVE to see Believe. I mean to go to Seaworld, and not see believe, I mean what’s the point? Also for 6.00 you can get in a line to feed the dolphins by hand... DSC04000.JPG

Watch out though, by doing this, you will miss much as the line is long, you have to get lengthly instructions and it takes a good chunk of time. We watched. Also, there is a photo place where they will take your picture and insert it with the background of your choice. I did this and have an amazing picture of myself kissing Shamu. Krakken the coaster is a must do. You wouldn’t think its very good being at SeaWorld but even after Busch, and IOA we really enjoyed this one. We didn’t have time for Journey to Atlantis regrettably. Taking a rest on a curb, for a second, my DS walked up and said HI! I was bored so I came over. How he just found us I’ll never know. We told him to go ride Krakken and we’d see him later.

We headed to believe early. We wanted to sit in the splash zone and had been missing it all day to to rushing from show ect. We got there just as the last show before ours was leaving. Take note: Go in as soon as the last show is done. You can’t sit right down because they have to clean up but they also warm up the whales and it’s a great photo op. You get to watch them jumping while you wait!!! Whatever you do, don’t miss this show. And if possible, catch the last one of the day. Ours was at 530 and it was really cool. On the way out, we lost the kids at the restrooms as everyone was exiting the park. This was a very bad thing as we had ADR’S at Whispering Canyon.
DSC04026.JPGDSC04032.JPG

We eventually caught up with them but were late for the ADR’s no problem, WCC was great about it. Now I had mentioned WCC to DH, but not to the kids. I made me DH ask my DS to ask the server for ketchup. As you can imagine the night was very fun and magical. We got to see another resort and my Dh was definitely getting into the Disney spirit. During dinner I asked my DD if she remembered the lesson from Believe about the whale’s tale. I reminded her of the trainer saying it was to remember to always believe in your dreams and never give up on them. Well, at Believe after the show, they see the necklaces that are wooden whale’s tail’s. While we were trying to catch up with the teens, I bought one for my DD. So there at WCC, we gave it to her. We told her she could do anything and to never give up on her dreams. Because that’s what Disney is all about. Sure we got it at Seaworld, but it made a great tie-in for our trip.

After dinner, we collapsed at the hotel. DS got a bad sunburn at Aquatica because he was too stupid “cool” as he called it to put on lotion. We were sad knowing tomorrow was our last day. I was going to make the MOST of it and I was determined to make sure DH holds true on his promise to come to WDW next year. Especially since we’ve done everything else there is to do right?!?!?!?

[CountryTink]

What a great day at Aquatica and Sea World. Amazing how much you all got done. We missed Believe when we were there because one of the whales had just recently given birth. Sorry to hear your trip is coming to an end, but am enjoying reading about it.

[B.M.]

Great day at Aquatica! And Sea World sounds fun also. Can't wait to hear about your last day.

[Colexis Mom]

Glad you had a great time at Sea World and Aquatica!! Dinner sounded like fun too

[nconover]

Your trip is going so unbelieveably well. You hit all the majors already and sounds like you really had a lot of fun. Can't wait to hear how it ends.

[RobDVC]

Excellent day at Aquatica and Sea World! Thanks for the tip about the dolphin slide.

[DyanKJ130]

What an awesome day at Sea World and Aquatica!! Can't wait to hear more

[Angileyze1]

Day 10 Our Last Day


I knew that I really has to make today count. I waited so many years to get back to this wonderful place and I didn’t know for sure when I’d be able to get back. So, I got up, showered, and left everybody asleep in the room. I wanted to walk the grounds alone and reflect on our vacation and how wonderful it was for even if just a little while, we were all in harmony in paradise, with no arguing, no feuding, bickering ect. I took some more pictures of SOG and proceeded to see the lady about making our collage. I know what you’re thinking and NO I did not mention to DH that I was going to do this. It was going to be a little surprise. Until. Until she mentions that it would be so cool if we got a picture of the 4 of us with the USA Mickey statue for the middle of the collage. Drat. Just about that time DS strolls by and I tell him to go get everyone & meet me for a picture. OK so I explained that I NEEDED this collage and that we WERE going to do it so just stand there & smile! Surprisingly, when he saw how good it was going to look, nothing was said. Phew!

DS decided his sunburn hurt too much to do anything so than DH, DD and I told him we’d be back for him later and we walked then hitched a ride on the Shady golf cart to the Poly. We took the monorail to the TTC. Then we took the Epcot monorail where it finally happened!!!!!! YES!! The magic words were spoken!!!! All my sneakiness and planning worked! DH says “You know something? I’m really starting to get this Disney bug of yours! I’m really starting to get interested in coming!!!!!” Finer words were never spoken. Then at Epcot we took the CBR bus to the resort to walk around. This is the one place I have always wanted to stay. It was beautiful but also I could see why everyone mentions how really spread out it is! Both the Wilderness resort and this one were nice. Tonight I would get to see more. But, I was taking mental notes.

From CBR we took bus to AK and shuttle back to Shades. It killed me to be right at AK and not be able to go in. My mind drifted to those AP’s tucked safely away in the safety deposit box at home all non-activated and just waiting for me.

We picked up DS and drove to DTD to do all last minute shopping. We went to Rainforest and the wait wasn’t that long. We were finally going to be able to use our gift cards!!! A little note about DH here. DH HATES to spend money. Now the kids had gotten lots of Disney Dollars for birthdays and Christmases. Upon counting it, I made the parental decision, that it was too much even for them. So, since we were all running low, I took the Disney Dollars and split them 4 ways. It still gave us all almost 100.00. DH was strictly against this. It was after all the kids’ money. My argument was that we get them whatever they want anyway, and since it was too much, the kids were all for sharing it. They never see DH spending money on himself and they really wanted to see what he would get. After much pleading from the kids and I and walking around for HOURS, Dh finally gave in and bought himself something. It was a hard fought victory. That does not come easily to DH. We all really enjoyed it and I broke down and bought my first lanyard and 2 pins. DD bought a snow globe and DS bought clothes. Dh bought a hawaiian shirt and a frosted Pirates of the Caribbean mug.

It was time for us to get ready to meet my aunt from back home who was flying in and with DME to POP for her Disney vacation. We were all to meet for our last night for dinner at DTD. I requested that we go somewhere else as we had been there for hours already. So, we went someplace I have always wanted to go but never had. The Boardwalk.
DSC04068.JPG

I was so excited! We met at POP and I liked it there! The rooms were small and the resort noisy but fun. Its also not as private with no private balconies, but like DH said, it’s a bed for the night after being at the parks all day. I on the other hand like my resort to be part of the vacation. We loved the Boardwalk. They wanted to eat at ESPN but we had other plans so we met later. We were off to Beaches & Cream. I had always wanted to eat there, but when we got there the wait was ridiculous. We got ice cream to go for our dinner, as we had eaten at the Rainforest just a few hours before.
DSC04065.JPGDSC04067.JPG

We met up again, and shopped some more and I bought another pin and DD broke down and bought a lanyard and pin herself. We asked a security guard to take a family picture and we went back to POP. We strolled and then said goodnight. We had to pack & drive to the airport in the morning. I so don’t want to leave. Final thoughts: I need to spend a year being VERY well behaved with bills, working my butt off and making sure next year we come back and get to WDW. Since being home, plans for the promised vacation are already in full swing. Just 5 hundred something days and counting. Since I don't know when I'll ever be allowed to return after that (dh doesn't repeat parks aften) I opted to spend my birthday, Thnaksgiving and even be able to see some of the Christmas decorations at Disney. Therefore, it means waiting til Nov 2009. That's ok though, more time to save money and make it truly magical!!! So, its Nov 17-29 2009. I have a plan!!!

[CountryTink]

Great update. It sounds like so much fun to just go a wander around the resorts.

Like you, we have to go quite a while between trips in order to save the money. My DH doesn't get the Disney thing and would much rather spend his vacation time wandering through the wilderness somewhere.

Thanks for sharing the details of your trip. It sounds like it was a good one and that you were able to get lots of food for thought for your big vacation in 2009 (that's when we are going too).

[DyanKJ130]

What a great final day!! Did you get your collage yet? I'd love to see a photo of it!! that you had ice cream for dinner! And, I'm very happy for you that you have a tentative date set for your next vacation!

for sharing your TR with us!! I have enjoyed reading it

[RobDVC]

That was a great report! Thanks for sharing it with us!
Glad to hear you've got dates set for a full WDW trip next year!

[B.M.]

Sounds like yall had a great vacation! Glad you have a Disney tirp in the making also.

[Nick and Ryans Mom]

Originally Posted by Angileyze1

I nearly cried seeing the Mickey Ears and the WDW sign.

I know how you feltl!! Last year we stayed at a DTD hotel and went to Universal City Walk one night on the way to our vacation house at spring break. I was fine until I saw the WDW sign... then it was waterworks! Poor DH!

We also went to Tampa Busch Gardens that trip (at the end of our spring break).

I think your DH must have had a very difficult time with the children visiting their birth father.

Congratulations to your daugher's team!!

What a busy trip you had!!!

I'd love to see the collage!!!

Did the apple ever get eaten?

Did everything fit in the suitcases?