Trip Report Part 2 Parks (Part1) & Shopping

[Biggus]

Right second deep breath........
We had a pretty solid plan for the parks - which days to go and when etc.(all based on info from people here) - got a 5 park flex-ticket and Kennedy tickets through this site which were at our villa when we arrived.
Had a rest on the Sunday 23rd after we travelling on the Sat - REST DAY my big hairy bottom!! - Beltz then Wal-Mart and finish in Premium Outlets - both malls had only 1 (or 6) shops that Hel (my wife) wanted to visit. Lots of bargins to be had if you look carefully enough. Usual affair in Reebok 'buy two get third free' etc. Liked Wal-Mart a lot (visited on numerous occasions throughout the holiday) buying anything from clothes to CD's (and CD players) to digital cameras etc etc.
Monday 24th Sea World. One of my fave parks ever and didn't me disappoint second time around. Shamu show had changed slightly since we were last there, the dolphins in the cove seemed a little more friendly and happy to be stroked/patted etc. Lots of good photo opportunities. Had changed 'Terrors of the Deep' to the 'Shark encounter' but the reefs full of nasty looking fish are still stunning. Got to ride Journey to Atlantis for the first time (closed last time) which was cool.(Q'd for about 20 mins)I talked (conned) my mum into riding Kraken with me (I was the only coaster junkie in our party this time around and doing things on your own is no fun!!) and the look on her face on the photo tells a thousand words. Her language was a little fruity all the way round but she loved every minute of it!!
Tuesday 25th REST DAY - yippee relax time!!
Were 'scheduled' to go to Busch Gardens on Wednesday 26th but didn't as Hel wasn't well. Decided to do something different - so went to Wal-Mart then Gatorland (Hel HATES snakes/crocs/gators etc.) spent the (hot) afternoon watching the Jumperoo and wrestling which was very good - excellent photo opportunities very interesting, but not more than a 1/2 day activity.
Will continue in a little while (got to swap over from laptop at work to desktop. C u in a while!!

[phaedra]

Sounds like fun

Make sure you don't pack your nice new digital camera, memory card/s etc. in your hold luggage, US airports have ramped up the baggage X-Ray power substantially and have warned of possible damage to sensitive electronics.

[Biggus]

Phaedra,
We were told that the new security machines WILL damage traditional photo films GUARANTEED but would not harm any new media cards etc. for digital cameras or video tapes for camcorders. I still take sensitive items with me in my carry on luggage as I don't trust them, haven't had any probs with the photos or video this time around.

Will try and finish the parks part of my continiuing saga today.

[esprit]

You are a cruel man, Biggus!!! You take your Mum on the Kraken (!!) I dont know how old your Mum is but her face in the picture and her fruitt language ( yes we can imagine!) tells heaps. And then your wife is not well so you take her to Gatorland because she hates reptiles! I think they both deserved a super long visit to the designer shops at Premium Outlets after that! ( only joking!)

[Biggus]

Julie,
I didn't really have to physically drag my mum on Kraken - she is 57 this year and in reality loved every minute of it - otherwise I would have had to drag her onto Hulk, Dr Doom, Spiderman & Jurassic Park @ IOA and Gwazi @ Busch......she came willingly, even describing Hulk as a little 'tame' after having riden Kraken. She was really proud of herself, when she came home one of the first things she said to my younger brother (who didn't come with us) about the holiday was what she had ridden......and then got all the photos out to prove it.
As for Gatorland - Hel took to her bed (by the pool) and wasn't seen or heard of until our return from the day out. Even I'm not THAT cruel, well except on the days of the week ending with the letter 'Y' hehehehe
Sorry forgot to add that both my wife and mum got AMPLE opportunity to shop at the various malls - and boy didn't they hammer the cards and/or travellers cheques!!

[esprit]

All power to Mum and sorry to hear about Hel, Biggus. You didnt say she stayed at home, just she wasnt well enough for Busch!! I was only joking really!!!!!!!!!

[Biggus]

Yeah we went to Busch the following day - all to come in the Parks part 2 trip report - when work see fit to allow me to sit here not working for decent length of time to get on and do it!! hehehe. Hel just felt a little under the weather and was right as rain for Busch the following day - good job too the rest of us were dead to the world in the back of the people carrier so she had to drive home without any of us being there to talk to - I woke up and asked where are we to the reply of "just pulling into the driveway - you snored ALL the way home!!" Ooops!!
By the way Julie my real name is Ben, Biggus is a reference to my physical size (not necessarily that size you smutty people!![:I]) I'm 6'4" and weigh 20+ stone [:0]hehehehe!!

[phaedra]

"I'm 6'4" and weigh 20+ stone" Only a tiddler then

I'm 6'6" and have no ideal what I weigh! (over 20st though!)

Only 6 days until we go ....... 2 kids off school with earache & vomiting, my IBS playing up, my wife's having trouble finding someone to look after her horse and we haven't got the US$ or travellers cheques yet .... pretty much the norm for us!

Looking forward to hearing about Busch as we're there for the 1st 6 days and haven't been before, as long as the white tigers are still there my daughter (8) will be happy

[Biggus]

Phaedra,
They have now got 3 white tigers in addition to the two bengal ones they did have making five in total!! They were considerably more playful (playfights) when we were there this time around -got some wonderful photos, guess when it is very hot all they want to do is sit around and veg!! Will post later all about it!!

[steph_goodrum]

Phaedra
If your children have earache , I'd strongly recommend you see a doctore before they fly, on one of the airport programmes a child was unable to fly back from Spain for almost 3 weeks because of ear infection and they said that flying with an ear infection could cause the eardrum to burst or cause permanent damage to the hearing.
I'm not trying to worry you but thought I should point it out in case you were unaware of the implications.