Florida Day Seven - Last Day

Well, four days in a row is too many. There were still things we wanted to do in the park but we were all exhausted and a little grumpy today. Once again we had a soft start, James let me sleep in and we all had a slow morning. And again we went to the pirate pool and then the lazy river. Although instead of my camera I brought my kindle book and read as I slowly paddled around. Camille had never been to a lazy river before but she loves them now and says she wants to visit one every winter.

After swimming we grabbed some (expensive!) hot dogs from a restaurant on site and ate them in our room. We probably should have gone into the park at this point but we were all tired. So all the adults took a nap while the kids watched a show in bed together. Christian and Will both said that they would rather stay home today but it was our last day so around 2:30 we headed off to the park. 

Jon in his robes again

Christian and I ride a leopard

Camille rented a scooter again today which is something we need to remember for our next trip. There is so much walking in a theme park and without the scooter it is just too much. With the scooter though Camille zooms around often outpaces us. Pedestrians beware! I jest but it really does make a huge difference.

The mists of Kong

Dino bones!

Anyway, once we got to the park we went straight for the Jurassic Park area. The flume ride was still open, it will be closed and updated soon, so James and I took Jon and Christian on it. The ride does need to be redone since the animatronics aren't close to what they are capable of now. But the ride itself is still great! The dinosaurs are fun and the drop at the end leaves your stomach behind. James was sitting on the edge so he got completely soaked but Jon and Christian didn't have a drop on them! The boys loved it so much they begged to go on it again. And since there was no line, we did!

Will in Camp Jurassic

Jon running around in camp Jurassic

 Our next stop was the Pteranodon Flyers. Unfortunately we didn't know that you had to register ahead of time but they told us we could come back at 6 for a chance to ride. So instead we ran around Camp Jurassic again and the kids were really excited to show Daddy some of the things he missed. I know I just said this but it is still true so I'll say it again. This is the best playground I have seen. There are so many places to explore! 

Will on the ropes

Camp Jurassic

Christian does not want to take another picture

In addition to the ropes and caves the boys also came across a water section where they shot water guns at dinosaurs. Will stayed off the flume ride because he didn't want to get wet but he didn't mind getting soaked here! We had a great time but eventually we decided to move on to Hogsmeade for a little shopping.

Water fight!

Christian shoots back

Jon and Christian take aim

I'm shooting back!

It was getting dark by this time and Hogsmeade was beautiful. There isn't early as much to do here though and all the stores Camille wanted to go to were actually in Diagon Alley, in the other park. We did discover that Will's wand was broken though and we were able to get it repaired (replaced) at the Owl Post. I am so thankful they do that! We were starting to get tired by this point but on our way back to Jurassic Park we grabbed one last frozen butterbeer and a pumpkin juice.

Jon does magic in Hogsmeade

Hogsmeade at night

Will does magic

Back at the Pteranodon Flyers they were letting people in without a ticket but we still couldn't all go on. People over 56 inches could only go on if they were accompanied by a child who was under that height. So Christian took Will with him on the ride. The rest of us were disappointed, it is James' favorite ride, so clearly we will need to have some more kids if we want to go on it in the future. The wait was really long and by the time they got off the ride the park was closed. Which was fine since we were all ready for dinner at this point.

Camp Jurassic at night

Will and Christian on Pteranodon Flyers

 Our plan was to go back to the Chocolate Emporium. All week I've been dreaming about their melt-in-your-mouth steaks and their delicious desserts. But alas when we arrived we found that there was a three hour wait. So we went to the Outback instead. Their fries are good but the filet didn't come close the one I had the other night. Poor Christian was so tired that he fell asleep while we were waiting for our table.

My little goofball at dinner

In retrospect I think we should have done things differently today, and maybe skipped the park altogether. But I'm glad we got to go on the Jurassic Park Flume ride one last time. That has been one of our favorites for years and Jon and Christian loved it too. We are leaving tomorrow and heading home. Our flight isn't until the late afternoon and I'm already dreading the long drive home. But it will be nice to sleep in my own bed! Well I'm off to pack. Thanks for reading! Goodnight!

Florida Day Six - Universal Studios

Today was a great day. Last night was a late one for me so James let me sleep in this morning while he did the laundry and took care of the kids. It was so wonderful. Then after breakfast we decided to go swimming instead of heading right to the park. And because we went in the morning, the boys were finally able to use the pirate water slide. Last time we came we couldn't use it at all because it was never open in the evening. 

Jon on the water slide

Christian on the pirate slide

Will

On the way back Camille and the boys stopped to take in the view

What a beautiful view!

Florida lakes are not like the ones in NH!

We started out swimming in the pirate pool, which also had a nice easy entry and a fairly deep swimming section. But after splashing around a bit we decided to move over to our favorite area, the lazy river. This was Camille's first time in a lazy river but I think she loved it! This time there were more kids and less adults with drinks so it was a more relaxed atmosphere. It was a really pleasant morning but we couldn't stay too long since we were meeting Doug at the park again right after lunch.

Camille and James

My handsome husband

The view from the river

Will floating down the river

Camille enjoys the lazy river

By the time we got to the park it was almost one. Doug had gotten there early and had already done all the rides that morning. But going in the afternoon was really nice since the crowds were pretty thinned out by then. Our first stop in the park was the E.T. ride which we were able to walk right on. The line for this one is great and it was almost too bad that we didn't have to wait at all. We all love this ride and when it was over Christian asked to do it again. So we did. And it was just as much fun the second time.

Jon in the E.T. line

Me and Doug at the E.T. ride

Following E.T. we went to the Simpsons area which definitely seems bigger than the last time we were here. Christian and Jon went on the Kodos and Kang ride while the rest of us waited in the hot Florida sun. Then we all went on the main Simpson's ride. This one I didn't particularly like. The line was very hot and we had to climb all the way to the top. And the ride itself was so jerky and blurry that I had to keep my eyes closed for most of it. Universal does a ton of these movie rides and while rides like Spiderman are fine for me other ones like Simpsons and Transformers make me really motion sick.

Walking to the next ride

Anyway, after that it was off to MIB where again I wish we'd had to wait in line just a little since we flew past all the cool stuff. The ride itself is one where you shoot aliens, and sometimes people in another car, and earn points when you hit your target. Doug blew us all away with his score but Will came in right after him with 94k points! My score was embarrassingly low but it was great fun anyway.

Christian gets a lift

Banana Jon!

By the time we got off the ride we were ready for a small break so we headed over to Diagon Alley for some ice cream. All the boys got butterbeer icecream of course and we all enjoyed the snack. The only downside was that there was no place for us to sit. All the boys and I sat on the stairs to the stage and Camille went to sit at the restaurant where she made friends with another couple. She can make friends with anyone!

Entrance to Diagon Alley

Standing in the magical rain

By this time Christian was desperate to go to the Mummy ride but since we were passing by the relatively new Fast and Furious ride we decided to try that first. I haven't seen any of the movies so I probably missed a lot about the line and the actors who did the ride prep. Mechanically the ride was similar to Kong and it was decent. But the storyline, about a party and avoiding the FBI, kind of turned me off to the movies. But Christian really enjoyed it. He's been having a great time at Universal.

Camille dances down the line

Doug and the boys

Finally it was time for the Mummy ride and both Christian and Jon were going to ride it for the first time. Camille stayed behind for this one since it goes fast. It is a coaster but it also has some slow sections and a couple stops. It is fantastic though. My favorite part might be when the ceiling lights on fire. Anyway, the kids loved it. I was worried that it would be too scary for Jon who is pretty sensitive about these things. But he was fine and so was Christian. As soon as it was over they both wanted to go again and since the line was empty we did! It was really great.

Excited for the Mummy ride

parade

Christian on a scooter

When we finally finished with the Mummy ride we piled out of the gift shop to find that we were trapped behind a parade. We couldn't cross the street or go anywhere until it had passed but eventually we made it over to the Transformers ride. I was feeling pretty sick after this one, even though I had my eyes closed for most of it, so I was a little nervous about the minion ride which we did right after. But that wasn't too bad.

Megatron

Decoration in the Minion line

My little"minions" put on their glasses

Minion decorations

It was dark and almost closing time when we got out of the Minions ride. But we wanted to do one last ride. James and Camille took Christian to the big store at the park entrance while Doug and I took Will and Jon on the Rip Rocket ride which only Doug had done before. I was a bit nervous about it because I really don't like going straight up. But it was a great ride! I sat with Will while Jon and Doug sat in front of us in the very first row. The coaster was fast and fun which a lot of twists and turns but Jon had his hands in the air the entire time. He loves roller coasters!

Bashing Doug

Christian gets a ride from Doug

 The Rockit ride was the perfect way to end the day at the park. After that we met up in the store and then all went out to dinner. We went to a Caribbean restaurant called Bahama Breeze. The food was pretty good and it was great getting to spend more time with Doug. But we were all exhausted! The boys were practically falling asleep at the restaurant and they did pass out as soon as we got in the car.

After dinner

Christian and Doug

It was a really great day. And it was wonderful to meet and spend time with Doug! But I'm ready to fall asleep too... Goodnight!