2015 Day 17 - Seaworld

Early start this morning as the plan was to get to Seaworld just before opening at 9am.  The sky was still very grey and it was starting to rain lightly when we pulled into the car park about 10 to 9.

We made our way to the almost empty ticket booths and brought '2 park' tickets for Seaworld and Busch Gardens Tampa.

The rain was getting worse and we seemed to be the only ones without rain ponchos.   We had seen them testing Manta but quickly walked that way, unfortunately the rain was too heavy and they weren't running the ride.

Sarah after braving the rain to fetch a park map!!

We decided to try a bit later,  and hope the rain eased.   We braved the rain and headed to Turtle Trek, a 3d, 360° film about a turtle's life. Not one we had seen before and I love looking at the Manatees which are in the same area.

When we came out the rain had almost stopped and Keith, Sarah and Stephen all went on Manta while I had a look at the Manta Aquarium.

The rain was starting again, and Manta closed so went instead to watch the Dolphin Show. We also walked through the tunnels of Shark Encounter, and did the underwater dolphin viewing.  The weather was obviously keeping the crowds away as Wild Artic, a simulator ride to the Artic, was walk-on and it was quiet in with the belugas and walruses.

The Shamu Show was due to start so we made our way into the stadium.   I do love the shows at Seaworld!

We wandered back across the park, the rain had finally stopped but it was still cloudy.  Not too much of a problem as it meant the temperature was low and much more comfortable than other days we had spent at parks.

We watched the sealions being fed then it was time for Clyde and Seamore, the sealion show,  very corny but great fun.  New story/theme this year, High School.  They have also lost the mime artist pre show, but there was a comedian instead, funny but not as good as the mimes!

Manta was now running again and displaying a 30 minute wait.  The others joined the queue and I sat to watch/wait!  I noticed the display change to 20 mins so decided to go and look at the Rays in a pool nearby.  I returned in time to see the rest of the family riding up Mantas lift hill.  When they came off they'd actually had 2 rides as there was no queue!

As the park was quiet we also did Penguin Encounter, it was 30 minute wait but it wasn't too bad. This is a great recent addition to the park, a fun little ride, shame its not a bit longer, that ends in the new penguin enclosure, a bit chilly but very enjoyable.

The lesser know "Keith Penguin" :)

We thought about doing another show but as we had been there nearly 6 hours, and plan to return on Friday, we decided to grab a quick snack at the bakery and do a quick bit of shopping in the souvenir shops before heading back to the car.

After a brief stop at one of the shopping malls to get Keith a pair of trainers,  we went back to the villa for an afternoon swim.

Bahama Breeze was the restaurant of choice for tonight.  As we had decided to try the one on I-drive we went to play Congo River Golf at the I-drive location too.  It was quite busy and it was gone 10pm when we finished.

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2015 Day 16 - Spiders and more rain!

A very grey start this morning altho not actually raining to start with. We were up late this morning and set off about 11 hoping to do some karting before a visit to Wekiwa State Park, but unfortunately the karting place didn't open til 12 so we headed off to the state park just north of Orlando city.

By the time we got near the rain was starting.  We stopped for a Jimmy Johns sub, late breakfast/early lunch.  Although it was damp when we got to the park, I was surprised to see quite a few cars in the car park and people heading for the river in swim wear.  We walked through a picnic area and down to the natural spring river, where people were hiring out kayaks amd canoes.

The rain and eased, and we watched the kayakers for a while then went to the swimmers area.  The water was lovely and clear.  We spent an hour or so wandering some nature trails. Sarah was definitely not keen on the large spiders we kept finding.  Although the temperature this morning was only in the low 70s the humidty was above 90% making it very uncomfortable.  Apart from the spiders and a few lizards we didn't see any other wildlife.

 

 

following the walking trail through the woods

As we headed back to the car park the rain started again.  And then it rained and rained til about 6 o'clock.   We drove back to I-drive, stopped ay Denny's for milkshakes hoping that the rain would stop so we could play golf.  Not to be, so we went trainer shopping again!

Finally the rain eased so we went back to the karting place. Although the track was too wet for the large karts, Keith and Stephen had fun in the medium ones on a damp track.

Where's Dad?  Oh behind me!! ha ha

A quick stop at Publix then back at the villa we relaxed for an hour before going out gor dinner.   Keith wasn't feeling hungry, and then Stephen said he wasn't either.  Sarah and I both wanted to visit a fish restaurant so it seemed like a good opportunity.   The boys dropped us at Red Lobster before going to get an Arbys burger takeaway for themselves.

We had a lovely hour or so at Red Lobster, the restaurant was quite quiet and we both had combo meals - Sarah with breaded fish - shrimp, white fish and clams,  while mine was grilled lobster, shrimp and clams.  We did do a lot of sharing.

Another very competitive pool competition took place before bedtime!

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2015 Day 15 - swimming and rain!

Another lazy start today.  A nice long lie in followed by cheesecakes for breakfast! We were too full after dinner last night, although 3 of us did make a start on them late yesterday evening.

Stephen and I spent time playing in the pool and were eventually joined by Keith.  Sarah sat in the shade.

We had planned to go karting after lunch at the villa,  but by the time we left the rain was just starting,  so we thought we'd wait it out by doing some shopping first.

Sarah was looking for another bag so we stopped at the flea market and also went to the large gift shop next door.  The rain was really heavy now and it looked set in for the day.  No Karting then as its outdoors.

Next stop was Jo-Anns, craft shopping for me.  Not what the boys wanted to do but better to do it on a wet day than waste their time on a dry day!

Back at the villa with the rain still hammering down, we spent the rest of the afternoon having a family pool and table football tournament.  Girls v boys.

After a skype chat with Mum we went to Cici's pizza for dinner, then watched some naff american tv before bed.

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2015 Day 14 - Swimming, golf, shopping and cheescake

Nice relaxing morning.  Finished hanging out the last of yesterdays washing, then we all went into the pool and had some fun playing with some balls.  There were a few clouds around this morning which seemed to keep the temperature quite comfortable.

We left the villa just after one.  I had driven round the estate last night to get a feel for the car. Although I am on the insurance,  Keith has done all the driving,  he's far more at ease driving here than me.  I only got put on in case of illness etc.

We had decided to try Chick-fil-a, bit like kfc, for lunch, and as we had found a route that didn't involve the main 192, I drove!   No problem, even if it did decide to tip it down!!!

First time here and we all thought it was good.  By the time we had finished eating the rain had passed and we went back to Congo River Golf to play the other 18 holes if crazy golf.  There were hundreds of lizards around the course, presumably out due to the rain storm. Although it was still quite cloudy and not too hot,  it was extemely humid.

 Back in the car,  we cooled off while we drove to one of the outlet malls.  The Lindt shop beckoned. After drooling over the choice of chocolates, we bought a large bag of pick and mix (75 chocolates). We were prepared today and had the coolbox ready and waiting in the car, couldn't buy on our last visit 2 years ago as we had planned to be out all day and they would have melted in the car!

some of my Lindt chocolates - so many flavours to choose from!!

We then went trainer shopping first at the Vineland Outlet then at Premium Outlet.  I ended up with one pair, Sarah had 1 pair and a pair of Vans, and Stephen got a pair.  Keith, who was actually the one looking for trainers ended up with none, but did buy a t-shirt.

We had hoped to do Cheesecake Factory for dinner but by the time we got there they were estimating an hour's wait - I hate waiting for restaurants!  So we got cheesecake to go - well we had the coolbox with us! and went back down onto Idrive to Longhorns. As good as we remember from last visit, gorgeous steaks all round - even Stephen had steak!

Back at the villa,  Stephen and I played pool in the games room.  He won 2 games to 1.

It has become obvious that the boys don't do relaxing, whereas Sarah and I would happily laze round the pool, shop etc, the boys need something to do.  So we have a sort of plan for the next week which will probably now include Seaworld, Busch Gardens and some Go Karting.  Hopefully quiet days won't seem so bad for them now!

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2015 Day 13 - in the villa

The sun is shining, and we are relaxing!  Well after I've got through the laundry pile,  6 loads of washing done today.

We started with breakfast at Perkins.  Then popped to Walmart to stock up on essentials.  Most of the day was then spent relaxing between wash loads.  A few games of pool and table football in the games room, swimming in the pool, and then back to walmart later in the day for some extra bits.

Cumbrian Lakes villa

Pool and Conservation View

Open plan living space

2nd living space

Study space on landing

 

Games room (Garage)

We decided on a game of crazy golf but after being hot and sunny all day the weather looked like it was closing in so we decided to do dinner first and see if it passed. The 192 (main kissimmee road) was really busy and by the time we got to Bahama Breeze there were queues out the door, as there seemed to be at lots of restaurants.   We eventually ended up at Dennys.

The rain had by now passed so we decided to stop off at Congo River Golf.  We bought a one week unlimited play pass - should keep us busy!

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