In Search of Sunshine Day 11 - Orlando

Well halfway though the hols now, but still two hotels to go. Got two more nights here in the Extended Stay Deluxe on International Drive, before heading a mile further up to the Royal Pacific Resort hotel at Universal Studios. This is a 5* hotel where you get great pool and facilities etc but also the golden ticket to all the good rides. A one park one day single ticket costs £65 on top of the usual price for park ticket. So we always treat ourselves to a few days luxury to take advantage of early entry to Harry Potter and loads of goes on the new rides. Following that we head over to the Gulf Coast for a few days in St. Petersburg and the beaches before flying back from Tampa Bay.

Some people might find all the travelling a bit of a chore and prefer to lounge on a beach or beside the pool all their holiday, but thats not for us. We love seeing new places, and there is so much more to Florida than theme parks. One of our favourite places is St. Augustine up near the Georgia border. We have been to fresh water springs, hidden in the outback and eaten in lovely little restaurants out on stilts in the ocean. Once the boys have grown and we can travel alone, we will travel a lot more across the US.

Tuesday began with an early start to Universal Studios. Being the busy time of the year, lots of North and South Americans here, as well as the scattering of Europeans means queues everywhere. Had we come a couple of weeks later, the US schools would have started again and it would be a lot quieter. We had no choice this year due to flight availability. So we managed to get onto Rip Rocket Roller Coaster fairly quickly, and The Mummy - even hubby went on, but then felt queasy the rest of the day. Should have learnt his lesson by now.

The Approach

Rip Rockin Roller Coaster

One of the things I love doing now is just sitting and watching the world pass by. Even better if it also involves a nice coffee or ice cream as it did yesterday. As you people watch, you realise that there really aren't many tall, slim, totally attractive people. Most people have something that stops them being 'gorgeous'. Like being a bit short, chubby, have bad teeth or hair or just poor posture. The very few I have seen that one might class as being all round 'attractive' have been trying so hard to appear that way, that they look uncomfortable, particularly girls, in high heels and sweaty makeup.

Anyway, the Hot Fudge Sundae with extra sauce went down rather nicely and we went on our snail pace round the lagoon to Men in Black, which was closed. Next stop The Simpson's Ride. A bit of a queue but its a ride you have to do. In the line behind us were a family of hicks...all but denim dungarees. The mother arranged all eleven of them into two lines, two of which ended up in the same car as us. They laughed and hooted all the way through the ride, probably more exciting than aligator hunting or digging for oil.

The week before we left the UK, Alexander watched ET for the first time. I couldnt believe that in 9 years he hadn't watched it. So when he went on the ET ride this time he knew what it was all about. Its one of the oldest rides at Universal, along with Disaster (Earthquake). The old favourites like King Kong, Back to the Future and Jaws have all gone. Replaced with The Mummy, The Simpsons Ride and supposedly a new area linked to Islands of Adventure and Harry Potter (Jaws). Its a shame but I suppose the youngsters want bigger and faster rides, and Universal have to keep up with Disney and Busch Gardens.

We managed to escape an hour or two in Crazy Georges playground, great fun in the water and ball park, but not a 10 min visit. We were getting a bit hot and weary so went back to the hotel and our usual afternoon cool down routine. Except once cool, hubby and I decided to go to the Outlet Mall, leaving the boys in the hotel. Came back a couple of hours later like a packhorse. T-Shirts, trainers and a Fossil handbag that somehow sneaked into my pile of carrier bags.

Fossil Bag

 

The plan to go back into Universal, Islands of Adventure for the last couple of hours had suddenly become 'not such a great idea', but when we suggested otherwise to the boys they made it quite plain they were bored and wanted to go, regardless of our tired and weary legs. So off to IOA again. We did manage to have a sit down and have pasta/lasagne while they went on The Hulk and Spiderman, but couldnt wait to get back to the hotel and put our feet up. Too old for this stuff!

The Christmas Shoppe

Guitar Heroes

 

City Walk

 

City Walk

 

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