Floridays15 is over. We had a great time despite the weather being a bit temperamental, but like everything you make the most of it, and apart from the Orlando City match, it didn't actually stop us doing anything.
The last of the souvenirs have been put away (I have a whole shelf of Starbucks mugs now!), all the clothes washed and ironed and the jet lag is pretty much over with. The rest of the family are back at work/school and even the poorly dog has perked up into her usual old but cheery self. We are back in 'normal' mode. Except me - but that's for another post.
I asked the boys what they had enjoyed most this trip. and this is what they said;
Diagon Alley in Universal came up top for most of us, it was pretty spectacular and definitely top of the list for me too. Here's a video I took.
Alexander said he had really enjoyed the indoor Skydiving (all 10 minutes of it!)
..and both boys had enjoyed their morning at The Fun Spot. A place thats been there for years but we have never been to before. I wish we had taken them there before, they both loved the four go cart tracks.
Hubby and I both loved the Orlando Eye. It was a beautiful morning and seeing everything around us from up there brought back memories of previous visits when we had stayed on International Drive with his parents. The 'Eye' was actually built on land that had been the 'Mercado' a Spanish style shopping/restaurant/entertainment centre that we had visited many times and usually for the obligatory 'Bourbon Chicken' in the food court on the first night there.
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| The new 'Orlando Eye' |
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| View up International Drive |
Had the Orlando City match not been a washout and we'd been able to see the game, we would I'm sure have enjoyed that much more. However, just being there gave us a taste and should we be back there in the next few years we can always try again.
One of our favourite pastimes out there is to try new restaurants. Especially those in Disney while on the Dining Plan as many are expensive and you wouldn't tend to eat in them normally. We had some fantastic food.
Tappan Edo in Disneys Epcot World Showcase was top for the two boys - surprisingly since both aren't very adventurous with food but this was chicken, steak and noodles cooked on a hotplate infant of them. Even Alexander ate most of his.
Hubby and I thought the Filet Minion Oscar Style in The Boathouse at Disney Springs was amazing. A large 14oz Steak topped with lump crab in a bearnaisse dressing followed by key Lime Pie. Although the meal in Jiko at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and also the Wilderness Lodge came close behind.
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| Filet Minion Oscar Style...mmm |
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| African pot steak |
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| Creme Brûlée - my favourite dessert |
Having said all the above, we all felt that we need a change now. The boys still enjoy the roller coasters and other rides but not enough to stand in a long line in the sun to go on them. The magical 'goose pimple' thrill of walking down Main Street in The Magic Kingdom for the first time has long gone leaving us with the comfortable feeling you get when you know exactly where the short cuts are to get across the park and the location of every restroom.
It will be a good few years before we spend a small fortune on Florida again. In five years time the current renovations and new building work will be complete and maybe we will consider it. Maybe the boys will be too old and doing their own things by then leaving hubby and I to go alone and have a completely different experience...
Until then we have a lot of fantastic memories to look back on and millions of photographs to smile over. Not to mention my collection of Florida Starbucks mugs.
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