Our Trip to Florida 2005

We had a good flight via Chicago, arriving at Dad & Eileen’s on Monday 30^th May. Although it was early evening, to us it was very early morning, so we went pretty much straight to bed.

From 7am the next morning, Lisa was either next to, or in the pool,

While Nix was in it,

or occasionally next to it, looking for lizards!

We went for a drive to Boca Grand, with its amazing Banyan trees.

Last time we saw a manatee off the beach but not thisime.

This is Boca Grand’s church, still waiting repairs from Hurricane Andrew!

ORLANDO

This is part of our view from the hotel window. It was raining when we arrived (we actually had 9 inches of rain in the first 14 days of the holiday!)

Remember this view – you will see it again in various stages of dampness!

SEAWORLD

For our first theme park we got up really early, booked a coach ride to the park, ate a quick breakfast and set off. The coach was about £15 for the 4 of us – and took no more than 10 minutes, so from then on Brian drove to the parks.

We got to Seaworld well before it opened, and had to wait for half an hou

r or so – we waited by the “Fling-goes” and took photos especially for Dad & Eileen – doesn’t Lisa look impressed!

The visitors weren’t permitted into the park until 9:30 – after the raising of the stars & stripes and the singing of the national anthem! We bought raincoats – and could easily spot fellow brits. They were the ones in the rain “isn’t this warm” as opposed to the Americans who huddled under storefronts and brollies!

I really enjoyed seeing all the animals, but Brian and the girls were there for the rides. As we were there so early, and the weather was so naff, there was hardly anyone in the queues, so they went on the first ride, Kraken, loads of times.

This is their carriage, on its way up the initial climb.

I tried to get photos of the rest of their ride – but wasn’t quick enough …

They were at the front of the ride – so I took the next one good and early …

We watched the Shamu show. Nix wanted to sit in the splash zone, while Brian and Lisa deliberately sat well away!

The strength and power on these animals was amazing – and so was the training that they had had.

The show was well thought out, and there was a huge screen so we could see what was happening even if it was at the far end of the pool.

Nix & I knew we were in

the splash zone, but I

thought we’d got away

ith it, when this huge

splash was created

by Shamu …

Until the next one…

MGM

Lisa & Nix meet

Minnie Mouse!

This was part of a special effects show – the volunteer had to pretend to be starring in “Pearl Harbour”. All he had to do was talk on the phone – but he might get a bit wet …

We could see the

water tanks and

trickle of water

next to him…

But he couldn’t see what was about to happen!

Have you noticed the sky behind him, it looks real – but it isn’t!

This was also part of the Special Effects show – the water suddenly started hurtling down the ‘cliff’ face. It was so sudden that I didn’t even realise that it was artificial and planned, just instinctively moved to shield Lisa from certain death!

Then we went to the back of the lot – and saw the pumps and pipes that had carried the water

We were introduced to the idea of false perspective…

…And to Darth Vader and a Storm Trooper (Note to Stig and Mum – who has the photo of Stig and I wearing these masks in Norway?)

Disney Parades are so corny … you have to do them!

Especially when the Star Wars team is there too!

Island of Adventure

We all got a soaking on the Popeye ride!

Hotel Day

This slide was advertised outside the hotel as the Longest Python Flume in the World

A bit of a sad advert, but the slide kept the girls busy when we had a rest day, away from the parks. Still some problems with thunder and lightning keeping them out of the pool, but it was open most of the day.

View from the hotel room – remember it from the beginning of the holiday?

DISCOVERY COVE

Not one of the better days for weather, but an amazing day. No more than 1000 guests can book

in, the admission fee includes wetsuit, snorkel, etc plus a meal. The tropical rain did nothing to spoil the day (we were wet anyway) and the lightning didn’t get nearer than 10 miles so sessions weren’t cancelled.

Nix & Diego

Lisa & Diego

As well as swimming with dolphins, there was a lazy river that took us through an amazing aviary, where we could get out and feed tame tropical birds.

This man had a good idea to

get the birds on his head –

but Nix didn’t need to copy!

We also swam with tropical fish and stingrays. – Awesome!

Universal Studios

Lisa having a go

at map reading!

The Hulk ride was the favourite ride as Island of Adventures , but the best view of the ride was from here at Universal!

Universal Studios – again!

On the second visit we (as in Brian, Lisa & Nix) managed to get onto Duelling Dragons (twice)

Remember the re-occurring theme of the hotel car park – here we are again!

Typhoon Lagoon

There were lots of water parks in Orlando, but we chose this one, and had a brilliant day there.

The first ‘ride’ was a bazaar water slide for 2 people at a time. You collected a two-man dinghy and carried it up leads of steps, then you got in at the top and were pushed off a platform. First (predictably) we went down a slide, but at the bottom there was a massive jet of water pushing us UP the next hill! After than we needed a rest, so we grabbed a rubber ring and went round the part in a lazy river…

…passing Lilo

and Stitch

on the way

(well this is

Disney!)

Lots of flume rides

And a massive swimming area with a machine creating the biggest wave we’ve ever seen.

We were really lucky with the weather (although my peeling shoulder may not seem to show that!)

It was mostly sunny and occasionally overcast. At 6pm the part closed, and by 6:05 we were drenched by another tropical storm!

Busch Gardens

Our last planned Theme Park was Busch Gardens. By this time we had overdosed on theme parks and sunshine. We managed to see some animals via a cable car ride, a train ride, and a jeep safari ride, the we had a meal and called it a day heading back to Dad & Eileen’s