Discovery Cove

About 12 years ago, John and I went to Orlando to Discovery Cove on a couples weekend.   We were excited to finally have a kiddo old enough to experience it with us!   The park had a familiar but different feel to it and we learned they had swapped some of the exhibit spaces around, so it eventually all made sense!

I made us Uber over really early to check in to make sure we would have a morning dolphin swim (because adults can't drink the all-inclusive beer package until after the dolphin swim....and it's first come, first assigned).   Apparently we were about the fourth family in line because not only were we an 8-something a.m. swim, we were done and on the beach and had to wait for the drinks to start at 10!   We got to watch the sunrise as we wandered around the resort and along the beach!   So many birds!  Then we donned our short wet suits and got ready for the dolphin swim!

 

My frugality won out and I did not buy the dolphin swim photo package.  There just weren't any great digital picture options for the couple of ok photos that they got of us.  And there wasn't that one that was just amazing.  But, hey, we have memories right?!  And I took some pictures of strangers doing their dolpin swim so I could remember the set up.   We interacted with two different dolphins.  One that did some demo of the skills and glided past us to touch and this kiss.   And then a larger dolphin that "swam" each of us from the middle of the pool back to the group. 

 

 

After our swim, we enjoyed the Great Reef for snorkeling and the lazy river areas for warmer, relaxing swims.   Admittedly I was pretty distracted outside our of dolphin swim time due to a work fire drill.  I usually blog about the joys of flexible work, which means I get to vacation almost anytime.   But the downside of flexible work means that I never travel without my laptop and I have my iPhone in hand while at the parks - in this case dealing with issues from the beach while my family snorkels. 

 

 

The day ended up being perfectly sunny and warm.   I can't remember why William chose to bury himself here....just killing time before lunch perhaps.  This kid just needs a pure beach vacation!   However, he needs a little more supervision with the sunscreen!   We wore special "dolphin friendly" sunscreen so that may have been part of it.  Luckily it didn't peel or bother him.

 

Universal Island of Adventure

Day 2 was rope drop at Islands of Adventure, and our priority was Hagrid's ride which does not accept the Express Pass.  We were at the front of the line at the gates, and the front of the line at the rope, and then somehow we lost some ground and were an hour back in the line.....a line that didn't open for an hour....so combined with our hour early at the gate, the ride ended up being a three hour commitment.  Darn it!  The best laid plans!

We did eventually get to ride Hagrid's and it was an awesome ride.  Definitely a Disney-caliber ride.  But William's favorite ride ended up being The Hulk coaster.   We ended up riding it four times - including in the dark and in the front row.   Another ride that I really enjoyed was Jurassic Park water ride.

We had lunch at the Greek restaurant which was yummy.  And William enjoyed the mythology references.   Thank goodness we read all those Percy Jackson books (and made that trip to Greece)!

 

 

Universal Studios Orlando

Our Disney loving family finally went across town to Universal Studios.  We had previously planned and had to cancel a trip to Universal Studios Hollywood due to illness and we've mentally planned/spreadsheet a trip to Universal Studio Orlando a few times before, but finally pulled the trigger for the long Columbus Day weekend.   We stayed at Loew's Portofino Bay Resort which had nicely sized rooms and included Unlimited Express Passes (which are a must-have at Universal) and had a Starbucks   I'd definitely stay there again!   

The first day our plan was to hit Universal Studios which has the Gringott's ride and Diagon Alley portion of Harry Potter.  In order to make it to rope drop, we were lined up at the boat dock in the dark.   We were also a 15-20 minute walking distance (for people who don't mind walking), but the boat was a lovely way to get to/from the parks.     

I was so amazed with all of the detail in Diagon Alley.  It was just spectacular.  The Gringott's ride - because we were in the back - was only ok.   But we saw the dragon breath fire and enjoyed ALL of the snacks!!! 

 

 

 

After our run through London, we moved over to Springfield!  All we wanted was the giant donut for breakfast after the early open of the Harry Potter stuff, but it was still too early!   So we rode a few rides and then finally got that donut.  Crazy enough, it was actually pretty tasty!  I'm thinking my expectations for it must have been pretty low.   We drank/ate a lot of Butterbeer things, but funny enough I don't recall drinking as many beers as that Duff picture would imply!

After loading up on sugar, we moved back to the main drag to the Minions ride.   Super cute!  And then we took the Hogwart's Express over to Islands of Adventure (Hogsmeade).   

 

 Oh....and then there was the candy!   We told William he could get a robe and a wand, but he negotiated for a $20 bag of candy instead.  Considering that was a 90% savings, I was quick to agree!

We were able to enjoy dinner and a movie at the pool that evening, which I really loved, too.  Day One was a success!