We Had The Time Of Our Lives
By maddysmommy
@maddysmommy (16230)
United States
August 14, 2007 9:33am CST
Finally I have managed to catch up with most of my mylot emails I received this past week. As some of you know our family went on vacation to Orlando Florida last week and had a blast.
We stayed at the Orlando Florida World Center Hotel and Resort - Marriott and it was flash. My husband managed to find a good package for 5 days and 4 nights including 3x tickets to Seaworld for the duration of our stay. The hotel had everything we could think of from Starbucks LOL to restaurants, souvenir shops, a food court, children's activity center including arcade and games, table tennis, basketball and volleyball court, huge swimming pool with water slides and water falls, and everything else that usually comes with the hotel. Of course we stayed away from the mini bar and a few of the restaurants because of the prices and dined on take out and ventured around the outlets and streets nearby the hotel. The only restaurant we dined at for dinner one time and breakfast three times was Solaris, very yummy buffet breakfast (eat all you want for $20 or thereabouts LOL). The service was great and my son LOVED the hotel rooms and the beds, they were so comfy. This was his first time in a hotel room LOL and he didn't want to leave.
One things for sure, the weather is so much hotter down there than it is back in DC. We found that out the next day we went to Seaworld and should have waited until late afternoon. We were sweating and I think slightly dehydrated even though we had lots of bottle of water with us. We were forever looking for aircon rooms to visit instead of being outside in the sun. We got to touch dolphins and stingrays which was a little scarey and slimy at the same time LOL We saw 2x Shamu the Whale shows during the day and at night. The night one ROCKED and we got splashed bigtime. It was nice and refreshing considering how hot it was that day. We saw all types of sharks, penguins, fishes etc it was fascinating. They even had fireworks at night which was ok, not as big as Disneyworld, but was a pleasure to watch.
We bought souvenirs, even won a big sized dragon from my basketball shots but had to leave it at the hotel as it was too big to take home. We even had to give a few toy dolphins away because we had so many that we won and couldn't bring home.
We found a few theme parks nearby and played mini golf and of course I won, rode gokarts and mini rides too LOL - they were so much fun! definitely felt like a kid again!
Most of all we enjoyed the swimming and sitting by the pool sipping on diet coke or sprite LOL It was the life and even though it lasted only for a week, it was well worth it:) Next time, whenever that is, I hope to visit Disneyworld and Universal Studios.
2 people like this
16 responses
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
14 Aug 07
Wow its sounds like you guys had a great time. When I was down there visiting my sister she took me there too. I had the best time. Your right it was certainly well worth it. Glad to hear you had such a grand time. And welcome back!
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
14 Aug 07
Thank you Terry, we did have a wonderful time being our first family vacation and all and I'm sure my son will not forget it :) I am glad to be back too! I missed everyone!
@patgalca (18394)
• Orangeville, Ontario
14 Aug 07
When we went to Orlando a few years ago we had a blast as well. The only difference I would make if I were to do it again would be to go for 10 days instead of 7. We lost a whole day because we arrived at 11am but couldn't check in at the hotel until 4pm. And then there were a couple of days of rain which we did not anticipate.
We went to Canada's Wonderland a couple of weeks ago and people were leaving with these giant stuffed Nemos. I'm telling you they were bigger than their kids - probably about 4-5 feet long and 3 feet wide. One family had TWO of them. I don't know where they found room in their vehicle for them.
Glad you had a great time.
2 people like this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
14 Aug 07
haha we actually won two also, one red one and one purple but I traded the red one back in for two small dolphins. They only had a pink and purple one and my son didn't like those colors, so i gave them away to two little girls :) My son would of loved winning a giant nemo :) I would of too.
@Darkwing (21583)
•
23 Aug 07
Wow... it sounds as though you had a really fantastic time, which is always good to hear. It's great to see such happy postings in here from time to time!
I've never visited Disneyworld or Disneyland, but my Son's family plan to go to California next year. They've visited Disneyland Paris, but it's on a much smaller scale and all the characters speak in French. From the sounds of it, they will enjoy the Parks in the USA, much better.
Brightest Blessings.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
23 Aug 07
Hi Darkwing, we did have a fantastic time and hoping to visit Disneyworld in the near future. Now that would be a lot of fun too!
@poppoppop111 (5731)
• Canada
23 Aug 07
sounds like a great trip. my daughter and i just went to orlando florida this past december. we didn't make it to sea world though, we just did the disney parks. i'm planning on going back to do sea world when she is six in two years. that way we can book to swim with the dolphins. they won't let them go any younger than 6 years old so we thought we'd wait.
1 person likes this
@poppoppop111 (5731)
• Canada
23 Aug 07
i also forgot to mention. there is marine land about 6 hours from where we live which is kind of the same thing. so we've been there and i got to feed a killer whale and pet one last time i was there. it's amazing to get to pet something like that.
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
23 Aug 07
We were hoping to swim with the dolphins too but were not able to. They had a area where we could touch them but that was about it. Hopefully next time we will get to do Disneyworld and other theme parks. My son would of loved to have been able to touch a whale, his favorite mammal of all time.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
15 Aug 07
hahaha now that would be interesting for use~
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
15 Aug 07
hahaha! We did have a blast and still buzzing from it all. Now its time to get Madison ready for school in a couple of weeks. I am anxious, excited, overwhelmed and not sure what I should be doing LOL
1 person likes this
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
15 Aug 07
Now, Now, calm down. Everything going to be all right. I know that you are so excited about your son starting school soon. You are going to miss him while he's gone. But, when he comes home, you will get to hear all the cool school stories. Just wait until he draws his first picture of the family in school. You have to post it so that I can point and giggle, LOL.
1 person likes this
@Flight84 (3048)
• United States
15 Aug 07
It sounds like you guys had a blast! I bet your son loved all that stuff.:) I have never been to SeaWorld, but I would love to go one day. I would like to see a Shamu show. I love going to aquariums. Yay! You won at mini golf! It's always fun to beat the men, right?:) Again, I'm glad you guys has a fun and safe trip.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
15 Aug 07
haha my husband gave up after the 10th hole and said *ok you won* I mean he is the golfer and not me haha!
We did have a lot of fun and the Shamu shows were AWESOME. Not sure when the next time will be but hopefully within a couple of years we can get to visit Disney and Universal Studios.
@disvachic (10117)
• United States
16 Aug 07
Sounds like you had yourself a BALL!!! Its good to vacation and enjoy life.We only live once on this earth so enjoy while you can.Glad you had fun.
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
17 Aug 07
We did have a blast and wished we could have stayed longer. Don't think we will be travelling for a long time now, but at least we got to have our first family vacation together :_)
@inderjeetnogi (514)
• India
15 Aug 07
the best time of my life was when i went dubai, i enjoyed every bit of it, we went to shopping malls especially artifical snowland at emirates mall
enjoyment in life comes for a little time only
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
15 Aug 07
It sure does. Even though we are still buzzing from the vacation, its now back to reality and getting back into our routine at home. My son starts school in a couple of weeks so i am getting him ready for that.
@awonderfullife (2893)
• United States
16 Aug 07
It's been over a deacade since I was in Orlando but I had the BEST time at Universal Studios! And Disneyworld- if your kids are young it's just the best place to vacation. Heck, even if your kids are older! Sounds like you had a great trip though!
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
17 Aug 07
We sure did, hope to visit Disney and Universal Studios one day. I think all these places are great for everyone young and old :) thanks for your comment awonderfullife!
@wisedragon (2325)
• Philippines
14 Aug 07
I also have a blast whenever I go to Orlando, but that's one park I haven't visited -- Seaworld. Maybe next time I'll check it out. I'm pretty sure you'll have a blast at Disneyworld and Universal Studios as well.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
15 Aug 07
I hope we get to go back there one day :) I really enjoyed Orlando Florida and its most definitely a nice place to retire. Thanks for your comment wisedragon!
@squaretile (3778)
• Singapore
15 Aug 07
glad you had a great time! hope you took pictures of mr big dragon before you left him behind. hope maddy wasn't too sad to leave mr dragon. sounds like you guys were really good at the games too!
the things about theme parks and their surroundings is that everything is usually overpriced, and you're held to ransom because there's nothing else in the vicinity. they should have supermarkets nearby for cheaper food options, but then again, it's a holiday!
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
15 Aug 07
I think we have one picture of Mr Dragon :) As for the prices, yes overpriced alright thats why we went to CVS to stock up on drinks and water, snacks and nibbles and ate out at the take out places as the restaurants were wayyyy too expensive (except one). We only nibbled at Seaworld and only bought a few souvenirs and won the rest LOL So in all it was not too bad, considering.
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
14 Aug 07
Welcome back. I am so glad you had fun. Your son will surely remember this trip. I'm sure it was fun but I bet you are glad to be back home.
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
14 Aug 07
It was a lot of fun and even though a couple more days would of been nice, I think I am happy to be home. Now its back to the grindstone and getting my son ready for school in a couple of weeks :) Love the profile pic haha! cute~!
@Robinsman (52)
• United States
15 Aug 07
Hello..and welcome back. I too went to orlando two years ago and had a wonderful time, The hotel that I stayed in wasn't as hospitable as yours sounds..It was very nice but I just didn't experiance the not wanting to leave part..lol
I only stayed for three day's and now wished I stayed longer but still had a good time, I was on a trip to travel Florida I went there with my final destination being Key largo and Key west a whole differant experience than Orlando..I suggest to everyone at least one time in your life go and see the Keys...they are beautiful and relaxing I ended up staying there for 8 days instead of the 5 like I planned. There are lots to do there for kids too...I went to John Penecamp(spelling??) park it was wonderful I went on a glass bottom boat tour that took us over some reefs and oh my god..You have to do this it was so beautiful..so beautiful that I had to scuba dive next that I will never forget. Well enough rambling on about my trip...Glad you had fun and thanks for bringing up the subject...it reminded me of Florida and what I want to do next vacation.
Thanks
Darrell (ohio by the way)
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
15 Aug 07
Hi Darrell, your description of The Keys sounds wonderful. I would love to experience riding in a glass bottom boat and looking at the reef and fishes etc. My son would absolutely love that. I have only seen that on tv.
We did have a great time and hope to visit again one day. Thanks for responding :)
@Moosebreath (119)
• United States
4 Mar 08
Thanks for sharing. Always nice to hear about great places to go from someone who went there themselves.
@Kaseier23 (88)
• Canada
3 Mar 08
Next time you are down there you for sure have to go to Disneyworld and Universal they are the best theme parks ever! I'm glad you had a good time though. I never have been to seaworld. I would like to go though.
1 person likes this