BFTE- Best Florida Trip Ever!
On Sunday, May 18 we packed up and headed to the airport for a week of fun in Orlando, Florida. My lovely parents were kind enough to stay home and entertain the kids so Ryan and I could have and adventure with our friends. My parents had a week with us and the kids before we left to get to know our routines/schedules and I was more worried for them than the kids :)
On our way to the airport!
Waiting for our plane
Getting ready to fly to Florida!
After getting a little lost in the airport, we met our friends and walked to the rental car area. My friend Lauren and I played cards while the boys got our rental car. Once we got the car we loaded up and headed to our condo. It was a really nice 2 bedroom villa with a kitchen and living room and dining area. Good work Lauren picking it out. We unloaded our things and went out to dinner. It was great to catch up and relax and eat yummy food. On our way home we went by Target to load up on food for the week.
On Monday May 19, 2014 we woke up early to go to Universal Studios. There are two Universal Studios parks in Florida. We started at Universal's Islands of Adventures and lined up with the crowd to run to the Harry Potter area of the park.
We wanted to ride the new Harry Potter ride, Diagon Alley before the lines got too long. It was one of my favorite rides and I liked the cool dark castle we walked through to get to the ride.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy.
Hogsmeade is a cute little area with shops and stores and snow in the middle of the summer.
Of course we had to try butterbeer. It was really really sweet and reminded me of the consistency of a root beer float but had a caramel or butterscotch taste.
I'm pretty sure it was while in line for the Incredible Hulk ride that I was falling asleep standing up.
Hulk Smash!
Rockin' our awesome 3-D glasses for the Spiderman ride.
When we had our fill at Island of Adventure, we walked to the other park, Universal Studios Florida.
I didn't take many photos in this park, but I think it was because I was secretly (or not so secretly) terrified of going on a ride called Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. I don't mind twists and turns and upside down etc. but I don't do drops very well. Let me show you a photo of this rollercoaster.
Ok, well that photo doesn't do it justice, but still that's a steep drop for me. Getting to the top was the worst part. This is how we got to the top.
Are you crazy!? I didn't want to go on this ride. I was nervous and anxious and feeling yucky. We went through the rest of the park just fine going on some other awesome rides. I knew my time was coming up as we finished the other rides and shows and headed in the direction of this ride. I was focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. That was all I would allow myself to think about. Then we got in line. The wait was terrible. I felt so nervous. I had been happy and jumpy and talking all day until then. I became quiet and still. We made it to the front and I couldn't even look at the ride. Just get in. Just get in. Just get in. Ok, I'm in. Shoulder harness on. Shoulder harness on. Shoulder harness on. Ok. Shoulder harness is on. Close eyes. Don't cry. Close eyes. Don't cry. I failed those last two. When you're going up you're facing straight up. I started crying, tears running down my face into my ears. I couldn't reach to wipe them. Then we dropped. Honestly the drop wasn't as bad as the climb and anticipation. After that it was loops and twists and it was great! I'm glad I did it, but that climb is awful! After the ride was over we learned that each row had a camera so it got the whole thing on video!!! Yep, I was crying like a baby at the begging. Sigh.
This should be my porch. I am incredibly indecisive.
Resting our tired toes after a long day of walking around. I would say day one and two of the best Florida trip ever was huge and exhausting success.
