Sunday, April 04, 2004
Sea World
Just got back from a weekend at Sea World and Orlando. Parker was fascinated by the animals, and sat and clapped and danced his way through the Dolphin Show, a first for any amusement park we've been to. He was sooooo tuckered out that today all we did was see Shamu before he was ready for his nap. We also went to the top of an enormous multi-level play gym they have that consists of people-sized hamster tunnels and net ropes. In retrospect, it probably wasn't the best play area for a two-year old, as I had to carry/push him along the entire way. The eight or nine years olds who were traumatized sitting halfway up a three story rope mesh walk crying didn't help either.
Anyway, a fine time was had by all, including the two members of Kristin's Baby Board who had come to spend the day with us. We spent a lot of time in the back play area, which had a youngling bouncing room and a large sandbox.
We stayed near Downtown Disney in a room on the eighteenth floor. There was a tremendous view, which was well worth it, but a long elevator ride. On one trip, I met a couple that seemed to me to be every bit of the quintessential image of the Russian mobster and his moll. He spoke with a thick accent and wanted to know about the bar on the top floor, while the girl, Stretched and yawned and spoke in a sing-song petulant voice about how late it was and wanted to go. It felt pretty surreal.
Things to note about Sea World: The crowds are lighter, make enough time to get from one show to the next, and food is even more overpriced that it is at Disney. As parking is so much easier there, go out and eat when you get hungry. Also, the fireworks show is on a level little better that that of your local JayCee club. And it's amazingly short. Did Disney buy all of the quality fireworks in central Florida?
That being said, they have the best roller coaster I can remember being on. It's called the Kraken and it incredibly smooth. And, at nine at night, there's no line at all!
After leaving Sea World, I spent about a half hour at the hotel before we left trying to track down Kristin's pillow, which we left in the room. Apparently it got thrown in with the others in the laundry. I had them search the room, and the laundry chute itself. Twice. They did finally find it, which was a tremendous relief. Hey, don't go passing judgment until you've slept on it. I would have rutted about their pillow pile until I found it, if I had to.
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