Orlando, Florida

We had promised Laura a trip to Orlando for putting up with us taking her away from her friends and across oceans!

At first we were shell-shocked at the price, but knowing we had to do it we kind of turned a blind eye. Tina had helped me find hotels which were connected to parks, but as our eating habits are so weird we felt it would be difficult and more expensive if we stayed in a hotel. Having to eat out every night would not be the healthier option for us, nor would it be cheap.

We booked a car for the week, booked an airbnb which said it was close to the parks, packed up the boat, packed some bags and headed to Orlando, Florida. It felt weird leaving the boat on a mooring ball. We had been told by the marina staff that they don't look after boats. Let's hope their mooring ball holds.

We could only get into the accommodation after 4pm and arrived in Orlando at about one so we went to Florida Mall for a look see. It was a complete sensory overload. We had not been around so many people and noise in months! Even Cape Town malls didn’t feel this overwhelming.

There is so much choice here. For the past two and a bit years, apart from our short sojourn back home, we have been living in the islands. Food is not scarce but there is not a lot of choice. You buy what you can get and the food that is in the shop is either shipped in or grown on the island. Vegetables are very seasonal. Tomatoes, for instance, are unavailable during the rainy season.

Not dressed for fancy shopping

I'm not THAT skinny!
Our car on the right

Laura was delighted when she saw our BnB. It was all Mickey and Minnie themes complete with a stuffed Mickey and Minnie on our bed. It was quite small but big enough for us. Laura had to sleep in the lounge on a sleeper couch. She was happy as she had full control over the TV.

Bright and early on Monday morning we hopped in the car and headed to Magic Kingdom. There was quite a lot of morning traffic but we got there eventually. It took a while to buy tickets and get inside but once we were there we had fun!

ARRG! Takkies!

Had to do the tea cups

She said she wasn't smiling in the 1st photo

Haunted house

It was busier than we expected but not as busy as it could be. We had a few long waits for rides that were only 3 to 5 minutes long!

Laura absolutely loved it. We went to all the shows, watched the parade and did all the rides we could. The most arb show was the Tiki Room which was a bunch of puppets: birds, flowers and drummers singing. 

Unfortunately it started to rain at about 4pm and didn’t stop for an hour or so. After the rain the wait times on the rides were too long so we decided to call it a day.

Laura had left her toothbrush on the boat. We stopped at the biggest Target I have ever seen to buy her a new one.

The other different thing here is putting in petrol, or gas as they call it. You have to pump it yourself. This probably happens in most countries, but not in South Africa! The first time we did it in Titusville a very kind lady helped Andrew. So he knew more or less what to do. The problem is that his credit card doesn’t work at the petrol pump, so he has to go in to the shop to pay first. But he gets it done. 

We were exhausted by the time we got back to the flat at nearly 8pm. We quickly cooked supper and collapsed into bed.

Tuesday was Disney Hollywood Studios. As we had bought tickets for two days/two parks we didn’t need to stand in a queue for tickets. 

We didn’t have to wait long at our first ride which was brilliant. It got busier as the day progressed with our last ride wait time the longest at 75 minutes. It was a brilliant Star Wars ride with us driving the Millennial Falcon. Laura and I were the pilots and Andrew had to shoot things.

The other Star Wars ride was much better, with Storm Troopers. We were captured and had to flee the enemy! It was great fun. I think working on that ride must be the best. They were all dressed up and played the part of the enemy!

We watched a Frozen show which Laura loved! 

The Raiders of the Lost Ark stunt show where they demonstrated how they filmed all the stunts was very good. The backdrops were brilliant and it was fun to watch.

Toy Story was fun

It also rained a bit which made wait times longer. We decided to call it a day at around 6pm. My feet were aching from all the standing, but it was worth it.

It was so amazing to be able to do washing without having to go to a laundromat or off the back of the boat. Pop the washing on while I was cooking supper and it was all clean and dry by the time we went to bed.

Neat set-up

We woke on Wednesday to dark skies, rain and thunder. But as it was a rest day, we didn’t have to dash out too early. 

We went to Millenial Mall which is huge and has fancy shops. Then we found a Publix and bought a few Disney things for Laura. It was far cheaper than in the parks. 

After that we went back to the flat and rested our weary feet.

We got up early on Thursday morning and made our way to Universal Studios. Andrew had bought tickets the night before, so it was quick and easy into the park.

Main Street

We had a lovely time, riding the 3D simulation rides. 

Race through New York with Jimmy Fallon was a good 3D simulated ride. The only pity was we were sitting right in front so it felt like I had to look up throughout the mad dash round New York

The Fast and the Furious was amazing. You were in a truck with visuals both sides, racing through the streets. 

Universal Studios has two parks that have Harry Potter sections which can be accessed via the train, if you have paid for that option. We didn't realize what it was and tried to get access to board the train. The friendly lady at the kiosk set us straight! 

Harry Potter village was amazing and the ride was incredible. We spent quite a long time walking around, looking at all the magical shops and buildings. The dragon on top of the bank spewed fire at one point. So well done!

Gringots Bank

Butterbeer (far too sweet for me!)

We didn't have to wait too long for Men in Black, Alien Attack! 

Transformers 3D ride was unexpectedly good. 

Good old Simpsons ride

We decided we had to do the Simpson's ride for old time's sake. We did it a few times when we were here about twelve years ago. Technology has changed so much that we found this to be one of the outdated, old fashioned rides. There wasn't a long queue but we were still kept waiting. Then we were sent to a room, where more waiting happened, only to be moved again into the waiting area. Apparently there was a problem with that side and we were eventually moved to the other side to enjoy the ride. We were given complimentary fast track tickets for one ride as an apology.

Some of the shows were amazing too. The Bourne Identity one was brilliant. We kept missing the start time but eventually got there for the 3pm show. We shouldn't have worried about being late as they only got us into the auditorium at 3:15. It was amazing. I would have loved to do it again. The scenery moved across the stage giving one the impression that you were moving with the actors. They flew in helicopters and dropped from the sky into a hole in the stage! Very well done!

We had tried to do the E.T ride but that also broke down while we were in the queue, so we left and went to another ride. We went back just before we left for the day and did the ride. It was just as I remembered it, riding on a bicycle to E.T's home. We made the mistake of using our fast pass comp tickets for the E.T ride as we should have kept it for the next one.

The final ride for the day was going to be Revenge of the Mummy. The queue time was supposed to be 50 minutes. After an hour with the queue not moving at all for about 10 minutes, Andrew approached a person working there and asked what was going on. She said that one side was not working. This seemed to be a bit of a trend. We reckoned if the queue was too short they fabricated some problem or other. We decided not to wait as we were exhausted, the place was stuffy and we had waited long enough!

In the end the final activity was Villain-Con Minion Blast which was lots of fun. You step onto a moving floor and shoot aliens with a light gun as you move around the area. It was a great way to finish off the day.

Exhausted, we left the park in the evening and went back to our accommodation.

On Friday morning we went to Islands of Adventure. This time we had a strategy. We went to the Harry Potter rides first. Bonus! The queue for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey was very short, so we did it twice!!

Sorting Hat

Pictures moved and talked

Then we waited a bit to do the Flight of the Hippogriff, which was fun. We decided not to do the Hagrid forest one, it looked a bit hectic.

The Skull Island: Reign of Kong was very well done. Once again we were in an open truck where you could see both sides of the action. 

It rained a bit so we stood in a long queue for the Spiderman ride. The queue was incredibly long but we didn't mind as we were out the rain. 

We splashed out on a beer and a tiny glass of wine before doing one last ride. Then it was time to call it a day.

This was The Hulk ride I did with Matt last time we were here. I was younger, braver and maybe stupider! No way did I want to do it again. Just watching the ride go around made me ill. I wondered how I ever did it the first time?!?

My watch strap had broken so we popped in to Millennium Mall again and bought a new one at the Apple Store. Laura's phone screen had a crack on it but they didn't have screen covers for her phone anymore as it is so old. She was a bit upset about that. She hates cracks or marks on her devices!

On Saturday, after breakfast, we tidied up, packed up and headed back to Titusville.

We had a lovely week in Orlando. It was a great success and Laura thoroughly enjoyed herself. Mission accomplished!