Day 9 - Seaworld.

Today started bright and sunny (and bloody hot again!) with breakfast at Sizzlers - don't know what Thomas is going to do without his morning pancake, or William with his bowl of chocolate slop!

Then we hit Seaworld. It was quiet when we got there so we managed to ride Manta and Kraken twice each within the first hour - score! Manta was a fantastic ride, very much like Air at Alton Towers, a face-down flying type ride which at one point goes through a "pretzel loop" which is like a backwards upside down 360' loop! Amazing!

Kraken was a "normal" roller coaster with 7 inversions - William counted them!

We then watched the Shamu show which also featured Shamu's baby - sooo cute. Glad we weren't in the splash zone though it was quite amusing watching the cross people who didn't believe it when they said "you will get wet". Sit in the soak zone - what do you expect?!

        

We then walked round to the Dolphin Show and this was far more than just a dolphin show. We were treated to acrobatics, diving, dolphin stunts and free-flying parrots! Wow!

Proof that I was here for those of you who've been asking where the photos of me are!

Now we're back in our hotel room busily packing for the next part of our amazing adventure. Tomorrow - New York baby!!

        

Day 8 - Typhoon Lagoon

Another brilliant day thanks to the "imagineers" at Disney. 

Typhoon Lagoon is a waterpark based around a huge wave pool - with the hugest waves I have ever seen. They quite literally knock you off your feet! 

We spent several happy hours (well, maybe not hours but saying several happy minutes sounds wrong!) on the Lazy River - can't go wrong lying back in a big inflatable tube letting the gentle water take you round. 

        

William swam with sharks (twice) which he said was a fab experience. He snorkelled across a pool containing hammer head sharks, ray, tang fish and other fish. How exciting! 

At one point all the pools,slides and flumes had to be closed due to an immense thunder storm, so we sat on deck chairs in torrential rain for half an hour waiting for the storm to pass - and then we managed to get straight on the rapids which has previously had a 45 minute wait!

Lights, music and magic - Disney style!

We did it! We have finally managed to watch The Main Street Electrical Parade, Celebrate the Magic and the Wishes Nighttime Spectacular fireworks show at The Magic Kingdom. I have just got two things to say - WOW and I'd you've never seen these shows you don't know what you're missing!

        

Day 7 - Hollywood Studios Park

Ok - can't believe we're half way through our amazing adventure already! 

Today started with breakfast at  Sizzlers again - apparently it's "where America comes to eat", and judging by the line at the buffet they're not far wrong! 

Today it was the turn of Disney's Hollywood Studios Park to entertain us, and it certainly did. With blisteringly hot temperatures reaching 38' we were again glad of Disney's air-con obsession - in shops, in restrooms, in queuing areas - bliss! 

We started off taking Thomas on Aerosmith's Rock 'n' Rollercoaster. Neil, William & I have all ridden this at Disneyland Paris before, but it was Thomas's first time. The launch start (where they take the ride photos) is really, quite literally, breath taking. For those of you who've not experienced it, the Rock 'n' Rollercoaster is an indoor, in the dark, coaster with loops, twists and turns, all set to a soundtrack of Aerosmith music which plays through speakers in your headrest. The first time round we were all singing along loudly to "Dude Looks Like a Lady". On exiting, Thomas declared it to be brill so we had to ride it again immediately! This time we were prepared with our cheesy grins for the launch start cameras, and this is what we came up with!

       

After our second ride, we went on one of Thomas's Disneyland Paris favourites - Star Tours. We all really enjoyed this 3-D simulator ride, but Thomas likes the Paris version better - sorry Florida!

Next we watched the Indiana Jones stunt show which was really entertaining, even I enjoyed this bit of boyishness. 

The Back Lot Tram tour, which as it says in the title, takes you behind the scenes at the studios. Based on the Paris version, we again thought the Florida version didn't quite live up to it's European original. 

We then strolled through an exhibition of costumes and props from Hollywood films, including the handcuffs and axe from the scene in Titanic where Rose (Kate Winslet) has to chop them off Jack's (Leonardo DiCaprio) wrists. Maria's travelling costume from the final scenes of The Sound of Music and the marionettes from the Lonely Goatherd scene were on display. 

      

         

      

and part of the script containing the opening dance sequence directions for the film version of the musical West Side Story. 

              

         

Our last ride today was the Movie tour ride which took us through the history of Hollywood films. 

On the way back to the car park came the highlight of my day - Minnie Mouse! I did actually want to wait and have my photo taken with her properly, but the line was too long :(

       

Forgot this one!

Forgot to mention that Thomas also went on Kumba yesterday!

Getting quite brave now hey?!

Had a lovely wander down I Drive last night after tea (at Sizzlers again coz Thomas reckons that they do the best fish ever here!). 

          

          

          

Our car, would have to be the coolest car ever! 

        

Day 6 - Busch Gardens

Last night's firework and light show was one of the best I have ever seen - and I've seen some pretty fab fireworks in my life as anyone who's been to the Shrewsbury Flower show will vouch for! Nobody does it quite like Disney does it hey!?! And I can't wait to go and see the Disney Magic Kingdom fireworks later this week!

Today started early to be at the park for opening at 10am. It was a nice drive over to Tampa - saw a bit more of the "real" America. 

Busch Gardens is a vary tidily landscaped theme park/wildlife park housing numerous exotic animals. First stop was a brand new ride named after one of Busch Gardens inhabitants - Cheetah Run. This was an exhilarating roller coaster ride featuring 3 fast launches from 0-60 mph replicating the speed of a cheetah. It was a really exciting breath-taking ride which we all enjoyed. 

Next was Montu, Voted America's 7th best roller coaster. The initial climb went so high you could see over the whole park - even as far as the giraffes grazing in the distance. This first climb was quickly followed by 360' loops, corkscrews, and rolls. It was fantastic. So much do that Thomas insisted we ride it again immediately!

Next we went on the safari train ride, our second day of seeing beautiful animals in a very natural setting. We saw Rhinos, including one who crossed the train track right in front of us (the driver did stop for him!) and a baby rhino wallowing in the mud swamp. We then rounded the corner to see largest herd of giraffe I have ever seen - a closely observing the train as it passed. The two newest baby giraffe weren't up for performing to the camera and stayed sitting down as we passed. 

After lunch Neil and Thomas went on the Congo Rapids - Thomas has discovered a new love of wet rides this week!

Then sadly the Floridian weather got the better of us , and after waiting for over 30minutes for the log flume, we were told that all the rides were closed due to severe thunder storms in the area. We hung around the park a while longer in the hope that the threat of death-by- lightning would pass, but eventually decided that we'd call it a day and head home. Not a minute too soon! As our tram neared the car park area, big, fat, wet raindrops began to descend, the heavens turned black and thunder rumbled all around us. We saw some more of this state's amazing lightning and torrential rain on our way home, and we're glad to be safe and dry in the car!

Day 5 - Animal Kingdom & Epcot

        

Today's blog is being written whilst waiting for the IllumiNations fireworks display at Epcot - got a few minutes to kill!

Today has been crazy busy and mad hot!

The day began at Animal Kingdom in Dino Land where we rode Dinosaur and Primeval Whirl in quick succession. We then walked round the park and Neil & William braved Expedition Everest (didn't fancy the going backwards bit personally!). We all enjoyed a sedate ride on the Wildlife Express Train which was a chance to "take the load off" for a few minutes! Then we went in safari which was a fantastic experience - we saw lions, elephants, cheetah, hippos, rhinos and (my favourite) some beautiful giraffes. 

            

We then drove to Epcot and got an excited tingle upon seeing the iconic "golf ball" that is Spaceship Earth. We designed and test drive our own concept car in Test Track, commanded a spaceship in Mission:Space, flew high above California in Soarin' and looked back at the history if the earth in Spaceship earth. We're now sitting by World Showcase Lagoon with bellies full of yummy Italian pizza waiting to be amazed by some legendary Disney magic!