Orlando, February 2023

 

During and immediately after our time in Orlando I neglected to make a blog about our trip. There wasn’t much to tell, really. We spent most of our stay at the amusement parks and everyone had a wonderful time. Most of the details escape me right now.

Funding for the trip came from the estate of my Mom and Dad and we thank them for giving us this opportunity to share this family experience. Most of our story is told by the pictures that follow.

Saturday 11 Feb 2023

Our Regina flight was scheduled for a 6:10 AM departure, so we arranged pick up starting at our place at 3:30 AM followed by Matlocks and Schewkiskis. All was going smoothly until I realized that I had left behind my belly bag with passports, credit cards, etc. inside. I was wearing it while we were waiting for our ride, then, for some reason I took it off and forgot to put it back on. We dropped everyone off at the airport and I imposed on our ride to take me back home to retrieve it, but he could not take me back to the airport because he had another commitment. (He earned a good tip anyway.) I called a cab and made it to the airport in time. Whew!!

We changed planes in Toronto and arrived in Orlando about 3 PM. We were staying at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort on the Universal Studios property and our package included transportation to the hotel.

The Vancouver gang left about 10 AM Pacific time and flew direct to Orlando, arriving about 6:30 PM. Their transportation to the hotel was also included.

At the hotel we had two identical set-ups of two adjoining rooms each. One room of the pair was a regular hotel room with two queen beds. The other room was a large entertaining room with a kitchen, living area, and dining area, but no bedroom. The couch in the living area was a hide-a bed. Matlocks had the hotel room with us in the adjoining room and Schwartzes had the hotel room with Carla and Tyler in their adjoining room.

Sunday 12 Feb 2023

We had great weather for the entire two weeks except for two days, and this was one of them. Most days were sunny and around 30 degrees, plus or minus a couple, although it never felt oppressively hot. This day was cool (lower 20s), cloudy, and breezy, but certainly tolerable.

Our package at Universal included breakfast in the morning which was quite a time-saver. The parks were less than a ten-minute walk from the hotel, but transportation to the parks by boat was included and we used it a few times. The boat ride was even quicker, but you had to wait a few minutes for the boat. Early admission was also included, and we could skip the lines at some of the attractions.

For the entire two weeks we would split up and come together multiple times throughout the day by wifi messages to suit the desires of each family group. But we made a point of bringing the whole group together at least once during each day. We tried to hang out with Darren’s crew as much as possible in the first week because they were only staying for one week.

Our first day was at Universal Studios with a few roller coasters and lots of Harry Potter.

 

Riding the water taxi.

Monday 13 Feb 2023

Universal Studios again. We had a mid-afternoon late lunch/early supper at the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen. It wasn’t in our plan, but we happened upon a Madri Gras parade near closing. The girls really enjoyed it!

 

Walking to the park.

Tuesday 14 Feb 2023

Today we went to Universal’s Volcano Bay water park. Great weather. Lots of fun. No sunburns!

 Riding the bus back to the hotel.

Wednesday 15 Feb 2023

We did a little morning shopping at Universal CityWalk and checked out of the Royal Pacific before noon and checked into the Disney Saratoga Springs Resort in midafternoon. 

 Each room had a large master with an ensuite, another bedroom with two queens and an ensuite, another bathroom, a small kitchen, and a small sitting area with a hide-a bed and a pull out single. We started with Celeste and I in one master with the Matlocks and Carla and Tyler in the other master with the Schwartzes. After Darren’s crew left Celeste and I moved into the hide-a bed with the Shewkiskis and Matlocks in the bedrooms and Louisa in the pull out single bed.

After checking in at Saratoga we decided to walk to Disney Springs instead of waiting for the water taxi. Big Mistake! Disney Springs is a mostly shopping and restaurant district outside the regular Disney parks. For some security reason the gate for the most direct path was not available and we had to take a long about detour on a hot day. After about 25 minutes we arrived at our destination – Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’. Very good. Specialized in chicken.

After we got to our rooms we had some pre-ordered groceries delivered from Walmart so we could get a quick start in the mornings and have a few snacks during the day. In the evening Carla, Tyler, Laura, and Brett went to Hollywood Studios for extended hours.

 Riding the cart to our accommodation.

 Sunset from our balcony.

Thursday 16 Feb 2023

Today was Epcot day with early entry. Carla and Tyler and Matlocks used pretty much every early entry and extended hours opportunity. Darren’s crew used most of them too. Celeste and I were not quite as eager.

Since we were staying at a Disney resort we had bussing included anywhere in Disney World.

The girls met Anna and Elsa from Frozen. 

We had our midafternoon meal at the Biergarten in the German Pavilion. Pretty much my favourite place at Disney World. Great food and entertainment.

I have never been much of a roller coaster guy, but the Guardians of the Galaxy ride may have converted me. Of course, it had exciting music and visuals, but it also had cars that rotated on occasion as they progressed around the track. Great fun!

 Friday 17 Feb 2023

Magic Kingdom day with early entry and extended hours. Big Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, etc. We ate at the Jungle Navigation/Skipper’s Canteen themed similar to the Jungle Cruise. 

We caught part of a parade and saw the fireworks as we were leaving.

Morning from our balcony.

 

Staying in touch with the outside world.

Saturday 18 Feb 2023

Hollywood Studios today. This was the other day that was on the cool side. In the afternoon we went to Oga’s Cantina for drinks and entertainment. It is Star Wars themed and a lot of fun. This park also includes the Toy Story park. In the evening Tyler attended a lightsaber building class.

 Catching the bus back to the hotel.

Sunday 19 Feb 2023

Animal Kingdom early entry today. Pandora, Lion King show, safari, jungle trek, etc. I quite enjoyed the Expedition Everest roller coaster. Part way through it goes up a steep incline and then reverses. Good fun!

 Tyler and friend.

Today was moving day for Darren’s crew. I misunderstood what day they were going home, and I was not able to book another day in their existing room, so they had to move to the Contemporary Resort. That is the one built at the beginning of Disney World with the monorail running through the middle of it. We didn’t get there to see it, but it sounded pretty sweet with a great view, access to a lounge from 7:30 AM until 10:30 PM, and breakfast included.

Monday 20 Feb 2023

The Vancouver gang’s flight home left about 11:30 AM through Toronto.

 

Today was Presidents Day in the US, so it was very busy. We did Epcot again today with early entry and extended hours. Supper was at the San Angel Inn in the Mexican pavilion. Very good.

 Cooling off under the misting station.

After a long day.

Tuesday 21 Feb 2023

Back at Hollywood Studios today with early entry. Another early afternoon visit to Oga’s Cantina. Such good fun. Supper at the 50’s Prime Time Café. Very good grub. The girls met several characters today: Doc McStuffins, Pluto, Fancy Nancy, Goofy, and Chewbacca.

 Wednesday 22 Feb 2023

We checked out of Saratoga Springs today and had them hold our luggage for pickup later. Most of today was spent at Disney Springs. 

You might think these Lego characters are from Legoland, but they are actually from the Lego store in Disney Springs. 

They also had an M&M store with millions (billions?) of M&Ms in 20 foot high tubes with dispensers at the bottom. 

Supper was at Raglan Road Irish Pub. Good food and good fun. 

 

In the early evening we transferred to our next stop, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites at Seaworld. We had two regular hotel rooms with Matlocks in one and the other four of us in the other.

Thursday 23 Feb 2023

Seaworld today. Our hotel was right across the street, but it was about a 15 minute walk to the gate. When we got there, I realized I had made another brain fart – I left the tickets back at the hotel. Brett called a Lyft and we got to the hotel and back and into the park without too much delay. We had all-day dining tickets, so our food and drink for the day was covered. They had a couple of pretty intense roller coasters that Carla and Tyler rode. The rest of us mostly took in exhibits and shows. 

The girls especially liked to pat the rays swimming in circles in a pool.

 Friday 24 Feb 2023

Legoland today. It was about a 1.5 hour ride from our hotel to the park at Cypress Gardens, near Winter Haven, which is a few miles east of Lakeland. The rides were all fairly tame and aimed at a younger crowd. 

We discovered a new taste treat – Granny’s Apple Fries. They deep fry Granny Smith apples like French fries, dust them with cinnamon sugar and serve them with a vanilla dipping sauce. Yummy! 

Another unusual treat was the water ski and boating show. This was a carry-over from the original Cypress Gardens water park that operated from 1936 to 2009.

Saturday 25 Feb 2023

The Matlock girls spent some time in the hotel pool this morning. 

Our flight left about 4 PM for Toronto. We were delayed there for an hour or two, arriving in Regina about 1:30 AM and home within the following hour.