Florida living.
OK, so, as promised, here's some info on the vacation.
In short, it was fucking awesome. Imagine you're starving, like you haven't eaten in days, and someone sets you down in front of the biggest, most most packed spread you can think of. All of your favorite foods are there, including things that you've never eaten but have always wanted to try. Every piece of food is for you and you have all the time in the world to eat. That was our vacation, except instead of food, our buffet was filled with free time. See, when you have a toddler, you don't have free time. Free time is like an ice cream sandwich, and your child is the big, loud bully who takes it and leaves you depressed and knocked on your Reeboks in the 7th grade cafeteria. I understand when you have more than one child, they manage to find a way to go back in time and steal free time from your childfree days.
Speaking of second children, it would appear that the current administration has decided to fill the gaping fiscal holes caused by tax cuts, with revenue from raising the cost of all of the INS paperwork for adopting a foreign child. Thanks smacktards. Really. Thanks.
Where was I? Ah yes, Florida. First we stayed at the Lowes Royal Pacific which is a kick-ass hotel. Landscaping was gorgeous, rooms were clean and soundproof and we had a little fake beach on which we could relax and hear the screams of terror from Universal Studios Islands of Adventure. The cookies and milk were similarly ass-kicking. Speaking of Islands of Adventure, the Hulk coaster rocks and the Spider-man ride was a comic book geek's dream. The only problem is that once you go on it, all the similar rides at Disney (Star Tours, I'm looking at you) feel like you're watching the Star Wars Holiday Special while someone shakes your chair.
After Universal we moved to Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. As a hotel, the Royal Pacific was better, however being able to wake up and see giraffes, elands, ankole cattle and zebras outside of your window more than made up for it. We saw other animals too, many of which were freaking huge and had big-ass antlers. The food there was amazing. We ate at an African Buffet that had many delightful things, including fu-fu which, from the recipe may appear like a simple yam paste, but is, in fact, more like happiness, contentment and utter bliss in paste form. The desserts were also tasty.
The Disney parks were, as usual, lots of fun, however they're starting to look quaint. The new Mission Space ride was interesting, but totally dissappointing compared to the billing. It's supposed to make you feel like you're blasting off into space. It felt like some fat guy sat on your chest for 5 seconds, which, I would imagine, is a little different from what Buzz and the boys felt back in the day. Most of the parks had parts walled off for new construction, so hopefully our next visit will include some new attractions. Of course, our next visit will have kids in tow, so we'll be doing things for the first time all over again. Or something.
In true vacation fashion, we came home to a cranky toddler and the dogs throwing up on the bedroom carpet at 5:30 in the morning. It took one week for the bags under my eyes to go away and 8 hours for them to come back. Ugh.
In short, it was fucking awesome. Imagine you're starving, like you haven't eaten in days, and someone sets you down in front of the biggest, most most packed spread you can think of. All of your favorite foods are there, including things that you've never eaten but have always wanted to try. Every piece of food is for you and you have all the time in the world to eat. That was our vacation, except instead of food, our buffet was filled with free time. See, when you have a toddler, you don't have free time. Free time is like an ice cream sandwich, and your child is the big, loud bully who takes it and leaves you depressed and knocked on your Reeboks in the 7th grade cafeteria. I understand when you have more than one child, they manage to find a way to go back in time and steal free time from your childfree days.
Speaking of second children, it would appear that the current administration has decided to fill the gaping fiscal holes caused by tax cuts, with revenue from raising the cost of all of the INS paperwork for adopting a foreign child. Thanks smacktards. Really. Thanks.
Where was I? Ah yes, Florida. First we stayed at the Lowes Royal Pacific which is a kick-ass hotel. Landscaping was gorgeous, rooms were clean and soundproof and we had a little fake beach on which we could relax and hear the screams of terror from Universal Studios Islands of Adventure. The cookies and milk were similarly ass-kicking. Speaking of Islands of Adventure, the Hulk coaster rocks and the Spider-man ride was a comic book geek's dream. The only problem is that once you go on it, all the similar rides at Disney (Star Tours, I'm looking at you) feel like you're watching the Star Wars Holiday Special while someone shakes your chair.
After Universal we moved to Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. As a hotel, the Royal Pacific was better, however being able to wake up and see giraffes, elands, ankole cattle and zebras outside of your window more than made up for it. We saw other animals too, many of which were freaking huge and had big-ass antlers. The food there was amazing. We ate at an African Buffet that had many delightful things, including fu-fu which, from the recipe may appear like a simple yam paste, but is, in fact, more like happiness, contentment and utter bliss in paste form. The desserts were also tasty.
The Disney parks were, as usual, lots of fun, however they're starting to look quaint. The new Mission Space ride was interesting, but totally dissappointing compared to the billing. It's supposed to make you feel like you're blasting off into space. It felt like some fat guy sat on your chest for 5 seconds, which, I would imagine, is a little different from what Buzz and the boys felt back in the day. Most of the parks had parts walled off for new construction, so hopefully our next visit will include some new attractions. Of course, our next visit will have kids in tow, so we'll be doing things for the first time all over again. Or something.
In true vacation fashion, we came home to a cranky toddler and the dogs throwing up on the bedroom carpet at 5:30 in the morning. It took one week for the bags under my eyes to go away and 8 hours for them to come back. Ugh.
posted by Brandon at
1:43 PM
