Sea World, Orlando

Our last day in Orlando was spent at Sea World. The park was a mix of highs and lows.. but at the end of the day how could you not leave happy after seeing whales and dolphins. This was another cold day.. it was a bit disappointing to leave the snowy Jersey weather and fly down to the Sunshine State only to be cold and in our winter jackets!

We started the day off with some pictures with Shamu..

Our first stop was at the Turtle Trek.. we were not exactly sure what to expect.. we walked by Manatee's and Turtles.. until we got to a round room with a round 360 degree dome ceiling.. there was no place to sit.. everyone was to simply stand and wear their 3D glasses.. what began was the tale of one little sea turtle emerging from its egg and onto an epic journey through the sea, the challenges it faces as it grows and makes its way back to the beach it hatched on. It was amazing.. I have no words to describe the awe we all felt. 

Next we hurried over to the Dolphin Theater to catch the next Blue Horizon's Show. We sat in the wet zone with our poncho's on ready to get wet but thank god only got a little splashed on.. The Blue Horizon's show was what I assumed supposed to be a dolphin show.. it was so much more than that.. it was a musical, a love story, an acrobatic spectacular with dolphins and parrots that left us amazed.. pictures can not do justice ..

D wasn't tall enough to meet the height requirement for any of the rides so my parent's volunteered to watch the boys while M and I sat on a few.. we didn't.. turns out The Journey to Atlantis and the Kraken.. which looked like a lot of fun were both temporarily closed because of some technical difficulties.. which made the lines for Antarctica Empire of the Penguin unbelievably long.. the Sea Lion and Otter Theater was also closed so we moved on to the Sky Tower. Similar to Legoland's Island in the Sky.. the Sky Tower is a 400 feet high tower that gives you a 360 degree birds eye view of the entire park.

We were now ready for lunch.. we ate at Mango Joes's Burgers just before running in to grab a seat in the Shamu Stadium to watch the One Ocean Show. We were late.. there were hardly any seats left except for those in the splash zone..

The One Ocean Show was all about the Killer Whales and they are such show offs! They were dazzling and we were soaked!

The Wild Arctic was yet another thing D could not sit on. So we headed towards Shamu's Happy Harbor. D was able to enjoy some of the more kid friendly rides.. and we took a few too many rides on Shamu's Express.. a cute little roller coaster

and while D enjoyed the Net Climb.. four story high nets linked together with a series of tunnels.. he loved it.. he loved it so much he didn't notice us leave to finally get a chance to sit on a roller coaster.. he loved it so much when we returned he made me go through it with him to show me just how awesome it is.. made me realize how old I am.. i couldn't get out fast enough.

Since the moment we entered the park M was obsessed with the Manta ride.. it was the one ride he really wanted to sit on so he and I headed that way.. stood in the long line and by the time it came to get on I was starting to feel queasy.. you ride the ride as if you were a real manta.. meaning face down.

The moment they strapped us in and flipped us over I started to pray, seriously. The ride was mindblowingly awesome.. I had my eyes closed the whole time so I have no idea what happened.. but M had his open and he said we grazed the water.. he had a wet knee to prove it..

All in all even with all the rides closed and so many things D couldn't sit on.. the whales and dolphins made it worth it.. the turtle trek and the manta.. it all made it a perfect end to a great vacation. Heading home with wonderful memories and stories to tell.

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