Continuing/finishing the documentation of our Orlando trip leads me to Discovery Cove and Sea World!
First, up-Discovery Cove. Prior to our visit, I have never actually met anyone who has even been there, despite all of the people who regularly travel to Orlando. After visiting, I am so sad for all of those people because it was so awesome and so memorable.
First, ALL of our food/drinks were included. We did not have to swipe a band or a card or anything; we could just walk up and get real food, snacks, slushees, drinks or pina coladas. Also, there was wildlife everywhere, so you know that the boys were in heaven.
Because there are actual animals in the water, they have to keep it pretty chilly. That combined with the fact that the lifeguards could confuse you with an animal in your swimsuit means that everyone has to wear wetsuits.
Let's just say that I did not tell Brandon that fact before we went, but I sure love him for being such a trooper.
Note: dolphins live in the water behind them. As in, actual DOLPHINS ARE JUST SWIMMING AROUND IN THERE.
Clearly we just spent the day lounging in hammocks.
My personal favorite part was this area called "The Grand Reef*," which is a man made reef complete with coral, various types/sizes of rays, about 50 different varieties of tropical fish. Also, there are sharks located behind an enclosure and you can just swim out there and hang out next to them. They provide snorkels and masks to everyone. Unlike the ones I usually buy on clearance, they worked really well.
I kept calling it the "Great Barrier Reef," which really annoyed Anderson.
SO AWESOME.
Anderson said, "This is paradise."
Max LOVED being able to just snorkel around and look at everything. There were some pretty deep areas & and I made many treks through those with him on my back.
Y'all.
JUST A GIANT MANTA (or sting....I keep forgetting the difference & Anderson is not around to ask) RAY.
If you ever go to Orlando, you MUST go to this place.
And....to add to that whole paradise spin, Anderson & got to swim with dolphins!
Max was such a trooper during this part. You have to be at least 6 to do it so Brandon hung out with him and let him pick out something from the gift shop as a trade-off. (He chose a stuffed hammerhead shark that he named Hammie.)
I was, as always, so graceful when it was my turn.
These pics are a little out of order, but how cute are these guys in their snorkels??
This was another swimming area.
The best part of this day was that it was actually pretty relaxing while also being amazing.
LOVE this guy for wearing a wetsuit for me.
They have an aviary FULL of birds that just flock to you (your food.)
Please note the corner of Max's pouty face in the pic.
Brandon switched to a vest at this point.
Also....those arms tho. (insert heart eye emoji)
Max ended up getting a few turns, too.
Pride.
One landed on me and I did not love it. The little feet claws feel like the lizard's and it's just not my favorite feeling.
We spent a lot of time in there.
When there is food everywhere, you eat chocolate cake and drink lemonade icees all day.
They let Max & Brandon join us for the family picture with our dolphin.
This was not them being nice, but rather a strategic capitalist move because then we HAD to purchase the overpriced picture.
So grateful, yet again, for Brandon who insisted we buy these picture because you know that I was not going to do that.
Anderson was in heaven.
This was really, really cool.
Those dolphins are living THE LIFE. They are fed and played with and loved on all day. I am not even kidding when I say I want to come back as one of them in my next life.
LOVE.
The last day of our trip was spent at Sea World and both boys said it was their favorite day of all.
If you have ever been to Sea World then just imagine yourself in these pictures because it has not changed one bit since I went there as a kid.
We did a "Behind the Scenes" tour which allowed us to see the manatee rehab area...
the injured sea turtle area....
touch a few sharks...
and pet a penguin!!!
I love when he is so proud of himself.
Brandon even got in on the action.
Also, it was FREEZING in that area!
Because I am a genius, we booked the meal plan again (actually, we got it free but that is another story)a and we continued our way of eating through a theme park without spending any actual money.
Brandon took this one and I love it.
Anderson has been obsessed with marine life for years. Perhaps you remember last year when he was a scuba diver for Halloween? Or, his preschool year when he said he wanted to be a Marine Biologist when he grows up? I mean, this is a phase that has been around for awhile.
(Actually, he wants to play football at West Point, serve his time in the army and then become a Marine Biologist or Marine Vet if the NFL does not work out.)
He has ALWAYS talked about the orcas at Sea World and knows the entire timeline of how they are going to be phased out there.
Hands down, the Killer Whale show was the HIGHLIGHT of his trip.
The boys & I were in the splash zone at first. Max & I moved after about the 3rd huge shower when he started crying, but Anderson stayed down there and got soaked.
Brandon sat a little higher up and took some awesome pics.
There is a really cute/sort of 1990's little kid area that the boys & I hung out in for awhile when Brandon was riding the bigger coasters with higher height requirements.
Sea World basically never has to renovate because people will keep going as they long as you can see orcas and dolphins and feed all kinds of animals.
Of course Brandon bought food for the rays so that the boys could feed them. We co-parent so nicely.
Anderson spent a huge part of the day trying to catch lizards and was, of course, successful quite a few times.
They were also fascinated by the squirrels, so you know....glad we had sealife all around us.
The sea lions reminded me SO much of Chloe. They were incessant in their begging for food. We, of course, fed them as well.
More food!
They had a few rides and one of them ended in this penguin world that was so, so cold.
Our last day was spent eating McDonald's, Japanese food and pizza at 7am at the airport.
Also, SO much entertaining with the new toys that we bought on the trip.
Max slept the entire first flight home. It was also one of the highlights of the trip.
Last pic-on the shuttle in Nashville airport.
We had THE BEST time and I am so grateful for these boys, this hard working husband, a job that allows time off and a Noni to watch my dogs for a week.
A few videos:
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