Day Nine - Xmas Eve

Libby feeling a lot better now, just in time for Christmas....good. So it's a day to try out Seaworld. Our first experience is to feed the dolphins, we each have a try of fish and Syd eventually plucks up the courage to actually drop a fish into the mouth of one of the dolphins.
One of the pictures taken is pretty good so we purchase it.

Now for the equal best coaster in the Orlando area, Kraken. I think it is too close to call between this and Hulk. I thought that the parks would be busy by now but I manage to ride the front then the middle and finally the back row in the space of about 15 minutes....no queues, straight on, extremely welcome.

Forecast was rain but there is no sign of it and the weather is particularly nice. Other parts of the US were also mild but Denver had been hit by 2 foot of snow!!!

I met the rest of the family outside the penguin exhibit after my Kraken triple bill. A quick free beer from the owners and then it's time for the new Believe show with Shamu. It's pretty good but for some reason Shamu has never really done it for me. A bit of swimming, jumping and some interaction with the trainers but it's not something I 'have' to do when in Seaworld.

Syd and Heidi meet Father and Mrs Xmas after getting there annual pearl from the diver who dives for their oyster which you choose from a selection. Syd gets a boy and Libby gets a girl. You can tell a boy oyster by the little 'belly button' on it (a little dimple).

Heidi has booked a surprise at Disneys Wilderness Lodge. We arrive and have a brief look around the Lobby, Syd grabbing a quick photo op with Minnie. It's outside the main door, apparently we can't miss it. Outside is a carriage decorated like a sleigh, it's our Christmas Eve sleigh ride around the grounds of the Wilderness Lodge.
As we clip clop around we can hear the train that circles the Magic Kingdom and we also spot some deer in the woods to the side of the path.

Now we find our way to MGM to take in the Osborne Lights, or as it is called this year the Osborne Dancing Lights. The lights now dance every 20 minutes or so to music. It was good but I can't help thinking I prefer the original ones that just looked nice. You could wander at your own pace whilst the gentle Christmas music played around you, now it hits you a bit too full on in my opinion.

Home, sleepy


'Believe' show at Seaworld




Dolphin at Seaworld