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Published: April 23rd 2011
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Hello everyone,
so it was about time for another blog and another trip!
This time I'm writing from Orlando, Florida. Together with Miami it's a very popular destination among those from Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. Many have been here several times already, therefore most people couldn't believe it's the first time that I'm visiting Florida; in 2005 I made a stop-over in Miami and that's it! As a teen we couldn't afford such trips so now I was finally able to go by myself to the popular Orlando & Miami to experience it for myself. I must say that this is a very different kind of trip than those that I usually do. I went with a big group. In my opinion you should visit these kinds of destinations in a group and not by yourself.
I came together with Christopher, Timothy and his parents....they are all friends of mine from Bonaire. Timothy's parents organized everything; all I had to do was give them the money to make all the reservations. Everything was booked since march 2010. I boarded Insel Air in Curaçao, the plane made a quick stop in Bonaire where they all boarded together with some
other friends of them. Also in Curaçao some of their friends boarded. Then the plane took off to Miami. Due do heavy wind in Miami we couldn't land and were diverted to Nassau, Bahamas. We landed and stayed there for about 1,5 hours before taking off again. This made our arrival in Miami even later, since we departed with 45 min. delay from Curaçao already. We arrived, then went to get our rented cars. This took long a long time too. By the time we were out of the airport it was alrady 20:30. Then we went to have a quick meal (Taco Bell) before driving to Orlando. I drove for most of the time, then I became to tired and let Christopher drive the rest of it. Once we arrived at our resort (Mystic Dunes Resort) I immediately went to sleep. The other ones went to Walmart to do some errands.
Orlando Orlando is a city in central Florida, home to more than 2 million people. It's a major tourist destination due to it's theme parks such as Universal Studios, Walt Disney World, Sea World etc. Since the 1960's when they decided to built Walt Disney World here,
it became a world wide popular tourist destination drawing much tourism from the rest of the USA and Canada, Latin America, Caribbean and even Europe.
On our first day in Orlando we visited the
Millenia Mall. And what can you do at a mall? Shop! And that's what we did. I bought a couple of stuff here and we wandered the whole afternoon around here shopping and eating. The next day we visited
Universal Studios which was fantastic! First we had to pick-up Danielson and Boy (from Bonaire) who flew in from Naples, Florida. By the time we got at the park was already 12:30. The first attraction we went to was Terminator, where you sit in a mini-theater with 3D-glasses and they give a presentation about Terminator. Then we visited Men in Black-Alien attack. In this ride you sit in a vehicle which goes through a big area inside. With a laser-gun you have to shoot the aliens appearing all around. Next was the Fear Factor Live show; which was great to see. For those who don't know, Fear Factor is a TV-show where they make you eat/drink gross things or do (dangerous) stunts you normally wouldn't do.
They basically push you to the limit and by winning this show on TV you win big money.
After this we continued to Jaws. Here you have to board a boat which takes you around in a lake...and several times a big shark will come out of the water. At one part of the lake the shark also makes a gas-deposit explode and they put real fire and you feel the heat. Then we went on Disaster. In this ride they first show you a presentation, then they bring you to another room where they record a few shots like in movies using people from the public. Then you board a vehicle that is supposed to be a subway (metro / underground)...and here the disaster happens: the road above collapses and a gasoline truck will slide down, the vehicle will shake and drop a little bit, water will flow inside the subway station etc. This all goes with real, loud sound to make the experience as if it's real. Then the Revenge of the Mummie: it's a roller-coaster which starts slowly, showing you some mummies, pharaoh's and other Egyptian gods and temples. Then it goes much faster and it becomes
a real roller-coaster...in the dark! We really liked this one. The last one we boarded was the Rockit which is a roller-coaster that ascends 90° before dropping again!!! Timothy, Christopher and I bought red t-shirts here called "Thing 1, Thing 2 and Thing 3" which we saw everywhere. we thought it's fun to do so we did it. We were the only ones to board all these rides, also Harrold (Timothy's father) and Danielson.
The next day again it was time to visit a mall, this time the
Florida Mall. Since I spent a lot of money already at the Millenia Mall and Walmart, I decided to go on a "low budget" to this mall. I did spend some money, but very little money. Wednesday was a day just to relax: sleep in, hang out at the pool, sleep and be lazy....just do nothing. Christopher and I stayed at the resort while the rest went to a boating place where a friend of them works (or he owns it, I don't remember).
The next day it was time to visit
Islands of Adventure which is a theme-park next to Universal Studios. We arrived early here, around 9:15 and went straight
to The Hulk, a popular and awesome roller-coaster. Waiting time was 45 minutes already! After this one, we continued to the following attractions:
* Fear Fall; this ride rockets you 50 meters high in the sky and then you drop again...it feels like a free fall.
* The Amazign Adventures of Spider Man; in this ride you board a vehicle with your 3-D glasses and you'll experience
* Spider Man's adventures and even how he'll save us from falling of a skyscraper!
* Jurassic Park River Adventure; this ride goes through a river where you'll see and hear many dinosaurs and it finishes with a drop into the water!
* Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges; it's a water rapid in a round, twisting vehicle...and you will get soaked during this ride!
All the time we had to wait in lines, thank God they had the "Single Riders" line which goes much faster. In these lines you'll be split from your friends / family and they use you to fill up empty seats in the rides. At Jurassic Park we boarded the ride within 20 minutes instead of waiting for 85 minutes in the regular line. Walking around all the time
and with a hot sun above us, this all tired us a lot and we left the park around 15:30. To my taste it was too full, I can't even imagine being here in July: it's hotter and fuller! Me? Never!!!
The last park we visited was
Wet 'n Wild. It's a waterpark full of slides. I LOVE waterparks, therefore we spent the whole day at the park. We arrived around 10AM and left around 7PM. The park wasn't busy as usual since many American visitors started to drive back home today (Friday). My favourite slide was The Bomb Bay: it's a high slide which drops almost straight down. You get into a small room, from the outside it looks like a rocket. Then they press a button and the floor will open and you'll slide straight down. I enjoyed this day very much! We went with Jennifer, an Aruban girl studying in Orlando....also Timothy, Christopher and Harrold.
Next is going to be Miami and then a week on a cruiseship!
Orlando was absolutely great!!! Do I want to come back? Probably when my nephews get bigger or when I have kids of my own and they are big
enough to come. Before that I don't think I'll come again. It's a great place but I'm not crazy about coming again next year or within two years.
All right everyone! Big hug and take care.
Elton
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Great to see you writing again
Looks like you had a nice time in Florida.