Wednesday 19/04/2017
Today we enjoyed our first breakfast in the USA with bagels, eggs, bacon, sugary cereals and poor coffee – for our coffee lovers out there it’s still better than instant but poor, maybe a game changer opportunity in the USA!

Our adventures started with catching the local I-Trolley bus service but really is for all the tourists so no need to be out of place here. Sites to see today included WonderWorks, SeaLife Aquarium, Shopping and finished at Magical Midway.

WonderWorks
This once top-secret laboratory was located in the Bermuda triangle. An experiment gone awry lifted the laboratory carrying it to International Drive in Orlando, Florida where it landed upside down.

A crazy place with lots of interactive learnings of science and physics, as well as some cool experiences like hurricane wind tunnel, earthquake dining, relaxation soccer that works with your brain signals EEG and many more. Our family review is a solid 8/10

SeaLife Aquarium
SEA LIFE Orlando offers a wave of underwater adventures with encounters of more than 5000 species from the three oceans of the world and many of the oceans swimming creatures to view up close.

A brilliant designed aquarium giving a real close up perspective of the fish, not just in normal tanks but a level of interactivity with blown plastic bowls into the aquariums to give you the sense of being in there with them. It has only been open for 2 years and was a great experience when you did not expect much. Our family review is an awesome 9/10

Our evening finished down at Midtown Raceway where there was an arcade, the worlds tallest slingshot ride, a 50ft carousel ride and 3 go-kart tracks – being the only boy this was a must for me and I convinced Emily to have a go with me but only if is was a double kart. It was only bitumen for about 20 feet with the rest being a wooden track that went upwards in a spiral (like a carpark) to only come belting back down the hill in a hurry.

Thoughts of the Day (top 3)

• The coffee is bad (business opportunity here)
• The food is high in fat or full of sugar
• Over entering into the Disney gift shops, as they are on every corner and are all pretty much the same

 

Thursday 20/04/2017
I think we all were a little flat this morning and I know that I was definitely feeling a little nausea and had low blood pressure giving me that dizzy feeling, however we had another day planned to get our bearings in and around Orlando and were soon off and about down the main drag I-Drive.

Ripleys Believe It or Not
I remember watching this show on TV when I was a child and we had visited the one in Surfers many years ago but thought we would just go here cause we could. Pretty much all the same stuff is here as in AUS as if it is not 100% one off then they ship the same artifacts all across the globe to their shops.

There did appear to be a little more interactive options here, with how do you open this gate, rolling the 8 ball and bowls balls down a track just to name a few. We obviously enjoyed this attraction as we have taken a bunch of photos which can be viewed on the Orlando Page or on my facebook page.
Our family review is an awesome 9/10

 

Pirates Cove MiniGolf
A picture tells a 1000 words and this place really needs to be seen to appreciate the beauty and detail. The first hole was very interesting and I can see that I don’t get my golfing ability from my mother at all, hockey stick 🏒 grip halfway down the club – it was like watching Happy Gilmore. The course went up hill, down hills, on course distractions with plenty of water hazards on course too (just ask my mum). A great afternoon of enjoyment and laughs with at least 3 of (Roy 2, Emily 2, Brianna 1) us celebrating the magic of Hole In 1. For the record the scores were
Roy – 43, Emily 55, Brianna 57, Mum 75 Par 42
Our family review is solid 8.5/10

 

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
You could have thought just another wax museum, however the detail and accessibility to this place was great. They really have gone to a fun filled level by not only allowing you to get close up with these displays but also including props for you per each character so you can really get into the scene.
Our family review is a very high 9.5/10 and the only reason I didn’t given it a full mark was for the picture you can see, they could put in a phone holder so families can take group photos.

 

Lastly I wanted to share with you this place, The Worlds Largest Entertainment McDonalds.

I know we didn’t travel this far to go and dine in at Macca’s but this place we had walked past at least half a dozen times and tonight we were drawn into the place. OMG both girls in amazement, I must admit I think we all were – this place was massive it included a 2 story – 3 level playplace, right next to it was a 100 game arcade, tonight was karaoke and hullahoop night in the background (and yes people were partaking). On the food side you had a couple extra burger combinations but with the create your own this was not out of the normal really, but they also had freshly cooked and viewable pizza and pasta! Not impressed, the bins are all automatic opening with crushing sensors in them as they get full the bin compacts the waste, some tables had iPads available for guests to play more games on, there was a fish aquarium in the middle of the store, the toilets (reported by my lady friends) automatically cleaned the seats with a cover of plastic.

 

Thoughts of the Day (top 3)

• I’m over the photo booth people that want you to stand and take a photo on every attraction to purchase in a book later $$$$
• Every attraction has an incredible amount of  detail which allows you to get involved more
• A picture tells you a story, make sure you check our the pics for today’s blog

#collectingmemoriesnotthings