A Sickie, 3 Hotels, 6 Parks, Boyfriend Drama and Fun Galore:

[LuvEeyore]

That's too bad about Morgan being sick and unable to drive much. I laughed though when she said she was hungry and you had to make a detour.

I never knew the Welcome Center was closed on holidays, but I guess they deserve the day off too.

You are NOT going to believe this. We have stayed at Perry's Ocean Edge a number of times. In fact, Mark and his parents stayed there for over 25 years growing up and his parents went and stayed there twice a year for about fifteen years after Mark and his sister moved on and got married.

It's a great family resort. Unfortunately, we have found Marco and love that area much more. Daytona just isn't the same since the last hurricane.

I had really wanted to use starwood points but no where in Daytona used them so this was a compromise. It is older but was a great stop off for us. I just wish that it had been pretty and Morgan felt like the walk on the beach she had really wanted.
I would have never guessed the Welcome Center would be closed however those folks deserve to be with their families just as we do.
Morgan was hungry but really didn't eat much. It was Sunday before she ate much at all. You will hear more about that soon.

 

[KatMark]

Did you have a room by the indoor pool? Those rooms have not been updated in forever the tower rooms probably need an update but they've been updated sooner and we had a nice one last time we were there

 

[LuvEeyore]

It really is too bad that Morgan wasn't feeling well. It seems like she's going a great job of just trying to deal with it and push on though.

I thought your comment about the Redbox at McDonald's was kind of funny. The first Redboxes I ever saw around here were all at McDonald's locations.

Perry's resort looks nice! I'm always a little bit hesitant to want to book a room at places like that, not knowing what you'll get into once you're there. At least chains are a safe bet, but if we get back to Daytona sometime, this might be worth looking into.

Morgan did really well considering. We didn't do some things we wanted too and made some difficult descisions. I canceled a ressie at Universal just because she didn't want to see that much food and she thought Moe's sounded better than a sit down dinner just to get her to eat. We shared a lot of meals and ate really frequently. That helped her more I think. The first days she slept every time she got a chance.

Redboxes here at at Walgreens and other stores.

I need to play catch up and get to reading your report. Still trying to finish Laundry from the trip and get photo's organized. Work sure gets in the way of my DIS time!!

 

[LuvEeyore]

Did you have a room by the indoor pool? Those rooms have not been updated in forever the tower rooms probably need an update but they've been updated sooner and we had a nice one last time we were there

We did have a room by the indoor pool. They are in the process of renovating these rooms now. It looks like they are renovating the whole hotel. The room was clean. The bright yellow paint was a bit too sunny for me.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Joining! Definitely intrigued by your TR title!

Sorry to hear that Morgan was sick ... road trips being sick (or even with a sickie) definitely are less fun. Sounds like you all were doing ok with making progress and stuff though

You did great as far as costs go for you meal - I love the idea of having all those different options and sharing with everyone.

The hotel looks like it could be a great place with some updating - I like the setting of the indoor pool area and can't go wrong with a Tiki Bar!

Hope Morgan's sickness is quickly passing and that you got to Universal safely and enjoyed it!

 

[KatMark]

We did have a room by the indoor pool. They are in the process of renovating these rooms now. It looks like they are renovating the whole hotel. The room was clean. The bright yellow paint was a bit too sunny for me.

Yes, the tower rooms are much nicer and better color scheme. We stayed on Mark's business trip two years ago at Perry's and the yellow paint gave me quite the headache.

 

[LuvEeyore]

Joining! Definitely intrigued by your TR title!

Sorry to hear that Morgan was sick ... road trips being sick (or even with a sickie) definitely are less fun. Sounds like you all were doing ok with making progress and stuff though
I did youth ministry for over 20 years. Never went anywhere without a minor injury or illness. Over the years, Morgan or her Mom call me when she is sick to see what to do. I just did the same things and good handwashing. Mom has yet to get sick.

You did great as far as costs go for you meal - I love the idea of having all those different options and sharing with everyone.
Mom doesn't eat a lot so we often share. When Morgan was younger we would share and just eat more often and have fun Disney snacks. This was the same for a different reason.

The hotel looks like it could be a great place with some updating - I like the setting of the indoor pool area and can't go wrong with a Tiki Bar!
It was a great place and a lot of room in the room. It was accessible which helps with Mom.

Hope Morgan's sickness is quickly passing and that you got to Universal safely and enjoyed it!

Thanks for joining!! Hopefully I'll get another installment up by Sunday night or Monday morning. Work gets in the way of my DIS time!! I am working this weekend.

 

[LuvEeyore]

Day 2-So what is a Sickie to do? Some Potions, Some Screams, Some Food and a different Bed? Part 1


Well like all bad mornings on vacation, my phone alarm goes off at 415 am. Why am I getting up at 4:15 am when on vacation on January 2? Why? Because I want to go from Daytona Beach to Orlando, check in at Royal Pacific Resort and then get my Unlimited Express Pass and get to Universal before 7 am. Really? On Vacation.


Miss I can sleep til 3pm, gets up the first time I ask her to although she is as white as the sheets. Mom is more reluctant but gets up. I get the car all packed while they are dressing and we are off by 5:15 am. In fact when I went to check out they had to unlock the door for me and looked at me like I was crazy. Morgan decides she wants to drive.


Please understand that Morgan drives in Tidewater traffic every day. I have lived near Richmond and driven a lot around the beltway in DC and Maryland. Who in the world is getting up and going someplace on January 2 at 5:15 am. Apparently a lot more people than just us!! I-4 was very busy. We arrive about 6:20 am and I go check in while Morgan and Mom get the wheelchair, camera, wheelchair bag out of the car.

This is what we saw when we pulled up.



I get our fake keys and they take their tickets and fake keys and get their express passes while I get the car parked in the self-parking lot. I get my express pass while they look around the lobby and then we go toward the boat to City Walk.

From the boat at our hotel we see.

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It is very foggy and still dark. We get into the park about 7:07 am and go as fast as we can…someplace.

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Diagon Alley!! As we approached…all we could do was stand with our mouths open!! The outer façade gave no clue to what was behind it. It was amazing. Morgan quickly pulled us along and we went to Gringotts…The wait time was 15 minutes and in the line all 3 of us went…No that is not entirely correct. To the lockers and then to the line. We were actually in line only about 10 minutes. It went so quickly that we didn’t get to look around as much as we wanted to.

A few pictures from along the way.

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We rode it and it was great. By this time we have a problem the bellies are growling and my blood sugar is dropping so we went into Leaky Cauldron and ordered 2 breakfasts to share and of course a butter beer!! We ordered the meats on the side as I am allergic to pork. I had pancakes and they had pancakes and sausage and bacon. Morgan ate and drank a full apple juice and seemed to feel better.

After looking around a little more we decided to go to the train station and go to Islands of Adventure. We loved, loved, loved can I say it again loved Hogwarts express. We walked straight through. The team members we so into the part but also very gracious and gave us instructions and assistance with the w/c. [URL=http://s343.photobucket.com/user/APrice6768/media/Universal%202015/IMG_2409_zps1mgko7tu.jpg.html][/URL]

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Mom transferred at every ride into the ride vehicles and everyone was very nice. Once we arrived at Islands of Adventure we decided to take a break from Potter World.

We went to Poseidon’s Fury, took a few minutes to enjoy the fountain which was not really interacting with guest. We enjoyed the show at Poseidon’s . Mom really likes shows and this was one she enjoyed. Morgan does not like shows so she says however…at this point in the trip the jury is still out.

Up Next: Day 2-So what is a Sickie to do? Some Potions, Some Screams, Some Food and a different Bed? Part 2[/url][/url][/url]

 

[LuvEeyore]

Sorry about not having my next installment up when I said. Everything was slow when I tried to add the pictures...photobucket, DIS, Disney and even my carrier centurylink. Might get more up later today or Friday. Will definitely get more up this weekend as I am off. I might even have to put up a mini trip report next week. I live not far from Smith Mountain Lake and am going to the eye doctor at Westlake so I might just take some pics.!!

 

[afwdwfan]

Why am I getting up at 4:15 am when on vacation on January 2? Why? Because I want to go from Daytona Beach to Orlando, check in at Royal Pacific Resort and then get my Unlimited Express Pass and get to Universal before 7 am. Really? On Vacation.

Good reason to do so! Gotta beat the crowds! I'm crazy enough that I'd do the same thing.

I-4 was very busy.

I-4 is ALWAYS busy!

Diagon Alley!! As we approached…all we could do was stand with our mouths open!! The outer façade gave no clue to what was behind it. It was amazing.

I've not been since that part opened, but if it is anything like the Wizarding World, I'm sure it is impressive. I've never seen the Potter movies, but even I was pretty impressed by all of it!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

wow - you guys all did really well getting up and out so early! definitely a good reason though ... you know a line is short when you feel like it went too fast for you and you didn't get to see everything

I am so impressed just by the concept of Hogwarts express and glad to see the execution is top notch as well

 

[LuvEeyore]

Good reason to do so! Gotta beat the crowds! I'm crazy enough that I'd do the same thing.

I am really glad we did get up. Gotta beat the crowds is right. The crowds were...well...very crowded. TP said it would be a 10/10 day and it was and I am glad we stayed on site and had express passes!!

I-4 is ALWAYS busy!

This was the first time I have driven. I really like flying and not feeling all worn out. I know that I-4 is busy and has been when I have rented a car at the airport but I wasn't expecting rush hour at 5 am. Oh well It was okay

I've not been since that part opened, but if it is anything like the Wizarding World, I'm sure it is impressive. I've never seen the Potter movies, but even I was pretty impressed by all of it!

Go!! It was impressive and very well done. My advise...stay onsite and use the early opening get it then do other attractions as everyone else crowds in.

 

[LuvEeyore]

wow - you guys all did really well getting up and out so early! definitely a good reason though ... you know a line is short when you feel like it went too fast for you and you didn't get to see everything
I thought we did very well with a 20 year old sick college student and my almost 80 year old mother. When the park was getting to the point that you couldn't not get in another's personal space just walking from place to place we left and checked in at the hotel and had a rest.
I am so impressed just by the concept of Hogwarts express and glad to see the execution is top notch as well

Hogwarts was done very well. Ride it going both ways!! It was great. Go early though as this gets lines just like Gringotts and Forbidden Journey

 

[princessbelle2015]

All of you did good getting up that early. I find I can get up early like that for vacation, but when I have to get up early for jury duty it's a different matter.

I have never been Harry potter world or universal but from what I see it looks fun. Staying on site and using the early entry seems to be the way to go.

 

[LuvEeyore]

All of you did good getting up that early. I find I can get up early like that for vacation, but when I have to get up early for jury duty it's a different matter. HeeHee!! I don't know anyone who likes jury duty. In my state I can get out of it most of the time...I am a nurse.

I have never been Harry potter world or universal but from what I see it looks fun. Staying on site and using the early entry seems to be the way to go.

Go!! Go!! Go!! Did I say you need to go? Staying on site especially with Mom and Morgan being sick was great for us. We went straight to the park by using the boat. Mom liked her first ride of the day. Walking would have taken less time however by the end of the day the boat was the best option for us. Early entry was great.

 

[Dugette]

Wow, what an early vacation morning! Ha, the hotel folks probably wondered what scared you off so early in the morning. Glad everything worked out well and you arrived in time to do all that stuff with little wait. Sounds fun!

 

[LuvEeyore]

Wow, what an early vacation morning! Ha, the hotel folks probably wondered what scared you off so early in the morning. Glad everything worked out well and you arrived in time to do all that stuff with little wait. Sounds fun!

It was an early but fun morning. We did accomplish a lot. The timing helped but so did the express pass that came with staying at a deluxe onsite hotel.

 

[KatMark]

You are like me with the getting up early in the morning. But I'm worried about Morgan being as white as a ghost.

I can't remember the last time I was IN Universal...I want to say it was 2004. I enjoy seeing the pictures as it is doubtful I'll ever go back. But it looks like a fun morning. I've heard great things about that express pass.

 

[LuvEeyore]

You are like me with the getting up early in the morning. But I'm worried about Morgan being as white as a ghost.

I can't remember the last time I was IN Universal...I want to say it was 2004. I enjoy seeing the pictures as it is doubtful I'll ever go back. But it looks like a fun morning. I've heard great things about that express pass.

Morgan was white as a ghost that morning...she was asleep before 8pm on Thursday night and she was whiter when she arrived at my house on New Year's day at 2:30 am...She had worked all day sick, then packed, watched the ball drop with her Mom and step dad then came to my house. I stopped at Sheets because she was hungry...Nothing like a sheets run at 3am on New Years. She does look better by my birthday. I really think she had the flu...amazingly Mom never got sick. I got sick after we got home. I wasn't surprised. I had the flu shot but the flu strain here was not what was vaccinated for.

We loved Universal...Disney needs to step up its game with what is coming in AK and at HS. The express pass was wonderful. The days we were there it was 89 dollars a day extra in addition to the cost of the ticket so it paid us to stay there. It made the difference in riding dualing dragons both red and blue in 15 minutes or taking 40 minutes to ride 1. Morgan and I were able to ride roller coasters and leave Mom people watching for 15 minutes with a drink and a snack vs an hour which we could not have done. It also made most rides a walk on or 10 minutes or less. We also liked staying at Royal Pacific Resort. We used the water taxi's but there was a nice walkway as well with distances similar to the walk from Baylake towers to MK. I would love to go back to Universal at some point.

 

[LuvEeyore]

You are like me with the getting up early in the morning. But I'm worried about Morgan being as white as a ghost.

I can't remember the last time I was IN Universal...I want to say it was 2004. I enjoy seeing the pictures as it is doubtful I'll ever go back. But it looks like a fun morning. I've heard great things about that express pass.

Morgan was white as a ghost that morning...she was asleep before 8pm on Thursday night and she was whiter when she arrived at my house on New Year's day at 2:30 am...She had worked all day sick, then packed, watched the ball drop with her Mom and step dad then came to my house. I stopped at Sheets because she was hungry...Nothing like a sheets run at 3am on New Years. She does look better by my birthday. I really think she had the flu...amazingly Mom never got sick. I got sick after we got home. I wasn't surprised. I had the flu shot but the flu strain here was not what was vaccinated for.

We loved Universal...Disney needs to step up its game with what is coming in AK and at HS. The express pass was wonderful. The days we were there it was 89 dollars a day extra in addition to the cost of the ticket so it paid us to stay there. It made the difference in riding dualing dragons both red and blue in 15 minutes or taking 40 minutes to ride 1. Morgan and I were able to ride roller coasters and leave Mom people watching for 15 minutes with a drink and a snack vs an hour which we could not have done. It also made most rides a walk on or 10 minutes or less. We also liked staying at Royal Pacific Resort. We used the water taxi's but there was a nice walkway as well with distances similar to the walk from Baylake towers to MK. I would love to go back to Universal at some point.