Surf City, Here We Come

Holiday weekends: the young professional's gift from above.

This weekend was filled with lazy days, sleep-in mornings, shuffling around in bathrobes and mickey mouse slippers, crazy and snarled hair, and ice cream breakfasts. The days were perfect.

When those moments quickly fade away and we realize we need to end the (near creepy) lurking in the apartment and face the daylight every once in a while, what do we do?

Enjoy the sunlight and warm weather at the water park!

On Sunday, Kristin, Naomi and I ventured to Typhoon Lagoon. We packed in a day filled with naps, snacks, water rides (well, Kristin and I did. Naomi had a date with Mr. Sandman), and my favorite of all activities, the lazy river. We went around on the lazy river at least four times, only ending when it was so jammed with people that moving was no longer an option. I was relieved towards the end of the day: I had successfully evaded the sun with little to no burn (with the help of Kristin and Naomi's constant motherly care and spray down technique of SPF). It was luck.

R.I.P. Dorothy's swim top

That luck did not continue when Dorothy and I headed towards the other Disney water park, Blizzard Beach. There, we went on each water slide. They had luges, rafts, and slides that are complete drops at 65 mph. The last slide marked the death of Dorothy's swim top as she flashed the unsuspecting crowds on the high speed attractions. Needless to say, we licked our wounds by rounding the lazy river a few times.

I thought we returned home unscathed. Safe for another day. I was clearly mistaken. Before I went to Kristin and Naomi's apartment with Karen for a holiday barbecue, I noticed a bright red chest and pair of shoulder blades. Turned around. Yes. New definition of lobsterback.

You win again, sun. Touche. Say hello to my little friend, aloe vera!

Happy holiday with your loved ones!

Tango with Tigger

Why is it that the work week seems to drag to a complete standstill, but when it comes to the weekends, blink and they are over? This weekend came and went faster than I could count the memories, but it was a winning 48 hours.

Naomi and Eeyore in the "Pooh-rade"

Saturday morning marked Naomi's birthday, where we went to a surprise breakfast at Crystal Palace. Though it started with the usual delicious fare of food, over the course of two hours it escalated to an absolute dance off between Pooh and friends.

When I say "Dance Off" I mean the characters actually gave their all and shook their tail feathers. They bounced, they jived, the Lindy hopped, they tangoed. After much deliberation, Eeyore was crowned winner of the Hundred Acre Woods Dancers, with a 3-1 vote. I, of course, felt it was my duty to place my vote with the best Tango partner Disney has to offer (he definitely proved that Tigers do not have two left feet!)

The characters not only danced and played along with our childish antics, but they constantly returned to our tables to enjoy our company, often pulling up a chair and listening to stories. They engaged and entertained, and probably found us mutually amusing.

It was a magical experience and hopefully made it a birthday Naomi would remember!

Two guys, two pianos...a whole lot of Billy Joel

This past weekend, we journeyed over to the Boardwalk's Jellyrolls, a dueling piano bar in the area. By the time we arrived, it seemed that every available inch of space was taken up, with both tourists and area locals alike.

The pianists were talented beyond belief, one minute having the audience sing along to power ballads of Journey, and the next minute the room teemed with laughter at their attempt to spew as many TV theme songs possible in under five minutes.

Nervous music purveyors ventured towards the pianos and deposited slips of napkins that revealed song requests (and often a bit of green) before being reviewed by the pianists. Of course, this all happened while they continued playing and singing without pause. Or, in the case of many songs, the piano men were also apt to beat box and play the tambourine. Maybe they should try some more cowbell?

Off to Jellyrolls

I knew we would be off to a good night when we entered to a rendition of "The Wild Rover" (Get your Irish on!) and then a bachelorette party proceeded to send the soon-to-be bride up on stage to show off her Irish dance skills.

Though there may have been an overabundance of Johnny Cash and Jimmy Buffett that night (I can only take Ring of Fire so many ways) it was a fun evening from beginning to end.

Recommendations: get there early. Keep an eye out for tables. Don't trust the popcorn. And if a 45 year old man asks to buy you a drink, promptly leave the vicinity.

99 Bottles of Boston on the Wall

Boston has reached Orlando! After work, interns from the Wedding department, Disney Institute, and Youth Programs met at a nearby Celebration tavern.

The most astounding part was not the 99 different types of beer to be ordered, or the wonderful not-so-spicy wings to be shared, but that it was decked from floorboard to ceiling in Boston paraphernalia. Boston pictures, Boston signs, Boston jerseys.

Boston. Now all we need is a Dunkies next door for some wicked ahsome cahfee tahk!

Harry Freakin' Potter

Orlando has many different attractions to offer tourists: Sea World, Busch Gardens, Universal, Disney, and countless others. It's a challenge to check everything off the "must see" list, whether the Orlando vacation is six days or (in my case) six months.

I didn't have a chance to see Universal when I was part of the College Program. I have wanted to go to Orlando's Universal Studios for a few years now, having only been there once as a child. Since it has been more than a decade between visits, I really can't remember anything about Universal except for the Jaws ride (and no one wants that as their only theme park memory!)

When the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened, I thought it was high time, and my duty as an Orlando civilian, to pay Harry and his gang a visit.

Was it worth the wait?
Yes.

Was it everything I could have wanted and more?
Yes (though I wish there was actually room in the shops to move around let alone breathe!)

Was the butterbeer wonderfully amazing?
Ohhhh yes.

Harry Potter is the new reason to visit Universal. As soon as the park opened at 8 a.m. we bolted in the direction of Hogwarts' magical spires, along with the countless others with the same idea in mind. We visited the ride inside Hogwarts first, where the wait time jumped from 40 minutes to 80 minutes. The interior of the castle was absolutely incredible, with an attention to detail that would make J.K. Rowling smile with pride.

We attempted to walk through the Hogsmeade shops, but between the frowning cast members and swarms of tour groups with color coded shirts, the shops were stifling and overcrowded at best. Despite this, it was still a magical experience to feel transported to Hogwarts. I would recommend going straight to the Harry Potter castle ride first, followed by the Flight of the Hippogriff, and topped off with a glass of Butterbeer while strolling the shops. If there is sweltering heat (as we experienced) or rain, don't expect to find shelter inside.

If you have a chance, grab an ice-cold Butterbeer, climb aboard Platform Nine and Three Quarters and pay a visit to Harry Freakin' Potter!