Life in the Cheese Drawer

as promised, another update on the mid-winter trip to florida.

as the days went on, there was a growing trend of who woke up first (usually kari and then me) and then where the stupid stormtrooper was. the star wars bedroom came with a 3.5′ storm trooper model that ended up in front of bedroom doors. after the second time it was in front of mine, i stuck it in my spare bed in hopes of quitting that game.

no such luck.

anyway, day 4

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANE was the theme of the day. it was also a little bit of a lazy day. a few of us went to target early in the morning where we got some birthday swag so jane could dress up. then we headed to cocoa beach, about an hour straight east!

i could sit on the beach all day long and just listen to the surf.

the ocean wasn’t too chilly, and a few of us jjumped in. i waded in into about my knees at most, took a little walk, and picked up some shells. we camped out on a piece of sand for about a couple hours, taking in the sun. it wasn’t very busy at all and i could see how this place is packed in the summertime.

we drove back and made supper at the airbnb – tacos and guac – and hung out to relax.

it was on this day that jane and i were discussing how last time we went to universal, we regretted not going a second day and were seriously considering going the next day while the others went to disney hollywood to see star wars. then kari suggested that we just go on friday before we have to go to the airport, since we’d have the whole day and it closes about the time we’d have to get moving any way.

so that was how we decided to spend another day at universal, but at a different park – the one with hogsmeade and all the rides. excellent choice.

day 5

while the others packed up and headed out to another underwhelming day at disney, jane and i slept in. i had no desire to go from the start, and jane needed a day to be apart. so she spent the morning reading indoors and i spent the morning reading outside on the patio.

at some point, i said we needed to get some cuban food, so we headed out to find lunch.

that seafood salad was delicious and the sandwich rivaled the burrito in california that was as big has her head. there was a long line snaking almost out the door, and people of all types were there, so we knew it had to be good. we asked the lady in front of us what was good and took her recommendations! excellent choice.

then we took the long way back, passed a pirates cove mini golf course (we both hate mini golf but were intrigued) and then somehow inadvertently drove past the conference hotel where my work conference will be in two months! that was weird. but it made me excited for my conference!

then we checked out the lazy river and water park stuff at the place we were staying, which was just as cold as our pool, and paid an exorbitant amount for some drinks then sat in the sun.

the others came back and told the tale of the “rip-off” tower of terror ride that they stood too long in line for.

day 6 – last day

i guess the nice thing about a late-night flight is that you have the entire day to mess around? which is what we did! we packed up and got out of our airbnb by around 9, which was actually pretty good for us. it had been a decent stay for the price!

then off the universal day two – islands of adventure, which has loads of rides. there was also a nice jurassic park section that we took some time to check out, but most importantly, hogsmeade.

oh, it was so packed. but we got into the three broomsticks early and claimed a seat outside! it was great.

hogsmeade is different from daigon alley, including having owl post and the three broomsticks. there was filch’s emporium, which was a bigger shop than any at daigon alley. and of course the butterbeer and butterbeer ice cream! and hogwarts!!

jane and i walked through hogwarts to look at the castle with no intention of going on the ride, and let me tell you – that is the way to go! it was great. we got a little walking tour, saw some stuff, spent some time in the castle, and then didn’t get sick on a ride.

but guess who did? yep, liz got sick on the ride! afterward, she sat down in the three broomsticks and plopped her head on the table in perfect imitation of me in CA.

after some more rides and time checking out the shops on the citywalk, it was time to head to the airport. security took longer than MSP, but that was to be expected. we tried to get into a sitdown place to eat, but it was taking too long and we got some grab n go stuff instead. we were a subdued crowd that late at night, and getting on a jetplane to head home is always kind of a letdown.

i did score a giant toblerone from the duty-free shop, though. so i got that going for me.

our plane took off a bit late due to some taxi-ing problems, and so we ended up flying in a little bit later. alas! my shuttle was leaving at 12:25!! no fear though – the luggage came out of the carousel about 12:10, and mine was one of the first ones.

that shuttle back to st. cloud was totally worth it. i was able to just rest and snooze on the ride back, and then back to wintry reality when i had to scrape the ice off the windshield. ugh. but at least the truck started, and i ended up walking in the door around 2 a.m.

i promptly fell asleep!

and then a three-day weekend to recover! not too shabby!

i did no travelblogging from florida! do you know how hard it is to travelblog in a house with 8 other people? well, i could’ve made it work, but i was feeling the FOMO.

day 1:

we flew out of terminal 2 at MSP, which was a breeze. no line in the bag check and security took like 5 minutes. i ended up taking a shuttle from st. cloud to the airport, which i would definitely do again! it was especially nice because nate could have the car all week and i could park the truck at the shuttle place.

we flew out at 3ish and landed in florida at about 7:30 ET (jumped ahead an hour). then it was chaos while liz tried to find us at the rental car counter. but we connected (obviously) and got our two cars. jane’s license expired and so she wasn’t able to drive, which was ok. we didn’t do a ton of driving.

then to the pretty awesome for the price airbnb, which had a wonderful heated pool on the first night and no subsequent nights. #thankskim liz and i went grocery shopping at walmart at 10 p.m. then it was time to get to bed because the next day was disney!!

day 2:

so, consensus is that no one has to go back to disney. i mean, it was a good thing to go and check out magic kingdom, but it’s not worth the price to get in, in my opinion. after we got through parking, through security, and over the lake (talk about a rigamarole), the main street was full of shops with fancy-pants adult items, like crystal figurines and $200 canvas artwork and jewelry that i would be afraid to wear if i bought it.

i didn’t ride any rides, so i beat it after trying to be with everyone else, just so i could walk through the park and take a look at everything. i ended up finding gaston’s tavern, so i bought a coffee and a souvenir gaston mug and parked it in the corner. it wasn’t much longer when jane called and said “where are you i have to get out of here” and so she and i sat in the tavern for a bit, then took a walking tour of the park. we went up the swiss family robinson tree house (fun!) and then walked through the pirates shop, where we each bought pirate hats to wear for the day.

meanwhile, the other were in line for rides for hours!!! dumbo took two hours! unbelievable! after that, the kids and dudes took a break while the ladies went for fancy lunch in beast’s castle!! if we were able to do THAT without a park ticket, i would do that again. food was delicious, there was grey stuff (delicious – just ask the dishes), and we got a bottle of champagne. plus, jane got a free glass and some extra grey stuff because birthday. we were in the WEST WING which was spooky and thundery, and the beast made an appearance!

we visited gaston’s tavern again, then took a train ride!

then everyone else came back, and the park lit up for the night. there were fireworks and another ride, and jane, emily, and i decided to go check out the pirates of the carribbean ride while blues went shopping for his pirate hat.

we headed back across the lake right at closing time after jane, blues, and emily rode the teacups (i did not due to not wanting to get sick).

so, fun, but i don’t think i need to go back! there were no characters out (needed to stand in a line for a meet and greet), and there were SO.MANY.STROLLERS. omg.

day 3:

i woke up EXCITED for this day because i KNEW what universal held in store. the night before, liz was like, eh, if we don’t leave til noon, whatever, but jane and i got up and said LET’s GOOOO. (liz did say once she got into HP land that ok, she understood why we were antsy to get there.)

security was easier, and it was a faster trek from parking to the park.

jane and i recreated a few pics! then we booked it to HP!!

the main park has daigon alley as the HP park, which was actually pretty cool. it was PACKED though, as i would expect the actual daigon alley to be. it was hidden behind a brick wall right next to #12 grimmauld place and across from the knight bus. first things first: butterbeer!!! then, second things second: robes!

(this is actually real beer, which came after two glasses of butterbeer and with a plate of bangers and mash in the leaky cauldron.)

i bought a $300 gift card so i could get a free wand, and totally worth it. i got my robes, a shirt from borgin and burkes, gifts, socks, etc. plus my free wand!

jane and i sat in knockturn alley for a bit, as it was a little out of the way and dark and danky.

the lines to the rides were much faster than disney, and the kids and other adults went out and about to get on some rides outside of HP. meanwhile, jane and i wanted a quieter bar to sit at, so we ventured from HP and ended up at an irish bar with a pretty awesome musician. and some good drinks!

toward the end of the night, they went on the HP ride again, and i walked through with them all to check out gringotts bank. when it was time for them to get on the ride, i just headed to a side room and waited! that was nice that i didn’t need to go on the ride to see the stuff.

we headed out about 8 p.m. and got home at a reasonable hour! the girls swam in the cold pool and craig played with his fart gun (yes, fart gun). fun day 3!!

 

time for a break while i process that i’m not in warm, sunny florida anymore 🙁