Laughing Lindsay

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Discovery Cove Review and Tips

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When I went to the SeaWorld Spooktacular last month in Orlando, I also visited Discovery Cove for the first time! My mom and I were able to swim with dolphins and enjoyed our day here. Keep reading to learn my tips for visiting.

Discovery Cove

Discovery Cove

Discovery Cove is a tropical paradise with various marine life to interact with. Admittedly, it is an expensive experience. However, keep an eye out for special deals as they tend to run them frequently. Additionally, the further out you book your day, the cheaper it will be. I also saved money on our passes by using my SeaWorld Orlando passholder discount!

Dolphin Swim

There are a variety of add-on experiences you can do at Discovery Cove. However, the main purpose of our visit here was to do the dolphin swim. In fact, we booked our day here solely because we saw the pictures of it at SeaWorld in February. I guess that marketing worked on us. Ha!

I will say that I’m glad we arrived early (a little after 7 AM). The weather forecast was calling for some afternoon showers prior to the arrival of Hurricane Ian, so we wanted to make sure we got to do what we came for – swim with dolphins! They do have a rainy day guarantee, but we didn’t have extra days in our trip, especially with the approaching hurricane. Thankfully, we got a 8:00 AM swim time and were able to swim right away!

Swimming with dolphins is something I will never forget! My mom and I had so much fun! It was both informative and wildly fun! You learn lots about dolphins while seeing them perform neat tricks. I also realized that each dolphin has their own personality, similar to humans!

Tips

I could write several more hundred words about Discovery Cove. However, I think it would be best to sum everything up with some helpful tips:

  • Arrive early. For starters, this will allow you to get your money’s worth. However, it also ensures you will get an early time slot for any add-on experiences you booked since they assign times on a first come, first serve basis.
  • Buy the photo package. I know that it adds even more to an already expensive day. However, you are going to want those photos. Besides, you aren’t allowed to bring in any devices to the dolphin area to protect the dolphins from eating/swallowing items. Although, I would strongly encourage you to follow the photographer immediately after the swim to pick out the photos. We were told that we didn’t have to and that added some headache to retrieving our pictures later in the day. It was still possible, it just made it more complicated and time-consuming.
  • Come hungry. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are included with your ticket! We actually didn’t get to eat breakfast until after our swim and were really hungry by then. Then, we ate lunch just a short while later. I think a 9:00 AM swim may have been more ideal for timing, but I was relieved to have the swim over since the hurricane was approaching.
  • Walk around. There’s so much to see and do at Discovery Cove. Take a walk around and enjoy the beautiful scenery, if nothing else.
  • Bring half of what you think you need. Seriously, I packed way too much stuff for here. They supply sunscreen, swim vests/wetsuits, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and towels. You really only need a swim suit, hair brush, deodorant, sunglasses/hat/cover up, water shoes, and a change of clothes when you visit here.

I highly recommend a visit to Discovery Cove if you can afford it, especially if you are traveling with a dolphin fan! Have you been? What is your favorite thing to do here? Do you have any other tips?

Universal’s Aventura Hotel Review

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During my September 2022 trip to Universal Orlando for Halloween Horror Nights, my mom and I stayed at Universal’s Aventura Hotel. We enjoyed the hotel’s perks, sleek design, and modern touches.

Universal's Aventura Hotel

Universal’s Aventura Hotel

Aventura Hotel is a tower hotel with modern rooms and reasonable prices. The hotel is shaped like a fidget spinner. It also has floor to ceiling windows that makes for a sleek appearance and great views. Aventura is considered a Prime Value Hotel. This means it has affordable rates while still giving you the benefits of staying on property with Universal Orlando Resort. It also leans heavily into technology with a tablet in the room to control everything from the lights to the tv.

The Room

The rooms have a contemporary, sleek vibe to them. It’s definitely geared towards tech savvy folks who appreciate simple theming. The beds were comfortable and the sleek design made for a relaxing experience. I liked our shower and felt the bathroom had plenty of room, which is highly unusual for “value” rooms in my experience.

Tip: If you want a quieter room, don’t pay for the Skyline View upgrade. There’s a rooftop bar at the top of the hotel and there’s a DJ playing music until around midnight, at least on the weekend. I could hear the faint sounds of music in our room when the music was playing and we were in a standard room. Request a lower floor to be further away from the music.

The Technology

As I stated above, Aventura Hotel leans heavily into modern technology. In fact, there’s not a tv remote in the rooms or available at the front desk. You have to control the lights and tv via the tablet by the bed! You can also request room service on the tablet. A robot named Relay can even bring you some towels or toiletries. You just have to specifically ask for the robot when requesting it!

The Food

Typically, when you stay at a value resort hotel, you can expect to eat chicken nuggets and pizza for dinner at the resort restaurant. However, Aventura Hotel takes it up a notch. Here, you can build your own protein bowls! I really enjoyed my chicken and noodles bowl! I also had a fun Japanese soda with a glass marble in it! As for breakfast, I was equally surprised to find biscuits and gravy on the menu! It hit the spot before we dashed out of town to escape the hurricane.

As I mentioned above, there is a rooftop bar. We attempted to eat there on our trip, but it was raining and the bar was closed. It appears that the bar is not covered and allows rain to come in. So, check out the weather forecast before you decide to eat there. It does have great views though.

For dinner another night, we walked over to the neighboring Sapphire Falls resort (considered a Signature Collection Resort) and enjoyed a meal at Amatista’s Cookhouse! Aventura Hotel’s close distance to Sapphire Falls increases the availability of nearby food choices.

The Perks

The perks of staying on-site at Universal Orlando Resort are fabulous if you are planning on visiting the parks. Similar to when we stayed at Endless Summer – Dockside Inn and Suites, we received complimentary bus transportation to the parks! We never had to wait long for a bus, which is more than I can say for some other parks. Ha! We could have also gotten into the parks earlier for staying on-site as well as had merchandise purchases sent to the hotel for free! We also could have charged things to the room with our room card.

Overall

I have to say that we were impressed with Aventura Hotel. The price we paid was definitely worth the experience we received. We were able to relax with the simple theming and enjoyed saving money to put towards other experiences. I also enjoyed using the tablet to control the room and loved Relay! I can recommend this hotel without hesitation, if you are on a budget and/or like technology.

Theme Park Tips for Scaredy Cats

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Before I became a frequent theme park visitor, I wasn’t sure there wasn’t anything for me to enjoy at a theme park. I definitely didn’t think my husband or mom who both get motion sickness could have fun at a theme park. However, I’m here to tell you that it’s definitely possible! In fact, here’s a list of theme park tips for scaredy cats or people who like to travel without needing to ride the most thrilling rides.

theme park tips for scaredy cats

Theme Park Tips for Scaredy Cats

Up until a few years ago, I assumed you had to be a thrill seeker to enjoy amusement parks. However, after visiting some great ones, I now realize that theme parks can be enjoyable for everyone, regardless of age and ability! So, here are my theme park tips for scaredy cats or people who don’t want to ride the big roller coaster.

  • Experience the seasonal events. As I’ve posted previously, there’s so much to see and eat during the fall season at Dollywood. However, the same can be said about pretty much any festival at Epcot or SeaWorld Orlando. Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando is another seasonal event I highly recommend. Of course, the holidays at any amusement park are filled with special shows, décor, and food to enjoy!
  • See a show. Most amusement parks also have shows you can watch during the day. So, glance at a schedule for the day’s events at the park and catch a few! They can be a great way to escape the weather too!
  • Try out new food. Do some research before you arrive and see what food the park is famous for. For instance, you have to get the cinnamon bread at Dollywood or a Dole Whip at Disney Parks. Then, go and try as many of those foods as you can!
  • Ride a sight seeing ride. Most people can tolerate a train ride around a park (Dollywood) or on something like the People Mover at Magic Kingdom. So, be on the lookout for rides in the air to get a different view of the park. You might even spot a ride that looks less intimidating from up in the sky.
  • Do your research. I highly recommend checking out ride point of view videos on YouTube prior to going to any theme park, to get a feel for a ride and see if it might be tolerable for you or not. You can also read descriptions of rides on many parks’ websites, so if a roller coasters mentions inversions or a tall height requirement, it might not be for you.
  • Look for add-on events. Lots of parks have add-on events you can participate in for an additional cost. Often times this is not riding a ride. For instance, the Dine with Orcas at SeaWorld Orlando is an add-on event where you can eat lunch while watching a show with an orca! That is thrilling, but totally accessible to everyone! SeaWorld features tons of animal experience add-ons and Walt Disney World has several tours as well. Universal Orlando even has some free behind the scenes tours of their rides!

So, there you have my theme park tips for scaredy cats! Do you have any tips?

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando: Tips for Anxious Folks

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I tend to be what you might call an anxious person or easily spooked. However, I recently had a trip booked to Universal Orlando Resort during their annual Halloween Horror Nights event and decided to brave the event (along with my sixty-something year old mother). So, here are my tips if you are considering attending the event but are skittish and need some support.

Halloween Horror Nights for Anxious Folks

Halloween Horror Nights for Anxious Folks

Halloween Horror Nights, or HHN, is Universal Orlando (and technically Universal Hollywood’s) top tier scary fall event. They have some of the best themed haunted houses each year and really set the standard for what a scary event should look like. However, it’s supposed to be scary and because of that, it scares people (myself included) away. I’m here to say that the event is doable for anxious people and here’s how I did it.

  1. Arrive early. I believe it eased my anxiety knowing the park layout as well as scare zone locations prior to arriving to the park. I also recommend seeing the park in the daylight to acquaint yourself with the scare zones and theming ahead of time.
  2. Ease into it. I started with the front scare zone (Horrors of Halloween) and headed to get some food. The event has really been stepping up its game in the food department, so I knew which foods were must-gets for me and I got them immediately. I mean who doesn’t love starting an event with a pepperoni and cheese pizza skull and red velvet cake pop?! Then, I ate my goodies while taking in the nearest scare zone (Sweet Revenge). It was fun to watch the scare actors attempt to scare people and listen to the special effects being played. This was a nice way to ease into the scares.
  3. Watch a show. Next, after another scare zone or two, we watched a few shows. I will admit that the Halloween Nightmare Fuel Wildfire show has suggestive material and is not for everyone. However, I really enjoyed the music before and during the show. Plus, the show was really entertaining and not scary at all. I also watched Ghoulish, the waterway fountain show, which isn’t scary either. It was neat and kind of relaxing to view.
  4. Brace for darkness. The park takes on a more scary vibe once it gets dark. So, all of the research and prep comes in handy when you are running into massive crowds and thick fog in the park. Just don’t panic and keep walking. If you look scared, I think the actors are more likely to try to scare you. Just keep walking. Looking straight ahead seemed to help me. Meanwhile, they tried to scare my mom several times. Ha!
  5. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. The waits for the haunted houses were over an hour the night we went. So, we actually didn’t even attempt to visit any. I don’t regret it necessarily, but just know that the experience is what you make it. If you want to be scared, you certainly can be. If you just want to enjoy an adult evening at a theme park, you can do that as well.

So, there you have my tips for surviving Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando as an anxious person. Do you have any other tips? If you definitely can’t handle a few frights, might I recommend the much calmer and more family friendly SeaWorld Orlando Spooktacular Halloween or even Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party?

SeaWorld Orlando Spooktacular Halloween

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Back when I did the Dine with Orcas in February, I became a SeaWorld Orlando passholder. So, last week I made a return trip to attend the SeaWorld Orlando Spooktacular Halloween event! It’s an all day event included in the price of admission on Saturdays and Sundays in September and select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in October until October 31, 2022. Continue reading to see what all there is to do at this event!

SeaWorld Orlando Spooktacular

SeaWorld Orlando Spooktacular

What makes the SeaWorld Orlando Spooktacular event different from lots of other Halloween events is the fact that it’s included in regular park admission and it’s held during the day. So, that may make it more appealing to families. However, it can also make it more crowded and you can expect more upcharges to this event because it’s a “free” event. It also means you will have to deal with the high temperatures that a fall day in Orlando can bring.

Count von Count Spooktacular Breakfast

One fun way to begin your day is by attending the Count von Count Spooktacular breakfast! It’s an add-on event, priced at $34.99/adult and $18.99/child. However, annual pass discounts apply. My mom and I decided to book this breakfast since we needed to eat something and this seemed like a fun experience.

I will admit that the breakfast was a little confusing. You have to show your breakfast reservation to get through the park to the restaurant hosting the breakfast. Then, you will be seated at a table and shown the buffet. You can get as much as you want to eat! What wasn’t exactly clear in the registration is that this breakfast includes a meet and greet with several Sesame Street characters and a short two song dance routine from some characters at the very end. So, don’t leave until you see them dance and you get to meet Count von Count himself! Otherwise, you aren’t getting the full experience! Unfortunately, I saw a few families leave before the show and meeting Count von Count and I felt like they didn’t get their money’s worth.

I will say that the breakfast itself was pretty good. I enjoyed the French toast sticks, yogurt parfait, and biscuits with honey butter! They also had eggs, bacon, and sausage! It was easy to find something everyone enjoys.

It was really fun to meet the Sesame Street characters! Since it’s the SeaWorld Orlando Spooktacular Halloween event, Elmo is dressed up in a skeleton costume! Super cute! Zoe also had a special dance costume on! I also absolutely adored meeting Oscar the Grouch in his trashcan! Then, you top that off by meeting Count von Count. So, if someone in your party is into Sesame Street characters, this meal is definitely worth it.

Trick or Treat Trail

What’s a Halloween event without some trick or treating? Now, this is technically another add-on for this event as you must purchase a special Halloween event bag for $3.99 (passholder discounts can be applied) in order to receive candy. However, the kids seemed to be having lots of fun. I will caution you that on the day I went, they were somewhat stingy with the candy. Meaning, they gave out 2 pieces to each person at a time. So, if you plan on returning home with a full bag of candy, it’s going to take some work!

I did like that they had signs posted stating which specific candy was being given out at each stand. That makes it easy to avoid a candy you dislike or to deal with allergies. Also, adults are also allowed to trick or treat, if you purchase the bags! I didn’t see any chocolate being given out here. This is more Smarties/Sweet Tarts types of candy.

Meet Characters

Another neat thing about SeaWorld Orlando Spooktacular Halloween is the opportunity to meet unique characters! They have a Pumpkin Garden where you might even meet a Pumpkin Princess! You can also line up to meet pirates and mermaids! I thought it was a fun aquatic spin on Halloween! Lastly, you can see scarecrows at a DJ Dance Party!

I did want to note that I saw a booth for cookie decorating and crafts, but I never actually saw the booth open during our visit. I believe the cookie decorating kit costs extra, but the crafts are included. I’m not sure what either event offers since I didn’t see it going.

If you are considering a fall trip and want to experience some Halloween fun without the scares, then SeaWorld Orlando Spooktacular might be for you.