Giraffes And Zebras And Boars...Oh My!

Although she REALLY tried...Anne couldn't stay away from Walt Disney World while in Orlando.  Therefore, right before leaving Indy, reservations were made at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.   In the morning we packed up the Rig and headed for some Disney magic.  The hotel was incredible and felt like you were on an African Savannah...antelope, ostriches, ankole cattle & lots of other animals were right outside our balcony and everywhere we looked on the property.  So, after a full day of working out, hanging by the pool and relaxing in the steam room we watched animals from our hotel room, blogged & enjoyed beverages before dinner.   Then we ended the night seeing even more animals through night vision goggles while sipping vino!

If you look very closely you'll see Anne & Babbitt leaving our site at Bill Fredrick Park

 Babbitt watching amazed as a hungry giraffe munches on his lunch next to our hotel balcony
The animals were much closer than we expected...no need to spend the day at a theme park when you have this view

The pool was closed when we first got there because of an "incident"...
but after a few minutes & a little bit of magic it reopened clean as could be...
plus after a few Disney cocktails and Anne winning poolside BINGO twice, we forgot all about it

We laid out & caught some rays right across from these flamingos...they didn't even smell

The animals stay out until 8:00 a.m. everyday...so you can't miss them
Thanks to Anne The O'Babbitt's got to check this one off our bucket list too!

The O'Babbitt's in the lobby after a delicious dinner at Jiko
Babbitt put himself to bed after dinner, while the ladies had a nightcap

Katie & Anne looking out on to the Savannah one more time
Not sure what made Katie cry harder...leaving the Animal Kingdom Lodge to go
back to living in the Rig or saying goodbye to Anne?

Take 3 At Universal Studios

We were NOT going to let the crowds ruin our trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, so Katie insisted that we all get up early and be the first ones into the Islands of Adventure gates.  Although we came close we were not the very first guests to enter Hogsmeade, but we did come close.  This meant we got a private ride on the Flight of the Hippogriff, hardly had to wait at all for the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, had time for lunch at the Three Broomsticks, rode both Dragon Challenge rides & still had time for Frozen Butterbeer!  After all the spells & potions we rode the other rides that we missed the day before and topped our fun trip off back in Hogsmeade for drinks at Hog's Head Pub & a short bar crawl through City Walk!

Katie with the Hogwarts Express Conductor
A real life Hogwarts Express is being built as we speak...
guess we'll have to return at some point to check it out (hopefully with The Stone Family!)

The O'Babbitt's on our private ride of the Flight of the Hippogriff

Katie & Anne outside of Hogwarts (Harry Potter's Forbidden Journey Ride)
O'Babbitt Tip: This ride had a wait of over 200 minutes at one point...get there early...it's worth it

We heard the lines were long for Butterbeer & that was no lie
Of course the wait & the price were ridiculous, but you can't go to Hogsmeade without it!

Katie sending out postcards by Owl Post

Babbitt eating like a TOON back in Toon Lagoon

The O'Babbitt's entering Jurassic Park

The O'Babbitt's at Pat O'Brien's for Happy Hour at City Walk

Our Adventures At The Islands Of Adventure

Since we closed down Universal Studios the night before and didn't really have to wait in any lines we decided to get a later start on our second day at Universal Studios...this was our worst idea yet!  Katie wanted to wait to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the sunlight, so we skipped it on day one, but we quickly realized that everyone visiting the park was also there to see Harry.  So, we walked into Hogsmeade took a few pictures, were almost trampled trying to purchase postcards and got the hell out of there!  Instead of being wizards for the day, we decided to ride lots of water rides and end the day eating & drinking at City Walk.

Sneak peak of the entrance to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Katie did in fact tear up as we walked into Hogsmeade

The O'Babbitt's at Mythos - Voted Best Theme Park Restaurant (2003-2009)
We were really excited to try this restaurant (all of the reservations were booked when Anne
called originally, but we were able to get a table right away when we walked up)

The Poncho Pals after the Jurassic Park River Adventure ride
We put the ponchos to good use again on day two...
they have three water rides at Islands of Adventure and we did not want to get soaked

Anne showing us what it looks like when she walks our sweet pooch, Murphy
(Our wonderful Mama O is watching Murph while we are gone)

We had to pop back into Universal Studios to ride Rock It again and to take
a picture with Anne's new favorite...the Minions from Despicable Me

Babbitt enjoying a Western Whopper with Zesty Sauce at the world's first BK Whopper Bar
After Happy Hour drinks & appetizers at Emeril's Orlando we had to make this dream
come true for Babbitt...mostly so he would stop asking about it...turns out it's just a BK with a smaller menu

These Studios Are SO Universal

Luckily Babbitt found Bill Fredrick Park online before we left Indy and Anne reserved a spot for her visit.  We were a little skeptical of this park and thought that it might be too good to be true...it was only a few miles from Universal Studios, had full RV hookups, hot showers, disc golf and the price was right, but when we arrived we weren't let down...the park was as advertised!  So, Babbitt set up camp and Anne & Katie started Happy Hour before we made dinner and snuggled in for the night.  After our first night in the RV with THREE people, we braved the very rainy weather and made our way to Universal Studios for a day of rides, shows (some were more terrible than others) & fun!

The Rig at Bill Fredrick Park
We did forget one very important thing while there...the code to get back into the park after hours
Our cab driver dropped us off at the gate...we all stared at each other, hoping one of the three knew the code, but after only one hysterical phone call, we were back in business and on our way home

Disc Golf Course at Bill Fredrick Park
Babbitt refused to play Disc Golf with Anne & Katie and the pool was closed,
but we did take advantage of both the walking & biking trails, plus the great views

We had a pretty rainy start to the day with Sponge Bob Square Pants, but that did NOT stop us
Notice Babbitt refused to be a "Poncho Pal" at first
(Thank you to Claire & Nate for the very useful ponchos!)

Katie & Babbitt outside of The Simpson's Ride
This was one the best rides at the park & because of the rain we didn't even have to wait in line

The O'Babbitt's with Homer & Marge outside of their RV
Anne became an honorary O'Babbitt immediately

Katie & Babbitt outside of Shrek 4D
To be honest...we were expecting more....
also feel free to skip Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue (the WORST)

This picture had to be taken to remind Babbitt that he took two members of Troop Beverly Hills "camping"
Immediately afterwards we rode Katie's new favorite ride...Hollywood, Rip, Ride, Rockit

O'Babbitt's In Orlando

Emotions were running very high on our way to Orlando!  Not only were we so excited to pick Katie's Mom up from the airport the next morning, but we were also headed straight towards Katie's favorite place in the universe...Disney World!  As we passed the interstate exits for Disney we came extremely close to stopping for dinner and drinks, but Babbitt talked some sense into Katie and we agreed that we could wait a few more days to see Mickey Mouse.  So, instead we made our way to the Wal*Mart closest to the airport and prepared for our first RV guest of the trip!

Anne & Katie were reunited in Orlando...after some very happy tears and lots of hugs
we took a stroll through Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando

Anne & Babbitt very close to a swan nesting
Any closer and someone would have been attacked

Club Elvis at Yellow Dog Eats
O'Babbitt Tip: Don't miss this restaurant...definitely one of our favorites so far

Eastbound And Down

After our paperwork for permanent residency in New Port Richey was rejected (Ken & Kelly assured us that they had nothing to do with it), we decided we better not out wear our welcome!  So, after a few weeks of quality family time, great food, delicious libations, fun movie nights, intense Jillian Michaels workouts, learning family secrets and the opportunity to lay sod, we decided to move back in the Rig and make out way to Orlando.

Babbitt & Katie reliving what could have been their first date in high school at Sam's Beach Bar...
we even included the bald fade Babbitt use to sport at Pike High School

Kelly insisted we try the famous fish bowl drink on our last day...
it did not disappoint, but you'll notice she chose a less flashy beer

Other than the no see ums (most annoying bugs ever) swarming us...
Sam's Beach Bar was the perfect place to say goodbye

Pressed For More Cubans

When we woke up this morning, we both felt like we were dying from the overeating we partook in at Busch Gardens, but somehow we persevered!  So, after wasting time running errands and trying to get hungry again we headed to La Teresita for another Cuban, but on our way there an RV Show caught Babbitt's eye and he couldn't just drive by without checking out the other rigs!  After lunch we drove back to Palm Harbor for poolside Sangria & a 10-mile bike ride on the ocean.  We then ended the evening back at Ken & Kelly's to make fettuccini alfredo for our farewell dinner & a special showing of Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2.

Babbitt posing with the RV that costs more than our house back in Indy
& was decorated floor to ceiling with the finest of white leather

Katie enjoying yummy black beans & rice at the lunch counter at La Teresita
She thought this was the least she deserved after being drug to the RV Show...
isn't owning an RV enough?!?!

Pitchers of Sangria, a pool & a hot tub to dip your toes in while sun bathing?
Katie was in heaven at Ozona Blue Grilling Co.

Our view from the Pinella County Bike Trail

We Couldn't Even Drink Beer At Busch Gardens

We both visited Busch Gardens as kids quite a few years ago, so we decided since we were in Tampa that we needed to revisit one of the top ranked parks for roller coasters in the country as adults.  The visit started out rocky due to a double charge for the tickets on our credit card, expensive parking for the rig and the fact that we were forced to pay for a locker once we got to the back of the park (you can't ride any of the roller coasters with a bag...this conveniently was not posted anywhere close to the entrance of the park).  Despite the bad taste in our mouths we met our goal of riding all of the coasters (and the kiddie rides too), plus we ate a full meal at almost every restaurant in the park (Babbitt's admission included ALL YOU CAN EAT and we would have eaten at every restaurant if they didn't start closing some of them 2 hours before the park closed!)

View of Busch Gardens from the Sky Ride

The last time Katie was at Busch Gardens she was 2 and according to her dad
she had a real meltdown at the merry go round for no reason...at least she is smiling during this trip

Babbitt getting ready to go on his favorite ride...
Sheikra for the second time

Katie underneath the enormous White Tiger
O'Babbitt Tip: The animal exhibits are amazing and a must see

We heard a lot of stories about the "old" Busch Gardens & the beer throughout the day,
but the combination of Sea World being the owners (no more free beer) and the fact that Babbitt could eat as much as he wanted and didn't want a full belly, we decided to save our boozing for another amusement park

Once again we were the last customers to leave

Tampa Bay Times

We made the 2-hour drive from New Port Richey to Tampa this afternoon.  Our first stop...the Aguila Sandwich Shop for a Cuban and a specially made Veggie Cuban for high maintenance Katie!  Then we thought we'd ride our bikes around Ybor City, but quickly realized that there wasn't a safe bike path in the area, so we abandoned the biking idea all together and drank Sangria at Florida's oldest restaurant, the Columbia.  We ended the night downtown watching the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Winnipeg Jets!

Katie with the owners of Aguila Sandwich Shop
The service was outstanding, the price was right & somehow the
food was still the best part of our experience

One small Veggie Cuban and one Large Cuban
We knew that we had to try a Cuban while in Tampa and when we
saw Aguila is one of Adam Richman's favorite restaurants, we knew it
had to be good and it didn't disappoint

Sangria at Columbia
It was hard not to order more food when we came to Columbia after Aguila, but
we stayed strong...instead we enjoyed sangria & the tradition all around us

This game was a ton of fun...we got to see real lightning strike inside, see the largest indoor
television & most importantly, our binocular flask made it into another sporting event

We are Chicago Blackhawks fans the other 364 days of the year,
but when we won free t-shirts we had no choice, but to support the team
Sadly our cheers weren't loud enough, because the Bolts did not win 

Happy Hour

Since our brief layover from cruzing began a few weeks ago, we have decided to put all of our efforts into eating, working out and of course boozing.  With a lot of help from Ken & Kelly none of these points have been neglected.

Babbitt & Flat Hank at Thirsty Marlin
This was our second trip to this location...when we went for
lunch the first time, they weren't serving sushi and that was NOT acceptable

Katie enjoying Dollar Sushi at Thirsty Marlin
Good thing we went back, because on Monday & Tuesday evenings they have Dollar Sushi
Thank you to the Stone's for another excellent recommendation

Babbitt, Katie, Kelly & Ken at the Rum River Tiki Bar
We got there right before Happy Hour, which couldn't have been more perfect
Plus, now our new poitical aspiration is to lobby for Happy Hour in the state of Indiana

Babbitt at our next stop...Whiskey River...this bar was right next to Rum River
Ken & Kelly treated us to a night of drinks, dancing (even Babbitt) & watching the LA Clippers play
Good thing Kelly has been working us out with "Workouts by Kelly" & Jillian Michael's videos