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Andy
Jan-14-2007, 07:23 PM
Oh there's so much to do in Florida. My wife and I decided to take our youngest (he's 7) for a special trip to Universal Studios in Orlando (http://www.universalorlando.com/), for some cool-kid fun. We stayed at a truly fine resort hotel, it's called Loews Portofino (http://www.loewshotels.com/en/Hotels/Portofino-Bay-Hotel/Overview.aspx). I've traveled plenty, and I must say, this is one of the best-run joints I've been to.

The entire hotel is modeled after an Italian village. And it truly doesn't take much to imagine yourself in Italy!
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/122959760-L.jpg

Right down to the Vespas parked all around the Piazza :D
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/122798098-L.jpg

OK so a short water taxi ride away is the main two-park complex, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Taking the water taxi is both relaxing and enjoyable.

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/122799297-L.jpg

It's quite a fantasy-land. A sizeable replica of NYC, just to make us feel at home :rolleyes
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/122799838-L.jpg

If coasters are your bag, they've got 'em. I rode all the loopy twisty, crazy coasters they had :puke Wife and son enjoyed the rides, too :D
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/122800806-L.jpghttp://www.smugmug.com/photos/122801468-L.jpg

I really enjoyed the Back To The Future ride and MIB Alien Attack. Poseidon's Fury is a MUST SEE, and I was truly impressed. Jurassic Park, well, that was a big hit with all of us, but for a 7-year old, into Dinosaurs, he's in Heaven :D
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/122802097-L.jpg

Nothing special here, except this is the photo where I lost my Smug-hat (this was on a moving roller coaster), and the funny thing was, I saw someone wearing it later that day :wink
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/122802854-L.jpg

OK so we had only two full days at Universal in Orlando. My advice for anyone going, spend more time there. Even for just the two parks at Universal, you need more than two days so you don't feel like you are running running running all the time.

We'll go back again :deal

Next stop: Parrot Jungle Island (http://www.parrotjungle.com/). It's in Miami. Great place for kids, and grown-up kids, too :D

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/123202675-L.jpg

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/123203364-L.jpg

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/123200922-L.jpg

For a substantial donation, we could hold these baby animals and they took a photo of us :uhoh
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/123196735-L.jpg

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/123196862-L.jpg
Tommyboy
Jan-14-2007, 07:59 PM
Great shots of a fun family vacation. You have a great looking family, Andy. Nice to see you outside your avatar, too!
saurora
Jan-14-2007, 08:17 PM
Looks like everyone was having a lot of fun, Andy. I love the T-rex shot...perfect! :thumb
wxwax
Jan-14-2007, 08:20 PM
Sweet. All 24-105?
smhs.images
Jan-14-2007, 09:00 PM
Nice shots Andy. These were shot with a Canon? I'm in the market for a new camera, and the clarity in your photos is beautiful. Looks like fun was had by all.
Andy
Jan-15-2007, 04:02 AM
Great shots of a fun family vacation. You have a great looking family, Andy. Nice to see you outside your avatar, too!
Thanks, it's good to get away :)

Looks like everyone was having a lot of fun, Andy. I love the T-rex shot...perfect! :thumb
:lol3
Andy
Jan-15-2007, 04:03 AM
Sweet. All 24-105?
:nod but the bird closeups were with the 100mm f/2.8 Macro.
Andy
Jan-15-2007, 04:04 AM
Nice shots Andy. These were shot with a Canon? I'm in the market for a new camera, and the clarity in your photos is beautiful. Looks like fun was had by all.
Hello Shawna, yes, all with Canon 5D. Thanks!
Ann McRae
Jan-15-2007, 05:04 AM
Fun! Glad to see you having some good family time Andy - I did notice however that you were still on line alot!!!! But the facial hair growth does look like you at least left the razor at home...:rofl

Speaking of losing your smugmug hat - we did an excursion in the Dominican that involved a speed boat ride. Well, when the captain gunned the boat my hat went for a trip, presumably to somewhere far, far away. Took a look behind me to give a sad face to hubby, and the captain had caught my hat! I was in awe! He got a nice big tip!

ann
JESTER
Jan-15-2007, 05:18 AM
Glad you like MY parks Andy. Yes, they are fun and plenty of photo ops. And yes, you do need more than two days to enjoy the place. Did you ride Spiderman and The Mummy? The Terminator is great also. If you are only going to be here a couple of days you really need to pick and choose the best rides and shows that you want to do. Let me know the next time you are coming this way. I work in Security in the Citywalk area but I get all over the place.
Andy
Jan-15-2007, 05:24 AM
I work in Security in the Citywalk area but I get all over the place.
:thumb wish I knew! Would loved to have met you :wave
JESTER
Jan-15-2007, 05:48 AM
There is always next time! We still have two more great Resort Hotels that you need to stay in. You will love the Hard Rock Hotel. (And NO, I do not have your hat!)
Andy
Jan-15-2007, 06:06 AM
There is always next time! We still have two more great Resort Hotels that you need to stay in. You will love the Hard Rock Hotel. (And NO, I do not have your hat!)
We've already decided that next time, we'll try the Hard Rock :)
Twisted Image
Jan-15-2007, 01:22 PM
Great shots... I can only hope to get such great shots on my vacations.
Makes me want to go back to Fla..:)
ian408
Jan-17-2007, 05:59 AM
That shot of your kid with the cat in his lap is priceless. His expression
seems to be saying "hey look at me, I've got a tiger in my lap!".
mrcoons
Jan-17-2007, 06:07 AM
Very nice Andy! Thanks for sharing.
mrclark321
Jan-17-2007, 06:08 AM
Looks like a great familly vacation Andy, we are heading down in May for a week and are so looking forward to it.

Dan
DoctorIt
Jan-17-2007, 06:22 AM
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/123196735-S.jpg

Andy and a chimp! :lol3
Skippy
Jan-18-2007, 03:53 AM
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/123196735-S.jpg

Andy and a chimp! :lol3

Well there you go people keep asking what is "Chimping?" :rofl
..... Skippy
ultravox
Jan-18-2007, 04:04 AM
:nod but the bird closeups were with the 100mm f/2.8 Macro.
Now I'm convinced. I must have one someday (birds included :D).
Great trip, nice photos. It's good to let the steam out from time to time.
tlee
Jan-18-2007, 06:51 AM
Well there you go people keep asking what is "Chimping?" :rofl
..... Skippy






Skippy---you crack me up! :rofl:roflWe've been to Unirversal Studios twice, and enjoyed it a lot! Our favorite all time ride: MIB. Andy, Thanks for sharing.
JenGrace
Jan-18-2007, 08:11 AM
I'm so jealous that your son got to bottle feed a tiger cub!!! Looks like you guys had a blast. Next time, you should come to SeaWorld! :wink
DJ-S1
Jan-18-2007, 11:16 AM
Nothing special here, except this is the photo where I lost my Smug-hat (this was on a moving roller coaster), and the funny thing was, I saw someone wearing it later that day :wink
Andy's new viral marketing campaign - go to a theme park and "lose" your hat 30 times a day; get huge name exposure for Smugmug. :rofl
Eileen Stephens
Jan-18-2007, 01:20 PM
Andy,
You drove right by. I live in the Fort Lauderdale area near the Everglades. If you ever make it back I would love to get together for a shoot out and an eating session.
Eileen
Phyxius
Jan-18-2007, 05:53 PM
Andy,
Lovely shots and it looks like you guys had a great trip!! I love the family shot with the animals, I got my picture taken with a tiger cub and a grizzly bear cub last year (aren't we all kids at heart?), it was so much fun!

I also love the parrot shot with that giant blue parrot on your son's shoulder! That bird is HUGE!
quark
Jan-18-2007, 06:44 PM
The pictures are great. You can feel the "fun" pouring out of them.

I am personally think it is really icky to steal a hat - poor ethics but what about the germs! Who needs a hat that badly?

Where did you put the camera bag when you went on all the rides? I usually freak out and leave the good gear at home when I do events like this because I can't figure out what to do whith my stuff.
Andy
Jan-18-2007, 06:53 PM
The pictures are great. You can feel the "fun" pouring out of them.

I am personally think it is really icky to steal a hat - poor ethics but what about the germs! Who needs a hat that badly?
Didn't get stolen.... the wind blew it off :)

Where did you put the camera bag when you went on all the rides? I usually freak out and leave the good gear at home when I do events like this because I can't figure out what to do whith my stuff.No camera bag, just a backpack, and my 5D, with 24-105... :D
pathfinder
Jan-18-2007, 07:38 PM
Great story Andy.

I loved your pictures of your days activities.

Looks like great fun for everyone.