I can’t say that I had a bad night’s sleep, as that would mean I actually got some. Anyway, I got up eventually at 10am having got some minutes post-dawn.
Rebecca, Tom and the boys were of course already up and down by the pool at that point and we joined them with our breakfast from Tuk Tuk, the market thing in the hotel. Different hotel, but the same breakfast choices were made. Granola/Parfaits etc.
It was very hot today.
I was a bit unsettled as there was no firm plan for today, a scenario in which I do not thrive. There had been talk of heading to a park in the afternoon, but with our late start, after a chat, we decided to remain by the pool until our meal this evening. With that sorted, I went back up to the room to change into my swimming gear and I multi-tasked, taking Dougie with me in his stroller in the hope he would fall asleep for his nap.
On my return, there was swimming and resting for all.
With our late arrival, shade was tricky to find and Mum retreated over there to snap up a spare bed and umbrella.
Mid-afternoon Rebecca and Tom took the boys back to the room for a break from the heat. They had plans to head over to City Walk but never made it. Instead, we met them at around 4.30 by the water taxi as were headed out to Antojitos for our evening meal.
We sat briefly in reception…
Before being seated.
As we arrived at the table a huge bowl and chips and salsa was deposited and we started to eat too many of those.
For the appetisers we ordered, can you guess? Yes, Nachos and the handmade Guacamole that is created at your table. You get asked how you’d like it and what you may want extra or less of. We guessed at some things and ended up with a bowl of tasty green stuff.
The Nachos were awesome.
Mum had Beef Burrito
I had a Tostada, right there in public.
Tom had Quesedillas
Louise had Steak Fajitas
Freddie whatever this is….
Rebecca a Chicken Burrito
If you think that food looked fab, it was. One of the best meals of our trip and we will return for sure. It was $225 including an already added 18% tip.
After eating we strolled over to Studios as Freddie wanted to ride Mummy to show he wasn’t scared of it anymore.
Once we got into the park I volunteered to stay off with Dougie and my overly full belly. Mum sat out too.
Next, we rode Fallon minus Mum and Dougie.
With Freddie in charge of the plans, we rode Mummy again next and I could not avoid it this time.
I did draw the line at Rip Ride Rockit though and just Rebecca and Tom did that one. We waited on a bench here.
I am almost ashamed to admit that sweet snacks were had. Well, we did not have dessert in the restaurant I suppose. Some of us had pineapple and some a Mango Ice push-up.
Louise sat with a sleeping Dougie whilst the rest of us walked over to ride The Simpsons. Freddie enjoyed that one and by the time we exited it was going dark.
With the it now being a few minutes before park close we walked briskly over to ET to squeeze that in.
It is of course very dated now and I’m not sure what five-year-old Freddie made of it all.
We walked back to Louise and Dougie and slowly made our way over to the water taxi. It was a fifteen-minute wait for one to fit us on and get us back to the hotel. Louise and I went to the Sushi Bar place fo a couple of drinks and I tried a couple of cocktails.
No idea what that one was…
But this Espresso Martini was delicious
We grabbed some waters from Tuk Tuk and were in bed by 12.
I was up and about around 8.30 and for Louise and I there was little packing to do as we did all that yesterday. It was a different matter for Rebecca of course. Anyone with young kids will know and understand the horrors of packing for a day out, never mind a two-week holiday, so they had a lot on this morning.
I did Dad things like emptying the bin and the fridge before playing with the boys so Rebecca and Tom could literally get their shit together.
We successfully left the villa bang on 10am and got into the car. It was then Louise realised she had left her phone inside so it was 10.01 before we left, for a second time.
Breakfast was required so we headed up to the 192 and a Perkins. It was a weekend so it was busy. I ran in to make sure we could get a table before everyone else went to the trouble of leaving their vehicles and we were in luck. We were seated immediately and literally just beat a rush of folks coming in who then had to watch us order and eat for quite some time before they were seated.
Whilst we browsed the menu a balloon artist approached the table and we commissioned a piece of his art. I don’t know how we do it, but not one of us had any cash to tip him, but we somehow found a few dollars to avoid embarrassment.
I had Brioche French Toast.
Louise, quite some distance away, had Omelette and Pancakes.
I think Tom and Rebecca had the same thing. I just don’t know what it was called.
Mum had a strawberry pancake thing which seems to have escaped my camera, as did Freddie’s Rainbow Pancakes.
Here’s Dougie basking in the afterglow of Tom’s sunburn.
The service was a bit slow and surly but the food was great and a reasonable $113 plus tip.
We dragged our fullness back to the car and set off towards the Royal Pacific at Universal. The I4 was busy and about ten minutes out from our destination, Louise informed us that this would be about 9 minutes and 30 seconds too late for her to find a toilet. Somehow she managed to contain herself and I managed to get us there a bit quicker, but she had to roll out from our moving vehicle as we approached the hotel entrance and sprint for a restroom.
The rest of us drove off to self-park and managed all the cases without her.
I like this hotel a lot, but check-in always takes an age. I don’t know why, as every piece of information they could possibly want or need is provided by me when I book. Regardless, Tom and I stood at the desk for over twenty minutes whilst the receptionist tapped away at endless stuff on their computer.
On the plus side, our rooms were ready and next to each other so we headed up to 2611 and 2613.
As you will see, I splurged to upgrade to the “tree view” option.
After just a few minutes of dumping cases, we were out again and heading to the water taxi.
Not the first turtle head that had been experienced today of course.
Technically these may be terrapins, but that wouldn’t work as well for attempted comedic effect.
We needed to head to Guest Services to sort out tickets for Louise and me. We had to redeem our Hurricane Ian affected tickets rolled over from last time.
We queued up for a bit before getting to a window and being sorted relatively painlessly.
As we were already there we decided to do Studios first.
Getting in was a bit faff filled. With our tickets split between my phone and physical ones for Louise and me, I had to stand at the gate and call folks forward when I swiped to their ticket. Some worked the first time and some didn’t. Anyway, we finally got in…nope, then Tom was stopped for a survey.
Ok, now we can start.
We selected the first thing we saw as our first ride.
I fell on my sword and stayed out with Dougie. A move my Mum would curse me for as she did not enjoy the shaking about she took on Minions.
Dougie and I strolled the shop enjoying the AC for about 30 minutes whilst the others Expressed and rode.
Between crowds coming out of the ride, I snuck us in for a quick meet and greet.
Next, we intended to ride Rip Ride Rockit without upsetting Freddie further who was gutted he could not do so. Good old bribery was our plan, but could not find an ice cream with which to do so anywhere. Anyway, Louise and Mum did not want to ride so they took the boys off whilst the rest of us did.
See how the weather is now glorious as soon as we leave the beach?
This is one heck of a ride, but now, at my age, it’s just pain and screaming. Thankfully it was over quickly and we returned to the others. We were heading for The Mummy, a ride Freddie was very keen to try.
We finally found ice cream in the shape of a Haagen Dazs shop and we all had too much.
Everyone apart from Mum and Dougie went off to ride, and to confirm the locker thing is still a confusing mess. Eventually, we figured it out. I of course locked my theme park ticket inside the locker, which was in my bum bag, but thankfully I had taken photos of them and had retained my phone in my zipped pocket (a must for any visit to Universal – Pro-Tip!) so would use those to unlock it once we had ridden. Pro-tip number 2!
We went through the blurry Express queue reasonably quickly.
Freddie was not too sure about it as we exited. I think it had taken him by surprise, but after giving it some thought over the next few hours, he wanted to and did ride it again and loved it.
We found Mum and Dougie on a bench watching some dancing.
We watched the end of that whilst Rebecca and Tom took the boys off to the loo/nappy change.
Transformers next.
A firm Freddie favourite. For me, it’s one of too many simulators at Universal and as I always say, it’s Spiderman with a different film. I know that’s dismissive of what was no doubt millions of dollars of development, but it is!
Over to Diagon Alley now. In all the years we’ve done Diagon Alley we’ve never really been able to have a good look around the shops as they are just too busy. This year was no different, especially with a stroller.
So we found Mum somewhere shady to sit and headed into Gringott’s.
Ross Kemp has let himself go.
There’s still a fair amount of queue even with Express.
But eventually, we got there.
Again, at the risk of dismissing an incredible feat of engineering. The ride is thrilling but can anyone hear what any of the characters are saying? The entire storyline is lost on me other than some things are trying to get us and the good guys save us (spoiler alert). Maybe that’s just me as I am too busy bracing my entire body against the painful jolts.
We took a moment after this ride and got some drinks. We found a bench and rested.
Most of us then walked around to Men in Black.
It was Freddie and me in the front row and with a spare seat next to me, I did what any competitive Dad/Grandad would do and grabbed two guns. It didn’t make the impact I may have hoped for on the scores but our car won at least.
Returning to those not riding, we decided we were all knackered and should head out for food. There were zero plans for dining this evening so we were now searching out dining options on a busy Saturday night at City Walk. Easy right?
I was walking and app surfing to no avail. I walked ahead of the group, stopping off at restaurants hoping to snag a walk-up for seven. What could possibly go wrong?
The only place that could take us was the Bob Marley place. Somewhere we have never considered, but any port in a hungry storm. I told everyone where I was and waited for them to catch up before we were seated.
Christ, the music was loud. I know, by definition this is a music-centric venue but they had a proper DJ on and the volume was rattling my teeth and preventing any kind of conversation.
I had Beef Patties, but it was probably just chaffing from all the walking.
Tom and Rebecca – Jerk Chicken Sandwich
Louise – Stuffed Peppers
Mum – Jerk Chicken Salad
Freddie had Tenders.
It was all very nice. Not somewhere we would choose again as the menu was pretty limited and it did make us deaf. It was £169 including an 18% tip.
We strolled back to the water taxi and waited 15 minutes for one to turn up.
We were back in our rooms soon after and I was to suffer a horrendous night of heartburn/acid reflux, with no sleep until about 5am. I blame that DJ.
Well, this weather was showing no signs of improving. Inexplicably I was awake at 6. Mind you, with the bar closing at 10 we did get an early night.
I rested and pottered for quite sometime before the need for breakfast became too hard to resist. Louise couldn’t be arsed getting up (she hadn’t slept very well at all) so Mum and I went down to Constant Grind again.
We Facetimed Emily back home over our usuals of Granola, toast and today a Danish for me, as what is breakfast without cake, before we headed out to the pool area. The forecast was pretty grim.
It was not a struggle to find beds by the pool with the weather how it was.
Weather for ducks indeed.
It was so windy that umbrellas were not permitted to be erect.
Louise joined us and as Mum nipped back up to her room to get something we chatted and quickly decided that an early return to Orlando may be in order. This was our last day/night in Daytona but there seemed little point if the beach and pool were not going to be enjoyable.
We consulted Mum who didn’t mind either way, and after deciding at 10.30, we were packed, checked out and in the car by 11.30.
As if to confirm our decision was correct, the drive “home” was a wet one. I kept it simple and stuck to the I4 all the way and it was painless enough apart from a slight delay around downtown Orlando.
Our time in Daytona had not been what we had hoped. Much of it had been enjoyable, the hotel was absolutely fine, the time we were able to enjoy the sun was very welcome and the baseball is always a treat, but ultimately I think we were all a little disappointed. The weather played a large part in that of course but beyond that, our impression of Daytona this time was that it was a resort in decline. It was very quiet almost everywhere and outside of the handful of very nice hotels along the beach, it was, to be frank quite run down and in places felt a little unsafe. I don’t think we would return.
Having left the villa a few days ago, assuming we would never return, we had stripped our beds and left all the sheets for Rebecca to wash when they checked out in the utility room. That had, in light of current events been a poor decision, as we now needed to wash and dry them before putting them back on our bed for tonight.
So we got to the villa, stuck a wash on and then went out for some lunch. Rebecca, Tom and the boys were out at Epcot.
Wanting the closest possible eatery we chose the little cafe thing at the clubhouse on the villa development, called Tu Casa. We were a little gutted we had not found the clubhouse before now. The boys would have loved the pool and its slides.
We ordered –
Louise – Nachos (of course)
Mum – Caesar Wrap
Me – Loaded Fries
Once we were done we drove back to the villa, shoved the sheets in the dryer ad set off for Epcot, parking in Crush 205.
We walked in due to another complete absence of trams.
It was nice to be back for an unexpected bonus park half day.
We did Spaceship Earth immediately having let Rebecca know where we were.
This was a source of immense pride.
They were riding Journey Into Imagination so after our ride we walked over there to meet them. Once they appeared we spent a little while watching the boys enjoy the fountains.
And experienced a large Pooh.
We noticed Soarin’ at just 25 minutes on the app (we were Genie+ less of course today) so we headed there and joined the queue. Louise sat out with Dougie.
As we left the ride, it was timed perfectly for Rebecca, Tom and the boys to check in for their ADR at Garden Grill at 5.55 so we left them to it.
We walked up to World Showcase for a wander and started at Canada.
Mum sat out in the sun whilst Louise and I enjoyed the show and of course the song especially.
As we continued through the UK, I had to restroom and all I will say is that it was Florida’s problem now. Into France and I tried to lead us up to the bakery but Louise insisted that we eat proper food instead so I was denied.
We ended up in the Tangerine Cafe in Morocco, I think for the first time ever and had some lamb kebabs and Hummus (nobody knows how to spell Hummus). It was absolutely delicious. It was so tasty I almost whipped my phone out and booked us a holiday there.
Having ticked the “proper food” box, I led us astray at the Funnel Cake stand in America.
It was awesome.
That was one of the two we shared.
We had a message from Rebecca that we were done eating and had a virtual queue return time about now for Guardians. I walked down to meet them to collect Dougie so they didn’t have to baby swap. That would have worked off all the funnel cake I am sure.
We continued our journey through the countries, including a ride in Mexico.
And some trolling in Norway.
It was now that lovely dusky time around World Showcase.
And soon it was dark….
I got us some frozen Margaritas from Mexico for the watching of fireworks and we took up a position opposite the America Pavillion with our backs to Spaceship Earth ready for a quick-ish getaway.
Mum wandered off into the nearby shop to look at stuff at 8.55, falling foul of the “we close the shops bang on 9pm” rule and getting herself locked in and missing the start of the fireworks!
Epcot Forever seemed better than the last time we saw it, somehow, unlike my photography. It’s still no Reflections of Earth.
We started our final exit from Disney for this trip with all the usual emotions and feelings. It had been quite some years since we had done the slow walk out to the main entrance as we always tend to find a way to be able to go via International Gateway.
Many of the emotions I feel at this time are based on never assuming we will return. You never know. Now, based on our track record, that’s unlikely but I reserve the right to feel all melancholy if I want to.
It was a long old walk back to the car and as if to reinforce the return to reality from the Disney bubble we stopped at the 7-11 to get some bin bags.
Now we are in the rinse and repeat of beach days, so the content may not be the most original. Yeah, OK, not a situation unique to beach days, I hear you.
It was a civilised start again, with Mum and I venturing down to Constant Grind for breakfast around 9.30. Louise stayed in bed, frankly, sulking at the crap weather which was playing havoc with her very highly desired time at the beach.
Mum had Toast and Jam again, but in her mid-eighties she sampled Granola and Yoghurt for the first time and she’s been eating it for breakfast ever since. It’s never too late I suppose.
I also had Granola and another large muffin. I just don’t understand why I keep putting weight on!?
The forecast today was for showers but we took our place by the pool like the optimistic milky white things we were. We picked some beds overlooking the beach.
We looked at that for some time whilst lying down.
Louise joined us with her breakfast and she did the same. You can’t beat trip report content like this.
Louise and I ventured into the pool at some point and Mum took herself off for a wander down the beach.
At some point in the afternoon, there was a need for a snack. It will astound you to discover that I over-ordered magnificently. I flagged down the wandering waitress and ordered 2 x Mozzarella Stick Portions (just that would have been sufficient for our needs) but like the tub-shaped buffoon I am, we also got a Chicken Sandwich. Everything was huge of course and it took some effort to get the majority of it eaten despite not really wanting to.
There was then more lying down.
At around 4pm all that lying down had caused me a numb bum and I went for a walk up the beach to get rid. I walked all the way up to the Hilton hotel, and surely all that exercise would have burned off all the crap I’d eaten and would eat for the rest of the trip. Right?
There’s something lovely about a beach walk though. On the way back I was walking into a force ten head-wind which made the return feel like running a marathon. It may amaze you to learn that I have never run a marathon, so that is an assumption.
I flopped, exhausted, back onto my sun lounger and rested a while before returning to our room at 5.30 to get ready to go and get some more food. Showers were had and Louise and I managed to squeeze in a Breaking Bad (not a euphemism) before meeting Mum in the lobby.
We left at 8 and had chosen to drive out to Applebees.
Due to them being crap for Vegetarians, it had been some time since we visited one, for which we will be resentful of Emily for all time.
We arrived to find another place in Daytona spookily empty. We were of course immediately seated. Inexplicably they had a DJ/Karaoke on who was setting up as we ordered.
We had Pretzel Dippers to start.
I had Steak & Shrimp, heavily featuring the broccoli in the photo
Mum had Riblets, whatever a Riblet is.
Louise had steak
It was all very nice.
We finished off by sharing some Donut Dippers.
With a few wines and a good tip, it was a very acceptable $125.
We left, mercifully, just as the karaoke was starting. I’m sure the four other people in the place were about to rock out in fine style.
With no change on hand to tip the valet driver back at the hotel (I do worry about and pre-plan these things) we stopped off at a gas station nearby. It felt like we were in Beirut. The whole front of the place was boarded up and we were pretty sure there was some sort of drug deal going down on the forecourt. Pre-payment for fuel was of course insisted upon and inside some character from Trainspotting was playing the coin drop machine. I have felt more safe it has to be said.
To top it off the owner had a glass eye. I am not making any of this up.
I was very relieved to get back in the car and back to the artificial bubble of our hotel.
Needing a drink after the gas station experience we went to the hotel bar. It was 10.05 and it had closed at 10pm. Yes, the Hard Rock Hotel apparently did not rock at all post-10 pm.
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