Orlando Fun Day

Saturday we spent a little time with Grandmommy and Granddaddy before heading to Orlando for the day. Legoland is owned by Merlin Entertainment and since we have Legoland passes we were invited to attend the preview weekend for Merlin's newest attraction in Orlando - The Orlando Eye. We also received "First to Fly" commemorative pins as a present!

It's located in a new plaza on International Drive near Sand Lake Road called IDrive 360. Parking is free in their parking garage and there's a lot of great new restaurants and shops around it. The main building houses the loading zone for the Orlando Eye as well as Madame Tussauds' Wax Museum and the Sea Life Aquarium. You can purchase individual tickets to each attraction or combo tickets for 2 or 3 attractions. 

Daryl and I rode the London Eye when we were in England - it's 443 feet tall. By comparison the Orlando Eye is 400 feet tall. You watch a 4D movie before loading up and you have a tour guide in the compartment with you to point out the sights.

Downtown Orlando

Disney World - Contemporary hotel is the angled building to the left of center and the bright white building to the right of center is Space Mountain.

Orlando Convention Center

After our ride on the Orlando Eye, we opted to visit Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. It's been 13 years since Daryl and I visited the one in New York. This one is definitely planned for kids in mind with all kinds of interactive things you can do or dress up with the characters as you go through. We all had a blast.

 

We finished up our day at Disney's Hollywood Studios. They've removed the giant Mickey hat from the front of the park, so you can see straight back to the Great Movie Ride at the replica of the Mann's Chinese Theater when you walk in. The crowds weren't bad and we walked right onto that ride. 

 

 

Next up we rode Toy Story Midway Mania and wandered around a bit before our dinner reservations at the 50s Prime Time Cafe. The decor was cool and the food was good old fashioned favorites like fried chicken, meatloaf and pot roast. Plus super thick shakes you couldn't drink with a straw. Parker actually ordered vegetarian lasagna and loved it. It was a great little mini-vacation as a family this weekend.