Double-Digit Extravaganza!! (Part 1 of 3)

Friday, July 10, 2015 by  

Birthday joy, tickets to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios, Florida, Orlando, great excitement (3)Birthdays are a big deal in our household. Turning double digits?  Birthday joy, tickets to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios, Florida, Orlando, great excitement (2)

Well, that’s just momentous.

These photos are the tickets to an adventure of a lifetime: We took Little One on a Tweendom Extravaganza to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Orlando, Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Titanic Artifact Exhibit, Disney’s Epcot Center, and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium to visit Winter & Hope of Dolphin Tale 1 & 2, CoCo Key Water Resort & Mystic Aquarium.

We walked over 120,000 steps – thank you, pedometer – which translates to 52 miles!

In blue are links to Parts 2 & 3 of this story - yes – so remarkable, they deserve their own posts!

To explore the magical world of wizards & wands, chocolate frogs, Butterbeer & Platform 9 3/4, click Part 2: Harry Potter World

To see Winter, the sweet dolphin who lost her tail when she was only 2 months old, click Part 3: Winter & Hope
Animal Kingdom, Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Epcot (2)  Animal Kingdom, Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Epcot (6) Animal Kingdom, Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Epcot (7)

Animal Kingdom, Tree of Life, Rainforest lunch, up close with Little One’s favorite bird, Safari

 Animal Kingdom, Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Epcot (8) Animal Kingdom, Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Epcot (10)

Disney World’s beautiful Main Street and big smiles!

Animal Kingdom, Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Epcot (11) Animal Kingdom, Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Epcot (12) Animal Kingdom, Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Epcot (14)
Cinderella’s castle, reserved birthday spot to see Disney’s Fantasy Parade & meet the characters, Animal Kingdom, Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Epcot (19) Animal Kingdom, Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Epcot (20) Animal Kingdom, Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Epcot (21)
Enjoying Disney’s Ferry Boat ride, power lines on the I-4 – cool!! and Epcot Center

Animal Kingdom, Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Epcot (32)  Animal Kingdom, Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Epcot (33)

Gorgeous Annual Flower Festival at Epcot, Space Center, coral reef cuddles

Animal Kingdom, Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Epcot (24) Animal Kingdom, Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Epcot (27)

Animal Kingdom, Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Epcot (26)  Universal

Animal Kingdom, Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Epcot (36)  Titanic Artifact Exhibit

Dad & Little One enjoying the water resort where we stayed. That slide was insane!

CoCo Key Water Resort Orlando (2) CoCo Key Water Resort Orlando (1)

♥♥♥ And best of all was celebrating at Mystic Aquarium & CoCo Key Water Resort with family & friends. ♥♥♥

Turning 10, birthday party, birthday parties, water resort, fun, laughter, birthday fun (1)  Turning 10, birthday party, birthday parties, water resort, fun, laughter, birthday fun (2) Turning 10, birthday party, birthday parties, water resort, fun, laughter, birthday fun (3) Turning 10, birthday party, birthday parties, water resort, fun, laughter, birthday fun (10) Turning 10, birthday party, birthday parties, water resort, fun, laughter, birthday fun (4) Turning 10, birthday party, birthday parties, water resort, fun, laughter, birthday fun (6)

Turning 10, birthday party, birthday parties, water resort, fun, laughter, birthday fun (12) Turning 10, birthday party, birthday parties, water resort, fun, laughter, birthday fun (15)

bright spot flowerThe Bright Spot – Enjoy the stories of Harry Potter World and Winter & Hope by clicking these blue links…or just keep scrolling, they’re next. We highly recommend both vacation sites!!  🙂


Bianca

Dolphin Tale – Winter & Hope (Part 3 of 3)

Wednesday, July 8, 2015 by  

Clearwater, Courtesy of Fintastic Photo (1)

As part of our daughter’s 10th birthday extravaganza, we surprised her with a special visit with Winter, the beautiful dolphin who lost her tail when she was only 2 months old. Her tail was caught in commercial fishing lines.

Clearwater, Courtesy of Fintastic Photo (7)

(Courtesy: Fintastic)

 

 

 

 

She is now 9 years old & lives with her best friend, Hope, at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

 

Clearwater, Courtesy of Fintastic Photo (4)

 

 

 

Our budding marine biologist was thrilled to meet them both and all the marine animals under treatment in the hospital.

 

Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (28)

Winter’s real-life rehab story has captivated audiences worldwide in Dolphin Tale & Dolphin Tale 2.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (8)

Both movies, starring Harry Connick, Jr. & Ashley Judd, were filmed on location at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium with Winter.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (5)

Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (7)

A look at the timeline these past 9 years and how Winter has inspired suffering children & veterans:

  Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (11) Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (12) Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (13)  Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (15) Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (16) Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (17)  Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (19) Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (20)Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (21)

Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (22) Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (10)

Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (26)  Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (25)  Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (27)Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (30)

Clearwater, Courtesy of Fintastic Photo (3)

Our fintastic trip wrapped up with a trolley ride between the filming site rehab center & museum, dinner on the water, and the best memories of Winter & Hope!

Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (29) Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (31) Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (33)

Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, Hope, Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale movie, Dolphin Tale 2 (32)

bright spot flowerThe Bright Spot – Empowering your children to grow up living their dreams.

For Part 1, click: Double-Digit Extravaganza      For Part 2, click: Harry Potter World


Bianca