Trip Report Getting our Disney fix

chrish16 · May 8, 2026

Day 6 – Disney Buses, Wilderness Lodge Dreams, Bubba Gump's & A Last-Minute Hagrid’s Dash

Day six started a little slower than planned. After the late night before, we woke up at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort to actual sunshine for once, which immediately made everything feel slightly more manageable. It was checkout day, though, and unfortunately Kelly still wasn’t feeling much better after the ER visit. At this point we were coming up on nearly 48 hours of her being unwell, so the original plans for the day were very much a “see how things go” situation.

One thing that wasn’t changing though was breakfast. Priorities.

The boys had basically decided breakfast was needed immediately, so we headed up to the World Premiere Food Court at All-Star Movies hoping for Mickey waffles. Thankfully Disney understands the importance of circular waffles shaped like a mouse’s head, so crisis avoided.

We grabbed a big table for the five of us and ordered a mix of platters and Mickey waffles with bacon and sausage. There’s just something about Disney breakfast food that tastes better than it probably should. Maybe it’s the music. Maybe it’s the smell of the food court at 9am. Maybe it’s because you’re eating Mickey-shaped carbohydrates while planning your next park day. Whatever it is, it works.

After breakfast we had a proper wander around the resort shop, Donald’s Double Feature, and honestly I came away appreciating the value resorts far more than I expected. We’d never actually stayed at an All-Star before because we normally needed space for five people, which usually pushed us towards Port Orleans Riverside and the pull-down bed setup. But staying here, even just for one night, really reminded me that you don’t need deluxe resorts to get that Disney feeling.

You’re still in the Disney bubble.

You still get the buses, the music, the theming, the food courts, the random Disney magic and the feeling that you’ve properly “arrived” on holiday. Even the budget resorts still feel special.

The shop itself had loads of things we hadn’t seen elsewhere on the trip. Wreck-It Ralph merch, resort-specific items, Starbucks tumblers, magnets, pins, ornaments, giant Stitch plushes that cost more than my first car… the usual Disney experience really.

One of the cast members even rang Goofy on the phone so he could sing Happy Birthday to me after hearing we were there celebrating my 40th. Completely mad. Completely Disney. Absolutely loved it.

Before leaving we had one last look around the Fantasia pool area and the giant Toy Story statues. There’s something weirdly emotional about leaving a Disney resort, even after one night. You do suddenly start thinking, “Maybe we could just stay onsite every trip…”

Eventually it was time to check out and head back to the Rosen Inn so Kelly could rest properly. After getting changed and sorting some packing for the cruise the next day, me and my parents decided to still head out for a little Disney Springs trip while Kelly stayed back to recover.

The actual mission for the afternoon was Wilderness Lodge.

Now, if you’ve watched the vlogs, you’ll know I’ve been going down a slight Disney Vacation Club rabbit hole recently. Wilderness Lodge was one of the resorts I’d been seriously looking at as a potential future DVC home resort, so I really wanted to finally see it in person.

Rather than driving directly there and risking Disney security asking awkward questions about reservations, dining bookings and our entire life story, we went for the classic Disney transport method instead.

Disney Springs bus station.
Free Disney transport.
Maximum Disney efficiency.

After parking in the Orange Garage — which somehow still confuses me every single visit (used to Lime)— we made our way to the buses and timed it perfectly with the Wilderness Lodge bus arriving almost immediately.

One thing I always notice in Disney is how accommodating cast members are with accessibility. My mam’s scooter isn’t exactly the easiest thing to manoeuvre, but the drivers are brilliant helping with ramps, positioning and getting everything sorted without any fuss whatsoever.

Then we arrived.

And honestly… Wilderness Lodge is stunning.

The second you walk into that lobby you understand why people love it so much. Massive timber beams, towering ceilings, giant fireplaces, rockwork, water features — it genuinely feels like stepping into some huge national park lodge in the Pacific Northwest.

It has this calm atmosphere that feels completely different to the more “busy” Disney resorts.

We had a wander through the main lobby, looked around the DVC areas, checked out Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek, and explored the resort grounds outside. Everywhere you looked there were little peaceful corners, lake views, boats crossing the water towards Magic Kingdom and gorgeous walking paths.

The geyser area outside was brilliant, although unfortunately we missed the actual eruption timing. Typical.

Seeing the boats heading across Bay Lake towards Magic Kingdom honestly made it very easy to imagine staying there long term. The whole place just feels relaxing in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’ve visited.

We also had a quick look at the quick service dining options and resort facilities because obviously if you’re thinking DVC ownership, you suddenly become deeply invested in very important topics like “How good are the chicken tenders?” and “Would Noah eat the flatbread here?”

Critical research.

After a really good explore around Wilderness Lodge, we eventually made our way back to Disney Springs.

By this point everyone was getting tired and hungry, but then somebody suggested something dangerous.

“What if we nip to Islands of Adventure tonight?”

And just like that, the entire evening changed.

The plan became:
Universal CityWalk.
Dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
One last Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure ride before the park closed.

Simple. Efficient. Slightly chaotic.

After parking and rushing through security, me and Noah headed straight into Islands of Adventure to sort his accessibility pass return time for Hagrid’s. The standby queue was around 90 minutes, so the return time system was definitely the better option for him.

That left just enough time for dinner.

We headed into Bubba Gump’s, where thankfully our Landry’s card still existed despite the app behaving like it had been programmed on a calculator from 1997.

I went for the crab and shrimp rolls with fries, Noah got pizza, and everyone else played it safe with fish and chips. Honestly, the shrimp rolls were unreal. Light, fresh and probably the right choice considering we were about to launch ourselves around a rollercoaster immediately afterwards.

Not that this stopped me questioning the decision while jogging through Islands of Adventure carrying a stomach full of seafood.

As the park got closer to closing time we realised we had a dilemma.

Either:

Ride VelociCoaster
Or ride Hagrid’s

There wasn’t really enough time for both.

We ended up gambling and ran for Hagrid’s — and honestly, absolutely the correct choice.

We managed to get onto the ride just before closing and somehow it felt even better than I remembered. The launches, the drops, the forest sections, the motorbike acceleration… absolutely incredible.

Noah even declared it better than VelociCoaster, which is a massive statement in this family.

Coming off that ride at night, with the park closing around us and everybody slowly leaving Hogsmeade, genuinely felt like the perfect ending to the Universal part of the trip.

Well… almost perfect.

Because back at the Rosen Inn I still had one final mission.

Bubba Gump takeaway dessert because once Noah and I got back Thomas and my parents had already paid and outside talking to a local (my mum can literally talk to anyone, anywhere) so I went back inside to the bar and ordered a takeaway Strawberry Shortbread, result!

Priorities again.

The dessert had melted slightly by the time we got back thanks to taking a wrong turn on International Drive, but honestly after the day we’d had, I would probably still have eaten it if it had fully become soup.

Day six ended with packing for the next stage of the holiday — our first ever cruise aboard MSC Seashore.

Disney resort exploring.
Disney Springs buses.
Wilderness Lodge DVC dreaming.
Seafood.
Universal night rides.
Melted dessert.

Quite a random day really… but somehow one of the most memorable of the trip.

Video:

Wicked Sisters · May 9, 2026

Wow you managed to fit so much in on your one day which was brilliant. We stayed at the WL last year and totally agree it is amazing and I hope you decide to stay there. Sorry that Kelly was poorly, it’s awful being ill on holiday. I hope you decide to let us see the whole holiday on here as we included Universal as well.

chrish16 · May 9, 2026

Wicked Sisters said:
Wow you managed to fit so much in on your one day which was brilliant. We stayed at the WL last year and totally agree it is amazing and I hope you decide to stay there. Sorry that Kelly was poorly, it’s awful being ill on holiday. I hope you decide to let us see the whole holiday on here as we included Universal as well.

Thank you. I'll post the rest of the trip here. Obviously, travel day to Day 4 will come after Day 6 now and admin if not allowed please let me know or remove etc.

chrish16 · May 9, 2026

FLORIDA 2026: The “Hoodie Up” Travel Day

The adventure officially started around 4pm when the taxi turned up and we somehow managed to fit what felt like our entire house into the boot. Standard.
We headed to the Holiday Inn Manchester Airport T2 for our pre-travel night — mainly for the luxury of not having to panic-drive to the airport at 4am. The room (with breakfast) came to £131.01, which felt fair… until we realised “booking rooms together” apparently means “same building, different postcode.” My parents ended up somewhere down the corridor.

After dumping bags, it was straight down for food because priorities. We went to Firin and discovered a bit of a hack — you can order from the bar/lounge menu but still sit in the restaurant. Felt like we’d beaten the system… until we were told a 30-minute wait, which quickly turned into 40, including a solid 10 minutes just standing at the desk wondering if we’d been forgotten entirely.
Food was… safe. Fish and chips for the kids, Kelly went for a kids burger (no shame), and me and my parents all landed on burgers. Not exactly a culinary adventure, but it did the job.

Morning came round far too quickly. We were up at 6am, which should be illegal before a holiday.

We rang my parents… who were not ready. At all. Eventually everyone made it down to breakfast, which to be fair was actually really good. Loads of choice, hot food, pastries, cereals — one of those where you try to justify a second plate because “it’s a long travel day.”
By 7am we were checked out and making the very short walk to Terminal 2. And when I say short, I mean ridiculously short. About two minutes.

No stress, no taxis, no rushing — just straight in. I already had my hood up at this point, fully over the UK weather and mentally in Florida.

Inside, it was the usual routine. WHSmith stop for snacks (yes, £9 meal deals are still a thing… still painful), through security, a wander through duty free, then settling in at Apiary… before Kelly and I immediately left again for another wander because apparently sitting still isn’t an option.

O, and the hoody shot

Gate call comes up — D2. Of course it’s the opposite side of where we were last time. Bit of a trek.

Then came the unexpected drama: my mam’s brand new ECV scooter. She’d literally had it a few days, and this was its big debut… which didn’t go well.
We got to the air bridge and spent a good five minutes:

trying to fold it
trying to lock it
pretending we knew what we were doing

Turns out something had already come loose. Brilliant timing. Eventually we got it into a state where the ground staff could take it (they take it at the aircraft door in the airbridge and put it in the hold), but it definitely added a bit of stress we didn’t need before even getting on the plane.

Once we were on, things settled down a bit.

First time flying Aer Lingus and honestly… pretty solid.

The food was actually good for plane food. Chicken (with what I think was mushroom sauce), rice, green beans — all edible, which is already a win. Came with the usual extras: bread roll, a cold pasta salad, chocolate orange mousse, and that slightly strange foil-sealed water.

The drinks situation was where things got interesting. They asked if I wanted tea, coffee or wine. I said no… so they gave me two mini cans of Fanta instead. Result.
Tried the exact same thing on the way back… didn’t work. Still not over it.

We also got sour cream and chive pretzels earlier on, and a mini ice cream before landing, which definitely helped towards the end when everyone’s had enough.

We landed at Orlando International Airport… and straight away it felt different.

Terminal C is big, bright, modern… but also slightly gives off “airport meets hospital” vibes. We all kind of missed the older terminals — the carpet, the water fountains, the big American flag — all the stuff that makes it feel like you’ve actually arrived in Orlando.

You arrive on Level 6, which is also baggage claim. Then you need to head down to Level 4 for car hire, which is basically the main hub for everything, including the Brightline train and the Visitor Toll Pass machines. Shuttles and buses are down on Level 1.

We found the toll pass machines near the car hire desks (just left of Enterprise), and this is where things slowed down a bit. The app refused to log me in — entirely my fault — so I had to manually type in the code from the email. First attempt failed (of course), second attempt worked. Not the smoothest, but we got there in the end.

After last year’s experience with Budget, Kelly had already decided we were not doing that again. So we went with Alamo and pre-registered for “skip the counter,” which meant heading straight to the garage.

Sounds simple… unless you’re all tired and slightly grumpy.

There may or may not have been a small disagreement about which floor we needed, despite the signs being very clear. Eventually we found it, picked out a 7-seater, and started the usual luggage Tetris.

Somehow we managed to fit:
4 big cases
2 smaller cases
backpacks
and the ECV

All in. Just.

Home Sweet Rosen
By this point, everyone’s patience was running low and we just wanted to get to the hotel. We pulled up at the Rosen Inn International Drive — somewhere we’ve stayed before — and were greeted by two out of three lifts being out of order. Exactly what you want after a long travel day.

To be fair, they were fixed the next day, but at the time it didn’t feel like a great start.

The hotel itself is exactly what you expect — basic, clean, and in a great location. Perfect for what we needed.

We dumped the bags, had a quick reset, then did the short (and very tired) walk to the world’s largest McDonald’s on Sand Lake Road. Kept it simple this time with standard burgers, even though we know the pizza there is actually really good from previous trips.

Back to the room, everyone completely exhausted.

Long day, a bit of stress, a few “moments”… but we made it.

Florida officially underway.

Travel Day Video:

chrish16 · May 13, 2026

Florida 2026 – Day 1: Walmart, Pancakes & A Bit of a Universal Wobble

Good morning from Florida… and what a way to wake up.
The view from the room was unreal. One of those deep orange sunrises that doesn’t quite show properly on camera, but you just stand there thinking yeah… this is why we come back. Definitely not something I’ll miss swapping back to the UK.

Today’s plan was simple: Walmart run, breakfast, then our first park day at Universal Studios. Nice and easy. No rushing. That was the plan anyway.
We were up around 6:30am after crashing out early the night before, feeling surprisingly refreshed. Weather-wise, it was already warm (especially compared to home), and knowing it was hitting around 31°C later definitely helped take the edge off the early start.

Walmart Chaos (as tradition dictates)

First stop of any Florida trip… Walmart. It has to be done. We had planned to visit Target this trip instead but as WalMart was closer we opted for that.
We got there just after 7am and it was probably the quietest I’ve ever seen it, which made a nice change. Still managed to fill the trolley like we were preparing for a month-long stay though.
We basically got:

drinks (Coke, Dr Pepper, Sprite… the essentials)
snacks for the room and parks
cereals and bits for Noah (who doesn’t always eat out)
Pop-Tarts (some for now, some to bring home)
random extras like Liquid IV, toothpaste, ziplock bags

And of course… a 40-pack of water like we’re stocking a small shop.
One thing that always throws us — red milk over here is full fat. Completely opposite to the UK. Easy mistake waiting to happen.
Total came to about $282 between us, which sounds a lot… but honestly, for the amount we got, it’ll save loads over the trip (or so we thought!)

IHOP Breakfast
Back to the hotel to drop everything off, then straight back out again for breakfast. We went to IHOP, which somehow takes longer to drive to than it would to walk thanks to the road layouts. Classic International Drive.
Breakfast didn’t disappoint:

pancakes everywhere
Thomas went big with the breakfast sampler
Noah and Kelly had chocolate pancakes with fruit
I went for the strawberry crepes
Val and Stephen went for pancakes and a breakfast sampler to share

All really good, and for six of us it came to about $89 including drinks (and multiple coffees), which actually felt pretty reasonable.

First Park Day – Universal Studios
We got to Universal Studios around 11am, and first impression… busy.
Not “panic” busy, but definitely more people about than expected. We’d already checked wait times earlier and they were a bit all over the place, so we decided to just take it easy instead of trying to smash every ride.

That was the theme for the day:

no rushing

no “we must do everything”

just wander, pick rides, and enjoy it

We reactivated our freestyle drinks bottle — $12.45 for the day and worth it in that heat.
From there we just kind of drifted:

Revenge of the Mummy (still as intense as ever… lots of shouting from Val)
a wander through shops
a stop near Diagon Alley
Escape from Gringotts (still brilliant)

At one point I tried one of the Mardi Gras food stalls (China for shrimp fried rice), which looked better than it tasted. Not bad… just not quite what I was expecting.

The Day Starts to Dip
By mid-afternoon, things started to feel a bit off.
Nothing major at first, just that general tired, run-down feeling. My dad wasn’t feeling great, Kelly wasn’t 100%, and you could tell the energy had dropped a bit across the group.
We’d all had flu before coming away, and it felt like it hadn’t quite left some of us.
So instead of pushing through, we called it early around 4pm.
Not ideal for Day 1… but also exactly why we planned this trip to be more relaxed.

Pool Time & Classic Chaos
Back at the Rosen Inn International Drive, we had a bit of downtime. Some went for a nap, and I took Noah down to the pool. Which turned into its own little adventure.
Noah forgot his goggles… he couldn’t go back to the room because he was wet… so naturally the solution was to get Thomas to throw them down from the sixth floor, which thankfully worked. Then Thomas managed to lock the safe by putting the code in wrong too many times… with both our laptops inside

So yeah, standard Day 1 really.

Chick-fil-A & Calling It a Night
After a bit of rest, we decided to keep things simple and headed to Chick-fil-A for tea.
Food was decent and the first fast food restaurant I've seen with flowers on the table, real flowers at that!

nuggets, waffle fries, burgers
about $40 total

The boys weren’t fully convinced by the nuggets (a bit tougher than expected), but it did the job. We thought about going out for ice cream at Twisty Treats after… but at that point, everyone was done. Especially Kelly, who still wasn’t feeling great.
So it was back to the hotel, a quick stop at the onsite shop Lite Bite Mini-Market & Deli for a few bits (toothbrushes for the boys, who conveniently left them at home) and an ice lolly for Noah then calling it a night.

End of Day Thoughts
It wasn’t quite the big “full first day” we had planned… but that’s real life.
We got:

a proper Walmart run done
a great breakfast
a few solid rides at Universal

…and most importantly, didn’t push it when people weren’t feeling great.
Looking back, this was probably the point where things started to turn a bit… we just didn’t realise it yet.
But for now — Day 1 done

And tomorrow… a slower one might be needed

Video Version:

chrish16 · May 14, 2026

Florida 2026 Day 2: Outlets, Losing Dad & Steak Night!

Day two kicked off with another one of those “we know we shouldn’t… but it’s just too easy” breakfasts at McDonald’s. It’s literally a couple of minutes from Rosen Inn, so quick, cheap, and everyone’s fed — even if it’s not exactly the healthiest start

The place was busy as always, and of course the order wasn’t quite right… but somehow we ended up with more food than we paid for, so no complaints there!

After that, we popped into Walgreens to grab some bonjela for Stephen (one of those random things you don’t think about until you need it), and then headed straight over to the Orlando International Premium Outlets. Getting there early (just before 10am) was definitely the right move — it was nice and quiet when we arrived, easy parking, and we could actually browse properly. Within about half an hour though, it was much busier… definitely confirmed that early start was the right call!

We made our way around loads of shops including Tommy Hilfiger, Bath & Body Works, Disney Character Warehouse, Rack Room Shoes, Hollister, Kate Spade, Aeropostale and Charlotte Russe. There were some really good deals — especially with extra discounts on top — but it’s not always the case that everything’s cheaper than the UK, Miss Dior was more expensive than the current Boots offer, so it’s worth checking if you’ve got time. Still, we came away with some great bits and a few bargains we couldn’t really pass up. I got a new jacket from Tommy Hilfiger with 50% off then another 20% off, it went from $139 to $66, bargain!

By the time we hit the food court, we weren’t starving (thanks McDonald’s

), but we couldn’t resist trying Asian Chao after a sample (they know what they are doing giving those samples out as you pass) and wow, that did not disappoint. The orange chicken and mushroom chicken were both unreal — loads of flavour, really fresh, and easily one of the best quick meals we had all trip.

Then came the chaos…

My Dad (Stephen) disappeared.

Mam (Valerie) had been waiting outside the toilets and messaged to say he’d been gone a while, so we headed over, thinking it would be a quick find… but he wasn’t there. Not in the toilets, not nearby, and suddenly you realise just how big the outlets actually are

Luckily, a bit of teamwork kicked in — I headed back toward the car thinking he might’ve gone there, while Kelly checked the food court. Turns out he’d gone to a spot they’d used last July, the ice cream place near the car, which to be fair was a smart move. We found him pretty quickly in the end, but for a few minutes there it definitely felt like we could’ve been searching all day!

And somehow… it happened again

We left him with Mam on a bench while she nipped into a shop, came back, and he wasn’t there. At this point we genuinely couldn’t believe it. Turns out Mam had gone off shopping and left Dad again! We found him just wandered a little further along — nothing dramatic, but enough to give us another mini panic!

After all that madness, we dropped Dad back at the Rosen for a rest while the rest of us headed out to Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf. Such a good decision — it’s one of those things that just ends up being way more fun than you expect. The course is great, took us a good amount of time to get round, like nearly 2 hours, and there was a bit of friendly competition going on as always. Mam somehow smashed it with a hole-in-one on the very first hole, and I managed one as well (and another later on

), which won me a free game to use later in the trip! The winner...? Mam, which genuinely surprised me

To finish the day, we headed to LongHorn Steakhouse… and this is honestly becoming a bit of a tradition now. The fillet steak was cooked perfectly, the mash was loaded with butter (as it should be), and the mac & cheese was just unreal. It’s one of those meals you look forward to and it still somehow delivers every time.

By the end of the night, we were all absolutely done — a full day of shopping, losing family members (twice), mini golf, and steak had well and truly taken it out of us

Video Version:

chrish16 · May 15, 2026

I know this forum is WDW but are people still interested in the wider Orlando area? I wasn't sure if the forum was die hard Disney fans only, which don't get me wrong we are die hard Disney fans lol but sometimes you have a cheaper trip and do slightly different things

The Mom · May 15, 2026

chrish16 said:
I know this forum is WDW but are people still interested in the wider Orlando area? I wasn't sure if the forum was die hard Disney fans only, which don't get me wrong we are die hard Disney fans lol but sometimes you have a cheaper trip and do slightly different things

Yes, many people include information about other attractions/restaurants/hotels when writing their trip reports.

chrish16 · May 18, 2026

Day 3: Birthday Breakfasts, Stormy Skies & A Change of Plans

Day three started a little differently — not just because of the weather, but because it was Thomas’s birthday

After a good night’s sleep, we kicked things off in a simple way with cards and presents. These days, it’s less about physical gifts and more about transferring money (very modern parenting

), but it still felt special. Sometimes it’s the little moments that matter most.

We’d been spoiled with sunshine so far, so waking up to cooler temperatures, clouds, and even the threat of rain was a bit of a surprise. Still warm enough for shorts and t-shirts (around 24°C), but definitely a change in vibe.

Since it was Thomas’s day, he got to choose everything — and first up was breakfast at IHOP.

Before heading there, we had a quick wander out near the hotel. What should’ve been a simple walk turned into a bit of a mission thanks to roadworks and closed crossings — one of those “this would’ve been quicker in the car” moments. Still, we made it across eventually, with an aim to visit a nearby Disney Store that looked promising but after all that it was shut and didn't open until 10am, and currently 9am

A quick stop at Walgreens was needed — Kelly still wasn’t feeling great, so we grabbed some cold & flu tablets.

Bonus mission: my glasses decided to break (of course

). A bit of super glue later and they were just about wearable again… although the fumes nearly took my eye out in the process.

Birthday Breakfast at IHOP

We arrived at IHOP just as the rain started, which felt quite fitting given the weather shift.

Breakfast was exactly what you’d expect — big portions, loads of choice, and that classic American diner feel. Pancakes, waffles, French toast… honestly, choosing is the hardest part.

After a bit of indecision, we went all in:

Pancakes (still a favourite)
French Toast
Sample
Hot drinks instead of juice (a good call given the weather)

Chris and Thomas got the Breakfast Sampler, Stephen (Chris dad) got Strawberry and Banana French Toast, and the bread was like 1 inch thick! Val (Chris Dad) got what looked like pancakes but she seemed to think she ordered waffles ??

It was busy, a bit chaotic at the entrance, but the food definitely hit the spot. Around $95 for all of us, plus tip — pretty standard.

Next stop was Target, where Thomas picked up a new Xbox controller for his laptop gaming — birthday money already being put to good use!
One of the Target employees had a chat with us asking where we were from etc.
We noticed a lot of the shelves around the tech section were bare which seemed really odd.
Caitlin had given us a huge list of beauty products to find so after video calling her and getting the mountain of products we headed for the checkout.
After Target we drove to the Disney Store on International Drive instead.

Earlier we wondered if it was an outlet style store as some of the merch we saw in the window we saw at the outlets also, but it wasn't, it was like a Disney Store, full price. They had a lot of very nice things, I liked a few hoodies and sweatshirts, metal drinks bottle but I came out with nothing, saving my pennies

. Noah got a velvet style cap, we thought it was the panda from Turning Red, but Noah said it was Nick Wilde from Zootopia

. Kelly got a new mug that she had seen previously and wasn't able to get.

A Slow Afternoon & Tough Decision

At this point, reality kicked in a bit — Kelly still wasn’t feeling well. We debated heading straight to the parks but decided to take it easy and hope things improved later.

We kept an eye on wait times at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, thinking the crowds might drop off into the evening.

Spoiler: they didn’t

We eventually headed over, but it was busy. Really busy.

Hagrid’s: 3 hour wait

Given how Kelly was feeling, we kept things very relaxed. We got a wheelchair for Kelly and to be honest she wouldn't of come really, but as she had the passes on her phone she just came out for ease for the family and for Thomas's birthday. The boys managed a ride (Dr Doom), while Kelly and I took it easy in the shade.

Honestly, it turned into more of a “show up and see what happens” visit rather than trying to do everything — and that was completely fine. We have visited Universal Parks multiple times having annual passes so experienced all the rides so just tried to do our favourites or shorter ride times as it was Thomas's birthday we wanted to do something for him.

We wanted to ride The Hulk, but we have never seen that area so busy ever! Trying to get a locker was unreal, it was like they were giving things away at Primark. Basically, if I remember rightly, it had a status light at the top i.e. red - no empty lockers, green - empty lockers and think it had how many empty on the screen, but basically as one came available it went. We saw people take their stuff out, but the status didn't update, or as it was so packed, people jumping in. Kelly realised there was a delay in people taking their stuff out to the system updating the status of empty lockers, not a great system really, well at least not when it is unbelievably busy.

We did eventually manage to ride The Hulk! Just as good as we always remember it!

A Change of Plans

With Kelly feeling worse, we made the call to head back to the hotel instead of pushing through. It was a really slow burner her illness over the past few days, so annoying for everyone, but more so for Kelly. Tomorrow it took her to the Dr's and ER and ruined the trip.

Originally, we’d planned to go to Bubba Gump for dinner/tea, but instead, the rest of us headed out to Olive Garden for dinner while she rested.

If you’ve been before, you already know — it’s all about:

Breadsticks, Breadsticks, Breadsticks (endless and dangerous )
Salad
Big, hearty pasta dishes

We went for a mix:

Val - Lasagna (smaller portion option this time)
Chris “Tour of Italy”, the 3 sampler as I couldn't decide
Kids pizza for Thomas
Plain pasta and fries for Noah
Stephen - Soup as he wasn't feeling great either recoving from flu. The soup which was spicey, he didn't like it so swapped with the Chowder soup my mum had.

Portions were massive as always, and everything was really tasty. Not everything was perfect (some dishes could’ve had more flavour), but overall it was a solid meal.

And yes… we took breadsticks to take back for Kelly. The server Miguel was great and he brought us out fresh breadsticks to take for Kelly

The bill came to $96.08

Quick stop at Walgreens again for vitamins and bits to try and help Kelly feel better.

Back at the hotel, it was clear she was really struggling — definitely not the birthday evening for Thomas we’d imagined.

We made the decision to push back our visit to Universal Epic Universe to later in the trip, hoping she’d be feeling better by then and also for Stardust Racers to come out of maintenance. It did cost us more as it moved from a wekeday to a Sunday.

Day three didn’t go to plan — but that’s travel sometimes.

Between the birthday moments, massive breakfast, a quick park visit, and a comforting dinner, there were still plenty of good bits mixed in with the challenges.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is slow down, adjust, and just take the day as it comes.

Video Version:

chrish16 · May 20, 2026

Day 4: An Unexpected Day – ER Visit, Raising Cane’s & Keeping Spirits Up

Day four didn’t exactly go to plan.

We woke up knowing something wasn’t right. Kelly had been unwell the last couple of days, but this morning it had taken a turn for the worse. She couldn’t keep anything down — not even water — and was clearly getting weaker. We rang reception at Rosen Inn, who were really helpful and quickly put us in touch with a local doctor.

At the clinic, things moved fast. They ran COVID and flu tests (both negative at that point), gave her an anti-sickness injection, and explained she was severely dehydrated. Because of her breathing and how run down she was, the doctor prescribed antibiotics for upper respiratory infection and suggested we head to the ER just to rule out anything more serious like a blood clot, so naturally took his advice and went to ER. We didn't have a clue so asked which hospital we should go to. They directed us to Dr P Phillips Hospital.

We headed straight to the emergency room, not really knowing what to expect — especially with the US healthcare system. But honestly, the experience itself was brilliant.

It was calm, quiet, and incredibly efficient. Kelly was taken in quickly while I waited in the seating area, and within a few hours she’d had fluids via IV, medication to bring her temperature down which was 40, chest x-ray and more anti-sickness and a proper diagnosis.

Me in the waiting area:

In the end, it was confirmed as the flu — but quite a severe case, combined with dehydration. We had all had flu before we went on holiday thanks to Noah bringing it home probably from school. Stephen was still recovering from it. The Dr said there is Influenza a and B and Kelly probably had one of them in the UK and got the other one here.

Four hours later, we were walking out with medication in hand and Kelly already looking slightly brighter.

The cost? Started at $12135 but there was a 30% discount for some reason to approx $8000/ £6500 Definitely a “thank goodness for travel insurance” moment, but we are still chasing now for them to pay out. They said the doc we have titled Treatment Summary isn't a suitable medical report even though it has all the info they have requested like dates and times, treatment, tests, medication, diagnosis etc

Once back at the hotel, it was all about rest and recovery. Kelly started her medication and managed to eat a little — even reheating some Olive Garden breadsticks from the night before, which felt like a small win.

We’d originally planned more activities, maybe even using my free mini golf game from the hole-in-one… but with the temperature dropping and everything that had happened, it just didn’t feel like the day for it.

Instead, the rest of us headed out for something easy: food.

We decided to try Raising Cane’s, a place Thomas had been recommended by a friend — and it didn’t disappoint.
We went to the one on International Drive opposite Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf.

Simple menu, done really well:

Chicken tenders
Crinkle-cut fries
Texas toast
Cane’s sauce

That’s basically it.

But wow — the chicken was so soft and juicy, it just fell apart. Genuinely better than KFC back home. The Texas toast had a buttery, slightly garlicky flavour, and the sauce… somewhere between a Thousand Island vibe and something totally its own.

One of those meals where you’re not expecting much, and it ends up being a highlight.

After food, we made a quick stop at Best Buy.

Thomas picked up a charging dock for his Xbox controller, and we had a wander around the tech (always dangerous). It’s basically the US version of Currys PC World— TVs, gadgets, gaming, the lot.

By this point, though, the cold had properly set in — easily the chilliest day we’ve ever had in Florida. Hoodies on, wind cutting through… definitely not the sunshine state vibe we’re used to.

Wrapping Up the Day

We headed back to the hotel to check on Kelly, who was resting and slowly improving — which was the most important thing.

Not the day we had planned. Not even close.

Sometimes things get thrown at you, and have to change plans, I think we had planned to go to Epic Universe, but phoned and changed the tickets to the last possible day, the Sunday, partly because Stardust Racers was closed for maintenance until the Saturday.

And in that sense, we made the best of a tough day.

Next up: Day 5 — finally heading to Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort

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BigDis · May 20, 2026

I'm sorry you had to deal with sickness while at Disney World. It's very difficult not knowing the providers, etc. We had to deal with this twice over the years where our youngest ended up in the emergency department. It's tough as everyone has been anticipating the trip and want to have fun but feel so bad for the person who is sick and everyone worries about them and that they are not able to be with them. Hopefully from here things began to get better for Kelly and everyone else.

chrish16 · May 20, 2026

BigDis said:
I'm sorry you had to deal with sickness while at Disney World. It's very difficult not knowing the providers, etc. We had to deal with this twice over the years where our youngest ended up in the emergency department. It's tough as everyone has been anticipating the trip and want to have fun but feel so bad for the person who is sick and everyone worries about them and that they are not able to be with them. Hopefully from here things began to get better for Kelly and everyone else.

Thank you. Kelly was out of any danger and infection but didn't recover from having low energy every day until about 2 weeks after we came home. She unfortunately missed most of the trip, mostly stayed in bed.
I totally know what you mean that you planned the trip, everyone excited and everything paid for costing a lot of money then someone is ill its a frustrating feeling that of all the times you come down with an illness is like the 14 days out of 365, it sucks!

chrish16 · May 21, 2026

Day 5 – Disney Day, Birthday Treats & One VERY Cold Fireworks Cruise

After the chaos of Day 4, we woke up to a much better situation—Kelly was thankfully on the mend

Not 100%, but a lot better than the day before, which meant we could (carefully) get back on track with what she’d secretly planned as part of my birthday surprise…

And what a day she had lined up.

We kept the morning fairly relaxed—cereal, Pop-Tarts (microwaved… not elite, but it did the job

), and then a quick trip back to the hospital to settle the bill in person. Slightly surreal starting a Disney day at a hospital, but here we are…

Once that was sorted, we officially crossed back onto Disney property—and honestly, you can just feel the difference. Everything looks cleaner, calmer… just nicer. Straight back into that Disney bubble

First activity of the day: mini golf at Disney’s Winter Summerland.

Now… it looked like perfect Florida weather—blue skies, sunshine…
Reality? About 15°C and freezing if you weren’t in direct sunlight

Proper confusing for the brain.

The course itself was great fun—really well themed, loads of little Disney touches, and surprisingly quiet (guessing the cold kept people away).

And most importantly… the results:

Me: 42
Thomas: 49
Grandma: 50
Noah: 52
Grandad: 57

Yes, I’ll take that win all day long. Although Grandma managed a hole-in-one that we definitely won’t mention rolled in backwards… still counts

Kelly gave it a go but sensibly tapped out early and headed back to the car—still recovering and the cold wasn’t helping.

Next stop: checking into Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort for our one-night stay in a preferred room.

We were in the Toy Story section, which is exactly what you want from Disney—massive characters, bright colours, proper immersive theming. You’re not just staying somewhere… you’re in it.

The room itself:

Clean, modern, surprisingly spacious
Nice little Disney touches
More than enough for a short stay

Nothing luxury, but that’s not really the point—you’re paying to be in the Disney bubble, and it absolutely delivers that. We kinda preferred it to moderate resort Port Orleans Riverside rooms for decor.

Kelly stayed back in the room to rest (and warm up), while the rest of us headed out for the next big part of the day…

Steakhouse 71 – Contemporary Resort

We had a reservation at Steakhouse 71 in Disney’s Contemporary Resort—somewhere we’d never tried before.

Quick bit of trivia we learned while there:
“71” refers to 1971—the year Walt Disney World opened.

We went for:

Prime Rib Sandwich
Stack Burger
Kids meals (fish, sides, etc.)

And honestly… this place impressed.

The prime rib sandwich was unreal—proper quality beef, soft but crusty bread, just spot on.
But the surprise winner?

The Stack Burger

Loads going on—cheese, sauce, textures—and it just edged it. Easily one of the best burgers we’ve had on Disney property.

Service was top tier as well, and because I had a birthday badge on, they brought out a surprise dessert

Nice little touch that Disney always seems to get right.

Bill came to around $133 + tip, which for Disney and the quality, felt fair.

Monorail Resort Hopping (Free… and Worth It)

After lunch, we jumped on the monorail and did a loop around the resorts mainly so I could show my parents some other top resorts:

Contemporary
Polynesian
Grand Floridian

This is something I’d 100% recommend to anyone—costs nothing and gives you a proper feel for the different resorts.

Each one has its own vibe:

Polynesian – relaxed, tropical, one of our favourites
Grand Floridian – posh, elegant, smells like money
Contemporary – modern, iconic (monorail going through it never gets old)

It’s one of those things where you realise… you don’t actually need park tickets to enjoy Disney. Something we kinda wanted to test for if we get DVC and not spend the money every trip on the park tickets.

Back to the Room… and Bracing for the Cold

We headed back to All-Star Movies to check on Kelly, grab some food for her, and get ready for the evening.

We headed to the food court, the kids got a pizza slice and we got a sandwich and fruit to take back for Kelly.

At this point, it was getting properly cold again.
And when I say cold… I mean:

Hoodie
Coat
Still cold

Also made the classic mistake of only bringing trainer socks.
Big error. Massive.

Fireworks Cruise – The Highlight of the Trip

Then came the main event…

The fireworks cruise from the Contemporary marina.

We boarded a small boat (about 10 people max), met our captain Sophia, and headed out onto the water around Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon.

Included:

Drinks & snacks
Blankets (lifesavers)
Music synced to the fireworks

We cruised around first, hearing some really interesting facts (including one about Disney apparently “training bats”… still not sure what to believe there

), spotted wildlife and the one about popcorn sales from 1 day funding the fireworks on the evening $70000! and then we got into position for Happily Ever After.

And wow…

Watching the fireworks from the water, with the castle in the distance and reflections across the lake, with the music playing onboard—it’s a completely different experience.

Quieter. More relaxed. Just… special.

Yes, it was freezing.
Yes, I couldn’t feel my ankles.
But 100% worth it.

One of those “you’ve got to do it at least once” experiences.

We headed back to All-Star Movies—tired, cold, but buzzing from the day.

It was a shame Kelly couldn’t be fully involved after being unwell, especially as she’d planned it all, but it still turned into a really memorable day—and definitely a highlight of the trip.

Day 5 had a bit of everything:

Mini golf win (obviously the most important part)
Great food
Exploring Disney resorts
And an unforgettable fireworks experience

Proof that even after a rough day, things can turn around pretty quickly in Disney.

Video Version:

chrish16 · May 23, 2026

Day 6 – Disney Buses, Wilderness Lodge Dreams, Bubba Gump's & A Last-Minute Hagrid’s Dash

Day six started a little slower than planned. After the late night before, we woke up at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort to actual sunshine for once, which immediately made everything feel slightly more manageable. It was checkout day, though, and unfortunately Kelly still wasn’t feeling much better after the ER visit. At this point we were coming up on nearly 48 hours of her being unwell, so the original plans for the day were very much a “see how things go” situation.

One thing that wasn’t changing though was breakfast. Priorities.

The boys had basically decided breakfast was needed immediately, so we headed up to the World Premiere Food Court at All-Star Movies hoping for Mickey waffles. Thankfully Disney understands the importance of circular waffles shaped like a mouse’s head, so crisis avoided.

We grabbed a big table for the five of us and ordered a mix of platters and Mickey waffles with bacon and sausage. There’s just something about Disney breakfast food that tastes better than it probably should. Maybe it’s the music. Maybe it’s the smell of the food court at 9am. Maybe it’s because you’re eating Mickey-shaped carbohydrates while planning your next park day. Whatever it is, it works.

After breakfast we had a proper wander around the resort shop, Donald’s Double Feature, and honestly I came away appreciating the value resorts far more than I expected. We’d never actually stayed at an All-Star before because we normally needed space for five people, which usually pushed us towards Port Orleans Riverside and the pull-down bed setup. But staying here, even just for one night, really reminded me that you don’t need deluxe resorts to get that Disney feeling.

You’re still in the Disney bubble.

You still get the buses, the music, the theming, the food courts, the random Disney magic and the feeling that you’ve properly “arrived” on holiday. Even the budget resorts still feel special.

The shop itself had loads of things we hadn’t seen elsewhere on the trip. Wreck-It Ralph merch, resort-specific items, Starbucks tumblers, magnets, pins, ornaments, giant Stitch plushes that cost more than my first car… the usual Disney experience really.

One of the cast members even rang Goofy on the phone so he could sing Happy Birthday to me after hearing we were there celebrating my 40th. Completely mad. Completely Disney. Absolutely loved it.

Before leaving we had one last look around the Fantasia pool area and the giant Toy Story statues. There’s something weirdly emotional about leaving a Disney resort, even after one night. You do suddenly start thinking, “Maybe we could just stay onsite every trip…”

Eventually it was time to check out and head back to the Rosen Inn so Kelly could rest properly. After getting changed and sorting some packing for the cruise the next day, me and my parents decided to still head out for a little Disney Springs trip while Kelly stayed back to recover.

The actual mission for the afternoon was Wilderness Lodge.

Now, if you’ve watched the vlogs, you’ll know I’ve been going down a slight Disney Vacation Club rabbit hole recently. Wilderness Lodge was one of the resorts I’d been seriously looking at as a potential future DVC home resort, so I really wanted to finally see it in person.

Rather than driving directly there and risking Disney security asking awkward questions about reservations, dining bookings and our entire life story, we went for the classic Disney transport method instead.

Disney Springs bus station.
Free Disney transport.
Maximum Disney efficiency.

After parking in the Orange Garage — which somehow still confuses me every single visit (used to Lime)— we made our way to the buses and timed it perfectly with the Wilderness Lodge bus arriving almost immediately.

One thing I always notice in Disney is how accommodating cast members are with accessibility. My mam’s scooter isn’t exactly the easiest thing to manoeuvre, but the drivers are brilliant helping with ramps, positioning and getting everything sorted without any fuss whatsoever.

Then we arrived.

And honestly… Wilderness Lodge is stunning.

The second you walk into that lobby you understand why people love it so much. Massive timber beams, towering ceilings, giant fireplaces, rockwork, water features — it genuinely feels like stepping into some huge national park lodge in the Pacific Northwest.

It has this calm atmosphere that feels completely different to the more “busy” Disney resorts.

We had a wander through the main lobby, looked around the DVC areas, checked out Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek, and explored the resort grounds outside. Everywhere you looked there were little peaceful corners, lake views, boats crossing the water towards Magic Kingdom and gorgeous walking paths.

The geyser area outside was brilliant, although unfortunately we missed the actual eruption timing. Typical.

Seeing the boats heading across Bay Lake towards Magic Kingdom honestly made it very easy to imagine staying there long term. The whole place just feels relaxing in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’ve visited.

We also had a quick look at the quick service dining options and resort facilities because obviously if you’re thinking DVC ownership, you suddenly become deeply invested in very important topics like “How good are the chicken tenders?” and “Would Noah eat the flatbread here?”

Critical research.

After a really good explore around Wilderness Lodge, we eventually made our way back to Disney Springs.

By this point everyone was getting tired and hungry, but then somebody suggested something dangerous.

“What if we nip to Islands of Adventure tonight?”

And just like that, the entire evening changed.

The plan became:
Universal CityWalk.
Dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
One last Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure ride before the park closed.

Simple. Efficient. Slightly chaotic.

After parking and rushing through security, me and Noah headed straight into Islands of Adventure to sort his accessibility pass return time for Hagrid’s. The standby queue was around 90 minutes, so the return time system was definitely the better option for him.

That left just enough time for dinner.

We headed into Bubba Gump’s, where thankfully our Landry’s card still existed despite the app behaving like it had been programmed on a calculator from 1997.

I went for the crab and shrimp rolls with fries, Noah got pizza, and everyone else played it safe with fish and chips. Honestly, the shrimp rolls were unreal. Light, fresh and probably the right choice considering we were about to launch ourselves around a rollercoaster immediately afterwards.

Not that this stopped me questioning the decision while jogging through Islands of Adventure carrying a stomach full of seafood.

As the park got closer to closing time we realised we had a dilemma.

Either:

Ride VelociCoaster
Or ride Hagrid’s

There wasn’t really enough time for both.

We ended up gambling and ran for Hagrid’s — and honestly, absolutely the correct choice.

We managed to get onto the ride just before closing and somehow it felt even better than I remembered. The launches, the drops, the forest sections, the motorbike acceleration… absolutely incredible.

Noah even declared it better than VelociCoaster, which is a massive statement in this family.

Coming off that ride at night, with the park closing around us and everybody slowly leaving Hogsmeade, genuinely felt like the perfect ending to the Universal part of the trip.

Well… almost perfect.

Because back at the Rosen Inn I still had one final mission.

Bubba Gump takeaway dessert because once Noah and I got back Thomas and my parents had already paid and outside talking to a local (my mum can literally talk to anyone, anywhere) so I went back inside to the bar and ordered a takeaway Strawberry Shortbread, result!

Priorities again.

The dessert had melted slightly by the time we got back thanks to taking a wrong turn on International Drive, but honestly after the day we’d had, I would probably still have eaten it if it had fully become soup.

Day six ended with packing for the next stage of the holiday — our first ever cruise aboard MSC Seashore.

Disney resort exploring.
Disney Springs buses.
Wilderness Lodge DVC dreaming.
Seafood.
Universal night rides.
Melted dessert.

Quite a random day really… but somehow one of the most memorable of the trip.

Video Version:

chrish16 · May 23, 2026

Day 7 – MSC Seashore Embarkation Day

Today was finally cruise day.

Our sailing was a three-night Bahamas cruise just to test the waters (no pun intended) as Kelly usually suffers from sea sickness. We thought try a cheaper cruise and hopefully everyone is ok and then we can do a Disney cruise in the future. You wouldn't want to spend thousands on a Disney cruise and then be sea sick for the full time. The MSC Seashore only cost us £650 for the 3 nights for a balcony room and food included. We didn't bother with the drinks package either. It set sail from Port Canaveral visiting Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, and honestly we were all quite excited heading out this morning. Well… excited and slightly stressed. Standard travel day energy really.
We paid for the kids entertainment tokens for the arcade and went way too high, I think we got the £150 and we actually were trying to use them up on the last day, the arcade wasn't that big really, it had the F1 simulator but the kids weren't bothered.

We left the Rosen Inn around half 10 even though our check-in time was 2pm. We figured it was better to get moving rather than sit around worrying about traffic. Plus once you know you’re boarding a cruise ship that day, mentally you’ve already checked out of normal life anyway.

The drive over to Port Canaveral was pretty straightforward and before long we got our first proper view of MSC Seashore sitting in the port.

And wow.

Seeing a cruise ship in person up close is completely different to seeing it in videos. The thing is absolutely enormous. You genuinely start questioning how something that size even floats. We were debating in the car how much it probably cost to build and ended up deciding “a lot” was the official answer. I mean it’s basically a floating city with water slides attached to the side.

We decided not to hand our luggage over to the porters and instead kept all the cases with us. Kelly had read a few reports saying luggage sometimes doesn’t arrive at your cabin until late evening and none of us fancied waiting until 10pm wondering where our clothes had disappeared to.

Parking was easy enough although finding disabled parking wasn’t quite as obvious as we expected. We parked on level two and headed down towards the terminal with all the luggage in tow. Straight away it already felt very different to an airport. Busy, but exciting busy.

Security was fairly straightforward and then came our first little embarkation day panic.

At check-in they asked to see our ESTA approvals.

Not passports.
Not cruise tickets.
ESTAs.

Cue six adults simultaneously looking at each other with the exact same expression of:
“…you printed yours, right?”

We genuinely didn’t realise we needed physical or digital copies ready there and then. Thankfully after a slightly sweaty few minutes we managed to log back into the ESTA system online and pull them up on our phones. Crisis averted. But for a moment I thought our cruise was ending before it had even started.

Once through check-in we made our way along the long walkway towards the ship itself and finally stepped onboard MSC Seashore.

And honestly… it was a bit overwhelming at first.

The ship is huge and there’s just so much happening around you immediately. Staff everywhere, music playing, giant LED screens, people trying to figure out lifts, restaurants, muster stations and cabin numbers all at the same time. It’s like being dropped into a floating shopping centre where nobody knows where they’re going.

The lifts completely confused us at first as well because there’s no buttons inside. Instead you choose your floor outside the lift and it tells you which lift to get into. Sounds simple now. Took our brains a good few minutes to process at the time though but didn't help as they were overwhelmed and weren't going where they were supposed to.

Eventually we made it up to our cabin on deck 11.

First impressions were actually really good.

Yes it’s compact, but it felt modern, bright and surprisingly clever with the layout. We had a double bed, sofa bunks for the boys, balcony, decent storage and enough USB ports to keep the growing collection of phones, cameras and battery packs alive.

The balcony was probably the thing we were most excited about. There’s just something really nice about having your own little outdoor space at sea. We’d also read beforehand that even numbered cabins were more likely to face the ports and islands when docked, so naturally I’d already become emotionally invested in whether my balcony research paid off.

After dumping the bags and figuring out how the lights worked using the MSC key card system, we headed up for food before the ship became completely packed.

One of the cool things while sitting eating was spotting the NASA Vehicle Assembly Building over in the distance at Cape Canaveral.

As more passengers boarded the atmosphere onboard really started building. Music started up around the pool deck and eventually it was time for the sail away party.

And that was the moment it finally hit properly.

We were actually going on a cruise.

Music blasting, people dancing, drinks flowing, horns sounding and the ship slowly pulling away from Port Canaveral into the sunset. Definitely one of those proper “holiday has started” moments.

Overall though, embarkation day was a success. Slightly chaotic, slightly stressful, but exciting from start to finish. And despite all the planning beforehand, nothing really prepares you for the feeling of boarding a cruise ship for the very first time.

Tomorrow: Nassau, Bahamas.

Video version:

chrish16 · May 24, 2026

Day 8 – Nassau, Bahamas & Exploring MSC Seashore

Day eight started with our first full morning waking up aboard MSC Seashore… and the excitement level went up immediately when Noah opened the curtains hoping to spot land. We were all peering out onto the balcony expecting dramatic tropical views, but at first there was absolutely nothing there except open sea. Still, there’s something really exciting about waking up on a cruise ship knowing you’re about to arrive in another country before breakfast.

We headed up to the buffet fairly early to see what MSC’s breakfast selection was like properly. One thing we quickly realised is the buffet is HUGE and slightly confusing at first because the stations repeat themselves through different sections. You think you’ve found everything… then suddenly there’s another room with more pastries, pancakes and eggs hiding round the corner.

Breakfast itself was really good though. Pancakes, hash browns, sausages, eggs, pastries, cereals, fruit, cakes, croissants… honestly loads of choice. I grabbed a mixture of everything because at this point I still hadn’t worked out what I liked best, so the strategy became “put random food on plate and hope for the best.” Scientific cruising research.

Not long after breakfast we finally arrived into Nassau, Bahamas, and the views pulling into port were brilliant. Massive cruise ships everywhere, bright blue water and Atlantis visible in the distance. The colour of the sea genuinely looks edited in real life. It doesn’t even seem real at first.

Kelly still wasn’t feeling well unfortunately, so she stayed on the ship with the boys while me and my parents headed off to explore Nassau ourselves. Even getting off the ship turned into a bit of an adventure because we discovered not all exits were accessible for the ECV, meaning we had to go all the way through the ship and back down another set of lifts. By day two onboard we were slowly beginning to understand the ship layout… just in time for the cruise to nearly end.

Once off the ship we had our first proper wander around the port area and local shops. The atmosphere was lively straight away with music playing, people selling souvenirs, bars opening up and market stalls everywhere. We picked up our usual fridge magnet almost immediately… then instantly realised every single shop sold better magnets than the first one we bought. Classic tourist mistake. Same situation with bottled water too. Paid tourist trap prices at the very first stall before discovering it was half the price everywhere else five minutes later.

The port area was much bigger than I expected and actually really nice to walk around. Colourful buildings, little bars, marina views and loads of local stalls selling handmade gifts, jewellery, shirts and carvings. My mum bought some handmade bracelets and earrings from one of the ladies there, which made a really nice keepsake from the Bahamas. I bought a magnet as usual and a shell bracelet/anklet for Caitlin and Kelly.

There was a shop with moonshine samples and my parents bravely tried as I watched on with amusement after seeing some other guy try it and breath fire

That was enough for me to suddenly become very hydrated and deeply interested in bottled water instead.

We eventually wandered into the famous Straw Market which was absolutely packed with stalls. It’s basically a maze of souvenirs, t-shirts, caps, dresses, magnets, bags and wooden crafts. There’s definitely a lot of repeating items, but it’s still worth experiencing just for the atmosphere alone. My mum even managed to haggle a dress price down… until they realised we were paying by card and added some of the price back on again. Fair play honestly.

One thing we were careful of around the tourist areas was avoiding some of the street sellers trying to tie bracelets onto people. We’ve seen similar things before in other countries where they put something on you then pressure you into paying afterwards, so just something to be aware of if visiting.

After plenty of walking, sweating and exploring, we headed back towards the ship absolutely exhausted. My feet were finished by this point but I always end up doing this to myself because I hate sitting still and missing things. I’d rather walk too much and see everything than stay onboard wondering what’s outside.

Back onboard, the boys had spent the afternoon enjoying the pools and hot tubs while I recovered in the cabin pretending I wasn’t absolutely broken from walking around Nassau in the heat.

Dinner that evening in Tribeca was another surprise because the restaurant menu changes nightly, which was good news after my dad worried we’d be eating the same meals every evening. Tonight’s highlights were definitely the crab cake starter, pork chop main and key lime pie dessert. The crab cake had a really nice kick to it with a spicy sauce that somehow got hotter with every bite. The pork dish came with fried plantain which I love ever since I tried it in Cuba. Absolutely gorgeous.

The key lime pie dessert was also one of the best things I’d eaten onboard so far. Really light and refreshing without being too sharp. I could happily have eaten two of them if cruise etiquette allowed dessert greed.

Later on, Thomas and I headed up to the arcade because we’d bought one of the onboard packages that included arcade credit. At this point it basically became a mission to spend every last bit of it before the cruise ended. Thomas absolutely destroyed me on the pinball machine too. I started off feeling fairly confident until he casually scored about eight times more than me.

By the end of the night everyone was exhausted. We’d packed a lot into one day between exploring Nassau, walking around the markets, eating way too much food and trying to figure out cruise ship life properly.

Tomorrow was the big one though… Ocean Cay Marine Reserve and my 40th birthday.

Video version:

chrish16 · May 27, 2026

DAY 9 – MY 40TH BIRTHDAY AT MSC OCEAN CAY MARINE RESERVE! | MSC Seashore Cruise Vlog

Good morning from Ocean Cay! Today is day 9 of our Florida and Bahamas adventure and we’ve docked at MSC’s private island, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve. It’s also a pretty special day… my 40th birthday!

We woke up around half 8 to absolutely stunning views from the balcony. The lighthouse, white sand beaches and crystal blue water looked incredible already. The whole island just looked like paradise.
We hadn’t booked any sunbeds or cabanas because we’re not really the type to sit sunbathing all day. We’d rather explore the island and see as much as possible. There’s apparently some calmer snorkeling areas further north on the island too, so we were planning to head up there later if we could.
After breakfast we headed off the ship. Because of the ECV we always have to use the accessible exit at the opposite end of the ship from our cabin, which turns into a bit of a mission every time! But once we got outside properly into the sunshine, wow… Ocean Cay looked beautiful.
The weather felt perfect. Warm with a nice breeze. Although one thing you do notice around the port area is the smell of fuel from the cruise ship.

FIRST STEPS ON THE BEACH

We started at the nearest beach near the lighthouse. The water looked absolutely unreal — that perfect turquoise blue colour you see in postcards.
The sand had a few shells mixed in so it was a bit sharp underfoot at first. Definitely should have brought my water shoes instead of trainers!
Of course, the big question was…
“How cold is the water?”
Answer: colder than it looked

The boys went straight in while I slowly paddled in questioning my life choices. Compared to when we swam in Cuba years ago, this water definitely felt cooler. Probably because it was February.
Still, once you got used to it, it was lovely.
We grabbed the GoPro and went looking around the rocks to see if we could spot fish. We started playing with the beach ball… until the wind took it and lost the beach ball out into deeper water. Safe to say that ball was gone forever. Absolute fail

We also spotted one of the biggest lizards we’d seen all trip, much bigger than the little Orlando ones.

EXPLORING OCEAN CAY

After the beach we headed into the little village area on the island. We popped into the Ocean Cay Trading Post first. Lots of MSC shirts, magnets and lighthouse souvenirs. Some really nice bits actually, although loads of T-shirt sizes were already sold out.
Then we went into another Bahamas-style shop which had more handmade gifts, soaps, ornaments, shells and decorations. Really nice little place for gifts.
One thing worth knowing — you pay for everything on the island using your MSC cruise card. It all gets charged back to your cabin account.

One thing we really wanted to do was head up to the north side of the island. There’s a little shuttle service that takes you between the beaches.
The queue was much bigger by the time we got there though. We probably waited about 15–20 minutes before getting on.
The shuttle stops at South Beach first where the buffet is, then carries on up to North Beach and the bridge area.
As soon as we got further north, the water became even calmer and even more beautiful somehow. The sand was so white and the sea looked unreal.
At North Beach we crossed the bridge over the inlet area and honestly, the views were stunning. Open ocean on one side, calm crystal water on the other.
We even spotted little fish swimming around in the shallow water.
Although weirdly… the calmer water actually felt even colder than the beach near the ship

SOUTH BEACH & BUFFET

We eventually headed back down to South Beach where the island buffet is located. We debated staying longer but by this point everyone was getting tired, hot and ready for showers and air conditioning.
The buffet queues were massive too, so we decided to head back onto the ship instead and grab food there while it was quieter.
Overall though, Ocean Cay was incredible. The blue water, palm trees, beaches and relaxed atmosphere made it feel like a proper tropical paradise.
Definitely one of the highlights of the whole cruise.

Back in the room we chilled on the balcony listening to live music drifting across from the island. Such a relaxing atmosphere.
Then it was time for our 5pm dinner in the restaurant.
Tonight seemed to be Italian night, with all the waiters dressed up differently and themed decorations around the dining room.
Our waiter once again was brilliant. He remembered what the boys had ordered on previous nights and even remembered little details like how Noah liked his pasta and ketchup. His name was Ronnel Timothy.
For starters I had the shrimp cocktail which honestly was a bit disappointing — not much flavour.
For mains I went with the grouper fish with fried plantain, and thankfully that was much better. The fish had loads of flavour and the salsa-style topping worked really well with it.
Dessert though… absolutely amazing.
I had a lemon dessert that was basically like a really light lemon custard with crunchy bits on top. One of the best desserts of the trip.
Then… the birthday moment arrived

The waiters all came over singing Happy Birthday while carrying a massive birthday cake that Kelly had secretly arranged.
Very embarrassing… but also really nice.
Turns out there were several birthdays that night because the singing kept happening all around the restaurant

MSC LIVE SHOW

After dinner we headed down to the Madison Theatre for the MSC Live show.
The theatre itself is really impressive and the show was actually pretty good. Singing, dancing, live performances and lots of energy.
I’d probably give it around a 7/10 overall. Definitely entertaining for an evening onboard.
Afterwards we walked back through the casino area which was much busier at night with blackjack tables, slot machines and live music down below.

THE ARCADE & USING UP OUR CREDITS

Then it was time to finally use up the rest of our arcade package credits.
Honestly… we massively overbought the arcade package

The arcade isn’t huge, so if you ever do this cruise I’d recommend just getting the cheapest package.
The game we became obsessed with was called Willy Crash, which is basically a bit like Angry Birds mixed with an arcade cannon game.
By the end of the night the boys managed to win:

Headphones
A squishy toy
A little Pokémon figure

Worth nowhere near what we spent… but we did have a lot of fun

And that was the end of day 9 — and sadly the end of our MSC Seashore mini cruise.
Ocean Cay was absolutely beautiful and definitely somewhere we’d love to visit again one day.
There’s still loads on the ship we didn’t even fully get around to doing. We could easily do another cruise in future.
Tomorrow we disembark and head back to Orlando… and then it’s finally time for our first ever visit to Epic Universe!

Thanks so much for following along with the adventure.

Video Version:

chrish16 · Jun 4, 2026

Day 10 – Epic Universe at Last!

After an amazing few days aboard MSC Seashore, Day 10 was all about something we'd been looking forward to for months – our very first visit to Universal's Epic Universe.

Goodbye MSC Seashore

We woke up docked back at Port Canaveral with the ship already buzzing with activity. Cases were being wheeled through the corridors, announcements were being made, and everyone seemed eager to start their next adventure.

We didn't plan on stopping for breakfast but as we were ready early and waiting for my parents the boys and I headed to grab something from the buffet for breakfast, Disney Fantasy was docked nearby, giving us a glimpse of what might be a future cruise adventure

We decided to get off as early as possible and head back to Orlando. Kelly was keen to get back to the hotel after a difficult few days, and with Epic Universe waiting for us, we wanted to make the most of the day.

Self-disembarkation proved to be the right choice. Despite the usual lift chaos and crowds trying to leave the ship, we were soon making our way through the terminal and back to the car.

Back to Orlando

After arriving back at Rosen Inn, we quickly dropped our luggage off, grabbed everything we needed for the Epic and headed straight back out.

By the time we arrived at Epic Universe it was already mid-morning, meaning we had missed rope drop and the lowest queue times. Still, we knew from the start that we wouldn't get everything done in a single day, so the plan was simply to enjoy the park and experience as much as possible.

The first challenge was sorting accessibility arrangements for Kelly. We picked up a courtesy wheelchair, arranged an ECV rental and sorted the accessibility pass before heading through the gates.

And then there it was.

The Chronos portal.

After watching countless videos online, finally seeing it in person was a genuinely special moment.

First Impressions

The scale of Epic Universe is difficult to describe.

Everywhere you look there are incredible details, huge structures, fountains, gardens and stunning architecture. Even before entering any of the themed worlds, Celestial Park feels like an attraction in itself.

One disappointment was discovering that Stardust Racers was still closed. The ride had originally been unavailable when our first visit was planned and unfortunately the closure had been extended again. It was one of the attractions I had most wanted to experience.

Still, there was plenty more to see.

Lunch at Pizza Moon

Our first stop was Pizza Moon for lunch.

The restaurant itself is beautiful, with incredible theming and a fantastic atmosphere. We ordered a cheese pizza (by ordering a pepperoni pizza and removing the pepperoni!) along with a Freestyle drink cup.

The pizza was excellent. Very stringy cheese

Crispy base, plenty of cheese and full of flavour. It was one of the best quick-service meals we've had at Universal and definitely somewhere we'd visit again.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

Walking into the new Wizarding World was incredible.

The attention to detail is absolutely stunning and it genuinely feels like stepping onto a movie set. Every street, building and shopfront looks authentic.

Our main target was Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry.

Thankfully the queue was much lower than expected, sitting around the 90–100 minute mark rather than the three-hour waits we'd seen reported online.

The queue itself is almost an attraction.

The Floo Network sequence and Ministry interiors are among the most impressive themed spaces I've ever seen in a theme park. (If you watch the video, watch for Noah's reaction jumping back going through the Floo Network

)

As for the ride itself?

It was good, but perhaps not quite worth the extreme wait times we've seen people endure.

The technology is outstanding. The combination of screens, animatronics, practical effects and movement is incredibly well done. However, the story felt a little confusing at times and didn't quite land with us. Thomas, the biggest Harry Potter fan of the family, said the storyline doesn't quite make sense.

I'd happily ride it again though, but only for a short wait.

I just wouldn't wait three hours to do so.

Isle of Berk

Next up was Isle of Berk.

This may actually be the most impressive land in the entire park.

The scale is unbelievable and it genuinely feels like you've walked straight into the How to Train Your Dragon films.

Everywhere you look there are dragons, themed buildings, interactive elements and details hidden around every corner.

We rode Hiccup's Wing Gliders which turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of the day.

It's a fantastic family coaster with some great launches, plenty of speed and even a splash effect along the way. It immediately became one of our favourite rides in the park.

We also met Gobber at the forge, who stayed completely in character throughout the interaction. These spontaneous encounters really add life to the land and make it feel genuinely lived in.

Unfortunately, the Toothless meet-and-greet was sitting at a 75-minute wait, so we decided to skip it this time.

Dark Universe

Dark Universe might be the most atmospheric area of Epic Universe.

The looming manor house dominates the skyline and the whole area has a wonderfully eerie feel.

After eventually locating somewhere to grab a drink and cool down, we headed for Curse of the Werewolf.

What a fun ride.

The spinning coaster creates a different experience every time and there are some surprisingly intense moments. Our only complaint was that it felt too short!

Just as we were really getting into it, the ride was over.

Still, it was another highlight of the day.

A Panda Express Break

By late afternoon Kelly had understandably had enough and wanted to head back and rest.

Before returning to the hotel we stopped at Panda Express, where she finally got the orange chicken she'd been craving.

As always, it was excellent.

Orange chicken and rice all hit the spot after a long day in the Florida heat.

Back for Round Two

As darkness started to fall, me and the boys headed back to Epic Universe.

Seeing the park lit up at night was something I really wanted to experience and it absolutely did not disappoint.

The lighting transforms the entire park.

Celestial Park becomes even more beautiful and Super Nintendo World looks incredible after dark.

Walking through the portal into Nintendo World at night was genuinely one of my favourite moments of the whole trip.

Princess Peach's Castle glowed in the distance, Bowser's Castle looked even more imposing and the entire land felt alive.

Our final major ride target was Mine-Cart Madness in Donkey Kong Country.

Unfortunately, shortly after joining the queue the attraction broke down.

And then we waited.

And waited.

And waited some more.

Eventually we found ourselves sitting on the floor after nearly an hour while maintenance worked on the ride.

Thankfully Universal handled the situation brilliantly and issued us Express Passes.

Eventually the ride reopened and we finally got to experience it 5 minutes before the park closed, but that did mean I didn't get to see Dark Universe in the dark.

The ride technology is really impressive and creates the illusion of jumping broken sections of track just like in the Donkey Kong games.

Was it worth a 135-minute wait?

Probably not.

Was it fun?

Absolutely.

One Last Look Around

Before leaving we squeezed in some shopping.

The boys picked up Nintendo souvenirs and I treated myself to a Super Nintendo World hoodie. We spent more than planned, but that's pretty much standard when visiting a brand-new theme park!

As we walked back through Celestial Park, the fountains and lighting created a completely different atmosphere from earlier in the day.

It felt like the perfect way to end our first visit.

Final Thoughts

Epic Universe exceeded expectations.

The theming is unlike anything we've experienced before and every land feels unique and immersive.

Even after spending an entire day there, it felt like we'd barely scratched the surface.

If anything, the biggest takeaway from our visit is that one day simply isn't enough.

We managed Battle at the Ministry, Hiccup's Wing Gliders, Curse of the Werewolf and Mine-Cart Madness, but there is still so much left to explore.

We'll definitely be back. (A few weeks and I'll have the trip diaries for our 3 night trip Kelly and I took so she could actually experience Epic Universe)

As we walked back to the car, we were treated to one final surprise – a rocket launch lighting up the Florida sky.

A pretty fitting ending to an epic day.

Next up: travel day and the journey home after an unforgettable Florida adventure.

Video Version:

chrish16 · Tuesday at 4:07 PM

Day 11 - Time to Head Home

Day 11 had arrived, and unfortunately that meant one thing – it was time to head home. Travel day is always the worst day of any holiday. No matter how good the trip has been, that final morning always feels a little bit depressing.

We packed the DJI camera away and just used the phone for a few clips as we got ourselves organised. We eventually finished packing after a slightly rushed morning. In hindsight, packing the night before would have been a much better idea! We normally do, but after our Epic Universe day we were all exhausted.

One thing we always bring with us is a large foldable duffel bag that we originally bought from Amazon in Florida a few years ago. It folds down really small but can hold a full 23kg of extra luggage when needed. It's perfect for bringing home all the souvenirs and shopping that somehow seem to multiply during the holiday!

We had loads of time before our evening flight, so rather than heading straight to the airport we decided to make the most of our final few hours in Orlando.

One Last Round of Mini Golf

Our first stop was back at Pirates Cove Adventure Golf on International Drive.

We'd already played the Blackbeard's Challenge course earlier in the holiday, so this time we tackled the Captain's Adventure course instead.

Mini golf is one of my favourite holiday activities and we've now played three rounds during this trip. Pirates Cove is such a well-presented course, with waterfalls, pirate ship and plenty of themed scenery. It isn't cheap at around $18-$20 for adults and $16 for children, but honestly it's about the same as many of the better courses back home in the UK.

The Florida sun was absolutely blazing though. Although the course was quieter than when we'd visited previously, I actually preferred playing in the evening when the temperatures were cooler.

As for the scores:

Grandma – 40
Me – 47
Grandad – 49
Noah – 53

Grandma took the win again!

I also managed another hole-in-one on Hole 13, although sadly no free game voucher this time.

Raising Cane's Lunch Stop

After golf we popped across International Drive to Raising Cane's so Thomas could get one final fix before we left Florida.

He ordered his usual Three Finger Combo while the rest of us held off for lunch at the outlets.

The ordering system is really simple there. You just give your first name and initial and wait for your order to be called.

International Drive Premium Outlets

Next stop was the outlets.

We headed straight for the food court where we returned to the Chinese counter we'd enjoyed earlier in the holiday.

Lunch consisted of:

Orange Chicken
Chicken and Mushroom
Fried Rice
Fried Plantain

The fried plantain doesn't look particularly appealing, but it tastes fantastic and is surprisingly sweet.

While we were there I also redeemed a free Bath & Body Works voucher I'd received for signing up earlier in the trip. A free gift is a free gift after all!

Time for the Airport

Eventually there was no avoiding it any longer.

It was time to head to Orlando International Airport.

The drive over was spent talking about future trips, particularly our California adventure coming up in September where we'll be visiting Disneyland Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood. Having another trip to look forward to definitely softens the blow of coming home.

Dropping the rental car off brought a small moment of panic when the attendant mentioned a charge of around $685. Thankfully it was simply showing on the system before he realised everything had already been prepaid!

From there we headed into Terminal C.

One thing that surprised us was being told there weren't any airport wheelchairs available until after check-in. We'd hoped to get some assistance for Kelly sooner, but unfortunately had to wait until check-in.

Check-In and Security

Aer Lingus check-in was located right over in the far corner of the terminal.

The queue looked worse than it actually was and we were checked in within about 25 minutes.

One small victory: one of our cases weighed exactly 23.0kg. I always enjoy those little wins!

Security was straightforward, although we did need to remove laptops from our bags this time.

Once through, we had some time to explore Terminal C.

Terminal C Shopping

The terminal itself is really modern, spacious and bright.

There are plenty of shops including:

Disney Store
Universal Store
SeaWorld Store
Duty Free
Chick-fil-A
Shake Shack
Starbucks
Cinnabon
Auntie Anne's

One thing I've learned over several trips is that airport shops sometimes have merchandise you can't even find inside the parks.

We spent some time browsing both the Disney and Universal stores.

The Disney store had some lovely merchandise including mugs, clothing, Baymax items and plenty of Stitch products. I was hoping to find a nice Disney World magnet, ideally one with the year on it, but there wasn't much choice.

The Universal store was equally tempting. There was loads of Epic Universe merchandise, including hoodies, mugs and shirts. Seeing all the Epic merchandise again almost made me want to go back for another day.

Boarding Time

Eventually our gate was called and it was time to board.

We settled into our seats for the roughly nine-and-a-half-hour flight back home.

As always, that strange mix of emotions kicked in. Sad that the holiday was over, but grateful for all the memories we'd made.

This trip had been fantastic overall.

The cruise exceeded expectations, Epic Universe was incredible, and we packed so much into just eleven days.

The biggest disappointment was Kelly being unwell for most of the trip. She never really got the chance to fully enjoy the cruise or many of the experiences. On the bright side, that gives us the perfect excuse to book another cruise in the future! (Watch this space

)

Final Thoughts

And that brings this Florida and MSC Seashore adventure to an end.

Thank you to everyone who followed along with the trip reports and videos. Hopefully you've enjoyed reading them as much as I've enjoyed putting them together.

If you're planning your own Florida holiday, cruise, or Epic Universe visit, I hope some of these reports have been useful.

Now it's time to start planning the next adventure.
3 night return to Orlando and Epic Universe, Adults Only & California, September 2026... we're coming for you!

Thanks for reading.

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