Blue Man Group VIP Event

It's not often that I get the chance to do something as cool as be a VIP at the Blue Man Group show at Universal Studios but thanks to Yelp that is exactly what happened. Even better, it happened for my sister too so we got to experience it together. Yeah!

Basically BMG is starting a VIP ticket experience with a before the show preview and after the show experience. Before the show you get to go back and see the hallways and learn some history of the BMG. You also get to see the theater empty and even stand on the stage for true perspective.

Right before the show we were led to some wonderful seats right in the center of the theater but safely outside of the splash zone. We had a great experience watching the interactive performance and we were all hooked and engaged the whole time, marshmallows and all!

After the show were some more perks for the VIPS. We got to go to the backside of the stage and see the instruments and even play with one. We heard more about the Blue Men and what makes them what they are. And then we got to take some pictures with one of the Blue Men and yes, I even got him on my nose. 2 points!

I don't want to give away too much about the show because it truly is about the experience. Telling yo u all the the fun nuances and secrets may just take that magic away... and well, I don't want to do that to you! Go. See the Blue Men. Enjoy it. Have a marshmallow.

Time Changes Things...

Time truly changes things. It just does. The events today were a definite showing of just how well time can do when given a chance.

It was Orlando Pride today. The parade, the festival, the vendors, the speakers... everything Pride. Today.

And I got to bring kids. Seriously. I brought my daughter but she's no stranger to Pride events. She attended her first at a mere three months old in Atlanta. She's been to quite a few since then, even if we don't go every year.

Even more remarkable was that we got to bring her boyfriend with us. And another friend. These parents didn't bat an eye at the idea of me taking their 13 and 14 year old kids to Pride. Not a flinch.

But when I was 13... I didn't know what Pride events were. I remember "sneaking" to my first one when I was in high school here in Orlando when it was at a small park off of Red Bug Road in Casselberry... for all of Orlando. It was just a picnic back then but I'm sure I wasn't forthright in telling my parents where I was going. I'm sure I said I was just out with friends. I remember the lift in the parking lot area and the police were video taping the cars in the lot. We all swore that it was so they could run the plates so they could know who the gays were. It wasn't unheard of at that point. Even my high school had a list of the gay folks just in case they needed to know, you know, because we stirred up oh so much trouble.

But thankfully things have changed.

For the better.

I mean, just look at these kids having a good time at Orlando Pride. I'll take that any day.

A Day at Harry Potter World!

Okay, okay. It's not called Harry Potter World but it is now such a HUGE part of Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure theme parks. In fact, that is really all I even cared about seeing. The rest of the gang had much more on their lists for the day but really, the new Happy Potter area in Universal Studios was the first stop.

We got their bright and early and hiked our way over to the new area and looked at the Knight Bus and fountain outside of King's Cross station. I was in awe already. Luckily I really hadn't seen or heard much about how the new area was set up so I had no idea that when I walked the other side of a plain brick wall I would stand there with my jaw dropped open. Seriously amazed and awestruck!

The dragon on top of Gringott's even breaths fire about every ten minutes or so. Awesome! The Gringott's ride was thrilling and fun as well, so much so that we rode it twice! There are so many little details in this area that I could stay for hours looking in the stores, walking through Knockturn Alley, buying a wand to use on all the windows and displays, people watching and eating crazy food. Yep, you can get Butterbeer here as well as Butterbeer ice cream! Chocolate chili ice cream and Earl Gray and Lavender ice cream are both choices as well. Add a few beers that are made just for the park as well as the specialty candies and such and you're set with treats for the day.

Don't forget to take a ride on the train to the Islands of Adventure side of Harry Potter World. But, plan on riding it both ways since it's different each direction.

Once you get to the other side the view changes and it is just as wonderful. On that side you have the rides for Hogwarts and the dragon roller coasters, both large and small. There are many things to see on this side as well, but it has been there for about 4 or 5 years now so the wow factor really goes to the Universal Side for today!

And don't forget there is more than just Harry Potter World to explore at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios! We even caught up with some cute, green aliens on the set of Men in Black!

Happy Exploring!

Time to get wet...

There are plenty of options in Orlando to get wet other than the typical afternoon rainstorms. We have an annual tradition of hitting Coco Key Waterpark & Resort every summer with the kids. Sadly we didn't pick a great day to do that this year with a few too many lightning strikes that closed the park periodically.

Coco Key is both a water park and hotel but they do offer day passes to just the water park and there are often deals on Living Social or Groupon so be sure to check ahead of your visit.

There are 3 taller slides you can see off the side of I-4 and then the splash area with more slides pictured above. Oh yeah, and that big bucket up top... see it... it dumps all over the place every so often. Super fun!

Step inside the covered area and there is a nice pool with a few more slides where you can escape the sun and cool down. They also have a poolside bar along with an arcade and cafe. Check it out and see for yourself!