Day 12 - Typhoon Lagoon

TLDR: Short one today, quick breakfast then hit our first water park - Typhoon Lagoon. Lazy River, big tidal waves, play area and more lazy river. Sun to begin with, rain to finish. Hooters for dinner, amazing… and the food was good too.

Slept the latest we’ve ever slept, but today is going to be a slow day (and so not much to talk about really), so there was no rush to get up too early. Its been nearly two weeks but this was the first day we were visiting a water park and the kids were excited!

We missed getting to Gamestop yesterday for Patrick so once we were ready in our swimming stuff and nicked some extra towels from the pool, we headed there first. Robert picked up some Nintendo Switch games for his yet to be purchased console and me and Patrick picked up a bunch of other games including Horizon Zero Dawn & Injustice 2. Im gonna need another holiday just to play these! Popped into Walmart for some fruit and McDonalds for breakfast/lunch (yes they have an actual McDonalds IN Walmart).

No Typhoon today, well not yet at least…

So last time we were here two years ago it was absolutely pouring down, but not a drop of rain in sight today :D We quickly got into the park, found the lockers and dropped all our stuff off, with the exception of the Go Pro to take some photos. We all had these cool shoes on which allowed us to go in the water without having to take them off - these are pretty much essential for water parks for walking around so you dont burn your feet on the hot footpaths. We started off with something easy the lazy river, Gracie grabbed a free flotation-jacket to float around in which they buys now being able to swim this time around, passed. It was great just sitting, lying, floating along and the kids had an absolute whale of a time (whale, get it? :P #sorrynotsorry). I could really have stayed there all day, but after a few times around, we got out to see what else there was in the park.

Gracie’s was a bit of a wuss and didnt want to go on the family rapids. So we hit the main pool instead. The focal point of this park is a HUUUUGE tidal wave which extends the full length of the pool every so often. After getting absolutely washed out on the first one, I suggested that the boys put some jackets on, just in case. This wave was strong - completely engulfing anyone and everyone and pushing you back several meters to boot. Boys being boys they kept wanting to go further and further into the pool, but with Ann sitting on the sidelines for a little bit and me holding Gracie I had to keep reeling them back in. Stopped to get a quick coffee and ice-cream for the kids, which does prove rather difficult when you cant carry anything including cash around with you! Grabbed a seat in the shade after the sun was proving too hot and let the kiddies run around in the play area for a while. Robert decided that spraying everyone including himself was a good idea, though I don’t think his red eyes agreed. Wee Gracie was just content playing by herself in her own wee imaginary world.

Clouds were looming, but we wanted another shot of the river again before we left (though the kids furiously objected to leave at all). Grace was getting more sure of herself in the water so she was taxing me and Ann about in the water while we sat on the rubber rings - it was too cute. Finally persuaded the kids out of the water and as we got in the car it started to rain - excellent timing and meant that we didn’t get wet (except we were just out the pool, but you know what I mean).

Unlimited wings and really big… beers.

Home and a quick change before heading to Hooters for dinner. Some say that this is the most magical place on earth. Oh wait, that’s Disney right? ;) The food is really good here and the do unlimited wings on a Wednesday so it was a no-brainer after the great day we had at the water park. In and seated and served by the lovely Yen. We ALL went for wings in varying degrees of hotness (the sauce not the waitresses), and Patrick, Ann and myself went for the unlimited option. They also served massive steins of beer and I never even got ID'ed this time (thanks Yen), which is even more funny because my dad did last week :P I kicked off with Triple Dog Dare which is a sauce made from ghost chilli pepper - I like spicy stuff. Ann & Patrick went a little milder and as the plates were finished we order more until we went through most of the sauces. I did prefer my first option but the others all settled for good old fashioned BBQ as their fav. After we were more than full, we paid the bill and I got another pic with some of the waitresses (thanks Ann, again), you just have to though, right? ;) Patrick asked what my favourite thing in Hooters was and Robert replied ‘I bet its the wings’, ummm yes that right son, it’s the wings…

A wee quick visit to the shopping outlets to pick up some trainers for Ann for tomorrow (Adidas Samba as it happens, remember those bad boys?), and then we headed home to sleep.

I asked Patrick about what his fun fact was today and he just said right give me a sec and then gave me a fact (like he was googling his brain, it was hilarious). Anyways here’s today golden nugget:

> There have been two Presidents of the United States who once used to be peanut farmers.

Peanut farmers, who knew eh? Adios for another day!