Everyone loves...Marineland!

My company had their corporate picnic at Marineland on August 18 and Don and I took Tori and our nephew Brandon along for the fun. It was a great day...but very long and lots of walking/running after our boy.

We started out early...we were in the parking lot waiting for the park to open! Brandon was so excited, pointing to rides that he wanted to try. He had never been to Marineland and Don and I had a few surprises in store for him. The day was extra-special for me because my friend Cathy was there with her hubby, Chris - Chris works with me at Walker.

When the gates finally opened...we hit the deer park first. Brandon was not overly impressed with the sleeping deer...the deer were less impressed with him...little kids are noisy to tired deer! We knew that once the feeding hut opened that the deer would become more interested - deer like to be fed. We handed Brandon his ice cream cone filled with feed and waited...camera ready...and the deers did not disappoint...within seconds, he was surrounded by the deer, nibbling at his deer feed cone. Brandon didn't want to give the food to one deer...so he held his cone high...like a little male version of the Statue of Liberty...trying to get away. The deer were taller than him and just leaned in for more food. Finally, Don gave in and rescued Brandon...plucking him up and out of the way. But not before we had a good laugh...

We visited the Killer and Beluga whale tanks...and these creatures are amazing to see close up. Don, Brandon and Tori got to encounter the Beluga experience...for a fee, you can feed and touch the belugas...and it was definitely worth the wait (40 minutes in line...). We have great pics of that adventure and Marineland was kind enough to take a few...again for a fee!

Lunch with my co-workers was great...food was good and it was nice to see everyone with their families. It was a much needed break from chasing Brandon from place to place and we all enjoyed the burgers and dogs!

We just had to see the dolphin and seal show...so it was onto King Waldorf's Castle for the show. We got there 45 minutes early...but the place was still packed! I could not believe that this small amusement park could hold sooo many people! The show was cute...and the dolphins were amazing-worth waiting for.

We were running out of steam at this point, but Brandon had yet to see the Killer Whale Splash show so we made our way back up to Friendship Cove. The kiddie ride area was a sea of parents and crying kids...the wait in line was over an hour in most cases. We convinced Brandon to forget the rides this time...and herded our group to the Killer Whale show. We could not get near the place...it was 4-5 deep with adults along the edge of the pool. You could not see the kids for the adults in the place. We waited for the show, standing in the heat...Brandon asking me how much longer every 30 seconds. Then, when we had one minute to go...he said, "Uncle Don, I need to go to the bathroom!" Well that called it a day pretty quick...back to find a bathroom, updated our tickets for seasons passes...and got out of dodge!

All in all, we enjoyed the day very much. We plan to take Brandon back again in a couple of weeks so he can try a few of the rides that he missed. And it's great exercise for us...chasing after him as he calls over his shoulder, Come-on, Auntie Nessa...hurry up! But I would not change that for the world! I love watching his face light up when he sees something amazing! That is definitely worth all the waiting and walking - for sure!