I received FREE tickets for my review of Water Country USA. All opinions are my own.
We FINALLY got in our first trip to Water Country USA this summer. The schedules have just never seemed to work out so I was THRILLED when we finally got the chance. And even better- we kept it secret from the kids.
When my sister, mom and the kids picked me up they were all eating lunch and talking about our future day at Busch Gardens (where they thought we were headed). It amazes me how little they notice sometimes- I got into the car with a big bag, in flip flops (which I never wear to the park) and a tank top hanging loosely over my swim suit. Did they see? Nope- they were all engrossed in their peanut butter and jelly. Sometimes they notice EVERYTHING (like if I gain a pound or get a stain on my shirt) but in this case absolutely nothing.
So we start driving to Williamsburg and get off at the exit for Water Country. As we pull up the giant sign is in front of us and they got SO excited. They had been begging all summer to go and my sister kept telling them it wasn’t going to work out. They were even more delighted to find that our plan was to go to Water Country USA and THEN to Busch Gardens (it’s right down the road) all on the same day.
After pausing to take this epic picture at the front gate (what you can’t really tell is that they were YANKING on each other’s arms and fussing the entire time) we ran inside to change the baby’s clothes and use the restroom. We have been to Water Country USA each summer for the past three years but somehow we missed the bathrooms just past the entrance at the park. They aren’t just bathrooms- they also have SHOWERS and CHANGING STALLS. I was in awe. I had been anticipating having to be a contortionist and change out of my bathing suit in a bathroom stall while trying not to touch anything that had possibly been peed on. Now I knew I was going to have a nice big room to change in. There were angels singing.
After everyone was dressed appropriately and had an empty bladder we headed out to the first kids area- Cow-A-Bunga. This was T, the little guys, first trip since he could walk. He’s almost 18 months and the water here is crazy shallow so he was super excited to get to explore. The adults, prematurely, were also excited about the one big slide in this section. It’s a two part inner tube ride and now that P and C are older they can ride it together! No adult has to go on it. We can relax and they can go, right? WRONG. P is freaked out about carrying the big inner tube. So we still have to wait in line, go up the stairs, put them in the tube and then climb over the 30 people in line to get back down and be at the exit. Repeat this 8 times and you have the first part of our day.
Here they come! I love that there are life jackets EVERYWHERE at the park.
Closing their eyes just in case!
All done on their first ride by themselves!
Meanwhile I had been eyeing the bigger water ride next to this area, called JetStream. P is almost seven now and getting a little braver. He had even mentioned that he wanted to go on his first roller coaster at Busch Gardens later. So I asked him if he wanted to go watch and he said yes. We walked the short distance and watched a few people at the bottom of the ride. Then, to my amazement, he asked how long the line was. We went and grabbed our single inner tubes and got through quickly. It was his first water ride on his own in his own inner tube. When I got to the bottom he was patiently waiting for me, grinning like a crazy man! I was so proud.
We loaded all the things up and made our way to the next kid’s section- Kritter Koral. This is my favorite place because there is so much to do! C wanted me to take pictures of her on EVERYTHING (she thrives on being the niece of a blogger) so here are some of the fun activities:
The snake wiggles back and forth! They also have an alligator.
The Frog Slide
The Shark Slide
The Seal Slide
The Whale Slide
T also went on his first slide at the park!
P went down a bigger slide- to get to the top he had to climb through this net!
After that we went in search of deeper water because Grandma had brought a camera that would take pictures underwater! In the Jammin’ Jukebox we found an area a bit more pool-like. The kids had a blast playing with the camera. (I swear the water was clear- it looks like we had them swimming in a dirty lake!) We also spent some quality time floating on the Rambling River just talking. Nice and lazy.
We had time for one more stop and I BEGGED to do the Hubba Hubba Highway. I don’t have any pictures because my phone isn’t water proof but this is my favorite part of the park. Basically everyone puts on a life jacket and you get in the water. It has a nice strong current and just sort of pulls you along with little or no effort. You can splash and laugh and goof off and everyone is safe and just floating on their own. It’s nice and relaxing.
After we changed in the fantastic bathroom we went down the street to Busch Gardens. We had two big goals for the trip- P to ride his first roller coaster and me to see “All For One”- the new show about the Three Musketeers.
I have to be honest- I was 100% sure he was going to chicken out. I don’t even go on LochNess. It’s HUGE and yellow and goes upside down and just thinking about it kind of makes me want to puke.
He totally did it. My sister risked her cell phone to even record it and he did GREAT. I am still so proud of him. And his dad is very excited about having a roller coaster buddy on their next trip.
After that the kids wanted to ride the “sky buckets.” My mom and sister IMMEDIATELY said they wouldn’t do it. They said they were scarier than the roller coasters because the kids are “all hanging out of them and going to fall.” So I rounded the two oldest up and we rode from one side of the park to the other. No one died.
They both behaved perfectly.
At this point T had fallen asleep. He doesn’t like the stroller so we have a big plastic car purchased at a yard sale two kids ago we are pushing him around in all day. He can’t sleep in it. So my mom is carrying him- almost 30 something pounds of dead weight. P and C were now due for their treat in the park and they chose Dippin Dots. So my sister grabbed the kids some Dippin’ Dots and went over to France to the Royal Palace Theatre. You walk in and the set for “All For One” is MASSIVE. It’s at least three stories high. You can see rigging everywhere. I’m so excited.
As soon as we get in I kind of shove my sister down the left side because I can see that the front row is open. We go right down and grab seats. I have been waiting to see this show for over a month- did I mention I was excited?
I have learned since our day at the park that when I am out with the kids I count heads often. When we get out of the car- 1 kid, 2 kid, 3 kid. When we get through the gate into the park- 1 kid, 2 kid, 3 kid. When we leave dinner- 1 kid, 2 kid, 3 kid. When we get off the carousel- 1 kid, 2 kid, 3 kid.
When we sit in our seats on the front row- 1 kid, 2 kid. No 3 kid.
CRAP. C is missing.
I look at my mom and my sister. “Where is C?” Mom is so excited she gets to sit (remember 30 pounds of dead weight through half the park) she had not noticed. My sister had been so worried about keeping up with me and the 900 bags and the plastic car she had not noticed. So I get two blank stares.
I drop everything in my hands and run back up the aisle to the back of the theatre. It had only been maybe 60 seconds since I had last seen C so I know she couldn’t have gone far.
As I reach the end of the aisle (I didn’t even have time to say her name) I hear a woman say “excuse me, are you looking for a baby?”
Now C is 4 so the first thought that goes through my head is “someone lost a baby too?! What are the odds of THAT happening?” but I say “I did lose someone but she’s not a baby.”
“Oh a toddler then. She’s right over here.” (Again in my head I think “no she’s not a toddler either” but I realize this isn’t the time to be arguing about logistics). I run over to see C coming at me holding some lady’s hand (who I never did thank so if you happen to be a reader THANK YOU- I couldn’t even tell you what she looked like). C is BAWLING and holding her Dippin Dots. I give her a big hug, tell her I love her and pick her up to take her down to the seats. I tell her if she drops her ice cream we aren’t buying her anymore so she proceeds to use her spoon and EAT her ice cream over my shoulder. After hugs and kisses we settle in and watch the show.
The show is incredible. There were small explosions. They were acrobatics. There were fireworks. There were hot guys with swords. There was great music and beautiful costumes. And afterwards there were pictures.
We met the Musketeers!
My little Princess with the Queen and King!
One of the bad guys!
After that we went on a few more rides. P FINALLY played the soccer game we watch every time we go to the park and won a prize. Then we left the park.
The next day I slept 12 hours.
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