Our family took a six night staycation at Universal Orlando. The weather was gorgeous, the crowds were very low and we could walk right onto rides. We just had a ball. We actually only intended to stay two nights and packed up and checked out each afternoon only to decide at 5 pm that we did not want to go home and book another night. What could be a better life than to swim all morning til lunch then hit the the most amazing playground all afternoon and evening? Universal has the greatest play areas for children besides all the rides and experiences they have to offer.

Universal has a Mardi Gras celebration and parade and they are celebrating 25 years of the parade. The floats, costumes, and joyful energy is so outrageously great that we saw the parade 6 times! The floats throw Mardi Gras beads and the kids love that. They leave each parade with four pounds of colorful beads. Our backyard fence is now extremely well dressed! The kids enjoyed giving the beads away to others later in the evening. Adam had family in New Orleans and went often to Mardi Gras as a kid and I think he particularly enjoyed the food and festivities.

Voodoo Donuts is the ultimate in donut art and an absolute must have.

We finally rode Hagrid’s new coaster and  it is without a doubt the best coaster I have ever been on in my life, sorry Disney. The acceleration, smoothness, unexpected events and story take the cake. Brooklyn was brave enough to ride and she loved it, although her body was overwhelmed by the intensity afterwards. We watched the animal show and pet the stars, and had many late nights where Dylan fell asleep in the car before the hotel.

Best stay cation ever.