Day 3 spring break, Kennedy Space Center

Out of order pic on the rocket garden. 

The other memory I have of going to Florida YEARS ago was going to Kennedy Space Center. I don't remember much about that day now, but I remember it was something I loved. So I was very excited to take my family back. Here we are coming off the bridge/causeway and seeing the shuttle in the distance. 

The sign!

In front of the entrance. It was a little cooler today again as well, not very much rain, but we all wore pants just in case. We started with the bus tour that took you out to two different spots. 

Adeline and I on the bus. It was so interesting. They had videos of stuff about the space center while you rode. It was one of the better times on a bus tour I have been on. 

This is the famous VAB building. This is where they currently build all the stuff. They have a new building under construction that is huge. The thing most fascinating about this is those doors at the bottom are the biggest bay doors in the world and they take 45 MINUTES to open and close. Wow. I can't remember all they told us about this building, but man, it was amazing. 

They had a new area on the tour where you could feel what an actual launch was like, somewhat. So here are the kids standing under the rocket before it launched. 

Out in the distance they still had stuff up from the Artemis launch that happened the week before we were there. That was cool to see. 

You could also build your own rocket simulation to see if it launched. 

Picture time in front of the launch site in the distance. 

Then we went to the Apollo/Saturn building. This place was huge. It had SO much cool things in it. It had a life size of the shuttle rocket. Pictures don't do it justice but these things were MASSIVE. 

Inside one of the old shuttle command areas where the astronauts are strapped in.

Looking at shuttle memorial items. That part was very touching in the memorial sections.

Shuttle command pod.

In front of the life size rocket. 

In front of the Space Shuttle Atlantis building. 

In front of the actual shuttle. That was super cool.

They had TONS of simulators you could play around with. We did a few. 

Of course our family had to get ice cream. I was SO impressed that the cost of the ice cream was only $4 per scoop and the lady giving it was VERY generous with her scoops!

More about life in space in the atlantis building. There was SO much to do here. We didn't get nearly all of it done, because I thought it was open until 6, but it ended up closing at 5. So there were some cool things we ran out of time for, but we played hard again.

In the rocket garden. Adeline LOVED this shark rocket. 

Thanks space center. You were just as cool as I remember!
 

Day 2 of spring break, Aquatica Water Park

Out of order pic with the sand castle. 

We had gotten some discount tickets to Aquatica (the water park associated with SeaWorld) a few weeks ago, and ironically this was the day that had the worst weather as far as overcast and chilly. The high was only about 67 but we risked going anyways because the only day we could change to didn't look that much better weather wise and it would cost $50 to change it if we could. 

So we got there and hardly ANYONE was there. There was absolutely NO lines at all for any water slides. So though the weather was far less than ideal, we were able to ride every waterslide, some multiple times, with no wait. Another awesome thing was the water was all heated. So even the waterslide water was totally warm like bath water. 

They had a whole beach area with no one there! Adeline and Liam built some stuff. 

Finally by about 3pm, the padres were too cold and the rain was coming in harder, so we opted to leave. So we were only there for about 5 hours but we did A LOT in those five hours. One lifeguard said one of the tube slides we were on the day before had been an hour wait, and we HAD NONE! That alone was worth it for me. 

 

 

Spring break 2026 day 2, Monday, Epcot

Out of order pic in the United Kingdom section. 

Our first "big" day was going to Epcot. I still remember going to Epcot from years and years ago with my Ricks College roommate and her friend and how I loved it so much of the countries. This was the only day we did anything at Disney. Here we are heading in before the parking.

Famous picture of "the big ball" as my kids called it.

We did Guardians of the Galaxy ride very first since it always had the longest line. I didn't know anything about it except it was some type of roller coaster in the dark and everyone's favorite ride at Epcot. It was SO fun! Had we had more time we definitely would have gone on it a few more times. The music was especially awesome. 

Here we are getting ready to ride the boat ride in the Mexico area. It was awesome. 

Even the boys' were very impressed with the details of the ride. 

We ate in China. 

Spent just a little bit of time in Germany and saw some fun performers. 

In the Germany area. This brought back so many memories of my backpacking trip to Germany. 

This was a very cool little train area. 

In front of France!

And OF COURSE we had to get Gelato in Italy. 

It was just as good as I remembered. 

Japan.

Adeline really liked the khoi fish. 

We ran out of time for some of the countries. I kept telling my kids there is no way we will be able to do everything at each place in the time we have, but we will do as much as possible. We stayed until it closed and it was a very fun day.