Thursday, July 22, 2010

The Little Mermaid

Last Friday, my Mom & I took Annabelle down to Weeki Wachee to see the mermaids. It’s an old Florida attraction that dates back to the 50’s. Momma took my Georgia cousins and I one summer about 20 years ago, around the same time that we had a slight obsession with Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.”

We’d heard the park had closed down a few years ago, but that the state bought it and recently re-opened it as a State Park. We wanted to see what it was like now and thought it would be a fun Friday day-trip!

 

We made it to the park around 10:30…perfect timing for the 11:00 show! DSC_0060

The underwater theater was just like I remember it (only MUCH smaller). Things seem so big when you are little. DSCN1956   

It’s basically just a huge aquarium with stadium seats where you sit and watch the mermaids perform. They still have the oxygen tubes that they all carry, which I remember being so disappointed at when I was little. DSCN1926 I don’t know how they breath with those things, though…I’d panic, forget to breath through my mouth and snort water up my nose for sure. ESPECIALLY if I was underwater with a “fin” on… those “mermaids” really do deserve some serious credit for being able to do that! DSCN1937

AB was excited when the curtain finally came up and when she saw a fish swim by. DSCN1968But when the mermaids swam up, she was slightly caught off guard. She was pretty concerned about them. She watched the whole 30 minute show with a puzzled look on her face. DSCN1924She was taking it all in and just trying to figure it out. She did wave at the last mermaid though and even flashed a smile! DSCN1972

Mom and I agreed that the show was pretty cheesy, but we expected that. (we’re the kind of people that like cheesy, anyway, so we enjoyed it). We thought it was worth the ticket price for sure.

The one thing that was REALLY cheesy, though, (even too cheesy for me) was the turtle…DSCN1946 Bless his heart… having that big turtle costume just took it to a whole new level… he was only in one scene though… he was thrown in for the extreme cheesy people that were there, I guess… not just us semi-cheesy peeps…

After the show was over, we had our picture taken with the mermaid.

She had a special chair that she sat in and when the picture time was over, one of the guys came and carried her away. I don’t know why that surprised us, because how else is a girl with a fin going to get around??? “Flipping your fins you don’t get real far…” 

Just beyond the Mermaid Theater is the other part of the property (its two separate parks in one location), called Buccaneer Bay.

AB thought it looked fun…DSC_0094

And we did, too! It’s a spring, so it’s crystal-clear fresh water with those big slides landing in it! How fun is that?

We walked through the park…DSC_0059and stopped at a all the photo-ops… we paid our 13 bucks and did it all…

 

  

except for the “riverboat cruise”---we passed on it.

Before we left, we did have to make a stop at the gift shop, because what trip would be complete without bringing something home?!?!?

On our way out, we asked the ticket lady take our picture, since we didn’t have one of all three of us. It’s blurry, but at least we have one!    

It was a fun little day trip and I can’t wait to take AB back after she really gets into movies and watches “The Little Mermaid”!!!

~amw~

16 comments:

Crystal said...

Looks like fun! Wondering if you gave the one statue her pretty shell "pasty" for the blog's sake... ;-)

Immeasurably More Mama said...

That's it! I've decided you are the Queen of fun day trips. :) And I also think your shell cover-up is hilarious! I'm proud of you for keeping those mermaids modest. hee hee :)

Stephanie said...

Well i found a new job for stephanie she can be the photo opp turtle HA!

William

Lyndsay said...

Wow, blast from the past. Haven't thought about the mermaids in a very long time!! Looks like AB had a fun time. I don't Gus will be all that interested in this trip so I'll just have to enjoy it through you :)

Beth said...

Awww Boogie loved our trip too until the sea witch popped out and about scared her to death. Poor girl still talks about it 2 year later. So glad the state took it over, its a great site. Looks like you guys had a fantastic time. :D

Mallory said...

Looks like fun! I love AB's pics with the photo ops!

Julianne Hendrickson said...

what a fun trip for a little girl! i love it :) especially the picture of AB as a mermaid...ha!

Stephanie Heintz said...

Probably my favorite post yet! How dare they even think ab closing that park down and crushing all the dreams of young girls who long to be aerial! Ha. Love it!

Katie said...

AK would have FLIPPED over this place! She is all about some mermaid, now, let me tell you. THe picture of her in the mermaid face...the one with all the yellow hair...HAHAHAHAHAHA! Bless her heart, she is so cute...I adore that child's sweet smile.

Surrounded-By-Boys said...

Oh my! It has been YEARS since I've been there!! Looks like y'all had a great time!

annalee said...

this place looks so fun!
confession: i'm a little crazy about mermaids. i've always wanted a ceramic one or something in our backyard.

Janie said...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! I took the girls a couple of years ago and they loved it too! In fact, I rememeber going and it seeming ALOT bigger...don't you remember when the mermaid would come out into the theater and take a pic with you?
So glad ya'll had a good trip and enjoyed it. I am so thankful the place is still open!

Carrie said...

What a fun trip! I love the pictures of AB posing with all the props. I have to say, that one mermaid is a little scary with all the eye makeup! She looks like a MAC girl ;)

Stephanie said...

What a FUN trip! I have never been there before. I love ALL the photo op pictures they are too cute!

Heather said...

Annie, this looks like such a fun little day you guys had! So neat, I have never seen anything like this before, only in Florida right?
These photos are so cute and I have no idea how that mermaid walked around in her suit to get to that chair!! AB is so cute!!

Arielle said...

Fun! My friend Maddie is a mermaid there during the summer lol