Moms Minivan Blog » traveling with kids

Rolling Reviews from the Backseat – Dr Doom’s Fear Fall

Road Trip Mom — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:42:40 +0000

Road Trip review from Big Bro, one of Road Trip Mom’s kids!

The most thrilling ride for me at the Universal Studios Theme Park was in the Islands of Adventure park, and it is called Dr. Doom’s Fear Fall. You enter the ride with your party and are isolated from the other riders. Before the ride begins, a scary voice comes on and tells you that all safety protocol will be ignored. Then shoots you straight up into the air at what seems like a million miles an hour, and as soon as it gets to the top it shoots you downwards faster than gravity can pull you.

I had a great deal of fun trying to convince my younger sisters to go on it with me. They were terrified at first, but after they went on it once they each went four more times. The ride is very intimidating to look at but it is a blast to go on. The lines were also very short when we went with little to no waiting for a seat. The view at the top of the ride is also outstanding, with the whole park in front of you and the beautiful Florida landscape behind you. I highly recommend this ride to anyone who is looking for thrills at this park.

Keep reading for lots of tips on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Universal Studios theme parks.

NOTE FROM ROAD TRIP MOM: This is a review by my road trip son! He’s helping me out with his own backseat opinions on some of our recent travels. Let’s give him a hand!

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Rolling Reviews from the Backseat: Rip Ride Rock-It Rollercoaster

Road Trip Mom — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:39:38 +0000

By The Back Seat Reviewer — Road Trip Mom’s Daughter!

On my recent trip to Universal studios, one of the most thrilling and original rides in the park was the Hollywood Rip Ride Rock-It. This bright red roller coaster covered in dazzling florescent lights could be seen from anywhere in the park. The fun starts the moment you get to the front of the line. Immediately after you sit down and pull your seat belt across your lap, you have 30 seconds to choose a song from a variety of music. Choices range from music by Fergie, to songs like I Will Survive; so everyone can get a song they know. If you don’t pick your song before the ride starts, on is picked for you. The song you picked will play out of speakers by your ears throughout your ride.

Unlike most roller coasters that have a steady incline that brings you to the top of the first hill, the Rock-It saves space with a vertical climb to the top of the park, followed by an equally frightening near-vertical drop. After that comes a series of stomach churning loop de loops and cork screw turns that rip through the park. The whole time your face is being recorded by a camera on the back of the seat in front of you so that when the ride is over, you have an opportunity to view and purchase your own music video. The only problem is that because this is one of the most popular rides in the park, the line gets extremely long and there is no express line, so getting there early is a must. All and all this an amazing ride that anyone who love roller coasters and music should be sure to ride.

Keep reading for lots of tips on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Universal Studios theme parks.

NOTE FROM ROAD TRIP MOM: This is a review by one of my road trip daughters! She and her sister are becoming regulars on my website with their product reviews and backseat opinions.

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All material copyright ©MomsMinivan.com

Rolling Reviews from the Backseat: Dragon Challenge

Road Trip Mom — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:58:19 +0000

By The Back Seat Reviewer — Road Trip Mom’s Daughter!

Don’t miss the Dragon Challenge Roller Coaster in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. As you walk through the Forbidden Forest trail, past Hagrid’s Hut, Ron’s beat up old car, and visit the Goblet of Fire, you can catch a glimpse of the two dragons. Choose either the red or the blue dragon and strap in! The best seats are either the front half or the very back. Your feet dangle off as you ride your dragon through twists and turns. The scariest part is when you flip upside down and pass within a yard or two of the other dragon and it looks like you’re going to crash with the other roller coaster!

This happens several times and the passengers of each dragon scream! While you are up at the top, you can see the entire park and all of Hogsmeade. This ride is very fun for those who love a wild ride.

Keep reading for lots of tips on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Universal Studios theme parks.

NOTE FROM ROAD TRIP MOM: This is a review by one of my road trip daughters! She and her sister are becoming regulars on my website with their product reviews and backseat opinions.

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All material copyright ©MomsMinivan.com

Geography Car Game

Road Trip Mom — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:42:08 +0000

Here’s a car game you can play without any materials at all. It’s a geography game that I found on Education.com, which also has a lot of other games and printable materials for kids — great stuff for road trips.

The geography game is super easy to play. You simply take turns naming different cities, states or countries around the world. The only catch is that when it’s your turn, your geography point must begin with the same letter that the last person’s ended. Simple! If you have an atlas in the car, this game will have your kids scouring through it and learning new places.

Devra, my friend and frequent road-trip cohort from Parentopia.com, has played this game with her family (and me) for years. But somehow it always seems to me like there are a lot of geography points that start AND end with the letter A — Alaska, Alabama, Alameda, Australia, Angola, Argentina, Albania, … see what I mean? Next time I’m on a roadtrip with them, I’m using “Arkansas” as my secret weapon. If you can’t spell it, you won’t know that it ends in an “S”! And if that doesn’t get them, then I’ll try “Albuquerque.” Ha!

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Holiday Printable Coloring Pages

Road Trip Mom — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:42:19 +0000

On road trips, or just hanging out, kids love to color! I found a website that has some of the cutest printable materials I’ve ever seen online. It’s called Python Printables.

Check out their Holiday printable coloring pages (This link includes a $5 coupon when you download along with their free printable pages to use with their premium products later if you want). They have lots of different holidays and other events to keep your kids busy and creative!

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Turning 100,000

Road Trip Mom — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:37:54 +0000

Somewhere in the middle of a beautiful rural Kentucky byway, while I was on my way to Kentucky Lake for my annual Pirate Adventure , my minivan had a birthday. Or rather, a birth-mile. Sylvia (my minivan, also known as “The Mother Ship”) turned 100,000 miles. I took a picture.

Why is that mile different from any other? When I posted the photo to my facebook, I had many friends comment on their locations when their own vehicles hit this milestone. They all remembered where they were when that odometer turned over 99,999 –> 100,000 . I guess it’s just really fun to watch all those 9′s turn over!

One friend commented, “Keep going! You’re halfway to the moon!”

So, happy milestone, Sylvia. Here’s to many more fun miles on the way to more adventures.

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Travel Tickets

Road Trip Mom — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:01:29 +0000

“How much longer?!”

If you’re on a road trip with your kids, and you are tired of hearing this question, try this activity: Travel Tickets! You can make your own, or print these travel tickets – they are brand new from MomsMinivan.com. Happy travels!

Broken Bone Vacation Relief

Road Trip Mom — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:53:56 +0000

What’s the only thing worse than breaking your arm during summer vacation?

Answer: Breaking BOTH arms! (OUCH!)

But never fear, this little cutie’s summer has been saved. Read my article, Cast Relief, to see how our friend managed to find some relief for her cast torture, and save her summer vacation!

How to Make a Pirate Treasure Map: Video Demo

Road Trip Mom — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:45:56 +0000

In his blog for dads, Brandon the Duncan has begun a video section of his blog where “Daddys Can Do Crafts”.

In his first webisode, he does a full demonstration of my instructions for how to make a pirate treasure map!

Check out his video demo! Thanks for the great walk-through of my article, Brandon. Enjoy your treasure maps, mateys!!

Best Souvenir Ever!

Road Trip Mom — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:02:30 +0000

The best souvenir we’ve ever had from any trip is a memory book filled with all the pictures from our trip. You can make your own memory book, starring YOU! It’s not expensive and it’s really easy. Upload all your pics and order a hard-bound copy. then order extra copies for each of your children.

The best place I have found to do this is at Snapfish. They frequently have specials and will also do regular prints dirt cheap! We have found the quality to be excellent.

Here’s a book I made from our recent trip to Universal Studios Orlando. I got a copy for each of my children which I gave to them as a gifts at Christmas.

This is truly a souvenir that they will cherish the rest of their lives, that won’t get lost in a drawer somewhere, or tossed aside and forgotten. As an added bonus, you get the the thrill of reliving those memories every time you look at it. Without a doubt — the best souvenir ever!