How the Mighty Have Fallen: CFF

That... Central Florida Fair... thing
Remember when this fair used to be really, really good?
Yeah, me neither.

Continuing a birthday tradition of mine.. I made a half hearted visit to the fair. What was once a dominating midway is now a third of its size and seems to be shrinking, yearly now :(
That being said, we made the best of it.. and since it was still a fair, had fun.

The 2016 Central Florida Fair!!!
Oh wait, half the ride models shown here don't even come to the fair anymore...

Uh, the actual midway
Well, mostly just kiddie land.. but still.

Super Cyclone!

Yaayyy! After missing it at the State Fair.. because it wasn't ready for some reason.. despite the fact it was cycling with staff on it our whole visit... We got on it at Central Florida.

Although it still took two takes to get it right.. Since on our first attempt... while already seated in the train locked and ready to go... Everyone was removed from the ride and it went out of service for a few hours...
(but in the end, we did mange to get our ride...)

Zombie Apocalypse... I think the apocalypse ended before we got on the ride.. since there wasn't much going on inside it.

Observation Tower was at the far end of the kiddie midway this year (where the Mulligan used to always be) while odd to be in the kid area... Its was nice being along side of the lake.

Jungle Twist!
Is it sad that the best coaster at the fair ended up being this unsuspecting kiddie spinner?
Its actually pretty fantastic. I first came across one at the State Fair of Texas and now Wade is traveling with one.
(For sure one of those "don't judge a book" coasters)

Pirate!
(rrrrrr)

Fireball, uh, skipped.
After my lame ride on the one at the Osceola County Fair earlier this year, I've just kinda been.. uh.. over them.

Music Express was back again this year...

:3 We saw the bear show! :3
(although it was hard to get a good photo of the bears... so here's one of the empty stage area)

Oh.. And they had the giant portable slide this year.
So I rode it.
And stuff.

Opa! Uh, Mighty Mouse.
Given the courtesy ride.

Enterprise, woo

<3 Mega Drop <3
With some pretty sunset action going on

Basic Ferris Wheel, sunset, palm tree photo... because, Florida.

O-Town

Some of the adult rides on the midway from Mega Drop.

PIRATES!
(RRRRRRRRRR!)

HIT IN 2000!
Wait no, Wade doesn't even bring Hit to Central Florida anymore...

Luckily their banged up Super Himalaya still runs better than most any other!

Music Express was run better than the last time it was here
Although without directional changes or switching the cycle up.

haha, Fighter.
Remember when this was super flashy... and uh, worked right?
(lololol)

Gravinception

Fireball.. Looking pretty cool covered in LED's

Same for the Orbiter... And since we had ridden everything else we wanted to.. we took it for a ride.
I do enjoy the Orbiter but I tend to overlook them in favor of more exciting rides. 

And since there was no Swing Tower ride here to end our night... We jumped on Mega Drop once more.. because, well, I love me some drop towers <3
Woo? maybe?? 2016 may not have been as awesome as say... 2010 or 2011... But here's hoping 2017 is at least on par with this? :/

The Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society

Because the best birthday gifts are the ones that involving going on little adventures and not a physical item... and stuff. <3

Welcome!
Uh, to the Palm Beach Zoo.
Pretty sure it was the final non-panhandle Zoo in Florida for us to visit.

The grand entrance to the zoo features this lovely
"Interactive Play Fountain"
(CLOSES AT 4:30 PM!)

Oh look, a recreation of a Mayan Temple.... Because I just wasn't at one weeks prior to visiting the Zoo :P

Oh hey, it's Coba!
(Been there, done that)

And Chichén Itzá too...
(Yup, been there as well!)

The zoo, while on the smaller side.. Is actually really pretty.
With pathways along side and over streams/lakes... And under tree cover.

Well, almost all under tree cover.

Near the front of the Zoo is a small Carousel
(Bear!)

And a little kiddie train ride

Oh right, and uh... there are a bunch of animals here too!

I mean, it is a Zoo after all.
Hey look, a Spider Monkey.

Shh, its about to be nap time for the Jaguar <3

Hey, Mr Gator.

Ooh, and some fancy Ducks... with a Capybara
:D

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Mardi, the leucistic alligator.

!!!
Sandhill Crane!

Bear!... Uh.. bear bear bear... bear <3
Yeesss!

Uh, nothing to see here, moving on!

<3 Servals having a nap <3

Forbidden Lemur Island!
Sadly, none of the lemurs were visible during our visit.
(Worst birthday, EVER)

And because its Florida.. Uh... this... Flamingo.

Woo woo

That Cobra.... it's Cursed.

Woo, some random construction photos of Busch Gardens Tampa's new Mack spinning coaster, Cobra's Curse. Set to open sometime in the summer of 2016. These photos are a little older now... as the ride is now fully complete and allegedly testing.

Beware? Be sure to put your hand in the box....
(of the 5 people I was at the park with... Only I was ""brave"" enough to do it...)

The ride will start off with this fancy looking 70 foot Elevator Lift. Its bright colors kinda feel out of place alongside Montu and the rest of the Egypt area.. but I'm sure it'll grown on me in time.

After the first part of the ride is completed, the train will enter a secondary, possibly launched lift into this lovely looking drop.

And then right into a number of back to back banked curves like this, while the car is freely spinning.

When it was first announced I kinda blew it off... but after thinking about it a little and seeing it in person, I think Cobra could end up being the sleeper hit of 2016 and unlike the parks past most recent coaster... this time its being marketed properly and since its still somewhat under the radar... could turn out pretty good.

Oh hey... And its uh, that guy... With one of Cobra's cars on display.

And the teaser for Cobra's Cruse from Busch Gardens' YouTube.

Soon?
(....But I'm still more excited for Mako :D)