Day 148 - Movieland Mayhem Getting Soaked, Spun, and Completely Cooked

Kia and I had to peel ourselves out of bed this morning while the kids were still completely out of it. Even with an earlier night, I think we’re all just catching up a bit. We rolled out around 8:15 and realised pretty quickly we didn’t leave ourselves much time. We had to be at reception by 9:30, which meant breakfast, getting everyone dressed, packing lunch and organising bags all in a bit of a rush.

Kia got stuck into waking the kids while I raced down to the shop to grab bread rolls, ham and cheese. By the time I got back, they were up, moving slowly but getting there. A bit flat from being woken up but still excited for the day ahead.

The kids smashed down some quick muesli and yoghurt. Kia and I kept it simple with boiled eggs and a couple of coffees. I threw together some bread rolls, packed snacks, water bottles, hats, sunscreen, the usual setup, and somehow we walked out the door right on 9:30. Rare form for us.

We got to reception thinking we’d be late, only to find we were actually early. The last of the group didn’t roll in until about 9:45, which made us laugh. All that rush for nothing.

From there, we literally walked next door from Piani di Clodia straight into Movieland Park. Couldn’t have been easier.

We grabbed our tickets with a bit of a group discount, which always feels good when you convert it back to Aussie dollars, and headed inside.

Straight away you could tell this place was different. Less polished than the big theme parks, but way more interactive.

The first ride the kids jumped on was these little cars they could drive themselves. Full steering, accelerator, the works, just guided by a track underneath. Watching them cruise around the figure eight, actually controlling the cars, was unreal. Slow, but super fun.

Then things stepped up.

We got talked into the Jet Wave ride. Basically a full jet boat ripping around a track, spinning, spraying water everywhere. Absolute chaos. Kia and I sat the first one out, but Emmett and Maddie were straight on it.

They came off soaked and buzzing.

Then the operator called for two more people to fill the next run, and Emmett looked at me and said, “Let’s go again.” So we jumped on.

Big mistake.

We got absolutely drenched. Not a splash, not a bit wet. Fully soaked, head to toe. Shoes, shorts, everything. Walked off like drowned rats while everyone else stood there laughing. But honestly, it was one of the best rides of the day.

From there, it just kept building.

We jumped into a truck ride where you’re rolling around the back while someone actually drives you over bumps, through obstacles, reversing, twisting. It didn’t feel like a ride. It felt real.

Then into the Pangaea jeep ride, which might have been the most fun of the lot. I was driving with Maddie next to me, watching the sensors and trying to keep us on track through this dinosaur jungle setup. Water, ramps, tight turns. Miss a line and the car forces you to correct it. Once you worked it out, it turned into a game of trying to drive it perfectly.

After that, we hit Diabolik, the big hanging roller coaster.

Maddie absolutely owned it.

She went once with everyone, then again with me, then by herself, then again after that. Four times in a row. She couldn’t get enough. You could see her confidence building every time she got on.

Emmett was just under the height limit and wasn’t too fussed anyway, which worked out well.

The rest of the afternoon was a blur.

A bus tour ride with old movie scenes. A twister simulator that completely spun Kia and me out. We’re both done with spin rides these days. It hits differently now. There were rocket rides, jumping castles, a log ride that soaked us again, a Gravitron, a 3D Back to the Future style simulator.

It just kept going.

By the end of it, Kia and I were cooked. Completely done. We’d walked about 10 kilometres, it was warm, and we’d been wet and dry all day. It takes it out of you.

The kids, on the other hand, could’ve kept going.

We stayed right through until closing at 6pm, then walked straight back. Maddie jumped in and cooked dinner, which was a huge help. Emmett disappeared straight out to play with his mate and we had to drag him back in at 7:30 just to eat.

Everyone in bed early. But days like that, full chaos, full energy, everyone together, kids pushing themselves, laughing, trying new things. They’re the ones you remember.