I promised I’d fill you in on our Thanksgiving week at Universal Orlando. We went from swimming in Blue Lagoons at Royal Pacific to Blue Man Group to donning Blue Parkas at the Gaylord Palms Resort’s ICE! exhibit. I wasn't kidding when I said we had the Thanksgiving “Blues!” Check out the pictures. Even our lips were blue!

We spent two pre-Thanksgiving nights at Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando, a Loews property. As the Family Travel Expert, this was like a royal induction into the world of extra family-friendly resorts. They really roll out the red carpet for parents.

The hotel’s Islands Dining Room has a separate area with a kiddie buffet (serving chicken fingers, mac and cheese, pizza and lots of desserts) and a lounging area where young guests can plop down on a bed in the middle of the room and gaze up at a television -- all while the parents are eating dinner!

I looked over once and my kids were having a pillow fight with total strangers. I must admit I felt better knowing that other guests were letting their kids cut loose in the kid zone too!

Also during dinner, they feature roaming entertainment.  The man in the facepaint is Dr. Cardoo (because, he says, “Cards are what I do!”). He successfully entertained the five kids at our table throughout the meal with his wonderful slight of hand. In between magic and card tricks, he even tossed some fire in the air.

The hotel also encourages what they call “Pool Crashing.” I love this. You can use your room key for crashing the pools at the other two Loews properties, Hard Rock Hotel and the Portofino Bay Hotel. The room key is such a bonus. It also serves as an Express Pass so you don’t have to wait in long lines at Universal’s parks.

Do not miss Blue Man Group at the Sharp Aquos Theater. We timed our day perfectly to see the 5 p.m. show. After a long day at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure (www.universalorlando.com), I knew the boys would sit still. My husband and I are so happy they can finally enjoy and appreciate some nightlife and culture with us.

Action. Loud noises. Perfect for the Michaels boys! Never a dull moment with the drumming, paint splattering and marshmallow mouth-catching (“Do not try that at home guys,” I found myself saying.) They were cracking up. As white streamers flowed through the audience, my little guy was totally wrapped up in the fun – literally!

On our drive home from Orlando to Tampa, we stopped about 10 minutes away in Kissimmee at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center (www.gaylordapalms.com) for the ICE! winter holiday experience.

The spectacular exhibit showcases two million pounds of ice sculptures shaped like penguins, gingerbread houses, trains, igloos, slides and winter scenes. While the kids didn't stop to notice, I definitely felt the 9 degree chill! I highly recommend gloves, which I didn’t bring, thinking I could handle the cold as a former Chicagoan. Forget it. Blood thins really fast when you move south. Even brave Northerners may want some mittens!

One minute my kids were swimming in the hotel pool and the next, they were enjoying an instant dose of winter! Our Orlando excursion was non-stop fun. I never once heard the dreaded words: "I'm bored."