The Tale of the Grow Walk .Hunh?

[jenseib]

When is your next trip Jen? Are you still planning on going to Disneyland? I love your reports so much that I just need to prep for the next one

Nothing planned yet. My husband likes to torture me I think....heck I know he does. Still hoping for DL but not sure on anything yet.

 

[jenseib]

Bikes for rent.










I debated on checking out the pool now or to wait till later when we brought Claire….I figured I would get some shots now while it was empty.



















I thought this was a cool shot and it was taken on my phone.





















Hello dolphin.

















Hidden Mickey.

 

[KatMark]

Great pictures of the pool area, Jen. I don't know if I love the pool more or the Turtle Krawl cocktail that I have at the pool.

 

[jenseib]

Boy oh boy…..this hot tub looks fabulous to me right now after the long winter.


















I thought this area was really cute.










Let’s check out the laundry room.









I also checked out the restrooms since we would probably need to change in them later.









Looks like the will work just fine.










I was getting a bit hungry. I decided maybe I should get a bite to eat now. I didn’t need anything big, but just something to keep me going. I got some biscuits and gravy.





They were just ok. I probably wouldn’t get them again, but they did fill the hole. I only ate half and saved the other half for Skip.


I then went to the bus stop to wait for the internal bus.











I waited quite a long time before the internal bus came.




I headed back to the room and Skip was up. He tells me that Mousekeeping has already arrived trying to clean the room. Why do they come so early on check out day. We have till 11! He said, don’t worry, they won’t be back till we’re gone because I answered the door in my underwear! LOL


He then asks what we are going to do today…I guess he didn’t listen to me the 10 other times I told him….We are going to let Claire swim, just hang out, maybe shop or resort hop.


Well he didn’t want to. He wanted to do something different. Ok, that’s fine. He said maybe he would do the Richard Petty ride along experience again. He did it a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Sure, that would be great. Claire and I could just do our own thing and he could come back later, or meet up with us somewhere.


So I quickly get online to look that up for him…..and he says so you are going to swim and shop…yep, sounds good to me. He still thinks that sounds boring, but I tell him I am fine with it.


He says maybe we should go to a park. I tell him that it would be really pricey to buy us all 1 day tickets for a few hours. Ok, let’s go to Universal. Again, it’s going to be pricey to do that for just a few hours. He told me to compare the price of the ride along verses the Universal tickets and I gave him a rough estimate. He said if I shopped I would probably spend more than that, so let’s go to Universal. LOL!

Oh shoot! Had I known this earlier I would’ve rearranged the bags and packed everything up and took a shower. I just puttered around for the last few hours and now I had to rush. I quickly showered, got Claire up and ready and got the bags packed and weighed and we got the car loaded up. It was pure crazy. I was fine with going to Universal but it was so spur of the moment. Claire was a little iffy. She had wanted to swim and she was a little upset about it. She was pretty tired today too and it was the last day of the trip and tears seemed to come more frequently today. She had some favorite rides at Universal though and she was excited to ride the Simpsons once again.

 

[jenseib]

Great pictures of the pool area, Jen. I don't know if I love the pool more or the Turtle Krawl cocktail that I have at the pool.

Thats funny. I think the pool looks fabulous! I have heard good things about the Turtle Krawl but I bet i wouldn't be a fan. I just have a hard time with alcohol anymore unless it tastes like punch purely or a beer....and even then I can't handle it well anymore. I have grown into a wimp.

 

[jenseib]

oops

 

[KatMark]

More great pictures of the pool area. I don't eat biscuits and gravy, but those don't even look good. I will tell you that the food at Olivia's is very good. The Turtle Krawl does have a slightly punch taste, but also very strong.

That's too funny about Skip opening the door to Mousekeeping in his underwear. And I can't believe he now decided to go to Universal. You do know they closed that Richard Petty thing permanently?

 

[jenseib]

More great pictures of the pool area. I don't eat biscuits and gravy, but those don't even look good. I will tell you that the food at Olivia's is very good. The Turtle Krawl does have a slightly punch taste, but also very strong.

Yes, they were not like any I have seen before either. they were not that great. not gross, but I wouldn't get them again.

That's too funny about Skip opening the door to Mousekeeping in his underwear.

He does that at home too. He could care less who sees him. LOL!

And I can't believe he now decided to go to Universal

He is so cheap when planning vacations but when we get there he spends it like water.

You do know they closed that Richard Petty thing permanently?

Yes. I kind of wish he did get his last hurrah at it now.

 

[jenseib]

We drove over to Universal and they have a choice of regular parking or a preferred parking lot which costs a little more but you are closer to the parks. Since we were on a time limit Skip said to park in the preferred. Well let’s just say I think we were in the furthest spot away from the gates in the preferred parking that you can get. But nothing we could do about that.







Had I known this is what we would do today I would’ve tried to get here at opening.










As we walked through City Walk I took a few pictures.











We bought our tickets and headed in.








It was nice to be back at Universal. We last were here in 2012.





Shaggy and Scoobie.






Claire wanted to go ride Despicable Me right away but the line was long so we thought we would try that later before we left.







The funny thing is, Skip said this was his favorite park in Florida and then started asking the way to this ride and that….each time he named a ride I would say….that’s at Disney World. LOL!


Transformers was new since we had been here last so we headed that way.







It was closed for repairs at the moment but they did have one out for a meet and greet. This guy was huge.











We kept moving.

 

[jenseib]

Claire wanted to stop here, but Skip said no. This was one of Claire’s favorites last time, but Skip hated it.





And then I saw it….It was behind walls yet and no one knew at the time when it would actually open but it was predicted to be early summer….Diagon Alley.




I got all giddy and excited to see peeks of it.





At this time I had no clue that in about 4 ½ months I would be back in Florida and spending a day here.








It really looked good!


We had a goal and were going the long way around for some reason….there it is across the lake.





More of Diagon Alley.











It looked like it was going to be fabulous and I couldn’t wait to see it when it was finished. I was so happy that I did get that chance in August. They did a wonderful job.


On we went.








Oh, …and we all wore pants today since we were heading back to cold Ohio…..and it was quite warm here and I regretted wearing them pretty quickly.




The wait was not long at all. In fact much shorter than it was our last trip. Universal was much less crowded than Disney had been and I was glad for that.


We LOVE the Simpsons ride and it was a top must do while we were here.







We love the warped sense of humor with the jokes.













We had a blast as usual on the ride…I think we only rode it once, but we might have gone right back on again…I just can’t remember.


The Simpson area had been built up too since we had last been here so it was neat to see all the new things.

 

[MEK]

I was almost afraid to come back to your TR after being MIA for so long because I knew I would be SO FAR behind! But guess what - I am almost caught up.

Love the Animator's Palette pictures. They are so lovely. That was such a fun restaurant.

Boo to the poor cabin steward. I am shocked she gave you such a hard time about luggage tags.

I had no idea that Legoland was built at Cypress Gardens. Sounds like the perfect choice for a post cruise park, although I would have gone crazy with the way the staff acted. I can't stand that after experiencing the Disney park professionalism. The gardens really do look lovely and you did a great job with pictures.

OKW - totally one of my favorites! Great choice.

T-Rex looks fun. I have yet to eat there. Actually, I think I just want to go in and sit at the ice bar. Now THAT looks cool.

Still have a bit more reading to do.

 

[Steppesister]

Love all the fun pictures!! And yes, that hot tub looks simply amazing right now!

 

[jenseib]

I was almost afraid to come back to your TR after being MIA for so long because I knew I would be SO FAR behind! But guess what - I am almost caught up.

LOL! I understand. I am trying to get this done. As the warmer months are coming up I have more things I need to do at home and work so I need to get this off my plate.

Love the Animator's Palette pictures. They are so lovely. That was such a fun restaurant.

It is a fun restaurant...I am not the biggest fan of their menu though. I wish they would make it a bit better. It's not bad, but just doesn't wow me.

Boo to the poor cabin steward. I am shocked she gave you such a hard time about luggage tags.

Yeah she was not impressive at all.

I had no idea that Legoland was built at Cypress Gardens. Sounds like the perfect choice for a post cruise park, although I would have gone crazy with the way the staff acted. I can't stand that after experiencing the Disney park professionalism. The gardens really do look lovely and you did a great job with pictures.

Yes it is....And the gardens are lovely. I wish I would've made an effort to go as an adult before it actually closed.

OKW - totally one of my favorites! Great choice.

It is really a pretty resort from what I saw of it. The rooms are so spacious.

Love all the fun pictures!! And yes, that hot tub looks simply amazing right now!

Boy it would be nice to dip in one right now!

 

[tinkerjlee]

All caught up! I loved the pictures from OKW! OKW is my home resort and can't wait to see it in a couple months!
What a great trip so far!

 

[Beth D]

Holy updates batman! You've been an updating machine!

So much for a relaxing day by the pool… Although I second that hot tub! 96 hours until we land in FLA!

I'm liking your Universal updates. We'll be there Sunday. We're doing both parks, so definitely Hogwarts Express! I loved seeing your pics of there. Grandma has already told DS that she'd buy him his wand for this trip, so he can get one of the new interactive ones.

 

[KatMark]

Sounds like a good start to your time at Universal. I think the last time we went with the kids, The Simpsons had just opened up and we didn't do it because the line was crazy long (and I don't like the Simpsons so I wasn't willing to wait for 90 minutes in the heat with the kids). I didn't know they had built it up even more.

 

[jenseib]

All caught up! I loved the pictures from OKW! OKW is my home resort and can't wait to see it in a couple months!
What a great trip so far!

How wonderful...I wish I knew where we are heading this year. My husband is just dragging his feet.

So much for a relaxing day by the pool… Although I second that hot tub! 96 hours until we land in FLA!

I am so jealous!

I'm liking your Universal updates. We'll be there Sunday. We're doing both parks, so definitely Hogwarts Express! I loved seeing your pics of there. Grandma has already told DS that she'd buy him his wand for this trip, so he can get one of the new interactive ones.

Nice Grandma! I kind of want one of those wands for myself!

Sounds like a good start to your time at Universal. I think the last time we went with the kids, The Simpsons had just opened up and we didn't do it because the line was crazy long (and I don't like the Simpsons so I wasn't willing to wait for 90 minutes in the heat with the kids). I didn't know they had built it up even more.

I remember when Back to the Future opened which is where the Simpsons is now...I waited 3 hours in 90+ degree weather....it was so hot and most of the wait was outside.

 

[JKSWonder]

I'm sort of shocked Skip wanted to do a spur of the moment park day. And I'm also kind of panicking that Skip wanted to do a spur of the moment park day. I'm a planner. A mega planner. Especially when it comes to park touring. I'm not sure I could handle someone throwing me a curve ball like that, so kudos to you.

 

[jenseib]

We also really like the Men in Black ride so we made a dash over there.





I put my bag in the locker.









We rode it and had a blast. There is a certain time where they tell you to press the red button and if you are the first one to do so you earn a lot of bonus points. I was the only one who remembered this and waited for the right moment and hit it and won the points. This brought on tears from Claire. It was no fair and she should’ve been reminded to win.


We exited with the baby, who was pouting and headed off to the bathrooms and had a seat for a few minutes.














I was now getting hungry. That breakfast was long gone, but Claire was still pouting so we agreed to go on one more time. And then Skip hit the red button. WHY on earth would he do that when the whole reason we went back on was to let Claire win. She was tired and at her last straw from this trip and I was trying to make her pleasant so she wasn’t crying on the whole flight back. UGH! Men!


So we get off with her crying once again and she wants to ride again and I tell them they have to go as I need food. Skip says he doesn’t want to go and argues about it. I got to the point that I said he could deal with her crying but I am getting food and he then decided to take her back one more time.


I went off in search of something to get rid of my headache.


Of course I took pictures as I went.

















I caught a glimpse of Krusty!





And Sideshow Bob!











These guys cracked me up.











Yes I was looking for food.








I thought about stopping and getting a Flaming Moe, but I didn’t….wish I would have now.

 

[jenseib]

Inside there are several options of food places to order from.





And the lines were massive for all of them. It actually was into another room to get started. I just couldn’t wait that long.








I believe this was Luigi’s only before the refurbishment.






I headed outside to see if something out there would be faster….I really debated on donuts.








I settle for here!



The line wasn’t too long…it wasn’t fast, but it was better than inside at least.


While in line I saw my favorite Movie props.





I made my order and waited for it to be done and then found a seat.








It really hit the spot and I was back to being nice again.





As I waited for Skip and Claire I took some more Back to the Future pictures.











It seemed to take forever for them to come over to find me. (I had Skip’s phone by the way…ugh). I guess the line had gotten much longer this time around so it took them longer to get through it, but at least the tears were gone. But they were hungry too. They didn’t want tacos so we moved on to find them something different.





Skip got Claire some nuggets and I sat with her at the table while he went to find something for himself.





We spotted Doc off to the side talking to people. How exciting. I don’t think I have ever seen him here before. I took this picture with my phone and posted it on facebook.





My friend Cass replied “Great Scott! Someone needs to empty the trash can”! LOL.