No11's Mom
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2000
- Messages
- 568
PART TWO HOME AT THE HARD ROCK
Cast:
Me Donna, 40, obsessive vacation planner
Husband Rick, 45, promises to be Mr. Easy Going this trip
Son Travis, 15, loves coasters and chicks
Sister Darla, 39, happy to leave the planning to me
Nephew James, 9, wants to do the big rides, but a little nervous
Monday morning we woke up early, excited about moving over to the Hard Rock and starting what we considered to be the REAL vacation. We loaded up the car, used the phone for express checkout, making sure to take the comment card so that we could report the cold showers and problems from the night before, and we were off. Rick took the wrong exit off the freeway and that delayed us a little bit, but we managed to get to the HRH a little after 10am. The hotel looks so beautiful when you pull up the drive. We were all excited. Rick and Travis got out and started giving our many, many bags to the luggage guys. Darla and I went in to check in. There was no special line for Loews First members, but there was also no line in the regular check-in line. So that was good. We had reserved a deluxe room at the APH rate of $224/night. I asked if there were any deluxe rooms available on the club level and what it would cost to upgrade. The woman checking us in called someone and said that there was a deluxe room available on club and the upgrade would cost $100 more per night. WHAT??!!
No way. I knew that the APH rate for that room is only $255, BUT we actually only had a bonus pass that was expiring the next day and not the preferred pass, so I didnt push the issue, we just kept the deluxe room and were happy to have it. I did ask if we would get our cookies and milk and was told that since we had a discounted rate, we were not eligible for any of the perks except use of the fitness center. Whatever! I will never darken the door of a fitness center while on vacation (like I do so often when Im not
). The room wasnt ready that early, but we took our magic keys and were happily on our way to the Studios.
As we were walking through the lobby and down to the pool area, my son says Aaahhh, this feels like coming home. And it did!
By 11am we were walking through the US gates and headed to Shrek. None of us had ridden it before. It opened the week after Darla and James were there last year. The regular line was 75 minutes. The CM working the line said that on Sunday the line had been two hours long. We waited about 10 minutes. During that 10 minutes, the CMs had to turn away two different groups that tried to break into the express line. The nerve!! We all loved Shrek. Story is great, effects are great. Its the best 3D/4D show in any of the park IMO, with Terminator being second. Shrek was outside when we came out and James got in line to have his picture made with him. It was so hot outside, all I could think of was how poor Shrek had to be melting in the costume.
After Shrek we went to Mummy. Wait was about 12 minutes. Everyone but James loved it. He said he was never getting on it again. (He would change his mind later in the day.) I really liked it. I dont think its as good as Spiderman, but its still a really great ride. I would have liked to go through the regular queue one time, but not at regular wait times, so I never did.
Next was Twister. That ride scared James to the point he had to be taken out in the middle 2 years ago, but he liked it this time. The cow cracks me up. The jeep wasnt working this time though.
After Twister it was time for lunch. We ate at Captain Quints. I think all of us had the fist and chips. They were good as we remembered. We fed some of the birds some fries and then headed over to Jaws (my sentimental favorite). Our captain on this trip was only so-so and Jaws didnt break into the shed like he was supposed to. But we knew we would be riding again, so we werent too upset about it.
Everyone was ready to go to MIB now. This is the best group ride. Everyone loves this one. Travis and I had been studying MIB999999s pointers and thought we were ready for MIB, but my first score was P-I-T-I-F-U-L and his wasnt that great. He went back over the pointers that night at the hotel and for the rest of the week we were Galaxy Defenders every time. My high score for the week was 406,250.
His high score was 800,000+. Rick was usually in the 100,000-300,000 range. James was usually in the 150,000 range (he was good at getting the bonus). But poor Darla, I dont think she ever got over 50,000. 
In her defense though, she never read the pointers. Since there were 5 of us, on each ride we would usually have someone from the singles line in our car. Before we started, we would give them a quick rundown of the pointers keep the trigger pulled, aim for the eyeballs, push the button as soon as you hear Push, aim for the exhaust port. There were several people that rode with us and got their high score, or saw the suit for the first time. They didnt even realize there was a suit. It was a lot of fun. We rode MIB at least a dozen times during the week, maybe more. One time we waited about 10 minutes, but most of the time it was much less and sometimes we just walked on. FOTL rules!
After MIB it was on to BTTF. The last time we rode it Rick and I both said we were never going to ride it again. But in the excitement of being back we said sure, well ride it. Big mistake. I love the story, but that ride is so bumpy and there is something about the visuals on that ride that are nauseating. He and I were a little green after that ride.
So weve said it again and this time we mean it, we are not riding BTTF again!
After getting some delicious lemon slushes, we headed over to the Horror Makeup Show. This is another attraction that James wanted no part of last year, but he was eager to see it this year. We were seated in the very center of the front row. The show was hilarious.
The actors in each performance make all the difference and these were the funniest we had ever seen. The guy playing Mark James looked and acted like a young Dan Akroyd. He was hilarious. The Alex guy was funny too. The Asian lady they picked from the audience was from Thailand and she and her family were such good sports. The volunteers reactions have a lot to do with how fun the show is also, and she was great. After the show, James felt like he understood special effects a little better and said he wanted to go back and ride Mummy again.
On our way to Mummy we passed Terminator, which was about to start so we went in there first. Once again this was an attraction that James wanted no part of on past visits, but he loved this time. All the effects were working. The motorcycle bit is still cool.
Now we headed back to the Mummy. Where you enter the ropes on the street, before the Express splits off, they had stopped letting people in. The CM said there were technical difficulties and they hoped to start up in a few minutes. Darla and James didnt want to wait, so they decided to go back to HRH and have the luggage brought up and get ready to go down to the pool. We had called earlier and knew the room was ready. Travis said he would wait a few minutes, but he only waited a few and then he left for the room too. Less than a minute after he left, they started letting people in. Express line practically walked right on. We were on the last row this time. We both agreed that the ride was better the second time you notice more things and the air time in the back row was better. It actually seemed like the roller coaster part was faster this time.
When we came out of the Mummy, it was almost 7 and the park was closing. As we were leaving, they were making announcements that the park was closing but that at 8pm it was reopening to preferred annual pass holders. Darn those preferred annual pass holders!! The parks have never been opened after dark when weve been there, darn it. Oh well. We found our room, #5134. It was quite a hike from the elevators. It was a very nice room. Bigger than I expected even. Darla, James and Travis were ready to go down to the pool. We had planned on eating dinner at the Beach Club. I called Star Services and told them we were going out for a couple of hours and could they please make out the sofa bed while we were out.
We had a nice relaxing dinner down by the pool. We all shared nachos for an appetizer. They were good. Then all of us got either the popcorn shrimp or the fried cod. Everyone liked their food. They really give you a lot. Service was great. My only complaint about the Beach Club is the price of the drinks. By the time they tack on the 15% service charge that they automatically add, a margarita is almost $10 bucks and there is not $10 worth of tequila in those drinks! (I fancy myself somewhat of a margarita connoisseur. In fact, I think I will make myself one as soon as I finish this portion of the trip report!) The boys swam a while and then we went back up to the room.
When we got back to the room there were a couple of problems. Someone had come and unfolded the sofa bed and put a sheet on the mattress. But that was it, no blanket and no pillows. I thought that was weird. They took the tip I left for them, but left no pillows or blankets. So I called Star Services and asked if they could please bring a couple of pillows and a blanket. I didnt feel like that I should have to tip for those items, since I had already left a tip before. And then my sister went to the bathroom and there were only about 10 sheets of toilet paper on the roll, and no more rolls in the room.
Well that was not good. So I called Star Services again and asked for some toilet paper, which I didnt feel I should have to tip for either. Rick left to get ice and their was a housekeeping employee down the hall and he got some tp from him, and then later someone else showed up with more tp, so we were well supplied for the rest of the week. Those were the only problems we had at the HRH, but I was kind of disappointed that a hotel of that caliber would not have the bathrooms well stocked, and would be chintzy with the pillows and blankets. But make no mistake, Id be there again tomorrow if I could, even if I had to pack and bring my own toilet paper!
So that was the end of our first Universal day. It was a Memorial Day to remember. I think we were all asleep pretty fast, resting up for IOA the next day.
Coming soon Part Three Flowers, IOA and Margaritaville
Cast:
Me Donna, 40, obsessive vacation planner
Husband Rick, 45, promises to be Mr. Easy Going this trip
Son Travis, 15, loves coasters and chicks
Sister Darla, 39, happy to leave the planning to me
Nephew James, 9, wants to do the big rides, but a little nervous
Monday morning we woke up early, excited about moving over to the Hard Rock and starting what we considered to be the REAL vacation. We loaded up the car, used the phone for express checkout, making sure to take the comment card so that we could report the cold showers and problems from the night before, and we were off. Rick took the wrong exit off the freeway and that delayed us a little bit, but we managed to get to the HRH a little after 10am. The hotel looks so beautiful when you pull up the drive. We were all excited. Rick and Travis got out and started giving our many, many bags to the luggage guys. Darla and I went in to check in. There was no special line for Loews First members, but there was also no line in the regular check-in line. So that was good. We had reserved a deluxe room at the APH rate of $224/night. I asked if there were any deluxe rooms available on the club level and what it would cost to upgrade. The woman checking us in called someone and said that there was a deluxe room available on club and the upgrade would cost $100 more per night. WHAT??!!
No way. I knew that the APH rate for that room is only $255, BUT we actually only had a bonus pass that was expiring the next day and not the preferred pass, so I didnt push the issue, we just kept the deluxe room and were happy to have it. I did ask if we would get our cookies and milk and was told that since we had a discounted rate, we were not eligible for any of the perks except use of the fitness center. Whatever! I will never darken the door of a fitness center while on vacation (like I do so often when Im not ). The room wasnt ready that early, but we took our magic keys and were happily on our way to the Studios.As we were walking through the lobby and down to the pool area, my son says Aaahhh, this feels like coming home. And it did!
By 11am we were walking through the US gates and headed to Shrek. None of us had ridden it before. It opened the week after Darla and James were there last year. The regular line was 75 minutes. The CM working the line said that on Sunday the line had been two hours long. We waited about 10 minutes. During that 10 minutes, the CMs had to turn away two different groups that tried to break into the express line. The nerve!! We all loved Shrek. Story is great, effects are great. Its the best 3D/4D show in any of the park IMO, with Terminator being second. Shrek was outside when we came out and James got in line to have his picture made with him. It was so hot outside, all I could think of was how poor Shrek had to be melting in the costume.
After Shrek we went to Mummy. Wait was about 12 minutes. Everyone but James loved it. He said he was never getting on it again. (He would change his mind later in the day.) I really liked it. I dont think its as good as Spiderman, but its still a really great ride. I would have liked to go through the regular queue one time, but not at regular wait times, so I never did.
Next was Twister. That ride scared James to the point he had to be taken out in the middle 2 years ago, but he liked it this time. The cow cracks me up. The jeep wasnt working this time though.
After Twister it was time for lunch. We ate at Captain Quints. I think all of us had the fist and chips. They were good as we remembered. We fed some of the birds some fries and then headed over to Jaws (my sentimental favorite). Our captain on this trip was only so-so and Jaws didnt break into the shed like he was supposed to. But we knew we would be riding again, so we werent too upset about it.
Everyone was ready to go to MIB now. This is the best group ride. Everyone loves this one. Travis and I had been studying MIB999999s pointers and thought we were ready for MIB, but my first score was P-I-T-I-F-U-L and his wasnt that great. He went back over the pointers that night at the hotel and for the rest of the week we were Galaxy Defenders every time. My high score for the week was 406,250.
His high score was 800,000+. Rick was usually in the 100,000-300,000 range. James was usually in the 150,000 range (he was good at getting the bonus). But poor Darla, I dont think she ever got over 50,000. In her defense though, she never read the pointers. Since there were 5 of us, on each ride we would usually have someone from the singles line in our car. Before we started, we would give them a quick rundown of the pointers keep the trigger pulled, aim for the eyeballs, push the button as soon as you hear Push, aim for the exhaust port. There were several people that rode with us and got their high score, or saw the suit for the first time. They didnt even realize there was a suit. It was a lot of fun. We rode MIB at least a dozen times during the week, maybe more. One time we waited about 10 minutes, but most of the time it was much less and sometimes we just walked on. FOTL rules!After MIB it was on to BTTF. The last time we rode it Rick and I both said we were never going to ride it again. But in the excitement of being back we said sure, well ride it. Big mistake. I love the story, but that ride is so bumpy and there is something about the visuals on that ride that are nauseating. He and I were a little green after that ride.
So weve said it again and this time we mean it, we are not riding BTTF again!After getting some delicious lemon slushes, we headed over to the Horror Makeup Show. This is another attraction that James wanted no part of last year, but he was eager to see it this year. We were seated in the very center of the front row. The show was hilarious.
The actors in each performance make all the difference and these were the funniest we had ever seen. The guy playing Mark James looked and acted like a young Dan Akroyd. He was hilarious. The Alex guy was funny too. The Asian lady they picked from the audience was from Thailand and she and her family were such good sports. The volunteers reactions have a lot to do with how fun the show is also, and she was great. After the show, James felt like he understood special effects a little better and said he wanted to go back and ride Mummy again.On our way to Mummy we passed Terminator, which was about to start so we went in there first. Once again this was an attraction that James wanted no part of on past visits, but he loved this time. All the effects were working. The motorcycle bit is still cool.
Now we headed back to the Mummy. Where you enter the ropes on the street, before the Express splits off, they had stopped letting people in. The CM said there were technical difficulties and they hoped to start up in a few minutes. Darla and James didnt want to wait, so they decided to go back to HRH and have the luggage brought up and get ready to go down to the pool. We had called earlier and knew the room was ready. Travis said he would wait a few minutes, but he only waited a few and then he left for the room too. Less than a minute after he left, they started letting people in. Express line practically walked right on. We were on the last row this time. We both agreed that the ride was better the second time you notice more things and the air time in the back row was better. It actually seemed like the roller coaster part was faster this time.
When we came out of the Mummy, it was almost 7 and the park was closing. As we were leaving, they were making announcements that the park was closing but that at 8pm it was reopening to preferred annual pass holders. Darn those preferred annual pass holders!! The parks have never been opened after dark when weve been there, darn it. Oh well. We found our room, #5134. It was quite a hike from the elevators. It was a very nice room. Bigger than I expected even. Darla, James and Travis were ready to go down to the pool. We had planned on eating dinner at the Beach Club. I called Star Services and told them we were going out for a couple of hours and could they please make out the sofa bed while we were out.
We had a nice relaxing dinner down by the pool. We all shared nachos for an appetizer. They were good. Then all of us got either the popcorn shrimp or the fried cod. Everyone liked their food. They really give you a lot. Service was great. My only complaint about the Beach Club is the price of the drinks. By the time they tack on the 15% service charge that they automatically add, a margarita is almost $10 bucks and there is not $10 worth of tequila in those drinks! (I fancy myself somewhat of a margarita connoisseur. In fact, I think I will make myself one as soon as I finish this portion of the trip report!) The boys swam a while and then we went back up to the room.
When we got back to the room there were a couple of problems. Someone had come and unfolded the sofa bed and put a sheet on the mattress. But that was it, no blanket and no pillows. I thought that was weird. They took the tip I left for them, but left no pillows or blankets. So I called Star Services and asked if they could please bring a couple of pillows and a blanket. I didnt feel like that I should have to tip for those items, since I had already left a tip before. And then my sister went to the bathroom and there were only about 10 sheets of toilet paper on the roll, and no more rolls in the room.
Well that was not good. So I called Star Services again and asked for some toilet paper, which I didnt feel I should have to tip for either. Rick left to get ice and their was a housekeeping employee down the hall and he got some tp from him, and then later someone else showed up with more tp, so we were well supplied for the rest of the week. Those were the only problems we had at the HRH, but I was kind of disappointed that a hotel of that caliber would not have the bathrooms well stocked, and would be chintzy with the pillows and blankets. But make no mistake, Id be there again tomorrow if I could, even if I had to pack and bring my own toilet paper!So that was the end of our first Universal day. It was a Memorial Day to remember. I think we were all asleep pretty fast, resting up for IOA the next day.
Coming soon Part Three Flowers, IOA and Margaritaville
