70 to Freezing in 7 hours. A Nov/Dec 2011 trip report. Updated 4/28

[petals]

That's too bad that the movie wasn't playing yet for y'all.

We kind of only wanted to go early for two reasons. First because we thought it would be cheaper in the morning and second because we wanted to get back to the hotel early to pack.

Love all of the Christmas pics! Those little gingerbread men (I can't tell if they're ornaments or what not) are so cute!

I've a big Christmas update coming in the next part. The gingerbread men were kind of plushie ornaments if that makes sense. They were cute though.

 

[amandaw]

I've a big Christmas update coming in the next part. The gingerbread men were kind of plushie ornaments if that makes sense. They were cute though.

Ooohhh....can't wait! I gotcha about the gingerbread men. They are so adorable! I love snowmen & gingerbread men stuff.

 

[petals]

Ooohhh....can't wait! I gotcha about the gingerbread men. They are so adorable! I love snowmen & gingerbread men stuff.

Yeah the gingerbread men were cute. I love all the Christmas stuff

 

[afwdwfan]

Looks like I got a bit behind. I want to ask your opinion about the Macy's parade though. If you had 1 day to do both parks, is it worth the time to see the parade?

 

[vleeth]

Loved the 'hidden mickey' at universal.

Looks like another great day. Can't wait to read more!

 

[petals]

Looks like I got a bit behind. I want to ask your opinion about the Macy's parade though. If you had 1 day to do both parks, is it worth the time to see the parade?

I would say yes if you've never seen it before see it once but when you see my next update you'll see IOA's Christmas stuff so it is possible to see all the Christmas stuff in one day to just go to IOAfirst and then go to Universal later in the day. But pick what rides you want to do if you're a big rollercoaster lover because you may not get all those in along with the Christmas stuff in one day.

Loved the 'hidden mickey' at universal.

Thanks I thought that was funny when I saw it.

Looks like another great day. Can't wait to read more!

Thanks. There'll be another update soon.

 

[jenseib]

That parade looks really fun. I hope someday I have a chance to see it for myself.

 

[Caretames1]

It must be neat to see the those big balloons for the parade! I wonder if there are the original ones or smaller scale copies?

I really love all the Christmas sights, maybe someday we'll go closer to that time of year.

 

[petals]

That parade looks really fun. I hope someday I have a chance to see it for myself.

It was good.

It must be neat to see the those big balloons for the parade! I wonder if there are the original ones or smaller scale copies?

I dunno. I think the ones around the park were originals they all had a little stand with info about the balloons I'm not sure if the ones in the parade were the originals as well though. Also those were what the park attendants wanted people to do in the parade. You got to wearing a pretty boiler suit and hold the balloons!

I really love all the Christmas sights, maybe someday we'll go closer to that time of year.

It is definately worth going to all the parks at Christmas. I'm not sure if the castle will ever look the same minus all the fairy lights now I mean it's still pretty and all that but with the fairy lights it was just WOW!

 

[MEK]

OMG Is it your last day? Or were you just getting a jump on the packing?

Wow- 80 degrees and gorgeous! That pool looks lovely!

Congrats on double digit dancing!

 

[petals]

First I forgot to say so excited because I thought it wasn't out until the 13th of August but then that didn't make sense to me since most movies come out on Friday's and not Mondays but BRAVE is in cinemas over here starting TOMORROW and I'm not workign so totally going cinema. Woo disney day

OMG Is it your last day? Or were you just getting a jump on the packing?

You picked up on the packing you'll have to wait and see why we were packing

Wow- 80 degrees and gorgeous! That pool looks lovely!

Yeah it was great so warm finally. I don't think we even needed our jumpers that day. I know I left mine back in the hotel but that's because I had been doing online window shopping before I went The pool at that hotel is lovely and stays open until 11pm most nights. I think as well it was a heated pool or something like that.

Congrats on double digit dancing!

Thanks. That ticker seems to be flying along.

 

[petals]

I made another trip update.. I'm warning you all in advance it's very long though! Anyways:

Day 12, part 2:
So when I left you we had been watching some quirky little band playing but which way next left or right…
Not a hard choice for this roller coaster hater. Right it is to easy rides and Seuss landing:

And since Islands of Adventures main or only Christmas add on was here this whole area was highly Christmasafied if that’s a word but you know what I mean. If you don’t here are some pics to help:

Momma decided she wanted food so we went into the Circus McGurkus (I was part of the chorus for the musical Seussical a few years ago with my local musical society and everytime I think of the words Circus McGurkus I have to sing it the way it is in the musical lol):

They were decorated for Christmas as well:

We got burgers and Momma got tea and we went to sit and eat:

While we were there the Oh! The Stories You’ll Hear show started up. Cute little show with Seuss characters and Dr. Seuss stories along with some singing and dancing:

And here’s where it became like a free character brunch because after the show the characters wait and take pictures with guests and sign autographs or whatever else. They waited in the centre at first but there was so few people there since it was only 11am (yes we were having burgers at 11am) that after a while the characters started to roam around the restaurant. Some of them came over to our table and posed for pics and stuff. It was pretty cool. I had been considering the Grinch breakfast but it was a lot cooler to get an unexpected character brunch for like one third of the price of the actual character breakfast lol!

So after all that excitement we decided to go meet the Grinch himself who was missing from the show. While waiting in line for him I saw lots of Who characters wandering around the streets which made the whole you’re in Seuss land a lot more believable. They weren’t stopping for a proper meet a greet just walking around randomly meeting people saying hello, of course if you went over and asked them for an autograph and picture they would oblige but they all stayed in character very well the whole time. I saw this cute little hedge to but that’s just a random pic:

I also noticed a family with Give Kids the World buttons and I’ve followed many wish trips but never seen wish kids myself in the parks and I did notice that the people controlling the line for the Grinch would not allow them to be skipped forward regardless of their buttons either although I wouldn’t mind if a wish child was made feel that extra bit special and skipped in front they kind of deserve it.
Anyways getting back to the point we eventually got nearer the Grinch and he was hilarious. He was the face Grinch so could talk to guests and he was doing the mean sarcastic Grinch fantastically well! Two teens went up with those Disney autograph books that made noise when you opened them. They also had Disney pens. Well Mr. Grinch threw the Disney pens on the ground refused to use them and asked the handler for non Disney pens then when he opened the book and heard the music he said sarcastically “It’s sooooooooo magical, SHUT UP you stupid book.” The next group that went up was a lady and two kids and there was a guy standing back a bit watching the interaction but with the group. When they had autographs sorted the lady asked the guy if he was getting in the pic and he was like who me? The Grinch went NOOOOOOOOO the guy behind you!
Then with me he asked first where I was from and when I said Ireland he was like oooh I wore my green today do you like it? Momma was taking a pic so we wouldn’t have to pay 23 dollars for the parks pic and first he asked her if she had got it and Momma takes a while with the camera sometimes so he went “Chop, chop Grandma. Take it while we’re both still young.” It was hilarious. Momma was like WHAT DID HE JUST SAY? As I led her as quickly as possible out the door before she scolded the Grinch lol!

Anyways after that we decided to go on Cat in the Hat:

The ride spills out into a gift shop to so we explored a little naturally! I thought this t-shirt was cute:

I also may have bought a Thing 1 t-shirt I had been eyeing up the day before.
Then we went to line up for the Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular which is basically Island of Adventures only Christmas add on show. We went to the first one of the day as well which was at 12 but they had six or so on through-out the day. This is why I say it’s possible to do the two parks in one day though if you go to Islands of Adventure first and plan to do the first Grinchmas show then you’ll have loads of time to do anything else before the Macy’s holiday parade at 5pm in Universal Studios. Anyways back to Grinchmas They have everyone queue up at the side of Circus McGurkus and then at about 11.45 they start to let people through the rope and they have a counter ticker which I presume once they reach a certain number they stop letting people through but they then walked us over to another studio which felt like they were walking us to Universal studios but it was actually behind the Hard Rock Café. We eventually got seated and it was great to be out of the hot sun for a while in a lovely cool room. So great Momma fell asleep for a while!
I snapped this before the show started:

And then you know the way in many theme parks they make an announcement in the shows how you can’t take pictures or video... yeah well at the Grinchmas show they made an announcement saying please take hundreds of pictures and lots of video and take them home and share them with all your friends and family but please don’t use flash! Really you want me to take pictures. Like I needed the encouragement but to spare you from tonnes here’s my five faves:

Momma was amazed by the tree because you see how plain it was in the above pic. They literally swing it around and get this:

I felt sorry for the dog playing Max. He looked so ashamed. He had his head down the whole time. I did think after though that maybe there was a trainer hidden there with treats and he was watching the treat rather than hanging his head in shame lol

There was a lot of singing and Christmas cheer and of course the fabulous Grinch:

Well worth the watch though.

Next up This Muggle is back in Hogsmeade

 

[amandaw]

Yay! for getting to see Brave tomorrow! We loved it!

Love your update!

I love Seuss Landing during Christmas time! It's that much more Seuss like - if that makes sense!

How fun that there were characters in Circus McGirkus! And the "Who's" walking around during Christmas are always fun, too.

I've never had the chance to meet the Grinch, though I've seen him around. Loved hearing about his "Grinchy" interaction with everyone!

The show looks really cute, too!

 

[Caretames1]

I think you'll enjoy Brave, we did! I like that's it's a bit different than the normal princess story.



OMG, I loved your Grinch story! My DH said he'd go to US just to meet the Grinch. I think him being sassy would be just the funniest thing to watch.

 

[petals]

Yay! for getting to see Brave tomorrow! We loved it!

I think you'll enjoy Brave, we did! I like that's it's a bit different than the normal princess story.

I can't wait to see it. I've seen pins and merchandise from it and I want to know the names and meanings behind it and all that. Plus it's a new Disney movie like.

Love your update!

thanks

I love Seuss Landing during Christmas time! It's that much more Seuss like - if that makes sense!

It does make sense. That was one of the things I said to Momma at the time it felt more real because of the "Who's" walking around the place

How fun that there were characters in Circus McGirkus! And the "Who's" walking around during Christmas are always fun, too.

We weren't really expecting the characters to be in the Circus McGurkus someone (me) hadn't read the park map properly again. In 2010 when we were there though that show was over beside the Cat in the Hat ride so didn't know it had been moved indoors.

I've never had the chance to meet the Grinch, though I've seen him around. Loved hearing about his "Grinchy" interaction with everyone!

We met the face one and the furry one if you know what I mean. The furry one still acted good like a little girl gave him a disney autograph book to sign and he threw it on the ground and made spitting noises but the face one was waaaaay better because he was able to talk and therefore able to get the grinches meanness and sarcasm across easier.

The show looks really cute, too!

The Grinchmas show was very good. Definately worth going to see at least once.

OMG, I loved your Grinch story! My DH said he'd go to US just to meet the Grinch. I think him being sassy would be just the funniest thing to watch.

The face Grinch is only there for the Christmas season afaik so ya need to plan a trip for that time of year The rest of the year is the one that can't talk. This one:

 

[momabaarjo]

I think of almost all my character interactions, the most fun was probably the Grinch at Christmas. I love his "humor"! What a neat little show in the restaurant! And I do not think that eating a burger at 11 am is weird at all!

 

[afwdwfan]

Seuss Landing really does a nice job with the Christmas stuff. The Grinch meet looks like a lot of fun. That was probably wise to get your momma out of there before she went after him.

 

[petals]

I think of almost all my character interactions, the most fun was probably the Grinch at Christmas. I love his "humor"! What a neat little show in the restaurant! And I do not think that eating a burger at 11 am is weird at all!

He was so funny. We don't normally eat burgers at 11am but in theme parks there's not much choice

Seuss Landing really does a nice job with the Christmas stuff. The Grinch meet looks like a lot of fun. That was probably wise to get your momma out of there before she went after him.

I could just picture Momma giving out to him and him being sarcastic back which would annoy Momma more. We laughed about it after I dragged her out of the shop though

 

[petals]

Just back from the cinema. OMG I loved Brave.

 

[jenseib]

That grinch sound hilarious! I would love to see that someday!