Aussie Trip Report - Universal Studios Orlando, HRH & Much More!

[lffam]

Hi all

I have been slowly completing my trip report for our 40 Day USA adventure over December 2015 & January 2016. I have just finished writing up our 4 days at Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure Orlando and Hard Rock Hotel, so thought some of you may like to have a read. The highlight for us was without any doubt Diagon Alley. We had seen Hogsmeade and Hogwarts in 2013, but we came back in particular to see the new expansion and it totally blew us away. I've posted a lot of pictures and videos so hopefully you will like to go check them out.

Here is the link to the actual Trip Report posted in the Aussie Land Forums and the individual chapter links below. If you want to follow along, please follow that actual Trip Report thread rather than this one as it is the one that will be updated for each additional day.

Please drop by and say g'day if you have a spare moment and enjoy the read if you have the time

Here is the table of contents/index of what I've already written for quick links if you like. Universal starts at Day 7

Pre Trip & Day 1
1. Pre Trip Planning Recap
2. Flight : BNE | LAX
3. Flight : Part 2 inflight Service
4. Entering Grand Californian
5. Disney California Adventure Park & Cars Land Part 1
6. Cars Land Part 2 & Paradise Pier
7. Animation Academy Works of Art
8. Grand Californian Studio Villas
9. World of Color - First time
Day 2
10. Day 1 Addendum and Day 2
11. Carthay Circle Lunch - World of Color Dining Package
12. Star Wars Launch Bay
13. Meet Vader & Chewie
14. Super Hero HQ - Marvel
15. Meet & Greet Thor & Spiderman
16. World of Color (Carthay Circle Viewing area)
Day 3
17. Storyteller's Cafe & Toon Town
18. World Famous Jingle Cruise
Day 4
19. Outlets & Steakhouse 55
Day 5
20. Plaza Inn Breakfast, Castle, Walt & Mickey
21. It's a Small World Christmas - Part One
22. It's a Small World Christmas - Part Two
23. Mickey and the Magical Map
24. Goofy's Kitchen & Ice Skating @ DTD
25. DCA at night
26. World of Color - View from Bridge
Day 6
27. Last day at Disneyland - Cars Land
28. Silly Symphony Swings & ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party/Parade
29. Aladdin and a close on Disneyland
Day 7
30. Travel Day LAX to MCO
31. LAX to MCO...cont.
32. Hard Rock Hotel Check in - Club level twin Queen room
33. Hard Rock Hotel & Universal City Walk
Day 8.
34. Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios – Hogwarts Express
35. Diagon Alley
36. Diagon Alley Part 2
37. Animal Actors and The Blues Brothers
38. Macy's Holiday Parade
39. More Macy's Holiday Parade...
Day 9.
40. Islands of Adventure & Suess Land
41. Islands of Adventure part 2 The Grinchmas
42. 100 Years of Movies & USO After dark
Day 10.
43. HP, An Offer I couldn't refuse, Jaws & a Flux Capacitor
44. Back to IoA and Hogwarts.
45. Hard Rock Hotel - Universal Studios Addendum
Day 11.
46. Boardwalk Villas (Finally!)
47. Hollywood Studios, Star Wars Launch Bay
48. Walt’s One Man’s Dream
49. Streets of America & Trattoria Dinner

The rest still in progress.....!!

 

[Kivara]

Thanks for posting here as well. Love trip reports! I don't have time to read today, but I'm watching the thread so I don't forget to come back

 

[lffam]

Thanks for posting here as well. Love trip reports! I don't have time to read today, but I'm watching the thread so I don't forget to come back

Thanks Kivara. I figured given the focus on USO/IOA & Hardrock Hotel that those reading this board may also have some interest. I'll probably just update the main Trip report here , so hope that is the one you are watching

 

[Kivara]

Well, I am now

 

[tink1957]

Sounds like a great trip...I'll be watching too

 

[lffam]

Sounds like a great trip...I'll be watching too

Thanks tink1957. I'm up to our second day at WDW which was our 12th day of the trip of 40 days so still have a long way to go! Hope you enjoy reading the trip report over in the Aussie boards, and don't worry there are no creepy crawlers or dangerous wildlife over there !!!