This morning we slept in a little later, but we still managed to wake up early enough to get to Universal Studios for 15-mins past the opening time! Hurrah!
As normal, hubby and Dad had their morning swim whilst Mum and I prepared breakfast, I had pop-tarts today, a yummy apple and cinnamon flavour!!! Lucky Americans, you get too many yummy goodies!!!
Remember in my last update I told you about some sour sweeties that we had tried the night before whilst we were out with Fiona and Andy? Well I couldnt resist bringing one home for Dad to try - he can barely get down a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice without pulling some of the funniest faces ever! So with a sour sweet (which even I couldnt cope with), we were in for some laughs...
Sorry about the creamy face, he had just covered himself in sun protection cream!!!
At about 8.15am we finally got on our way to Universal Studios, we had some Mummy to wake!!!
Piccies from the journey...
We finally parked (we were lazy and paid for preferred parking - you might not know how long that walk is so believe me when I say its worth it!!! I was desperate to get straight over to the Mummy but everyone else wanted to go slowly and take a few pictures!
Although the park had been opened, the queues to get through the ticket barriers were huge. Mum and Dad got in line whilst Rich and I quickly nipped to the electronic ticket booths to pick up our tickets that we reserved online (using the deal we found on
www.wdwinfo.com /
Dreams Unlimited!). We joined the Worms in the queue and as they were doing finger-printing it took AGES to get through! But we eventually made it and, after a stop at the restrooms, we FINALLY made it over to the Mummy!!!
All morning we had been trying to persuade Mum to come on the ride... I dont remember it being THAT bad and we appeared to do a good job of talking her into it... when she saw that the wait time was only 5-mins, she was totally convinced (waiting doesnt do her nerves any good!) and she came with us. Oh my god I felt SO guilty that I had dragged my poor Mum on this ride!!! For someone whose thrill limit is Big Thunder Mountain, she had a rough ride! I honestly cant remember the ride being like it was, for me and hubby, it was FANTASTIC, we loved it and had a ball, but poor little Mum! Bless her! Her face when she came off the ride was a picture (but my Dad has those on this camera!), she was a bit upset (ok sort of an understatement!!!) with us for talking her into it and playing it down but she admitted later she had fun doing it, although shed never do it again. We decided to buy the picture, just as an everlasting reminder that she rode it! Afterwards, she went with Dad to sit down and recover and hubby and I decided to ride again, as the wait was still really really short.
Next up, we decided for something fun and a lot more relaxing - Mums favourite at Universal - Shrek!
Some pictures whilst we were in the queue...
One thing that irritated me a LOT about Shrek, was peoples inability to move down the whole row - the show actually got delayed by 10-mins (they announced that they are on strict turnaround times with getting people out and in of the theatre) because numerous amounts of rude and ignorant people decided to park their bums in the middle of a row. These shows get filled to capacity because theyre so popular and so chaos was caused when nearly a hundred or so people couldnt get to a seat because so many people had blocked up the row. It REALLY got on my nerves!!! Anyway, back to the ride! Id forgotten how much fun Shrek was, but oh my do they jiggle you around a lot in there!!!
After Shrek, we had another restroom break and decided to head the opposite way in the park to how we have always gone before. I had in my head the new Simpsons ride...!!!
On the way, ET had a very short wait and we do love the ET ride so it made sense to ride it as we were there. We stopped for an ice cream too, yummy!
If anyone has ridden ET you will know that at the start, they take your name and give you a little card with a barcode on it. Towards the end of the ride, ET says Goodbye (name) to all riders - so Goodbye Julie, Goodbye Richard... of course my hubby and Dad decided to be silly and give fake names (which I am sure they get a LOT!). Hubby called himself Boris (after the new London Mayor) and my Dad called himself Grumpy, after the Dwarf! But also, cos he is very grumpy!!!
The ride was great as always and we really enjoyed it, it seems to be losing popularity so I wonder how much longer it will be there for... it would be a real shame to see it go, perhaps they could update it?
After riding ET, we went over to the new Simpsons ride! I was looking forward to this a lot, but also very sad because it meant that one of my most favourite theme park rides ever was no longer there... Back to the Future.
We were very surprised to see the queue was only 15-mins wait, its still a relatively new ride, so you would expect it to be much busier (it was around 11am).
A few pictures of the outside...
The ride is set up exactly the same as Back to the Future, except of course they have changed the theming etc. etc. There is a short preview film which is shown in little rooms before you enter the main ride area. There are 8 people in total in each ride area / car. The ride is based on a theme park rollercoaster designed by Krusty the Clown but a baddie gets hold of the electronics (I think!) and screws with the ride making the rollercoaster, well, not what it should be!!! The ride takes places in a rollercoaster car and is lifted up into this huge room in front of a massive circular screen. Its basically a simulator ride!
Anyway, as much as I missed riding Back to the Future, I was very impressed with the Simpsons, it was good fun and great to experience a new ride!
After riding, we decided to have lunch. I think the place (a CS restaurant) is called the Film Institute or something... there was a lot of choice. Hubby and I had pasta (mine with chicken, his plain with breadsticks) and the Worms had Chinese (Mum Sweet & Sour Chicken, Dad Beef with peppers etc.) - the food was really delicious, Id definitely recommend it! Sorry no food porn!
Next we were ready for another ride! It was time for Men in Black (oh, after another restroom break!). This is a great ride, very much like Buzz Lightyear except you are in a bigger vehicle and can compete against another car riding opposite you. We waited quite a while, but not too long, and its definitely worth it!!! I scored REALLY high on this, about 74,000 points, it was because I kept hitting the target on the vehicle opposite us and making them spin around, I kept getting loads of points! Hubby was very disappointed I beat him, he hates losing!
can you see him??? tee hee, probably not!
Instead, hubby and I settled on buying a Thing 1 baby-gro for the baby (at the time) we hoped to conceive in the near future. Im not sure what the American view is, but in England, there is a big thing around NOT buying anything for the baby until youve had your 12-week scan and got past the first trimester. (do you do that over there?) Anyway, I know many people might not agree, but it was something we really wanted to do. Now we do have a baby on the way, we are looking forward to the time when he / she is able to wear it.
I have never heard it called that....that is too funny!!
but you can see that the reason we are all so overweight in America is because we have TOO many selections of food, IMO. A Little less choice might be helpful, if you ask me....but I am glad you are enjoying our method of overconsuming!
), Boston and Los Angeles - I know, I know, I've chosen all 'typical' tourist places! 
in their litter tray (they are indoor cats) and hubby isn't home yet to clean it! I can't because of the baby!!!
