Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude-April 11-19, 2014-Day 9-Part 3 (updtd 6/29)

[disneyquilter]

Ok, the Monorail Boy pic just cracked me up. That is so something my girls would do.

I never will understand the whole timeshare pressure thing if you already bought into it

The room looks lovely, Susan. And the pool looks awesome

 

[scottny]

Here.
The room is really nice.
Monorail boy. LOL.

 

[jecskc]

Ok, the Monorail Boy pic just cracked me up. That is so something my girls would do.

LOL - he is just such a goof. So funny.

I never will understand the whole timeshare pressure thing if you already bought into it

Yeah - I don't get it.

The room looks lovely, Susan. And the pool looks awesome

It was a really nice place. We would stay there again for sure.

Here.

Hey Scott !! Yay!! So glad you stopped by.

The room is really nice.

It really was. Lots of space.

Monorail boy. LOL.

I know, right? He's hilarious. Makes me laugh every day.

 

[annie170]

Love that pool and lazy river! The whole place looks really nice.

I see "Monorail Boy" is still rocking his beanies!

 

[jedijill]

Thanks for the bat signal!

Sounds like your trip is off to a great start outside the awful, pushy timeshare salesmen!

Jill in CO

 

[jecskc]

Love that pool and lazy river! The whole place looks really nice.

It really was nice. It didn't have that magical Disney feel to it, but it was very nice.

I see "Monorail Boy" is still rocking his beanies!

Yes (eyeroll) - they won't let him where them to school though. I figure at least he wears a belt.

Thanks for the bat signal!

Jill !!! Thanks for following.

Sounds like your trip is off to a great start outside the awful, pushy timeshare salesmen!

Yep.

Jill in CO

 

[jecskc]

Day 2 – Part One

We were up at about 7:30 AM and got out to the car about 8:15 AM. We got to Islands of Adventure just as they were letting everyone NOT staying at a US resort into the park. We just bought tickets for this ONE day and did purchase express passes. Yes, it was expensive for one day. Anyway, we headed into the park.



























Of course our first destination was Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.











So we get in line – which is already 60 minutes – at 9 AM. We could not use our express passes so DS and I got in line. I was kind of worried about how my ankle would hold up, but I had some pain pills with me, so I figured I would be OK. We wound around to the locker area. DH had all of our things, so we just kept going through there. And just as we are rounding the corner to get into the main line we saw the sign. Single Rider. It was really dark and off to the side. No CM was there and it was very dark. I even wondered if it was open. I turned and asked someone and they said yes, we could go that way if we wanted. And we did. And we were third in line and got on the ride in 5 minutes.

Now we missed all of the cool stuff in the queue, but I didn’t really mind. I am a fan of Harry Potter, but I am not HUGE fan, so I was OK with not seeing everything. This ride was very intense. It was fun, but I think I could only ride it once a day. Otherwise it might make me nauseous. It was really neat though and I am glad I rode it. DS said he didn’t like the giant spiders.

After that, DD and I went to ride the Flight of the Hippogriff.







DS took off by himself to go ride the big coasters he wanted to ride so much. Which were

Dragon Challenge



And the Incredible Hulk



Yeah – both of those are a no for me. I have to be in a really adventurous mood to ride these things.

I was under the impression that you could only use your express pass once per ride, but DS was able to use his multiple times. So I am not sure how that all really works.

 

[rachel09985]

Hi Susan! I am here and enjoying the updates. I am jealous you went to Universal. I love Harry Potter so of course love the Harry Potter section. I can't wait for the new part to open!

The problem with Universal is that I am an annual passholder so I agree it is just too expensive to leave Disney when I can get into disney with no additional cost. Plus I ONLY like the harry potter section!

 

[jecskc]

Hi Susan! I am here and enjoying the updates. I am jealous you went to Universal. I love Harry Potter so of course love the Harry Potter section. I can't wait for the new part to open!

The problem with Universal is that I am an annual passholder so I agree it is just too expensive to leave Disney when I can get into disney with no additional cost. Plus I ONLY like the harry potter section!

Rachel!!! I am so happy you are here!! We feel the exact same way. It cost something like $500 for our family to go to one park for one day. I know Disney's prices are comparable, but having the annual pass really does make a difference. Now that we are home, I wish we had spent more time in the park.

 

[disneyquilter]

So, my kids tell me they want to do Universal (for HP) and I mentioned maybe staying at Cabana Cay and going for the first 3 days of our trip (which is 13-14 days long!)...BLASPHEMY! Both of my kids were like, "Mom...we meant ONE day, not three."
Teenagers are never happy, are they?

Maybe your TR and pictures will change their mind...now, I am just grappling with the $500 for one day price tag.

Awesome pictures, Susan!! Can't wait for more

 

[PrincessCaitlin]

I am so excited to see Harry Potterland in August!

I am also excited for those roller coasters!

 

[Pixie Princess]

That pool are at Orange Lake looks really nice! You accommodations seemed really spacious as well. That is crazy they hound owners with a timshare pitch. Actually it the whole high sales thing they do is crazy period. It must work though because soooo many timeshares do it. I would NEVER buy anything from someone pushing their wares that hard. I need to like the sales person just a little bit.

DD and I like to name the monorails...monorail green is the big green machine, orange is the O-train...you get the idea. Until I come up with something better, Monorail Boy is now known to us as the Hipster Express.

That's great y'all were able to utilize single rider to get on Forbidden Journey so quickly. I'm probably the one weirdo in the world that could care less about the HP section. I wouldn't pass it by of course, but I wouldn't wait for any sort of line for anything in it. I'm ambivalent towards HP. Now if it were Star Wars...

Can't wait to hear more about your adventures at IOA!

 

[annie170]

I'm sorry to hear that your ankle is still an issue.

I haven't been to the dark side in many years. I think I would just go to Islands of Adventure also.

Your DD is such a good sport with pictures!

 

[Marsheliz]

I want to do IOA one day but I am thinking my kids are still too little to enjoy and get the $ worth.... I am with you $500.00- just for the day.... YIKES

However, It does look like a lot of fun and I am a big fan of Dr. Seuss so I think I would enjoy that part!

Do you do Disney every year? I know you have the same drive as I do and was wondering if you could recommend a hotel for the drive halfway? ( We are wanting to break it up to give us more time on Friday) Like I mentioned before, We are going in June from Thursday night-Sunday... We stayed at Country Inn and Suites last time on points but paying for it is a little more expensive than what I want, for just sleeping one night.

 

[jecskc]

So, my kids tell me they want to do Universal (for HP) and I mentioned maybe staying at Cabana Cay and going for the first 3 days of our trip (which is 13-14 days long!)...BLASPHEMY! Both of my kids were like, "Mom...we meant ONE day, not three."
Teenagers are never happy, are they?

Everyone on the Universal thread was telling em to stay on site, but we already had the timeshare thingy set up and it wasn't going to cost extra. Also, at Cabana Cay, you don't get the express pass. Having that was crucial during Spring Break, but other times I don't think it is necessary.

Maybe your TR and pictures will change their mind...now, I am just grappling with the $500 for one day price tag.

If you are going to be there 14 days, I would encourage you to do the 2 park pass. You get the third day free.

Awesome pictures, Susan!! Can't wait for more

Thanks!!

I am so excited to see Harry Potterland in August!

If you are a huge fan, then it is definitely super cool. They really themed that area well.

I am also excited for those roller coasters!

Theirs are more intense than Disney's are for sure. My DS loved them!!!

That pool are at Orange Lake looks really nice! You accommodations seemed really spacious as well. That is crazy they hound owners with a timshare pitch. Actually it the whole high sales thing they do is crazy period. It must work though because soooo many timeshares do it. I would NEVER buy anything from someone pushing their wares that hard. I need to like the sales person just a little bit.

The pool was really cool and we had a bunch of space. It was definitely over 1200 SF. I did not like this guy pushing the "meeting" on as at all. And I love our DVC person.

DD and I like to name the monorails...monorail green is the big green machine, orange is the O-train...you get the idea. Until I come up with something better, Monorail Boy is now known to us as the Hipster Express.

I love this!!!

That's great y'all were able to utilize single rider to get on Forbidden Journey so quickly. I'm probably the one weirdo in the world that could care less about the HP section. I wouldn't pass it by of course, but I wouldn't wait for any sort of line for anything in it. I'm ambivalent towards HP. Now if it were Star Wars...

I feel the same way. I am kinda "meh" about HP. I like it, but I am not a rabid fan. My DIL LOVES it though. She would freak over WWoHP for sure. And you know that I am not quite the Stars Wars geek that you are.

Can't wait to hear more about your adventures at IOA!

I'm sorry to hear that your ankle is still an issue.

It is. It will never be the same. But I really hope that later this year, it will be better.

I haven't been to the dark side in many years. I think I would just go to Islands of Adventure also.

I want to see the other park as well, but for just one day IOA had more of the things we wanted to see.

Your DD is such a good sport with pictures!

She doesn't mind her photo being taken. DS on the other hand is hard to pin down.

I want to do IOA one day but I am thinking my kids are still too little to enjoy and get the $ worth.... I am with you $500.00- just for the day.... YIKES

We didn't pay that all at once, but when you add it up, it was A LOT

However, It does look like a lot of fun and I am a big fan of Dr. Seuss so I think I would enjoy that part!

We did really enjoy that part. Lots of photos of that coming up!!

Do you do Disney every year? I know you have the same drive as I do and was wondering if you could recommend a hotel for the drive halfway? ( We are wanting to break it up to give us more time on Friday) Like I mentioned before, We are going in June from Thursday night-Sunday... We stayed at Country Inn and Suites last time on points but paying for it is a little more expensive than what I want, for just sleeping one night.

We go a couple of times each year - sometimes 3-4 times. I wish I could help you with the halfway point accommodations, but we never stop halfway. We always drive straight through. DH can make it in 7 hours. Breakin' the law!!! LOL

 

[Marsheliz]

We go a couple of times each year - sometimes 3-4 times. I wish I could help you with the halfway point accommodations, but we never stop halfway. We always drive straight through. DH can make it in 7 hours. Breakin' the law!!! LOL[/QUOTE]


Yeah, we can make it in 7-8 hours too but with us having young kids, specifically one being in the terrible twos- we just decided to break it up last time, just bc they do better that way and we will do it in June too. We are speedsters too!

 

[MEK]

Sounds like you are off to a fun start at US. We are planning to go there in October. I was just going to get a one park a day two day pass. I hadn't considered Express Pass, but I guess that's a thought. Denny is so not a fan of the single rider line - why? I have no idea. But clearly we will need to take advantage of that.

I'm dying to try Forbidden Journey.

 

[jenseib]

Yes!!! The single rider line is awesome there. Hint for next time...go in through the gift shop and into the locker area and then hop over to the single rider line. It's usually faster.
Technically the express pass is 1 time per ride but I think some of the team members don't pay attention or just don't care.

The pool looks awesome at your resort! Claire would love that. I wish I would make more time for pool time for her, but I say it all the time, but once down there I want to go go go!!!

 

[jecskc]

Sounds like you are off to a fun start at US. We are planning to go there in October. I was just going to get a one park a day two day pass. I hadn't considered Express Pass, but I guess that's a thought. Denny is so not a fan of the single rider line - why? I have no idea. But clearly we will need to take advantage of that.

I'm dying to try Forbidden Journey.

I wouldn't think you would need the express pass in October, but it never hurts to do some research. It sure came in handy for us. It was very crowded that day.

Yes!!! The single rider line is awesome there. Hint for next time...go in through the gift shop and into the locker area and then hop over to the single rider line. It's usually faster.
Technically the express pass is 1 time per ride but I think some of the team members don't pay attention or just don't care.

Either that or our tickets were connected and would allow him to ride four times since there were four of us. I dunno. But he had no problem riding multiple times.

The pool looks awesome at your resort! Claire would love that. I wish I would make more time for pool time for her, but I say it all the time, but once down there I want to go go go!!!

The pool was really cool. My ankle injury has forced us to slow down so DD gets more pool time. She loves the pool!! And I enjoy watching her swim.

 

[jecskc]

Day 2 – Part Two

After riding the Hippogriff – which is very similar to the Barnstormer at WDW, we looked around Wizarding World of Harry Potter some and split a frozen butter beer.











It was good, but very sweet. I might have a hard time finishing this on my own. As we were enjoying our butter beer, there was this singing group performing. It was a strange beat boxing sort of tune and there were giant frogs which I assumed were not real. It was just kind of weird.



After our butter beer we headed into the crowd and made our way over to the Seuss section.





We had to go to the bathroom and Moaning Myrtle was in the bathroom. I thought that was a nice touch.





The theming of the Harry Potter section is amazing.

Then we arrived at Seuss Landing.



Our first ride was the High in the Sky Train ride.





This was very similar to the Peoplemover at Magic Kingdom. We enjoyed this ride a lot.

Next DD rode the carousel which they called the Caro-Suess-el





Then DD and I rode One Fish, Two Fish.





This ride had jets that squirted you, but we didn’t get very wet.





Then we called DS and he took a break from riding the big coasters to come ride Cat in the Hat with us.





Then we all headed over the The Circus McGurkus to get some food.


The kids had chicken nuggets and DH and I shared some spaghetti. It was OK. Your typical theme park food.

After that, we ventured out to explore some more.