Danauk
<font color=green>I would be sitting on the patio
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2003
- Messages
- 14,597
Day 8 28th December 2005 Universal
The cast:
Me (Karen) mad planner and disaholic
Pete, my husband, hates planning, goes along with what we happen to be doing
Andrew, best friend and Disney mad
Sue, best friend, married to Andrew, also Disney mad but doesnt often admit it (although admits it more these days!)
Pete and I were naughty today and had decided to visit Universal. We love rollercoasters and really wanted to ride some of them there. Plus we wanted to compare it to Disney.
We got up early and left the BCV at 7:30 to drive to Universal. We got there quickly and decided to valet park the car as I had read on the boards this was the easiest thing to do. This worked well and we were in the park for 8am. We had bought the express plus passes for both parks. This cost us a small fortune but we figured we were only there for one day to do 2 parks and as it was Christmas week we thought it would be busy. We decided to go to IOA first, as we had a bag we stored it in the lockers which turned out to be a great idea.
I had expected Universal to be like WDW and to have to get there early but for there still to be people around, but it was empty. We went straight over to Dueling Dragons and walked straight on. We decided to ride Fire first on the front row. I loved this ride and when we pulled back into the station there was no line so we walked straight back on to it and rode the back row. Then we decided to give Ice a try. Again there was no line so we rode the front row and then straight back on to the back row. I couldnt believe we had been there for 20 minutes and had done 4 rides!! So we decided to keep wondering around and go over to Spiderman. We walked straight on to this as well which was great. By the time we had got off there seemed to be more people around as it was gone 9am by now. So we headed over to the Hulk which only had a 10 minute wait. We decide to join the regular line as it was not that long and so we could save our pass for later when it was busier. We also decided to wait for the front row as we like to ride the front when we try a new coaster. I loved this ride although I did expect the start to be a lot quicker.
By now it was nearly 10am and the crowds were picking up so we decided to head over to the studios. When we got there the crowds were not that bad but we decided to use our fast passes for every ride. First we headed over to Shrek 4D which I loved, it was so funny. Then we went to Twister and Revenge of the Mummy. I was expecting more from the rollercoaster portion of this ride but I enjoyed the effects very much and enjoyed the ride a lot. Then we went to Earthquake and then on to watch the Fear Factor Live show. I enjoyed watching this as I love watching this show on TV. As soon as that had finished we went on Jaws and then Men in Black. I enjoyed this ride as I had seen a programme about how it works on TV and was intrigued to try it (plus I got quite a decent score for my first time.) By now we were quite hungry so we grabbed some lunch and then went to ride Back to the Future and Terminator. By now it was mid afternoon and we felt like a sit down for a while so we went to watch the Horror Makeup show. I really enjoyed this show and the presenters were really funny.
As we had not used our passes this morning we decided to go back over to IOA to ride the coasters again. Firstly we did Spiderman again and then the Hulk. We decided to ask for the back row this time which we got. Then we walked back over to Duelling Dragons and rode the back of Ice again which had been my favourite of the 4 rides we had earlier. Finally we decided to do Poseidons Fury which I really enjoyed, especially the water tunnel. By now it was dark and we wanted to do some shopping before our reservation at Emerils. We walked over to the City Walk to buy a few things and then when for dinner at Emerils which we really enjoyed. We had finished our meal by 8pm so decide to come back to the BCV.
I had really enjoyed my day at universal and loved their express pass system as most rides had a completely separate line. However I cant see me ever wanting to stay there. If I got everything done that I had wanted to it a day then I cant see me wanting to stay there for longer.
As we were back at the BCV for 8:30 we decided to walk over to Epcot to catch Illuminations. We walked on to the bridge between the UK and France and got a great spot. Again I loved the show, especially the holiday ending. As soon as the show was over we went back to our room and straight to bed as it had been a very long and tiring day.
Tomorrow.....Animal Kingdom and Bombas
The cast:
Me (Karen) mad planner and disaholic
Pete, my husband, hates planning, goes along with what we happen to be doing
Andrew, best friend and Disney mad
Sue, best friend, married to Andrew, also Disney mad but doesnt often admit it (although admits it more these days!)
Pete and I were naughty today and had decided to visit Universal. We love rollercoasters and really wanted to ride some of them there. Plus we wanted to compare it to Disney.
We got up early and left the BCV at 7:30 to drive to Universal. We got there quickly and decided to valet park the car as I had read on the boards this was the easiest thing to do. This worked well and we were in the park for 8am. We had bought the express plus passes for both parks. This cost us a small fortune but we figured we were only there for one day to do 2 parks and as it was Christmas week we thought it would be busy. We decided to go to IOA first, as we had a bag we stored it in the lockers which turned out to be a great idea.
I had expected Universal to be like WDW and to have to get there early but for there still to be people around, but it was empty. We went straight over to Dueling Dragons and walked straight on. We decided to ride Fire first on the front row. I loved this ride and when we pulled back into the station there was no line so we walked straight back on to it and rode the back row. Then we decided to give Ice a try. Again there was no line so we rode the front row and then straight back on to the back row. I couldnt believe we had been there for 20 minutes and had done 4 rides!! So we decided to keep wondering around and go over to Spiderman. We walked straight on to this as well which was great. By the time we had got off there seemed to be more people around as it was gone 9am by now. So we headed over to the Hulk which only had a 10 minute wait. We decide to join the regular line as it was not that long and so we could save our pass for later when it was busier. We also decided to wait for the front row as we like to ride the front when we try a new coaster. I loved this ride although I did expect the start to be a lot quicker.
By now it was nearly 10am and the crowds were picking up so we decided to head over to the studios. When we got there the crowds were not that bad but we decided to use our fast passes for every ride. First we headed over to Shrek 4D which I loved, it was so funny. Then we went to Twister and Revenge of the Mummy. I was expecting more from the rollercoaster portion of this ride but I enjoyed the effects very much and enjoyed the ride a lot. Then we went to Earthquake and then on to watch the Fear Factor Live show. I enjoyed watching this as I love watching this show on TV. As soon as that had finished we went on Jaws and then Men in Black. I enjoyed this ride as I had seen a programme about how it works on TV and was intrigued to try it (plus I got quite a decent score for my first time.) By now we were quite hungry so we grabbed some lunch and then went to ride Back to the Future and Terminator. By now it was mid afternoon and we felt like a sit down for a while so we went to watch the Horror Makeup show. I really enjoyed this show and the presenters were really funny.
As we had not used our passes this morning we decided to go back over to IOA to ride the coasters again. Firstly we did Spiderman again and then the Hulk. We decided to ask for the back row this time which we got. Then we walked back over to Duelling Dragons and rode the back of Ice again which had been my favourite of the 4 rides we had earlier. Finally we decided to do Poseidons Fury which I really enjoyed, especially the water tunnel. By now it was dark and we wanted to do some shopping before our reservation at Emerils. We walked over to the City Walk to buy a few things and then when for dinner at Emerils which we really enjoyed. We had finished our meal by 8pm so decide to come back to the BCV.
I had really enjoyed my day at universal and loved their express pass system as most rides had a completely separate line. However I cant see me ever wanting to stay there. If I got everything done that I had wanted to it a day then I cant see me wanting to stay there for longer.
As we were back at the BCV for 8:30 we decided to walk over to Epcot to catch Illuminations. We walked on to the bridge between the UK and France and got a great spot. Again I loved the show, especially the holiday ending. As soon as the show was over we went back to our room and straight to bed as it had been a very long and tiring day.
Tomorrow.....Animal Kingdom and Bombas
