Still waking up early, so everyone is up, washed and ready for 6.45am.
We let the kids choose breakfast and they opt for Ponderosa, just over the road. We Arrive at 7:00am and the are only a few people around and no queue. The buffet is small, but good enough for what we want. What we like about the Ponderosa is that they give you unlimited toast to your table (probably in the hope that you leave the buffet alone
).
We are all finished by 7:30am and on our way to Universal Studios. Parking is $9 for your average car. The far left-hand lane is reserved for employees only and we are so early that that is the longest queue!
The Universal parks are on a par with the Magic Kingdom in the amount of time it takes to actually reach the park. Allow a good 20 minutes to reach the gate. We are parked in Spider-man, which is the right next door to the disabled and preffered parking lot.
The park actually opens at 8:45am and using my Universal Express method (see the seperate thread) I have passes for Mummy, Twister and Shrek 4-D for use later on. The CM at Shrek 4D advised me against UE the show as there is no queue, but I get passes anyway.
Being the big kid I am, we go straight on The Mummy after Jimmy Neutron. Sally (DW) even goes on it. I did not like it at first as it was over very quickly, but a few rides later, I come to appreciate it a lot more.
Next it's Jaws, Men in Black, Back to the Future and ET, all with no queues.
On the way to Jaws, the time is only 9:30am and it's as though we have the park to ourselves.
Afterwards, we work our way back to Shrek 4D as our passes are about to expire. Queue is over an hour, but we get to go through the express line. What a great show including the pre-show entertainment.
By about 11:30am, queues are up to 1 1/2 hours, so we retreat to Fievels playground to cool down. Intending on only spending 10 minutes there, it turns into 2 hours as both me and Sally join the kids in getting totally soaked in the playland next to Barney.
By about 2:00pm, we are all in need of a recharge so head back to the hotel. I remember the pizza from last night, so me and Hayley (DD) polish that off before a swim in the hotel pool.
Golden Coral for evening meal for their Sirloin steak buffet. I've never eaten so much in my life
Back to the hotel after for a rest and another swim.
Rest day tomorrow.
Trev
P.S. Will try and upload some pics tonight as I have loads from this day.
We let the kids choose breakfast and they opt for Ponderosa, just over the road. We Arrive at 7:00am and the are only a few people around and no queue. The buffet is small, but good enough for what we want. What we like about the Ponderosa is that they give you unlimited toast to your table (probably in the hope that you leave the buffet alone
).We are all finished by 7:30am and on our way to Universal Studios. Parking is $9 for your average car. The far left-hand lane is reserved for employees only and we are so early that that is the longest queue!
The Universal parks are on a par with the Magic Kingdom in the amount of time it takes to actually reach the park. Allow a good 20 minutes to reach the gate. We are parked in Spider-man, which is the right next door to the disabled and preffered parking lot.
The park actually opens at 8:45am and using my Universal Express method (see the seperate thread) I have passes for Mummy, Twister and Shrek 4-D for use later on. The CM at Shrek 4D advised me against UE the show as there is no queue, but I get passes anyway.
Being the big kid I am, we go straight on The Mummy after Jimmy Neutron. Sally (DW) even goes on it. I did not like it at first as it was over very quickly, but a few rides later, I come to appreciate it a lot more.
Next it's Jaws, Men in Black, Back to the Future and ET, all with no queues.
On the way to Jaws, the time is only 9:30am and it's as though we have the park to ourselves.
Afterwards, we work our way back to Shrek 4D as our passes are about to expire. Queue is over an hour, but we get to go through the express line. What a great show including the pre-show entertainment.
By about 11:30am, queues are up to 1 1/2 hours, so we retreat to Fievels playground to cool down. Intending on only spending 10 minutes there, it turns into 2 hours as both me and Sally join the kids in getting totally soaked in the playland next to Barney.
By about 2:00pm, we are all in need of a recharge so head back to the hotel. I remember the pizza from last night, so me and Hayley (DD) polish that off before a swim in the hotel pool.
Golden Coral for evening meal for their Sirloin steak buffet. I've never eaten so much in my life
Back to the hotel after for a rest and another swim.
Rest day tomorrow.
Trev
P.S. Will try and upload some pics tonight as I have loads from this day.
