Day1, Part 2: 3 Bloody Marys will do that to you & Do you wanna touch me there?

[AlexandNessa]

We retuned from our grocery stop with too many beers, too many snacks, too many waters, and too few sodas. We’d forgotten the sodas. We’d correct that soon.

We pulled up to the RPR and were again greeted by smiling faces, unloaded our luggage with the porters, and headed to the front desk, where Yasmine greeted us.

“I am trying to find you a water view room. The only one I have is on the 3rd floor. Is that OK?”

We looked at each other, and I remembered that we’d forgotten sodas.

Bloody Mary #3 asks, “How much is it to upgrade to Club?”

“Club is available, and I can give it to you for $100 more a night.”

“Is that a water view room? I don’t want a room overlooking I4.”

“Well, it’s part resort view and part highway view.”

“Would that be for the whole stay or just for tonight?”

“No, I can move you to a water view room tomorrow night.”

First of all, what in the world am I thinking even entertaining this? Second, did I just hear Mike say…

“Let’s do it.”

I think I did.

Are we insane?

Don’t answer that.

Let’s recap. We have a 10-day Mexican Riviera Cruise booked in the middle of April. We are planning an August wedding, and for the convenience of my entire east coast family, my brother is getting married in Kauai in October. We just spent an extra $100 to upgrade to Business Class for a one-hour flight, and now we’ve just agreed to $500 to upgrade to Club Level.

We are a half a day into our trip and already $600 over budget.

This is why we can’t have children. We can’t even afford ourselves.

We were not able to use our Loews Card for anything. She didn’t even enter our Loews number into the computer, which was unusual for us. We’ve always had our stays count. She promised to send us a welcome gift anyway because she noticed my ring and asked if we were recently engaged. We thanked her for that, although we never got the gift.

We were assigned 3753. To the left was a resort and pavilion view. To the right, I4. This was a King Bed room. Our room was ready, and our luggage was immediately delivered to our room. Bonus!

Off to the Club Lounge for snacks, sodas, and water bottles for the park, and it was off we go!

The past two times we went to Universal, we headed right for the Studios. Since we were mixing it up this trip, we headed to IOA.

We’re crazy that way.

Mike and I sometimes don’t even need to talk anymore. We simply both headed for the Hulk. There’s no talking or discussing it. It’s just understood. We used our Express Passes, even though we don’t need to, and there it is:

Only 12 people in line for the front row of Hulk!

We looked at each other. No talking. No negotiating. We both happily headed to the line for the front row. We only had to wait one coaster, since it was a group of 4, a group of 2, and a group of 4. We were asked to fill in the space with the other group of 2.

And this is reason #8 million and 41 why I’m marrying Michael:

The extra safety check he gives me as he tugs on my seat belt to make sure it’s fastened. It doesn’t matter if the attendant has just done it.

I think of it as a tug of love.

I can’t decide if the front row of Hulk, Ice, or Fire is cooler. I think Fire, but it’s a REALLY close call! I have learned to keep my eyes open, and Mike and I always chime along with, “I think, I think this time it’s gonna work!”

Next trip I might even be able to lose the white knuckle grip on the harness and put my hands in the air.

Baby steps.

Oh, and here’s Jodie’s tip for the day: wearing a barrette towards the back of your head and riding the Hulk is not a good combination. Hold your hair back with something soft.

Trust me on that one.

Next was Spiderman. Which is my #1 favorite ride in any theme park anywhere!

I know it makes Mike dizzy (primarily because he refuses to take any of the Bonine I pack), but I always give him a punch to say, “Look! Look!” right after I chime in with Ice Man and say, “You’re taking a dive!”

Mike doesn’t like to look as we take the 4 million-story dive into the web, but I wanted him to see what was written on the manhole cover. He finally did and now he keeps his eyes open to see if they change it up at all.

We skipped the water rides since it was a bit chilly and headed over to Dueling Dragons. We only did Fire.

Front row, of course!

We made our way around the Islands, grabbed a beer for happy hour, and decided to head back to the RPR and freshen up. Besides, by this time, it was almost Beer O’clock in the Club Lounge!

The Club Lounge staff recognized us from our last trip in October/November and warmly welcomed us back.

The food was much better this time. I ate spare ribs and salad this night. They always have gourmet cheeses and crackers, veggies and dip, and chips, salsa, sour cream, and guacamole. Add a few beers to the mix, and all is right with the world.

We took off next for Velvet Sessions at the Hard Rock Hotel.

This was the one and only plan Mike agreed to this trip. Joan Jett was playing.

I would just about kill to have a body like hers. Let’s just say that when Mike kissed me good night that night, I don’t think he was thinking about me.

For those of you who have never been to Velvet Sessions, it’s held at the HRH on the last Thursday of most months. They usually have a band that was big “back in the day.” They serve appetizers and mixed drinks, and it costs $30 per person. Mike felt he was a little underdressed. I told him to keep drinking and he’d forget about it soon enough. He did.

There, Mike and I met a very nice couple in their late 40s/early 50s, Melissa and Steve from Minneapolis. They were staying at the Hard Rock and left their teenage son up in the room for the night as they rocked out to Joan Jett.

Melissa was very sweet. Her husband Steve was really having a good time and kept high-fiving Mike all night. I thought he was just totally into Joan (let’s face it, in her leather pants and leather halter, even I was a little into Joan), but Mike said he was toasty drunk. We would confirm this later.

Joan played most of her hits like “I Love Rock-n-Roll” and “Crimson and Clover.” The crowd especially loved “Do You Wanna Touch Me There?”

Do you wanna touch me?

Do you wanna touch me?

Do you wanna touch me there?

Now imagine 250 people pounding their fists and jumping up and down.

Unless you’re Steve. In which case you just keep high-fiving Mike.

Which was mainly funny since Mike was having a hard time keeping up with Steve who didn’t exactly high-five to the beat.

Joan’s releasing a new album soon (or did she already?) and played some new stuff as well.

We met another couple, Jill and Brian. Brian was the designated driver. He didn’t look like he was having as good a time just drinking water.

We told Brian he was a hero and thanked him for taking one for the team.

Hey, I was feeling generous one rum drink, a cosmopolitan, and three banana surprises later… But we were walking, and this is one of the most beautiful parts of a resort vacation.

For more information, you can visit http://www.velvetsessions.com

We headed back to the RPR.

Mike, realizing that he hadn’t really eaten all day, wanted room service. That sounded good, as I’d only had seafood hushpuppies, scallops, and steak tar tar and wasabi appetizers at Velvet Sessions.

Who am I kidding?

I ordered my wedding dress one size up. I have room to grow.

Again, who am I kidding?

Nevertheless, we called room service. Ever health conscious, we settled on chicken fingers and a hamburger. Each with fries.

It’ll be delivered in 45 minutes?

Ok, I’ll wait here in bed.

“Jodie? Jodie?! Wake up! The food is here! This is a $3000 hamburger! You have to help me eat! Jodie?!”

Poor Mike, appreciating that we’d already wasted enough money this trip dutifully finished off as much of the hamburger, chicken fingers, and double order of fries that he could.

And this is reason # 8 million and 42 why I’m marrying him.

Stay tuned for Day 2!

 

[Alysa]

I have no idea what you are talking about but it is still funny! I don't even know what the RPR is...

 

[nwdisgal]

OMG! Joan is still alive and in a leather halter, no less! But was Loverboy her back up band? Great trip report!

 

[Mary Anne]

This is great. I'm so glad you're continuing to post it here.

 

[AlexandNessa]

Silly, silly! Loverboy was the opening band in May! Joan Jett is still alive and kicking, although she traded in her band for a much younger model. I think taught some of the Black Hearts when I student taught in 1994.

BTW, our picture made the Velvet Sessions page.

Mike loves this shirt, but I just don't have the heart to tell him it's not one of my favorites:

 

[Skroops]

I am really a Disney fan, and have never been to Universal because it would take away from Disney time, but you make it sound very fun! I still would probably not go, but I am really enjoying your trip. Keep it coming!

 

[lynn71092]

I agree.
What's RPR?

 

[IloveDMB]

RPR-Royal Pacific Resort

The Velvet Sessions thing sounds awesome. I am loving your report!

 

[AlexandNessa]

Yes, sorry about that. The Royal Pacific Resort is an on-site Universal hotel. It is gorgeous, and one of our favorites. If you'd like to see pictures from our last trip (many of the resort), click here:

http://www.ofoto.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?&collid=504417028105&page=1&sort_order=0

 

[jennymouse]

Great report! You're a cute couple, even in Mike's ugly shirt!

 

[nwdisgal]

Is Mike one of the former Van Trapp children? That shirt he's wearing brings back memories of the curtains Freuline Maria cut up in The Sound of Music to make the childrens play clothes. My SO has stuff like that too, which I try to make expeditiously disappear... "Honestly, honey, I don't know what happened to that shirt. I think the dog ate it and puked it up."

Great picture! You are a very cute couple!

My memory is a bit foggy (too many concerts and such), but I vaguely remember seeing Joan Jett years ago in the now demolished Kingdome in Seattle in a grand slam event with a bizillion other bands playing with her.

The Velvet Session looks and sounds sooo cool.