IMGONNABE40!
<font color=green>Okay, I already am 40, but if I
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2003
- Messages
- 9,167
Don't know if anyone is interested, but I feel a need to relive it so here goes!
December 22, day 3
Woke up in our beautiful room at HRH (green bedspreads to match the green carpet for those of you who wonder about such things). Had brought Cat in the Hat cereal and Pop Tarts with us so had those with some milk and we were good to go. (DH on Adkins ate lunchmeat)
On the ride down in the elevator, I noticed a sign saying you could request that Santa visit your room on Christmas morning. He would arrive between 7-8:30 with (an unspecified) bag of treats. No charge indicated for this service. The sign also included info on the Christmas breakfast and dinner buffets for the Kitchen. Santa would be in the Kitchen 8-11 AM. Not sure how he would be doing room visits until 8:30 and be in the Kitchen by 8, but decided to chalk it up to the magic of Christmas and the wonder of Universal! I started to feel bummed that we would be waking up Christmas morning in a Best Western in Punta Gorda instead of here. FYI, the hotel also had a Menorrah lighting ceremony each evening at 5:30.
Off to US. Rode MIB 2-3 times before heading over to Jaws. We had planned on meeting Flyfly at the 2PM GB show, but since we were in the area I decided to check out the 11:45 show and she and her mom were there. They were as nice as you would imagine them to be from reading these boards. I loved the holiday GB show. Having never seen a show before, I was glad to have Flyfly by my side for my first time. I hope to get back for the regular show when I return in the summer, though I know it will not be the same if Flyfly is unable to make it that day! After the GB show, we hustled over to the Beetlejuice show. Okay, Flyfly hustled while I yelled to DH and DS "Hurry up! Hurry Up! and Mrs. Flyfly was caught in the middle trying to wait for us and keep an eye on Flyfly. Thank you for waiting. Flyfly got us front row seats and we enjoyed the show, though not as much as GB. We said goodbye to Flyfly and her mom and off we went to Shrek. Not much of a wait with FOTL. I find that I really do not care for the preshow. I know it is an attempt to make the wait seem not so long, but I just do not like the show, though I appreciate the attempt. The attraction itself is great, however.
After Shrek DS wanted to do--What else? Go in the pool. Back to HRH we went. Fixed DS a sandwich in the room and DH and I took off for Citywalk for some shopping and lunch. We went to Motown for lunch on Spidey's recommendation. Both had grilled chicken ceasar (not bad). We were seated in the area behind the Jackson 5 and I did not find the atmosphere all that great, although we did enjoy the music. When we walked around to the other side of the Jackson 5, however, it was like a whole different place! If we come back here we will definately ask to be seated in front of the Jackson 5. When we finished eating, a busboy gave us coupons for free game tokens he had found on another table, so we played some skee ball in the arcade before heading back to HRH to check on DS (he was fine). DH and I went up to our room for sweatshirts and headed back to US for the Horror Makeup Show (could not drag DS out of the pool yet). We arrived too late for the show and decided to wait for the last show (1 1/2 hours later). Walked over to MIB but there was 25 minute wait for FOTL so we decided to skip it (ok--we're spoiled!). Walked over to area of Blues Brothers show and it started to rain. Huddled under an awning at Finnegans until announcement that show was canceled due to rain. Concerned about DS in the pool. DH figured he'd be fine since they only close the pool if lightening is spotted in the area and that DS was not likely to even notice it was raining. Besides, DH assured me, he had a room key and would go up and watch TV and wait for us if the pool closed. Decided to wait out the rain inside Finnegans (happy hour!) I called our room to check on DS (DH was right, he didn't get out of the pool even during the rain!) while DH had an order of wings. Saw the beginning of the parade which we had missed the other day. Over for the last showing of the Horror Makeup Show--but we were too late again! Back to the hotel where we were able to coax DS out of the pool to spend some time with us. Went to the Beach Club for a drink while DS showered and changed.
Off for an evening at IOA. Hulk 2x, Spiderman 2x and Dr. Doom 1x ( not me
). When IOA closed, we took a walk over to RPR to check it out since we have reservations there for our return trip in June/July. DS not happy that there is not a basketball net at the pool, and overall the layout does not seem as user friendly as the HRH. I can feel an evening at the Kitchen coming on while DS plays at the pool! Took the watertaxi back to Citywalk. We had a late dinner at NBA City followed by shopping at Margaritaville. Of course DS disappeared during the shopping. I had seen him on the walkway up to the restaurant and when I went to look for him the access to the restaurant was blocked (though DS being 11 likely just climbed over!) When I went to the front door, the nice lady there said I would have to pay a cover to get in as the band was getting ready to play. I had to explain that I would not be staying for the music, but rather, only wanted to find my 11 year old son who was likely in the bar playing that crazy ring game! Of course that is where I found him playing with a group of beer swilling guys from NJ whom he had just befriended! (Please note: I have NOTHING against beer swilling--I have been known to do that myself from time to time, or guys from NJ--being from Long Island I have known several and they were quite nice) Back to the hotel. DH and DS played ping pong for awhile before coming back to the room where I had already discovered, but did not disturb, the lovely turn down. Soft lighting, music and card with small gift (smiley bracelets) on each bed. Went to sleep watching Animal Planet. DS said he would like to see AP Live! before leaving the next day.
December 23, day 4
Much sadness! Checking out this morning. More CITH cereal and Pop Tarts--although we were out of lunchmeat for DH and Adkins. The maid seemed a bit too anxious for us to leave. Kept asking if we were coming back each time we left the room. After DS and I left for the final time (she didn't ask that time!) she apparently went into the room while DH was in the restroom. He heard someone come in and go out, and when he got out of the bathroom he noticed that the tip was gone.
After loading the car, off we went to US to see the Horror Makeup Show. This time we were too early! We rode MIB 2x then over to HMS where we were still too early. DH and DS rode Jimmy Neutron while I walked through the Lucy exhibit. Over to HMS. I got to (try to) pull the stake out of Mark and later, DS got squirted with lots of "blood" from the "heart". Of course the show was a hoot as it always is. Even more so since we were "picked on". DS loved the attention. DS decided against seeing AP Live!, so we went over to IOA. We had promised DS he could have his face painted on a day he was not going in the pool so DS and I did that while DH rode Fire and Ice. We all headed over to Marvel just in time for the arrival of the Superheroes and got some great shots of DS with Spiderman (face painting was Spiderman).
We rode Spiderman and the Hulk for the final time this trip and said a sad goodbye to IOA. As we walked through the pool area at HRH on the way to the car, we were all sweating and ready for a dip in the pool (rare for DH and I). We lamented as to why we could not have my family join us here for the holidays instead of us heading south. It was hard to leave, but off we went to see my mom, siblings and nephews for Christmas. DS was a hit with his Spiderman face and we had purchased small 'pre-Christmas' gifts to present to everyone at mom's house. And of course, I was planning our next UO trip as we were driving out of the HRH parking lot.
December 22, day 3
Woke up in our beautiful room at HRH (green bedspreads to match the green carpet for those of you who wonder about such things). Had brought Cat in the Hat cereal and Pop Tarts with us so had those with some milk and we were good to go. (DH on Adkins ate lunchmeat)
On the ride down in the elevator, I noticed a sign saying you could request that Santa visit your room on Christmas morning. He would arrive between 7-8:30 with (an unspecified) bag of treats. No charge indicated for this service. The sign also included info on the Christmas breakfast and dinner buffets for the Kitchen. Santa would be in the Kitchen 8-11 AM. Not sure how he would be doing room visits until 8:30 and be in the Kitchen by 8, but decided to chalk it up to the magic of Christmas and the wonder of Universal! I started to feel bummed that we would be waking up Christmas morning in a Best Western in Punta Gorda instead of here. FYI, the hotel also had a Menorrah lighting ceremony each evening at 5:30.
Off to US. Rode MIB 2-3 times before heading over to Jaws. We had planned on meeting Flyfly at the 2PM GB show, but since we were in the area I decided to check out the 11:45 show and she and her mom were there. They were as nice as you would imagine them to be from reading these boards. I loved the holiday GB show. Having never seen a show before, I was glad to have Flyfly by my side for my first time. I hope to get back for the regular show when I return in the summer, though I know it will not be the same if Flyfly is unable to make it that day! After the GB show, we hustled over to the Beetlejuice show. Okay, Flyfly hustled while I yelled to DH and DS "Hurry up! Hurry Up! and Mrs. Flyfly was caught in the middle trying to wait for us and keep an eye on Flyfly. Thank you for waiting. Flyfly got us front row seats and we enjoyed the show, though not as much as GB. We said goodbye to Flyfly and her mom and off we went to Shrek. Not much of a wait with FOTL. I find that I really do not care for the preshow. I know it is an attempt to make the wait seem not so long, but I just do not like the show, though I appreciate the attempt. The attraction itself is great, however.
After Shrek DS wanted to do--What else? Go in the pool. Back to HRH we went. Fixed DS a sandwich in the room and DH and I took off for Citywalk for some shopping and lunch. We went to Motown for lunch on Spidey's recommendation. Both had grilled chicken ceasar (not bad). We were seated in the area behind the Jackson 5 and I did not find the atmosphere all that great, although we did enjoy the music. When we walked around to the other side of the Jackson 5, however, it was like a whole different place! If we come back here we will definately ask to be seated in front of the Jackson 5. When we finished eating, a busboy gave us coupons for free game tokens he had found on another table, so we played some skee ball in the arcade before heading back to HRH to check on DS (he was fine). DH and I went up to our room for sweatshirts and headed back to US for the Horror Makeup Show (could not drag DS out of the pool yet). We arrived too late for the show and decided to wait for the last show (1 1/2 hours later). Walked over to MIB but there was 25 minute wait for FOTL so we decided to skip it (ok--we're spoiled!). Walked over to area of Blues Brothers show and it started to rain. Huddled under an awning at Finnegans until announcement that show was canceled due to rain. Concerned about DS in the pool. DH figured he'd be fine since they only close the pool if lightening is spotted in the area and that DS was not likely to even notice it was raining. Besides, DH assured me, he had a room key and would go up and watch TV and wait for us if the pool closed. Decided to wait out the rain inside Finnegans (happy hour!) I called our room to check on DS (DH was right, he didn't get out of the pool even during the rain!) while DH had an order of wings. Saw the beginning of the parade which we had missed the other day. Over for the last showing of the Horror Makeup Show--but we were too late again! Back to the hotel where we were able to coax DS out of the pool to spend some time with us. Went to the Beach Club for a drink while DS showered and changed.
Off for an evening at IOA. Hulk 2x, Spiderman 2x and Dr. Doom 1x ( not me
). When IOA closed, we took a walk over to RPR to check it out since we have reservations there for our return trip in June/July. DS not happy that there is not a basketball net at the pool, and overall the layout does not seem as user friendly as the HRH. I can feel an evening at the Kitchen coming on while DS plays at the pool! Took the watertaxi back to Citywalk. We had a late dinner at NBA City followed by shopping at Margaritaville. Of course DS disappeared during the shopping. I had seen him on the walkway up to the restaurant and when I went to look for him the access to the restaurant was blocked (though DS being 11 likely just climbed over!) When I went to the front door, the nice lady there said I would have to pay a cover to get in as the band was getting ready to play. I had to explain that I would not be staying for the music, but rather, only wanted to find my 11 year old son who was likely in the bar playing that crazy ring game! Of course that is where I found him playing with a group of beer swilling guys from NJ whom he had just befriended! (Please note: I have NOTHING against beer swilling--I have been known to do that myself from time to time, or guys from NJ--being from Long Island I have known several and they were quite nice) Back to the hotel. DH and DS played ping pong for awhile before coming back to the room where I had already discovered, but did not disturb, the lovely turn down. Soft lighting, music and card with small gift (smiley bracelets) on each bed. Went to sleep watching Animal Planet. DS said he would like to see AP Live! before leaving the next day.December 23, day 4
Much sadness! Checking out this morning. More CITH cereal and Pop Tarts--although we were out of lunchmeat for DH and Adkins. The maid seemed a bit too anxious for us to leave. Kept asking if we were coming back each time we left the room. After DS and I left for the final time (she didn't ask that time!) she apparently went into the room while DH was in the restroom. He heard someone come in and go out, and when he got out of the bathroom he noticed that the tip was gone.
After loading the car, off we went to US to see the Horror Makeup Show. This time we were too early! We rode MIB 2x then over to HMS where we were still too early. DH and DS rode Jimmy Neutron while I walked through the Lucy exhibit. Over to HMS. I got to (try to) pull the stake out of Mark and later, DS got squirted with lots of "blood" from the "heart". Of course the show was a hoot as it always is. Even more so since we were "picked on". DS loved the attention. DS decided against seeing AP Live!, so we went over to IOA. We had promised DS he could have his face painted on a day he was not going in the pool so DS and I did that while DH rode Fire and Ice. We all headed over to Marvel just in time for the arrival of the Superheroes and got some great shots of DS with Spiderman (face painting was Spiderman).
We rode Spiderman and the Hulk for the final time this trip and said a sad goodbye to IOA. As we walked through the pool area at HRH on the way to the car, we were all sweating and ready for a dip in the pool (rare for DH and I). We lamented as to why we could not have my family join us here for the holidays instead of us heading south. It was hard to leave, but off we went to see my mom, siblings and nephews for Christmas. DS was a hit with his Spiderman face and we had purchased small 'pre-Christmas' gifts to present to everyone at mom's house. And of course, I was planning our next UO trip as we were driving out of the HRH parking lot.
Glad you enjoyed it!!
