Feeling Hot Hot Hot! The Rain Curse is Broken! Two Weeks of Fun in the Sun! COMPLETE

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Looks like fun! We're trying to figure out how much Universal time to plan into our next vacation. WWoHP is a MUST.... or DD may disown us Other than that, I'm not sure how much of the park the others would be interested in. I'm the one who loves the thrill rides (coasters and such).

Two days for Universal was plenty for us since there were not heavy crowds when we visited. Universal Studios has more "non-thrill" rides so your family may like that park more.

I can't wait to see what else you explored in Universal, especially the Hulk...it definitely looks awesome!!

I eyed The Hulk that entire morning, I was definitely looking forward to it!

As a fellow classics nerd, I'm with you on loving the Lost Continent! I agree that Posiedons fury is not a must do, we found it pretty cheesy, but I just had to give it a whirl since it prominently featured archaeologists!

Why does that not surprise me?

We didn't get a chance to eat at Mythos when we went, but WOW, it looks awesome. The decor is great and the menu looks good as well. I also can't believe those prices, you'd be paying twice that at Disney.

Yep, we were very happy with all aspects of Mythos.

Reading your TR has made me really want to go back to Universal. We did enjoy our time there, and I've actually been a little POed at Disney for some of their recent changes (not running monorails during EMH, the new $10 dining penalty), so maybe it is time to branch out a little more.

There is a new $10 dining penalty? Guess I haven't been keeping up with the WDW news.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

<Ahem, is this thing on?> (stepping on my soap box):

Just wanted to say "I hear ya"...I do love Disney and will continue to go, but if they keep making these cost-cutting measures that take away from your family vacation experience ...

We are actually going to try the new Legoland for one day on our next trip in January.

I did write to Disney re: the $10/pp dining penalty (suggested that it's only charged if you fail to cancel prior -- not 24 hours prior) but unfortunately, never heard back from them. But I'm hoping that if enough people write to them and/or also stop doing as many TS, then they will readjust their policy to make it more friendly to families with kids. -- You don't really want to sit next to my screaming, overtired kid, do you?

But who knows? Maybe you and I are in the minority. I can certainly see how this benefits adults w/o kids who get sick or tired very easily...

OK, stepping off my soap box...

I agree with you about this $10 fee. You are on vacation, you don't usually know if you need to cancel a reservation until the day of! All this is going to do is push me to eat off site more often. We already limit our on property ADR's and this will limit them even further. The food is usually just as good and the prices are much more reasonable!

I loved your most recent pictures!! The theming looks absolutely amazing there! Someday, I might drag my Disney butt from WDW property and visit "the other side".

I think you would find so many things to appreciate over at Universal. It has a different "flavour" than Disney but sometimes mixing things up is a good thing.

 

[KatMark]

Boy, Universal sure has changed a lot since we were there. Hulk -- no thank you...I'll take a pass.

Your pictures are great!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Boy, Universal sure has changed a lot since we were there. Hulk -- no thank you...I'll take a pass.

Your pictures are great!

What? You don't think The Hulk looks awesome?! Just kidding! I know coasters aren't for everybody. I was terrified of them up until grade 12. The only reason I tried one then was because we were at Busch Gardens for the physics fair and I needed to get some G-Force measurements. Turns out I love them!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Life Update

This past weekend we drove down to Ohio to visit the American side of the family. We were celebrating Mom's 49th birthday, Uncle Jim's 50th birthday and Grandma and Grandpa's 51st wedding anniversary. All these occasions are only a few days apart so it was very convenient to celebrate them all at once!

For a change we drove to Ohio during daylight hours, usually we leave at an absurdly early hour such as 2am. This time around they picked me up when I got off work at 8am and we left town directly afterward.

We were pretty lucky and hit no traffic and the border crossing was fairly quick as well.

Once we arrived in Toledo we stopped for dinner at Olive Garden and did a little shopping at the mall before heading over to the grandparents house.

My cousin, Caroline, called me that night. She was very excited as she had found out that the latest Harry Potter movie was going to be showing at the theatre the next night for cheap. You will remember from the trip report that she is a huge Harry Potter fan and so naturally she wanted us to go see the movie with her.

The next morning Mom went to church with Grandma and Grandpa while the boys and I stayed at home. I spent the morning studying for my Clinical Chemistry midterm.

We made our way over to Uncle Jim's house once they were back from church for the "big" celebration.

We had a yummy lunch followed by "cake".

The "cake" was Death By Chocolate. Chocolate cake, chocolate mousse, cool whip and Heath bar crumbled on top. It was delicious.

After eating Caroline wanted to go out driving, she just got her temps a week or so ago. Grandma and Grandpa went, I opted to stay at the house. I am a nervous passenger as it is with experienced drivers, wouldn't want to break her confidence by having me as a passenger.

Once they got back we all piled into two cars to drive to a park to take the traditional family photos.

We started out taking anniversary pictures of the grandparents.

Grandma was not cooperating

Caroline stepped in to pose them.

Then the grandparents with their kids (Mom and Uncle Jim)

Then Uncle Jim and his family

Uncle Jim thought this would be a good time to take a phone call...

Aunt Christine closed her eyes during the best shot.

The grandparents with all their grandchildren

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Then the whole family together.

This was not on purpose.

We got a lady in the park to take these pictures.

We then drove about 10 minutes down the road to another park for a few more pictures.

Grandpa and his boys

I thought this was hilarious, Andrew and Caroline trying to kill each other with Grandpa sitting right next to them laughing.

Erich contemplating tossing my purse in the lake.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Grandma and her girls

That night was Harry Potter night. Alek, Erich and I went to the movie with Andrew and Caroline. It was at a really old theatre that shows movies for cheap.

The following day was our big shopping day. I got a new Vera Bradley hipster and wallet, a Disney calender, a new board game and some cds and a few other things.

Saw these and I couldn't believe it.

At the mall we saw this train going by, it was several train cars long. I thought it was really cool! Only in America!

When we got back to the house Alek, Erich and I walked down to the park that we have visited on every trip since we were children. It is tradition.

After dinner we played our new game "Worst Case Scenario". It was pretty hilarious. Uncle Jim came over for a bit to visit as we were leaving early the next morning.

The next day we left in the early morning for our drive home. The weather was rather dreary most of the way but it was also rather pretty as we drove by all the big wind turbines outside of Windsor.

Overall it was a great trip with no family drama!

 

[KatGarcia]

GREAT family photos! The fall colors are just beautiful as a backdrop!

 

[KatMark]

Lessa, I would have loved the Hulk -- 25 years ago.

I love the park and family pictures. Congrats to Grandma and Grandpa on 51 years of marriage -- that is awesome.

We have one of those trains at our mall too.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

GREAT family photos! The fall colors are just beautiful as a backdrop!

Thanks Kat! I think they turned out well, it is always fun trying to get everybody arranged for the photos.

Lessa, I would have loved the Hulk -- 25 years ago.

I love the park and family pictures. Congrats to Grandma and Grandpa on 51 years of marriage -- that is awesome.

We have one of those trains at our mall too.

Yep, 51 years is a long time, may they have many more years together.

I have never seen a train like that before in the mall. Very American.

 

[Mysteria]

Loved the updates and more beautiful pics. So looks like the bros get their silly picture taking from Grandma huh?!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Loved the updates and more beautiful pics. So looks like the bros get their silly picture taking from Grandma huh?!

It does seem to be a genetic trait.

 

[orangecats2]

We have one of those electric trains at a mall close to me.

I live on the far west of Cleveland. If you ever go to Toledo via interstate 90 we could have a DIS meet! There's an Olive Garden right off the highway by me.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

We have one of those electric trains at a mall close to me.

I live on the far west of Cleveland. If you ever go to Toledo via interstate 90 we could have a DIS meet! There's an Olive Garden right off the highway by me.

We drove home that way two years ago. We spent the day at Cedar Point's water park and then drove to Niagara Falls via the 90.

 

[GeminiAngel]

Uh, where to begin?

I got so far behind, I'm not sure what to say!
Maria is nuts
We must do Universal Studios
You're family photos, awesome! I love you guys throwing the leaves!
Happy Birthday Beth!!!!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Uh, where to begin?

I got so far behind, I'm not sure what to say!
Maria is nuts
We must do Universal Studios
You're family photos, awesome! I love you guys throwing the leaves!
Happy Birthday Beth!!!!

I agree, Maria is nuts!

The family pictures were fun to take, especially with the leaves.

 

[PopArtGal]

Mythos looks awesome.

I did not remember that restaurant from my 2000 visit. Then again, I don't remember that much about that day.

 

[PopArtGal]

I do remember thinking that Poseidon was cool, but didn't remember what it was about. Thank you for reminding me

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Mythos looks awesome.

I did not remember that restaurant from my 2000 visit. Then again, I don't remember that much about that day.

I'm guessing you didn't take trip notes back then.

I do remember thinking that Poseidon was cool, but didn't remember what it was about. Thank you for reminding me

You are welcome!

 

[Marshay]

I agree with you about this $10 fee. You are on vacation, you don't usually know if you need to cancel a reservation until the day of! All this is going to do is push me to eat off site more often. We already limit our on property ADR's and this will limit them even further. The food is usually just as good and the prices are much more reasonable!

We will probably try to eat off-property more or cook in our villa. Where do you like to go off-property?

We've only been to Bahama Breeze and Sunny's BBQ ... they were fine but looking for other choices. Thx.

Love the pics with your family -- the ones with you all throwing the leaves in the air are great!