d4est
<font color=orange><b>The Tag Fairy is really Ghos
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2004
- Messages
- 5,868
Our first trip to Universal...
The crew: me, DS (7 and 1/2), and DH
We left a cold and dreary central NY, by way of car (oh, the joy
), on 2/18 at 3:30pm. We arrived in Spring Hill, FL at 12:30pm on 2/19 for two days with family.
Day 1
On to the good stuff. We left Spring Hill at 7:30am (2/21) and pulled into the Royal Pacific at 9:30am. We were greeted by a friendly and eagar staff who helped us with our bags. Check in was smooth. Our room wasn't ready, but we grabbed our "magic" cards and headed to Universal Studios. We took the walk way because my DH is leary of boats. We picked up our tickets at the kiosk (what a breeze!) and headed in. As per my plan, we made a bee-line for the Mummy! Only DS and I rode...DH not fond of roller coasters. What can I say??? Amazing, fun...wow!! Next we wandered thru Amity and rode Jaws. This was the ONLY ride that had my son shaking. He sat between us and had his arms linked to ours. He squeezed for dear life. Needless to say, we didn't ride it again. Next we headed over to MIB (we would find our way here again and AGAIN...). Our scores weren't very good, we all missed the red button moment. I think I got 95, ??? and was less than proud. We wandered back over near Amity and had a quick bite to eat at some Italian place...had expensive and so-so pizza. Next we tried Twister. Not thrilling, but my Hub and I thought it was neat...really seemed like you were watching a storm coming. We headed over to try ET...BORING!! DS got his pic with Scooby and Shaggy and then we did Woody's coaster. A hit with DS, again, DH did not ride. Went back to MIB, and then decided to try Back to The Future. DS loved this one and we rode it many times. We headed toward the exit, hit Jimmy Neutron...we ALL enjoyed this one. DS, by now, is begging to hit the pool, and it is after 4pm so we head back to see if our room is ready...knuckle head me left the card with # to call on MIB!
Room ready. Stuck us in Tower 2...poop...even though I requested 1 or 3 due to dog allergies. CM at front desk looked at me like I was crazy when I told her that I was under the impression that Tower 2 housed the pets. "Pets? No! (as she shook her head) There are no pets!" Well, luckily, we never saw or heard any either. Room was 2449, with a nice view of the pet park! (No! No pets!
). Room was clean and fine for a family of 3. Smoking room, but no ashtrays! There was a bell boy (is that what you call them?) in the hall so we asked if our room was smoking, because it was supposed to be. He said, "I don't think so." When we told him we wanted smoking, he said, "go ahead." He sent up an ashtray.
We headed down to the pool, DS loved it and swam for awhile. We then changed and headed over to citywalk for dinner. This time we tried the boat. DH lost his fear, or didn't like all the walking??? We ate at Nascar. DH loved it. He had the steak, the best in the park (his HO), I had the Pit Pig sandwich (very good) and DS had the chicken tenders. We went back to the hotel, relaxed by the pool while DS swam again. Then it was off to bed. **To our surprize and delight, we found a bottle of wine and a coconut of peanuts waiting for us! Because I booked thru hotelkingdom, I was not expecting this. Nice end to the day!
Day 2
Up and adam! Off to IOA. The first thing we hit was Spiderman. My son and I loved it. DH said, and I quote "that was stupid." Can you believe it??? DS then had his face painted like a dragon. (Word to the wise, don't waste your $$ on this if you plan to do any water rides!! DS just looked like a filthy kid by the end of the day...people pry thought I was a horrible mother!) Next we headed to Jurassic river ride. Just DS and me. Wow! Loved the thrill ride at the end! What a great drop. Next we wandered a bit in the play area, then headed to the Discovery center. We played around and then went to Thunder Falls for lunch. I have to say, this was the most disappointing meal I had. DH thought it was ok. He had ribs, I had chicken. DS and I did Jurassic again, then we headed over to the Lost Continent. DS and I did the Unicorn and then we headed back to Toon Lagoon. We rode Ripshaw falls...huge hit with DS (again, no DH...need a chicken smiley...). Then we went over to the Popeye ride and got DH on it!! 
He enjoyed it, but was ready to kill me when it started pulling us up, as if preparing us for a grea drop. Luckily, it was nothing...and he was the driest of the bunch on the "boat." Next DS and I did Ripshaw again. We headed over to Hulk. DS reluctantly let me ride. Wowy wow wow! The take off was incredible! It was over so quick though. We headed back to RPR to relax by the pool before diner at Tchoup Chop. I forgot to mention, today was DH's b-day. We got back to the room and his gift basket was there (TY ferelpeg!). It was nascar themed and the card read "be the driver..." Yep, tomorrow he is going to do the Richard Petty driving experience!
Dinner at Tchoup Chop was excellent. DH started with the mussels and said they were the best he ever had. We both had the NY strip, very good. DS had the baby bam burger. Way too big for his mouth, he barely ate any of it, but loved the fries. Anyway, excellent meal. We head back to the room to relax and prepare for another big day. DH grabs the wine and cork screw. He inserts, he twists, and twists, and twist. He pulls...and...the metal "screw" breaks off and is stuck in the cork. No wine tonight...
Great first two days. Loving this place...can I move in?
Oh, how could I fail to mention our thoughts on FOTL?? What an awesome thing! We really felt special, especially my son. He commented on it EVERY, and I mean EVERY time we used it! DH said it was well worth the price of the hotel for the perk.
The crew: me, DS (7 and 1/2), and DH
We left a cold and dreary central NY, by way of car (oh, the joy
), on 2/18 at 3:30pm. We arrived in Spring Hill, FL at 12:30pm on 2/19 for two days with family.Day 1
On to the good stuff. We left Spring Hill at 7:30am (2/21) and pulled into the Royal Pacific at 9:30am. We were greeted by a friendly and eagar staff who helped us with our bags. Check in was smooth. Our room wasn't ready, but we grabbed our "magic" cards and headed to Universal Studios. We took the walk way because my DH is leary of boats. We picked up our tickets at the kiosk (what a breeze!) and headed in. As per my plan, we made a bee-line for the Mummy! Only DS and I rode...DH not fond of roller coasters. What can I say??? Amazing, fun...wow!! Next we wandered thru Amity and rode Jaws. This was the ONLY ride that had my son shaking. He sat between us and had his arms linked to ours. He squeezed for dear life. Needless to say, we didn't ride it again. Next we headed over to MIB (we would find our way here again and AGAIN...). Our scores weren't very good, we all missed the red button moment. I think I got 95, ??? and was less than proud. We wandered back over near Amity and had a quick bite to eat at some Italian place...had expensive and so-so pizza. Next we tried Twister. Not thrilling, but my Hub and I thought it was neat...really seemed like you were watching a storm coming. We headed over to try ET...BORING!! DS got his pic with Scooby and Shaggy and then we did Woody's coaster. A hit with DS, again, DH did not ride. Went back to MIB, and then decided to try Back to The Future. DS loved this one and we rode it many times. We headed toward the exit, hit Jimmy Neutron...we ALL enjoyed this one. DS, by now, is begging to hit the pool, and it is after 4pm so we head back to see if our room is ready...knuckle head me left the card with # to call on MIB!
Room ready. Stuck us in Tower 2...poop...even though I requested 1 or 3 due to dog allergies. CM at front desk looked at me like I was crazy when I told her that I was under the impression that Tower 2 housed the pets. "Pets? No! (as she shook her head) There are no pets!" Well, luckily, we never saw or heard any either. Room was 2449, with a nice view of the pet park! (No! No pets!
). Room was clean and fine for a family of 3. Smoking room, but no ashtrays! There was a bell boy (is that what you call them?) in the hall so we asked if our room was smoking, because it was supposed to be. He said, "I don't think so." When we told him we wanted smoking, he said, "go ahead." He sent up an ashtray.We headed down to the pool, DS loved it and swam for awhile. We then changed and headed over to citywalk for dinner. This time we tried the boat. DH lost his fear, or didn't like all the walking??? We ate at Nascar. DH loved it. He had the steak, the best in the park (his HO), I had the Pit Pig sandwich (very good) and DS had the chicken tenders. We went back to the hotel, relaxed by the pool while DS swam again. Then it was off to bed. **To our surprize and delight, we found a bottle of wine and a coconut of peanuts waiting for us! Because I booked thru hotelkingdom, I was not expecting this. Nice end to the day!
Day 2
Up and adam! Off to IOA. The first thing we hit was Spiderman. My son and I loved it. DH said, and I quote "that was stupid." Can you believe it???
DS then had his face painted like a dragon. (Word to the wise, don't waste your $$ on this if you plan to do any water rides!! DS just looked like a filthy kid by the end of the day...people pry thought I was a horrible mother!) Next we headed to Jurassic river ride. Just DS and me. Wow! Loved the thrill ride at the end! What a great drop. Next we wandered a bit in the play area, then headed to the Discovery center. We played around and then went to Thunder Falls for lunch. I have to say, this was the most disappointing meal I had. DH thought it was ok. He had ribs, I had chicken. DS and I did Jurassic again, then we headed over to the Lost Continent. DS and I did the Unicorn and then we headed back to Toon Lagoon. We rode Ripshaw falls...huge hit with DS (again, no DH...need a chicken smiley...). Then we went over to the Popeye ride and got DH on it!! He enjoyed it, but was ready to kill me when it started pulling us up, as if preparing us for a grea drop. Luckily, it was nothing...and he was the driest of the bunch on the "boat." Next DS and I did Ripshaw again. We headed over to Hulk. DS reluctantly let me ride. Wowy wow wow! The take off was incredible! It was over so quick though. We headed back to RPR to relax by the pool before diner at Tchoup Chop. I forgot to mention, today was DH's b-day. We got back to the room and his gift basket was there (TY ferelpeg!). It was nascar themed and the card read "be the driver..." Yep, tomorrow he is going to do the Richard Petty driving experience!Dinner at Tchoup Chop was excellent. DH started with the mussels and said they were the best he ever had. We both had the NY strip, very good. DS had the baby bam burger. Way too big for his mouth, he barely ate any of it, but loved the fries. Anyway, excellent meal. We head back to the room to relax and prepare for another big day. DH grabs the wine and cork screw. He inserts, he twists, and twists, and twist. He pulls...and...the metal "screw" breaks off and is stuck in the cork. No wine tonight...
Great first two days. Loving this place...can I move in?
Oh, how could I fail to mention our thoughts on FOTL?? What an awesome thing! We really felt special, especially my son. He commented on it EVERY, and I mean EVERY time we used it! DH said it was well worth the price of the hotel for the perk.
