Islands of Adventure & Universal Studios
Friday 26th August
I'm up at 6.00 this morning - looking forward to a day at Universal. We came back last year and didn't do US or IOA as we had a 14 Day Disney ticket and Discovery Cove with free admission to Seaworld (couldn't really fit in anything else).
The weather is a little overcast today but the forecast is dry and warm so that's good enough for me!
When everyone finally gets up and ready to go - we breakfast at Regal Palms again this morning while Ricky laptops in the computer room.
Cyril is really tucking in to the Danish Pastries - his new "favourite dish".
We drive Jaunty over to Universal and arrive at 9.30. He's a lot happier today as we are in one of the undercover car parks!
I love those moving walkways and the music playing as you get near City Walk - it really puts you in a great mood by the time you get to the park.
Me and the kids are desperately trying to be the first off the walkway at the end of each section and by the time we get to the last one it's turned into a full scale war.
I win of course - I slam Hannah into the back of a family of Mexican tourists scolding her for running and tell her she must apologise.
At the same time I manage to trip Ricky up and cross the line in first place.
Ha! They've still got a lot to learn about the joys of parenting!
Oh come on Ricky - it's only a graze - stop moaning!!
We decide to start at Islands of Adventure. As you can see from the picture - it looks a bit cloudy today!
We head straight for Spiderman. Joyce and Cyril sit this one out while we ride (too fast and twisty for their liking) and this is superb.
It's unlike anything else we've been on and the mixture of movement and 3D is very good.
We walk through Toon Lagoon and take a look at Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges. I really want to ride on these but they are a bit too wet to start the day. Maybe later!
We move in to Jurassic Park to ride the Jurassic River Adventure.
I love that theme music that is playing as you walk through the gates in this part of the park.
Joyce and Cyril decide not to take a chance on this ride (more for the fact that they may get wet!). It's brilliant - just as I remember three years ago - great fun.
Unfortunately it seems that we have picked a bit of a bad time to visit this park as the Discovery Centre is closed for refurbishment and the Triceratops Encounter is not operating either. It's a shame really as I was really looking forward to visiting these attractions.
I can't believe it! - Poseidons Fury is also closed for refubishment!
Now I know that Poseidon is a bit of a strange attraction and even harder to describe to someone but I really enjoyed this the last time we were here and I am very disappointed that we won't be able to get "flushed down the toilet" at the end of this again.
Hannah and Ricky ride the little roller coaster called the Flying Unicorn before we move through Zeuss Landing and out of the park across to Universal Studios.
We are not really "Coaster Freaks" so the big attraction rides in IOA are not for us yet. Maybe in a few years when Hannah is a bit older! I have yet to pluck up the courage to ride The Hulk or Dr.Dooms Fearfall.
I had a rather unpleasent experience at Alton Towers a few years ago when I went on Nemesis and those two big bolts at the side of my neck which hold my head in place seemed to work loose! I came off that ride feeling extremely "wobbily". It was strange actually - as I had just ridden "Air" without any after effects - probably got too confident!
I went on the Rock'n'Roller coaster last year without any problems and loved it - Oh well - maybe next time!
As we enter Universal I go to get fastpasses for Shrek 4D and meet the others inside the Monster Cafe for a drink. They all look quite at home here with the other monsters!!
While we are talking about how disappointed we were with Islands Of Adventure - I mention that we didn't get to see the Dino in the Triceratops encounter - Joyce (bless her!) says "Oh - was it a real Dinosaur then?"
"Yes" I reply in my most sarcastic tone "Richard Attenborough grew them by recreating their DNA in a lab and mixing it with the DNA of a frog"
"Oh that's right" she says "I think I saw a documnetary on that!"
When I point out (somewhat obviously!) that actually, Dinosaurs have been dead for several million years she says "Well - you know what I mean".
Do I? I'm not sure actually! Maybe it's our turn for extinction now!
We move on!
Or at least we start to move on - then Cyril realises that he has lost his hat (again) so various party members are dispatched to re-trace his steps. It is found on the seat he was sitting at in the Monster Cafe. Sound familiar?
Twister has a 5 minute standby line so we pop in before our fastpass starts.
This is a great attraction but I always seem to get stuck when I have to put my right hand on a red circle when I have both feet on blue! (I bet that's stumped a few of you - Heh! Heh!)
Then back to Shrek 4D - this is brilliant - probably one of the best 3D shows around all the parks (although Mickey's Filmharmagic still remains my favourite). This is definately one of those attractions that you need to do a few times. There is so much detail that it's difficult to take it all in.
Once is not enough - Oh well - Maybe.........Maybe I'd better stop saying that!
We exit through the shop and make a couple of small purchases - key rings and pens.
We manage to walk straight onto Earthquake as there is no queue at all. I can't believe how quiet it is here today - look.........
Next it's over to jaws - another great ride - and finally ET before we leave the park.
This has been another great day.
On the way back down I Drive I spot Sweet Tomatoes which I have heard so many good reviews about and I take a quick right turn - alas - this takes me on to the Florida Turnpike!
Two toll booths later we exit and return from whence we came!
Back at Sweet Tomatoes me and Lena take a quick look around - it looks delicious but I am afraid that there is very little that Joyce and Cyril would eat (they don't like salad, pasta, pizza or anything remotely tasty!) so we decide to skip this and make our way back to the Golden Corral on the 192.
While this restaurant does represent exceptional value for money - I have to admit to finding myself little bored with the offerings now and longing for another ADR at a themed restaurant. It's not a "snobby" thing as I am very partial to a little fast food and a big fan of the "all you care to eat" buffet - in fact I would say that this is one of the highlights of the holiday for our family - to be able to try new dishes without pressure of finishing the whole plate (particularly the kids) is a real bonus - but I like a bit of variety and I also like to try new things and this is probably becoming too familiar.
Oh well - the majority rules I suppose! Maybe next time.....! (Have I said that before?)
Back at the car park Jaunty looks like he's had a good snooze and seems quite perky on the way home. So much so that I manage to race a couple of those "Super Trucks" up the 192. I lose badly though as my "little" 3.5 litre engine is dwarfed by the 6 litre monsters. I bet they don't go round corners though!
Actually - there are no corners here! Have you noticed that?
We get back to the villa for a swim before bedtime and I start to plot the next days events. We need a bit of "Disney Magic" (well - I do anyway!) so I think we will head for Epcot in the morning and maybe Magic Kingdom tomorrow night for "Wishes".
Mind you - the weather forecast doesn't look too promising so I'll wait until the morning to decide.
Lena finds a big turtle in the pool!
We do our usual "Waltons" goodnight impressions -
Night Jim-Bob
Night Peggy-Sue
Night Billy-Joe
Night Cyril-Squirrel
Night Tricky-Ricky.......
OH! Enough..........!
Friday 26th August
I'm up at 6.00 this morning - looking forward to a day at Universal. We came back last year and didn't do US or IOA as we had a 14 Day Disney ticket and Discovery Cove with free admission to Seaworld (couldn't really fit in anything else).
The weather is a little overcast today but the forecast is dry and warm so that's good enough for me!
When everyone finally gets up and ready to go - we breakfast at Regal Palms again this morning while Ricky laptops in the computer room.
Cyril is really tucking in to the Danish Pastries - his new "favourite dish".
We drive Jaunty over to Universal and arrive at 9.30. He's a lot happier today as we are in one of the undercover car parks!
I love those moving walkways and the music playing as you get near City Walk - it really puts you in a great mood by the time you get to the park.
Me and the kids are desperately trying to be the first off the walkway at the end of each section and by the time we get to the last one it's turned into a full scale war.
I win of course - I slam Hannah into the back of a family of Mexican tourists scolding her for running and tell her she must apologise.
At the same time I manage to trip Ricky up and cross the line in first place.
Ha! They've still got a lot to learn about the joys of parenting!
Oh come on Ricky - it's only a graze - stop moaning!!
We decide to start at Islands of Adventure. As you can see from the picture - it looks a bit cloudy today!
We head straight for Spiderman. Joyce and Cyril sit this one out while we ride (too fast and twisty for their liking) and this is superb.
It's unlike anything else we've been on and the mixture of movement and 3D is very good.
We walk through Toon Lagoon and take a look at Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges. I really want to ride on these but they are a bit too wet to start the day. Maybe later!
We move in to Jurassic Park to ride the Jurassic River Adventure.
I love that theme music that is playing as you walk through the gates in this part of the park.
Joyce and Cyril decide not to take a chance on this ride (more for the fact that they may get wet!). It's brilliant - just as I remember three years ago - great fun.
Unfortunately it seems that we have picked a bit of a bad time to visit this park as the Discovery Centre is closed for refurbishment and the Triceratops Encounter is not operating either. It's a shame really as I was really looking forward to visiting these attractions.
I can't believe it! - Poseidons Fury is also closed for refubishment!
Now I know that Poseidon is a bit of a strange attraction and even harder to describe to someone but I really enjoyed this the last time we were here and I am very disappointed that we won't be able to get "flushed down the toilet" at the end of this again.
Hannah and Ricky ride the little roller coaster called the Flying Unicorn before we move through Zeuss Landing and out of the park across to Universal Studios.
We are not really "Coaster Freaks" so the big attraction rides in IOA are not for us yet. Maybe in a few years when Hannah is a bit older! I have yet to pluck up the courage to ride The Hulk or Dr.Dooms Fearfall.
I had a rather unpleasent experience at Alton Towers a few years ago when I went on Nemesis and those two big bolts at the side of my neck which hold my head in place seemed to work loose! I came off that ride feeling extremely "wobbily". It was strange actually - as I had just ridden "Air" without any after effects - probably got too confident!
I went on the Rock'n'Roller coaster last year without any problems and loved it - Oh well - maybe next time!
As we enter Universal I go to get fastpasses for Shrek 4D and meet the others inside the Monster Cafe for a drink. They all look quite at home here with the other monsters!!
While we are talking about how disappointed we were with Islands Of Adventure - I mention that we didn't get to see the Dino in the Triceratops encounter - Joyce (bless her!) says "Oh - was it a real Dinosaur then?"
"Yes" I reply in my most sarcastic tone "Richard Attenborough grew them by recreating their DNA in a lab and mixing it with the DNA of a frog"
"Oh that's right" she says "I think I saw a documnetary on that!"
When I point out (somewhat obviously!) that actually, Dinosaurs have been dead for several million years she says "Well - you know what I mean".
Do I? I'm not sure actually! Maybe it's our turn for extinction now!
We move on!
Or at least we start to move on - then Cyril realises that he has lost his hat (again) so various party members are dispatched to re-trace his steps. It is found on the seat he was sitting at in the Monster Cafe. Sound familiar?
Twister has a 5 minute standby line so we pop in before our fastpass starts.
This is a great attraction but I always seem to get stuck when I have to put my right hand on a red circle when I have both feet on blue! (I bet that's stumped a few of you - Heh! Heh!)
Then back to Shrek 4D - this is brilliant - probably one of the best 3D shows around all the parks (although Mickey's Filmharmagic still remains my favourite). This is definately one of those attractions that you need to do a few times. There is so much detail that it's difficult to take it all in.
Once is not enough - Oh well - Maybe.........Maybe I'd better stop saying that!
We exit through the shop and make a couple of small purchases - key rings and pens.
We manage to walk straight onto Earthquake as there is no queue at all. I can't believe how quiet it is here today - look.........
Next it's over to jaws - another great ride - and finally ET before we leave the park.
This has been another great day.
On the way back down I Drive I spot Sweet Tomatoes which I have heard so many good reviews about and I take a quick right turn - alas - this takes me on to the Florida Turnpike!
Two toll booths later we exit and return from whence we came!
Back at Sweet Tomatoes me and Lena take a quick look around - it looks delicious but I am afraid that there is very little that Joyce and Cyril would eat (they don't like salad, pasta, pizza or anything remotely tasty!) so we decide to skip this and make our way back to the Golden Corral on the 192.
While this restaurant does represent exceptional value for money - I have to admit to finding myself little bored with the offerings now and longing for another ADR at a themed restaurant. It's not a "snobby" thing as I am very partial to a little fast food and a big fan of the "all you care to eat" buffet - in fact I would say that this is one of the highlights of the holiday for our family - to be able to try new dishes without pressure of finishing the whole plate (particularly the kids) is a real bonus - but I like a bit of variety and I also like to try new things and this is probably becoming too familiar.
Oh well - the majority rules I suppose! Maybe next time.....! (Have I said that before?)
Back at the car park Jaunty looks like he's had a good snooze and seems quite perky on the way home. So much so that I manage to race a couple of those "Super Trucks" up the 192. I lose badly though as my "little" 3.5 litre engine is dwarfed by the 6 litre monsters. I bet they don't go round corners though!
Actually - there are no corners here! Have you noticed that?
We get back to the villa for a swim before bedtime and I start to plot the next days events. We need a bit of "Disney Magic" (well - I do anyway!) so I think we will head for Epcot in the morning and maybe Magic Kingdom tomorrow night for "Wishes".
Mind you - the weather forecast doesn't look too promising so I'll wait until the morning to decide.
Lena finds a big turtle in the pool!
We do our usual "Waltons" goodnight impressions -
Night Jim-Bob
Night Peggy-Sue
Night Billy-Joe
Night Cyril-Squirrel
Night Tricky-Ricky.......
OH! Enough..........!
, i havn't greeted my husband with a lovely kiss at the front door 
- because i have had to read all the above reports.............LOVED THEM ALL xx
If you like RnRc, then you'll love The Hulk. We've only been going on it the last couple of years since the kids were old enough (whoops !!)
