Flowers and Star Wars and Harry, oh my! TR started, link inside!

[YukiPhnx]

Wow, I had no idea the Uni. Studios brochures bash Disney. How do they do it?

It sounds a lot like what Pepsi commercials are all about...

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Wow, I had no idea the Uni. Studios brochures bash Disney. How do they do it?

It sounds a lot like what Pepsi commercials are all about...

Do you mean the book? The authors who wrote it would just make comments like "Unlike a certain mouse down the road US is so much better b/c ...

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Our second day at Universal will be spent at Universal Studios. This day should be much more relaxing since we won't have the crowds associated with Harry Potter to deal with. Also Universal Studio's attractions are much more high volume as most are shows, this means that the lines should not be too terribly long.

Here are my must-do's:

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. This coaster sounds really cool. You get to select your own musical soundtrack for the ride which is personalized for each seat. So I could be listening to Classic Rock and Alek sitting next to me could be listening to Country and we would not hear each other's music.

ET Adventure: How could we go and not ride this classic. The book says it is skippable but from everybody I have talked to this is a must-do.

Jaws: Another classic

Men in Black:Alien Attack: A shoot me up ride similar to Buzz Lightyear

Revenge of the Mummy

Shrek 4-D - I have heard that it is a hilarious good time for all.

The Simpsons Ride

There are also several shows put on throughout the day, I have heard that the Hollywood Horror Makeup Show is not to be missed.

I am thinking that lunch this day will be something quick in the park and then dinner in CityWalk which is sort of Universal's version of Downtown Disney. We will probably eat at either the Hard Rock Cafe or Margaritaville. If we are being cheapt this would be a good day for our visit to the World's Largest McDonald's which is just down the road from Universal.

Those of you who have been to Universal, any tips on touring the parks and any must-do's?

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

that roller coaster looks like fun, it took me a few minutes to figure it out how it goes up the hill...but then i saw that the car does not go on the circle part but straight up.

sounds like a good day

 

[pinkxray]

The HRRR looks awesome! I really wanted to ride it last trip but the wait was 90 minutes every time we checked and there was no single rider line. Since DH and I would have to go separately we skipped it. I hope the wait is a little shorter this time so I can try it.

I have been to US 4 times and have never been on the ET ride. It is at the top of my list for next trip.

Simpsons and the Mummy.

We were at US over Memorial Day Weekend last year and besides HRRR there wasn't a huge wait for anything. The only thing that I didn't like last year was that I didn't really remember what attractions there were there and missed some stuff. You are already ahead by having the book and you know what you want to do.

Are you going to the McDonalds on Sand Lake Rd? We saw that on the travel channel and ended up going last year. I didn't think it was anything special so I will be looking foward to hearing what you think.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

that roller coaster looks like fun, it took me a few minutes to figure it out how it goes up the hill...but then i saw that the car does not go on the circle part but straight up.

sounds like a good day

The Rip Ride Rockit coaster actually scares me because of the 90 degree drop, I will ride it though and not let myself chicken out.

The HRRR looks awesome! I really wanted to ride it last trip but the wait was 90 minutes every time we checked and there was no single rider line. Since DH and I would have to go separately we skipped it. I hope the wait is a little shorter this time so I can try it.

Alek and I will probably book it straight to this ride as soon as the park open to avoid the long wait.

We were at US over Memorial Day Weekend last year and besides HRRR there wasn't a huge wait for anything. The only thing that I didn't like last year was that I didn't really remember what attractions there were there and missed some stuff. You are already ahead by having the book and you know what you want to do.

That's reassuring

Are you going to the McDonalds on Sand Lake Rd? We saw that on the travel channel and ended up going last year. I didn't think it was anything special so I will be looking foward to hearing what you think.

Yep, that is the one. I told Alek and Erich that it was the world's largest so of course we have to check it out. If we end up going to the mall on one of our off days we might go then instead. It is not at the top of our priority list but if we can fit it in we will.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Today marks the first day of my Reading Week aka Spring Break. This is much needed as school has been very stressful as of late. It came to a point in one of my classes where I had to write a letter of complaint/petition which the whole class signed. I then hand delivered it to the dean, program coordinator, course professor and to the lady who was causing all the problems. Reading Week means no class which means a week of no stress. It also means that the semester is half over. Only one month of classes left and then two exams in April and then it is May which means VACATION!

 

[All7OfUs]

Your US day sound jam packed full of fun! I think I could enjoy all those attractions!

So glad you are able to finally get a nice, well-deserved break! Sounds like you really need it right now! You coudl spend the week making up nifty touring books for yourself and researching more for your trip.

 

[englishrose47]

Hi Lessa !!I wish we could swing Universal in August but funds are sooo tight the 8 days at Disney is a stretch!!!! Your plans sound great!!! I really wanted to try Butterbeer too!!!

 

[PirateKate]

I've never been to Universal Studios, so I won't be of any help with planning, but it does look like a fun day. That Hard Rock Cafe looks very cool.

Have a fun reading week!

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

Do you mean the book? The authors who wrote it would just make comments like "Unlike a certain mouse down the road US is so much better b/c ...

That's just as dumb as Disney podcasters not wanting to mention them or suggesting that people have no need to go to them (the universal parks).

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

That's just as dumb as Disney podcasters not wanting to mention them or suggesting that people have no need to go to them (the universal parks).

I guess that doesn't surprise me, I don't listen to podcasts so I haven't experienced that myself. I just don't get the mentality.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Your US day sound jam packed full of fun! I think I could enjoy all those attractions!

So glad you are able to finally get a nice, well-deserved break! Sounds like you really need it right now! You coudl spend the week making up nifty touring books for yourself and researching more for your trip.

I might take the break to start putting together the trip binder. My spreadsheet is already complete. I have a sheet with all the park hours, a sheet with all our ADR's and then a third sheet with our itinerary with park choices put in order of first, second, third preference, ADR times for each specific day and any special event that is going on.

Hi Lessa !!I wish we could swing Universal in August but funds are sooo tight the 8 days at Disney is a stretch!!!! Your plans sound great!!! I really wanted to try Butterbeer too!!!

You will get to go someday Rosie, Universal isn't going anywhere.

I've never been to Universal Studios, so I won't be of any help with planning, but it does look like a fun day. That Hard Rock Cafe looks very cool.

Have a fun reading week!

I love the Hard Rock. Their Twisted Mac and Cheese is delish as are their Smashed White Cheddar Potatoes.

 

[GeminiAngel]

ET at universal in California was great! A classic.
I'm going to try and make butterbeer, sounds yummy.
So what song are ya gonna pick for the ride?

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

ET at universal in California was great! A classic.
I'm going to try and make butterbeer, sounds yummy.
So what song are ya gonna pick for the ride?

Probably something high energy to match the coaster. Will have to wait and see what the selections are.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

I guess that doesn't surprise me, I don't listen to podcasts so I haven't experienced that myself. I just don't get the mentality.

It also seams to happen with getting off at Nassau in the Bahamas on a cruise, some people just advise other to not get off the ship and enjoy what's open n the ship. I think if your paying for a port you should at least get off the ship and visit the main tourist areas.

 

[Sammy Cat]

One week of school down, 11 more to go! This first week started off at a run, they did not ease us in slowly at all. We have already started our clinical placements and nursing labs. One class had us reading 6 chapters for the first lecture alone! I will really need this vacation by the time May rolls around!

On top of the busy school schedule my computer decided to die on me. Apparently the power box or whatever it is called died and so now my computer is in the shop waiting for the required part to come in so it can get fixed. Luckily it is not going to cost too much to fix and I have access to Erich's laptop and the computers at school and work so I am not totally bereft.

In trip related news I saw that CAA (AAA) is offering a ticket deal for Sea World/Busch Gardens. You get admission to both parks for the price of one, about $80 a person. I am considering whether we should add those parks into the trip. We do have three no park days in the schedule but those were meant to be relaxing by the pool days but this deal is really good. If we add them in then we will be hitting every major theme park in Florida on the trip. What to do?!

I am debating the same thing myself. I hear you can get tickets in Orlando for the parks pretty cheap too. I decided to wait and see if we find a super good deal while we are down there, but $80 pp isn't bad. Tough choice.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

It also seams to happen with getting off at Nassau in the Bahamas on a cruise, some people just advise other to not get off the ship and enjoy what's open n the ship. I think if your paying for a port you should at least get off the ship and visit the main tourist areas.

I heave read that too, mostly it is repeat cruisers who are saying it though, those who have been to the port numerous time. I can't fault them for wanting to stay on the ship in that case BUT if it is your first time in the port then definitely one should get off the ship and explore a bit. Nassau wouldn't be my first pick of ports though thus why I canceled the Dream cruise. I would love to go to Nassau and stay at the Ocean Club Resort for a week and get visiting privileges at Atlantis. The cost to visit Atlantis for the day on a cruise though is outrageous!

Reading a few Med cruise trip reports I read how some people didn't get off the ship in Tunisia or Crosica. Why on earth did you go on a Med cruise if you aren't going to enjoy the ports?

I am debating the same thing myself. I hear you can get tickets in Orlando for the parks pretty cheap too. I decided to wait and see if we find a super good deal while we are down there, but $80 pp isn't bad. Tough choice.

Good luck with your decision. I think we have decided that we are not going to take advantage of the deal and keep the trip "relaxed".

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Day 9

This is a "free" day. One of the days where we CAN'T go into one of the major theme parks (unless we add that extra day onto the Universal tickets).

We will probably need this rest day since the vacation will have been pretty jam packed up to this point.

I have a 9am breakfast at Boma booked. This will allow us to sleep in a bit and have a leisurely start to the day.

After breakfast we will probably head over to a water park, most likely Typhoon Lagoon since that is our favourite but we may choose Blizzard Beach since it is closer to AKL and our hotel.

or

We usually spend 3-4 hours at the water parks so that still leaves us with much of the day open. If we end up at Blizzard Beach we will probably play a round of mini-golf at the Winter Summerland course.

I have Ohana booked for dinner this night but I think we may scrap this in favour of T-Rex if we didn't end up eating there on our arrival day. That would be followed up by some browsing of the stores at Downtown Disney. Depending on the time we may take this opportunity to check out DisneyQuest.

Another possibility for dinner this night is Medieval Times. I know we are going to eat there at some point during the trip, I just haven't decided when but I figure one of our "Free" days would be best.

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

The Rip Ride Rockit coaster actually scares me because of the 90 degree drop, I will ride it though and not let myself chicken out.

is that the drop or the up hill?

it looks like you go up that hill then down and threw the loop?

just trying to help you so you dont have to go down that one.