wilma-bride
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- Joined
- Jul 13, 2005
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Day 12 Scream if You Wanna Go Faster Friday 20th October
Cast:
Me Joh, 33 Universal at last!
DH Gary, 39 Why is it we need Annual Passes?!?
DD1 Sian, 13 Is Jaws real?
DD2 Rea, 12 I dont want to ride the Mummy, yes I do, no I dont
So, today was our first visit to Universal. It had almost killed me to leave these two parks till the end of our holiday but the tickets we had got for the girls were only valid for 5 days and we knew we wanted to end the holiday on Monday with IOA so, this was the only real option.
A few months before we left, Universal had run a special offer on annual passes buy 1 year, get 2nd year free. It was too good an offer to pass up so I ordered an Annual Pass for myself. Was gonna get one for DH too but figured we only really needed one for the discounts so ordered DH a power pass.
The transport from the hotel had us at the bottom of the escalator by 8:30 so we took a slow wander through City Walk, stopping for Cinnabon Sticks on the way through.
Sian took this picture of Rea but it didn't come out very well (her camera is useless!)
We picked up our tickets without any problems, then entered the turnstiles. Gary was actually excited as the Universal parks are, without a doubt, his favourite.
We decided to head straight for Revenge of the Mummy, knowing that Rea probably wouldnt ride. We explained to her that it really wasnt a normal kind of rollercoaster and she said she would think about it while we were in line. Well, as it was still early, there really wasnt much of a wait so before we knew it we were on. Rhiannon really didnt get a chance to think too much about it or change her mind so on she got. ROTM was great as usual and Rea got off proclaiming that it really wasnt as bad as shed thought. Unfortunately, the ride photo was really rubbish otherwise I would have bought it for her as a souvenir. Unfortunately, she had decided that once was enough for her so no chance of getting another picture.
Next, we went over to Men In Black, which the girls really loved. We rode this 2 or 3 times (and the girls ended up coming back here later on too). Next was Earthquake. Gary and I had really enjoyed this last year and we thought the girls would like it too, which they did. After Earthquake, we joined the line for Jaws (which had been closed until 11). There was a really long wait but the girls really wanted to go on and we figured the lines would only get worse as the day went on. After about 40 minutes, we were finally on our boat. Sian was extremely disappointed to find out that the shark wasnt real and she didnt even get wet.
We stopped at Richters to get some lunch the usual chicken strips and burgers and I had my first opportunity to use my AP for a discount. I was really impressed to get 15% off bargain!
After this, Gary and I wanted to see Beetlejuice as wed never managed to catch the show before. The girls werent that bothered so they said theyd head back and ride MIB again. We arranged to meet them outside the Mummy at 1:30. Bettlejuice really wasnt that good and I sort of wished wed gone to MIB with the girls but well know not to bother again.
We met up with the girls and decided to go and watch the Horror Make Up Show. As we passed Shrek 4D, a film was just about to start. Sian didnt want to see it so she went to look around the shops while we went in. Having not made it to this show last year, it was nice to see it again. Rea loved it. We met up with Sian, who wanted to go on Jimmy Neutron so, despite a 20 minute wait, we went on. This ride always makes me feel a bit queasy (all that shaking about) but it was still good fun I just love the birdy song at the end.
Finally, we made it to the Horror Make-Up Show, which was great as usual. The girls really enjoyed it too.
We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around, headed over to ET but the wait was too long and neither of the girls were that bothered anyway.
Finally, we went back to the Mummy so Gary, Sian and I could have one last ride while Rea looked around the shop, trying to find a Mummy pin. Unfortunately, she didnt manage to find one.
After checking out a few of the shops on the way out, we wandered back through City Walk and had a look in the shops there. The girls and I spent ages in the Endangered Species store, which I just love.
Then it was time to catch the transport back to the hotel. Our shuttle was booked for 17:05. 20 minutes after the due time, there was still no sign of it. Finally, a shuttle pulled up and a guy got out. A few people were waiting by then and wandered over, spoke to him and then came back and sat down. It was fairly obvious that we were all waiting for a Mears shuttle but the bloke just stood there and didnt say anything. So, eventually, I went over and asked him if he was going to our hotel. I received a blunt No in reply, so I asked him if he could find out where our shuttle was as it was over 30 minutes late. Traffics really bad was the reply I got. Duly chastened, I went and sat down again. Eventually, another Mears shuttle arrived (by this time there must have been about 30 people waiting). The guy and the driver of the other bus (a woman) started shouting out the names of hotels (all Disney) and people were getting on the shuttles. We were the last 4 sat there and it looked like they were going to forget about us. In fact, the guy had already driven off with his bus-load. The woman looked over, asked what hotel we were going to and said she would take us, even though we were on the other drivers route. What a nightmare! To be fair, this was the only problem we had with transport the whole time we were there but, on the whole, we did find the Universal shuttles a lot less reliable than the Disney ones (even though they were all provided by Mears).
Eventually, we arrived back at the hotel. We were hot and bothered so decided to get showered and changed, then go for dinner at Tony Romas.
Dinner was lovely. Gary and Rea both had ribs and Sian and I had steak.
We were absolutely stuffed so decided against dessert. We caught the I-Ride back to the hotel, where we polished off some lovely donuts while watching telly.
P.S. Sorry about lack of photos today we took the video camera but not the digi.
Cast:
Me Joh, 33 Universal at last!
DH Gary, 39 Why is it we need Annual Passes?!?
DD1 Sian, 13 Is Jaws real?
DD2 Rea, 12 I dont want to ride the Mummy, yes I do, no I dont
So, today was our first visit to Universal. It had almost killed me to leave these two parks till the end of our holiday but the tickets we had got for the girls were only valid for 5 days and we knew we wanted to end the holiday on Monday with IOA so, this was the only real option.
A few months before we left, Universal had run a special offer on annual passes buy 1 year, get 2nd year free. It was too good an offer to pass up so I ordered an Annual Pass for myself. Was gonna get one for DH too but figured we only really needed one for the discounts so ordered DH a power pass.
The transport from the hotel had us at the bottom of the escalator by 8:30 so we took a slow wander through City Walk, stopping for Cinnabon Sticks on the way through.
Sian took this picture of Rea but it didn't come out very well (her camera is useless!)
We picked up our tickets without any problems, then entered the turnstiles. Gary was actually excited as the Universal parks are, without a doubt, his favourite.
We decided to head straight for Revenge of the Mummy, knowing that Rea probably wouldnt ride. We explained to her that it really wasnt a normal kind of rollercoaster and she said she would think about it while we were in line. Well, as it was still early, there really wasnt much of a wait so before we knew it we were on. Rhiannon really didnt get a chance to think too much about it or change her mind so on she got. ROTM was great as usual and Rea got off proclaiming that it really wasnt as bad as shed thought. Unfortunately, the ride photo was really rubbish otherwise I would have bought it for her as a souvenir. Unfortunately, she had decided that once was enough for her so no chance of getting another picture.
Next, we went over to Men In Black, which the girls really loved. We rode this 2 or 3 times (and the girls ended up coming back here later on too). Next was Earthquake. Gary and I had really enjoyed this last year and we thought the girls would like it too, which they did. After Earthquake, we joined the line for Jaws (which had been closed until 11). There was a really long wait but the girls really wanted to go on and we figured the lines would only get worse as the day went on. After about 40 minutes, we were finally on our boat. Sian was extremely disappointed to find out that the shark wasnt real and she didnt even get wet.
We stopped at Richters to get some lunch the usual chicken strips and burgers and I had my first opportunity to use my AP for a discount. I was really impressed to get 15% off bargain!
After this, Gary and I wanted to see Beetlejuice as wed never managed to catch the show before. The girls werent that bothered so they said theyd head back and ride MIB again. We arranged to meet them outside the Mummy at 1:30. Bettlejuice really wasnt that good and I sort of wished wed gone to MIB with the girls but well know not to bother again.
We met up with the girls and decided to go and watch the Horror Make Up Show. As we passed Shrek 4D, a film was just about to start. Sian didnt want to see it so she went to look around the shops while we went in. Having not made it to this show last year, it was nice to see it again. Rea loved it. We met up with Sian, who wanted to go on Jimmy Neutron so, despite a 20 minute wait, we went on. This ride always makes me feel a bit queasy (all that shaking about) but it was still good fun I just love the birdy song at the end.
Finally, we made it to the Horror Make-Up Show, which was great as usual. The girls really enjoyed it too.
We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around, headed over to ET but the wait was too long and neither of the girls were that bothered anyway.
Finally, we went back to the Mummy so Gary, Sian and I could have one last ride while Rea looked around the shop, trying to find a Mummy pin. Unfortunately, she didnt manage to find one.
After checking out a few of the shops on the way out, we wandered back through City Walk and had a look in the shops there. The girls and I spent ages in the Endangered Species store, which I just love.
Then it was time to catch the transport back to the hotel. Our shuttle was booked for 17:05. 20 minutes after the due time, there was still no sign of it. Finally, a shuttle pulled up and a guy got out. A few people were waiting by then and wandered over, spoke to him and then came back and sat down. It was fairly obvious that we were all waiting for a Mears shuttle but the bloke just stood there and didnt say anything. So, eventually, I went over and asked him if he was going to our hotel. I received a blunt No in reply, so I asked him if he could find out where our shuttle was as it was over 30 minutes late. Traffics really bad was the reply I got. Duly chastened, I went and sat down again. Eventually, another Mears shuttle arrived (by this time there must have been about 30 people waiting). The guy and the driver of the other bus (a woman) started shouting out the names of hotels (all Disney) and people were getting on the shuttles. We were the last 4 sat there and it looked like they were going to forget about us. In fact, the guy had already driven off with his bus-load. The woman looked over, asked what hotel we were going to and said she would take us, even though we were on the other drivers route. What a nightmare! To be fair, this was the only problem we had with transport the whole time we were there but, on the whole, we did find the Universal shuttles a lot less reliable than the Disney ones (even though they were all provided by Mears).
Eventually, we arrived back at the hotel. We were hot and bothered so decided to get showered and changed, then go for dinner at Tony Romas.
Dinner was lovely. Gary and Rea both had ribs and Sian and I had steak.
We were absolutely stuffed so decided against dessert. We caught the I-Ride back to the hotel, where we polished off some lovely donuts while watching telly.
P.S. Sorry about lack of photos today we took the video camera but not the digi.
