Do you know the why of the change?
Sat at nbc grill dining once before ride opened up. observed the ‘sandbag’ people upside down for over an hour lol. All I needed to see to decide it was not for me
Had to use one last July due to broken foot. Rented offsite one, smaller type. Glad I did. Boat captains told me they are the perfect size to last all day & to back onto the boats
It always cracks us up when folks try to sit on the outside of the boat. Ha! Newbies. I have that same issue with RRR - I want to ride but while I'm on it and getting my brain scrambled I am rethinking my whole life. I'll probably go on again in August because I'm a glutton for punishment. As long as I don't end up in the hospital again, it's all good.FRIDAY 13TH MAY
Yep, Friday the 13th!!
Not a day that freaks me out, but we do know folks that do have a thing about that date and are glad to see the day end with no mishaps! The 13th has always been lucky for me so far. But, it is one of those days for some folks.......
We again, were up early this morning and we were over at RP as we had to grab Rob from Bell services for a few minutes, and also chatted to Milton for a few moments too. These guys really know how to look after guests.
Up for breakfast and the lounge wasn`t too busy this morning, I think a lot of folks had left for EE, so we missed the crowds I think. Breakfast was nice as usual, I had my, what was now becoming an everyday treat2 glasses of champagne......and very nice they were too!
We chatted some and then went down for the boat as we were going to the Studios this morning. We were meeting Lindsey later to do the Horror Make Show together, something she loves as much as we do, but that wasn`t till mid morning.
I can`t remember if we waited long for a boat or not this morning, but I do know it was a full boat and as happens at least once every single trip......someone thinks it`s a good idea to try and sit on what will become the outer part of the boat door!!! It`s so funny and so obvious when it`s pointed out to folks........and this trip it happened around 4 or 5 times, usually it`s just once.
It was another roaster of a day ahead for us and would top 96F and it felt like it already this morning.......we got off the boat and headed up to the Studios where again, Tom got through the gates with no issues. I think we had solved his problem.
We tend to wander through the Universal store in the mornings, not just because it`s cool, which it is, but we just like to eye up some merchandise too.
They have the fudge counter as soon as you walk in......now, we really don`t like fudge very much, for me it`s just too sweet, but they did have some new flavours since we last looked. And they did sound nice I have to say. We do on occasion have some Butterbeer fudge, weird as we don`t like Butterbeer, but it is quite nice.
We didn`t buy any as we probably wouldn`t eat it, but my goodness that salted caramel looked gorgeous!!
Minions already had a regular line of 50 minutes, but with EP it was a walk on.
I just don`t like it the same as when it was 3D. It never made me feel nauseated before, but there is something now that is just slightly off for me. It is a cute ride though.....
Yep, going to be a hot one...........
Tom went on RRR despite saying he wasn`t going to ride it again this trip, but it was quiet and the Express line was non existent and he got the front and said it wasn`t as bad as before and did I want to go on it. I wasn`t sure as it can knock you for the day........but I did and was dreading it as I walked towards the ride vehicle.
Started off is good, we get the front row.......167 foot hill climb which I love, and first drop are fabulous..........over the loop that`s not really a loop is also fine....then it gets a bit rougher after the part where you drop and come out near the Tribute store...........
Never again.
I really am done with this one now.........that last part really rattles you to your core. I`m sure some are fine with it, but this old brain just can`t deal with that rattling aorund on rough coasters anymore.
I`m glad I recovered fairly fast, no residual headache or nausea after the first few minutes. We had a very lovely young lady I was ok as I exited the ride.....she checked if I needed some more help, I said I`d go get some water and would be fine. And I was, we got some water and a candy bar and I was fine after that....water and sugar.....the fix everything solution!
What`s annoying is, I really like the ride, but it`s not worth feeling bad for a while afterwards. Thank goodness we have Velocicoaster.
It`s also starting to look more pink in colour than the vibrant red it once was when it opened in 2009.
I hate to repeat......well, I don`t......but this is such a pretty park and this little area is lovely.
And a little deserted this morning too!!
We bypass Jimmy Fallon everytime too.....just not for us at all.
Although we were missing The Mummy a lot this trip, not doing the Minions anymore and now with RRR not being an option anymore for me, this was the highlight of this area now. And it was closed.
Roll on September, it`ll be open by then for sure.........
It`s strange seeing so many things boarded up in the one area, but it`s all for upgrades so don`t mind seeing them. But, usually there aren`t as many boardings up around the parks.
Today we planned to go into do Gringotts and nothing else.......but couldn`t resist the back of the bus picture.......
We went in and Gringotts had one heck of a line today.......so even EP was going to be a long wait this morning, we`d pass and give it a go another day. It`s not the greatest ride around, but it is fun and we do like to ride it. And the lines are quite decent to see too.....we just didn`t feel like waiting this morning.
Diagon Alley was fairly busy considering how quiet the rest of the park is.
Coming back outside we just can`t believe the heat already........we`ve visited several times in May, and this had been the busiest and the warmest so far.
I loved this picture of Kreacher........
It wasn`t long till we were meeting Lindsey, so we had time for a couple of rides on MiB.......Tom and Kyle love this ride and take massive pride in getting good scores!
I couldn`t give a rats patootie about shooting games......I think you have to have a competitive streak in you to have a desire to win here......I guess I don`t have that!!
I just go along for the ride! However it is fun I have to admit today, and although I did try a little today to shoot whatever it is you`re shooting at, I wasn`t very good. Tom was pleased with his score, but kinda glanced at me wondering why I wasn`t better at this type of thing........lol.......
I did try......a little
More to come...........
Tom is always smiling!!!! How lovely is that!THURSDAY MAY 12TH
Woke up a few times during the night, got up and had some orange juice and watched the darkness for a while till I started to feel tired again. Finally got back to sleep around 5am, only to get up at 6 to get showered and ready. These beds are so comfortable, it`s the same at RP, we sleep incredibly well usually in them.
Today was completely onsite.......no plans to go offsite at all, which is unusual for us as we do like to wander around and that`s one of the reasons we`ll always have a car when we visit Orlando. It gives us the freedom to do what we want when we want. Folks use Uber a lot, but it`s never appealed to us.
Once we showered we began to walk over to RP and met Mr Beiderman who was heading over that way too, so we walked over and had a good old chat and catch up while we walked. He is such a nice man and is incredibly guest and staff minded, so many folks have nothing but praise for whenever they have met him.
We went our altering routes and we headed up to the lounge where Tom was going to enjoy a couple of glasses of fizzy this morning as there was no driving involved today........
How happy is this guy!!!!
We did enjoy this relaxing time in the morning, chatting and enjoying some food as we get ready for the day. The lounge is a lovely space to relax in or out of food hours too, we often come and sit if we`re doing laundry or just have some time to kill, usually late afternoon for us, but it is fairly quiet most of the time when they`re not serving food. And of the lounge does have the nicest staff around.......
We popped donwstairs to say hello to Rob from Bell services for a chat as we said we would, he was with guests but we did get to chat to Milton who joined Loews last year and is just a complete gentleman. We met him at Christmas and thought he was just so lovely. So we caught up with him and then Rob appeared so we got to catch up with both of them which is always nice.
We then headed off to walk to IOA and boy another scorching day for us and this was bliss!!!! Down side is, I looked like I had been dragged through a hedge backwards and I hadn`t even got to the park yet! It was hot.
We used the AP entrance again this morning and again, it was deserted, but we were a little later again this morning, no idea on the time but we do find our chatting does keep us busy most days........
Heading into IOA is one of our favourite things to do in the parks....maybe not the favourite thing, but it is such a gorgeous area with so many little things to notice too....and the music is iconic and when you hear it you know exactly where you are....except at Christmas when the music is very festive and feels right somehow for the time of the year.......now I`m hearing Feliz Navdad in my head????
We always love the little details in the parks and these super cool little love doves sitting high atop the side of one of the buildings....cute.
I don`t care what anyone says, this park is beautiful. It is lush with all the greenery around every area and can be as pretty as any park in Orlando
Our first stop is usually down to look over the lagoon and admire that behemoth of a coaster that has changed the visual of the park forever.......it is certainly a coaster that is eye catching over any other and we just cannot wait to ride it again today.
Slightly different from how it looked in 2014.
My wonderful husband..........
I still wasn`t keen on the Dr Doom ride without the extra belt, but they had made it so it seemed to have an additional click when you pulled the harness down, so I guessed it was of course safe........lol.......my brain does go into overdrive at times!
There was barely a person on the ride this morning so we headed into the regular line instead of the EP, something we barely do, but every so often we do wander through the regular lines just for pictures or because we haven`t done it in a while, it`s fun if there is no one around.....if it`s busy we got our asps in the EP line!!!
We do like this line, it is quite different to the EP line in which you see nothing as you just veer to the right and climb a set of stairs and you`re there.......so this is one line outside of Potter where I would go through the regular line once and again.
It was completely deserted in here.
This is the one ride in the park that Tom often says is the scariest ride in the park since day one......and I think the accident at Icon Park made us think twice about this ride, but as horrible as that was, we knew safety had been ignored down there. Here, we did trust Universal with safety......so on we went.
It was fun I have to say.......this ride is short, but, so much fun....you can see for miles when you get up there and it does depend which side you are on which view you get. We did only do this twice this morning, as we wanted to get round to VC.
The safe rattles and shakes above the getaway car.......tiny little bit of cool theming.
Capt America is a bit of a hunk too.......we had a great meet and greet with him in Dec 2019 and became quite a hit with us.......of course he`ll never be Spider-Man.......
We wandered through the cartoon area and headed down to spend some time behind Me Ship the Olive.........
This is another area that is so bright and colourful and full of fun, but the water rides in this area, Bluto and Ripsaw Falls will have you completely drenched.....not just soaked, you will be like a drowned rat. On a very hot day of course this is a blessing!!
Usually we have an afternoon where we do all the water rides one after the other until we are fed up.......and I can guarantee there are no cameras around on those days!!! Once we are done we head the short walk back to the hotel and that`s usually us done with those rides.
Tom blames me for this place being so busy now...yes, of course it is.......lol....but, there never used to be anyone down there up until about maybe 4 or 5 years ago, then there were suddenly more people around.
We can spend hours standing here watching folks get soaked and the best ones are the unsuspecting ones who have no idea this huge deluge of water is about to drench them....or at least the unlucky two or three who are directly hit by it.....while everyone else in the boat howls with laughter and relief it`s not them.
We`ve seen folks laugh and some laugh while inwardly seething they were the ones to get hit......one girl of around 10 burst into tears with rage, and I`m sorry, but it was the funniest thing ever and I almost burst a lung laughing as she seethed and yelled at her entire boat........
Then of course you have the fun of being squirted by the lovely folks on top of the ship itself.....this won`t drench you, but it will hit you a little, maybe annoy you if you`re 10 of course.......lol.....
Although I`m not a fan of Mythos generally (will try it again at some point) it is however a very beautiful building inside and out. Love the theming with this one.
More to follow........
I remember the old Kong! I believe it was where Fast and Furious is now.Carole, I just wanted to thank Tom for the fabulous photos he takes. He has a good eye for subjects that most of us overlook. I love looking at his photos
We, too, miss Jaws. That ride was so much fun and we looked forward to it every time. I don't know why it was stopped. I know the movie Jaws was a long time ago, but that shouldn't play into getting rid of a fabulous fun ride like Jaws was.
Do you remember the "old" King Kong ride where you were in a warehouse (I think) and Kong actually grabs your car and drops you down to floor level? That was a fantastic attraction, and I miss it too.
Guess I sound nostalgic today but seeing the old Jaws memorbilia sparked it I think
I have a question that you might know about? My husband might have to use an ECV due to nerve damage in his legs, on our next visit. Are the boats compatable with an ECV? He can walk with a cane but couldn't do the entire parks. I was just wondering if you have seen ECV;s on the boats?
Thanks so much,
Ruth
which always get a good old guffaw of laughter, but they have added some new comments about the Kardashians and so on. The show itself is entertaining and maybe for some it might be a little gory, but it really isn`t. They talk about make up processes over the years and how far they`ve come along since the original days.
Lindsey is a cutie, other than resembling one of my DS old GFs to the point I did a double take, she looks quite familiar. Wonder if she worked one of the non site hotel desks prior to her current assignment?
love that print, a classic
Think her real parents might object!
Thank you so much Keisha for the helpful information on ECV's. My husband hates using one and uses his cane most of the time, but using an ECV really helps him. Who did you rent from?
Deb: You hit the nail on the head with your husband's fear of scary movies! My husband is the exact same way. He refuses to watch anything scary. I also grew up on those old horror classics and loved every one of them. I can watch them before bed and sleep like a baby. I even watch UFO and Bigfoot shows on TV, which is sometimes too scary for him.
Was thrilled With gold mobility’s service, scooter condition & pricing. They do sell out in advance btw.
I’m not big on eating fish out, Tom’s sea bass looked amazing
Can also give a good review of Walker Mobility - we've rented from them several times.
