I went to a Land of Dreams to see an Ogre and a Donkey. There were Trolls. I saw a light show over the water and on the Castle. I saw a Epic Model.

[Robo56]

I love how Bob is buckling himself in with his bear Tim.



Back again for a trip report on recent stay at Universal. I had a wonderful time. It was a short trip that mixed business and a few days at my happy place Universal Orlando. Quick introduction.

I’am a Retired RN. I have been retired for a number of years and I do love it. I have vacationed at Universal Orlando with our youngest grandchildren over the years and they are now grown and still hold a fondness of our time at Universal together.

My hubby and I traveled extensively over the years and he does not like traveling anymore. He is the love of my life and understands my need to have some time at my favorite vacation spot. I usually travel to Universal these days alone or I have family that occasionally come along.

I’am older now and in my 60’s and I still enjoy my time in the Parks and the Resorts.

Universal is a fun and safe place to vacation and I have always had a wonderful time there.

On this trip I was staying at Sapphire Falls Resort. I have stayed at Royal Pacific which is a beautiful Resort with wonderful staff. I have stayed at Hard Rock many years ago and it for sure has its on vibe. I have stayed at Portofino Bay many times and I call this my home Resort. It is beautiful and has some of the nicest staff I have met. Everyone that frequents Universal as a vacation destination does typically have a Resort they have found to be special to them.

My second favorite Resort is Sapphire Falls and I will typically stay here if not at Portofino. The Sapphire Falls is a beautiful Resort with an Island feel for sure. The staff there are very welcoming and kind. It is always nice to walk through those doors into the massive open space of a lobby.

I’am getting ahead of myself a little let’s start with my travel day.


Tuesday, June 18th





I had done my last minute packing before I went to bed. I had the clothes I had planned on taking figured out in the closet. It was just getting the things into the suitcase. The house was cleaned and all my hubby’s favorite foods were ready for his meals in the refrigerator. Not sure why, but I always make sure to have the house extra clean before I leave for trips. Not that it is dirty. There are just the two of us and we don’t make a mess. It always feels nice to have things extra clean before I leave. Hubby is a very organized person and he keeps things tidy while I’am gone.

Our son was coming to pick me up to drop me off at the airport on his lunch hour. My suitcase was packed and our son showed up right at 12 noon and it was time to go.

C is such a wonderful son. He always stops in to check on his dad while I’am gone and surprises his dad with invites for meals out.

We have a small airport that is very nice and easy to navigate. C pulled my suitcase out for me and we had some hugs and it was time to go inside.

There was a photo travel op inside that I saw a few people taking advantage of. It was cute seeing a picture of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in an airport in Southern Indiana.


This airport is very small in comparison to any major airport. I have always made sure to have a paper copy of my ticket which I print when I check in 24 hours before my flight. As always when you go up to check in they want your ticket and ID. I gave the guy both and his machine was having trouble scanning my ticket. After scanning it multiple time it finally went through. Of course I had to take my shoes off and my suitcase was scanned. I’am so glad that they have the people scanners as in the past I always had to be patted down because the metal in my legs from knee replacements set off the alarms.

It is always interesting sitting and watching people so excited to get on the plane to Florida. There is a palpable energy.

I had downloaded some movies on my IPAD to watch for the short flight into Sanford. Finally it was boarding time. I always pay for priority boarding so I will have a place for my overhead bag near my seat. I have tried it the other way and have found that folks who are sitting further back will deposit their bags in the front overhead bins so they can pick their bags up on their way out. Of course that doesn’t help people who have paid more to sit in the seats up front with more leg room to have a place over head for their luggage. The flight crew are getting better about catching the folks who are doing that.

The boarding process was uneventful and when we were all loaded the pilot came on to tell us that he was going to try and pull away a little early as there was a storm front moving in. I lifted the window by my seat and I could see the low lying black clouds rolling in.


Take off was fine then the storm front hit and we experienced some pretty bad turbulence. There were some whimpers of fear, but for the most part everyone kept their composure. I will admit I was praying for sure. The Pilot was excellent and before long we had climbed to an altitude that was above the storms system and it was smooth flying from there on.



I didn’t catch it right off……I had September instead of June on my trip report. I must be thinking of HHN.

To be continued

 

[disneyseniors]

Hi Robo: I'm following along too

 

[Robo56]

Hi Robo: I'm following along too

So glad to have you following along Ruth.

 

[Robo56]

Tuesday, June 18th continued.

The flight into Sanford was about an hour and 40 minutes. The Pilot brought us in for a nice soft landing then it was taxiing to the gate.

I will share with you one of my biggest pet peeve's about flying. As soon as the Pilot gets to the gate and the fasten seat belt light goes off and even before the door is opened people hop out of their seats and start taking their luggage down. I’am ok with that part. It is the folks, and there are always a couple that will come running from the back of the plane to get off. They don’t care who they run into or hit on their way to the door. It is dangerous and rude to do that.

People should deplane by rows in an orderly fashion. When I receive my questionnaire about my flight expericence I let them know that the Stewardess should be reminding people to deplane in an orderly fashion. It is never done and is a major accident waiting to happen.

Sometimes the plane does open the back doors and allow the folks towards the back to deplane from that area as well as the front. It seems when the plane is at compactly that would work better. Sorry rant over.

After getting off the plane I headed to get my rental SUV and there was not agent at the the rental counter. There was another lady waiting also. After about 20 minutes the lady for Hertz and Dollar showed up and said she had to take care of an emergency. She upgraded the lady and myself to larger vehicles for the inconvenience. That was very nice of the agent to do that.

Once I had my SUV it was time to hit the road.

I’am going to fast forward a few days as the 18th, 19th and 20th were taking care of business days then the 21st was my trip up to Orlando.


Friday, June 21st

I woke up early and took a nice long bubble bath. I have habit of taking my good old time in the morning I’am usually in no big hurry, but I wanted to get going to enjoy as much time in the parks today as I could. So I made an effort to get going.

I got the luggage in the back of the SUV and off I went. I made my obligatory stop at Starbucks for my coffee and got on 95 and headed North.

When I travel up to Orlando I take 95 to 520 to 528 then on I 4 for only a couple miles then I’am at the turn off for Universal Boulevard.

It was about 9:30 am when I arrived at Sapphire Falls. I was ready to get this vacation part of this trip started. I pulled up to the front of Sapphire Falls and went in to check in. I knew the room would probably not be ready, but that was ok.

I walked through the doors of Sapphire Falls and the cool air and the beautiful scenery was inviting. The beautiful fragrance was wonderful and familiar. It turns out it is the same fragrance that is in Portofino “Bright Sunshine”. I had asked about it last September when I was at Portofino and the Sapphire Falls concierge confirmed it was the same. It is wonderful.

I was greeted at the desk by the lovely Carla. I got checked in and had a look around the store.

This was new since I last visited. I liked that Universal had came up with this design that had something from all the fun things in IOA and Universal.








After looking around the store at Sapphire Falls it was time to catch the Water Taxi over to CityWalk.

I always get wanded (metal detector wand scanned over arms, trunk and legs) at the security check point to get on the boat. It is the metal in my legs from the knee replacements. The security folks are only doing their jobs. I tell them it is the metal in my legs and they get it when they wand my legs, but I have to admit it is a bit embarrassing to be asked to raise my hands and be wanded front and back every time.

It was a wonderful feeling being back on the Water Taxi heading to CityWalk.

My first stop was the big Universal Store to have a look to see if there was any new Merch since I had been to Mardi Gras.

This was a cute shirt. I thought how appropriate this shirt is as I have seen on many occasions parents walking around carrying their children’s various Hogwarts things as they walked around Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade.



The House shirts were nice also.








I like this new Gryffindor merch.

 

[Robo56]

I had not seen this shirt before and it is cute.


The Christmas shirt must have went over well if it is in the big Universal Store in the Summer.





I smelled all the candles and the Gingerbread was the best. It smelled like Gingerbread cookies.



Some other new merchandise was the various designed journals and the cloth bags.






These small Tapestries were new. This one is like the wall at Sirius Blacks family home.

There were also umbrellas.

 

[Robo56]

Also new were a selection of cards for sale. I had seen a few in the Christmas Store of Hogwarts Christmas cards, but these were new.


When I first looked at this I thought it was a cloth design that you could frame and it turned our to be tea towels, but they are interesting




These were new also.


I like this cloth bag.


At first I thought this was a popcorn Bucket, but it contains candy.


I had not seen this Hagrid’s t-shirt before.


And water bottle

 

[Robo56]

I had never noticed this tapestry behind the wands before.


This is a cute wallet for sale.


This was a new shirt of Hedwig delivering an acceptance letter.


There was a lot more Spell Casting dish designs and Candles.










The popular Hedwig shoulder Owl is restocked and plentiful. I picked one of these up and they are heavy. Definitely to heavy for a child’s shoulder.


Universal always does such a wonderful job of displaying merchandise.

 

[Robo56]

The new Minion movie is out and there is new merch for that.













Up next is the Epic Universe Preview Center

 

[disneyseniors]

Can't wait for the Epic Universe preview!

 

[wdwrule]

I’m loving your trip report as usual!! We apparently were there for approximately the same time you were. Such an exciting time!! You always catch great details such as new items that I accidentally overlook. What a great eye you have! I keep telling myself to slow down which I do sometimes. It’s always a wonderful experience to notice something new and/or something that’s been there all along but just noticing it. I hear you when you refer to UO as your happy place

 

[Robo56]

Can't wait for the Epic Universe preview!

Universal has done a wonderful job of previewing Epic Universe.

I’m loving your trip report as usual!! We apparently were there for approximately the same time you were. Such an exciting time!! You always catch great details such as new items that I accidentally overlook. What a great eye you have! I keep telling myself to slow down which I do sometimes. It’s always a wonderful experience to notice something new and/or something that’s been there all along but just noticing it. I hear you when you refer to UO as your happy place

Thank you wdwrule so glad you are along for the trip report. Thank you for you kind comments.

We have some Potter fans in the family and it is always fun to see some of the new merchandise they come up with.

Always good to know another person who calls Universal their happy place too.

 

[Robo56]

Continued from Friday, June 21st

I was excited to view the Preview Center for Epic Universe. It is located in what used to be the location of the Universal Legacy Store.


I did not understand the concept initially as they were talking about there being 5 parks and I kept thinking Celestial Park was just the entry not a stand alone park itself.

So there are five parks.

1. Celestial Park-which will encompass rides, restaurants, and the Universal Helios Grand Hotel.

2. How to Train your Dragon: Isle of Berk

3. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic

4. Dark Universe

5. Super Nintendo World

Universal has done a wonderful job of explaining Epic Universe. Reading their explanation of entering Celestial Park makes sense of everything else about the parks.



On the model you can see the entry to Celestial Park. It is supposed to be an Astronomy themed Park and I’am looking forward to seeing that.


Straight to the back of the model is the Universal Grand Helios Hotel which is at the end of Celestial Park.


Celestial Park looks like it is going to be massive and beautiful.


When looking at the model it follows this Artist rendering.


If I remember correctly this is the Starfall Racer roller coaster that will be located in Celestial Park looks pretty awesome.


The how to Train your Dragon Park looks like it will be a lot of fun for the little ones.

 

[Robo56]

Another picture of Celestial Park in model.


The Ministry of Magic. This photo gives you a pretty good idea how big this model of Epic Universe is.
\






Not sure where my photo of Nintendo World is, but will come across it I’am sure.

Now onto the park I’am most looking forward to Dark Universe











The Model is impressive to look at.

 

[Robo56]

Inside the Preview Center Universal did a wonderful job of showing a picture display of each park Portal with some available merchandise that will be at each park. So you can get a jump on buying some of the merchandise early if you want.

 

[Robo56]

 

[Robo56]

 

[Robo56]

A few more artist rendering photos of Epic Universe and information provided by Universal.







Constellation Carousel


Atlantic Restaurant


The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian restaurant.


Portal into Dark Universe


A little more info on Dark Universe.

 

[Robo56]

You can tell which Park I’am looking forward to. I have always been a fan of the Universal Monsters.

Universal has done an incredible job of planning these new parks. There are rides and experiences that will appeal to all ages. There will be something for everyone.

These new parks will rocket Universal into the stratosphere.

I’am looking forward to visiting Epic Universe.

Of course the most important information is the location





To be continued

 

[Robo56]

Friday, June 21st continued.

After spending sometime looking inside the Epic Universe preview Center it was time to head over to Islands of Adventure.


It was warm and humid this morning and although it was a little bit of a stop up at the gate to get in it really wasn’t that busy once inside.


I always walk through the stores at the entry of the parks to see what is new and to get a little cool off with the airconditioning.


I think the Trading Company Store must have the biggest display choice of lanyards I have seen.












This entry to the park is beautifully themed.

 

[Robo56]

There was some nice new Minion merchandise that a sweet little fella I know is going to love for his 5th birthday in September.








I had seen these Pumkin Juice sippers before and they are cute.


There is always plenty of sweets to choose from in the Potter merchandise.


I saw this Gryffindor string bag at the store. I have bought a similar string bag at HHN and it is the most comfortable string back pack to carry a small amount of things in.


I keep saying this Death Eater Mask that belongs to Bellatrix Lestrange is one of most interesting of the Masks. I’am tempted to purchase one for by Potter collection.