So, it is already late enough as we are entering the park. Nearing 11 am!
I wasn't too happy about that, especially since this was our only day for Universal and Dallas just loves the 2 parks! I also knew the parade was a must and I was making sure I had a good spot!
We have our tickets out and going through the turnstiles. WELL, I go through, the guy scans Lin's ticket THEN Dallas hands him his. He says it isn't valid! WHAT!
I said, WHAT! and he said it shows ticket is not valid. That is all he said. He told me to go over to guest services and they can scan it and tell me why. Now, this ticket is OLD! I had 1 ticket left when we went last year or so but it had been bought about 3 years prior to that even. It had 1 day because I bought 3 the first time but didn't end using it for Dallas our first trip. The other 2 tickets my aunt gave me and they were super old too, but same as my mom had, purchased at the same time. No issues with those.
I go over to the guest services line and my mom ends up coming over. The boys stay by the gate. Someone is near the end of the line and I tell him the situation. I thought maybe somehow I had grabbed the wrong ticket and it was one that had 2 days used so I really just needed to buy another ticket. I wasn't thinking there was an error on their part, although I was confused as to why I would have had the wrong ticket since ours had our names on them! The guy tells me if I want a ticket to just go get in line, it will go MUCH faster.
We walk over and there are a gazillion people in front of us, yes, really a gazillion. We wait and finally get up there. My mom tells me to question them anyways, so I did. She scans it and completely confused at the ticket window. Calls over 2 supervisors after chatting for a minute. No one has any idea why it won't work, it clearly shows 1 day used and that it is a 2 day. First they thought it was expired, but quickly saw it was non expiring!
SO, yep, you guessed it. Sent me back to the line I WAS in and the guy told me to get out of! She said their computers show more and just to go over there and see if they could help me. I was a bit relieved because his ticket was going to be $90, but also annoyed since by this time it has been a good 45 minutes!
We get in line again at Guest Services. The line is longer then I don't know! So we stand there and stand there and stand there. I finally decided to go ask the guy at the gate what the ticket said, we had been standing there over 30 minutes at that point and no workers in sight. So we get back in his line and he pulls me around the gate to show me, but it also shows only 1 day used (he didn't do this the first time). He finally decides since I had my ticket and I told him how long it had been (although he knew it was a while) to let me in the park to go to guest services inside where the line would be MUCH shorter!
There 4 people in front of me now, but 4 workers. I finally get up and the lady looks at it, says something about the computer systems changing and it thinking that non expiring tickets expired and prints me out a new one! All this in less then a minute! We chatted of course and I told her how relieved I was since we had been waiting now over an hour and half to get in the park! She said she would print out 3 front of the line passes for 5 people (our party size) and that would help make up a bit of time. I thought that was so sweet and gladly let her know we would appreciate them. Oddly enough this whole time I never got aggitated!
She ends up saying she'll print out 15 single ones since Dallas isn't tall enough for some of the roller coasters! Works for me! I go back to the gates and get the rest of the clan. WELL, yep, my mom's finger will not scan to let her in because her hands are too clean! The guy asked if she was a nurse. I guess it is hard to get a finger print on their machines (or scan I should say, it is not a print) from super overwashed hands! Here are a few pictures of ordeal!
I think his name was Louis. He was the sweetest guy though! They ended using Richy's finger scan for my mom's ticket. I couldn't wait to try and go in the other park later today and see what happened!
We went in Islands of Adventure first.
Finally inside we hit The Hulk first. We were done quite quickly since we had the front of the line passes. Just Lin and went. Dallas still is not tall enough and still not happy about it.
Then we hit Spiderman since he wanted to go no a ride. Once we were done it was well past lunch time and I was starving! We walked toward Circus McGurkis to eat! A few years ago they had the best Roast Beast special (from the Grinch) at christmas. I was hoping they would have it again, but no such luck. This is just a counter service place but we have never had a bad meal here. I got a chicken ceasar salad and it was delicious!
Here are a few quick pictures I snapped on our way. I wasn't waiting for the perfect pictures, so there are lots of "people' in my pictures this trip!
If you have never seen Suess Landing at Christmas it is super cute! I have always loved the Grinch though so that probably has alot to do with it. Dallas is doesn't like the Grinch at all and in fact told me last year he wouldn't wear the outfit. He finally decided he would though. I forget why, but I am sure I bribed him. I was hoping he would do his picture with him but I knew he wouldn't and never even tried.
After lunch Dallas wanted to go play in the little play area they have. So off we went.
My mom doesn't usually play along with anything, she is more about clean and proper so this is a rare picture!
Oh, and a quick weather note! It was 80 this day and always seems to warm when I have jeans and long sleeves planned. I have finally learned, and usually don't do long sleeves now a days, but the jeans were made. He was fine though with them on. We couldn't have asked for a nicer day.
Next we got in line for the little train thing! I couldn't imagine waiting in the real line as it was over 60 minutes long, we waited about 25 in the front of the line part. I was trying to get a nice picture of his outfit, but this is what I get now a days when I ask for a picture.
We really needed to start heading towards Universal at this point but Dallas loves the little unicorn rollercoaster so I figured we would hit it quickly first. The maps never gave a time for the Macy's Parade and the one worker and I had also read said dusk. Off to find the rollercoaster!
Hey, wait! Where is it? I finally look at the map and don't see it on it. They are building a Harry Potter something or other and we assume that they have all that area blocked off so head on to Jurassic Park River Ride. Dallas has never gone on this and doesn't really like dinosaurs but I told him he would like it! Which I think he did. He expected to see a big dinosaur at the end because he knows how the Dinosaur ride is at the AK.
I was a total dork and we took ponchos, mainly since I had on jeans and so did Dallas and by now it is getting late, around 4, assuming the sun will set about 5. Glad we did. We just put them over our jeans, but it was nice to not be soaked.
So, then what we were thinking when I agreed to take Dallas on the Wassa whatever Falls ride. He again, had never been and I remembered how fun it was and knew he would love it. I also remembered that there is now way to get off that ride NOT being soaked. So, we took the ponchos, knowing they would only help a bit.
The guys in line laughed and did let us know we would still be wet. I thought that was nice. We survived pretty well, I thought! I totally forgot about the water shooting at us at the end and taken off my hood and Dallas' by then. We didn't even get that wet on the big hill, but had gotten alot on one of the little hills. Well, I'll share this picture just because.
My hair was totally soaked and my shirt too since I had taken off my hood and let open where I was holding the poncho closed. This is AFTER I have already dried off as much as possible. This is also the only picture I have of Dallas and i together really and wanted a cute picture with our shirts.
Cindy Lou Who was a big hit! Quite a few noticed the shirt and I just enjoyed in general knowing that our pictures would be cute. Too bad there aren't any of the family or even really the 2 of us!
The sun stayed shining all of about maybe 10 minutes! Then started going down! I had thrown in mine and Dallas' long sleeve shirts and glad I did! So we did a quick change shortly but I did put our wet shirts back on on top.
But may I ask- where did you get the Wall-E bag in the pic in post #3??? I am totally in love with it!!!! 
