Part 11: Day 8: Universal Studios
A late start today so as soon as we got to USF we went for lunch at Nascar. As it was only 11.30 we were surprised to find a few people already eating. The themeing in here was good but it didnt translate well onto my pictures because it was so dark. I had soup to start with (why do they give crackers with soup in the US?) and Gavin had Onion rings, lots of onion rings! For our main course my receipt says one Daytona and one BCB. I assume these are both types of burgers but I honestly cant remember! With two cokes this was $37.21 plus tip, very reasonable price and with nice food, good themeing and a great server what more can you ask for?
We made our way over to Universal after taking a couple of shots of the globe. The rest of our holiday makers had raved about Shrek so it was a priority, but at a 60min wait and weird UE machines (didnt realise for a while each machine was for more than one attraction) we carried on walking.
Twister was the next thing we arrived at so why not? After this we went on Earthquake. I had been one both of these before but as I have often said I seem to have a block on remembering specifics about the rides I rode in 2002 so it was almost like been a newbie and Earthquake was far far better then I recalled.
Up now was the Mummy. I had no intention of letting Gavin out of this one. I knew it didnt go upside down and he didnt know it went backwards so he had nothing to be afraid of. We got our locker, walked straight in and with only a 10min wait we were soon at the front. I hadnt allowed Gavin to speak at all while we were queuing so he couldnt talk himself out of it but right at the front I had to pause for breath and he started. Do I have to ride? I can just go out over there and wait for you? Luckily the nice US version of a CM didnt make us wait too long before he asked how many and I physically dragged Gavin into his seat mid moan!
This ride is AMAZING! I loved it! Did Gavin? Erm sort of, he is very glad he rode but at the time he was a nervous wreck when we got off. Since arriving home he has all sorts of ambitions on RnR next year but we shall see .
Check out Gavins face in the picture (if you can see) I nearly wet myself!
We went for a Starbucks next so Gavin could recover. Two Strawberry frappuchinos = $9.06. Lovely.
After a quick rest we wondered over to MIB and got UE, we had figured how the machines worked by now, our return time was 19.35 and it was only 14.30 now!
Jaws next. Gavin has been to US in Hollywood (lucky bugger, his mate won a competition and took Gavin to LA for five days in 2001) and said it was exactly the same except in LA one of the Jaws was broken.
We continued wandering around the lake on came to Back to the Future. I knew this was a simulator and loads of people on here had commented on its ability to bring on motion sickness but Gavin wanted to ride and after the Mummy how could I not? After 15 mins of queuing I then had 6 mins of Hell. How can anybody enjoy this? It didnt help that Gavin was sat behind rather than beside me so I had nobody to hide behind. I couldnt walk straight for half an hour after this and will never subject my sensitive belly to it again!
Am not sure in which order the next few things were in but over the course of the afternoon we saw Terminator 8/10 Horror Make-up Show 8/10 and Shrek 9/10 (you cant give away a 10/10 on a non thrill ride!) When we returned for our MIB slot the ride had shut at 19.00. Never mind am sure we sill be back one day.
At Universal we spent more money on stuff than any other park, even when I was let loose in mousegear.
We bought a few things for the friend looking after our house. I got some Shrek pyjamas. They are made up of mens boxer shorts and a ladys vest top because I didnt like the style of the actual pyjamas on offer.
On they way out I saw the shop selling m&ms by the colour, I bought quite a few but they were horrid! Binned the lot when we got in.
Left Universal around 19.45 and went to Dennys for tea. Italian chicken sandwiches for both of us. Very nice.
At Universal we hadnt spent much time in a queue at all. The only UE we got was for MIB and in general the park seemed very unbusy. We realised alot of the US kids has returned to school already and this certainly made a difference to our subsequent park days.
Back to the villa at 21.00 then we sat around the pool with a few beers chatting about our days then bed at 00.00.
Jodie
A late start today so as soon as we got to USF we went for lunch at Nascar. As it was only 11.30 we were surprised to find a few people already eating. The themeing in here was good but it didnt translate well onto my pictures because it was so dark. I had soup to start with (why do they give crackers with soup in the US?) and Gavin had Onion rings, lots of onion rings! For our main course my receipt says one Daytona and one BCB. I assume these are both types of burgers but I honestly cant remember! With two cokes this was $37.21 plus tip, very reasonable price and with nice food, good themeing and a great server what more can you ask for?
We made our way over to Universal after taking a couple of shots of the globe. The rest of our holiday makers had raved about Shrek so it was a priority, but at a 60min wait and weird UE machines (didnt realise for a while each machine was for more than one attraction) we carried on walking.
Twister was the next thing we arrived at so why not? After this we went on Earthquake. I had been one both of these before but as I have often said I seem to have a block on remembering specifics about the rides I rode in 2002 so it was almost like been a newbie and Earthquake was far far better then I recalled.
Up now was the Mummy. I had no intention of letting Gavin out of this one. I knew it didnt go upside down and he didnt know it went backwards so he had nothing to be afraid of. We got our locker, walked straight in and with only a 10min wait we were soon at the front. I hadnt allowed Gavin to speak at all while we were queuing so he couldnt talk himself out of it but right at the front I had to pause for breath and he started. Do I have to ride? I can just go out over there and wait for you? Luckily the nice US version of a CM didnt make us wait too long before he asked how many and I physically dragged Gavin into his seat mid moan!
This ride is AMAZING! I loved it! Did Gavin? Erm sort of, he is very glad he rode but at the time he was a nervous wreck when we got off. Since arriving home he has all sorts of ambitions on RnR next year but we shall see .
Check out Gavins face in the picture (if you can see) I nearly wet myself!
We went for a Starbucks next so Gavin could recover. Two Strawberry frappuchinos = $9.06. Lovely.
After a quick rest we wondered over to MIB and got UE, we had figured how the machines worked by now, our return time was 19.35 and it was only 14.30 now!
Jaws next. Gavin has been to US in Hollywood (lucky bugger, his mate won a competition and took Gavin to LA for five days in 2001) and said it was exactly the same except in LA one of the Jaws was broken.
We continued wandering around the lake on came to Back to the Future. I knew this was a simulator and loads of people on here had commented on its ability to bring on motion sickness but Gavin wanted to ride and after the Mummy how could I not? After 15 mins of queuing I then had 6 mins of Hell. How can anybody enjoy this? It didnt help that Gavin was sat behind rather than beside me so I had nobody to hide behind. I couldnt walk straight for half an hour after this and will never subject my sensitive belly to it again!
Am not sure in which order the next few things were in but over the course of the afternoon we saw Terminator 8/10 Horror Make-up Show 8/10 and Shrek 9/10 (you cant give away a 10/10 on a non thrill ride!) When we returned for our MIB slot the ride had shut at 19.00. Never mind am sure we sill be back one day.
At Universal we spent more money on stuff than any other park, even when I was let loose in mousegear.
We bought a few things for the friend looking after our house. I got some Shrek pyjamas. They are made up of mens boxer shorts and a ladys vest top because I didnt like the style of the actual pyjamas on offer.
On they way out I saw the shop selling m&ms by the colour, I bought quite a few but they were horrid! Binned the lot when we got in.
Left Universal around 19.45 and went to Dennys for tea. Italian chicken sandwiches for both of us. Very nice.
At Universal we hadnt spent much time in a queue at all. The only UE we got was for MIB and in general the park seemed very unbusy. We realised alot of the US kids has returned to school already and this certainly made a difference to our subsequent park days.
Back to the villa at 21.00 then we sat around the pool with a few beers chatting about our days then bed at 00.00.
Jodie
Shame about the M&M's - last time we stopped in there, DH found the Jellybelly jellybeans and we ended up with nearly $20 worth 
He did eat them all though 
) - ended up with a cute pair of Tinkerbell PJs from...ASDA (4 months after we got back) 
