Like I need any help getting excited, but I thought this might be fun....

[Snoopymom]

Are you a rope drop person? dont know what a rope drop person is?.

What do you like at Universal that you bet most people have never noticed or don't care about? It has more rides than Disney

Where else are you going to during your trip? hang out in Daytona for a few days.

Rope drop...Are you there before the parks open?...We haven't stayed on site (yet) and it's really worth it, more so than at Disney, because you can ride with NO lines until about 11:00 - 11:30, plus being one of the first people to walk into the park when it's still cool out and all the cm's are friendly and greeting you is wonderful!

Here's some info on Daytona I posted for someone here a while back if you're interested, maybe you're already pretty familiar with the area? We love it and I thought I had dh convinced to see Siesta Key this time for a change, but he started wining last night about needing to go to the Ocean Deck for some more Rasta Sauce, so we may be taking two day trips, LOL. Have fun!

Daytona Beach

We've only been during off season. I don't think I'd want to go during speedweek or springbreak, especially with kids.

For hotels, I'd ONLY recommend the Hilton
http://www.daytonahilton.com/contactus.htm

and the Ocean Walk Resort, which has 2 indoor pools and the outdoor pool has a lazy river, a slide and a great kiddie pool with it's own slides and tunnels, etc. (We should be checking in tomorrow at this time, can't wait!)
http://www.oceanwalk.com/

which has the Ocean Walk village connected to it with restaurants and a movie theater. It's so nice to have everything within walking distance.
http://www.oceanwalkvillage.com/home.html

The speedway is fun. It has been awhile, but we loved taking the tour where you get to go on the track and walk on the bank
http://www.daytonaintlspeedway.com/

We're going to go to the Marine Science Center nice and small, easy with little ones. The casual guided tour was great, only about $5 to get in, really worth it.
http://echotourism.com/msc/

A Chocolate Factory tour we haven't tried yet.
http://www.angellandphelps.com/

The lighthouse at Ponce Inlet is neat
http://www.ponceinlet.org/

and there is a nice restaurant there called Down the Hatch where you can watch sailboats and the most beautiful sun sets and another called The Inlet Harbor
http://www.inletharbor.com/

We love to just walk around the board walk, eat taffy, ride the go-carts, play in the arcades and sit on the pier at the outdoor restaurant. It has that tacky old carnival feel to it, but it's fun. There's music on the weekends at the BandShell next to the pier, but we've always missed it.
http://virtualvolusia.com/Pier1.html
http://www.bandshell.org/

There is a new water park that just opened that we haven't been to yet
http://daytonalagoon.com/

There's also a dog track there. When we go with extended family, the guys like to get together and go. It's a little seedy, LOL.
http://www.dbkennelclub.com/information.htm

Our favorite restaurant is the Ocean Deck. It has a great view of the ocean.
http://www.oceandeck.com/

The Oyster Pub is a sports bar, great for snacks, and if you're looking for somewhere to watch your "can't miss" football game. (They have a room and big screen just for Steelers fans, it's a blast!) The website is under construction
http://www.oysterpub.com/

For breakfast Steve's Famous Diner is good, and
http://www.billys-tap.com/ is awesome! A little pricey, about $100 for the 3 of us, but worth it.
http://www.auntcatfish.com/ is a casual kid friendly place with really yummy country style comfort food.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

We love it and I thought I had dh convinced to see Siesta Key this time for a change, but he started wining last night about needing to go to the Ocean Deck for some more Rasta Sauce, so we may be taking two day trips, LOL. Have fun!

tell your husband he can order the Rasta sauce online, and get your butt to SK.

 

[Snoopymom]

tell your husband he can order the Rasta sauce online, and get your butt to SK.

LOL! Thanks, I told him that, but he buys so much they give him a deal when we go. He ends up giving most of it away to customers and now everyone asks when we're going...bring some back. We're down to two jars, so panic has set in, LOL.

I'm not giving in on SK, we'll have to just do two beach days, and I just realized that the Sunday we're going to be there is Memorial Day weekend, how crazy will it be? ...Daytona usually isn't bad, so I'm hoping it won't be either.

Thanks!

 

[Sylvester McBean]

LOL! Thanks, I told him that, but he buys so much they give him a deal when we go. He ends up giving most of it away to customers and now everyone asks when we're going...bring some back. We're down to two jars, so panic has set in, LOL.

I'm not giving in on SK, we'll have to just do two beach days, and I just realized that the Sunday we're going to be there is Memorial Day weekend, how crazy will it be? ...Daytona usually isn't bad, so I'm hoping it won't be either.

Thanks!

we were there for sunday o memorial day weekend at noon last year and it was nuts. not the beach, it's huge. but there was no parking. siesta public beach has over 800 free parking spaces unlike other beaches where you have to pay. I'd either be there by 10 and make it a full day if you want to see the sunset, or around 2 if you want a shortened day and still want to see the sunset.

 

[Snoopymom]

we were there for sunday o memorial day weekend at noon last year and it was nuts. not the beach, it's huge. but there was no parking. siesta public beach has over 800 free parking spaces unlike other beaches where you have to pay. I'd either be there by 10 and make it a full day if you want to see the sunset, or around 2 if you want a shortened day and still want to see the sunset.

Wow, glad I asked. I think I'll rearrange our schedule for the Thurs before or the Tue or Wed after. We'll catch the sunset next time...hoping we'll love it enough to stay for a week towards the end of Summer. Thanks a bunch!

 

[Sylvester McBean]

Wow, glad I asked. I think I'll rearrange our schedule for the Thurs before or the Tue or Wed after. We'll catch the sunset next time...hoping we'll love it enough to stay for a week towards the end of Summer. Thanks a bunch!

what can I say, we keep telling you how nice of a beach it is, even for the locals. I'm glad you asked as well, I didn't read before that you were coming here memorial day weekend. the water temps will be in the 80's, unlike daytona.

 

[Snoopymom]

Sorry this got off track, just thought I'd bump. I love hearing about everyone's plans!

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

Now my turn

How many days until you leave? 81 days

Who is going with you? DH (40th birthday) DD (15)

Where are you staying? Parents new winter retirement place.

First time? or how many times have you been? 7

What do you look forward to the most, laying by the pool, screaming your heart out on a rollercoaster, not having to cook? ...when you tell someone you're going to Universal, what picture pops into your mind? Being away from the office and spending time w/ DH & DD. I picture as you're walking near the Universal ball heading through the archway.

What do you do first after you check in? Don't know. This will be the first time we see the place.

What ride, show or character are you looking forward to? MIB

What restaurant and menu item are you looking forward to or to trying for the first time? Don't know, but looking forward to Margarittaville. DD loved it last year and still talks about it. (she'll even listed to Jimmy Buffett now)

Are you a rope drop person? Absolutely!!!!!

What do you like at Universal that you bet most people have never noticed or don't care about? Anyone who's been there notices it. US/IOA special kind of magic.

Where else are you going to during your trip? SW MK Key Largo