Magical May Solo Adventures, updated 2/8

[Saphire5742]

Glad you enjoyed your time in the Jurassic Park area. Love the Hogsmeade pictures!

Thanks! It's always nice to be pleasantly surprised

Love your TR! Going solo is great!

Glad you're enjoying. Solo is the BEST!

I love your Jurassic Park pictures! That's an area of the park I've never actually explored, but it looks so beautiful, and it sounds like you enjoyed it!

Thanks! I really enjoyed my time there. And to think I was prepared to just skip it. Glad I didn't

You look so peaceful and relaxed!

It was a great day. And about to get even better.....

 

[Saphire5742]

Leaving the jungle the next land I encountered was Toon Lagoon. Such a fun place to explore! I especially loved all the cloud thoughts hanging from poles scattered throughout. What’s that you say? You want to see some pictures? Well of course you do! Coming right up…..





















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[Saphire5742]

The first ride I passed was Dudley Do Right’s Ripsaw Falls, a water ride. The theming looked like so much fun that even though the wait time was posted at around 35-40 minutes and I had originally not planned on any water rides I just couldn’t help myself. It was great! As I ended up sitting at the back of the log I only got a little more wet than on Jurassic’s River Adventure.











If you’re looking for the ULTIMATE water ride look no further than Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges. There are multiple signs before and in the queue itself warning that you will get soaked. But after going through 2 water rides and being a hot day I was ready and eager.

Some photos as I made my way through the queue:











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[Saphire5742]

The ride is a blast and as I was warned I ended up completely drenched. My only fellow riders not to get soaked was the elderly couple dressed in ponchos. At some point someone commented to me that there wasn’t a dry spot on me to which her partner replied “look who’s talking”. We all laughed.

When you exit the ride there are drying stations you can utilize for I think it was $5. I was totally fine staying wet though which as it turned out was not too long thanks to the sun and heat.

Next I explored Me Ship, The Olive which is perched overlooking the water ride. There is even a section from which you can shoot water towards riders. I navigated the ship for a bit and loaded up on some spinach to maintain my strength for the rest of the day ahead.











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[Saphire5742]

Walked around Toon Lagoon some more and noticed a Universal photographer so utilized her for some photos and in the process met some characters:









As much of a great time as I was having here time was of the essence so eventually I moved on. Where to? Stay tuned….




And now since today marks 9 days until my Morocco trip it's time to celebrate with some single digit dancing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!







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[jelloarms]

I love your blue dress! Also, who is the dude standing next to Betty Boop? I don't recognize him.

 

[SarahDisney]

I did Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges on my first trip to Universal (many years ago) ... I'm pretty sure we wore ponchos. It seemed like the smart option.

I can't believe your Morocco trip is so soon! Have an awesome trip!

 

[missangelalexis]

Great photos! Glad you enjoyed the water rides!

 

[ariane37]

Love your picture with Betty Boop! She's one of my moms favorites and we kept missing her last year.
I don't even think you can compare how soaked you get on Universals rides vs. Disneys! We did Bilge Rat Barges and Chris and Steve refused to bring extra shoes. It was like their sneakers had just come out of the washing machine.
In case I don't get another chance to say this, have an absolutely fabulous trip to Morocco!!

 

[Saphire5742]

I love your blue dress!

Thanks!

Also, who is the dude standing next to Betty Boop? I don't recognize him.

No clue either. Perhaps her body guard????

I did Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges on my first trip to Universal (many years ago) ... I'm pretty sure we wore ponchos. It seemed like the smart option.

I get that. It was just so hot that I not only did I not mind I actually wanted to get wet

I can't believe your Morocco trip is so soon! Have an awesome trip!

Thanks! Only 2 more shifts...

Great photos! Glad you enjoyed the water rides!

Thanks! Their water rides were a lot of fun

I don't even think you can compare how soaked you get on Universals rides vs. Disneys! We did Bilge Rat Barges and Chris and Steve refused to bring extra shoes. It was like their sneakers had just come out of the washing machine.

Yep . And funny you bring up Disney vs Universal. I was so disappointed on Kali a few days later

In case I don't get another chance to say this, have an absolutely fabulous trip to Morocco!!

Thank you! Just need to get through 2 more shifts...

 

[Saphire5742]

I'm Baaaaaaaack!
Landed in the early morning hours of this past Thursday, December 1.
Such a fantastic trip it was, so many incredible experiences. The group was wonderful, the guide excellent. Have about 2500 photos to now sort through (as soon as I purchase a memory card reader as apparently I have too many photos to upload directly from my camera).
Hopefully I'll have a trip update up by the end of the week. It also seems everyone updated their threads when I was away so I also have lots to catch up on.
If there is enough interest I could share my experiences (and of course a selection of my photos) in a separate TR.

ETA: After thinking about it I don't think I'll do a full blown Morocco trip report. But if there's interest I'll share some day by day photo highlights at the end of this TR.

 

[Saphire5742]

The next “island” after Toon Lagoon is Marvel Super Hero Island. After walking around for a bit snapping the obligatory photos:










Helping Spider Man save the day on a fun thrill ride:






And a very very disappointing ride on Doctor Doom’s Fearfall (trust me this ride is so not worth it), I bid adieu and continued on my way. Would have ridden the Hulk coaster but it was down for refurb at the time unfortunately.


On the way met these two lovelies:




Then I was at the front of the park, Port of Entry.









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[Saphire5742]

More Port of Entry:













At some point I called my driver to arrange for a later pick up by about an hour. Or rather sent my mom a message through the park’s wifi to do that for me (remember the non working local cell phone?).


I turned into a kid again (actually who am I kidding? That’s always me. My mom always tells me that I haven’t grown up and it's true) as I walked under the arch of Seuss Landing. Once again I was awed and amazed by the theming. It really felt as though I had stepped into my beloved childhood books. Absolutely DELIGHTFUL!!!!!!!!!! Quite a few times I clapped my hands in glee.









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[Saphire5742]

Rode a pink Seussical creature on the Caro-Seuss-el (because it matched my hair of course), took a journey through the Cat in the Hat story, and tried to make sense of which Sneetches had stars on their bellies and those who had none upon thars while High in the Sky aboard the Seuss Trolley Train Ride.





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[Saphire5742]

I'm not one to pick favorites (too indecisive for that) but if I had to choose a favorite Dr. Seuss book then it would probably have to be 'Happy Birthday to You'. I still love reading it on my birthday and imagining how much fun, not to mention exhausting but in the very best way, it would be for real.

Do you have a favorite Dr. Seuss?

It was just so much fun to walk around and indulge a childhood fantasy but I knew I must go on. I had yet to resume Hogsmeade and so that’s where I was headed next…..

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[SarahDisney]

Seuss Landing is my second favorite part of Universal (Wizarding World is my favorite) ... it really does feel like walking into childhood memories!

I'm a big Green Eggs and Ham fan, so I love that they have a Green Eggs and Ham food stand/cafe (even though I've never eaten there). And I love the Cat in the Hat too ... which is part of why that's my favorite ride there. I really love every Dr. Seuss book, though ... he really created such amazing worlds and adventures and I still enjoy his books as an adult (although I don't read them as much anymore).

 

[ariane37]

I saw all the Morocco pictures you posted on FB and it looks like you had a wonderful time I'd love it if you added a little bit of your trip at the end of this TR!
I agree with you wholeheartedly about Dr. Doom. Ricky and I were excited for it because we figured it was somewhat like TOT. We got on line with a 20 minute wait and then about 5 minutes into it they announced the wait had jumped to 40. We decided to stay, that's how excited we were. OMG what a letdown Up and down? C'mon, they can do better. Won't ride that again!

 

[DVCGloria]

Great pictures with the princesses! Must have been a truly magical moment

 

[Saphire5742]

I'm a big Green Eggs and Ham fan

Another great book

I really love every Dr. Seuss book, though ... he really created such amazing worlds and adventures and I still enjoy his books as an adult (although I don't read them as much anymore).

He was definitely a genius in that regard

I saw all the Morocco pictures you posted on FB and it looks like you had a wonderful time

FB was very limited as most of the time I used an actual camera and not my phone. I did however just upload them all to my computer last week. All 2600 of them! But I did have the most wonderful time.

I'd love it if you added a little bit of your trip at the end of this TR!

And now I'm again considering a separate TR. I'm still only on day 4 out of 10 on this TR. I might post photos to FB gradually though so there's a chance you'll see that before I actually get a TR going here

Great pictures with the princesses! Must have been a truly magical moment

It definitely was. Thank you!

 

[Saphire5742]

After visiting all the lands in Islands of Adventure I had come full circle and it was time to revisit Hogsmeade. On the bridge on my way to Hogwarts for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey I noticed a Universal photographer so naturally I stopped to pose for a photo with Hogwarts in the background:




And some more as I neared the Castle:










What a ride! As you can tell from my ride photo I was having a blast:






From there it was on to Flight of the Hippogriff. Some photos as I made my way through the queue:







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