Up and out much earlier today - DH fully recovered and able to tuck into doughnuts in the room before we left. Set of for Universal Studios in time for opening. Even so by the time we'd made it through the entrance queue for Shrek over 1 hour (no express pass) so headed deeper in. DH and Josef queued for the Mummy while Christian and I went ahead to get Express passes for Jaws (as usual trouble swiping the tickets - why are those machines so tempermental?). Long wait for other two gave us time to look at the hanging shark, take a photo, get a pressed penny, eat an apple, walk around a bit more, look at the shark-related merchandise, consult watch 5th time..... 
Eventually the others turned up (constant pop music playing may be supposed to make waiting time quicker - all I can say is depends what is playing!) and went on Jaws ride - excellent, Christian's favourite so far and even a frisson for adults. And you don't get too wet.
Next Beetlejuice - no previous knowledge of the film required, absically a lot of people in Hallowe'eny clothes singing and dancing to some good rock/pop - "I will survice", "La Vie da Loca" etc.
Next Animal Planet Live - nothing special, don't go out of your way to see it - and Barney (classic - took me back to when Josef was a baby!)
and a very good lunch (choice of American, Italian or Chinese) before Men In Black ride (Christian gave this the thumbs up despite the spinning and the long wait) and the ET ride (my favourite). Finished off with the Blues Brothers - excellent music, Josef deeply embarassed by his parents grooving, Christian plain grumpy as he'd had enough.
So to cheer the boys up - off for another look at the shops! Hmm, wonder why that didn't work?
So at Christian's request we tried to find the Cracker Barrel we'd seen signposted as being off Kirkman. No sign of it and soon hopelessly entangled in the freeway system with no idea which way we should be going 
(we thought there should be signs N and S, but only E and W 
) Eventually navigated our way back to Crossroads by working out our direction from the setting sun and ended up at IHOP. Big thumbs up from the boys, DH and I totally defeated by size of portions. Back to the hotel with groaning tummies for bath and bed!
Next day Good Friday - hotel shop full of Easter Bunnies. Back to IHOP for breakfast (eggs benedict - just the right size for me!, pancakes got the seal of approval from the boys) and back to Universal/Islands of Adventure to mop up any reamining "musts" and to buy Christian a tracksuit he's set his mind on (having failed to find anything similar in the shops).
Determined to do Shrek first, no matter how long the queue - excellent 3-D presentation with really good effects, moving seats, scuttleing spiders
sneezes 
etc. From there straigh to Terminator 3D - some small kids found this a bit load but my two loved it (and of course there was an excellent retail opportunity on the way out....). Then over to Islands of Adventure, but Spiderman had 1 3/4 hour wait so had to say no. Josef had his photo taken with Spiderman then we went to get Express passes for Cat in the Hat while Andy and Josef rode Carroseusel. No luck, as next available slots were 5.30 pm and it was only 2.00! Bought Christian's tracksuit (which came up 20% cheaper for some reason. Result!) and back to the hotel for a swim. Unfortunately, after 20 minutes (barely time to get our mugs refilled!) everyone was ordered out of the pool in case of lightning strike 
So got dressed and back to the Cracker Barrel we COULD find for some more lovely homecooking.
Came back to diaries and bedtime stories on the TV and a restful night.
Eventually the others turned up (constant pop music playing may be supposed to make waiting time quicker - all I can say is depends what is playing!) and went on Jaws ride - excellent, Christian's favourite so far and even a frisson for adults. And you don't get too wet.
Next Beetlejuice - no previous knowledge of the film required, absically a lot of people in Hallowe'eny clothes singing and dancing to some good rock/pop - "I will survice", "La Vie da Loca" etc.
Next Animal Planet Live - nothing special, don't go out of your way to see it - and Barney (classic - took me back to when Josef was a baby!)
and a very good lunch (choice of American, Italian or Chinese) before Men In Black ride (Christian gave this the thumbs up despite the spinning and the long wait) and the ET ride (my favourite). Finished off with the Blues Brothers - excellent music, Josef deeply embarassed by his parents grooving, Christian plain grumpy as he'd had enough.
So to cheer the boys up - off for another look at the shops! Hmm, wonder why that didn't work?
So at Christian's request we tried to find the Cracker Barrel we'd seen signposted as being off Kirkman. No sign of it and soon hopelessly entangled in the freeway system with no idea which way we should be going (we thought there should be signs N and S, but only E and W ) Eventually navigated our way back to Crossroads by working out our direction from the setting sun and ended up at IHOP. Big thumbs up from the boys, DH and I totally defeated by size of portions. Back to the hotel with groaning tummies for bath and bed!Next day Good Friday - hotel shop full of Easter Bunnies. Back to IHOP for breakfast (eggs benedict - just the right size for me!, pancakes got the seal of approval from the boys) and back to Universal/Islands of Adventure to mop up any reamining "musts" and to buy Christian a tracksuit he's set his mind on (having failed to find anything similar in the shops).
Determined to do Shrek first, no matter how long the queue - excellent 3-D presentation with really good effects, moving seats, scuttleing spiders
sneezes etc. From there straigh to Terminator 3D - some small kids found this a bit load but my two loved it (and of course there was an excellent retail opportunity on the way out....). Then over to Islands of Adventure, but Spiderman had 1 3/4 hour wait so had to say no. Josef had his photo taken with Spiderman then we went to get Express passes for Cat in the Hat while Andy and Josef rode Carroseusel. No luck, as next available slots were 5.30 pm and it was only 2.00! Bought Christian's tracksuit (which came up 20% cheaper for some reason. Result!) and back to the hotel for a swim. Unfortunately, after 20 minutes (barely time to get our mugs refilled!) everyone was ordered out of the pool in case of lightning strike So got dressed and back to the Cracker Barrel we COULD find for some more lovely homecooking.
Came back to diaries and bedtime stories on the TV and a restful night.
