My DSD came for a visit & didn't stay for our trip to WDW??? Update 1/13Kadani Villag

[Finkelstein's Hubby]

Hi Melissa

So many cool pics, as for Shakira never ever understimate her powers

Must admit the wetness is something that just drives me insane so to see Jonas looking like that is my worst feeling when in a park, yeurch!!

You managed to get shots I never though possible....the top of Rip Saw Falls!!! I salute your determination

Diane has now changed her mind, sorry our minds, lol. Its now going to be a 2 week trip every year!!!!! woohoo

Gordon

 

[jerseygirl81]

I'm loving your TR and all the great pictures! My DH & DS16 are getting tired of just doing Disney so I think it's time to venture out I think they would love Universal, we are taking a short trip in December so I'm wondering if we should skip a day at DS or EP and go to IOA for the day. Do you know if they do anything different at Universal at the holidays? Linda

 

[jmskinner]

Hi Melissa

So many cool pics, as for Shakira never ever understimate her powers

Must admit the wetness is something that just drives me insane so to see Jonas looking like that is my worst feeling when in a park, yeurch!!

You managed to get shots I never though possible....the top of Rip Saw Falls!!! I salute your determination

Diane has now changed her mind, sorry our minds, lol. Its now going to be a 2 week trip every year!!!!! woohoo

Gordon

Have you seen the new Shakira video. I found it, watched it, told Jonas I didn't think I wanted him to watch, which he promptly got up and headed for the computer. Probably shouldn't have mentioned it, Di may come after me.

for every year!

I'm loving your TR and all the great pictures! My DH & DS16 are getting tired of just doing Disney so I think it's time to venture out I think they would love Universal, we are taking a short trip in December so I'm wondering if we should skip a day at DS or EP and go to IOA for the day. Do you know if they do anything different at Universal at the holidays? Linda

Linda, I do believe they decorate and everything at IoA for Christmas, but not sure exactly what all they do. Be sure to check out the Universal threads here on the Dis. Sorry I'm not more help.

Ok, I promised an update but then ran out of time and had to get Jonas ready to take off, so here is the update.

 

[jmskinner]

We headed back to the Horror Makeup Show. On the way we noticed we just missed the Madagascar characters and Kara wanted her pic with them, so we noted the times and continued on to the show.

We made our way in to the lobby and there was a special roped off area for the express holders. Can you believe I snapped pics while waiting, thinking at any moment I would be told to put the camera away.

They open the doors and allow the express people in first. As usual we were told to go to the end of the aisles, which we did. But then the 3 at the end of our row decided to jump up and move to the front row where they would be front and center. That left us wondering if we should move down, but we decided not to since the whole row would have to then get up and move. At first I was irritated about this, but charma gets them.

A few pics of the stage:

Obviously this was not going to be a pretty, joyful show.

The two actors came out and told us the news I wanted to hear...."get out your cameras!"

Here are the two actors showing an audience member how arms are cut off in the movies.

Now, the makeup artist brought out a heart and was explaining how "movie" blood is made and proceeded to squeeze the heart all over this nice lady in the front row. Luckily it was just water, but remember I mentioned charma, that was one of the people that jumped out of our row. I and . It wasn't just a squirt, he hosed her down good.

In fact later, they were picking on a kid and threatened him. Went on to say, "This aint' Disney, I don't have to be nice. Just ask that lady."

Showing how American Werewolf in London was made.

And they used their victim...oh I mean the audience member one more time.

I don't think I can explain this pic:

This really was a fantastic show and highly recommend it.

We made our way out and wanted some lunch. Had to head to one of my favorite movie diners:

Typical park food, hamburgers and chicken strips, but it was good. Now, it was crowded in here, but the big problem was they really weren't set up for long lines. We were worried about finding a table because up front there were a lot of people standing around waiting to grab a table as soon as someone moved. Well, I walk around back, which meant walking through the area where the food was given out because there was no other way to get there. I walk around the corner and there must have been 20 tables sitting there empty. I leave the camera and bag with Jacob and go tell Jonas where we are. He tells me to hurry back because he is worried someone will yank Jacob out of the table just to get one. That is how bad it was up front. When he finally sat he realized why I wasn't too worried. It was actually quiet where we were. So, remember that if you ever eat here.

Anyone remember who the actress was in the T-Bird?

There was just one more attraction to see, Destruction! Would it be open today?

 

[tink1957]

I think the actress in the T-Bird was Suzanne Sommers, if I remember correctly.

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Hi Melissa!

All caught up now, great updates from you and Simmerbaggins!

And yes 2012 will hopefully be a 3 week visit, but offsite. Now Ben & Heather are getting bigger I think this will be the last trip where they will be able to share a bed, after that I'm pretty sure they will be insisting on their own beds, if not their own bedrooms! So offsite it will have to be, and it is much cheaper to stay offsite so we could hopefully manage a yearly visit, with maybe some WDW stays sprinkled in when we have the extra cash!

As for the new Shakira video, I saw that last night and mentioned it to Gordon!

To Jessica - you should be able to ride you want to in US/IOA without the FOTL passes. Try and go through the week as US/IOA is busy at weekends and go early and you should have no problem. We've gone in Sep/Oct/Nov time and it's been pretty quiet then compared to WDW.

Di x

 

[irky416]

So glad you were able to take pictures, finally! They turned out really good for being inside! I'm glad that lady got soaked!

 

[JPFamilyMom]

Simmerbaggins.... that sounds like something I would do But at least you got to ride the train around the whole park

Melissa, you got to take pictures, and they turned out really well- don't think we'll be doing that this upcoming year, but looks like something fun for the future. The diner on the other hand looks like something that would be a lot of fun to do, and glad you found the back area that is much quieter.

 

[jmskinner]

I think the actress in the T-Bird was Suzanne Sommers, if I remember correctly.

You are correct. That was the only one I could remember for sure. I think Paul LeMat drove the yellow and I can't remember which black one Harrison Ford drove.

Hi Melissa!

All caught up now, great updates from you and Simmerbaggins!

And yes 2012 will hopefully be a 3 week visit, but offsite. Now Ben & Heather are getting bigger I think this will be the last trip where they will be able to share a bed, after that I'm pretty sure they will be insisting on their own beds, if not their own bedrooms! So offsite it will have to be, and it is much cheaper to stay offsite so we could hopefully manage a yearly visit, with maybe some WDW stays sprinkled in when we have the extra cash!

As for the new Shakira video, I saw that last night and mentioned it to Gordon!

To Jessica - you should be able to ride you want to in US/IOA without the FOTL passes. Try and go through the week asn US/IOA is busy at weekends and go early and you should have no problem. We've gone in Sep/Oct/Nov time and it's been pretty quiet then compared to WDW.

Di x

I understand about needing separate beds. Jacob wasn't happy about having to sleep on an air mattress, but he got over it.

So glad you were able to take pictures, finally! They turned out really good for being inside! I'm glad that lady got soaked!

Yes, we loved the fact that it was those 3 who got it and the one really bad. I'm guessing they do that everytime.

Simmerbaggins.... that sounds like something I would do But at least you got to ride the train around the whole park

Melissa, you got to take pictures, and they turned out really well- don't think we'll be doing that this upcoming year, but looks like something fun for the future. The diner on the other hand looks like something that would be a lot of fun to do, and glad you found the back area that is much quieter.

No Jessica, not something for your boys. I forgot to mention one girl came in that was at least Jacob's age or older and she wouldn't even look at the stage before the show started. She was crying the whole time.

Yes, eat at Mel's but head to the back if it is busy.

 

[SimmerBaggins]

I forgot to mention that right before we went on the train, we went on Splash Mountain. Now, we had never been, and I didn’t get any pictures due to my fear of the camera getting wet. What I will say is that we didn’t get wet on the downward drop – we got DRENCHED by the one that went down while we were going up! I don’t think either my DD or I had a dry spot on us. We were all surprised how long the ride was – DD kept saying “I see light!!!” looking for the drop, and getting fooled.

So, here we are back on Main Street – had to get a pic of the horse!! I had a flashback of an embarrassment a couple of years ago when I got up to the Clydesdale along with other folks, and we all stroked him a couple of times on the nose – and got promptly chased away by an irate CM! I didn’t make the same mistake this time.

Now you will see that as we make our way to TomorrowLand is how their clothes drape off them and are still damp…!

What happened on this bridge is that the girls got their first photopass pic with Tinkerbell inserted – maybe sometime I can insert it (when my BFF sends a copy of the pic)…. LOL
We decided to do Stitch, because we love him so…what a cutie.

It was an easy, walk right in line.

Jordan translates the warning. A nearby unsuspecting visitor looks on.

My DGD kept going on for a while after the ride about the horrible smell of chili dogs.

Having ridden the Stitch ride, we were hungry, and decided to partake in our snacks for the day. We pigged. See the little girls in the background? Their parents were in the line for the Astro Orbiter, so they sat at the table there…one kept staring at us, obviously hungry, and her sister scolded her, “stop staring at those people!!” I wanted to offer a chip, but didn’t want to embarrass the big sister. I do want to say that I had the pretzel with the cream cheese middle here...we all enjoyed it very much. Little bit salty, little bit sweet. Sorry to say there isn't any left in my picture.

Irky, look out!! Trespasser bird detected…he kind of blended in with the gloves.

We stopped and watched a little villain action with the end of the Dreams show, and then it was FP time!

We headed over and rode the ride...I’m sorry to say I don’t have a picture of it. We do have video, but I don’t know whether posting video links would be very story-friendly. Here we are coming back from FrontierLand…my run up and turn-around pic.

Next up, Haunted Mansion! My DGD was nervous…these pictures don’t really do justice to how talkative she is and how she reasons everything out. We tried to reassure her that it wasn’t such a scary ride….

Gave her another camera (as she had run out of her disposable one) to take pictures of the graveyard. For some reason, I didn’t get one. Note that DH is taking video. We talked aloud about the headstone that opens her eyes and looks around, and that always gets people’s attention (behind him).

Next, it’s lunchtime! This is our first counter service meal, and DD and I got the shrimp at the fish place at Liberty Square. Here you see (bad photo) us getting to the dessert.

Even though we ALWAYS shared our dessert with DGD, somehow she continued to feel disenfranchised by being “stuck” with the kid’s meal and not getting to order a dessert, herself.

Ridiculous pic

DD noticed that the flowers in the window (we were up on the second floor) looked like they were peeking in at us while we were eating….

That’s it for now…phew! Melissa, this is tough work. !!

 

[carissanboys]

Loved the pictures from the Hard Rock Hotel! Very cool.

Glad you avoided a tornado!

 

[Finkelstein's Hubby]

Hi Melissa

So cool to see the Horror make-up show, have always strolled straight by it in all our visits but that looks superb....have also always admired the cars at the diner and not for one second did I even realise there actually was a diner there at all.......all this and more will be rectified on our next trip

Oh yeah and as for Shakira....giggedy giggedy

Gordon

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Great updates and photos Simmerbaggins!

I think it just depends sometimes on Splash, we've never gotten soakes before but I know some people have!

Di x

 

[jmskinner]

Loved the pictures from the Hard Rock Hotel! Very cool.

Glad you avoided a tornado!

Yes, it is always good to avoid Tornado's. And did you mean the Hard Rock Cafe? There is a Hard Rock Hotel at Universal, but sadly we didn't stay there. We were at their "value" hotel the Royal Pacific Resort.

Hi Melissa

So cool to see the Horror make-up show, have always strolled straight by it in all our visits but that looks superb....have also always admired the cars at the diner and not for one second did I even realise there actually was a diner there at all.......all this and more will be rectified on our next trip

Oh yeah and as for Shakira....giggedy giggedy

Gordon

You have to go see the Horror Makeup Show. It was a lot of fun! I remember seeing pics of the diner and wondering if it was real.

Vickie, great update. And yes, if you want post videos.

Ok, that was too funny that Emily was talking about the smell of chili dogs and then you realize you are all hungry.

Actually, I'm surprised you like Stitch. We didn't like it, but I am thinking of giving it another shot. We just expected the seats to move or something.

I may have to try that pretzel, I'm not a big pretzel person, but I love cream cheese.

Isn't it funny how you can mention something and then realize the people around you don't know about it.


Ok, hope to have another update myself later today. Need to get the oil changed in the truck and take the kiddo to therapy.

I have spoken to Jonas twice, but he still wasn't at his final destination. I hate hearing the word "convoy". He sounded really tired though.

Hope everyone has a fantastic week!

 

[carissanboys]

Yes, it is always good to avoid Tornado's. And did you mean the Hard Rock Cafe? There is a Hard Rock Hotel at Universal, but sadly we didn't stay there. We were at their "value" hotel the Royal Pacific Resort.

Maybe I'm just confused! But, in one of the installments you said:

Now, our plan all day had been to go to Hard Rock Hotel for dinner. So, we decided to walk over and see if we could make a reservation for the evening.

So, I was thinking the Cafe was at the hotel and lots of the pictures were from the hotel?? Did I read wrong?

 

[jmskinner]

Maybe I'm just confused! But, in one of the installments you said:



So, I was thinking the Cafe was at the hotel and lots of the pictures were from the hotel?? Did I read wrong?

Yup, you got me. I kept trying to type Hard Rock Hotel and I guess one finally slipped past me. The Cafe is separate from their hotel, even though it is the size of a hotel. The place is huge.

The hotel pics were from the Royal Pacific Resort there at Universal.

 

[SimmerBaggins]

After we ate, we decided to go North up to get a FP for Peter Pan and see what else we could do! First thing up was It’s a Small World; last year we took boocoos of pictures of the little dolls, but this year, not. Here I have for you, the clock as it opens, and chimes the time (we had never seen it do that – or if we did, we missed the picture!):

After that, we went over and did Snow White. Last time I got a picture of Jordan by the wishing well, so I got another of her.

And one of Emily.

Then we went to Mickey’s PhilharMagic 3D Spectacular! I really enjoy this show, because of how it widens out, and the music is really great.

Just a few pictures of the town…

I love Pinnochio!

I love the colored tiles on this roof. Call me crazy.

Now some drama. I wanted Emily to enjoy the Dumbo ride – and Jordan didn’t want to go. Well, since there were 4 of us and I wanted to go on the ride, she must go. This forced fun, coupled with a long line and very hot weather, made for some grumpy time! Yay.

I took another pic of the scenery.
Perhaps I should explain something before I go on. Seeing as we are on a budget, we did a couple of things we hadn’t done before. One was that we gave gift cards to the girls and told them that was their spending money. That sure made for some interesting, thoughtful near-transactions. And also made them happy about the things they finally came away with. The other thing is that I normally like to bring home the magic to my worker-friends…but money was really tight, so I told them that I would take a picture for each of them – whatever they wanted. I got some interesting requests…but that was what I expected! I’ll go through them as I take the pictures and let you know what and who they were for.

For this one, a co-worker told me that he wanted a “local” girl. Well, I knew what he meant, but I didn’t know how to fulfill his request – this was, of course, Disney. I strove to find something to meet this need, and absently snapped this pic…it didn’t make the cut, however. I’ll find a better one later.

Here we are, on the Dumbo ride!!

More on Weds….

 

[jmskinner]

Vickie, I wish I had known about you needing a pic of a local girl. I would have sent you to Universal. The whole time we were at WDW Jonas kept commenting on how Universal had more to see. Actually, the first night at Citywalk we saw these three ladies that were obviously there to party. We just thought it seemed strange since it was a Tuesday and it was only about 7:00. Jonas kept bugging me that I needed to get a pic and I finally did, just didn't post it here.

Too funny about Dumbo. Would you believe I still have not ridden it. Kara and Jacob did our first trip.

I haven't seen the clock open up at IASW, I've seen it opened, just not the action of it. Very cool.

And I love Mickey's Philharmagic also. Plus, the last couple of times I have been able to walk right in. Ok, guess I should do an update now.

 

[jmskinner]

We were now full and ready for a Disaster! So off we went to see if it was open today:

Hey look, its a pic of me:

We made it to Disaster! and it turned out to be the longest wait of the whole Universal portion of our trip and the hottest.

What in the world were we in for?

We waited about 20 minutes before being let in to the pre-show where they pick out audience members to participate, or Extras. Sadly, since we were express, we were in the very back of the room, in the corner, so none of us were picked. This is another attraction where you move from room to room. There were some interesting gimmicks, especially seeing Christopher Walken. Now, I thought this was like the Backlot Tour where we would be moving in a tram, but it wasn't like that. But, I don't want to give too much away, so I will say we enjoyed the very end. I would have hated to be in the stand-by line for this one because it was in the sun with very little shade and don't know if this was worth that.

I was hoping to get to interact with this guy, but sadly he walked on by us:

At this point we split up. Kara wanted to meet the Madagascar characters and I wanted to take Jacob to the Woody Woodpecker area. Does Jacob find a way to get even wetter than he was the day before?

 

[irky416]

I like your shirt in that picture of you!

I don't think I remember the end of Disaster...I don't even know if we rode it? Was there a subway type thing at the end (don't want to give it away) or am I thinking of something else?