New Converts Trip Report(dec.18-23)

[fiveforall]

Cast: Me(32), DH(46), DD(9), DD(7), and DS(4)

Dec. 18: We arrived at RPR at 4 PM(after being on the road since 4 AM!)and immediately check-in. We are in Tower 1, room 1707, I believe. We are impressed with the room and head immediately to IOA. We had the Mastercard buy 4 for 5 for 5 days deal, so we were ready to go. Upon entering IOA, we head straight for Seuss Landing and the Cat in the Hat. We use FOTL even though it wasn't very crowded and easily rode this twice. This would be the first and second of MANY rides on CITH. Next, we rode One Fish Two Fish and got wet. We rode the Caorosuessel(sp?) twice. By then we were ready to eat, so we went to an empty Circus Mcgurkus and had chicken and mashed potatoes. This meal was filling and pretty decent. The kids got excited when they peered out the window by our table and saw the policeman from Grinchmas peering in. After dinner we headed to Spiderman which my son had been measuring himself for weeks to ride and he was so TERRIFIED of the ride, that we had to ride Flying Unicorn four times in a row. After that it was late so we went to bed.

Dec. 19: We go to a pretty empty US and ride pretty much everything. With FOTL we walked onto everything. We ate lunch at International Food and Film Festival and enjoyed the sweet and sour chicken. We all split the mile high apple pie and brownie and found both to be okay at best. Ds and DD(7) adored ET and Woody's Coaster, so DH spent lots of time with them there while DD(9) and I rode the Mummy(AWESOME!) and played the addictive MIB. We left the park around 5 and had a disappointing dinner at NBA City. I had the chicken pasta dish with bleu cheese and it was cold and the chicken tasted like it was Tyson strips. All of our food was cold. YUCK! After dinner the girls and I headed to Loews Cineplex to watch Lemony Snickett's SOUE, and the boys watched football back at the hotel.

Dec. 20: We went back to IOA and we rode CITH about three more times, followed by the rest of Seuss Landing. On this day we rode all the rides, even the water rides(despite the cold), and saw Sinbad's Stunt Show. We all really enjoyed this. For lunch, we really enjoyed the Enchanted Oak Tavern. We had delicious roasted chicken, turkey leg, and wonderful corn muffings and roasted corn. The kids really enjoyed eating inside a tree!
For dinner, we had an outstanding meal at Hard Rock Cafe. I enjoyed the Pig Sandwich and the kids enjoyed their chicken tenders. DH had a burger that he enjoyed. I had the peanut butter/chocolate (to die for!) bread pudding and DH had the big ice-cream brownie thing. The kids had sundaes. It was all so good! Then, we were stuffed, but we headed to IOA for some MIB and Curious George. We road ET three times---I love that ride!

Dec. 21: We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast of chocolate croissants and fruit at Croissant(Crescent?) Moon Bakery. It was so nice to be able to leisurely enjoy breakfast, knowing that with FOTl, we'd still get to ride everything. We spent the morning finishing up what we'd missed at IOA, and then headed to US. For lunch we enjoyed a WONDERFUL meal at Finnigan's. I had the corned beef on a pretzel roll and DH had a steak sandwich. The kids had the usual chicken tenders. This meal was one of the best on the trip. We saw Beetlejuice's show and the Ghostbuster's show(BOTH WERE AWESOME!) and then plopped down in front of Macy's for the wonderful parade. We left the park at closing and went to Latin Quarter. I wish I had been hungry because DH and I split an appetizer (Tres, something) and it was divine! The beef empanadas were so good. One dd got a pizza empanada and the other two got chicken. This is a lovely place and I do want to go again.

Dec. 22: Today was DD's 7th b'day, so we bought her one of those tacky birthday cake hats and she got lots of attention! We spent the morning at IOA and then left around noon. It was really crowded! The kids swam at the resort for a few hours, then we headed to Margarittaville's for an early birthday dinner. This was the best meal of the trip. We all had cheeseburgers and then the birthday girl got a huge piece of chocolate cake. After dinner, we headed to US for the parade and DD got so much attention by wearing her hat! Parade members stopped and made over her and some sang happy birthday to her. She was so excited! We spent the rest of the evening on MIB and Woody's. ET was closed much to my dismay.

Dec. 23: headed home!

We rode everything but Dr. Doom's Freefall, and we saw all of the wonderful shows, including Grinchmas and the Macy's Parade. We had a blast! I was most impressed by US(loved ET, Mummy, MIB, and Ghostbusters' show), but I was most disappointed in Back to the Future. The little ones loved Barney and Animal Planet. The kids also loved IOA(Flying Unicorn and everything in the Jurassic Park area, and of course Seuss Landing. ) Now we can't wait to go back!

 

[Melisa1]

Great report, sounds like you had a wonderful time!

 

[highlander447]

Reading your report was like a breath of fresh air pity about NBA never ate there although my son wants too next week and I really want to try the latin quarter as well it sounds great thanks for sharing your vacation with us it sounds wonderful can't wait until next week when we are there

 

[sweet maxine]

I enjoyed reading your trip report.

My family and I just returned several days ago from our trip to the Orlando area. We did the usual Disney park touring, but this time included a day at US/IOA. We had not visited US in about 13 years, so we were really in for a surprise! My teenagers (and friends in tow) had such a great time at both of the Universal parks. I am convinced now that Universal really gives that age group a lot to enjoy compared to Disney. I even found myself having a great time on MIB, and had a score of over 250,000 on my first try! Wowee!!!

We had fun at Disney, as we always do. There was just something so fresh, new and exciting at Universal that we didn't see at Disney. I think next time I'm going to try to get a great rate on one of the hotels there, just for the FOTL access. The crowds were not too bad on our visit in late December, but I can imagine how it might be in the summer.

I also noticed that the folks at Universal seem to be super friendly and try to do their best to make sure everyone has a good time. My teenagers LOVED Whoville and insisted on meeting the Grinch! Well, let's just say that I'm already planning another trip for early summer, and we'll definitely include more time at Universal this time!

 

[fiveforall]

I was surprised at how friendly all of the employees were. Everyone seemed to have a smile. The parks were super clean too. I guess I had always been a Disney snob, thinking Disney parks were cleaner and that cast members were superior. My last visit to Disney in Dec. however, found several grumpy employees and lots of dirty bathrooms. IOA and US just seemed to have excitement all around. I just can't wait until our next trip.

 

[Motherfletcher]

Nice report. We usually try to go to Universal during that same time frame. Its not busy before Christmas and the resorts offer value rates.
Seventh floor of Tower 1? Is that a pool view?
Too bad about NBA City. That is my son's favorite restaurant. I don't think he has a clue what he is eating though. He just loves the atmosphere.
At Circus McGurkus Stoopendous did they have the Christmas Feast special available? That was turkey, roast beef, veggies, mashed potatoes and a biscuit for $10. It filled up my 16 year old!
I wondered if anyone ever actually bought those birthday cake hats? Don't feel bad we have a trunk full of hats that we will never wear again. It must suck to have a birthday so close to Christmas! Did you tell them at RPR about the birthday? They usually do something specail for a seven year old.
Glad you had fun and it sounds like there is another family hooked on the place!

 

[kaceyisme]

Thanks for the report! Glad you had a great trip!

 

[gigi1313]

okay, your trip report and comments thereafter really have me getting excited... i, too, am a "disney-snob" and was only humoring dh by agreeing to sneak in a day or two at universal during our wdw vacation... but the more i read and research the more i think i am going to plan to split our vaca between the two, staying at a universal hotel just for a change of pace!

thanks!

 

[calena]

I enjoyed your report. My kids are roughly the same ages - 4, 7, 10, so I was wondering which park you would suggest first. We are also taking my parents with us for one day so I am still trying to decide which park would be best for them. We went to MK with them last year. They liked it. I am thinking IOA because my 4-year-old wants to go on Seuss rides with them. He says he also wants to do ET and Jaws though! I think my mom and dad could probably only handle one park. We will be in Orlando for 11 days, but they are just joining us for a few days, so I think one park day is all they could take. They are 77 and 78.