Our trip from May 1-4 at RPR

[flbeachbum]

Just got back tonight!! Had such a wonderful time..first time we stayed on property.

Thursday we drove 2 1/2 hours to Orlando. We stayed our first night at the Fairfiled Inn directly across from univerlsal. Last year we had stayed at a Fairfield Inn just 5 mins away from Universal and loved it..this one not nearly as nice.

My Dh and son wanted to spend Thursday at wet and wild..they have never been there. I had a migraine, so I stayed at the hotel for the day. They had a great time though...not crowded at all. We went out for dinner - ate at the Race Rock on international drive..it was a nascar/monster truck theme..my 10yo boy loved it!

Friday is when we had ressie's at RPR~~ we knew we wanted to get the FOTL passes early in the morning so we could spend the day at IOA. We went to the hotel at 7am(the parked opened up at 8am both fri and sat) and to our surprise they had our room ready!! Check in was fast. we each had our key, which also was the FOTL pass and what you would use to charge things back to your room.

We then headed to IOA..couldn't wait to ride the Hulk first thing..and it was NOT open=/ It never did the entire day BUT they did have it running for the "Grad bash" later that night( the park closed at 6pm but re-opend from 8pm-2am for graduating seniors)..so we hopped on Dr.Doom and Spiderman..did both twice. Then went over to Dr.Suess land..my 10yo and my friends 10yo(my girlfriend,her Dh and her 10yo stayed at the hard Rock the same time) couldn't wait till we got out of that land...haha..we made them ride it all, even if they told us they weren't babies=)

We then headed towards Mythos- we put our names in to eat at 11:30 for lunch. Then to Dueling dragons..both fire and ice...the Unicorn and then we back tracked to Mythos for our lunch. WE were early so us grown-ups enjoyed sitting and waiting while the 10yo's raced back to Unicorn to ride it again.

Lunch was good at Mythos. I had a chicken club sandwhich, Dh a hamburger and son had a pizza..it was large and he couldn't even finish it. We had the plantain nachos..they were ok.

We then went to Psoideons Fury..boys had a good scare=) My 10yo wanted me to hold his hand..haha..and he's not a baby=)

Headed to Jurasic Park...I was bummed cause the Pterandon Flyers were closed all THREE days we were there=/

WE then went to do the raft ride, can't think of the name=) We all got soaked...oh, and Ripsaw falls was broken down too...not a great day for rides to be up and running=)

We left the park around 3ish and headed back to our pool. I loved the pool. My 10yo thought it was fun to with the waterplay area. They had volleyball set up in the pool. They were very attentive to if you wanted drinks or anything while laying around the pool.

For dinner we ate at Jakes..we ate around 5ish. I had the potato soup..very tasty. Dh had the ribs..loved them. Son had the bucket of shrimp...loved it. Scooter,our waiter very attentive. Dinner came to about $35.

We then headed back to pool for the "dive" in movie. It was Star wars playing. Kids had a great time...only complaint, our hot tub not hot at all...felt the same temp as the pool(which was heated).

Sat we woke up and ate breakfast at the Islands rest. We didn't get the buffet, didn't think I could eat $15 worth of food that early=) I had the berry waffle...it was very tasty.

We started out day at IOA since it opened at 8am. Hulk now working. I don't know what it is about this ride, but it gives me a headache evertime I ride it. really bounces the head around..I should have taken off my earring..cause one fell off and gone forever=)

After about an hour we went over to Universal. Now the Jimmy Neutron not working! So we head on Twister, then Terminator. Did back to the future and MIB...I stink at MIB..read all the tips on this board and still couldn't get over 100, 000 LOL..my 10 did better than me! We did most things at the park.. the boys loved the water area at Curious George and even more the ball area behind it!!

We left the park around 3ish again, went swimming. Then got ready and headed over to hard Rock for our charcter dinner at Sunset Grill. It was ok..not overly impress with it.

I am a disney girl myself...now I must say, this entire time I've been totally impress with Universal. They've got it made with the FOTl(we never did have to wait more than 5mins) and even the hotels..great value and nice theming. BUT the character dinners, lol..they are lacking there. Just woody and scooby..and only one came at a time..at least we were slow and got to see both=)

We then went swimming at this pool...my 10 yo liked the slide. They had nighttime volleyball..where it glowed in the dark..forget how old you have to be but they were not old enough to play.

Sunday was our last day. Check out was easy...just dropped off the papers at the lobby - you could do it via yout tv but it could never process ours for some reason.

WE went to IOa first..more of the hulk..did Camp Jurasic..boys loved that..those caves are neat..even adults must go through there. We wanted to do more HUlk..and well, you guessed it, not running again=/ So we headed back over to Universal.

My 10 yo really wanted to do slime time but it was not in production on the weekends. They did though do the show and he was picked to play one of the games with his dad..he loved it.

Jimmy was working this time...I thought it was cute. Wish it was all Spongebob personally...after the ride both spongebob and Jimmy were there to take pics.

Then we did earthquake...were m son also got to be the "weather" guy...he had water poured all over him.

It was so much fun..heading back next year again at same time. Early May has worked out well for the past 3 years for us!!

Any questions?

 

[flbeachbum]

Couple of notes...we did buy the refillable spongebob mug - cost $12. WE bought it at the end of the day and asked if we could still use it the next day for the .89cent refills...they said sure, use it the whole time you are there!! So we did, well worth it for the drinks, kind of a pain to hold it the whole time!! Our fun for the day was to see who we could stick the mug with=) My girlfriend thought they should have made some sort of "necklace carrier" for the spongebob...like squarepants on a string you could put the cup in=)

Also, deciding if you should walk to tha park or take boat..we always walked early in the morning..path was easy and took us only 7mins to IOA. Once we walked from Universal back to RPR and it took us 12 mins..BUT it was the longest 12 mins - I was sooo hot=)

My girlfriend took the boat from HRH to our hotel and it took her 30mins..all depends if you hit the boats at the right time.

 

[nicolep91]

Thanks for the great, detailed report! November can't come quick enough...

 

[Disney Debbie]

Thanks for the report - I can't wait to get there!

I've always been tempted to get the refillable mugs - but never do for exactly the reason you said. My family HATES to have to carry anything! If it doesn't fit in the fanny back or the camera case on my DH's belt - then we don't take it!

 

[Minniespal]

Thanks for the great review!!!!