Solo and Unleashed!

[jenseib]

Hi Jen!
Sorry I have been absent a lot lately. I have been reading, but there was never enough time for answers. Got a bit of trouble with house and flat and it takes away a lot of my time.

Thats OK. I hope everything is working out for you. I have been so busy lately too that I am not caught up with many things I had hoped I would be at this point in time as well.

Okay, let me comment on the last update.
We have stayed at RP several times, but only once in a room where you had to go "down". It was the worst room we have had there. The ones higher up are much lighter and it felt less of a jungle to me. And I am all with you on the theming and the maze that leads to the boat. We loved to just walk down that path to the parks and so your pics brought back happy memories.

I thought the room was just fine......but there was an issue with the hallway later that night.

We have not been to UO in quite a few years so all your pictures are very much appreciated.
It was great to see the new Simpson additions as there were still fences up when we last visited.
Can't wait for your pics of Diagon Alley.

They just added some new Simpson stuff about a year or so ago I believe. We ventured over to Universal Studios on our March trip and it was up then, but much of it was not there on our 2012 trip.

I'm looking forward to your photos. I'll be there for a few days next April after our week at WDW. In July my DW and I toured the WB Studios outside London to see their Harry Potter exhibit. It will be interesting to compare the two.

I am getting ready to post about it!
I would love to see the Studios though, that would be so neat!



My DW just LOVES the Simpsons Ride. We were never there when they had the Back to the Future ride.


Same basic ride....but at the time is was such a new thing and I LOVE Back to the Future. We do love the Simpsons ride though too. I suggest taking bonine if you are prone to motion sickness.


Thanks for the pictures of the area of the Simpsons. I don't remember seeing them when we were there.

They added a lot to the Simpsons area over the past year or so. I have more pictures of the area from our March trip...I am just still slowly working on the TR still.

Caught back up. What a great morning in the MK! You really hit the highlights in very quick order.

What a weirdo though getting in your seat on BTMRR, then hoisting his camera up like that. I would be very annoyed. I don't think I've ever even been seated with a stranger on that ride. It would be uncomfortable sliding into him the entire time.

Total weirdo....the least he could've done was be good looking and he wasn't even that!

Your room at RP looks really nice though. Even if the theming is a little off, I like it better than the one you had at CBR.

Well RP is right on...it's CBR that is off. But I enjoyed my stay at both places.

I am following this part of the trip report with special interest. We have decided to spend a couple of nights at Universal next year and the Royal Pacific is the hotel we are most likely going to stay at.

I enjoyed the resort, but there are a few quirks, like it didn't have any quick service place for breakfast and the gift shop was super small and poorly stocked. But it was a nice resort.

I was not a fan of Back to the Future as it made me very sick. I will avoid the Simpsons ride for the same reason. That first view of Diagon Alley is stunning.

Corinna

Yes. I still get that sick feeling with this kind of ride too. I didn't mention it, but that morning I took bonine knowing that I was going to be riding rides like that through out the day.

 

[jenseib]

When you come over the bridge you are now in the London area. For those who have seen the movies and or read the books, you know that you have to click on some bricks to open up the secret Wizard area of Diagon Alley. Now of course they cannot to it completely like the books, but I thought they did a good job.

Also this building on the end is 12 Grimmauld Place….Sirius Blacks home that only those who know the secret password can see.







And the Knight bus sits out front.



This is the public transportation for wizards…and it can be one crazy ride.



You can see Kings Cross over to the side…that is where you would catch the Hogwarts Express….at Platform 9 & 3 Quarters.



I, however, was going to Diagon Alley. No need for a train at this point, so I followed the people and found my way in. From this angle you really can’t tell how neat this is, but I have a picture looking back later that really looks like the bricks moved out of the way for you to enter.



When you walk in Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes is right there.





And if you look straight down to the end of the street…Gringotts Banks….with the dragon on top.





Which is where I was heading.











So my plan had been all along that I would just do the single rider line. From reports from friends who had gone, that typically had half the wait time of the standby time….so I was figuring 1-2 hours for single rider. The down side to this is that you did miss part of the queue, but I was willing to do that to cut it down from the 3 plus hours of waiting in the stand by line.

I approached the entrance and the single rider line was closed! What?????
I asked and the TM told me that the wait for single rider was at capacity right now and you would be better off to go in standby at this point. Ok, so I looked up and my heart skipped a beat. It said 90 minutes. I could handle 90 minutes! I asked if that was correct and the CM said yes. Oh Boy!!!

So in I went! I looked at my watch and it was 1:50 PM.



Unfortunately you only go in there and then out the back side and you wait outside for quite a while



The good thing is that there is a ton of queue lines out here but not even a third was being used. I only had about 10 rows maybe to wind in and out of. That made me happy! Not long after I got in the line did fill in a bit further behind me, so I think I came in at the perfect time.

There was a little theming out here too.



And yes, it was still stinking hot. They do have fans at the end of some of the rows and every time I passed one it was pure heaven.



The area I was in was covered at least….this was unused today and that would’ve been right out in the beating sun.



As I weaved in and out I finally got to the last row before heading back inside. I saw some people coming in and I asked them what the posted time was and they told me 70 minutes. Well that’s great! It went down by 20 minutes and the line was actually longer now than when I came in, so perhaps I would get on before the 90 minute posted time.

One nice thing is that the line does move a lot. We did have moments where we stopped, but never for too long.
Finally I was back inside and the air was so nice and cool in there.

 

[jenseib]

This is the entrance area, but the queue winds right back through here.





Once here they will hand you a ticket and tell you to take your bags to the locker just outside and to the left and you then present the ticket and can get back in line.
I made my way to the lockers and kept my phone and grabbed my point and shoot camera and came back and they told me to join my party in line. Well I didn’t have a party, but I just went back in line behind the people I had been following the whole time.

I go to turn on my point and shoot and nothing….and look at the batteries….um there are no batteries. Dang it!!!! I had forgotten that I had recharged the batteries and threw them in my bag, but never actually put them in the camera. Well that’s disappointing. I did have my phone, so I took pictures with that, but I will warn you, they are all pretty blurry.

When you return to the line you are now in the main bank area with the tellers.



If you had watched any of the opening day things or previews, they often showed this area without the queue rails set up yet.











Not sure where the stairs led to, but there was a door down there.





And because my pictures are so bad, I am going to share with you some of Universal’s press release photos of the same area from Universal.









They did a fantastic job in here.

We then went down a hallway.



A small vault.



Once we got to this room they would take each party and take a picture…..I never even looked at mine as I am sure I looked awful.







You could see people behind the windows talking…it was a really neat effect.

 

[littlenellbell]

What a fun little visit you had to the MK. That was so nice of your friend to get you in!

We've never been to Universal. Carson wants to go so bad, so I see a trip there in the next couple years. The theming of the Harry Potter area looks amazing! Of course I've never seen a HP movie or read any of the books. We would definitely need to get up to speed and watch a few movies before going so we know what this is all about. Has Claire read any of the books? Maybe this is something I could get Carson for Christmas.

You room looks nice at US. You can't beat how convenient it is to the park!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Jen, I agree that your Universal resort room looks very similar to the new rooms at the CBR. I have seen those same soap holders in several hotels that we stay in. That manufacturer must make a ton of money.

While I have never read a Harry Potter book or seen any of the movies, I still think that the Harry Potter section at Universal looks really neat. Did you get to see the dragon breath fire or was that only happening during the grand opening?

 

[JKSWonder]

Now, I'm really excited about a potential visit to Universal and, at best, that's about two years away! Wail!

 

[dolphingirl47]

They did an amazing job with Diagon Alley. I can't wait to read about the ride. I know that Forbidden Journey is not for me, but I am hoping that I will be able to do the Gringott's ride.

Corinna

 

[wiscbugs]

Love the Universal Review. We are going as part of our split Universal/WDW trip next March as my son will finally be 10 so he will enjoy alot of the bigger Universal rides. My daughter is much more in the Disney group so the split should work out perfectly.

 

[jenseib]

Jen, I agree that your Universal resort room looks very similar to the new rooms at the CBR. I have seen those same soap holders in several hotels that we stay in. That manufacturer must make a ton of money.

While I have never read a Harry Potter book or seen any of the movies, I still think that the Harry Potter section at Universal looks really neat. Did you get to see the dragon breath fire or was that only happening during the grand opening?

I have seen them at the store too, so they must be the "in" thing.
I listened to each book several times on tape/CD and the guy who reads them is fantastic.
And yes it did!

Now, I'm really excited about a potential visit to Universal and, at best, that's about two years away! Wail!

we have become big fans of Universal too. There is so many different things there.

They did an amazing job with Diagon Alley. I can't wait to read about the ride. I know that Forbidden Journey is not for me, but I am hoping that I will be able to do the Gringott's ride.

Corinna

They did a great job. I suggest you find some youtube videos and watch it. I think it's a little wild. There is some twists and turns and a few small downhills.

Love the Universal Review. We are going as part of our split Universal/WDW trip next March as my son will finally be 10 so he will enjoy alot of the bigger Universal rides. My daughter is much more in the Disney group so the split should work out perfectly.

You will have fun. there are plenty of rides for those who don't want the big stuff too.

 

[dolphingirl47]

They did a great job. I suggest you find some youtube videos and watch it. I think it's a little wild. There is some twists and turns and a few small downhills.

That sounds OK. I love the like of Matterhorn and Big Thunder Mountain and they could be described that way.


Corinna

 

[jenseib]

This was a holding room and one of the Goblins talked to us and Bill Weasley also made an appearance.

More blurry pictures.









We then enter into a big elevator. I am not sure if we actually go down, but they make it feel like you do and it is kind of bumpy at times. It really was neat. Supposedly you are going miles down to the vaults.





Then we exit the elevator and move on.



There are then 2 sets of stairs that wind up. It was really neat. I think one set was for another elevator and then one set for ours if I remember right.



I thought it was kind of funny that we just traveled “miles” down into the earth only to get out and have to go up some stairs.

About halfway up the stairs there was an announcement that the ride was broke down. UGH! Everyone moaned. We were so close! But within 2 minutes it was running again. This ride is still new and breaks down ALL the time from what I have heard. For all I know, the ride might have broken down several times while I was in line and maybe the announcement is just made in that general loading area.

It wasn’t long and I finally reached the top of the stairs.





And our car came.



As you can see, it’s really dark in there and nearly impossible to get a picture.
Once again I will share one of Universals Press Release photos as it shows the area much better.



And then we were off. I don’t have any pictures from the actual ride, but I do have 2 more I can post from the press release for Universal.

This one is from the first area you go into I believe and it was really neat as you are sitting there the back of the cart is tilting up and then a gate opens and down you go…not too far like a big rollercoaster, but it was a lot of fun.



And this one is later in the ride.



This ride was so great. I think it’s about a 5 minute ride or so and so much theming and you move all around…the cart technology is just amazing. I think I like this ride better than the Forbidden Journey over at Islands of Adventure. I can’t wait to come back and ride it again so I can take in more of the details. The ride was totally worth the wait.

Oh, and you are probably wondering how long I did end up waiting. Well like I said, I got in the line at 1:50. I was back at my locker to get my bag at 3:05. So I would say my wait time was probably just over an hour give or take. Not bad at all!

I exited to the ride and went to the locker and retrieved my bag.



I then went and took a look around Diagon Alley.



There are so many neat window displays here.













Sirius Black’s motorcycle.

 

[jenseib]

There are so many great details here.



This is the bathroom…and not quite as cool as the one at IoA with moaning Myrtle.



I believe I next went down the Knockturn alley, which is where the dark magic stores are in the book series.





It was very dark in that alley.



Back out in Diagon Alley I took a picture of the entrance….see how it looks like the bricks separated and moved to let you enter.



I decided I needed a drink and when in a Wizarding World you should have a Wizarding drink…and for me that is Butterbeer. I went into the Leaky Cauldron to see if they had some. There was no line what so ever, but when I had arrived earlier the line was in a winding queue out the door. I am guessing that was the late lunch crowd then.







They will direct you to which register to go to.









Once again I forgot about using the AAA card. UGH! I chose the regular Butterbeer as I like it better than the frozen, though most people like the frozen version better. I also noticed the frozen version is about $1 more. I don’t think it was like that when we were here in 2012, but I just might not have paid attention then either.

I found a spot to sit and sip my butter beer.







After that I headed out…I wanted to do a few things in the Studios before I caught a train to Hogsmeade.











I found my phone was dying again so I tried to charge it with both of my mobile charges and neither would work. I came to the conclusion that my cord was going bad. It would work every so often and then stop. Usually if I was moving the phone around.
My next stop was the Mummy, so I put the phone on the charger and in my bag which went in a locker and then headed to the ride. I had the express pass since I was staying on property. I LOVE express pass. The lines are pretty much nonexistent!



It was a fun ride. It’s a little wild, so if you aren’t a coaster fan at all this one might get to you. My parents went on it a few years back not knowing what it was and they about had a heart attack…especially my Dad who rides NOTHING that makes his tummy tickle. I laughed so hard when they explained it.

 

[jenseib]

I was hoping to get this report done by today, but as you can see I still have quite a bit of this day to report. My pictures are all edited, but I still have to write the rest up.
I will be heading out of town tomorrow early AM for a week, so this will come to a hault for now and I will continue on when I get back. If I have time in the morning I will post 1 more update.

If you are friends with me on facebook keep watch and see if you can guess where I am and what I am doing.

Those who already know are not allowed to say anything.

 

[jenseib]

That sounds OK. I love the like of Matterhorn and Big Thunder Mountain and they could be described that way.


Corinna

That should workd then!!!

 

[dolphingirl47]

I enjoyed all the photos. This is so imaginative and well done. I can't wait to see this for myself.

Have a safe trip.

Corinna

 

[petals]

Luvin all the updates. All the new Simpsons and Harry Potter stuff looks amazing. I need to see this stuff for myself.

 

[jenseib]

I enjoyed all the photos. This is so imaginative and well done. I can't wait to see this for myself.

Have a safe trip.

Corinna

They do such a great job at Universal. Many people short change them a lot, but they have some fabulous rides that can blow your mind.

Luvin all the updates. All the new Simpsons and Harry POtter stuff looks amazing. I need to see this stuff for myself.

Yes you do, but concentrate on Cali for now!

 

[jenseib]

After that ride I grabbed my bag and left my phone inside to keep charging. I made my way towards Transformers. This is fairly new. When we were here in the spring the ride was down when we checked on it and we had to leave when it finally was up and running, so this was going to be my first time on it.











This was another great ride! It is very similar to the Spiderman ride over at IoA. It uses a lot of simulator type stuff with screens, but you are also moving. Honestly I have no clue how they do these as the movement of the car, which is on a track I believe, and the screens playing out in front of you are just perfectly in sync. It’s really amazing. Now if you are prone to motion sickness, this can get to you too. I could feel it and was so happy I had taken bonine in the morning before I left the hotel.

I came out to find a different street party going on. I just took a couple of pictures from a far and most didn’t come out too well.



And my car on display for all to see!



I worked my way towards Men in Black and I saw this sign which cracked me up. Potty area for dogs!





I rode Men in Black and it was fun like always. But when it came time to push the red button, me and the other 2 in the car all pushed it and none of us got the credit. Bummer. We all wondered what happened…and I think I pretty much lost anyways.
Oh and I used the Express pass again for both Transformers and MIB and I just can’t say enough good things about it. It really makes me realize how much better it is to stay onsite.

After I retrieved my bag from the locker here I headed back to London….time to catch a train!











I had heard the weekend before that the wait for the train was 90 minutes to 2 hours. Today seemed to be a less busy day so I was hoping it wasn’t nearly that long.







I just kept walking through all the queues but I can imagine this would be a long line if all of them were filled.

 

[jenseib]

Evidently people in London haven’t heard about rolling suitcases. LOL!







And now we need to find Platform 9 & 3 Quarters. There’s 9 and 10!



And a picture is just so hard to describe and show how cool this, so I suggest you look it up on youtube…but here we can see people disappearing into the wall to reach the Platform.



Once I rounded the corner this is what I see looking back.



And this is actually what we go through to get to the platform.



















A train pulled in….backing in.











I didn’t make it on the train though I was close. The train pulled out and they started to fill up the queues again. I wondered how long it would take for the next train and if they had 2 running or not. I did find out from my friend later that they do have 2 and somewhere along the track they have a loop to bypass each other. They always go forward to Hogsmeade and backwards to Kings Cross.







It was only around 5 minutes I believe and the next train came backing in.

 

[dizneeat]

Great photos again, Jen!
Your report really made me think of adding a few UO days up front to our trip next summer.
Even though I have not even read one of the HP books, it looks interesting enough for us to explore.

Thanks for sharing and safe travels, wherever your plane takes you today.