Solo and Unleashed!

[Beth D]

Congrats Grandma! Your new princess is just adorable! Hope everyone is doing well and settled at home!

 

[momof2n2]

Congrats on Gracie! So glad she waited til you got back from CB!

 

[jenseib]

Look at those CHEEKS! Paige clearly did a great job keeping that baby nourished. So sweet. Congratulations!

she sure did. She could live off the cheek fat for weeks!

Congratulations on becoming a grandma. I hope you got some rest.

Corinna

Thanks!

Congrats Grandma! Your new princess is just adorable! Hope everyone is doing well and settled at home!

Thanks. Going for a visit again today to see her for the first time since she has been home.

Congrats on Gracie! So glad she waited til you got back from CB!

I know! I kept checking while I was on the cruise!

 

[jenseib]

And back to Hogsmeade where I would catch the train back.



And headed straight to the train station.



You must have a park hopping ticket to ride the train and they scan you for the next park before you can even enter further into the station.



Once again I just was missing a train as it was getting ready to pull out as I arrived.



But I would make it on the next one for sure.



Here she comes.







This time I decided not to take pictures and just enjoy the ride back. When we got in our compartment I was in there with a lady and another couple. This time I got a window seat….Yay! The lady asked if it would be OK if she took a picture…there were signs that said no flash pictures. I told her I didn’t mind. We hadn’t moved yet and our door had not even been shut yet. The other couple told her no because no flash photography was allowed. I think my jaw dropped. Really? At this point, who cares? We were not going to miss anything because of a flash. We were still loading. And the lady took her picture anyways. LOL!

The ride back was a little different but some scenes were similar. You do need to go both ways to see it all. In the hallway you could see shadows once again and her Ron, Harry and Hermione talking…..except it was clearly not Hermione’s voice. We all laughed because it didn’t sound anything like her.
Back to London.







I quickly made my way back into Diagon Alley.





I checked out the Gringotts ride, but they had closed the line for the night. Universal is not like Disney where you can get in line up till closing. They will shut the line off when they think it’s going to run into closing time. They had several people standing by waiting to see if they could be let in if the line moved faster than expected and I did see a few get let in.



I basically just walked around and took pictures.











I then heard the roar of the crowds around and looked back and got a glimpse of the dragon breathing fire.





They now have new interactive wands (which I believe cost around $50) that work in both parks. I have heard there is a lot more interactive areas in Diagon Alley because they built those in right along with everything else and Hogsmeade is still working on adding more areas. It was amazing to see how many kids and adults had the wands and were going around and making things move and light up. I think Claire would enjoy one too.





You can see kids waving a wand in the next picture.

 

[dolphingirl47]

Diagon Alley looks amazing at night. What a shame that they had already closed the line for the Gringotts ride when you got there. $50 for an interactive wand is a little steep.

Corinna

 

[petals]

I love all the Harry Potter stuff. Gracie Mae is to cute as well. When's her first Disney trip?

 

[KatMark]

I only have time for a fly by (my mom is very ill), but I'm loving the pictures of Universal and the train station, strain, etc.

 

[natebenma]

Wow, thanks for the continued great tour of Hogwarts/Hogsmeade, IoA and back to Diagon Alley. I can't believe how wonderfully detailed these areas are!

Spiderman is a great ride. I like it better than the similar Transformers.

 

[MEK]

Your grand daughter is absolutely adorable and I am going to enjoy every picture you post of her!

Amazing pictures from the rest of your day at Universal. I wish I could locate a cheap one day ticket. We were supposed to go for two days next trip, but there have been some changes to our trip!

So it drives me crazy when people say NO flash photography. How do you even know that person is going to use a flash. Really?

Anyway - I think you did a fab job capturing so many wonderful details. Love it!

 

[jenseib]

Diagon Alley looks amazing at night. What a shame that they had already closed the line for the Gringotts ride when you got there. $50 for an interactive wand is a little steep.

Corinna

It is really steep, but people were shelling it out left and right.

I love all the Harry Potter stuff. Gracie Mae is to cute as well. When's her first Disney trip?

Probably not for a few years yet. I am not sure I am ready to take an infant to Disney.

I only have time for a fly by (my mom is very ill), but I'm loving the pictures of Universal and the train station, strain, etc.

Oh no! I have been so behind on everything and I did not know that. Prayers for your family!

Wow, thanks for the continued great tour of Hogwarts/Hogsmeade, IoA and back to Diagon Alley. I can't believe how wonderfully detailed these areas are!

Spiderman is a great ride. I like it better than the similar Transformers.

I like Spiderman better too. The technology for both the rides is just amazing though.

Your grand daughter is absolutely adorable and I am going to enjoy every picture you post of her!

Thanks. I am a little obsessed right now and taking a lot of pictures. I am probably going to be watching her Tuesday, so I am sure there will be more pictures to come.

Amazing pictures from the rest of your day at Universal. I wish I could locate a cheap one day ticket. We were supposed to go for two days next trip, but there have been some changes to our trip!

I saw that on facebook. I totally understand your reasons too. You should just plan a trip solely to Universal in the future and really enjoy both parks.

So it drives me crazy when people say NO flash photography. How do you even know that person is going to use a flash. Really?

I agree. Now if she had been flashing left and right it would've been a different story, but we were still loading and she just wanted a quick picture of the compartment.

Anyway - I think you did a fab job capturing so many wonderful details. Love it!

Thanks!

 

[jenseib]

I am not sure why, but they had Gregoravitch’s wand shop here…..and those who have read the book know that only Olivander’s is in Diagon Alley…but of course they have a Olivander’s in Hogsmeade too…and there really isn’t one there either in the books.



This is a bad picture, but they are the monster books that Hagrid had his class use.



I had thought about getting some icecream as I have heard it is really good, but the line was still super long…..going out the door and down one of the alleys and a TM was monitoring the door and only letting more in when the line moved a bit inside.



Absolutely no clue why I took this next picture….I guess I liked this light.







I think one of the wands was doing something in this window which is why I took the picture.







It was getting close to closing time so I decided to head out. It was still super hot out as well. As I went to leave I saw several people holding cameras up to take a picture of the dragon breathing fire. I asked when it would happen and I think they told me it was every 15 minutes so I stood and waited too. You can see the flame light up before he blows.



And he doesn’t blow for long so I only got one shot.



And he was then done.



I browsed the shops looking for something for Claire, but it really seems harder and harder to buy for her now.







I headed out of Diagon Alley then.







They were getting ready for the night show, but I kept walking across the bridge, taking a few shots here and there.



The Simpson’s from across the lake. I don’t think I mentioned it, but I did ride that ride as well earlier. I think before Men in Black and before I headed over to Hogsmeade. That was the only time that the Express pass seemed slower than the regular line. They only had one are open for the EP people and one guy was basically running everything there and he was really running ragged and many cars were not full because he just couldn’t do it all. It also sprinkled a bit while I was in line, but I was under cover. It had gotten really windy and it felt so good, but didn’t last long.



Men in Black sure looks pretty all lit up.

 

[jenseib]

I sat down for a bit. I may have been texting or calling home. I don’t remember now, but then some lights in the area went out and some fireworks would randomly go off for the show.



And colored water spouted here and there.





And more fireworks.



The show did nothing to impress me as it had scenes from different movies on the screens in the water. I decided to head up front and look in the shops.



Despicable Me was the only major ride I didn’t get to today that I had wanted to go on. Time just ran out, but I did get on it this past Spring, so I wasn’t too disappointed.

I browsed the shops and picked up a magnet and something else, but then it got super crowded and the line was insane so I put them back and headed out. I was tired and hot and thirsty and just was done for the day.
I found another small shop at the exit and went in and got Claire a t-shirt and a few other small things and a diet coke and then headed out.



I decided to walk back…mainly because I wasn’t 100% sure where the water taxi was and though I had a good idea I figured the line would be long and I was fine walking.





I found the path back to Royal Pacific and I was passed by so many people. It was still incredibly hot and my feet hurt and I was walking pretty much like a zombie at this point.
I came to a fork in the path and I knew if I went straight it would take me back to the pool to get back in, but there was a sign that said that the pool closed earlier and to take the other path around to the front. Everyone else went towards the pool though. I went on the other path. I am betting I could’ve made it in the other way but I didn’t want to take the chance of having to come back. Well this path went up hill and was pitch black! It was actually kind of scary. I wish I had taken the other path.
This brought me to the front of the resort.









I went into the gift shop there and be warned…it has next to nothing in there.

I just walked around the lobby a bit and took a few pictures.





One odd thing is I don’t believe they have any quick service type places in this hotel….at least for breakfast. I was told by others that if you want that, you have to walk to City Walk to get anything.





This water fountain is in a courtyard type thing outside.





I then headed back to my room and as I approached my door I noticed the hallway had wet carpet. It was squishy. I went in my room and it was dry and honestly I should’ve reported it, but was so dang tired and hot and my room was fine…so I just let it go.
I basically stripped at the door….closed of course. I jumped in the shower and got ready for bed. I think I was laying down by 9:30 or 10. I am such a wild thing. I had thought about going back to City Walk or exploring the resort, but I was just too tired and the AC felt so good. I think I just checked emails and watched TV and went to sleep…..and yes their mattresses were nice too!

 

[dizneeat]

Wow! You were able to cram a lot into your day. I guess I will need to pick up at least one of the HP books before visiting UO as, as cool as it all looks, I miss the plot of things.

Just a note on your walk home. You can always cross through the pool section and actually the path snakes around the pool. And ..... it definitely would have been the shorter walk. Sorry.

And I am very happy to read that someone much younger than myself is too tired to head out in the evening too. Thank you, Jen, you just made my day!

 

[Timon]

Congrats, Grandma

Gracie Mae is totes adorbs

Great photos of Universal! It's been so long since I've gone, I sure miss it! Spent a lot of time at IOA when it first opened, up until our 2007 trip when Kira was just a baby. Haven't been back since she was born, hoping to go next year though, I NEED to see WWoHP!!!

 

[jenseib]

Wow! You were able to cram a lot into your day. I guess I will need to pick up at least one of the HP books before visiting UO as, as cool as it all looks, I miss the plot of things.

The books are really good. I have read them all a couple of times.

Just a note on your walk home. You can always cross through the pool section and actually the path snakes around the pool. And ..... it definitely would have been the shorter walk. Sorry.

So it doesn't close like the sign says? I had a feeling that with the other path not lighted that I could've walked the other way.

And I am very happy to read that someone much younger than myself is too tired to head out in the evening too. Thank you, Jen, you just made my day!

LOL. I don't think I am much younger at all. It was a long weekend and the heat really took it's toll on me.

Congrats, Grandma

Gracie Mae is totes adorbs

Great photos of Universal! It's been so long since I've gone, I sure miss it! Spent a lot of time at IOA when it first opened, up until our 2007 trip when Kira was just a baby. Haven't been back since she was born, hoping to go next year though, I NEED to see WWoHP!!!

Isn't she so cute? She has such big fat cheeks that are just perfect for kissing. It took me a long time to warm up to the fact that I was going to have a grandbaby, but I knew by the time she got here she would wrap me around her fingers.

You must get there if you can. A lot has changed over the years. The WWoHP is just amazing.

 

[jenseib]

August 25, 2014, Monday

Sadly I had to head home today. I had already added an extra day to the trip from my original plans, but I still wished I could’ve stayed longer.
I got up early once again as I had to be on the road to the airport fairly early.

I had thought about walking around and taking pictures, but that went out the window. I was tired and it was hot and I needed to get packed.

I did go outside for a little bit and basically took a quick look around the area where my window looked out. I thought I took pictures, but I have none, so I guess I didn’t.
This is the only one I took with my phone.



I did talk to a few people who were out there early too. One guy had just arrived yesterday and was just loving the Express pass and staying onsite and the other guy had been there a few days and had only about a 10 minute wait for Gringotts since he went at early entry and walked directly back there and they planned to do it again today. We all talked about how well themed the Harry Potter areas were and just how much we all enjoyed Universal.
Sadly it was time to go for me and I did my final packing and rearranging of my bags and took them out to the car.
I needed to get some breakfast and some gas so I asked Siri to direct me. She got me to a gas station with no problems. I filled the car up and I had to laugh when it took less than $6. It was a small car, but it got excellent gas mileage.
I programmed it to find me fast food and it took me to one but there was construction on the road and I couldn’t get in. I ended up kind of going the wrong way for a bit and she kept yelling at me, but I couldn’t go the way she wanted me to because of construction. I did find a McDonald’s eventually and got some breakfast to go and then headed back to the airport.

I dropped off the car and took in my bags and got my boarding pass.

The lines for security here were just awful. I got in line and waited and waited and waited. I got to talking to the people around me. One couple had just gotten off a cruise (not Disney) and were telling me about it. Very nice cruise, but the entertainment wasn’t very good. But for the cost of it they didn’t even care. LOL.
Finally they opened another scanner and the line started moving faster. Of course when I got up there, I totally forgot to take my laptop out of the backpack and got pulled aside to get it out and run it through again. I guess with the precheck I had on the way down I never even thought about it again for the way back. (wish I had precheck for the way back).

It was time to get on the monorail then.





I decided I wanted to get a drink before going to my gate and got in line with every other person who likes Starbucks. I don’t drink coffee but I do like their strawberry Frappuccino and I had a $5 gift card to use. I think I also got some sort of sweet snack as well.



I found my gate then and waited to board. I think everything was on time and the flight was fairly uneventful.
When I landed I texted my sister Amanda who was picking me up on her lunch hour. I grabbed my bags and we headed off towards my car. We did stop at Panera to get some lunch and then she dropped me off at my Aunts house to get my car.
We said our good byes and then I headed towards home.
I popped in the book on CD again and listened to that to pass the time. I am sure I made a few potty stops along the way.
When I got closer to home Skip called and asked when I would be rolling in. I told him I was very close, but was going to stop at the grocery store to get milk and order a pizza because there was no way I was coming home to cook that night.
I did that and made it home at a decent hour.
Of course I came home to a house that was not clean and dishes piled in the sink. I guess I can’t gripe too much, as I did get to get away and if that is the cost of getting to do things like this, then I just will accept it.
Claire was happy to have me home and I went back to the real world once again with work. But I knew in just 1 months’ time I would be flying to Florida again for another trip and that kept a smile on my face!

Thanks for reading along and reliving my quick little weekend trip with me.

 

[dizneeat]

Thanks for sharing, Jen! I really enjoyed coming along and you have filled my head with ideas for next year's vacation.

 

[dolphingirl47]

Thanks for sharing. The night-time photos were stunning. I am not surprised that you were tired as you manage to fit so much in.

Corinna

 

[jenseib]

Thanks for sharing, Jen! I really enjoyed coming along and you have filled my head with ideas for next year's vacation.

I know..I am a bad influence!!!

Thanks for sharing. The night-time photos were stunning. I am not surprised that you were tired as you manage to fit so much in.

Corinna

Thanks!
Yes it was a very long weekend!

 

[jenseib]

Because I am a gluten for punishment, I have started my next Trip Report.


Please come join me!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3340107