Something About Nothing............ #14

[Charade67]

It's 7:30 and I am the only one awake. We had a great time at Universal this week. We checked into the Helios Grand on Sunday afternoon. It's a beautiful hotel and the room is nice, but I wouldn't pay $300+ a night. I know you are paying for the convenience of being able to walk right into the park, but I am cheap. I will happily stay in a budget hotel. We had dinner at Flora Taverna. The food was good and the service was excellent, but I thought it was a bit pricey. We didn't do anything else on Sunday because it was still a blockout day for seasonal pass-holders

Monday - We did early entry for Epic and went straight to Mario Kart where there was already a 90 minute wait posted. We actually waited around 120. We both enjoyed the ride, but left the area immediately after. It was just too crowded.

We were both hungry by this time so dh suggested pizza. We split a pepperoni pizza at Pizza Moon. I have heard mixed reviews about this place, but I liked our pizza. Sure, I've had better, but have also had much worse.

Next up was dark universe. Dh is in love with this land. He wanted me to take his picture with everything. He visited with Ygor and The Invisible Man, and then we finally rode Monsters Unchained which he loved.

I eventually got him out of Darkmoor and went to Isle of Berk to see The Untrainable Dragon. I finally got to see Toothless fly. The first 2 times I went to the show they were having technical difficulties.

At this point we decided to go back to the room for a rest. The crowds were large and we had spent a lot of time waiting in lines. I took a brief nap.

The sun was setting when we returned to the park. We went to the Wizarding World to see the show there. Dh was quite impressed. After the show was dinner at Das Steakhaus, his choice. He had a steak sandwich and I had the meatloaf. We both enjoyed our meals. We didn't want to get on another ride just yet, so we wandered over to the Burning Blade Tavern and waited for the windmill to catch fire. Dh did some shopping and then we got in line for Curse of the Werewolf. I like this ride but think it is too short. On our way out we saw that there was no line to see Frankenstein's monster and the Bride, so we met them and got pictures. I find it interesting that the Bride is so iconic for a character that only had about 5 minutes of screen time in the movie.

Our final stop of the day was Hiccup's Wing Gliders. This is my favorite ride and the first time I had ridden at night. It was probably about 9:30 when we were finished, so we decided to call it a night. Tomorrow - Universal Studios.

 

[Lynne G]

Sounded like you had a nice time, Charade, and thanks for sharing your pictures.

Kids checked in at Helios today, club level, so they got the highest floor, which they liked. Doing Epic for two days then heading to Mickey, for the rest of their trip. Will call them tomorrow to see how they liked the club offering tonight, as we have done the Hard Rock and Portofino clubs before.

Ack, what happens when ya don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn, bedtime about time for me.

Will leave the night on, in case a frig raid or loo run needed in the rest of these before dawn hours. Just think of eating those tacos later today.

Good night all.

 

[Charade67]

How I hate returning to work after a vacation. Very little got done while I was gone. It took me a day and a half to go through my emails.

Kids checked in at Helios today, club level, so they got the highest floor, which they liked.

I think they will enjoy it there. We were on the 8th floor. The view at sunset was nice.



Tuesday we went to the studios. No rope dropping today. We didn't even make it into the park until 11:00.
We went to Villain Con first because it was a walk on. Next we went to meet B at the Blues Brothers show but got sidetracked by a short line at The Mummy. Dh is a fan of The Blues Brothers movie, so we stayed for that show. When it was over it was time for lunch. We decided on Finnegan's since we were already there.
After lunch was The Bourne Stuntacular which dh had never seen. He was very impressed. We had a quick visit with the Scooby gang and then dh wanted to see the horror make up show. This is where B decided to part ways with us. The people at the make up show loved dh. He laughed at all of the jokes and he has a very loud and distinctive laugh.
Next was ET followed by the Fast and the Furious. I had told dh how bad this ride was but he wanted to experience it for himself. He is now a believer.
At this point dh wanted to do some shopping. I decided to park myself on the nearest bench and people watch. Eventually it started getting close to dinner time so I texted dh and B to meet me at the Minion Cafe. Before I walked over there I stopped at Chez Alcatraz and got a nonalcoholic Ocean Attack.
After dinner we found our spot to watch the CineSational show. Definitely worth the wait.

Wednesday would be an IOA day.

 

[Lynne G]

Yay for reporting your studio day, Charade. Yeah, when I got back from my vacation, I had hundreds of work emails to go through. Do not miss that either. Yesterday, I did not get moving until lunchtime.

Ah, we are at that mid point of the week today, as a Wonderful Wednesday is here. DH wanted coffee, so a Wawa run for me this morning. I got iced, and some breakfast food, as was up and moving much earlier today. Was overcast, but saw a bit of sun as I drove the three minute drive to our closest Wawa. Then, will put up our car wipers later this afternoon, as a wintery mix to fall in the very early morning tomorrow. At least my phone weather app says a dusting of such. I’m hoping enough of a warmer temp as the day goes along, will melt any snowy dump that came in the overnight hours. 43 the high tomorrow. At least today, the high is 10 degrees higher. Felt fine with my lightweight winter jacket when I did that morning run today.

Hehe, phone just flashed a BK announcement that it’s whopper Wednesday deal today. Um, not a fan of the food there, but when I do my errand this afternoon, I’ll ask DH if he wants that deal. He’s not as picky as I am as to the burger makeup. I like the burgers from our local small business, that is an only one burger and taco place. I can walk to it. But I’d go there, if DH wants that BK meal, as I’ll be driving by it as I go to and from my errand local, so drive thru no issue if he’s hungry then.

is here. He’s a little guy today, as kinda jealous kids are having park fun and he’s not. But saw list of bands for Mardi Gras this year at Universal, so may ask little one if she’s game, when the one band plays I kinda want to see, we make a week trip then. Have to see what dates that band plays, as I have only seen a list so far. Hehe, maybe a spring trip is needed.

Wonderful Wednesday to all, as all you homies know, get over this hump of a day feeling day, then a most fabulous Friday is then a day away. Woot! Also at mid January already. Yay, time is flying by this year too.

 

[Charade67]

We managed to do less at IOA than we did at the studios. Once again we didn't get to the park until around 11:00. We stopped somewhere to reactivate our cups only to find out that they were still activated . We thought we had activated them for just 1 day on Monday. We only paid for one day, but apparently was given 3. (Only drank water on Tuesday) This brings me to a rant. On Tuesday I tried to get ice water at the freestyle machine at Central Park Crepes, but got a message that I could not get ice unless I activated my cup first. I was confused because I had always gotten free ice before. (Even more confused when I later found out my cup was activated.) I thought this may be a new Universal policy and was prepared to send them a carefully worded email, but I tried at a different station and was able to get free ice. I'm really annoyed with Central Park Crepes. First they changed the recipe on my favorite crepe and now this.

Our next stop was the pass holder lounge since dh is a new pass holder. Unfortunately they were already out of magnets. We were getting hungry so I told dh I wanted to try Thunder Falls Terrace. I tried eating there on my last trip, but they had closed due to inclement weather. I think this is now my favorite quick service restaurant.

We were too full after lunch to ride anything, so we made our way to the Hogwarts Express. We rode it in both directions. On our way back to IOA we discovered that one of the people in our compartment was a student at the university where dh teaches.

We got back to IOA and got in line for Hagrid's Motorbike. The sign said 140 minutes, but we did single rider and it too about 90 minutes. Then dh wanted to ride Velocicoaster. The wait time was 75 minutes. I waited while he rode. He said it was the most intense coaster he has ever ridden and declared that he will stick to the less intense coasters from now on.

Believe it or not, by this time it was almost time for the park to close. On our way out we rode SpiderMan since it was practically a walk on.

Dinner was at Vivo Italian. I had never eaten there before, but really enjoyed what I ordered. Back to our room after dinner to rest and prepare for our final day.

 

[Charade67]

Current situation - been at the ER for almost 3 hours. Dh woke up with chest pains this morning.

 

[macraven]

Just read this!
Have both of you in my prayers that whatever medical issues he is having, the medical team will be able to deal and treat him.

It’s scary to have chest pains!
Let us now how he and you are doing please!

 

[Charade67]

Spent 3.5 hours at the ER. It was not another heart attack. However, they said he had an inflamed esophagus and they found a small hiatal hernia. He was released with instructions to follow up with a gastroenterologist.