The "Im not going back again" trip report **update 8/27**

[jillybeene71]

Ok...I'll rephrase..."Im not going back again, until 2010 trip report.
It sucks, I know. I am depressed and have been since yesterday morning when we got to MCO to come home.
We usually go around the 4th of July and just by chance we were able to make a Thanksgiving trip in 06 and then a short New Years eve trip this past year. But with my daughter graduating HS this school year, her senior trip to Cancun (that I will be chaperoning, hey...its a free trip to Mexico I cant pass that up), and a dance school trip to New York in Dec 09, a trip to Universal wont be in our plans for July 09. So looks like I wont be able to go again till Harry Potter opens up.
alright...so on with the trip report. Well the actual trip report wont start till the next post, but heres a little background.

so its me...Jill, a 30 something single mom with 3 brats...no wait, umm 3 ungrateful brats. yep sounds right. I work my butt off to save for our trips and am up for anything, anytime.

DD (17) Kaitlyn... soooo dramatic. She changes moods like she changes underware, but shes my best friend and a basicly good kid that doesnt give trouble.

DS (15) Dustin...hes quiet at times but loves to clown around and gives his younger brother a hard time.

DS (7) Ryan... my baby...the kid who will take care of me when I cant do it myself.

About the trip...we left on Friday July 4th on Southwest out of New Orleans and came home Friday July 11.
I bought the 7 day unlimited tix from AAA for 85.00 which included tax. If I would have brought my laptop I would have known that Brenden Fraiser was going to be there on the 11th and would not have used our first day on the 4th. I would totally have changed my flights and stayed another night just to see him. But, stupid me, decided at the last minute to leave the computer home. whatever!!
We stayed at Royal Pacific. I originally booked here, then changed hotels like 3 times until I found the rate of 155.40 for the 4th and 5th and then a rate change to 146.40 for the rest of the stay.
I have not paid less than 200.00 anytime I have ever stayed anywhere on the property.

I do have a story of how the "good luck rate" came about. It was Friday June 20th. My boyfriend and I decided to go watch a movie and eat out...blah blah blah...well instead of eating, we for some reason started drinking...shots of tequila and beer. OMG!! who does this? What kind of idiot mixes liquer (sp?) Hello, hi...im the idiot.

The next thing I remember was waking up in the bathroom at my house. I noticed something on my wrist and had to focus a minute to tell what it was...a freakin tattoo. Of a shamrock. On my wrist. WHAT!?!?!?

I called in sick to work and spent the Saturday morning throwing up and crying, repeating silently "I will never drink again as long as I live"

Ok...fast farward to later in the day. I was looking up ways to have a tattoo removed painlessly (btw...theres none) and decided to check my ressie on the uni website.
I was checking dates and aph rates and the awesome rates appeared on the screen...hey maybe this good luck shamrock tattoo that is FOREVER branded on my wrist is actually a "good luck shamrock".
Hey...I got awesomely great rates on the room...I got to stay 2 extra days because of the new rates.

Would my luck stay with us throughout the trip? Stay tuned to find out...

Next...DAY 1 Flight, check in, and 1/2 a day at Universal Studios.

 

[pixeegrl]

 

[macraven]

 

[Rags]

 

[wannabeinfl]

waiting on the comerical to be over.. hurry up.. I leave Monday.. I want more..

Angela

 

[jillybeene71]

I decided against using the day 1, day 2 thing because I really dont remember what day we did what and in what order...pretty much what we did all week was go to Universal starting from Hollywood making the big circle and ending with Shrek. We did happen to go to Islands 2 times in a week and not even all day. Usually we do Universal, Islands, Universal...and so on, but this week we were stuck at Universal. We just like the atmosphere better.
With that said...my first post.

ok. So. Since we have been so many times...I thought I would make a list of things we HAD NOT done before.
1. Fly to Florida and live to tell the tale.
2. Stay at Portofino Bay resort.
3. Eat somewhere other than the CS at the parks
4. See Blue Man Group
5. Eat at Emerils (Rpr) or Mythos
6. swim at all 3 resort pools
7. ride a roller coaster (other than Mummy, my personal wish)
8. Chill out at hotel for a whole day and not rush
9. Make a park opening at least one day
10. Go through the regular queue lines at least once instead of express

We did 4 out of the 10. Which ones you'll just have to wait and see.
Also, my camera was on drugs this past week because it had no idea what day we were on and would change everytime I turned the camera on...so the date stamp isnt going to match with my dates.
Like I said our flight was at 11:20 am on the 4th of July. We ended up going to New Orleans the night before and stayed at LaQuinta (Williams Blvd). It was nice enough and you can park there for free for up to 14 days and free shuttle to and from the airport

I have to explain that this is our first time flying, except for Kaitlyn. She flew back from Disney with a friend and flew in a very small plane (delta) so her first experience was not a good one. I told her it would be a bigger plane and should be smoother than her last ride...(I had no clue, but wanted to make here feel better)
Anyhoo, we left at 9:30 and if anyones flown out of New Orleans knows that its not very big. I was very relieved for that, because I had no idea what to do and where to go... the luggage guys were very helpful.
so heres our plane coming in

and heres my little dude...He kept complaining of his stomach hurting, I figured he was scared and I asked him to make his "im scared" face

I felt like him but I didnt want to show it. We got there 5 minutes early and signs told us where to go. We made it to baggage claim and met up with Bob from a car service.
I heard nice things about him, and he was very nice. He was not talkative or offererd any information to us. We did stop at a grocery store to get some junk food.
We made it to Royal Pacific at about 3:30 and our room was ready. We had 2519 tower 2 here are some views

and

The view was not horrible, but then again, we hardly stayed in the room. We were right next to the ice machines I love ice. I can crunch it all day...which agrivates my kids to no end. whatever...deal with it.
We were starving and I had promised Dustin Bubba Gumps when we got there.
heres some food porn...(these are pics from our second time there but we ate the exactly the same things so...
appitizer of onion rings

bucket of boiled shrimp

kids cheese pizza

and popcorn shrimp

There were a few things going on at Citywalk for the 4th...like jugglers, Uncle Sam lookin dudes on stilts. Not interesting. so we went to universal.
who doesnt have a pic of their kids by this sign?

I have some stuff to do...so more later

 

[macraven]

gone off for another tat?

 

[jillybeene71]

gone off for another tat?

 

[graybunch]

Hey, I think I'm going to get a tattoo of a shamrock!! Your family is beautiful and I am lovin; your TR. Looking forward to more.

Jennifer

 

[t-and-a]

Great TR so far Jill-Looking forward to more!!!

 

[jillybeene71]

Hey, I think I'm going to get a tattoo of a shamrock!! Your family is beautiful and I am lovin; your TR. Looking forward to more.

Jennifer

Hey...awesome idea about getting the tattoo...NOT!! Im not so much regretting getting the tattoo...its just where it is that bothers me. It could have been a little smaller too. And im still looking into removal processes.

and thanks about the kiddies...I do too think they're cute, but...I think its a rule somewhere where I have to say that.

 

[jillybeene71]

Great TR so far Jill-Looking forward to more!!!

thanks and Im trying to post more...todays my last vacation day before I have to go back to work. So Im trying to get some stuff done.
These 10 days past by so fast.

 

[jillybeene71]

yay...my first reader!!!

 

[jillybeene71]

waiting on the comerical to be over.. hurry up.. I leave Monday.. I want more..

Angela

yay more readers...I love readers!!
and wannabeinfl (<--I do too, btw) Im not sure how much I'll have out by then but I'll try. Have Fun and think of me when you ride MIB...lol that rhymed...I've been in Suesslanding too long.

 

[tlinus]

alrighty - I'm in too

 

[damo]

I'm here too. Keep it coming!!! We need pics of that tattoo!!!

 

[Rubbertops]

We need pics of that tattoo!!!

 

[jillybeene71]

I will have a pic posted by tonight...

and also an update

 

[macraven]

I will have a pic posted by tonight...

and also an update

of the tat??

 

[jillybeene71]

alrighty - I'm in too

yay...im glad your here. But i really think you should be posting on your own trip report...I started reading yours before i went on vaca and your STILL not done...