After a great nights sleep we were all up at 6am to get ready as with only one bathroom and 4 people, it was a military style operation. As this was our last day at Universal we needed to check out and eat breakfast and get to the park at silly o clock, when it opened!, so Jan and I finished packing up and gathering up straggling items of clothing and Em and Toby went to the Concierge lounge to get breakfast. When Jan and I got there we were expecting a few pastries, but we were amazed as there was so much choice, toast, lots of pastries and rolls with meats and cheeses, together with an amazing array of fruit and every flavour yogurt you could image.
After a hearty breakfast we left our cases in the luggage store, got on the boat and in next to no time we were at the entrance to Islands of Adventure. We went straight to Harry Potter land and did of of the rides in record quick time. Jan and Em went on the Dragon ride twice as they went at the front on their second time and said it was the best ride ever well so far that day.
Jan was not too keen on the actual Harry Potter ride in the castle as it was a bit too unreal she could take roller coasters, but she didnt like the virtual reality part of this ride. Of course, I cannot comment as Im way too much of a chicken for this ride.
We then went to Doctor Suess land and went on the Cat in the Hat, omg the spinning on this nearly had me exiting the ride half way through. The funny thing was that Louise (Buzz for Boys) had done this ride the day before and had actually said I wouldnt like it as it spins cannot imagine what I was thinking as I totally forgot the warning.
Anyway we did Jurassic Park again as Em and I had loved it and got wet again, much to Jans disgust haha.
At about 1ish we headed over to Universal Studios to meet with Louise, Wayne and family. Now, Universal is my least favourite park for rides but its great for people watching and just letting time go by whilst in my own little world, so when a few mad members of our party decided to go on Rip Ride Rocket I gladly took Dan, Ben, Toby and the adorable Keira to see Shrek 4D. Toby absolutely loved the idea of being with other kids who did not want to do the Scary rides as he really does not like them.
Well, I think that they all liked the ride as they were all pretty happy when we met up with them. Cam the fearless loved it .
We then ambled down the road taking in the different sites on our way to Earthquake, so I waited with the buggy whilst the rest rode the ride. They enjoyed it, but it is quite dated now and the wait was not worth the ride. I, of course sat in the sun, by the lake and just people watched, I was so relaxed that I could have fallen asleep in a deck chair!
Jaws was and still is a good ride and as Jan had not been on it before, being a good friend, I didnt tell her about the bit at the end and as can be expected she jumped a mile! It was hilarious to watch.
Our party then did MIB, Simpsons etc and they all loved them. I again, sunbathed, which was fortunate as the weather got steadily worse over the next few days.
ET ride was great and has not changed since I went on it 14 years ago. Still a timeless classic. We then went to the playground near ET and the kids had a ball while we sat and talked, as women do!
I was desperate to see Macys parade as I had read so many trip reports on the DiS and this really was a must do this time. Well Louise knew where we needed to be and we ended up near there and we just plonked on the pavement and waited for it to start. It was great, but not as organised as Disney parades. The balloons were fabulous and well worth seeing, so was really glad that we had taken the time out to watch it
After the parade had ended we said goodbye to Louise Wayne and children and went back to collect our cases.
I have to say that I really enjoyed my time with Louises family as we have much in common we both love Disney. Its strange but although I have known my friend Jan for 9 years, I had more fun with Louise and family, as we like the same things. Jan fails to understand my love of Orlando and how I feel so relaxed there. At home, in Windsor, Jan and I are good friends but in Orlando we are like chalk and cheese she doesnt get the Disney thing strange how two people can be so alike and yet so different.
Louise and Wayne have the most amazing, unassuming children:
Keira - absolutely gorgeous little girl who is not afraid of anything and is the apple of her brothers eyes!
Cam - Only one word can describe this boy - FEARLESS - He is a true adrenalin junkie and a lovely boy
Dan - Well what can I say about Dan - he is so funny, tells great jokes and chats for Britain. We chatted like we had known each other for years, truly lovely boy
Ben - A really nice boy who's entering his teenage years. He is a pleasure to talk to and chats away about all sorts of things, from politics to theme parks. Ben genuinely seems to like talking to adults, which is always good fun. Both Emily and I remarked how great he was with Keira.
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After we had collected our cases we jumped in a taxi to the Polynesian and checked into our room. The room was large so we had plenty of room to spread out. As we had been on the go all day, Emily and Toby went to Cooks while Jan and I waited and waited for our cases. When they finally arrived, 2 HOURS later, everybody, bar me had fallen asleep, fully clothed as they were shattered, so I just turned out the lights and went to bed myself.
After a hearty breakfast we left our cases in the luggage store, got on the boat and in next to no time we were at the entrance to Islands of Adventure. We went straight to Harry Potter land and did of of the rides in record quick time. Jan and Em went on the Dragon ride twice as they went at the front on their second time and said it was the best ride ever well so far that day.
Jan was not too keen on the actual Harry Potter ride in the castle as it was a bit too unreal she could take roller coasters, but she didnt like the virtual reality part of this ride. Of course, I cannot comment as Im way too much of a chicken for this ride.
We then went to Doctor Suess land and went on the Cat in the Hat, omg the spinning on this nearly had me exiting the ride half way through. The funny thing was that Louise (Buzz for Boys) had done this ride the day before and had actually said I wouldnt like it as it spins cannot imagine what I was thinking as I totally forgot the warning.
Anyway we did Jurassic Park again as Em and I had loved it and got wet again, much to Jans disgust haha.
At about 1ish we headed over to Universal Studios to meet with Louise, Wayne and family. Now, Universal is my least favourite park for rides but its great for people watching and just letting time go by whilst in my own little world, so when a few mad members of our party decided to go on Rip Ride Rocket I gladly took Dan, Ben, Toby and the adorable Keira to see Shrek 4D. Toby absolutely loved the idea of being with other kids who did not want to do the Scary rides as he really does not like them.
Well, I think that they all liked the ride as they were all pretty happy when we met up with them. Cam the fearless loved it .
We then ambled down the road taking in the different sites on our way to Earthquake, so I waited with the buggy whilst the rest rode the ride. They enjoyed it, but it is quite dated now and the wait was not worth the ride. I, of course sat in the sun, by the lake and just people watched, I was so relaxed that I could have fallen asleep in a deck chair!
Jaws was and still is a good ride and as Jan had not been on it before, being a good friend, I didnt tell her about the bit at the end and as can be expected she jumped a mile! It was hilarious to watch.
Our party then did MIB, Simpsons etc and they all loved them. I again, sunbathed, which was fortunate as the weather got steadily worse over the next few days.
ET ride was great and has not changed since I went on it 14 years ago. Still a timeless classic. We then went to the playground near ET and the kids had a ball while we sat and talked, as women do!
I was desperate to see Macys parade as I had read so many trip reports on the DiS and this really was a must do this time. Well Louise knew where we needed to be and we ended up near there and we just plonked on the pavement and waited for it to start. It was great, but not as organised as Disney parades. The balloons were fabulous and well worth seeing, so was really glad that we had taken the time out to watch it
After the parade had ended we said goodbye to Louise Wayne and children and went back to collect our cases.
I have to say that I really enjoyed my time with Louises family as we have much in common we both love Disney. Its strange but although I have known my friend Jan for 9 years, I had more fun with Louise and family, as we like the same things. Jan fails to understand my love of Orlando and how I feel so relaxed there. At home, in Windsor, Jan and I are good friends but in Orlando we are like chalk and cheese she doesnt get the Disney thing strange how two people can be so alike and yet so different.
Louise and Wayne have the most amazing, unassuming children:
Keira - absolutely gorgeous little girl who is not afraid of anything and is the apple of her brothers eyes!
Cam - Only one word can describe this boy - FEARLESS - He is a true adrenalin junkie and a lovely boy
Dan - Well what can I say about Dan - he is so funny, tells great jokes and chats for Britain. We chatted like we had known each other for years, truly lovely boy
Ben - A really nice boy who's entering his teenage years. He is a pleasure to talk to and chats away about all sorts of things, from politics to theme parks. Ben genuinely seems to like talking to adults, which is always good fun. Both Emily and I remarked how great he was with Keira.
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After we had collected our cases we jumped in a taxi to the Polynesian and checked into our room. The room was large so we had plenty of room to spread out. As we had been on the go all day, Emily and Toby went to Cooks while Jan and I waited and waited for our cases. When they finally arrived, 2 HOURS later, everybody, bar me had fallen asleep, fully clothed as they were shattered, so I just turned out the lights and went to bed myself.
