jacksdadcan
Muggle Dad
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2015
- Messages
- 186
Hi!
I've been a long time lurker on the boards but decided it's time to get into the action and post about a recent trip to Universal!
I'm JacksDadCan (I'm just jacksdad on another board but it was taken here, so added "can" for Canada, eh) and I'm normally full time dad to Jack, partner to Kate (KB), and am self employed.
Unfortunately this trip didn't involve him or KB but my BIL Adam, and here's the back story: My grandparents normally winter in Florida and normally my parents drive down a vehicle for them then fly back.
Well wouldn't you know it, but they got a vehicle down after Christmas but no one seemed too interested in going down and getting it... so a plan was hatched.
Sort of.
Around mid January it was offered that I figure out a trip to Orlando for my family but a few complications got in the way. As I was explaining this situation to Adam he offhandedly commented "you know we could make it a bro cruise" and the idea was hatched.
Of course, I wasn't sure if he was serious or not since he's never even been to Florida and had refused going up until this trip. But we started talking, planning, and before I knew it we had flights booked.
Luckily, our home airport had direct flights to Orlando every Friday evening so we were able to get down relatively easily. Since it's not an overly busy airport check in was a breeze and we were good to go! Flight was uneventful and before long this was on screen:
Ok, not a great pic but it zoomed into the Orlando area vs. the whole eastern seaboard... we were nearly there!
After the plane landed we were escorted through to a fonorail (fakeorail? fauxrail?) and taken through customs. This was a first for me and a new entry into the airport. Eventually we made it to the main concourse and headed to the parking garage... there was a car waiting for us to eventually drive home!
We drove straight to our hotel for the weekend, the Best Western Orlando Gateway, which turned out to be a Universal Studios partner hotel (I knew it had complimentary shuttle service, but kind of makes you feel better about a hotel choice?). I never took a pic of the hotel, but it looked like this:
We got ourselves situated in our room and by this time it was after 9pm, so we just went to the local IHOP (first and last). We just chilled and went to bed after that, we had a 815 shuttle to catch!
The next morning I woke and went to confirm seats on the shuttle (note, do this ASAP as Sunday's 815 shuttle was booked and had to wait til 915), and we were off to Universal Studios.
I did run into a small issue with our pre-purchased tickets but it 100% could have been my fault. Purchased through expedia and they said to go to will call for self-scanners, but for the life of me I could not get the bar code to work so we had to stand in line at "Voucher". Nevertheless they had us sorted out for our 2-day base in no time and we were into the park!
Obligatory Universal Photo:
Our first stop was Rip Ride! (I don't want to brag, but the park wasn't busy this weekend. The longest we waited for a ride was *I believe* Kong, and that was 35 minutes from the time we entered the line to exited the building. About the same for Gringot, maybe less). This was about a 5 minute wait (mid staircase). Awesome! Adam likes coasters and I don't mind them either, so what a great start to the whole experience.
Next, we hit up Transformers (walk on) Starbucks (priorities) and wandered over to Mummy. (This was my favourite last year, but isn't anymore....stay tuned). While we drank coffee Marilyn put on a street show. *Whistle* (but no photo).
After we exited Mummy we decided to wander over to HP (I think we did the park mostly clockwise so this would make sense). Cause Adam wanted to see this guy:
We poked around the shops for a few minutes and got in line for Gringots. This (and Kong, as mentioned) we by far the longest lines we stood in all weekend. After having basically walk ons so far we sucked it up, and again it wasn't too long before we were through the ride. We continued through HP and did a bit more shopping, Adam bought a onesie for his upcoming child and we continued on.
As you might have guessed, our next stop was MIB. Now, I love this movies and the ride is pretty fun, but it was nice to get into the AC for a few minutes as well. I think we scored okay (I admit... Adam got me by a few points) but weren't better than average. Guess I won't join MIB this year.
Next up was Simpsons Ride, and last year I loved this ride. This year, it actually made both Adam and I feel kind of off. Maybe it was because it was close to lunch, maybe something else, but it really didn't do it for me. Having said that, I'll do it again next time.
However... Simpsons area had been on my mind since last year, and it was all because of this (what turned out to be) delicious, delicious deliciousness.... The Clogger!! And perfect timing, it was lunch time.
Ohmygosh, I still think about this burger. Last year on our trip we ate at Leaky Cauldron, which was nice, but I totally messed up and should have waited to get one of these. So I wasn't making that mistake twice! When they're putting it together you're like... meh? but from the first bite to the last... mama mia! Anyway, now all I can think about it how hungry I am, so I'll carry on....
After that feast we hit up E.T., which was more for nostalgia than any kind of good ride, but *surprise* another walk on, so nearly worth it!
Leaving E.T. I *think* we headed over and caught Fear Factory Live, but we might have ridden Transformers on the way. Anyway, we did catch the show and it was pretty entertaining!
By this time we were actually more or less done but our shuttle back wasn't until 415ish. I know we caught the Terminator show and I'm pretty sure we did Mummy again, popped our heads into a few shops and were on our way... after we downed a couple of these of course:
Up next, Day 2 at Islands Of Adventure!!
I've been a long time lurker on the boards but decided it's time to get into the action and post about a recent trip to Universal!
I'm JacksDadCan (I'm just jacksdad on another board but it was taken here, so added "can" for Canada, eh) and I'm normally full time dad to Jack, partner to Kate (KB), and am self employed.
Unfortunately this trip didn't involve him or KB but my BIL Adam, and here's the back story: My grandparents normally winter in Florida and normally my parents drive down a vehicle for them then fly back.
Well wouldn't you know it, but they got a vehicle down after Christmas but no one seemed too interested in going down and getting it... so a plan was hatched.
Sort of.
Around mid January it was offered that I figure out a trip to Orlando for my family but a few complications got in the way. As I was explaining this situation to Adam he offhandedly commented "you know we could make it a bro cruise" and the idea was hatched.
Of course, I wasn't sure if he was serious or not since he's never even been to Florida and had refused going up until this trip. But we started talking, planning, and before I knew it we had flights booked.
Luckily, our home airport had direct flights to Orlando every Friday evening so we were able to get down relatively easily. Since it's not an overly busy airport check in was a breeze and we were good to go! Flight was uneventful and before long this was on screen:
After the plane landed we were escorted through to a fonorail (fakeorail? fauxrail?) and taken through customs. This was a first for me and a new entry into the airport. Eventually we made it to the main concourse and headed to the parking garage... there was a car waiting for us to eventually drive home!
We drove straight to our hotel for the weekend, the Best Western Orlando Gateway, which turned out to be a Universal Studios partner hotel (I knew it had complimentary shuttle service, but kind of makes you feel better about a hotel choice?). I never took a pic of the hotel, but it looked like this:
The next morning I woke and went to confirm seats on the shuttle (note, do this ASAP as Sunday's 815 shuttle was booked and had to wait til 915), and we were off to Universal Studios.
I did run into a small issue with our pre-purchased tickets but it 100% could have been my fault. Purchased through expedia and they said to go to will call for self-scanners, but for the life of me I could not get the bar code to work so we had to stand in line at "Voucher". Nevertheless they had us sorted out for our 2-day base in no time and we were into the park!
Obligatory Universal Photo:
Our first stop was Rip Ride! (I don't want to brag, but the park wasn't busy this weekend. The longest we waited for a ride was *I believe* Kong, and that was 35 minutes from the time we entered the line to exited the building. About the same for Gringot, maybe less). This was about a 5 minute wait (mid staircase). Awesome! Adam likes coasters and I don't mind them either, so what a great start to the whole experience.
Next, we hit up Transformers (walk on) Starbucks (priorities) and wandered over to Mummy. (This was my favourite last year, but isn't anymore....stay tuned). While we drank coffee Marilyn put on a street show. *Whistle* (but no photo).
After we exited Mummy we decided to wander over to HP (I think we did the park mostly clockwise so this would make sense). Cause Adam wanted to see this guy:
We poked around the shops for a few minutes and got in line for Gringots. This (and Kong, as mentioned) we by far the longest lines we stood in all weekend. After having basically walk ons so far we sucked it up, and again it wasn't too long before we were through the ride. We continued through HP and did a bit more shopping, Adam bought a onesie for his upcoming child and we continued on.
As you might have guessed, our next stop was MIB. Now, I love this movies and the ride is pretty fun, but it was nice to get into the AC for a few minutes as well. I think we scored okay (I admit... Adam got me by a few points) but weren't better than average. Guess I won't join MIB this year.
Next up was Simpsons Ride, and last year I loved this ride. This year, it actually made both Adam and I feel kind of off. Maybe it was because it was close to lunch, maybe something else, but it really didn't do it for me. Having said that, I'll do it again next time.
However... Simpsons area had been on my mind since last year, and it was all because of this (what turned out to be) delicious, delicious deliciousness.... The Clogger!! And perfect timing, it was lunch time.
Ohmygosh, I still think about this burger. Last year on our trip we ate at Leaky Cauldron, which was nice, but I totally messed up and should have waited to get one of these. So I wasn't making that mistake twice! When they're putting it together you're like... meh? but from the first bite to the last... mama mia! Anyway, now all I can think about it how hungry I am, so I'll carry on....
After that feast we hit up E.T., which was more for nostalgia than any kind of good ride, but *surprise* another walk on, so nearly worth it!
Leaving E.T. I *think* we headed over and caught Fear Factory Live, but we might have ridden Transformers on the way. Anyway, we did catch the show and it was pretty entertaining!
By this time we were actually more or less done but our shuttle back wasn't until 415ish. I know we caught the Terminator show and I'm pretty sure we did Mummy again, popped our heads into a few shops and were on our way... after we downed a couple of these of course:
Up next, Day 2 at Islands Of Adventure!!
