After two weeks in Florida and a week in South Texas and Mexico, I finally found some time to write a report of our time at Universal, June 6-10. I need a vacation from vacationing!
OK, our family of five arrived at the Royal Pacific at 10:00am, Sunday, June 6. The room was ready. There was no upgrade available: the resort was "booked up," said Ehu at the front desk. She fixed us up with a standard (two Queen beds) room with a view of the park overlooking the front of the hotel, Rm 2608 to be precise.
Check-in went VERY quickly and we had our FOTL key cards in short order. One of the staff punched our cards for our lanyards (bought at Family Dollar), but accidentally punched a couple of them through the magnetic strip. No problem. She made new cards immediately.
We deposited our suitcases in our room and after a quick look around the hotel, headed straight to Universal Studios.
Retrieving our advance purchase (Mastercard Buy 4-Get 5th one free) 5-day passes was a slight problem because I had forgotten to bring along the confirmation number. Rather than making the trek back to the hotel, I went to the ticket window and admitted to my blunder. The teller gave an understanding smile, looked up my information, gave me my number and I made the transaction easily at the e-Ticket kiosk.
Into the gate and off to our first ride! Our youngest -- 7-year-old son -- was given first choice. We all knew what it would be and he didn't disappoint us: Men in Black. MIB was a 5-minute wait, but that was a heck of a lot better than the poor souls in the 45-minute queue. We were immediately spoiled.
After that it was a series of Jaws, Earthquake, ROTM, turn around and ride them all again, ride them all again, ride them all again. It went like that all day.
We ate a late lunch at Finnegan's and rode some more until time for supper. The ET ride Express line at the entrance was simply a merged line with the regular queue, but it didn't matter because it was not crowded. Once inside the attraction, we took another Express line right to the front.
Woody Woodpecker's roller coaster was on our youngest daughter's agenda, so we did that a couple of times. We went to the Animal Planet Live! show and had lots of laughs. We kept riding one attraction after another until it was time for supper.
Our reservations at Emeril's Tchoup Chop for 8:30pm didn't quite meet our expectations. We arrived early, but still had to stand around until after 9:15pm, which was an interminably long wait for the youngsters.
The staff didn't seem to have a good handle on seating people. There were parties of two sitting in booths designed for six people. We finally settled for a booth for four with my chair sticking out into the aisle. At the prices we paid, I should have noted my dissatisfaction, but as we've all probably done, I let it ride because we were so tired and so hungry.
Once seated, the waitstaff closed the "service gap." They tended to our every need. The chef and cooks did a fine job as well. What did we eat? My wife had the "Banana Leaf Steamed Fish of the Day served with Steamed Rice, Sweet Onion-Chile Salsa and Sake-Soy Drizzles." I had the "Tchoup Chop Creative Clay Pot of the Day served with Steamed Rice." It was half a chicken. The kids had fried rice. No complaints from anyone.
After supper we went back to the room. We were worn out but happy. The Loew's First wine and nuts had not yet arrived, but came the next day. We would have left it on the table anyhow given how full and tired we were.
I won't bore you with the details of days 2-5. Sufficeth it to say that we hit IOA the second day and alternated parks until the 5th day. On Day 5 we did the "favorite" rides at USF in the morning and went to IOA in the afternoon for one last gasp.
Our late checkout went smoothly and we left with only one regret: That we couldn't stay longer.
Now we're home.
OK, our family of five arrived at the Royal Pacific at 10:00am, Sunday, June 6. The room was ready. There was no upgrade available: the resort was "booked up," said Ehu at the front desk. She fixed us up with a standard (two Queen beds) room with a view of the park overlooking the front of the hotel, Rm 2608 to be precise.
Check-in went VERY quickly and we had our FOTL key cards in short order. One of the staff punched our cards for our lanyards (bought at Family Dollar), but accidentally punched a couple of them through the magnetic strip. No problem. She made new cards immediately.
We deposited our suitcases in our room and after a quick look around the hotel, headed straight to Universal Studios.
Retrieving our advance purchase (Mastercard Buy 4-Get 5th one free) 5-day passes was a slight problem because I had forgotten to bring along the confirmation number. Rather than making the trek back to the hotel, I went to the ticket window and admitted to my blunder. The teller gave an understanding smile, looked up my information, gave me my number and I made the transaction easily at the e-Ticket kiosk.
Into the gate and off to our first ride! Our youngest -- 7-year-old son -- was given first choice. We all knew what it would be and he didn't disappoint us: Men in Black. MIB was a 5-minute wait, but that was a heck of a lot better than the poor souls in the 45-minute queue. We were immediately spoiled.
After that it was a series of Jaws, Earthquake, ROTM, turn around and ride them all again, ride them all again, ride them all again. It went like that all day.
We ate a late lunch at Finnegan's and rode some more until time for supper. The ET ride Express line at the entrance was simply a merged line with the regular queue, but it didn't matter because it was not crowded. Once inside the attraction, we took another Express line right to the front.
Woody Woodpecker's roller coaster was on our youngest daughter's agenda, so we did that a couple of times. We went to the Animal Planet Live! show and had lots of laughs. We kept riding one attraction after another until it was time for supper.
Our reservations at Emeril's Tchoup Chop for 8:30pm didn't quite meet our expectations. We arrived early, but still had to stand around until after 9:15pm, which was an interminably long wait for the youngsters.
The staff didn't seem to have a good handle on seating people. There were parties of two sitting in booths designed for six people. We finally settled for a booth for four with my chair sticking out into the aisle. At the prices we paid, I should have noted my dissatisfaction, but as we've all probably done, I let it ride because we were so tired and so hungry.
Once seated, the waitstaff closed the "service gap." They tended to our every need. The chef and cooks did a fine job as well. What did we eat? My wife had the "Banana Leaf Steamed Fish of the Day served with Steamed Rice, Sweet Onion-Chile Salsa and Sake-Soy Drizzles." I had the "Tchoup Chop Creative Clay Pot of the Day served with Steamed Rice." It was half a chicken. The kids had fried rice. No complaints from anyone.
After supper we went back to the room. We were worn out but happy. The Loew's First wine and nuts had not yet arrived, but came the next day. We would have left it on the table anyhow given how full and tired we were.
I won't bore you with the details of days 2-5. Sufficeth it to say that we hit IOA the second day and alternated parks until the 5th day. On Day 5 we did the "favorite" rides at USF in the morning and went to IOA in the afternoon for one last gasp.
Our late checkout went smoothly and we left with only one regret: That we couldn't stay longer.
Now we're home.
(even when I'm writing!)
We were soaked, but didn't really care. A few well-placed beach towels (which you don't need at the hotel because they have them available at the pool) allowed us to change in the van. It was hilarious!
Fortunately, no one else came out to the parking lot in the downpour or they might have been accidentally mooned had a towel been poorly placed.
Guess I'll be the first to step forward & 'fess up! Two years ago, Virginia Beach, four of us trying to change in a Dodge Stratus during a thunderstorm.
)
thanks for sharing your trip report. i'll be sure to write when we get back from RPR!!!!! 
