Walking on Sunshine : Celebrating Spring at Universal & SeaWorld - an April/May 2016 PTR

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

So just booked a beer seminar for Stone Brewery for the last day of our trip at DCA. It is going to be packed between spring break and Food and Wine but it should be fun and some cold beer should help with the crowds.

Sounds awesome!

You both look lovely! And wow does your daughter ever resemble you! I hope you got a good rest last night

Thanks! It's in dh's name so I'll see if he has time this evening.

Our reservation is in Steve's name, and I was able to call and add his number to the booking with no problem. As long as the Dollar Express ID matched the name on the reservation, they were happy to apply it. You should be able to call and get that done, unless of course you want your DH to do the dirty work .

You're far too kind. That DD looks a little like me but the older one is her dad's mini me.
I'm currently waiting for her to wake up. I've been lounging in my bed listening to a chorus of turbo toilets. Unfortunately, I woke up at 5:45. Just over tired but the sun is shining and the temp is going to be over 80 today. GLORIOUS.

I have to agree....I saw your picture and thought, the apple didn't fall far from that tree!! The question is....did she also inherit Mom's quick wit in addition to her physical traits?

It's grey, drizzly and a whopping 7 degrees here this morning. Enjoy your day in the sunshine and PLEASE bring some of that nice weather home with you!!

Looking forward to the next selfie. I want to see you both wearing a pair of Mickey ears before the end of the trip!

 

[dancin Disney style]

She is pretty funny. Most definitely has inherited my sarcasm.

Happy to hear that you have the grey and 7....not me. Spring is right around the corner no matter what the day's weather brings. Soon it will be warm and sunny there too.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I am happy to report this morning that Sunshine's other plane ticket has officially been purchased ... as we had been so hoping and praying, the fare from Buffalo to Orlando finally dropped to a very reasonable $208 (from $279). Not as cheap as the return fare (which, after sitting at $195 then dropping to $128 on Friday when we snatched it up, dropped even further to $117 ... so Jetblue credited us back the difference to our Travel Bank), but still very reasonable nonetheless. That $71 USD saved is more like $100 when converted to Canadian funds, so her parents are very happy with that.

That was really the final "big" thing for our spring vacation. Cue the sighs of relief and contentment.

I got a text message from our tax accountant yesterday that our returns are all completed and ready to be filed. There were refunds all around this year (though a couple of them are small to tiny....Jake gets back a whopping $7.34! ) which is a huge relief. We were hoping and praying that we wouldn't owe the government our first born right before our trip. I don't know why, but taxes always create a certain amount of stress and anxiety for me.

It almost killed me to let my 50% off Groupon code expire without being used yesterday. I was almost, nearly, virtually on the verge of buying admission for 4 to Skeletons: Animals Unveiled or the Lost Caverns Mini Golf & Gator feeding offer, but my better sense kicked in at the last minute and I realized we have enough on the itinerary. Much as the deals would have been superb and the savings huge, I really do think there's a point of over-doing it. We want to have a little bit of downtime, and some opportunities to shop without a schedule. With just 9 days to fill (our 10th day, departure day, doesn't count when we have a morning flight home) we are already packing a LOT in: 3 days at the Universal parks, 2 days at the SeaWorld parks, a day at Aquatica, and our day in St. Petersburg for the baseball game. Our arrival day is always left open (just in case we don't get much rest the night before we fly ... twice bitten, many times shy! ) and then we have our sole "down day" where we will enjoy our Disney character brunch and meal and mini golf at Citywalk.

The only other thing I am seriously toying with is adding on a character breakfast at Universal on the Friday of our trip. At $110 with tax, it would be a rather splurgy thing to do at this point (especially since I already splurged with adding on the Behind the Scenes Tour at SeaWorld), so definitely I will be holding off on deciding on that one for a while. That $110 US would be more like $155 when converted to Canadian, so its admittedly on the pricier side but yet......the minions would be there . That might just be worth it, all on its own: there's a lot of minion love among my crew, even the guys. For now, though, I'm just letting the idea dangle in the far reaches of my brain until I see what the next few weeks bring.

We've had some milder temperatures here the last few days (and today, a LOT of rain) so I am happy to report our snow is finally gone! It almost feels like spring is around the corner.....though I'm sure that winter has another couple of punches to throw before the worst is behind us. For now, though, I will happily take what we are currently enjoying....even the rain . If nothing else, it helps to wash away some of the salt and grime that winter has left behind.

44 days to go .

 

[bankr63]

Another farewell as we ramp up to travel day. Probably my last chance to troll through DIS on my lunch before we depart. I expect I'll be a bit late leaving the office with last minute details to complete, then to the gym, gas up the truck, and home for a final pack-a-thon. Will drop A+ at school tomorrow, working a half day, and then buzzing over to pick to her up and pointing Sulley due South.

No big plans for day one. We have a couple of packages waiting for us at myusaddress including a package of trading pins; they should keep A+ well amused on Saturday sorting and deciding which are real or fake, and which to keep or trade. Hoping to make Hagerstown MD before turning off for the night.

I'll try to post a couple of quick updates while there as well. This is a pretty low keyed trip, not any really big plans. One day MK and probably a day at BB; temps in the mid-80's in the forecast...

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Another farewell as we ramp up to travel day. Probably my last chance to troll through DIS on my lunch before we depart. I expect I'll be a bit late leaving the office with last minute details to complete, then to the gym, gas up the truck, and home for a final pack-a-thon. Will drop A+ at school tomorrow, working a half day, and then buzzing over to pick to her up and pointing Sulley due South.

No big plans for day one. We have a couple of packages waiting for us at myusaddress including a package of trading pins; they should keep A+ well amused on Saturday sorting and deciding which are real or fake, and which to keep or trade. Hoping to make Hagerstown MD before turning off for the night.

I'll try to post a couple of quick updates while there as well. This is a pretty low keyed trip, not any really big plans. One day MK and probably a day at BB; temps in the mid-80's in the forecast...

Safe travels to you and A+, Munro. Have a spectacular time regardless of what you happen to do (sometimes, the low key trips are the most fun of them all.....you will certainly have lots to keep you amused at SVR!). Definitely check in when you can, and post a picture or two if you are willing to share. The rest of us who don't have March Break adventures in the works will be anxiously awaiting your updates. We are all living vicariously through you and @dancin Disney style for the next week!!

 

[bankr63]

We've had some milder temperatures here the last few days (and today, a LOT of rain) so I am happy to report our snow is finally gone! It almost feels like spring is around the corner.....though I'm sure that winter has another couple of punches to throw before the worst is behind us. For now, though, I will happily take what we are currently enjoying....even the rain . If nothing else, it helps to wash away some of the salt and grime that winter has left behind.

44 days to go .

Yup the snow banks beside my drive have shrunk from 7+ feet down to about 5. If we get more snow, at least I can keep piling it up there. Maybe we'll be snow free by the time I return. Forecast has + temps for a few more days; but there is a LOT of snow to melt up here. Yesterday was the first day we saw the pavement on our street in weeks.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Ouch those exchange rates! Makes crazy theme park prices even crazier. Which character meal, the one in Universal Studios? We did that one, it was very cute!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Yup the snow banks beside my drive have shrunk from 7+ feet down to about 5. If we get more snow, at least I can keep piling it up there. Maybe we'll be snow free by the time I return. Forecast has + temps for a few more days; but there is a LOT of snow to melt up here. Yesterday was the first day we saw the pavement on our street in weeks.

Good grief. My yard is completely snow-free.....wet and mucky, yes, but no snow. Our basketball net at the end of the driveway has risen from the banks like a Phoenix from the ashes. I am super excited to put my garbage and recycling at the curb tonight, and not have to perch it on top of a pile of snow!

Hopefully, by the time you return, you'll have green (okay, more like brown ) grass to greet you .

Ouch those exchange rates! Makes crazy theme park prices even crazier. Which character meal, the one in Universal Studios? We did that one, it was very cute!

Yes ma'am, that's the one . It honestly wasn't even on my radar until a friend of mine (God love her!) planted the seed in my brain, and its kind of been sprouting ever since. I knew, coming as a recommendation from this wonderful lady, that it must be a good experience....she has never led me wrong yet. With your endorsement now too, it just make it harder to ignore that little voice whispering to me to book it .

I had always thought, for some reason, that this was a plated/cafeteria style meal. Apparently, though, I was a mistaken and its an actual buffet:


Universal's Superstar Character Breakfast

Share a delicious breakfast at Universal Studios Florida® with some of the characters from Universal's Superstar Parade®.

• Breakfast buffet includes scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, fluffy pancakes, fresh fruit, yogurt, muffins, croissants, and more.
• Opportunity for photos and autographs with characters from Nickelodeon's hit comedy Hop and Universal's Despicable Me.
• Access to an exclusive viewing area, on the day of the breakfast, for Universal's Superstar Parade featuring one-of-a-kind music, incredible floats and opportunities to interact with some of the characters. (based on availability)

Cafe La Bamba at
Universal Studios Florida
Thursday-Saturday & Select Mondays
9:00am–11:00am
Adult price
Child price
(9 and under)
|$25.99 +tax
|$12.99 +tax




I am mulling over whether we should cancel our Disney character meal and just do this one instead. Still time to give it some thought.

 

[pigletto]

I would think you would enjoy that one more. The Disney one is a lot of fun but if you aren't in love with Disney characters the price is a little hard to swallow.

I've just called Dollar reservations for the third time. Every time I wait on hold, go through the spiel to add the Express number, and every time they say "we are going to transfer you to have that # added" ... and I get hung up on during the transfer. I also called Express customer service directly, they said they don't know what I am doing wrong but I have to call that number. I explained to the last person what was happening and could I please get a direct line to call and she said "I'm sorry that is happening, please hold while I transfer you."

As a last ditch effort I have emailed customer support. If that doesn't work in a few days I will try calling again. I've hit my limit for today!

 

[ArwenMarie]

It's a mix of a buffet and plated. It's all you can eat, but you go up and ask for what you want and they plate it. So there is no sharing of utensils, like the food isn't open to everyone. Which is nice from a germ perspective. And of course they bring unlimited juice and coffee and all that. It's a really cute character meal. It's very laid back, it almost feels simple if that makes sense? We got there for opening and that was nice but it didn't seem to crowded or overwhelming even when we left. The food was really good.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Dinner

 

[pigletto]

Oh my god.. Now that's just mean. I love Steak n Shake. I can't wait another 50 days. I'm going to start walking now.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Gotta love it....our bill was $13.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I would think you would enjoy that one more. The Disney one is a lot of fun but if you aren't in love with Disney characters the price is a little hard to swallow.

I've just called Dollar reservations for the third time. Every time I wait on hold, go through the spiel to add the Express number, and every time they say "we are going to transfer you to have that # added" ... and I get hung up on during the transfer. I also called Express customer service directly, they said they don't know what I am doing wrong but I have to call that number. I explained to the last person what was happening and could I please get a direct line to call and she said "I'm sorry that is happening, please hold while I transfer you."

As a last ditch effort I have emailed customer support. If that doesn't work in a few days I will try calling again. I've hit my limit for today!

Oh my gosh, that is sooooo frustrating! I hope they reply to your email quickly!! (in general, we have found Dollar to be pretty darn good about stuff like that, so I am optimistic that you will get an affirmative email back saying they have applied your Dollar Express # and all is well )

It's a mix of a buffet and plated. It's all you can eat, but you go up and ask for what you want and they plate it. So there is no sharing of utensils, like the food isn't open to everyone. Which is nice from a germ perspective. And of course they bring unlimited juice and coffee and all that. It's a really cute character meal. It's very laid back, it almost feels simple if that makes sense? We got there for opening and that was nice but it didn't seem to crowded or overwhelming even when we left. The food was really good.

Steve really likes the idea of the staff serving up the food, versus having the dishes open to everyone's hands and contamination. That's the way the Scareactor Dining Experience was conducted at HHN, and we thought it felt much "cleaner"!

Dinner
View attachment 155848

Oh, yummmmmmmmmmmmmm . What kind of shake did you each have?

Does this mean you guys have a car at your disposal? I wasn't sure when you took ME to the hotel. Or did you walk from DTD?

Oh my god.. Now that's just mean. I love Steak n Shake. I can't wait another 50 days. I'm going to start walking now.

I'll join you. Lord knows I could use the exercise ... especially when a massive milkshake with a million calories awaits me there!!

Gotta love it....our bill was $13.

More like $18 Canadian . Still ridiculously cheap though!

 

[dancin Disney style]

Oh, yummmmmmmmmmmmmm . What kind of shake did you each have?

Does this mean you guys have a car at your disposal? I wasn't sure when you took ME to the hotel. Or did you walk from DTD?



I'll join you. Lord knows I could use the exercise ... especially when a massive milkshake with a million calories awaits me there!!



More like $18 Canadian . Still ridiculously cheap though!

M&M's for, slightly less, Grumpy Cat and I had the turtle pecan something.

We have a car only for 3 days. Went out shopping yesterday and will shop again today with meals offsite. Then it's in the bubble where we will stay until Friday.

Let's just be clear. I'm the bubble buster here. You can't say that I drank a million calorie shake and then convert it to Canadian dollars.

On the menu for today is.....
breakfast...Fruit Loops in the room
lunch????
dinner....Sweet Tomatoes

 

[pigletto]

Just a quick update on the Dollar sitch for you Gina. I did get an email back stating it's against company policy to add an Express # to a prepaid reservation. I decided to try the customer service line again, and this time it didn't hang up when I was transferred. The agent told me that it wasn't allowed to be added to this type of booking. I explained I had done it in the past (I haven't but knew you had) and she said "Well then you got lucky with an agent who doesn't know their job."
I'm sticking with it because it's a seriously inexpensive rental and we have used them before with no issues on the rental end, but I am not impressed with the runaround I got the last two days.
Looks like it's the rental counter for me. Oh well. There's worse things.

ETA) oh and I missed your update yesterday about grabbing Sunshine's other flight finally! Huge sigh of relief there!! I had held off on dd18's flight while she confirmed her schedule and one leg went way way up. There were some tense weeks while we waited for it to come back down(and it did!) so I know how relieving it is to get those major details squared away.
Now we just wait. I'm so excited I can barely stand it. We still have fastpasses to book at the end of this month so it's probably time to start planning those!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Let's just be clear. I'm the bubble buster here. You can't say that I drank a million calorie shake and then convert it to Canadian dollars.

I've been watching and learning.

Just a quick update on the Dollar sitch for you Gina. I did get an email back stating it's against company policy to add an Express # to a prepaid reservation. I decided to try the customer service line again, and this time it didn't hang up when I was transferred. The agent told me that it wasn't allowed to be added to this type of booking. I explained I had done it in the past (I haven't but knew you had) and she said "Well then you got lucky with an agent who doesn't know their job."
I'm sticking with it because it's a seriously inexpensive rental and we have used them before with no issues on the rental end, but I am not impressed with the runaround I got the last two days.
Looks like it's the rental counter for me. Oh well. There's worse things.

ETA) oh and I missed your update yesterday about grabbing Sunshine's other flight finally! Huge sigh of relief there!! I had held off on dd18's flight while she confirmed her schedule and one leg went way way up. There were some tense weeks while we waited for it to come back down(and it did!) so I know how relieving it is to get those major details squared away.
Now we just wait. I'm so excited I can barely stand it. We still have fastpasses to book at the end of this month so it's probably time to start planning those!

Well, that is disappointing about Dollar, especially after the phone frustrations . I am now second guessing whether or not the agent actually did add our Dollar Express number to our reservation when I called them.....perhaps a call to them will be in order on Monday to confirm. I'll keep you posted as to what they say.

Once you get to the point of booking fastpasses, time will absolutely FLY by for those last 30 days . Especially when the weather here starts to get nicer, we can all get outside more, and the days are longer. That's what I am telling myself, anyway . Tomorrow we hit the six week mark and the excitement is really starting to build here, too.

 

[pepperandchips]

Okay Gina... Need to threadjack again since you have all the best followers Where are all the best offsite places to eat - more near WDW than Universal? I find the Universal restaurants much more reasonable price-wise than Disney. (My mom and sis are coming along on the next trip and mom is trying to start a business so we're more cost conscious than usual) Already have Miller's Ale House and Hash House a Go Go shortlisted. Other favorites? We did Teak on the last trip... Refresh my memory on other great restaurants!!!

 

[dsmom]

Good grief. My yard is completely snow-free.....wet and mucky, yes, but no snow. Our basketball net at the end of the driveway has risen from the banks like a Phoenix from the ashes. I am super excited to put my garbage and recycling at the curb tonight, and not have to perch it on top of a pile of snow!

Hopefully, by the time you return, you'll have green (okay, more like brown ) grass to greet you .



Yes ma'am, that's the one . It honestly wasn't even on my radar until a friend of mine (God love her!) planted the seed in my brain, and its kind of been sprouting ever since. I knew, coming as a recommendation from this wonderful lady, that it must be a good experience....she has never led me wrong yet. With your endorsement now too, it just make it harder to ignore that little voice whispering to me to book it .

I had always thought, for some reason, that this was a plated/cafeteria style meal. Apparently, though, I was a mistaken and its an actual buffet:


Universal's Superstar Character Breakfast

Share a delicious breakfast at Universal Studios Florida® with some of the characters from Universal's Superstar Parade®.

• Breakfast buffet includes scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, fluffy pancakes, fresh fruit, yogurt, muffins, croissants, and more.
• Opportunity for photos and autographs with characters from Nickelodeon's hit comedy Hop and Universal's Despicable Me.
• Access to an exclusive viewing area, on the day of the breakfast, for Universal's Superstar Parade featuring one-of-a-kind music, incredible floats and opportunities to interact with some of the characters. (based on availability)

Cafe La Bamba at
Universal Studios Florida
Thursday-Saturday & Select Mondays
9:00am–11:00am
Adult price
Child price
(9 and under)
|$25.99 +tax
|$12.99 +tax




I am mulling over whether we should cancel our Disney character meal and just do this one instead. Still time to give it some thought.

I would not cancel the Disney park fare reservation, I just think y'all would all have a blast there! I know you said you thought about adding the superstar breakfast to Friday but I thought Friday was your Seaworld day?

The labamba breakfast is like the breakfast we had for the grinchmas breakfast this past December. You could go through the line as many times as you wanted and just tell them want you want. It was excellent.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Okay Gina... Need to threadjack again since you have all the best followers Where are all the best offsite places to eat - more near WDW than Universal? I find the Universal restaurants much more reasonable price-wise than Disney. (My mom and sis are coming along on the next trip and mom is trying to start a business so we're more cost conscious than usual) Already have Miller's Ale House and Hash House a Go Go shortlisted. Other favorites? We did Teak on the last trip... Refresh my memory on other great restaurants!!!

You're thinking dinner (not lunch)?

Well, we also loved Carrabbas, Bubbalou's Bodacious Barbecue (though that's up by Universal and furthest from Disney), and of course our go-to places like Chili's & TGI Fridays (which you may not be so enamoured with if you have those chains at home). There's also Smokey Bones down by the intersection of the 535 & 192....we ate at Smokey Bones in Buffalo and though it was great, so hopefully the Orlando area ones are also just as awesome.

Have you considered a dinner show? We have done the Outta Control Dinner Show on I-Drive and had a blast (I want to go back again some day, it was that much fun). The food is pretty basic (pizza, salad, popcorn, cake, beverages including alcohol.....all unlimited) but the entertainment is superb. Tony Brent is incredible and there is a ton of audience participation.

Millers and Hash House are both wonderful choices, and definitely would have topped my recommendation list!

I would not cancel the Disney park fare reservation, I just think y'all would all have a blast there! I know you said you thought about adding the superstar breakfast to Friday but I thought Friday was your Seaworld day?

The labamba breakfast is like the breakfast we had for the grinchmas breakfast this past December. You could go through the line as many times as you wanted and just tell them want you want. It was excellent.

I ended up doing a little juggling around of the itinerary based on crowd level predictions for the Universal parks, and reassigned a couple of our days. We now plan to be at the Universal parks on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of that week......so that's when the Superstar breakfast idea began to take root. I would like to give Sunshine a little taste of Disney on this trip if possible, but with our Universal AP's expiring on May 1st, I also selfishly want to have breakfast with the Minions while we still can.

You haven't lead me wrong yet, so I will probably just leave things as they are and keep the Disney breakfast. I'll just have to visits the minions an extra time or two at their spot in the Despicable Me gift shop to get my fix . If it ends up that we have a surplus in the budget that's begging to be spent by that point in the vacation, I can always add on the Superstar breakfast at the last minute assuming they have availability for 4.

Our SW parks days are now the first Monday, Sunday and second Monday of the trip. We hope to kick things off with a day at Aquatica on the first Monday, then visit SW on the Sunday and Monday at the end of our vacation. That would allow us to maximize the free Quick Queue at the Residence Inn, too (and save us from buying it for all four of us on a day we're still at SVR.....that's $80+ in our pockets). Alternatively, we'll do a SW day on the first Monday and Aquatica/SeaWorld on the Sunday/Monday at the end. Weather will play a big part too, as we are hoping to coordinate our waterpark day with one that's sunshiny and warm .

Tuesday will be our relaxing day (with the Disney character brunch, and our Margaritaville meal and mini golf at Citywalk....probably some shopping at the outlet malls thrown in somewhere for good measure, too) and Saturday will be hit out of the park with the Tampa Bay Rays/Blue Jays game .

We are officially at the six week mark!! 42 days to go!