02 Oct

Day 8 – Universal at O’Dark Thirty!

 

Today the last standing of us were headed to Universal for a few days!

Our shuttle picked us up at 6:30 am. Ouch! I was not very popular for that decision! But I wanted to check in, pick up our Express passes and be in the park for early entry.

Our car was right on time, there was no traffic (although there were a lot of people out for Black Friday) and we were all checked in and done by 7:15! May that was quick.

Not surprisingly, we were pretty much the only ones in the lobby:

After we checked in we went over to the machine to take our pictures for our Fastpass. At some point we were really missing our Magic Bands. One thing for everything! At Universal we had to show our hotel key for early entry, our express pass for Fastpass and our tickets to get in. We were constantly shuffling papers and worried if everyone still had everything! Spoiler alert! We didn’t’!

We walked over to Islands of Adventure to start the day. There was a boat or a short walk. It was quite a pretty walk actually! Only a 5-7 minute walk.

Our hotel!

Carter is a ginormous Spiderman fan (he thinks Spiderman is better than Captain America, which is distinctly unpatriotic) so he was happy to be in Spiderman country.

Through CityWalk:

We’re here!

We got in line and decided it was time for a recreation picture of our first trip to Universal –

So not much has changed!

It was at this point that we realized we were already missing one Express Pass. Why oh why can’t Universal have Magic Bands? Dang it, Joan!

We decided it wasn’t a big deal until after we had finished in the Wizarding World where you really couldn’t use it anyway, so we went on in.

We walked right to Forbidden Journey. I’ve done it twice, and twice is enough for me. So instead of checking my camera in the locker, I kept it and went through the line with everyone. I had to walk and snap, so I didn’t get great pictures, but I got some!

Waiting for them to get off:

We shopped for a little while after.

I sent my sister a picture of her children and Ally and I so she would see them having fun.

Candy store!

Look at these cuties:

Then we caught the Hogwart’s Express over to Diagon Alley. I couldn’t wait for my family to see it!

We’re on!

They were all sufficiently awed by Hogwart’s Express. Except for Hermoine’s voice which Ally declared as not even close to the real thing. Dang it Joan!

We walked in and booyah! I never get tired of seeing that dragon!

Next we rode Gringotts which everyone loved.

We went into Olivanders after this! So. Many. Wands.

Ellie was chosen to try a wand!

I really wish they’d give the wand to the person chosen. Or at least a big discount. It’s harsh to tell a child the wand chose them and it’s perfect and oh by the way would you like to pay $50 for it?

Chase was starving so I told him about the giant donuts. He and Olivia ran out and got one. I hadn’t actually eaten one before. My word it was delicious! And for $5 a total bargain.

We shopped some more.

Joke shop!

Then we decided it was time for lunch! We walked out and tried to decide where to go, and then walked right back in to the Leaky Cauldron.

After lunch, The Pneumonia decided she needed a donut too. So Dad went and grabbed one. It was as big as Carter’s head!

I told you we are a snacking people.

We walked towards Men in Black and Dad was going back to the room to get another Express Pass. Thankfully I gave him really bad directions because right after he left I saw a ticket kiosk and realized they could probably reprint one. We tried calling him and we saw him searching for his phone right as he was passing us!! I had sent him in a complete circle. Oops, lol.

But it worked out! He grabbed an Express Pass and we all went to Men in Black together.

That was a super fun ride! Several of us missed the instructions to get an extra 100k and therefore the ones that won profited from our lack of paying attention! Dang it Joan!

I’ve done Diagon Alley and the Wizarding World, but I really haven’t spent a ton of time in the rest of the parks, so this was new territory for me.

After that we did the Animal Show, ET, and then we headed over to Transformers. I will say that the Express Pass was saving us a ton of time. We were pretty much walking on rides that had huge waits.

We enjoyed Transformers but were starting to realize that Universal has a lot of rides that are all the same basic ride with different scenes. They were well done, but done over and over if you know what I mean.

I love the Mummy from Universal Hollywood so we did that next. We all decided we needed something where we weren’t being thrown around next, so we went to Fear Factor.

It was soooo gross. I did love that show though.

Carter was appalled by everything they were eating.

It was break time after that! We stopped at the store on the way out. Olivia told me my popcorn bucket had cheap refills and she was right! Yay! I had so much popcorn over the next couple of days.

Back to the hotel.

We all slept in our room! Here it is. It was a great size for five people! Carter tried to get us to be more exciting, but he failed.

I thought this was funny:

We went back out at dinner time and I left my camera in the room for a break! Sorry, trip report readers. Dang it, Joan! I did take some phone pics though!

We ate in the food court in City Walk. I had Moes!

Our first stop tonight was Spider Man. Carter and Ellie were leaving tomorrow afternoon and they couldn’t leave without Spider Man!

Great ride! The same ride as Transformers, but still a great ride.

While Carter was shopping in the Spider Man store we realized Spider Man was next door! The Spider Man! With no line!

We didn’t buy the picture though. It was expensive! Dang it, Joan!

Next it was time for Jurassic Park! I love this ride on both coasts, but I love anything and everything Jurassic Park related. I cannot get enough!

I got so much wetter than I had hoped.

We walked through the Wizarding World and bought some snacks and started heading towards the front of the park.

I got an amazing Snickerdoodle at one of the stores. Ally bought a Ravenclaw sweatshirt which she loved.

Then it was bedtime! Full day at Universal tomorrow!

Ohana Means Family – Unless… November 21-29, 2015
Day 1 – Arrival
Day 2 – Check-in!
Day 3 – Epcot and Giant Pizzas
Day 4 – Hollywood Studios and Dang It Joan!
Day 5 – Animal Kingdom and Kathy with a “K”
Day 6 – Magic Kingdom and the Actual Ohana
Day 7 – Thanksgiving at Animal Kingdom Lodge!
Day 8 – Universal at O’Dark Thirty
Day 9 – Universal Alllll Day
Day 10 – Last Day!