Universal Studios

Hello everybody!

Yesterday we went to Universal Studios, we went on lots of cool rides like Spiderman, The Simpsons, Harry Potter and my favourite Hulk.

In the Simpsons ride you are in a simulator in front of a big screen that makes it feel like you on a roller coaster in a Simpsons style theme park. This ride is a lot of fun because not only is it a really cool ride but it also is funny and makes you laugh even though you are hanging on for dear life.

The Harry Potter ride is not only excellent fun but it is the build up to it that is amazing, it makes the books and films real and really does them justice, you feel as though you have stepped into the story. Here are a few pictures of the whole area-

This picture is of Hogsmeade, the village that is frequently visited by Harry:

This is the outside of the castle, inside is where the ride is based:

This is inside the castle when you are queuing to get on the ride these pictures move and talk as you walk through the rooms:

Finally the Hulk is a big roller coaster that is a lot of fun, it is one of the best rides in Florida and this is a video of us doing it!

Jack

Epcot - the last Disney park day

It's the 1st of August and we're at Epcot on what will probably be our last visit to a Disney park.

We did  the Mission Space, Soaring and Test Track rides until the 'World' opened at 11am.  We hadn't seen what Mexico, Norway or China had to offer on the last visit so we headed off to explore that way first.

I found the last pin from the set that I have been collecting - there has been a LOT of pin trading this holiday - and the man from Norway gave it to me without swapping.  Nice people, the Norwegians.

 

But the most exciting thing is that Emma had a henna tattoo.  It's really beautiful - will last for 7-10 days and gently fade.  She is inspired to buy a kit and try to raise money by henna-ing her friends.  You have been warned!

And the weather has turned.  For the last few days we have been enjoying proper Florida blue skies and sunshine.  Good times!

Universal 3 - 31st July

This is the third day of our four-day Universal passes and Ems has chosen to come back here for her birthday on Sunday.

We went late because we wanted to stay and see the evening fireworks and spent most of the afternoon doing the water rides - sorry no pics of these but we were absolutely soaked. Completely and utterly, knickers-wet soaked.

We ate at one of the Universal restaurants - Mythos.  Great food and a really fun place.

And, because we couldn't resist it we went back to Harry Potter.  If possible, it looks even better in the dark - the snow covered roofs look better against the gloom instead of the Florida sunshine.

And, here's Ems enjoying a Butterbeer (like drinking a dandelion and burdock ice cream sundae with maple syrup - three sips is enough for anyone.)

Sadly the fireworks weren't up to much - definitely outclassed by Disney.

Animal Kingdom 2

 Sunday and we're back at Animal Kingdom.

Jack is our RDP - Rapid Deployment Person.  We deploy him to run ahead and get Fast Passes which is a ticket for a ride at a later time without queuing. You can only hold one Fast Pass at a time and they go quite quickly.  This is Jack holding the very first Fast Pass of the day - he has outrun all the other Disney goers to get the first tickets for Expedition Everest.  Top work!

Richard and I taking 5 between safari and Everest, under the tree of life

We went out to the Rafiki Planet Watch  - the veterinary/educational area of the park where you can handle reptiles etc.  There are glass windows all round so you can watch procedures by surgeons on the animals.  Fortunately there weren't any scheduled when we were there but if we'd waited we could have seen a porcupine having a blood sample taken.  In Busch Gardens they have a similar set up and we saw a duck billed platypus having it's annual check up.   The surgeon talks you through it as he's going along and you can ask questions from the viewing side...it's very interesting.

Not sure this one really fits.

Universal 2

Join Us
Here I am queuing for a ride at Universal Studios for the new film Despicable Me.  It's very, very hot.

This is Universal's big rollercoaster - Rip Rocket Ride.  You can see the carriages in the background just about to go over the hump.  That climb is absolutely vertical and you really feel that you are going to slide out the back of the seat. There's an onboard camera which videos you as you scream your way round the ride (or hold your hands up all the way looking cool like Jack and Ems); Jack and Ems sat behind us and you can see on their video that they were avoiding coins falling out of Richard's pocket as we make that initial climb.

And here's Jack in front of another favourite of ours - The Hulk Roller Coaster.

Universal has the best rides - amazing 3D - Spiderman, Transformers, Shrek; great simulators - Simpsons; rollercoasters and the shooting game, Men In Black.

An evening at Magic Kingdom

On Friday we had booked a table for Desserts at the Magic Kingdom - a buffet of perfectly formed pudding supplied in plenty.  It guarantees a great view of the evening illuminations under cover (it has been raining a lot).  The show is a mix of music, fireworks and lighting on the iconic Cinderella fairytale castle.  It was brilliant - the castle itself is lit with characters - it's mesmerising and so much better than we remembered!

 

Here's Richard wearing it like a hat:

and these are the tiny puddings of which there were trays and trays...

 The park doesn't shut until 11 so we took a spin the the Astro Orbiter to look out over the park and the lights in the dark.  And we did our favourite ride Buzz Lightyear - a shooting point-scoring game of which I have the all time highest score.

Animal Kingdom

Our first visit to Animal Kingdom.
The big ride is the safari ride - a 20 minute tour past hippos, elephants, lions, giraffes, cheetahs, rhino, warthogs, antelopes etc.  The hippos remind me of us when we are all huddled together in the pool to keep cool in the afternoon:

 Then it's the rollercoaster, Expedition Everest which goes backwards in the dark - great fun.

And an opportunity for trying on some hats in the shop:

And here's our gorgeous girl by the tree of life.  I really like this photo!

We've taken a lot of photos this holiday and this is one of my favourites.  Richard pointed out it's a good representation of Jack's view of the world (he's behind the camera).

Richard's just a bit hot, impatient and grumpy, and I'm about to quiz/offer advice/tell someone a different/better way to do something.

And here's our second and more glamorous attempt!

Epcot and a blast from the past

 Here we are for an evening at Epcot - to watch the evening illuminations.

We went for dinner in Japan! and settled to watch the fireworks.

Looks like we had fun!

And, look at this - on the monoliths at the entrance to Epcot there are plaques which can be engraved with your photo.  We found ours from years ago.  This is me and Richard, Jack and Emma, Danny and Mel.  All of us looking a lot younger!

Universal 1

This was the day that Ems had been waiting for.  Universal Studios to go to Harry Potter World of Wizardry.  It's the newest area at the furthest point in the park where they have built Hogsmead village and Hogwart's, Harry's school.  It actually takes your breath away.  This gives you some idea of the scale of it.

Apparantly Disney wanted the rights to develop a HP theme park but they wanted to 'Disney-fy' the buildings and ideas.  So JK Rowling went to Universal instead.  Everything is true to the stories - there are sweet shops, magic shops, wand shops.  Here is our very own wizarding professor!

And the funniest thing - here is Ems on a magic broomstick - trying to get that perfect camera shot when she's just taking off.

After a game of Quidditch, we're all ready for lunch in the Three Broomsticks.

Then we're off to do a dragon rollercoaster past the Weasley's Car and Hagrid's Hut.  Magical.

This was the highlight but we also did the Hulk Roller coaster, Spiderman, Poseidon's Fury (not me - that one is in the dark). Home, exhausted, headed for the pool.