Because C doesn't start school until the end of August, I planned for the two of us to spend a few days at Universal!
Sunday 8/13
The plan had been to fly, but they delayed our flight and then ended up they canceled our flight. So, after FOUR hours in the airport, we opted to retrieve our luggage and start driving instead! Whew! We arrived about 9pm and walked around Cabana Bay, our hotel, got C a little ice cream treat, and then finally wound down about 11:30pm. What a way to start the trip!
Monday 8/14
We were up bright and early at 5:30am for breakfast and to get our tickets taken care of. We took a bus to the parks and arrived a little after 7:30am. They opened the gates just before 8am and we went straight to Hagrids and walked right onto the ride! YAY! We then rode Journey, took the train to Universal side of parks, rode Gringotts, Men in Black, Simpsons, ET and had an early lunch at the Leaky Cauldron. C got a strawberry peanut butter ice cream, we took the train back to Islands, I got a butterbeer and then it started to rain a little so we went to the water rides. We did the Jurassic River and
then got in line for rip falls when the lightning delay hit. We were in line for over an hour but finally got to ride it and then as soon as we got down we realized they'd shut it again for lightning and just in time for a big storm to roll through! We left the park and went back to the hotel because we were tired and wet! We changed, got a snack, I took a nap. By this time the weather had cleared and we back to Universal and rode the Minions ride, mummy, Jimmy Fallon had dinner at Antojitos and then went back to the hotel to let C swim a bit before getting in bed about 11pm!
 |
| On the bus and headed to the parks! |
 |
| SO EXCITED! |
 |
Made it to Hagrids and close to the very first
ones on it that day! |
 |
The boy loves some Spongebob and we just
happened to see these guys and had to meet them! |
 |
Strawberry peanut butter ice cream was a very notable
experience for him from this trip |
 |
| Frozen butterbeer on a hot day hit the spot! |
Tuesday 8/15
Today we had the Unlimited Express pass that worked on all rides except Hagrids! It was amazing! We were up at 6am and got breakfast to go from the hotel and ate while we waited in line to get into the parks. It was a lot more crowded in the parks today than yesterday and I was thankful to have the pass! We went straight to Hagrids again but had to wait about 40 minutes this time! We then did Journey, Hippogrif, King Kong, Spider Man, the Dr. Seuss rides, lunch at Three Broomsticks with a trifle for dessert for me and a butterbeer for C, took the train to Universal side, Gringotts, Fast and Furious, Transformers, Gingotts again, train back to Island of Adventures, Journey again, rip falls(I rode it twice and C rode 5 times, I lost him at one point... ooof!) we went back to the hotel to get dry clothes and recuperate a bit and then came back to City Walk for dinner at Margaritaville, bought a few souvenirs and finally made it back to the hotel for the night!
Wednesday 8/16
We slept in a bit this morning until 7:30am and had a bigger breakfast than usual before walking over to Volcano Bay right next to our hotel about 9:15am. C rode Ohno Drop slide and then we got in the virtual queue for Aqua coaster. While we waited, we rode Taniwha tube ride, both dies of Hono Kia Moana rides, lazy river and then it was time for Aqua coaster. We then got in the virtual queue for Ko'okiri(which only C rode... too much for me!), rapid river several times and the when C was up next for Punga Racers there was a lightning delay. This was about 3pm and we knew storms were going to hang around for a bit this day and it wasn't going to be a lovely day to be at a water park so we went back to the room and showered and both of us napped! We waited out the wetaher and then went back to Island of Adventure and roade Journey twice with no wait and then got in line for Hagrids and scored the front bike(YAY!) and the ride at night is just extra fun! We closed down the park pretty much and it started raining as we walked out to our dinner reservation at NBC Grill.
 |
| One last late night ice cream! |
Thursday 8/17
We got up early this morning. I somehow managed to lock us out of our room! UGH! What a time suck! We had another big breakfast, packed up the car and were on the road about 8am. We stopped at Bucee's on the way home(a first for me!) and drove the loooong drive home and pulled in the driveway about 5pm!
It was a great, yet exhausting, few days with just C!
