2015 Orlando Family Trip -
Universal Studios Orlando
Oct 6 (Tues): Day 2 - Universal Studios Orlando & Islands of Adventure
October is considered a good month to visit Disneyworld and Universal Studios because it's not as crowded but one thing to take note is the special Halloween night hours (separate ticket that costs extra) during this time of the year. Therefore, we had to plan our days for visiting each park to avoid days with the special hours. Being someone who enjoys planning, it's not surprising that I had a detailed itinerary for this trip. :P
October is considered a good month to visit Disneyworld and Universal Studios because it's not as crowded but one thing to take note is the special Halloween night hours (separate ticket that costs extra) during this time of the year. Therefore, we had to plan our days for visiting each park to avoid days with the special hours. Being someone who enjoys planning, it's not surprising that I had a detailed itinerary for this trip. :P
There are two different parks at Universal Studios Orlando, i.e. Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. I remember during my last visit, Universal Studios wasn't as fun coz a lot of things were similar to the one in Hollywood. However, there wasn't Harry Potter back then so this is something new. So this trip, half of us decided to only go for Islands of Adventure while the other half took the park hopper option.
Universal Studios opened at 8am (an hour earlier than IoA), so hubby drove half of the crew to the park earlier, while the rest of us arrived just slightly before 9am.
And the adventure begins!!!
There are 2 areas for the Wizarding World of Harry Porter - Diagon Alley in Universal and Hogsmeade in IoA, both connected by the Hogwarts Express that you can ride if you have the park hopper ticket. Honestly, I'm not a big fan of Harry Porter so seeing Hogsmeade was already cool enough.
It really felt like we were in the filming location of Harry Porter. We rode 3 rides here - Dragon Challenge, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and Flight of the Hippogriff. The Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride was very interesting, a multi-dimensional 3D motion ride, but conclusion, it's not for everybody. :P
Being a big fan of Harry Porter, SIL got herself a wand and the Butter Beer that tasted like ice-cream float...haha!
The weather in Florida is really unpredictable, it was all dark and gloomy when we first arrived (as you saw in the pics above) and within less than an hour, the skies cleared up. Can't ask for a better weather coz it was actually forecasted to rain all week.
Group photo with the all-adults crew, missing big bro and SIL. Can't recall where they were but I think they were busy playing with the magic wand...lol!!
Finished all the Harry Porter rides by noon and continued on with Jurassic Park. This is an old ride but the last plunge never gets old.
Got soaked at the Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls at Toon Lagoon.
Another round of soaking at Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges at Toon Lagoon.
Colorful areas for the kids.
Only saw these 2 characters while we were there. Feel old coz I have absolutely no idea what's that Thing 1 Thing 2.
Free and easy after finishing all the rides we wanted to get on so went to the Poseidon's Fury at Lost Continent.
Also went for the eighth Voyage of Sinbad stunt show but I fell asleep throughout the show...lol!!
Successful day at Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure. Next...Disneyworld!!
Couple-fies all around Islands of Adventure! :P
