During the 2 weeks in Florida the package we got was to go to Universal Studios, Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, Aquatica & Wet 'n Wild. As many times are we wanted. (Apart from Discovery Cove you could only go on the day you booked). I wont' be doing posts on Aquatic or Wet 'n Wild since I didn't take any photos & they're just water parks but if you want to know about them then leave a comment below or email, tweet, message me & I'll reply! :)
To get around to these parks we bought the 14 day I-Ride ticket which is $18. It also does 1, 3, 5, & 7 day passes.The I-Ride trolley is a bus that takes you around International Drive which has numbered bus stops. It has 2 lines the red and green, one of the lines comes every 20 minutes and the other every 30 (I can't remember which one is which, but I think the red is 20 and the south is 30 but please check yourself!) which is really annoying because you waste a lot of your holiday time waiting for it to come. It should come more often since it knows tourists use it to get around! Whilst also start running earlier & finishing later as it runs form 8am - 10:30pm.
Our hotel was stop 11 so we would walk to stop transfer stop 7 to get it to Universal. But it doesn't stop inside & there's like a 15 minute walk from the stop. So we might as well just walk straight there instead of wasting time waiting for it. Make sure you pick up the leaflets on the bus as it has money off vouchers for different things!
There are 2 Orlando Premium Outlets at stop 1 & 42. We never went to the one at 42 as the one at 1 has better shops. That's where I got my Nikes Free Runs, Vans & Forever 21 clothes which I will mention in a later post.
The I-ride doesn't take you to Busch Gardens or Discovery Cove but you can get it to SeaWorld & then get a coach from there. There's a phone when you get off to arrange a free pick up.
To get around to these parks we bought the 14 day I-Ride ticket which is $18. It also does 1, 3, 5, & 7 day passes.The I-Ride trolley is a bus that takes you around International Drive which has numbered bus stops. It has 2 lines the red and green, one of the lines comes every 20 minutes and the other every 30 (I can't remember which one is which, but I think the red is 20 and the south is 30 but please check yourself!) which is really annoying because you waste a lot of your holiday time waiting for it to come. It should come more often since it knows tourists use it to get around! Whilst also start running earlier & finishing later as it runs form 8am - 10:30pm.
Our hotel was stop 11 so we would walk to stop transfer stop 7 to get it to Universal. But it doesn't stop inside & there's like a 15 minute walk from the stop. So we might as well just walk straight there instead of wasting time waiting for it. Make sure you pick up the leaflets on the bus as it has money off vouchers for different things!
There are 2 Orlando Premium Outlets at stop 1 & 42. We never went to the one at 42 as the one at 1 has better shops. That's where I got my Nikes Free Runs, Vans & Forever 21 clothes which I will mention in a later post.
The I-ride doesn't take you to Busch Gardens or Discovery Cove but you can get it to SeaWorld & then get a coach from there. There's a phone when you get off to arrange a free pick up.
This post will be about all things Universal with the other parks being on their own separate posts.
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| CityWalk |
I finally got to try frozen yoghurt! I was looking for Pinkberry but I don't think they have it in Florida? Well not where we were going anyway so this place called Menchie's on Citywalk. You go in & there's so many different flavours of frozen yoghurt & they give you little tiny cups so you can try them all until you find the one you like. They charge you by by weight, 59c per oz. Me & Tracy both chose coconut frozen yoghurt & I had all sorts in mine. I wanted to try mini Reece's cups, & pieces, granola, mango balls, blueberry & I think I had other random stuff in it. I came to $4 I think. I was really nice & satisfied my craving for whipped ice cream as the only place that seems to do it is McDonalds.
Islands of Adventure
Once you enter Universal you will see cineplex the cinema & a lot of restaurants with the Hard Rock Cafe right in front this is CityWalk. If you go towards the left you will end up in Islands of Adventure theme park where you'll find The Incredible Hulk rollercoaster which I have been wanting to go on for years as it was being built the year I went when I was little & remember driving under it! (One of the few memories as I was only 5).
We went early the first day we arrived after 9 (the park opens then) to make sure we got on the rides without having to queue too long. Went straight to the hulk & queued for front row. That's the trick if you don't want to queue & to get front row is to get there once the park opens, as most people turn up in the afternoon & it's too hot to be walking around. The Hulk definitely looks & sounds faster than it is but I was not disappointed, it is a definite must.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Being a big Harry Potter fan of course I was so excited to come here & try a butter beer! I wasn't expecting to like it since everyone was telling my it's horrible but Tracy & Laura said it was nice, so I wasn't too sure who to believe so I didn't want to buy my own in case I didn't. I tried some of Tracy's & I actually really liked it. They got the frozen one without the souvenir cup (you pay extra for it) it tastes like a caramel frappuccino so if you like that then you'll like it. I ended up having the rest of Laura's while she finished her mum's.
We went on the Forbidden Journey ride & it was so scary cos they have the big giant spider from the Chamber of Secrets & the dementors were horrible! I didn't like them bits at all but apart from them it was really good. Me, Laura & Ste then went on Dragon Challenge the roller coaster & went on red Chinese Fireball of course.
On the last day me & Ste went back to Universal for the last time while Tracy & Laura went shopping & did all the rides again. We went on this last & it was dark at the time & we managed to get right at the front & it was so much better. I wish we went got to go in the dark more times! That night we also watched the sun set on the Hulk & Doctor Doom's Fear Fall tower.
There's different shops you can go into, with Ollivanders the wand shop having a constant queue outside as they choose a wand for you just like in the film. The wards are really expensive though they're $40 before tax & sadly don't possess the powers Harry, Ron or Hermione have. Some of the shops aren't real & are just for show though.
How I wish so much I went to Hogwarts & was in Gryffindor! :(
Tracy thought they were called IT 1 & IT 2 ahahah
I'd love a minion too!
Orange Crop Top - H&M, Shorts - Zara, Bag - H&M, Nike Free Runs - Nike Store in Orlando Premium Outlets
This giant minion was $250! (You then have to added tax on top they're annoying the way they don't add it until you get to the till!) Which is around £150!
All the gift shops in Universal sell cakes & sweets. I bought an Oatmeal & Raisin cookie cos Ste how amazing the cookies were. They were really expensive though $4.21 for just one. It was nice but not $4.21 nice! He got the chocolate supreme so maybe that's where I went wrong apparently!
This is one of the newest & most popular attractions at the park with a constant 60+ minute wait. We kept avoiding having to be in the queue for that long but we decided that unless you get there as soon as the park opens you have to wait that long. We waited 65 minutes. It's a simulator where you get turned into a minion, it was good I liked it & if you have little kids or anyone who likes Despicable Me they should like it too. But I would advise you go there straight away as the first ride as we seen wait times of 95 which is probably even longer than that as it only shows two numbers so can't say the wait time is any longer!
I didn't realise the Jaws ride had closed! I was really wanted to go on it :( But I think I've been on it the last time I went when I was little...
The Simpsons area looks so good, I love how they have Moe's Bar, Krusty Burger, the Kwik-E-Mart. There's only a few rides there but the simulator is really good that you should go on!
This was also a ride I was really looking forward to going on, as I remember going on it when I was younger, going on a bike looking for E.T. Tracy wasn't as excited cos she thought it was boring & is for babies but was gonna go on it anyway after avoiding it for days. We turn up & the guy says it's closed & they don't know how long for! I thought it must be a joke or something but no, it was closed temporarily.
I did end up going on it with my auntie using the fast past we got a couple of days earlier cos we wanted ages in the queue for the transformers ride when there was a technical fault.
The wait was an hour so it must have been closed for a while but with the fast pass we went straight on & I was disappointed. It definitely is a baby ride which is why I liked it back then! But hey I was there so I needed to go on all the rides! I should have used the fast pass for something better though...
Some of the buildings are only for show while others have shows & are shops that you can go into. I love how realistic they look to be authentic as well! I took so many more photos but I can't upload them all on here!
Anyone know who this guy is? There was a camera crew & a lot of universal staff was surrounding him but no-one was stopping for photos so not sure if he's famous or not?
American's have the strangest food. My auntie's lunch. I wasn't a fan of the croissant sandwich.
I'm so annoyed & gutted that this part isn't opened until the 8th July!! This is the second part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, they have a Hogwarts Express train at Kings Cross station that takes you to the other end of the park from London to Hogsmeade. (where I'm standing next to the train). There's also a new ride The Escape from Gringotts the bank run by goblins. There's also more shops you can explore & the Leaky Cauldron restaurant. It looks so good & they had a lot of press while we were there but we didn't go see it. Ginny Weasley, the Weasley twins, Draco, Helena Bonham-Carter, Hagrid & other famous faces were there :(
Whilst at Universal we never did a full day, we did the morning & then went back to the hotel to sun bathe or went shopping & did other things by the afternoon when the rush hour started as there's no point since you'll be queueing for hours waiting to get on rides. We went most nights as well to see concerts & stuff.
I did all the big rides at Islands, The Hulk, Doctor Doom's Fear Fall Tower which is a tower that shoots up then hovers, The Spiderman ride - simulator with 3D goggles but they call it a roller coaster, the log flume - I sat at the front & got soaked. Oh & there was a frog on the boat, I wouldn't get in & was saying "there's a frog" for ages & no-one was listening to me & when they did they all jumped out!
The Jurassic park log flume but you don't get as wet on that cost the boat is wide & fits quite a few people, the 2 rides in Harry Potter - simulator & roller coaster. I think that's it all the rest are what I'd describe as baby rides. I judge a ride by the height, speed, drop & loops, if you go upside down whether it's worth going on or not. I don't do baby rides!
In Universal there's only 1 roller coaster Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit which has the most vertical lift up & biggest drop with a couple of loops. You do get a bit of a sore neck afterwards but it's so good. You go on in & choose a song to listen to then after you can watch yourself back as there's camera behind the seat in front of you that records you.
We went on the Mummy which I prepared for it to be really scary so had my hands covering my eyes through it & it wasn't even scary! Where as I wasn't prepared for the HP one! We also went on the Men in Black where you shoot aliens, The Simpsons - simulator, E.T. Despicable Me, Shrek 2 - 4D movie & The Transformers 3D which we wanted ages for & wasn't that good.
There's actually only 3 roller coasters which I only realised on the last night I went with Ste & was like that it? I would love to go back one day to go down Diagon Alley & ride the Hogwarts Express but I don't know when that will be, maybe when I have my own kids but when they're older, there's no way I could take a little kid with me watching other people it looks like a nightmare!
Tomorrow's post will be on Busch Gardens where we seen Tom Daley!
If you have any questions or want to know more please comment or message, tweet whatever & happily tell you more :)
There's different shops you can go into, with Ollivanders the wand shop having a constant queue outside as they choose a wand for you just like in the film. The wards are really expensive though they're $40 before tax & sadly don't possess the powers Harry, Ron or Hermione have. Some of the shops aren't real & are just for show though.
Universal Studios Florida
How I wish so much I went to Hogwarts & was in Gryffindor! :(
Tracy thought they were called IT 1 & IT 2 ahahah
I'd love a minion too!
This giant minion was $250! (You then have to added tax on top they're annoying the way they don't add it until you get to the till!) Which is around £150!
All the gift shops in Universal sell cakes & sweets. I bought an Oatmeal & Raisin cookie cos Ste how amazing the cookies were. They were really expensive though $4.21 for just one. It was nice but not $4.21 nice! He got the chocolate supreme so maybe that's where I went wrong apparently!
This is one of the newest & most popular attractions at the park with a constant 60+ minute wait. We kept avoiding having to be in the queue for that long but we decided that unless you get there as soon as the park opens you have to wait that long. We waited 65 minutes. It's a simulator where you get turned into a minion, it was good I liked it & if you have little kids or anyone who likes Despicable Me they should like it too. But I would advise you go there straight away as the first ride as we seen wait times of 95 which is probably even longer than that as it only shows two numbers so can't say the wait time is any longer!
I didn't realise the Jaws ride had closed! I was really wanted to go on it :( But I think I've been on it the last time I went when I was little...
The Simpsons area looks so good, I love how they have Moe's Bar, Krusty Burger, the Kwik-E-Mart. There's only a few rides there but the simulator is really good that you should go on!
This was also a ride I was really looking forward to going on, as I remember going on it when I was younger, going on a bike looking for E.T. Tracy wasn't as excited cos she thought it was boring & is for babies but was gonna go on it anyway after avoiding it for days. We turn up & the guy says it's closed & they don't know how long for! I thought it must be a joke or something but no, it was closed temporarily.
I did end up going on it with my auntie using the fast past we got a couple of days earlier cos we wanted ages in the queue for the transformers ride when there was a technical fault.
The wait was an hour so it must have been closed for a while but with the fast pass we went straight on & I was disappointed. It definitely is a baby ride which is why I liked it back then! But hey I was there so I needed to go on all the rides! I should have used the fast pass for something better though...
Some of the buildings are only for show while others have shows & are shops that you can go into. I love how realistic they look to be authentic as well! I took so many more photos but I can't upload them all on here!
Anyone know who this guy is? There was a camera crew & a lot of universal staff was surrounding him but no-one was stopping for photos so not sure if he's famous or not?
American's have the strangest food. My auntie's lunch. I wasn't a fan of the croissant sandwich.
The Superstars Parade
This is the parade they have daily through the park at around 2pm I think depending on the weather of the different characters they have around the park. Despicable me, sponge bob, dora.
Harry Potter Part 2 - Diagon Alley
I'm so annoyed & gutted that this part isn't opened until the 8th July!! This is the second part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, they have a Hogwarts Express train at Kings Cross station that takes you to the other end of the park from London to Hogsmeade. (where I'm standing next to the train). There's also a new ride The Escape from Gringotts the bank run by goblins. There's also more shops you can explore & the Leaky Cauldron restaurant. It looks so good & they had a lot of press while we were there but we didn't go see it. Ginny Weasley, the Weasley twins, Draco, Helena Bonham-Carter, Hagrid & other famous faces were there :(
Whilst at Universal we never did a full day, we did the morning & then went back to the hotel to sun bathe or went shopping & did other things by the afternoon when the rush hour started as there's no point since you'll be queueing for hours waiting to get on rides. We went most nights as well to see concerts & stuff.
I did all the big rides at Islands, The Hulk, Doctor Doom's Fear Fall Tower which is a tower that shoots up then hovers, The Spiderman ride - simulator with 3D goggles but they call it a roller coaster, the log flume - I sat at the front & got soaked. Oh & there was a frog on the boat, I wouldn't get in & was saying "there's a frog" for ages & no-one was listening to me & when they did they all jumped out!
The Jurassic park log flume but you don't get as wet on that cost the boat is wide & fits quite a few people, the 2 rides in Harry Potter - simulator & roller coaster. I think that's it all the rest are what I'd describe as baby rides. I judge a ride by the height, speed, drop & loops, if you go upside down whether it's worth going on or not. I don't do baby rides!
In Universal there's only 1 roller coaster Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit which has the most vertical lift up & biggest drop with a couple of loops. You do get a bit of a sore neck afterwards but it's so good. You go on in & choose a song to listen to then after you can watch yourself back as there's camera behind the seat in front of you that records you.
We went on the Mummy which I prepared for it to be really scary so had my hands covering my eyes through it & it wasn't even scary! Where as I wasn't prepared for the HP one! We also went on the Men in Black where you shoot aliens, The Simpsons - simulator, E.T. Despicable Me, Shrek 2 - 4D movie & The Transformers 3D which we wanted ages for & wasn't that good.
There's actually only 3 roller coasters which I only realised on the last night I went with Ste & was like that it? I would love to go back one day to go down Diagon Alley & ride the Hogwarts Express but I don't know when that will be, maybe when I have my own kids but when they're older, there's no way I could take a little kid with me watching other people it looks like a nightmare!
Tomorrow's post will be on Busch Gardens where we seen Tom Daley!
If you have any questions or want to know more please comment or message, tweet whatever & happily tell you more :)
Julie
XxX
Some of the photos were taken on my Nikon 1 J2 camera while others
were taken from my Nexus 4 phone & some from my cousin's iPhone 5 which is
why the picture quality isn't consistent throughout this post.
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