Monday, September 5, 2016

Funnies at Universal Studios

The day before the big game we ended up at Universal Studios for a good time with friends.

There are three "best times" when visiting an amusement park: 1.  Your very first visit, 2. The first time you take your kids, and 3. When you take people that have never been!  This trip was a first for our friends!

At the entrance, parking was $20, so I handed the attendant a $20.  He asked me "would you like preferred parking"?  Me: "for $20?"  Him: "no, $10 more".  Oh Lordty!  I thought $20 was bad enough!

When you park at Universal Studios you are in one of several parking garages.  Take a picture of your parking spot with your smartazz phone so you don't  have to remember where you parked.

Before you get to security, make sure your spousal unit is carrying the backpack.  That way you can go through the fast line through the metal detectors.  My spousal unit is gonna get checked anyway because of all the metal in her hips and knees!

At Universal, buy your tickets online and save yourself about $20.  Our visit was last minute so no savings there.  They were not selling the "single park" ticket today, the cheapest being the "one day, park to park".  When boarding the Harry Potter train, you have to use your "park to park" ticket or a multi-day ticket.  Not sure why this was an issue today since no "single park" tickets were being sold.

When you enter the park they require a finger scan with your ticket and they ask you to sign your ticket.  This makes it easier on you and them when you use your ticket at the train or a second day admission.  Just be sure to use the same finger on the scan!

Dining in Harry Potter land can be challenging.   Some of the places serve "English Pub fare".  If you don't read the menu closely, you end up spending a lot of time asking the check out clerk "what is this, what is that?"

Before standing in a line for a motion ride, make sure those in your party are actually going to ride the ride!  Now that is a time saver!

In Harry Potter land,   be sure to walk thru the inside theme rides with your party even if you're not going to ride the ride.  You get to check out all the stuff that leads up to the ride, then you meet your friends at the end.

Be sure to pack a poncho.  When in Florida it will rain, and you will get wet.  It is so funny to see the "wet tshirt contest" after a downpour!

During our ride on the train, a little girl was in our cabin.  It was obvious that this was not her first rodeo.  She explained to "us adults" that there will be pictures to see thru this window on the trip, but "they aren't real".  I told her to use her magic wand and cast a spell to make them real!  She gave me one of those looks like "really?"

There is a shop that sells a giant donut, with sprinkles etc.... that comes in a box.  I suggest you buy that sucker at the end of the day or you're gonna be carrying that thing all day!

We were in line for the Jurassic Park ride, when it and a lot of others were shut down because of approaching bad weather.  We made our way to "King Kong Skull Island" at the suggestion of the announcer, since it was an indoor ride.  It's a new one we haven't seen before, so okay.  Get there, seems everyone is there, and there is a two hour wait!  The rain is now a downpour and to heck with a 2 hour line!  To the car we went!

It was so funny watching and looking at the people in the rain.  Some were jumping up and down making big splashes, some could have won first prize at a wet tshirt contest, and others were complaining about being all wet, and we were in the water ride section of the park at the time!

We made it back to our resort earlier than anticipated, but some were needing the head start on resting up for the next day.  Glad we have a washer and dryer, as the dryer ran for over 4 hours drying out those wet shoes!

The spousal unit and I had our heads on our pillows and I asked her "will we be doing this when we are 70 or 80???  HYDR!!

The next adventure for us is always just around the corner.  Shoes are dry and clean clothes are at the ready, can't wait!!!

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