Trip to Universal Studios @ Orlando Yr 2012

We only visited the below 2 park.

1. Universal Studios Florida

2. Universal's Island of Adventure

Fastpass @ both parks?

     The so called Fastpass @ Universal Studios, they called in "Express" which have to come with a price. 

Universal Studios Florida

            1. Revenge of the Museum - I rode this and had a BLAST! Worth the wait !

     

            2. Despicable Me Minion Mayehm - This ride was fantastic! Worth the wait!

            3. Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster - We love this ride! It was FUN!

             4. The Simpsons Ride - We rode this at Universal Studio @ LA and we are still 

                         loving it! 

             5. Terminator 2 3D - This is not a ride but a show. We saw this @ Universal 

                       Studio LA and we still love watching it

             6. Curious George Goes to Town - 

                         There is a ball playground for kids. This you have to bring your 

              kids there. Adults will have fun too! I did! The soft balls drop 

              down and kids get to collect the balls and shoot it. There is also 

              a big vacuum for them to suck up those soft balls. LOTS of FUN for 

              the kids!

                              

Universal's Island of Adventure

             1. The Wizarding of Harry Potter - We didn't ride this as the que was crazy! Even 

                                 we arrived early, we couldn't get to the ride. 

                                 It was 150 mins wait already when we reached 

                                 that at 8:30 am. The wait time went as high as 

                                 200 mins. Would be great!

             2. Pteranodon Flyers - You gotta ride this! It is AWESOME! One thing though, 

                         kids that are 56" high can't ride but the less than 56" 

                         can ride with one adult.  

       3. Amazing Adventure of Spiderman -  This ride is something like the Transformers 

                                     ride @ Universal Studios LA but much more 

                                     better. You gotta try it! Worth the wait! 

       4. The Incredible Hulk Coaster -  We didn't ride this. Would be great!

       5. Seuss Trolley Train Ride - Great view and a slow ride! 

       6. Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw - We didn't ride this as we wouldn't want to get all 

                               soaked coz it is cold weather during our visit. 

                               Would be great!

       7. The Eight Voyage of Sinbad -  This not a ride but a show.Gotta Watch! This show 

                                 is AWESOME! 

              8.  Poseidon's Fury at Island -  This not a ride but a show.Gotta Watch! The show 

                               got no seat. You have to move from stages to 

                               stages as they tell the story but not too bad of a 

                               show.

This is just my opinion of the park. Overall the park was alright. However, I do say that the toilets for the ladies never seem to be enough coz there is always a long que everywhere. They sure need to improve in this area. 

On the other hand, the entrance at the gate where they checked the bag, that needs to improve too coz it is way packed with people until you don't even know where the que is. It is just terrible! 

The long walk to gate of the Universal Studio is just too much! Lucky I not that old yet if not I need a wheelchair to wheel me in. 

Another thing about the park is that, try to avoid during school holidays coz every rides take 60 mins or longer to get to it. Just 1 day to cover the park seems not enough and we took 3 days to cover some only. 

Trip to Disney World Yr 2012

There are 4 parks to cover in Disney World.

1. Magical Kingdom
2. Hollywood Studio
3. Animal Kingdom
4. Epcot

So, what ride and shows are good?

Magical Kingdom

          1. Big Thunder Mountain Ride @ Frontierland - We rode this at Disneyland as well and still enjoying it!
         
             2. Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger @ Tomorrowland- We rode this at Disneyland as well and still enjoying     
                                                                                                                         it!

             3. Tomorrowland Speedway @ Tomorrowland- We rode this at Disneyland as well and still enjoying it!

          4. Space Mountain @ Tomorrowland- We rode this at Disneyland as well and still enjoying it!

Hollywood Studio

         1. Toy Story Mania @ Pixar Place - We rode this at Disneyland as well and still enjoying it!

            2. Indiano Jones Epic Stunt  - We love this show! The action was incredible! Must Watch!

            3. Light, Motors, Action - We love this show! The action was incredible! A bit slow but exciting

         4. Star Tours - We rode this at Disneyland as well and still enjoying it!


Animal Kingdom

          1. Festival of the Lion King - We love this broadway show! It was amazing! Gotta Watch it! 

Epcot

          1. Disney Phineas and Ferb Agent P's World Showcase Adventure - 
                                  This isn't a ride but for kids to have an adventure finding things around Epcot. They used a phone and 
                                   you have to go listen to the clues given in a selected area to slove they mystery.  Our kids tried this 
                                   adventure 2 times in 2 different country. One in China and one in United Kingdom. They had FUN! 

         
           2. Kidscot Fun Stop - This isn't a ride but for kids to have fun collecting the stamps at different countries. 
                                                            Each country have a Fun Stop. It is lots of FUN for the kids!

              3. Turtle Talk with Crush - This isn't a ride but more like a show for the kids. Crush actually talks back to 
                                                                    you!

              4. Soarin  - We rode this at Disneyland as well and still enjoying it!

              5. Test Track - This you GOTTA TRY! It was extremely AWESOME! We rode this 2 times and enjoying it very 
                                              much

              6. Mission in Space - I didn't ride this becoz my kids wasn't up to the height but believe it would have been 
                                                         FUN coz my husband who took the ride said it turn

Trip to Orlando

We flew to Orlando on 18 Dec 2012.

We took the flight Southwest airlines which was a non-stop flight. It took 5 hours to reach. The price of the airline included snack so that we don't have to pay to eat. However, snacks that are served includes biscuits and peanuts. Water is for free.

We rented a car. The agent was Dollar. We ordered through Hotwire and it was cheap. However, the insurance coverage wasn't. The service was alright. They don't go through the car with you when to check it out to ensure that any dents from the car that you have chosen does not fall under your responsibility. So have to ensure that the car you check out isn't much damaged.We got a Altima.

Later, we checked into our hotel which is at Travelodge not too far away from Disney World. Not sure the exact address but it has a HUGE orange infront and Waffle House next to it. Many people stayed in this hotel. Guess it was cheaper than others. Every nite we return the car park is full. The place is a bit cramp. Perhaps is becoz we took the room with a sofa bed in which we pulled out. The place is a bit old. The place to hang clothes and safe are rusty. The fridge isn't working but they have additional one. The toilet door paint  have peeled but not fixed.

We started our trip in Orlando by heading to Disney World first. This time round we came prepared with the plan on which rides to head first when we head in. We 1st drop in on Magical Kingdom. Was surprised to find out that we still have to take another transport in to the island which we find rather troublesome. It is either we take the boat ride, train or the bus. We did try all of them. The train is fast but limited seating. The bus is also not too bad. The boat drive slow. However, it can take a lot of people one time.

Next stop which is also the next day, we head down to Hollywood Studios then followed by Animal Kingdom and Epcot. We spend 2 days at each park except for Animal Kingdom.

The park at Animal Kingdom doesn't have much to see. It looks more like a zoo visit. Although I must say that I do like very much the Lion King show.

We took most of the rides using FastPass which helps alot to reduce the time of waiting. However, you can only have one FastPass on hand but that works for us. Better than don't have. Disney World sure thinks and cares for their customers! Overall, we spend wonderful 8 days to cover the 4 parks. It was fun and sad to leave!

The Christmas Eve we visited Disney World at Magical Kingdom. Boy, was it crowded with people! Even when the parade started we could hardly even see it coz people were all carrying their kids high up on their neck.

The kids try to catch every character they could find at all the 4 parks to get their pictures taken and autograph. Even my 5 year old boy loves having pictures taken and his autograph.

We also visited the Universal Studios while we were there too. It was crowded as the school holidays have started and everyone hit theme parks. The que system SUCKS! The encountered our first crowd just at the gate of entrance while checking our bags. The place was packed to tons of people but not clearing at faster. It was almost 9 am. Then enter into Universal Studios with a long walk first with the bridge. Then another long walk before we finally reach the entrance. It was like HELL of a walk! Weather was cold and I have to drop by toilet 2 times before enter the park.

Universal Studios have a FastPass like Disney but they called it "EXPRESS". However, it is not for free. You have to pay for the price. Still the lane doesn't really move that of an express the way I see it. We qued up for 60 mins for most ride for the 1st visit there. We only covered 3 rides on just 1st visit and that is bad! Some rides took as long as 150 mins. One of which is the Harry Potter ride. I went there 2 times and the other time was 200 mins. I just gave up! Those people who hit the Harry Potter ride must have been at the Park first thing once the park opens and hit the ride thus making the que so long even I went there early on the 2nd day, I still never get to ride. Frustration!

At Harry Potter ride, they sell the wands that were used in the show. I was interested to get one for myself but sad to learn that it cost US$31 plus. There are many of them which also includes the bad guys. Besides, I don't know who I like best and not willing to spend that much on a stick. I thought I could get something else as a souvenir but the Griffindor scraf also cost US$31 plus. Other souvenir like key chains ain't all that great. So end up didn't get any. The Butter Beer was good though! It tasted like Cream Soda but much creamer and cost $4 plus. Overall, we spend 3 days there with some frustration.

Still, the ladies toilets is LONG! There never seem to be enough toilet everywhere. For a theme park that doesn't have customer consideration first at hand, the park isn't all that enjoyable.

The walking was alot. We skipped our lunch and snacked most of the time with our own chips and biscuits especially at Disney World coz food is expensive there. We take a heavy breakfast in the morning and eat dinner at nite.

We had lot of fun even though the kids were occasionally misbehaving which they always do everyday but I get by as a mother. I enjoyed most was the Disney World! We flew back on 31 Dec 2012 to enjoy the New Year!