Universal Studios - Islands of Adventure

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Today we wrapped up our vacation by going back to Universal Studios - Islands of Adventure, but visiting the areas that are not Harry Potter related.  Interestingly, those areas of the park were practically deserted...

In "Superheroes Land," we enjoyed the Spiderman ride.  It was a creative mix of coaster, simulator, and 3D glasses that was particularly effective.  At one point, when the bad guys blasted our car with the levitation ray and we flew into the air, Granison turned to me (after a moment) and said, "I just now realized that we aren't being lifted into the air!"

Directly after the ride, Garry picked a fight...

(Which Is Odd, Since He Thinks That Being Evil Is "Kewl")

In "Comic Strip Land," Granison's alter-ego, Kevin, began to truly emerge...

Later on, in "Jurassic Park Land," Granison returned just in time to locate another "hidden" Photo Spot:

Then he tried to scale a rock-climbing wall.  He did OK, but didn't make it to the top.





Ultimately, we ended up back in Harry Pottersville.  We rode the dueling dragons a couple of times, and the still-amazing "Forbidden Journey" several times.  HINT:  After you ride with your group, go back as "single riders."  You will very likely get split up from your group, but you'll only wait in line for 5 to 15 minutes as opposed to waiting for 2 hours or more.

Damian caught an ambassadorial presentation from visiting Durmstrang and Beauxbaton wizards.

Far too much shopping was done again by all there.  Damian bought more wands: Hermione, Dumbledore, and Sirius Black.  I almost bought Voldemort, but didn't.  Once I left the park, I regretted the lack...   Oh well, the internets are a wonderful series of tubes for that sort of thing.  We all had more ButterBeer, and had dinner again at the Three Broomsticks.

While waiting, Russ talked to an employee and found out some interesting tidbits about the park.  For instance, Ms. Rowling opted to require her "sign-off" on almost every aspect, brick, and brush stroke in the park.  As a result the attention to detail is amazing.  For instance:

• There are animated displays in many of the shoppe windows.  But they don't run "non-stop."  Instead, you have to stand around a bit and wait.  The gang did not realize that there was an animated skeleton-eye-gumball machine in the HoneyDukes' window....
• Moaning Myrtle haunts the bathrooms...
• There is a show--of sorts--in the upper area of the Three Broomsticks.
• The gown in the dressmaker's window is (supposedly) the actual gown worn by Hermione in the Goblet of Fire movie.

We waited around hoping that it by the time the park closed at 8pm, it'd be dark enough that we could enjoy the lights on Hogwarts.  But it was too light and they shoo'd us out.  <sigh>

Even though he was sleepy, Granison still found one more Photo Spot in "Dr. Suess Land"...

(Awwww!)

Then it was back to the room, we packed up our 1000 treasures, and prepared to return to our homes.  It was a great vacation...but we're ready to get home and get some rest!

Smooches to all...see you soon!

Magic Kingdom Gay Day!

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Well...first a bit of socio-political commentary...

Today was the official "unofficial" Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom.  If you can see the animated banner I made for this post, it's by way of saying that some dumb-ass whack-job group spent $7000 to hire a plane to drag a banner across the sky to "warn" people that today was Gay Day.  I felt that it would have been appropriate for there to be a second plane with a banner reading "FABULOUS!" to follow the first...

Anyway.  Gay Day at Magic Kingdom came and went.  Contrary to the nut-jobs' predictions, Armageddon did not occur...again.  Gay and Straight families shared the parks and rides.  Surprisingly, no heterosexual marriages were destroyed, no previously straight toddlers expressed an interest in bestiality.  Same sex couples were observed to be holding hands while a distinct lack of fireballs rained from the sky.  Occasionally, loving kisses of affection were were shared and the earth completely failed to open up and swallow anyone.

At the end of the day, everyone left the park exactly the way they entered.  Although more than a few left with a new, enlightened view of reality.

And now to the pictures!

We arrived in the park and got on the express Monorail to the Magic Kingdom!  Woohoo!  Quick start!

Then the monorail broke down and we had to take the Ferry.  However oddly appropriate that might be, it took an extra 30 minutes.  But since we got all the big rides in last week, we decided that today would be very, very relaxed.  So we didn't care.

We arrived just as the first train of the day did.

If you are a gay person attending Gay Days, the notion is to wear a red shirt so that others can "recognize" you.  The Three Of We wore our shirts that we has specially ordered for the day.

(They Mean Exactly What You Think They Mean)

We started off in Fantasyland and rode every ride.  Rather than try to detail everything, here's a few pictorial highlights:

(Um...Some People Have Misconstrued the Meaning of "Fantasyland")

(REALLY Misconstrued...)

(Five Points for Consistency!)

We then took the family through It's A Small World...with predictable results....

(It's So Cute...)

(... and Whimsical)

("OH MY GAWD!!  MAKE IT STOP!!!  PLEEEEASE MAKE IT STOP!)

Actually, they'd toned down the music quite a bit and it wasn't nearly as painful as it had been.  It was actually pretty nice.

A few Hidden Mickeys were located.

We rode the Winnie the Pooh ride...

Which is where Garry said:

"I'm gonna dip myself in Honey and Throw Myself to the Bears!"

And speaking of bears.....they were out in force today!

As I mentioned, red shirts is the way you know....and you can get a glimpse from those two photos just how many red shirts there were in the park.  There was much fun.  At 1pm, everyone who was anyone and who was able, met at....The Country BEAR Jamboree...

Imagine, if you dare, a huge room full of red shirts, and red-shirted bears, doing the Hokey-Pokey, etc.

Elsewhere, YMCA was performed...  Yes, it's not an "official" Disney event, but they certainly played to their audience of the day...

Back in Pikesville, Garry has a big Eeyore doll that he sleeps with.  But he has to leave it at home when we travel.  On this trip, Russell found a smaller "travel-sized" doll and bought it for him.  We got on the People Mover...and it broke down.  So Garry used that time to take a nap with his new best friend...

At some point in the day, an official park photographer took a picture of Damian in his fabulous pink leopard-spotted ears and said, "You're likely to be on the castle tonight."  So we stayed all night to see the show (and to record it).  Damian was busy with the video taping, but the family says they saw him!  Woot!  I'm famous....for all of 7 seconds...)

Still, we watched the electric parade, the castle video (which is still amazing), and the fireworks.

And with that, dear readers, I'm afraid to say this may be the last entry for this vacation blog.  Tomorrow we spend our last few hours at the Universal Studios Islands of Adventure park, visiting the non-Harry Potter areas.  (Although there will undoubtedly be visits to Hogwarts once again....)

I may do a follow-up post with some pictures from tomorrow's day.  But we've got to pack up all our treasures and get out of the room early.

So...thanks for following along.  We'll be back home soon!

Universal Studios - Movie Lot

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Well, we thought this was a movie lot and--although it sorta was--that's only sorta.  Moreso, however, it was just another amusement park with movies as the theme.  Still it was fun.

We rode the Red Rockit Rollercoaster which was amazing.

(Nope...Still Not Caught On)

Then we walked around, checked in on some rides that were down and eventually came to the Simpsons ride.  With some misgivings we got on and fell in love.  Other than Harry Potter's ride, this was probably the best simulator we'd been on.  If you go to Universal, the Simpsons is a must-ride.

(Words Fail Me...)

We rode the Jaws boat ride, <yawn>.  Men in Black <yawn>.

We saw several shows.  The Disaster show was pretty much a disaster except for a number of things. (1) The second bit where the hologram of Christopher Walken interacts with the host, is top-notch visual trickery.  And (2) Garry and Granison (who lied and said his name was Kevin) got picked to be participatory members of the show!

(KEVIN!?)

(Garry Gives Us the Gun Show!)

The Twister show was short, but neat.

The Horror Makeup show was fun.

The Terminator show was nifty.

(Kevin...er, Granison...Starts Dancing with Some White Chick...)

Shrek 4D was a pretty good mini-movie, although the 4D part (where the seats move, etc) was a bit lackluster.  I did, however, find my "dream hat."

The story behind the hat is this:  When I was young, my parents took us (myself and my two younger brothers) to Disney World when it was only the Magic Kingdom.  We boys wanted hats, so mom and dad let us choose hats as souvenirs.  As I recall, Dad chose a cowboy-type hat.  Joe and Jeff both chose Davy Crocket 'coon-skin hats.  I, however, chose a jaunty green German / Peter Pan hat with a spiffy feather!

...and somehow no one suspected a thing...?

So I decided that since we're once again at Disney, I'd get that hat again!  And I found it!

We then walked over to the The Mummy indoor rollercoaster.  It was an OK ride.  Had a neatish ending, but otherwise wasn't spectacular.

After that we'd decided we'd seen it all except for kiddie-land and the shows that were closed.  So we headed back for one more Red Rockit ride, but that had broken down.  So instead we left the park.

(<sigh>)

Back at home, we had a great Russell dinner, splashed in the hot-tub for a bit, then went to bed.

Tomorrow is a big, big day!