Trip Report Our Journey to the Dark Side, plus a little bit of Disney...June 2018 **Completed**

We're back!!

Who: Me (Amy), the hubby (Brian), and our three kids, Logan (15), Lily (13), and Owen (10)
Where: Universal Orlando (Cabana Bay Beach Resort and Hard Rock Hotel) plus one day on Disney property
When: Sunday, June 10 - Saturday, June 16

I was bad and didn't take notes this trip, so my pics may need to speak for themselves at times!

Sunday, June 10
Brian and I got up at midnight to start getting ready. We had the kids up and ready and the car packed by a little after 1:00am. The drive was so much better this year than last! Some of it was that we chose to drive through the night, but we didn't hit any major construction either, which helped a lot. It was even smooth sailing through Atlanta!! We brought granola bars, Nutrigrain bars, OJ, and apple juice and ate breakfast while driving. We also packed lunch items and ate quickly at the Florida Welcome Center. We made it in plenty of time for OJ this year!
20180610_120855 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
20180610_121053 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

First sighting of Universal: Volcano Bay and Cabana Bay Beach Resort:
20180610_153119 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
20180610_153129 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

We pulled in about 3:30pm, so we made it in a little over 14 hours (took us closer to 17 last year!!).
20180610_153332 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

 

[TheMouseFan]

IMG_7969 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_7970 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_7972 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_7973 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

No Hogsmeade yet! I had somewhere in particular I wanted to try for dinner!
IMG_7974 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_7975 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_7978 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_7979 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_7980 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_7982 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

And we made it!
IMG_7983 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_7984 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_7986 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_7987 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

We had a really great experience here. As you can see, there was not anyone else there, so we were taking a minute to read the menu and decide who was sharing what meals when the cashier started heckling us about holding up the line! We had a good time going back and forth with her and the other workers! Logan got a burger and the rest of us shared fried chicken.
IMG_7988 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_7989 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

It wasn't out of this world good, but it was pretty darn good for a quick service meal!

 

[TheMouseFan]

Since we were right there, we rode the Trolley in the Sky.
IMG_7991 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_7992 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_7993 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_7994 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_7995 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_7996 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

A few more pics of Seuss landing while we headed to our next destination.
IMG_7998 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_7999 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8001 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8002 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

Our next destination was Hulk. Brian wasn't planning to ride, and Owen said his head was hurting, so it was just Logan, Lily, and me.
IMG_8004 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8006 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8007 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8008 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
61404_061318_000044136 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

 

[TheMouseFan]

Poor Owen had been asking all day to ride Flight of the Hippogriff, so that was our next stop. Off we went:
IMG_8009 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

We may have stopped to ride Doom's Fear Fall, but I really can't remember! Oops! Guess I should have taken notes!
IMG_8011 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8013 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8016 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8017 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8019 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8021 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8022 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8023 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8024 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8025 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8026 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8027 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

Nobody specifically forbade be from taking pictures while on the coaster this year, so I snuck a couple! The first one isn't good, but oh well!
IMG_8028 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8029 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8030 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

 

[TheMouseFan]

Then the kids and I rode Forbidden Journey.
IMG_8031 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8032 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8033 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8034 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8035 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8036 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
61403_061318_000035338 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

I took these on the way over to Hogsmeade:
IMG_8037 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8038 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8039 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

Lily and Owen wanted to play with their interactive wands for awhile, so we spent some time in Hogsmeade.
IMG_8040 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8041 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8042 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8043 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8045 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

 

[TheMouseFan]

More Hogsmeade:
IMG_8047 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8048 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8049 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8050 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8051 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8052 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8054 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8055 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8056 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8057 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8058 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8059 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8060 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8061 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8063 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8064 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

 

[TheMouseFan]

Still in Hogsmeade:
IMG_8065 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8066 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8067 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8068 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8069 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8070 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8071 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8072 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

I promised Owen I would get him cotton candy at Honk Honkers, so we made our way back to Seuss Landing.
IMG_8073 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8074 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

He was in heaven!! He chose pink vanilla. We all shared and it was pretty good. There really was not as much there as it seems. We watched them make it for someone else and put it directly into a bag, and it was just a normal size bag of cotton candy.
20180612_204619 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

 

[TheMouseFan]

We then proceeded back to Hogsmeade to wait with every other person in the park for the second showing of the castle light show. It was a pretty impressive show though!
IMG_8077 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

Ravenclaw:
IMG_8081 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8082 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8083 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

Hufflepuff:
IMG_8086 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8087 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

Slytherin:
IMG_8092 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8094 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8096 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

Gryffindor:
IMG_8100 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8101 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

Finale:
IMG_8103 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8106 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8108 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

And a pic of Hulk on the way out:
IMG_8111 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

 

[TheMouseFan]

So, I really should have taken some notes! It appears that I rode Rip Ride Rockit with Logan and Lily again at some point during the day because we have a ride pic!
62001_061218_012459 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

And we stopped sometime and had the kids take this picture with the DeLorean:
61403_061318_000035332 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

 

[Tuvalu]

Dryer lint

 

[TheMouseFan]

Dryer lint

I knew you would feel that way! But it really is a work of art! It was interesting to watch her sculpt it as the cotton candy was spun! The other girl doing it was putting out some pretty ugly cones of cotton candy, so I was pleased when this one was open for our turn knowing I wanted a good picture!!

 

[kimberlymautz]

Looks like an awesome trip!

 

[fractal]

Love the photos! You did a great job of filling the frame with details, and overall subject.

 

[TheMouseFan]

Looks like an awesome trip!

Thanks! It was!

 

[TheMouseFan]

Love the photos! You did a great job of filling the frame with details, and overall subject.

Thanks! And thanks for continuing to follow along!

 

[TheMouseFan]

Wednesday, June 13

Today we were sure to be up and ready for early park entry. We planned to enjoy Diagon Alley first thing! A few pics on the way in:
IMG_8113 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8114 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8115 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8116 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8117 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8118 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8119 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8121 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8122 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8126 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

 

[TheMouseFan]

We made it to London!
IMG_8127 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8128 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8130 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8133 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8135 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8136 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8137 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8139 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8140 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8142 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8143 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

 

[TheMouseFan]

First up was Escape from Gringotts.
IMG_8144 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8147 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8150 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8151 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8152 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8153 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8156 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8157 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8160 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

The photo op in line was a green screen where they later added to it, so they managed to cut the top of Brian's head off! (At least the date was right on this one!!)
61601_061318_000019712 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

 

[TheMouseFan]

Next, I decided it would be ok to have ice cream for breakfast since we were on vacation! Brian was a stick in the mud and wouldn't join us, but the kids and I thoroughly enjoyed it!!
IMG_8161 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8162 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8164 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

Lily had 1 scoop of chocolate and 1 scoop of vanilla:
IMG_8167 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

Logan had banana soft serve:
IMG_8168 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

Owen had 1 scoop of peanut butter strawberry and 1 scoop of chocolate:
IMG_8169 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

And I had banana soft serve:
IMG_8170 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

 

[TheMouseFan]

Then it was time to explore Diagon Alley.
IMG_8171 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8172 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8174 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8175 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8176 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8177 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8178 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8179 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8180 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8183 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8184 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

 

[TheMouseFan]

More Diagon Alley:
IMG_8185 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8186 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8187 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8188 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8189 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8190 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8191 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8192 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8193 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8194 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8195 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr