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]

Looks like a good day in the Disney Bubble! I can't believe how much Disney Springs seems to have changed since I was there last, or maybe I just never saw all those fancy looking spots!

Yes, it has changed a lot in the last couple of years! I don't particularly care for it. I prefer the quaintness that Downtown Disney had. It is better now that they have added some Dianey stores throughout, but still feels like an upscale outlet mall to me.

 

[MegRuss626]

Yes, it has changed a lot in the last couple of years! I don't particularly care for it. I prefer the quaintness that Downtown Disney had. It is better now that they have added some Dianey stores throughout, but still feels like an upscale outlet mall to me.

YES!! I totally feel the same way. I don’t even have any plans of visiting for our quick trip in October. Just doesn’t seem worth it. I wish they had a separate bus stop for the old part as opposed to walking through all the new stores.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

We then easily found our way to:
20180614_102428 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8443 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8444 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

The kids decided they wanted to play the winter side. Luckily, it was the one with the shorter wait time! A few pics while we waited:
IMG_8446 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8448 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8449 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8450 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

We waited about 10 minutes, then it was our turn.
IMG_8451 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8452 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8453 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8454 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8455 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8456 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8457 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8459 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

Winter is our favorite side too, but whenever we go it is the busy side and we have to wait. It is the best themed mini-golf place ever!

 

[TheMouseFan]

YES!! I totally feel the same way. I don’t even have any plans of visiting for our quick trip in October. Just doesn’t seem worth it. I wish they had a separate bus stop for the old part as opposed to walking through all the new stores.

I agree about the bus stop! It is so far away from the shops I want to see.

Winter is our favorite side too, but whenever we go it is the busy side and we have to wait. It is the best themed mini-golf place ever!

That was our first time trying it out, but we loved it and will definitely be back!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Really glad to see that your 'Ohana dinner wasn't a speed dining experience. I've seen so many reviews since our Dec trip complaining of the same issue. Not that I want a painfully slow meal, but maybe they've seen all of the complaints and are trying to go back to a more relaxed pace. Mini golf also looked really fun!

 

[TheMouseFan]

Really glad to see that your 'Ohana dinner wasn't a speed dining experience. I've seen so many reviews since our Dec trip complaining of the same issue. Not that I want a painfully slow meal, but maybe they've seen all of the complaints and are trying to go back to a more relaxed pace. Mini golf also looked really fun!

They definitely need to find a happy medium at 'Ohana because I would have been upset if we had plans to be somewhere after our meal! We really enjoyed the mini golf. Thanks for following along!

 

[TheMouseFan]

Friday, June 15
Our last park day.

We were up early to make the start of early entry and headed straight to Diagon Alley.
IMG_8665 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8666 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8667 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8668 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8669 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8670 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8672 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
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IMG_8677 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8678 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8679 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

 

[TheMouseFan]

We finally arrived!
IMG_8680 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8681 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8682 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

We wandered in here and had the "magic" mirror critique our clothing choices for the day. She was very flattering to me, but told Owen he looked like a slob since his shirt was untucked!
IMG_8683 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8684 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

We then stopped to check out the Magical Menagerie.
IMG_8685 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8686 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8687 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8688 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8689 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8690 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8691 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

And we stepped around the corner so we could see Nagini and listen to her talk to us.
IMG_8721 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8722 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

 

[TheMouseFan]

Next up was another ride on Escape from Gringotts, so I was able to get quite a few pics while Brian put our bag in a locker.
IMG_8692 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8693 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8694 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8695 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8696 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8697 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8698 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8699 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

It was definitely more crowded this day, I'm assuming because it was a Friday, but the summer crowd could have just been picking up! We had to do much more of the queue this day than previously.
IMG_8700 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8701 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8707 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8708 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8709 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

Then out into the gift shop:
IMG_8710 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8711 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8712 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

 

[TheMouseFan]

More Diagon Alley:
IMG_8713 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8714 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8715 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8716 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8717 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8718 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8720 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8727 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8728 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8729 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8730 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8731 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8732 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

I surprised the kids by letting them get ice cream for breakfast again this day! I even talked Brian into joining us this time!!
IMG_8726 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

Apparently, I only took a pic of my own ice cream!
20180615_091053 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

 

[TheMouseFan]

Owen wanted to see what the Shrek attraction was, so we headed to the front of the park as we were finishing our ice cream.
IMG_8733 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8734 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8735 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

I took this pic for Brian:
IMG_8736 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

Apparently, it wasn't good enough because he also made me take this one:
IMG_8737 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

IMG_8738 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8740 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

We saw these guys as we were waiting in line for Shrek:
IMG_8741 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

The one and only picture I got from Shrek:
IMG_8745 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

 

[TheMouseFan]

Two days previously, Owen was trying to work up the nerve to ride Rip Ride Rockit with us, so Brian told him that he would ride it if Owen would. Well, Owen finally was brave enough to ride it! You should have seen the look on Brian's face when he realized he now had to ride!!
IMG_8747 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

Proof that Brian actually did ride:
62002_061518_054743 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

I was a little worried when they put me and Owen in the front row, but he loved it!! In fact, he wanted to ride again, so I took the kids again while Brian sat and recovered!

Then we rode Transformers again. Nobody wanted to wait in line for the meet and greet, so I had to sneak a pic:
IMG_8750 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

The kids had been talking all week about how they wanted to eat at Mel's again this year. I put it off as long as I could, but I finally gave in and that is where we had lunch. It was not a good experience! Our whole order came up except for 1 order of chicken tenders and instead of waiting for it to all be ready, she gave us the partial order. It took a good 10 minutes for our chicken tenders to be ready, so the rest of the food would have been cold if I hadn't told them to start eating. Nobody was apologetic about it either and thought I was ridiculous being bothered by it!
IMG_8752 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8755 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8756 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

The whole reason they wanted to eat here:
IMG_8753 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8754 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
I was so flustered that I apparently didn't take pics of the rest of the food!!

 

[TheMouseFan]

Then we took one last ride on Mummy.
IMG_8757 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8758 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

We saw these guys as we were exiting:
IMG_8762 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

The kids REALLY wanted to do Men in Black again, so I convinced Brian to give it one more try. I also threatened the kids with their lives if they argued again and upset Brian!! So we headed that way taking the path that went right along the water.
IMG_8763 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8765 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8766 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8767 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8768 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8769 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8770 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8771 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
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IMG_8773 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8774 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8776 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8777 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

I'm happy to report that my threats worked and nothing was said about anyone's score other than I had to heckle Brian a little because I somehow got a higher score than he did!!

 

[TheMouseFan]

We said our goodbyes to Universal Studios and headed over to Islands of Adventure using the Hogwarts Express.
IMG_8778 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8780 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

Brian was nice enough to take my picture going through the wall since I didn't have one from last year or the previous time we rode this year. Unfortunately, the people behind me were in a big hurry and were right on my tail!!
IMG_8781 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8782 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8783 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8784 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8785 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
20180615_125001 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8786 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8787 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

 

[TheMouseFan]

Upon exiting the Hogwarts Express, we made our way through Hogsmeade. The kids and I rode Forbidden Journey again while Brian visited the Owl Post to mail a postcard home to Lily that has a Hogsmeade postmark on it.
IMG_8791 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8792 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8793 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8794 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8795 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
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IMG_8799 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8800 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8801 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8802 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

 

[TheMouseFan]

More Hogwarts castle:
IMG_8803 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8804 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8805 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8806 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8807 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8808 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8809 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

Then one last ride on Flight of the Hippogriff.
IMG_8812 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8813 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8814 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8815 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8816 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8819 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

 

[TheMouseFan]

We had to stop and do a few more spells before leaving.
IMG_8822 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8823 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8824 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8825 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

It was time to move on to a different part of the park.
IMG_8826 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8827 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

Owen wanted to see if he was still short enough to ride the Pteranadon Flyers. He was, but barely!! However, they changed to a virtual line, so we had to get a ticket for a return time instead of just waiting in line right then.
IMG_8828 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

We decided to go ride Kong while we waited for the return time. Notice the bright blue skies!
IMG_8829 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8830 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr
IMG_8832 by Amy Clingner, on Flickr

When we exited Kong, it was beginning to rain and they closed down all of the outdoor rides, including Pteranadon Flyers, so Owen missed his last chance ever to ride. He was pretty bummed! The rain quickly turned into a downpour, so we threw our ponchos on and made for the front of the park and took a break back at the hotel.

 

[Zipadeelady]

When we were there I felt so sorry for the CM at pteranadon Flyer. He had to keep explaining to every single person that they couldn't ride and people would get so angry.

 

[TheMouseFan]

When we were there I felt so sorry for the CM at pteranadon Flyer. He had to keep explaining to every single person that they couldn't ride and people would get so angry.

Everyone seemed to be taking it well that day, but last year some people were upset when told they couldn't ride. I would really hate that job!!

 

[MotherofaPrincessLover]

Do you think 2 1/2 days would be enough to experience Universal (it looks like we'll be going in December so I doubt we'll be going to Volcano Bay)?