Trip Report We are venturing outside our comfort zones and hoping the reward is worth it!! April 11 -23, 2021

Hello! I am, again, going to attempt to do a semi livish trip report and then fill in the details when I return. Like Rapunzel, when we made these plans, I definitely was taking a leap a faith! I, like all of us, have had a long year. We are DVC members and it was time to use the points. It is that simple. I can't tell you how thrilled I am now!

The cast remains the same! Den (my husband), Deighton(me), Hunter (16), Camden (9), and Brinley (5 and starts kindergarten in the fall). Some of us are a lot taller and some of us wider...

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We fly Southwest out of Pittsburgh early Sunday morning and land in Orlando around 10:15am.( I feel like I struck gold with 2 nonstop flights!) Then we head to the home where animals belong, a one bedroom villa at Animal Kingdom Lodge until April 19th. Then we move to Cabana Bay Beach Resort until the 23rd. Universal is a whole new world for us. Any advice for the entire length of stay is welcome!

I will be posting our plans soon! Thanks for reading! Another big thank you to those of you who posted, happy, positive thoughts and reports during these crazy times. It definitely kept time moving forward and hope alive. It keeps me smiling and tearing up to see your children growing up on this platform! Happy Thursday everyone!!
 
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littleroo

littleroo

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Darstarr said:
Need details.

How
When
How
Where

You know, all the nitty gritty stuff. Just in case😉
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You got it!! So if you stay on property you have an hour early access to Islands of Adventure or Volcano Bay. When you check in online and in person they tell you all sorts of things. One of the things was, you can get in line for Hagrids in that hour before the park opens which is recommended or you use the virtual universal studios app at 11, 2, and 4 with no guarantees.

We slept in and missed our best option! At 11 we tried and failed. Then discussed that if we don't get on no biggie. When you get to the heart of the rides here the internet stops working on a lot of rides. When we did Ripsaw Falls we were in a building and didn't think it would work. We were super psyched when Den got on at 2:03! It was for between 430 and 5.

We got there at 430ish and like ROTR had no idea we were going to stand in line for an hour plus. We had 3 young idiots behind us who literally kept running into Den. I shot the looks, asked nicely and then spit fire. After that we all got along great!

The ride itself is Hagrids motorcycle with sidecar, 7 alike lined up in a row. The motorcycle was manned by Den and the sidecar me. (Hunter did not fit, Camden was too chicken and Brin too short). It is an extremely smooth, intense Rollercoaster. There is even a drop in it!! After the drop there is a pause. I thought the ride broke down but it was a safety measure.

All sorts of JK Rowling creatures were scattered around! It was about 3 minutes long.
 
littleroo

littleroo

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
We are back at Cabana Bay and had, overall, a fantastic day! Spiderman closed early due to some issues so we never did it. Hulk was never in our plans so we pretty much covered everything twice and then some!

The park was very busy today and most wait times were an hour or more but I saw it as rest time. We have express passes left over and tried to give them away but the crowds were making a mass exodus so I finally gave up.

I have a lot of crazy stories that I have not included! For as many truly, kind, thoughtful people that we have met, we have also encountered some of the craziest things I have ever seen. Whether or not I report on them we will eventually see.

One day more! Our plan Universal Studios in the morning and then a pool afternoon. Den and I are sitting downstairs chilling together. Brin is already passed out. I will report on Margaritaville later or in the morning.
 
E

EngineerMom

Active Member
Sorry you didn't get to do Spiderman. I like that one. Hubby and I did it a 2nd and 3rd time while our son did the Hulk. (He says he can't take those g forces any more)
Spiderman and Transformers are the same kind of ride but Spiderman is much better. Transformers is REALLY loud. Last week I put in earplugs and could still hear everything and enjoyed it more.

We saw the Borne show last week for the 1st time. It was pretty cool. Hubby really liked it.
If you like the Indiana Jones show you should like it.
 
littleroo

littleroo

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
EngineerMom said:
Sorry you didn't get to do Spiderman. I like that one. Hubby and I did it a 2nd and 3rd time while our son did the Hulk. (He says he can't take those g forces any more)
Spiderman and Transformers are the same kind of ride but Spiderman is much better. Transformers is REALLY loud. Last week I put in earplugs and could still hear everything and enjoyed it more.

We saw the Borne show last week for the 1st time. It was pretty cool. Hubby really liked it.
If you like the Indiana Jones show you should like it.
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I am sorry we missed it, too! It just gives us something to look forward to next time!

I am really appreciating your thoughts. Yesterday, the motion sickness really got to me. We shall see what today brings!
 
Zipadeelady

Zipadeelady

Well-Known Member
littleroo said:
I am sorry we missed it, too! It just gives us something to look forward to next time!

I am really appreciating your thoughts. Yesterday, the motion sickness really got to me. We shall see what today brings!
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Hey, loving the live trip report. I've been here but just lurking.

I have a co worker that is going to Universal in a month. She is the biggest Harry Potter fan but unfortunately she gets motion sickness, out of the Harry Potter rides which are the ones that seem to be the worst. I did tell her she has to walk through the Forbidden Journey to see the que but take the chicken exit before getting on but that's all that I could think of to tell her since it's been so long since I've been there.
 
littleroo

littleroo

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Zipitidoda said:
Hey, loving the live trip report. I've been here but just lurking.

I have a co worker that is going to Universal in a month. She is the biggest Harry Potter fan but unfortunately she gets motion sickness, out of the Harry Potter rides which are the ones that seem to be the worst. I did tell her she has to walk through the Forbidden Journey to see the que but take the chicken exit before getting on but that's all that I could think of to tell her since it's been so long since I've been there.
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It is hard to say. For me, they are all jarring and would be better spaced out. I also find that I do better in the morning. If I were to rank them in order of easiest to hardest, it would be:
1. Flight of the Hippogriff
2. Escape to Gringotts
3. The Forbidden Journey
4. Hagrids

My husband wished we had brought dramamine! Even the 3D and 4D rides just keep coming and eventually there is an impact!
 
Zipadeelady

Zipadeelady

Well-Known Member
littleroo said:
It is hard to say. For me, they are all jarring and would be better spaced out. I also find that I do better in the morning. If I were to rank them in order of easiest to hardest, it would be:
1. Flight of the Hippogriff
2. Escape to Gringotts
3. The Forbidden Journey
4. Hagrids

My husband wished we had brought dramamine! Even the 3D and 4D rides just keep coming and eventually there is an impact!
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Thanks so much for taking the time to respond!! Enjoy your last day!!
 
E

EngineerMom

Active Member
Zipitidoda said:
Hey, loving the live trip report. I've been here but just lurking.

I have a co worker that is going to Universal in a month. She is the biggest Harry Potter fan but unfortunately she gets motion sickness, out of the Harry Potter rides which are the ones that seem to be the worst. I did tell her she has to walk through the Forbidden Journey to see the que but take the chicken exit before getting on but that's all that I could think of to tell her since it's been so long since I've been there.
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OK so I get HORRIBLY motion sick. I get sick on airplanes if there is lots of bumps. I get sick on boats......it's why I didn't do coasters for years and now I just don't do them and at my age that isn't going to change.

WORST ride for me at Universal was Simpsons. Worst ever, they had to stop it for me.
I don't do roller coasters AT ALL so I can't comment on Hippogriff or Hagrids. I am even too chicken to do Gringotts because it has a drop at the begining.
From Hubby - Hippogriff is Barnstormer. Hagrid is awesome but fast. We did universal 1st and he said all the coasters at Disney did not seem as fast as Hagrid which he did 3 times.

I am FINE on Forbidden Journey. No 3D glasses and I find the videos fine.
As an engineer I think Forbidden Journey is SO COOL in terms of the engineering. It is a dark ride (scared my son when he was young) and you get flipped onto your back but I don't get sick. I felt it a bit the 1st time because I didn't relax at all but now no issue at all. When we went for the 1st trip I wasn't going to do Forbidden Journey and others told me you will really miss out on the whole experience so I made myself and I have NO regrets.

Other rides. I am fine on Spiderman and Transformers. I am fine on Kong. I am OK on Minions (I feel it but think it is a fun ride be it a bit jarring). Jimmy Fallon doesn't actually bother me but some folks complain.
Hubby can't do Men in Black twice in a row because of the spinning (he doesn't do the tea cups). But he likes MIB and does it once.
 
Zipadeelady

Zipadeelady

Well-Known Member
EngineerMom said:
OK so I get HORRIBLY motion sick. I get sick on airplanes if there is lots of bumps. I get sick on boats......it's why I didn't do coasters for years and now I just don't do them and at my age that isn't going to change.

WORST ride for me at Universal was Simpsons. Worst ever, they had to stop it for me.
I don't do roller coasters AT ALL so I can't comment on Hippogriff or Hagrids. I am even too chicken to do Gringotts because it has a drop at the begining.
From Hubby - Hippogriff is Barnstormer. Hagrid is awesome but fast. We did universal 1st and he said all the coasters at Disney did not seem as fast as Hagrid which he did 3 times.

I am FINE on Forbidden Journey. No 3D glasses and I find the videos fine.
As an engineer I think Forbidden Journey is SO COOL in terms of the engineering. It is a dark ride (scared my son when he was young) and you get flipped onto your back but I don't get sick. I felt it a bit the 1st time because I didn't relax at all but now no issue at all. When we went for the 1st trip I wasn't going to do Forbidden Journey and others told me you will really miss out on the whole experience so I made myself and I have NO regrets.

Other rides. I am fine on Spiderman and Transformers. I am fine on Kong. I am OK on Minions (I feel it but think it is a fun ride be it a bit jarring). Jimmy Fallon doesn't actually bother me but some folks complain.
Hubby can't do Men in Black twice in a row because of the spinning (he doesn't do the tea cups). But he likes MIB and does it once.
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Thanks!! I will pass all this info along. She is very thankful for any advise
 
littleroo

littleroo

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
It seems the parties are divided! Brin wants to keep going and Cam wants to swim. We may have to divide and conquer. During the day the pools are much quieter while the parks are full. I would like to give the lazy river a whirl!

This may be the most beautiful day I have ever experienced in Florida! The high is 78 this afternoon with low humidity! Den and I are known to let loose on our last day! We have experienced many a hangover on the tragical, travel day home. I will say it will be easier to leave here than Disney by a landslide!

I apologize in advance for today's antics!!
 
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93boomer

93boomer

Premium Member
littleroo said:
It seems the parties are divided! Brin wants to keep going and Cam wants to swim. We may have to divide and conquer. During the day the pools are much quieter while the parks are full. I would like to give the lazy river a whirl!

This may be the most beautiful day I have ever experienced in Florida! The high is 78 this afternoon with low humidity! Den and I are known to let loose on our last day! We have experienced many a hangover on the tragical, travel day home. I will say it will be easier to leave here than Disney by a landslide!

I apologize in advance for today's antics!!
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Have fun!!!!!!
 

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