Universal Studios revisited, Universal Islands of Adventure revisited, Downtown Disney

         

Today's logos!!!

A earlier start today – well we want to get a lot into the day. Drive to Universal, and park in ET again! First stop – Universal Studios. To see if we can get to do some of the things that we missed out on last time. Andy wants a picture of Stef, Spongebob and him, so go straight to Jimmy Neutron, miss out on the ride, go into the shop, and find Spongebob standing there – all alone! Shame – mind you if I looked like him I'd probably be all on my own too!

Spongebob with Andy & Steff

They get their picture taken with Spongebob, and go and view it, while Spongebob stands on his own again. He comes over and looks at the picture, standing close to Stef. From where I am it looks like he is trying to grope her bum! I wish I had had my camera with me – would have made a great picture. The kids buy the picture, and we are off. Turns out we missed Blues Brothers again – won't be on for another hour and a half. Not this year then.

We walk around to look and see what the wait time is for Men In Black – but once again it is far too long – so another one we are going to miss this time around! There is nothing else here that we want to do – so its back round to Islands of Adventure, primarily because I had seen a holdall that is a freezer bag too – which means that hopefully all the chocolate that has been bought will not melt – as had happened before! Not a good experience giving presents of lumps of chocolates that should have been Hersey Kisses!

As we walk past Hulk we are quite shocked that the wait time is only 5 minutes – so Andy, Anita and Lauren jump on! Would be rude not too! The wait is closer to 10 minutes but they come off laughing again – and the picture is not too bad – but they don't buy it – again.

Popeye ride

We walk round and look at the wait time for Popeye – a mere five minutes as well – so decide to take the plunge (almost literally). It is a great water ride and boy do we get wet, everyone is laughing – especially at the people who put on rain macs when they ride. We enjoy it so much that we head round and queue again - this time the queue is slightly longer at about eight minutes but is still worth waiting for. There is a disabled person on one of the boats, and as we get to the point where the boat is pulled up a sharp incline they are obviously disembarking him. The boat in front of us has stopped right in front of one of the water jets, which pours a lot of water straight into the boat. There is no way out of it for them – they really get soaked. We are worried that it might happen to us as well – but fortunately our boat sails right past with only a little water joining the gallons already in the boat!

Dudley do-right ride

Further along there is another ride – Dudley do-right – which looks like it could be good – but we have nowhere to store the cameras etc which we don't want to get wet, or so we were told by a fairly unhelpful martial. Anita volunteers to stay here so we other four head off. The wait time is about half an hour – but it looks like it could well be worth it. It is another water ride, so here's hoping. Problem is that because we got wet on Popeye – and the wait for this ride is indoors in air-conditioning I get rather cold quite quickly.

We finally get to the beginning of the ride – and get in the log flume. There is space for five – so Anita could have ridden with us if only we had somewhere to keep the stuff dry…… The ride is very quick, and we are shooting round corners. Stef is not liking this one bit. We turn a corner and see a long climb in front of us. There is a big sign right beside us stating that if you leave the boat you will get hurt. There is a member of staff watching us from a podium; she calls out to him to let her out. He tells her he can't. Andy manages to calm her down, primarily by holding her down in place so she can't get away.

At the top of the incline we turn a corner and then whoosh we are flying down – straight at a hut! Well that's what it looks like to me – because I can't see the opening – comes of being at the back of the flume. We are through and then hit the water – quite a rush. Anita has noticed it was us – by looking out for the old bald pate! She manages to take a picture of us – Stef is still petrified. We get off the flume and walk to Anita, right past a place where you can store your belongings! Oh well – we ask Anita if she wants to go on it – and Stef goes very very pale! Anita says no, much to Stef's delight.

We carry on around the park – and come to Duelling Dragons. Anita Andy and Lauren go and ride the red one – so it now means they have ridden both of the roller-coasters. Again they thoroughly enjoy it – even though once again Anita misses the other part of the roller coaster as they pass a mere two feet apart!

Lolly, Stef & Andy enjoying the toffee apples

Cat in the Hat is our next port of call, followed by the Dr Seuss train, which the kids ride while we sit. We go into a sweetie shop – and the kids buy toffee apples – well apples covered in chocolate and other stuff…. Make a real mess – but least it is fruit – yeah right! The healthy option I don't think? :-)

Lauren gets another pearl (she got one at SeaWorld a couple of years back!) – another boy one, while we are here, and then we go and do a little shopping, and yes I get my holdall. It was bigger than I remembered – but is fit for purpose. Only thing is – it will probably end up being my hand luggage on the return home.

We decide that we have done all we want to here today, and because we are damp we head off back to the hotel to change, before going to Downtown Disney.

Disney Quest Logo

We grab a quick snack, and then on our way. Park the car, and head towards Disney Quest.

The first thing we try is the River Rapids – there is only space for four – so Anita "volunteers" to miss out. It is quite fun but boy are we rubbish or what. Let's just say that we do not work as a team – and end up miles off course! We are all equally as bad as each other – well apart from Anita of course. We join the queue for Pirates of the Caribbean, and go in. We have to select a Captain – Stef volunteers for this job and the rest of us are gunners (come on Arsenal! Oops). We go into the room – we are on a ship. Each takes their place, and we are battling against other ships. We actually do very well – although Stef's captaining skills might leave a little to the imagination. Primarily the boat doesn't always seem to be pointing in the right direction! We do however get the second best possible score – not bad as we are two gunners light – bit like Arsenal when they get two red cards then.

The kids then build their own roller-coaster – but only Andy and Lauren ride it in the simulator that takes you through every move that you have asked the computer to make when you build the roller coaster.. They decide not to buy the DVD of them riding it. Andy appears to be not at all interested as we watch them – feigning sleep, and yawning. As the ride does a loop the loop, we get to see a funny picture of Andy's tongue hanging out at a funny angle.

Podracing.......

We go into the arcade – and Lauren and Stef do the dancemat thing again – and Andy does some driving – and he and I have a pod-race – just like Star Wars. I also play a couple of pin-ball machines the best one being Elvis!

Everyone is now a little hungry so we go off to search for food. Planet Hollywood looks good – but the wait time is long – over an hour, so we walk on trying to find the Rainforest Café. Before we can reach it we see a very posh looking restaurant – but it is very quaint. We look at the menu that is outside it, and there is food that everyone will eat – so we decide to eat here.

Potobello yacht club

It is called The Portobello Yacht Club. We go in and are seated immediately. Our server comes over – his name is Dudley – no not as in do-right of the ride earlier in the day, though that would have been very funny if he had of been! He is ever so slightly light on his loafers too! When he gives us the menus he makes a point of explaining everything about it – and even suggests that we might like to change some of the meals – i.e. have a meal that should have rice, but change to the roasted garlic potatoes. We all give him our order – Lauren – pizza what else – Andrew has the pork shank, Stef the rack of lamb, I have ribeye steak. When it comes time for Anita to order she asks for the fillet steak. (she said phil it!), to which Dudley stated its fillet (said fill a) – ho ho.

Portobello

We had not ordered any starters – so were somewhat confused when Dudley returned. He had a stick-loaf of bread and a bowl, and five plates. He then proceeded to tell us about their flag mark recipe – roasted garlic. The bowl has a large clove of garlic in it – already prepared. He explains exactly what to do, and leaves us to enjoy the bread with the roasted garlic, which was amazing. Apart from Lauren we all tried it – it was really astonishing to be able to “spread” a clove of garlic!

Once the special starter (which was free I might add!) was consumed we then waited about ten minutes before the main courses arrive!

Roasted garlic recipe

A fantastic meal – everyone apart from Lauren sharing their food with each other; and everyone apart from Lauren (again) enjoying it. How you can't enjoy a margarita pizza is beyond me!

After paying the bill – sorry check – we leave, a dessert did not come into the equation, as all of us are full! We head down to the Virgin Megastore. I had hoped to be able to buy an album that was released in the early 80's by a band called Charlie who were bigger in the USA than they were at home. Nope no joy – but we do find some stuff to buy (heck no surprise there then). Andy, bless him, picks up a pressie for me for my birthday here!

After a few minutes at the till we manage to get out – with a smaller bill than we normally get when we visit a Virgin Megastore in the USA!

Back into the car – and we are off – towards the hotel and bed – only as per usual Stef is almost asleep before we leave the car park. A quick drive back – something to drink and the off to bed!