12 Dec 2016
Looking at the weather, there was a small chance of rain, but otherwise still warm.
Indeed it was a nice day as we left the apartment.
Our destination was Universal. We ended up in the ET car park - almost at the end of one row :(
First stop was off to the Cinema, to get our tickets for the Star Wars film on Friday.
We then stopped off for a coffee before heading to the park proper.
The park was pretty quiet actually. Being a Monday it would be less people, but it was very comfortable from the crowds point of view. This gave me a change to go on a couple of rides including Transformers which I'd not been on before. I also did Mummy (my favourite in the park) then we walked on to towards the Harry Potter area. This was also new to us since our last visit in 2010. We lined up in a short line for a train ride. It was all done out like Kings Cross in London.
The ride itself was a very authentic train carriage (with the single compartments) with stuff happening outside the (video screen) window.
What we didn't initially realise was that the ride was actually taking us over to Islands of Adventure (the other park here) and we were not allowed to ride back to the start without re-queuing. So we decided to walk through IoA. I was heading for the new Kong ride, but stopped off to do a ride through Jurassic Park first. Then on to Kong which has an impressive set outside, giving the illusion of mountains in the distance.
Shame the ride itself was broken!
This wasn't the first broken thing we'd come across either, earlier in the day Linda wanted to see the Blues Brothers Christmas show - but their sound system was also broken so they posed for photos a bit then left.
So we wandered back over to Universal, past the new restaurant made out to look like a Chocolate Factory.
Once back in the park, we did the Minions ride (another first) which was another simulator but a bit rough for my liking - it reminded me of the early Back to the Future ride we went on way back when. Transformers was better in my opinion.
Finally, it was time for the parade.
Finally, Santa and the Rockettes arrived.
And the tree is lit.
We then spent some time taking photos around the area before heading for the entrance. On the was there, a guy was standing there reminding people that there were fireworks at 7pm. That was a hour away and both of us decided to leave and have something to eat instead. We got a walk-in to a (very quiet) Hard Rock and the food came up pretty quickly. Linda's Mac and Cheese had hot-sauce on the side which she dared me to try.
Never again!
Still the meal was over well before 7pm and we had time to walk back to Universal again, gaining entrance just before the official closing time of 7pm. We got to watch the show after all.
The show itself had clips from Universal movies with the odd set of fireworks in the distance.
We then walked back through the streets to the entrance which was all now lit up in it's glory.
A quick stop off at a local Target on the way home then we sat and watched some TV to relax!
FULL PHOTO ALBUM : https://goo.gl/photos/bgFvHFtCqbP8raDRA