Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida – 1/27/2015

JANUARY 27, 2015 (Tuesday)

We were up, had our usual breakfast (cereal and coffee), and were out the door by 10:30 AM. We had to stop and get gas first but then off we went – finally – to Universal Studios.

Our gauge was blinking, time for a fill up.
Our gauge was blinking, time for a fill up.
On the way I saw this and said, "1950's.  Edie said, "I was thinking 1940's"
On the way I saw this and said, “1950’s. Edie said, “I was thinking 1940’s”

The weather was beautiful (a little cool but not bad). It took us three tries to find the parking lot and I thought Mr. Grumpy (Michael) was going to turn around and go back home. Parking was $17.00. Yuck. Can’t believe that because they’re already getting over $100.00 a person just to go into the park. What can you do but pay?

It was a pretty far drive.
It was a pretty far drive.
Oops, drove past the right way, got turned around, cussed a fair bit.
Oops, drove past the right way, got turned around, cussed a fair bit.
Went past here about three times.
Went past here about three times.
They didn't wear masks, probably should have.
They didn’t wear masks, probably should have.

We parked and walked quite a way down through Downtown Universal. Very interesting. They had this place where you get your picture taken with Jurassic Park animals. It was fun and we had hoped to see it again when we left, but we were just too tired.

Seemed like a big crowd going in with us today.
Seemed like a big crowd going in with us today.
Cleaver garage markings.  Got us straight back to our car in the end.  Saw folks taking pictures with their cell phones and I did the same.
Clever garage markings. Got us straight back to our car in the end. Saw folks taking pictures with their cell phones and I did the same.
Pretty greenery on the way into the park.
Pretty greenery on the way into the park.
Moving sidewalks and escalators took a lot of the pain out of the walk.
Moving sidewalks and escalators took a lot of the pain out of the walk.
Edie and I are on the screen on the left.  Her in a blue coat, me in a white hat.  We were admiring the baby t rex's in the cage.
Edie and I are on the screen on the left. Her in a blue coat, me in a white hat. We were admiring the baby t rex’s in the cage.
Us again.  The triceratops had an odd smell, so we left.
Us again. The triceratops had an odd smell, so we left.

We got into the park and walked around. There were characters (Minions, Scooby Doo, etc.) and musicians. There were also float type vehicles that would put on little shows throughout the day. We ate lunch at Mel’s Drive-In, which was way overpriced but had really good food. They also had lots of neat old cars outside. We went there because we were told you can get your food really quickly.

More moving walkways.
More moving walkways.
Miniature golf.
Miniature golf.

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Great selection of movies.
Great selection of movies.
Fun place in Monterey.
Fun place in Monterey.
Lots of food before you get to the parks.
Lots of food before you get to the parks.
Pretty woman riding a cowfish.
Pretty woman riding a cowfish.
Lots of these places in all the big tourists spots across the US.
Lots of these places in all the big tourists spots across the US.
Nice seaplane.
Nice seaplane.
Revolving Universal sign.
Revolving Universal sign.
The plane again.
The plane again.
I don't care what she says, I am not following her to the top of this tower!
I don’t care what she says, I am not following her to the top of this tower!
Ticket booth.
Ticket booth.
Sega palms, by the gross.  These sell for a thousand bucks each in California.
Sega palms, by the gross. These sell for a thousand bucks each in California.
Off to the one park, Universal.
Off to the one park, Universal.
Never seen this tree before, we both fell in love with it.
Never seen this tree before.  We both fell in love with it.

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Healthy Sago.
Healthy sago.
Unhealthy but oddly beautiful.
Unhealthy but oddly beautiful.

 

 

We got to go on several rides, mostly 3-D type, which were really fun, especially the Transformer one. Michael and I both really enjoyed it the most. We got to walk through Hogwarts, but we couldn’t ride the train because we didn’t have the two park pass. We saw a magic show, Shrek, Terminator, ET, Simpson Alien ride and walked around the whole park. We stayed for the 5:00 PM parade (which was kinda a disappointment as it was so little), and debated about staying for the 7:00 PM lagoon show. We decided we were tired and wanted to go home. I was grateful we went when the park wasn’t all that crowded (even though at times it sure seemed it was.)

Inside, great old taxi.
Inside, great old taxi.
Pretty woman....
Pretty woman….
Pretty woman with Woody.
Pretty woman with Woody.
This band was so good.  Hit after hit that sounded great!
This band was so good. Hit after hit that sounded great!
No reason, she's just flirting.
No reason, she’s just flirting.
Our kind of wait, 10 minutes.
Our kind of wait, 10 minutes.
Into Shrek, 4D
Into Shrek, 4D
Edie planning out our day.
Edie planning out our day.

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I like the color of this tree.
I like the color of this tree.
We haven't seen this movie, but Edie liked them.
We haven’t seen this movie, but Edie liked them.
After the ride.  It sprayed water on us when characters sneezed and Edie screamed when she thought one of the 3D spiders was on her ear.
After the ride. It sprayed water on us when characters sneezed and Edie screamed when she thought one of the 3D spiders was on her ear.

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Pretty woman with  cartoon characters.
Pretty woman with cartoon characters.

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Nice tribute.
Nice tribute.

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Nice explanation of the staging of the Lucy show.
Nice explanation of the staging of the Lucy show.

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The club.
The club.
Kitchen and living room.
Kitchen and living room.
I remember the twin beds in the bedroom.
I remember the twin beds in the bedroom.

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Lots of mock buildings from Hollywood.
Lots of mock buildings from Hollywood.

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Terminator show.
Terminator show.

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But first, lunch at Mel's.
But first, lunch at Mel’s.
Was pretty fast.
Was pretty fast.

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Edie had a cheeseburger, I had the grilled chicken.
Edie had a cheeseburger, I had the grilled chicken.
Motor home from the Simpson's.
Motor home from the Simpson’s.

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Betty?
Betty?
All the rides exit into a gift shop, not very subtle.  Terminator was okay. Felt like I was in a shower at one point.
All the rides exit into a gift shop, not very subtle. Terminator was okay. Felt like I was in a shower at one point.
Pretty woman by a Cadillac.
Pretty woman by a Cadillac.
She insisted on a picture of Grumpy.
She insisted on a picture of Grumpy.
We went to a magic show, no photographs allowed.  It was fun, but mostly a infomercial cause they sell the kits for all the magic tricks they show.
We went to a magic show, no photographs allowed. It was fun, but mostly a infomercial cause they sell the kits for all the magic tricks they show.
Street animation characters performing.
Street animation characters performing.

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Transformer ride.
Transformer ride.

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First we went to one of Edie's all time favorites, ET.
First we went to one of Edie’s all time favorites, ET.

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After I took this, ET said, "No photographs."  I put my camera away.
After I took this, ET said, “No photographs.” I put my camera away.
This dog looks just like our daughter's dog.
This dog looks just like our daughter’s dog.

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Lots of expected displays.
Lots of expected displays.

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A whole section on the irreverent  Simpsons.
A whole section on the irreverent Simpsons.

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We had to ride it.
We had to ride it.

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Great names on the saucers.
Great names on the saucers.

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Men in Black section.
Men in Black section.
Fear factor live, I passed.
Fear factor live, I passed.
Harry Potter area.
Harry Potter area.
Shrunken head on bus.
Shrunken head on bus.
Here we go.
Here we go.

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It is big and impressive.
It is big and impressive.

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True fans of the books and movies would appreciate all the touches.
True fans of the books and movies would appreciate all the touches.

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We passed on the disaster ride.
We passed on the disaster ride.

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I thought it was Abe Lincoln at first.
I thought it was Abe Lincoln at first.

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This turned out to be our favorite ride of them all.  It was fun and created great illusions of speed and movement.
This turned out to be our favorite ride of them all. It was fun and created great illusions of speed and movement.
The object of the battle.
The object of the battle.

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TV screens that told the story and was fun to watch while slogging it out in line.
TV screens that told the story and was fun to watch while slogging it out in line.
Lots of great old cars around the park.
Lots of great old cars around the park.

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Way too many to photograph, but lots and lots of stars on the walkways.
Way too many to photograph, but lots and lots of stars on the walkways.

While we were sitting and waiting on the parade to come by, we got to talking to another couple who sat down. When he said he was from Iowa, I asked if he knew “The Bachelor,” and he said “The Bachelor’”s father was his best man at his first wedding and they are from the same little town. What a small world and how fun. Nice people. They snow bird during the winter down here.

The parade.
The parade.

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I told pretty woman it was Disney, divided by 12.
I told pretty woman it was Disney, divided by 12.

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All the floats had loud music.
All the floats had loud music.

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The end.
The end.
Headed out.
Headed out.

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I can almost smell the interior.
I can almost smell the interior.
Headed out, nearby hotel above the tree tops.
Headed out, nearby hotel above the tree tops.
Love that tree.
Love that tree.
Cowfish.
Cowfish.

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Mini golf on the way out.
Mini golf on the way out.

We left around 5:30 PM. That was our day. Hope yours was great!