Day 17 - Universal & Islands

TLDR: Universal & Islands for the last time to catch up of rides we’d missed including ET & The Mummy. We also hit some rides for a second & even third time, but just the ones we really liked. Hit the cinema once the parks were done to see Despicable Me, which was amazing. One last ride before we left. then headed to Wonderworks to spend the rest of our evening.

So our last day at Universal and Islands today, and although weve done the parks a few times now, we wanted to get one last look before our holiday comes to an end on Friday and we return to reality. Today we were going the opposite way from last time, starting with Universal ang getting in some of the rides we’d missed then taking the Hogwarts Express to Islands then and finishing up with a few rides there. As we kept missing the opportunity to see Despicable Me 3 in the cinema (and we did really want to see it here), we pre-booked tickets at Citywalk for an afternoon showing, when we should be finished or just about with the parks.

So, Universal. Right as we entered the park and before we got on any rides, we seen the Mystery Machine and more importantly Doc Brown’s Delorean, with Doc Brown ready and waiting for a photo op. We couldn’t let that one go by so just had to take a quick photo with him before he sent us on our way and said he would ‘See us in the future’. Chortle.

Be Gooood!

We then kicked off with a nice wee classic - ET. A great family ride where you go back with ET to his home planet and try to save his family and friends. They all loved it especially when ET called out their names at the end. And with all of us feeling quite good Patrick’s goes and lays down his fact of the day:

> ET was originally meant to be a horror movie.

Hmmm, I dunno I mean he looks creepy enough already don’t you think, or is that just me? :P

Patrick, Robert & I then went on to ride The Mummy. Patrick’s not one for roller coasters but I convinced him to join us as he’d been on this one before. It was more scary that an actual roller coaster and had some pretty convincing scares in it. The boys loved it and Patrick realised he was worrying about nothing (hopefully that will keep until The Hulk later on).

You’re a wizard, Patrick.

The last area of Universal for us approached, Diagon Alley. We were going to go on Escape From Gringotts but the wait time was too long to comfortably allow us to make the remaining rides and get to the cinema so we gave it a pass. Patrick had expressed an interest in getting Robes (like from Hogwarts), and after being in a few notable shops including Borgin & Burkes & the Weasley brothers shop - Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes we went into the shop which sells the school attire. He got fitted for his Robe and picked up a Prefect badge (which I shamefully laughed at a little), and he was one happy, if now penniless little boy. The Robe was amazing quality and he was asked if he wanted to wear it around the park (which people actually do) though in the kinds of heat we had today it would be volunteering for torture.

Train from Platform 9 ¾ over to Hogsmeade next. The train station had all sorts of cool effects and props and the ride from one park to another is different the opposite way so we were looking forward to doing this trip for the first time this trip. Off the train we then headed to a family favourite (for the 3rd time), Harry Potter & The Forbidden Journey. Grace’s first time she was hesitant but if we could, I bet she do this one all day long if we let her now. Great to get one final try of this awesome attraction. Patrick also popped up with a bonus Fun Fact which I need to cinlude as its quite a quirky one:

> JK Rowling put the Potions room in the Dungeon of Hogwarts because chemistry was her least favourite subject at school.

Before we left Hogsmeade, we headed to the Hogs Head to get a round of Butterbeers (we’ll you just have to, right?). First time we’d been in the bar and it was a lot quieter that the queues outside so that’s a wee tip we’ll need to remember. And Butterbeers in hand, we headed off over the bridge and into Jurassic Park land. Goodbye Harry Potter, until next time! :)

Its soooo FLUFFY!!!

One of the last things we really had to get ticked off today was to do Reign of King Kong again. This new ride, open recently has high wait times but the ride is awesome. And it appears it has a number of alternate experiences attached to it, which made doing it again for a second time all the more worth it. Time was running but we managed to squeeze in the amazing Spiderman just before heading off to the cinema. I did see Rogue and Storm from the X-Men for a photo op after the ride, which I really wanted but we needed some time to get to the Cinema so just couldn’t do it :( It was just as well though as the grey clouds rolled in and it started raining just as we were getting into the Cinema (Citywalk between the two parks also houses a huge cinema, which was idea for us today). We grabbed some snacks and went into the very quiet screen playing Despicable Me 3. No spoilers here, just to say the movie was really funny and just more of the same from Gru, Lucy, the girls and the Minions. We all loved it and glad we made the decision to go see it.

Before we left the parks for good, there was one last ride that Robert wanted to have another shot at - The Hulk! We hopped back into the park (with the rain now nowhere to be seen), and me and Ro (but unfortunately no Patrick) headed to the huge green roller coaster at the front of the park. Its a great ride and probably one of the best roller coasters I’ve been on, so I was pleased to get another shot at it. And so was Robert, his wee face was beaming from ear to ear. Picked up copious amounts of chocolate frogs from the gift shop (for gifts, not me) before we headed off to the car. Universal & Islands: DONE!

Now it was still relatively early in the evening and one thing Grace hadn’t shut up about since we arrived was Wonderworks or The Upside Down house as she (and probably everyone else), calls it. It was right across from our hotel, so dropped off the car, got a quick change of clothes and walked down. Wonderworks is a big house (upside down, of course), with multiple levels filled with fascinating games, inventions and challenges - a mini science center if you’d like. Outside was a guy holding a parrot and another guy holding a baby alligator, and as cool as birds are (of the flying variety ;), the alligator won and got our full attention. To my surprise all of them wanted to hold it, which they were allowed to, and as we let Patrick do this years ago, we though it would be good to get another photo several years on.

Lay me down on a bed of nails… literally!

As we were paying for admission into Wonderworks, Ann was asked for ID. She didnt really carry any or had done this whole holiday so we didn’t know what to do. She was asked again if she had any form of identification, and was told even her Facebook profile picture would do - to which we both laughed at (Ill need to try that the next time Im in town and I’m asked for ID, LOL). Once we were through the gates, there were all manner of things to keep them occupied including laser beams, a bubble lab, basketball and football, reaction tests, photo ops and lots of other games and brain teasers to keep them entertained. They had a bed of nails, which Robert & I tried which really wasn’t all that bad, though Grace was controlling mine and she can have a dark and twisted mind at times. The had an astronaut training simulator and a 360 roller coaster simulator and Patrick went on both without issues (which was crazy as he had been adamant he wasn’t riding any coasters esp ones that had loops). We all go to experience a 4DX film (which was Graces favourite from last time), this time it was fast ride over the Great Wall of China which was a little different to before but was still fairly enjoyable. We also all played a game of laser tag and as its a shooting game and I’m not competitive in any way, I kept the scores :P

- Gerry: 2005
- Robert: 605
- Ann: 585
- Patrick: 455
- Gracie: 65

Brilliant way to round off the day and everyone thoroughly enjoyed something a little bit slower paced. Home and in bed, for tomorrows second trip to Animal Kingdom!!!