The view from my seat.
When I arrived I wasn't exactly sure how I was getting to the hotel from the airport. I'd looked up several options online before leaving Miami. A taxi with an estimated $35.00 fare. A shuttle for 17.00. Or the Lynx bus for just a few dollars, but making a few transfers.
Not being familiar with the bus routes I chose the shuttle this time around. Though after arriving at the hotel and seeing the bus stop right out front, I think maybe next time I'll try them out.
Our shuttle driver was very friendly and talked to us along the way. I shared the shuttle with a couple from Philadelphia that were staying at the Hard Rock Hotel. (Jealous!!!) After dropping them off he took me to my place.
I checked in and changed into some more comfortable (it was HOT) clothes and headed for Universal. I decided to walk because the girl at the front desk said it was about a ten minute walk that would save me about 8.00 if I didn't take a taxi. It actually took 15-20 minutes, but I walk all the time anyway so I didn't mind. If it hadn't been 900 degrees that day I could have probably made it quicker...
I chose Islands of Adventure first because I wanted roller coasters! The line for the Incredible Hulk coaster was 45 minutes and there was no single rider line so I decided to come back to him later. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man was my first ride of the trip. No wait at all in the single rider line for this one. Next I headed over to Lost Continent and the Dueling Dragons... Fire... and Ice!
I spent a few hours there and went to Margaritaville for a late lunch. Steven, Vera and Greg were still hours away on the road from Alabama and I was HUNGRY! I had the Cuban Meatloaf Survival sandwich and a Last Mango in Paris margarita. Mmmmmmm...
Next I was off to Universal Studios. I spent the rest of the evening there and then caught a cab back to the hotel.
After a shower and a late dinner from a nearby Wendy's I watched a little TV while I waited for the rest of the group to arrive. They got in late, around 11:00 I think. There was quite a bit of bad weather in the forecast for the early morning hours so we decided not to be in too big of a hurry to get going the next day. They were tired from the long drive anyway and we had 3 days there so we had no reason to be rushed.
By 8:00 or 9:00 the next morning, the weather still hadn't arrived, so we decided to get ready and go. We decided on an early lunch (around 11:00) at Bubba Gump's Shrimp Co. We arrived at Universal and parked, but on the way through all the moving walkways that take you from your car to the entrance of City Walk the rain arrived. She short sprint from the last bit of covered walkway to Bubba Gump's front door was an adventure, and we were soaked when it was over. Our waiter was very nice... he cheered us on and high-fived us as we ran through the door "The Wet Family is here!"
Vera's boyfriend, Greg had never been to Universal Studios, so we took the first day slow and made sure he got to do everything this trip. Several times we split up so they could do shows we'd already done. Me and Steven were there for roller coasters and alien attacks.
On this trip, Steven became the new Grand Champion of MIB Alien Attack, beating my previous high score. The new score to beat is 714000. I was very close on my last try... 675000 I'll get you next time Steven!
After Orlando I rode back to Alabama with them and spent a few days being Miss Kitty's favorite sleeping spot. She was on my lap for 3 days...
I always hate leaving... I can't wait for the next visit...
Halloween Horror Nights - here we come!
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