US/IOA trip report...

[DiZ NeE 08]

So... I know I haven't left my house yet but I just had to vent about what just happened to me! So I just called the Days inn that I made the reservation for to verify that my reservation was still there well, they told me that they had no ressie for me, I then called wyndham rewards to find out that the reservation was for Dec 11-12th not 1-2. I placed the ressie through their website which has been giving me glitches on finding a hotel near universal. so I don't have a hotel, The rep that I spoke to at wyndham opened a clain with customer service since I paid a discounted pre-paid rate which they will respond to me by the 6th woopdedooo I arrive tomorrow not the 6th or later. this totally sucks! I didn't really want to spend more than $30-40 on one night and now nothing is available that is cheaper than $50/night, this is so inconvinient! I also noticed since the rep asked me for a confirmation number that I never got a confirmation email or anything. I am trying to see now which credit card I paid this with so I can make sure they stop the payment just in case.


ahhhhh

[denlo]

Oh wow, what a horrible beginning to your trip. It seems like every trip there's a bit of a glitch. I hope this turns out to be your only glitch especially since it's such a biggie.

[DiZ NeE 08]

Oh wow, what a horrible beginning to your trip. It seems like every trip there's a bit of a glitch. I hope this turns out to be your only glitch especially since it's such a biggie. I hope it is the only glitch! I just finished booking a baymont inn and suites at $55.69 w/ tax and no nightly stay fee... I found another days inn a little farther away but it was $39 plus tax and a $5/night resort fee so I decided I would kind of treat myself to a better hotel. And compared to days inn I hope this is better as I was not looking forward to sleeping at the days inn. Lol

[DisneyGeek]

I hope are going better for you now & you get the refund straightened out!!! :goodvibes:

[KNWVIKING 2.0]

I'd at least go visit the Days Inn and pee in their lobby.

[DisneyGeek]

I'd at least go visit the Days Inn and pee in their lobby.

:rotfl2: and I'm sure you mean lobby, not a restroom in the lobby area, right?

[KNWVIKING 2.0]

Right next to the settee.

[DiZ NeE 08]

Lol! Well everything is going great. I have a bunch of pictures to post later but everything is going great... They ended up calling me yesterday and told me that I could change the ressie for a later date. Im not coming back to us or ioa for a.very long time. I took my time enjoying everything and I mean everything and I finished us yesterday around 245 because we got there around 10 15am and we stopped to watch every street show and everything. Now we are in ioa and we opened the park at 9 and we are basically done with the park...

[DiZ NeE 08]

I am going to get my lazy but up and run and then I will come right back and post the final TR.

[DiZ NeE 08]

Ok, so here is the TR...

We arrived around 7:20am, we went to waffle house to get some breakfast and headed to US. Parking was $15 for standard or $20 for preferred (I got standard)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC010212.jpg

I didn't take many pictures here as there wasnt much to do. here is a picture of the etrance to the Shrek 4-D show which was ok.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC010215.jpg
and here is my g/f greter in line for MIB
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC010216.jpg
We finished the park by 12:30pm so we decided to ride some things again, then we went to our hotel which was a baymont inn & suites which was really close but a little secluded.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC010218.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC010217.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC010219-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC010220-1.jpg
The bed was amazing... and last but not least my wonderful view. lol!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC010222.jpg

after getting some sleep we went to DTD to have some dinner at wolfgang puck express. we had the spicy chicken pizza and a side of mac n cheese.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC010225.jpg
we walked around DTD a little and I felt a craving come on suddenly in which I had to go immediately. maybe someone will guess what hotel this is without looking at the next pictures. lol!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC010226.jpg
chocolate/cookie (i believe) castle inside of the lobby
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC010227.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC010228.jpg

[DiZ NeE 08]

Beaches 'n' cream!!!!!! No way Jose!!!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC010229.jpg
we went into the store at BCV and I found these treats which I thought were cool as I had never seen them before.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC010231.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC010232.jpg

The next day we went to IOA
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020236.jpg
we technically opened the park... and there were people on stilts waiting for us.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020238.jpg
By reading online I decided we should go to Harry potter land first it gets busy during the later hours. I rushed throuh Seuss Landing
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020239.jpg
and the lost continent
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020242.jpg
to get to..... Harry potter land! (just to let you know I am not really a harry potter fan but this area was really cool and exactly like the movie!
Here is the entrance
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020244.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020243.jpg
as you walk in to your right you will see the Hogwartz express.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020245.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020247.jpg
as you keep walking in this is what it looks like
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020246.jpg
This area is a pretty small area but all the way in the back there is the castle which holds the main ride for harry potter land.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020248.jpg
as you go through the queve line in which I think I didn't even make a 15 min line (my g/f's bf made a 1 1/2 hr line for the same ride on opening week. ahhhh!)
Entrance to the castle
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020280.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020249.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020250.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020282.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020251.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020252.jpg
there is a room of talking picture frames just like in the movie.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020256.jpg
The hat that chooses what team your in. I guess...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020259.jpg
This ride was REALLY GOOD!!! I rode it twice! we went back into "town" and tried some butter beer which was not beer it was butter scotch and gingerbread kind of drink with a whipped marshmallow topping
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020263.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020261.jpg
The Olivander store experience is a small show in which "Olivander" talks about wands, then chooses a child from the audience and starts looking for "their" wand at the time in which it is just like the harry potter movie with the shinning light and a rush of wind on the child. aka a plot to get the kids to go CRAZY for the same experience and get a wand!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020285.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020286.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020287.jpg
The wands range from $35-50ea. you can choose from the actual character wands or you can choose wands by your birthday, basically like the zodiac.

Picture of me and my g/f starting to leave the park
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020291.jpg
she didn't want to leave just yet
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020289.jpg

some funny pictures of me!!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020295.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/imortalsoldier/Universal%20trip%202011/PC020292.jpg

[DiZ NeE 08]

Did anyone actually look at my tr? Sad face!

[KNWVIKING 2.0]

Is there any alcohol in the Butterbeer ?

[DisneyGeek]

Did anyone actually look at my tr? Sad face!

Yes, but it is about the Dark Side and therefore it burns to spend too much time on the thread! ;)

[DiZ NeE 08]

Is there any alcohol in the Butterbeer ?

Unfortunately not... I was thinking the same thing as I really needed a drink knowing that I spent the extra money on the park tickets. Its just soda, my gf loved it but I didnt like it.

[denlo]

Sorry Brad, not sure how I missed your updated TR. Thanks for posting pictures from the dark side. DH and I are HP fans so we both want to see the new attraction. But we feel we don't have enough days at WDW as it is. Maybe we'll wait until other relatives are along that want to go to Universal too.

You and your DGF look like you were having fun. I can't decide if I'll like butter beer or not but being a fan I'll have to try it.

I think you should consider the blue hat for your next halloween party. On you it looked good. Was that for a Dr. Seuss character? I bet it was hot.

[DiZ NeE 08]

Sorry Brad, not sure how I missed your updated TR. Thanks for posting pictures from the dark side. DH and I are HP fans so we both want to see the new attraction. But we feel we don't have enough days at WDW as it is. Maybe we'll wait until other relatives are along that want to go to Universal too.

You and your DGF look like you were having fun. I can't decide if I'll like butter beer or not but being a fan I'll have to try it.

I think you should consider the blue hat for your next halloween party. On you it looked good. Was that for a Dr. Seuss character? I bet it was hot.

I am not a lover of sweet/sugary drinks so I wasn't to fond of it but my dgf loved it. I would saay to try it as it costs $3.50 and if you want a souvenir cup it will burn $12.50 out of your pocket. we were having fun as we haven't been there since we were smaller kids. lol!

I found the hat at a "clearance" store near the exit of IOA, it is from Dr. Seuss.

I can't wait until I get enough money for DVC!!! I have to fill my WDW craving...

[denlo]

Good luck on saving for the DVC, but as you are still young, you could rent points for now and buy later when you have the money. Or like many of us stay in cheaper accommodations until you can afford to purchase a DVC contract (like you're doing now). :thumbsup2:

[wdrl]

Thanks for sharing your photos of Harry Potter! We really need to find time to visit WWoHP sometime soon!

[DisneyGeek]

I will admit Harry Potterland was worth the visit & I did but one of those souvineer mugs + a wand from Olivanders... ;) Most other Dark Side stuff did little for me & despite buying 2 Day tix DW decided not to go the 2nd one & just hang @ OKW!

I did about 6 to 8 hrs total between the 2 days IIRC (heard crowds were lighter in afternoons). Critically important: I wore a DVC hat & D23 shirt while there though to protect me from contamination & then saw night shows & had dinner in WDW for a cleansing both nights! :silly:

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using Tapatalk

[Ranger275]

Critically important: I wore a DVC hat & D23 shirt while there though to protect me from contamination & then saw night shows & had dinner in WDW for a cleansing both nights! :silly:



That is funny but exactly what I would expect from a DVC member. I would do the same thing.

[DiZ NeE 08]

Funny thing is that I used my dvc member hat that I got from the one wednesday member meeting that I went to on the day I went to us. I laughed when at us walking around one of the us vacation club (I forgot what its called) people came up to me to talk about their vacation club. I laughed internally but told him no thank you and just walked away. I never knew that they had one although I would never use that. I am not a harry potter fan but I did think that the wands were pretty cool but a little expensive for my taste and it would be a dust collector inside the box since I have no space in my room anyways. I can totally understand why your wife did not want to go back the second day, I can't wait for wdw! busch gardens and sea world are the only.parks in which I can spend a day in each park as I love roller coasters and I love anything that deals with water and sea animals! Although I havent been to fond of water lately since I get sick everytime I go out while it rains.

[newjerseynick]

Great TR, thanks for sharing. Sorry you didn't like the Butterbeer. It is, next to bottled Coke with real sugar, my favorite non alcoholic drink.

Nick

[Colorado Belle]

Just saw this ! Great Pics...have to get there some time soon...not sure about the butterbeer but will try it once!

[RoccoP72]

Same here with CB. I just caught your trip report today. Great pictures Brad! Sorry to hear about the hotel fiasco but it sounds like everything ending nicely for ya. :thumbsup2: