Hello Everyone!
Let me start by saying my name is Amanda, and I'm in love with Universal.
No, seriously.
I first visited Universal Orlando as a child, and distinctly remember a few of the older rides (Jaws, Disaster, Twister, Terminator 2, and Kong) though for the life of me can't recall the year. Needless to say, it had been a while as I recently turned 32 in March. I have two children, May (6) and Eli (2), and it is thanks to them that I rediscovered my love for riding the movies.
This past January while planning a trip to see the Mouse, it was suggested to me by my mother - Leslie - that we spend a few days at Universal. She had been recently enough to explore the new Harry Potter areas, and knowing I was a fan correctly guessed it was something I would very much enjoy. So I did it. Scattered throughout our eight day trip I managed to work in three whole days at Universal - and let me tell you, I was hooked.
So hooked, in fact, that just a few short months later I returned to Universal with my mother, daughter, and son. (June 2018) for a seven night stay. My husband is not quite so enthused with theme parks, and has recently discovered that as long as he lets me go to my happy place I'm willing to let him have a few nights of peace and quiet . It's a situation that has worked out well for both of us.
On our June trip, we purchased seasonal annual passes as opposed to an unlimited ticket. This seemed like enough of a guarantee that we would certainly return within the year - I was thinking January; however, it seems hubby has finally gotten tired of staying at home as he booked us on a cruise leaving February 3 and instructed me (because he's incredible) to move up my trip. Hours and hours of scouring the internet for the best deal and the best dates, and here we are - the last girl's trip of 2018 and my third trip of the year. After reading through so many great trip reports, and using them to plan my own vacation, I thought it was past time I start writing my own.
Now, the details!
Who's Going? : Amanda, May, and Leslie
When? : September 1 2018 (Saturday) - September 6 2018 (Thursday)
Where? : Royal Pacific Resort
I felt very lucky to catch an APH rate for our hotel over the Labor Day Holiday. As we always travel with express pass, there were only three hotel options and seeing as we had an excellent experience with RPR previously seeing such a great rate was the answer to the big question: When? I do try to keep my solo vacations on a certain budget, and it took a lot of manipulating to ensure I hit the right price point. Luckily, United had the perfect flight for me on the same dates. We land early and leave late, which was exactly what I was hoping for considering the relatively short duration of this trip compared to our last.
An exciting difference will be that my husband is keeping my son this time around. While I adore my boy, I am looking forward to not having to utilize child swap (which I cannot say enough good things about, by the way) and being able to move around the parks with more freedom. Also, a week off of changing diapers? Yes please.
We knew there were a few things we very much want to try this trip. I've listed a few below and am more than welcome to suggestions!
-Mythos
-Toothsome
-The Shows! We never stop riding long enough to sit down and relax.
-The Big Pink Donut
-Breakfast at the Three Broomsticks
For planning, I use a touringplans and have created rough outlines for each day of our trip (I'm a serious list person, and hate wasting time going "What do you want to do?"). We will be using Uber or Lyft to get to our hotel from MCO, and purchasing a couple of Freestyle dining plans with my American Express to get the discount.
Always the procrastinator, I have not even begun to pack.
Wish me luck!
Let me start by saying my name is Amanda, and I'm in love with Universal.
No, seriously.
I first visited Universal Orlando as a child, and distinctly remember a few of the older rides (Jaws, Disaster, Twister, Terminator 2, and Kong) though for the life of me can't recall the year. Needless to say, it had been a while as I recently turned 32 in March. I have two children, May (6) and Eli (2), and it is thanks to them that I rediscovered my love for riding the movies.
This past January while planning a trip to see the Mouse, it was suggested to me by my mother - Leslie - that we spend a few days at Universal. She had been recently enough to explore the new Harry Potter areas, and knowing I was a fan correctly guessed it was something I would very much enjoy. So I did it. Scattered throughout our eight day trip I managed to work in three whole days at Universal - and let me tell you, I was hooked.
So hooked, in fact, that just a few short months later I returned to Universal with my mother, daughter, and son. (June 2018) for a seven night stay. My husband is not quite so enthused with theme parks, and has recently discovered that as long as he lets me go to my happy place I'm willing to let him have a few nights of peace and quiet . It's a situation that has worked out well for both of us.
On our June trip, we purchased seasonal annual passes as opposed to an unlimited ticket. This seemed like enough of a guarantee that we would certainly return within the year - I was thinking January; however, it seems hubby has finally gotten tired of staying at home as he booked us on a cruise leaving February 3 and instructed me (because he's incredible) to move up my trip. Hours and hours of scouring the internet for the best deal and the best dates, and here we are - the last girl's trip of 2018 and my third trip of the year. After reading through so many great trip reports, and using them to plan my own vacation, I thought it was past time I start writing my own.
Now, the details!
Who's Going? : Amanda, May, and Leslie
When? : September 1 2018 (Saturday) - September 6 2018 (Thursday)
Where? : Royal Pacific Resort
I felt very lucky to catch an APH rate for our hotel over the Labor Day Holiday. As we always travel with express pass, there were only three hotel options and seeing as we had an excellent experience with RPR previously seeing such a great rate was the answer to the big question: When? I do try to keep my solo vacations on a certain budget, and it took a lot of manipulating to ensure I hit the right price point. Luckily, United had the perfect flight for me on the same dates. We land early and leave late, which was exactly what I was hoping for considering the relatively short duration of this trip compared to our last.
An exciting difference will be that my husband is keeping my son this time around. While I adore my boy, I am looking forward to not having to utilize child swap (which I cannot say enough good things about, by the way) and being able to move around the parks with more freedom. Also, a week off of changing diapers? Yes please.
We knew there were a few things we very much want to try this trip. I've listed a few below and am more than welcome to suggestions!
-Mythos
-Toothsome
-The Shows! We never stop riding long enough to sit down and relax.
-The Big Pink Donut
-Breakfast at the Three Broomsticks
For planning, I use a touringplans and have created rough outlines for each day of our trip (I'm a serious list person, and hate wasting time going "What do you want to do?"). We will be using Uber or Lyft to get to our hotel from MCO, and purchasing a couple of Freestyle dining plans with my American Express to get the discount.
Always the procrastinator, I have not even begun to pack.
Wish me luck!
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