Universal Studios

I'm falling behind in preserving my memories of our trip to Disney World! I'll try and keep up if you will. We went to Universal Studios and started off by seeing a few 3D movies. Keep in mind 3D movies at Universal Studios are a lot different than anywhere else. They make the movies as if you are really there in the movie, complete with real fire and wind, etc. We saw Shrek, and Jimmy Neutron which were pretty mild. Then we went to Twister, based on the movie Twister. After learning about twisters and how dangerous they are they put us on a set and start up the twister so we can experience a small piece of what it would be like. The winds start and pretty soon the metal eaves are shaking, cows are flying, fire erupts and it starts raining. I hope to never experience the real thing. It was a little scary! Then we thought we would try Revenge of the Mummy. It's a fast roller coaster ride in almost complete darkness. At one time fire erupts all around us and then we go backwards, screaming the whole time. This ride was a little scary for Emily and set the mood for the next ride, JAWS, one of my dad's all time favorite movies. As I've said they act and play as if it's all real so our boat guide was telling us the boat before us sank by a shark and then we run into JAWS. Sitting on the front row, of course Michael started to freak out which started a chain reaction to Emily. Alex had no idea what was going on. He was just happy to be there. The lady behind us even jumped across three people to get to the middle of the boat. Who wouldn't Jaws is about to swallow our boat!

Here we are before the ride all excited and unsuspecting!

I wonder if the kids know they are standing in the jaws of a giant shark! We never would have gotten this picture after the ride. It took a while to convince the kids that all the rides are just a show and not real.

After that we needed to calm the children's nervous so we set our sights on Woody Woodpeckers Kidzone and go to Curious George goes to town, which is a playground.

Here is Daisy (Emily) and Petal (Michael)

And of course Cecily G (Alex).

We rode a few rides and had to keep convincing the kids that ET wasn't a monster and that the dark wasn't scary. It was pretty intense for a while.

We stopped to relax our nerves and find a diner with oldies music and great cars. Of course anybody who knows my mom knows we needed to test out our dancing with the stars skills. The kids had a great time dancing to the music.

Here we are with the Simpsons!

Yes, Josh THE Simpons the real ones not the plastic ones, just for you!

We found a hat shop! My mom loves hats, the bigger the crazier the better!

Here's mom with a beaded Egyptian hat! Slippery beads won't stay in place!

Here's King Michael with the alligator Alex.

Let's not forget the sorting hat from Harry Potter. I wonder what house he will go to.

And of course we need an afro! Who doesn't!

We were not feeling courageous enough for the big rides yet so we head over to Islands of Adventure. What do we find but the Cat in the Hat at Seuss Landing.

Here's Emily and Grandma on the Caro-Seuss-el.

Here is Michael and Alex on the Caro-Seuss-el.

Now let's switch animals.

We rode One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and got all wet. We went on a high in the sky Seuss Train ride to see all of Seuss land.

Feeling a little courageous we go to Super Hero Island. Grandma and the kids ride Storm Force Accelatron several times while Grandpa, Mike and I brave the Incredible Hulk Coaster. It was a really fun bright green roller coaster that left us still spinning for several minutes after the ride. We went on Spiderman another 3D ride where luckily Spiderman saves us just in time.

Grandpa and Michael after riding Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw falls. They have a few dry spots.

We went to go to Jurassic Park and ran into the T-Rex! RUN!!!

Universal Studios closes at 6:00 so we went back to the villa. Everywhere was decorated for Christmas. There were Christmas decorations, trains, and even snow falling from the top of the theater where Santa Clause was. Every child could meet with Santa and he gave each one a very nice toy. He was so playful with the kids and took time to talk to each one. It was so much fun! When Alex and Emily went to get off his lap he wouldn't let go of them so they couldn't go. They were laughing so hard and had such a good time. Michael and Emily got Fur Real pet monkeys and Alex got Disney Sorry! It was a great ending to our fun day!