Day 5: Double Park Whammy and I Will Survive!

We actually left the house early today! Even though we'd already been to both parks, there was still plenty of rides we hadn't been on so today was the day to mix between the two...

Shrek had such a good queue, well there was an outdoor queue that just had a few screens with entertainment on, but once we got inside there was a big room with a Shrek scenario which was cool to see whilst we waited. The show was your average 4D performance with the spray of water, and the seats actually moved as well so that gave it a little unique twist.

Then we finally got to go on the one ride I had been desperate for since our first trip to Universal Studios - RockIt! The queue was super long so we played 'I went to the shop and bought...'. Have you ever played that?

The ride itself was really exciting. You actually got to chose your own music and I put on 'I will survive' and sang along to it the whole time. There weren't too many turns either - only 1 or 2. It turned out that they videoed you as you went around and I am literally belting out this song in it whilst everyone else is screaming.

There was a large area of fake grass in front of the stage, so we sat and had some lunch there.

Transformers was a motion stimulator and it mimicked you as a transformer yourself that was in the battle against 'decepticons'. It was so realistic, it wasn't much flying around (sadly, that's my favourite) but there were lots of things like falling off buildings - the craziest feeling ever!

The gringott's ride was very like the hogwarts one. Like a smaller version. There was a fire-breathing dragon and it was a replica of the journey to the bank in the first Harry Potter movie. 

There was actually a replica of the desk at the bank too - with a goblin that would actually respond to your questions. We asked for his name and his response was something along the lines of 'you may refer to me as sir'. Brilliant! 

One of the things I love about Universal is the little things. Hogwarts Express doubled as a ride and a transport to the other park (Islands of Adventure). There was all the tiny aspects in it, from a mimic of the wall you walk through to get to platform 9 and 3/4, to the actual journey itself. They had the dementors outside the window like they were flying to the train and the lady at the trolley outside the carriage. 

The first ride we went on in Islands of Adventure was the Dragon Challenge and it was amazing. We were front row as there was no queue and it literally felt like you were flying. Me and my brother then went to go on the other dragon, but we weren't front row so that wasn't as good. I'll keep my first ride as a memory instead!

Spiderman was another ride simulator, which you'd think we were a little bored of by now but the feeling like you were moving somewhere you weren't was just incredible. This one was based on flying around buildings and falling off them and that is 100% my favourite kind!

Thankyou for reading, if you missed day 4, then click here and let me know what you thought of the hogwarts express in the comments! 

R.C. xx

Florida Day 4: Seaworld and Tornado Warning!

Hello! Today, Andrew booked for him and Christie to go swimming with dolphins in the park next to Seaworld, so my parents and I went to Seaworld for the day so they could meet us there later in the day. 

The first ride we went on was mantra... oh my gosh, I have never experienced a 'zero gravity' effect like it. It was so fast and crazy with hair blowing in my face that I came out not entirely sure if I liked it or not! 

We didn't want to do all the rides right at the beginning, so we went over to the dolphin nursery. It was absolutely adorable, they seemed to head straight to anybody who had a camera as if they knew what it was and some others would swim around the edge flapping their tails to splash everybody.

There were a lot of other areas with animals in, like the aquarium and the seals. I got a few good videos and we fed the seals whilst we were there. Or, at least we tried to before birds kept swooping in and grabbing the fish before the seal could!

 The park on a whole seemed quite worn out - in many places like an abandoned theme park. It seemed greatly due to the weather though as it was very windy and cloudy despite being warm so there were probably less people than normal, and there were a lot of overcasting trees so it gave a feel more like somewhere in England!

We also popped into the dolphin show after riding on the kraken (a really good rollercoaster).

Then, just as we stepping outside the stadium, boom, rain. If you have ever been to Florida then I am sure you know that when it rains, it really goes for it. I had a look online and there was actually a tornado warning too. Yikes!

We legged it to the closest cafe and warmed up with a hot drink - does anybody else have steamed milk with a syrup? We quickly caught up with my brother, watched Shamu, and went to the car.

Now the date was pancake Tuesday so of course, we drove to IHop. I had some delicious white chocolate and raspberry pancakes - white chocolate is just my favourite thing, mmm! I must say I'm more a waffle than pancake girl though!

Thankyou so much for reading, if you have been to Seaworld, did it appear less run down than for me? and what's your favourite pancake topping? I am thinking more about my schedule as well at the moment, I should be sorting that once all my Florida posts are up!

If you did miss it, click here for the third day of Florida - Islands of Adventure and getting soaked, and don't miss tomorrow's post here with a double park whammy and I will survive!

R.C. xx