Day 18 - Universal

Day 18 June 27

Universal Studio

Temp: 100+ degrees

Mileage: 320

Time away from home: 16 hours

We left the house at 6:30am to get to Universal.  Got to the ticket booth at 9:15.  Only a little bit of LA traffic.  I am sure it could have been much worse.   I got us there without my phone gps – I hate the thing.  I swear it is going to take me in the wrong direction AND it is quite a distraction to keep looking at my phone when I should be looking at the road. It was an easy drive: 14 to 5 to 170 to 101.  I can remember that!  Who needs technology?

We bought year long season passes as they were no more expensive than a day pass.  We have 4 more weeks here –who knows if we will be back?  It only made financial sense. 

We got back to Transformers 4-D ride.  Ugh – I have an upset stomach because of that thing, but I won’t show my distress to the boys who want to ride it again (wait time - 30 seconds).  I sat through the 2^nd ride with my eyes closed – it helped some.  Then the THIRD ride…I  opted out.  (wait time – 5 minutes). Went over to Jurassic park water ride – I’ve just leaned it was only exciting at the end: going down the big hill in the dark.  SCARY and FUN!  But, we did it twice (wait time – 30 seconds).  Off to the Mummy for 2 rides (wait time – 1 to 5 minutes).  This was a fun ride – similar to the speed of Mr Freeze at 6 Flags.

Lunch on an upstairs patio by ourselves – oh and Dora the Explorer.  She walked by two times.  After lunch…were in the Name of Mike did all these people come from!!!!!!  Boys rode the single person line for Transformers again – me, not so much.  The wiggling and jiggling and brain shaking of the 4-D is way too much for this lady to take.

You know that time of day when you have been to a theme park and it is crowded and the lines are long and it is 100+ degrees the water cost $2.99 a bottle and there is no water fountain in sight and there is one adult and two kids who want to go in different directions: you know the time of day when everyone is happy!!!! Hahahaha.  To not choose one child over another I decided to chose the next adventure – and they were not happy.  I think their exact words were “I don’t want to see a special effects show!!!!” (immediate seating) Second row, up close and personal to the stage and the next 25 minutes were (GASP) funny and a few “MOM did you see THAT!”.  Then to make matters worse after this show was over I chose the next activity again –Waterworld.  Another round of “What is it?  I don’t want to go!”  (immediate seating) You’d think they would learn that 1.  At a theme park everything is fun and 2.  Mom rarely disappoints.  Once again “WHAT!  How did they do that!?”  “I want to sit in the front row next time!”

After a Simpsons Ride (40 min wait) and Seth going thru the House of Horrors 2x in a row we finally got in line for the Studio Tour: a mere 50 min wait the line said.  One hour and 2 minutes later we boarded the tram to tour the back lot.  It was interesting and learned some things: but I don’t think we’ll be standing in that line again.  Plus there was a King Kong 4-D experience on the tour – my stomach hadn’t settle much so this wasn’t a fun surprise.  There was an earthquake on one set, Norman Bates was moving a body from a hotel room to a car, Jaws came up to us, there was a flood in an old west town: so maybe it was more fun than I thought.

Now it was 6pm and there was a 40-70min wait for everything.  We left to go find the Hollywood sign.  After some searching we found a good spot to see it.  Sullivan didn’t want to get out to get a pic. Drove home and picked up some In N Out burgers for the first time – yum. It was amazing to see such a small menu board –just burgers and fries and shakes.

I am sure we will be back (free admission next time!), but with a better plan.  We don't need to be there all day and we don't need to ride certain rides. However, I don't like these places for vacation as they are money suckers and the brain is on fire the whole time between the smell of the churros, the clanging of all the bells and whistles, the long lines/wait, the park employee on a megaphone telling you yet again that this or that show is starting, the incessant playing of the movie theme song in what ever ride you are on...  I much prefer the quiet of non-theme park vacation where we read the signs in front of the ruins, see the historical site of a bygone era and just play on the sand or rocks.

Best Part of the day

Seth – Simpsons Ride “It was hilarious!”

Sullivan – Transformers “Because it was cool and intense and awesome!

Sarah – Wateworld

Worst Part:

Seth – Standing in line for the Studio Tour

Sullivan – The Studio Tour line

Sarah – queasy  stomach