Day 14 RPR, Universal Studios, Hard Rock Cafe & Mardi Gras!

Previous day is here

Welcome to our trip report. I'm Emily & my Husband is Gary - we got married on 5 March 2016 & spent our honeymoon in NYC, Washington DC & Orlando. Our pre-trip report is here if you want to have a look at our plans.

Sunday 20th March

I was ridiculously excited about today, we were off to Universal and that meant the Wizarding World of Harry Potter . It didn't exist at all last time I was in Orlando. I’m a MASSIVE HP fan , I’ve read the books over and over, seen the films countless times and spent 5 hours in the online queue for tickets to the Cursed Child (we go in July !). Gary’s also a fan, although not to the same extent.

We wanted to make the most of 2 days early entry with our 1 night at Royal Pacific Resort, so it was an early one ! We left the villa at 6.20 and got to RPR at 6.45.

We were all checked in with our front of the line passes by 7am, leaving our overnight bag with bell services. Early entry was 8am, so we were still early, the eager beaver that I was !



We paid $11 for two coffees and a donut for breakfast and then started walking round to Universal. It was a nice wee walk, not far at all.




We got there and stood in a small queue, then they said more of the lines would open so we joined another as everyone split and we were second in line! It started to rain a little as we were waiting.

They let us in about 10 to 8 and I resisted the urge to run haha. Some people did take off at quite a trot though!



We were walking through Gringotts at 7.55. My notes say - AMAZING RIDE! We really were impressed . Even the queue as you’re walking through is amazing.



After Gringotts, we looked around in awe then headed in to Ollivanders show.



How I would love to be the child picked for this ! We picked an interactive wand afterwards in the shop and paid with our muggle plastic. We walked around doing some spells and caught the Gringotts dragon breath fire. Then had a look in the shops, doing more spells as we went .




We changed $10 in Gringotts, for no other reason than I wanted some!



Then we got a frozen butterbeer to share. I’d read people say it was too sweet but we LOVED it . I could have had a full one quite easily.



We wandered around, drinking our butterbeer and doing some more magic with our wand! I was secretly quite glad it was raining as I got to wear my HP rain jacket and got lots of compliments on it . We took some more photos and headed out of Diagon Alley about 9.30 for a photo with the knight bus. The park was open now so it was getting busy in Diagon Alley.





The head told me to be careful I don't get brain freeze!

A couple asked us to take their photograph then reciprocated.





We went to go on The Mummy, we were almost at the front of the FOLP queue and it broke down. They said they were restarting it so we decided to come back later. People were stuck on it though, eek ! We went to transformers and thought this was brilliant. I bought my brother a key ring in the shop with his name on, as he loved Transformers growing up.

We joined the queue for Optimis Prime and only waited a few minutes.



Gary was getting hungry so we got a chicken fingers combo at Mels drive in. just got one to share since it was still only 10.30am! The early start had brought forward Gary’s lunchtime . It was $13.52.



We joined the queue to meet Bart & Lisa, then the Scooby crew.



We headed in to the 11am Terminator showing. I had a wee snooze, it hasn't changed a bit so we were a bit underwhelmed .

We joined the Despicable Me express line... it wasn't very express but still faster than the 90 mins standby time ! We thought this was great and afterwards we met the minions . I definitely wouldn't wait 90 minutes though.



We went on ET then walked round to the Simpsons. The standby time showed 30 minutes, we waited in the express line for 15 minutes. When we came out the standby time had gone up to 65 minutes. This ride made me feel really sick, simulators not on tracks seemed too !

We were getting hungry again so walked in to Moe's diner. It was a bit chaotic in here, we waited a while but it was lunch time so expected.



We ordered a Krusty burger with the curly fries and drink and then a Caesar salad, we shared it all, as we’d already had the chicken fingers combo earlier .

We joined the queue for MIB just before 2pm. The standby wait time said 60 mins, with our express passes we only waited 10. I won ! Gary wasn’t impressed! Neither of us got the red button though. One of my favourite memories from family holidays was spending one evening going round and round this in the single rider queue with my brother, trying to beat each other, while my mum and dad sat enjoying the sunset outside . So all that practice helped me out today!

We decided we were done so joined the Hogwarts Express line at 2.30, it said 50 minutes wait but we only waited 35. The plan was to take it to Hogsmeade and exit the park through IOA today, then when we finished in IOA tomorrow we’d ride it the other way so we could experience both.



It was a really cool way of getting between the parks.



Once we got to Hogsmeade we joined a lonnnng queue to get a Butterbeer. I had really enjoyed it earlier and wanted some more. We got some and started to walk out but the Tri Wizard cup show was starting so we watched it. Afterwards, they said if anyone wanted their photo taken with the contestants to form a line. I wasn’t going to, but there wasn't anyone waiting and I didn't want them to feel unwanted !




Hogwarts looked amazing and I wanted to explore Hogsmeade, but it was packed with people and we knew we'd get some time here in the morning before the crowds hit.



We headed out of IOA, only stopping for Gary to get embarrassed by Popeye making him show him his muscles .



We got back to RPR at 4.20pm, exhausted.



Our room was lovely, it's such a beautiful hotel .



I had an hours nap while Gary showered, then we swapped and he fell asleep while I washed my hair etc. We were ready and left at 6.40.



We only waited 5 minutes for a table at Hard Rock. We were seated in an overflow bit to the side though, so not in the main bar. Gary had the Air Mexico Margarita Flight with pomegranate, mango and watermelon and I had a Fruitplooza, then a Big Kablue .



I had fajitas and Gary had ribs, all of it was tasty .



We left the $106 bill plus 20% tip and got Gary some pins in the shop.



Three Doors Down were playing Mardi Gras in Universal tonight and Gary really wanted to see them. I was convinced we’d left it too late and wouldn't get near, as the twitter feed showed people waiting earlier and it looked very busy.

We headed in to Universal about 8, wondering if we'd be able to get close enough to the stage at all. We did !



This was more Gary’s thing but I really enjoyed it too . For free concerts (well included in the price of your ticket) its great that they do this!

We didn't stay till the end, that 6am rise was catching up with us. We were back in the hotel for about 10, via Starbucks for tea and the shop for a big Moe's donut as a late night snack!



When we got back to the hotel I was sorting stuff for the next morning and realised that my ticket was gone. I had Gary’s ticket and both FOLP, just not my ticket ! I was so upset . Gary didn't think it was that big a deal but I was terrified they wouldn't let me in tomorrow. I generally don't lose or forget things ever, so I was a bit stressed out!

We went to reception and they said it happened all the time and to take my ID to guest services at 6.30 tomorrow morning before early entry and they would sort me out. I was so so worried, but Gary was convinced it would all be fine. I’d picked up a tip on here to copy/take photographs of the back of your tickets before you go, but in the run up to the wedding everything had been so manic and I hadn’t .
Gary enjoyed the donut while I got ready for bed and worried some more before drifting off to sleep .

Spoiler….it was all absolutely fine, theres a happy ending in the morning!

Thanks for reading x

Fab day.you fitted so much in ! Where did you get the Harry Potter raincoat ❤️?

Your hotel looks amazing!

Diagon Alley looks amazing at Universal you may of twisted my arm to actually visit next year as i was debating on missing Universal out!

I look forward to reading more

It's from Primark, was only £5 in the sale! I've put it away for future trips . Thanks for reading x

It's a lovely hotel, I'd love to spend more time there next time! Being able to just walk to and from the parks is brilliant. Diagon Alley is unbelievable , I knew it looked good from seeing photos but it's honestly amazing! Thanks for commenting .

Great report. I thought the knight bus was amazing, we chatted to the conductor and head for a while.
Loved your jacket.

Wow what a fab day! I LOVE that poncho! Where is it from?

The HP show looks amazing I really need to find someone to go with or my hubby will be forced to! Haha.

Hotel looks lovely, very pretty room. Glad you enjoyed your hard rock meal too, yummy cocktails

So glad to hear all was ok the next day with your ticket - phew! Xx

I would have been so stressed about the ticket thing too. I hardly ever lose things so when I do I proper freak out! Ha!

Love your raincoat! And that's the second pic of those Hard Rock fajitas I've seen in the last few days. They look soooo good. x

Thank you

It's from good old Primark haha! The WWOHP staff thought it was amazing, it only cost me £5 too! Can't go wrong with Hard Rock cocktails mmmm . Thanks for commenting! xx

Glad I'm not the only one! I always go with the intention of ordering something different but don't think I ever have, fajitas win every time xx

Another great day! We're really on the fence about weather to stay 1 night. Looks like you made good use of it

I wasn't sure but we were worried about Spring Break crowds and I'm so glad we did, it got crazy busy that week in all the parks! It was lovely walking to the parks too, would definitely recommend it