Universal Orlando Resort 6/16 -- 6/18, 2017   [Back to Photo Page]

Universal Orlando consists of two theme parks (Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure), a water park (Volcano Bay), a dining/entertainment complex (Universal CityWalk Orlando), and five hotels (Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Cabana Bay Beach Resort and Loews Sapphire Falls Resort).   Universal Orlando opened in 1990, as the theme park Universal Studios Florida.  In 1994, executives started planning the expansion of the resort into a multi-day vacation destination.  On May 28, 1999, Islands of Adventure opened to the general public.  the newest "island" at Universal's Islands of Adventure, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, was added and opened on June 18, 2010.

Getting there ...

The original purpose for this trip was to see the rocket launch at Kennedy Space Center.  It was scheduled on 6/17 (delayed from 6/15) so it was good for me to do a weekend trip for the launch (and only Iris was kind enough to go on the trip with me :-)).  However, the launch was delayed further (announced one day before) therefore we had to change our destination to Universal Orlando.  We had a red-eye flight on Friday evening and arrived in Orlando on early Saturday morning before 8AM.  After getting the rental car, it was a short 20-min drive from the airport to the Universal Orlando.  Since I will not see the rocket launch, I decided not to bring my camera with me.  This will be the first time that all pictures were captured by my cell phone only.

The First Day ...

• Universal Studios Florida
  After parking we went through the security gates.  Although it was still early (slightly after the open hour 9AM), it was already crowded at the entrance.
  The things we tried:  Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, Harry Potter and the Escape Gringotts, Butterbeer, Revenge of the Mummy, Transformers, Men in Black Alien Attack, Ollivanders, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, and Mummy again.
  

The Second Day ...

• Islands of Adventure
  Since we stayed in one of the resort hotels, we had the early access to the park at 8AM and also unlimited Express Passes to most of the rides.  We took the water taxi at about 7:30AM from the hotel dock, and got to our 1st ride (Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey) almost without any wait time.
  The things we tried today:  Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (twice), breakfast (drink only...), Flight of the Hippogriff, Dragon Challenge (Iris only), Poseidon's Fury (show),  the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man,  the Incredible Hulk Coaster (Iris only), smoky turkey,  Seuss Trolley Train Ride,  Skull Island: Reign of Kong, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Dragon Challenge (Iris and me), and gift shop...

Going Home ...

We had to leave the park at about 4PM to catch our flight back home.  Although I was still sad that I could not get the chance to see the rocket launch this time, it was not a too bad alternative to spend the Father's Day with Iris to have a thrilled and relaxed vacation (w/o camera and big lenses...).

[Back to Photo Page]