June 27, 2023 • 43 mins
Are you ready to embark on an adventure to Universal Studios with us? We recently took a trip to this incredible theme park and couldn't wait to share our experiences with you. From staying at the Loews Royal Pacific and Hard Rock Hotel to the unforgettable world of Harry Potter, we've got all the details and tips for a magical time.
We also dive into a comparison between Disney and Universal's approaches to guest experiences, including the convenience of Express Passes and the nostalgia of their amusement parks. Join us as we analyze the cost of Express Passes and discuss the differences between Disney's Lightning Lane and Genie Plus Fast Pass options. Discover why we found Universal Studios' Express Pass system to be much more convenient and user-friendly than Disney's options.
Lastly, we reflect on our overall experience at Universal Studios and how it compared to our beloved Disney parks. From thrilling rides to well-designed worlds like Harry Potter and Dr. Seuss, Universal Studios offers a unique and enjoyable experience for the whole family. Tune in to hear our thoughts and future plans for exploring more of what Universal Studios has to offer.
Follow us on instgram @thetikiroompodcast
Leave us a rating and review!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Hello, you're listening to the Tiki Room
podcast.
Today we will be talking aboutUniversal Studios.
Thanks for listening.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Please subscribe and leave a review wherever you
listen to podcasts and follow uson Facebook and Instagram.
Enjoy the show.
All right, welcome back.
Sorry, we're a couple weeksbehind, but we're here.
We're here.
We're just summering around youall.
We are summering around.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
I mean Elizabeth has been living my summer dream.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Has been living her summer dream on boats, on.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Going to Dude Perfect .
Yes, like decided an hourbefore we were leaving that we
were going.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
That's the ultimate summer.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Like summer scenario where you're like we don't have
any plans.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
We don't have anything.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Let's do something tonight.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
I did like.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Like drive an hour and a half away to go see Dude
Perfect, let's go.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
I did.
We're in the month of June.
The kids had two.
They had three weeks of camp,Okay, And that was it.
And then they I think that Reedhas like golf camp in July, but
other than that I'm like, no,we're going to.
If we want to wake up and gosomewhere, we're going to go,
But also it's rained the entiremonth of June.
Yeah.
So there went my like Go to thebeach day.
(01:22):
Yes.
But one of the things, as someof you have heard, is we went to
Universal.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Oh my gosh, we've been waiting for this.
We haven't talked about this.
I went to Universal last month.
For school For school.
I went on a field trip with mydaughter for their fifth grade,
like end of the year thing, andwe went for two days And then
Elizabeth went two weeks ago.
We have not talked about it,have not?
We will, we refuse.
(01:48):
We have been together for thepast few days.
We've seen each other likethree or four days in a row.
We will not talk about it.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
I will not talk about it.
We've waited for you all.
I was a little bit like a rockdraper wanted to talk about it
And I told him no, i was nevertalking to him, ever again.
So I am going to start from thebeginning.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Okay, yes, i'm like, so tell us your experience of
Universal Studios.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Okay.
So Lauren to be listened to thepodcast and she was like
Elizabeth, really it's going tobe okay.
I was like to be I know, i know, i know it's going to be okay
And she's like I promise it'snot going to be like Disney, but
I also promise it's going to befun.
So we stayed at the hard rock.
Okay.
So, as many of you know, if youstay at certain properties you
get the fast pass thing orwhatever the heck it's called.
(02:32):
But the hard rock was theclosest to the walking distance.
So I don't know if Lauren to bedid that so that I had zero
room to complain or not, but shedid it.
She picked that accordingly.
So we got there at I don't knowlike three or four o'clock in
the afternoon and the check-inprocess is different than a
Disney resort.
You cannot check in on yourphone.
(02:52):
No, you have to do it.
Old school, i would have myline and my kids were literally
like what is this?
Yep.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
What do you mean?
you have to wait in line.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Yeah, yeah, so that was, and you you know.
We checked in and they werevery accommodating.
We asked if we could have aroom next, an adjoining room,
and they were like, oh yep, wehad you here, we're going to
move you here, don't worry aboutit, but the check-in process
probably took 45 minutes.
Yes, it took a long time, hadto go over to another line to
get my express pass, and so wewere able to go into our room.
(03:26):
The rooms were nice.
I mean, they were great.
We had the two queen beds.
They brought in a twin for likea rollaway bed for Reed.
They had a sink on the outsideAnd then in the where the shower
and the toilet were, there wasanother little sink in there.
So that was very nice, veryaccommodating.
(03:48):
We were literally in the roomfor less than 12 hours, so it
was fine.
So we went and ate dinner atthis little restaurant at the
hotel And then the kids did thepool for the rest of the day,
which was so fun.
And then we came back to thehotel room.
The kids, lauren and I, werelike are the kids just going to
(04:11):
all sleep in one room And herand I are going to sleep in
another room?
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Because they were watching what is it?
Speaker 3 (04:15):
American Ninja Warrior.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Yes, and.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Laura, ann and Lily and we're in one bed, emma was
in another and Reed was in thetwin bed And Lauren and I were
like are we about to live everydream we ever thought we would
live?
And then, of course, we didn't,because I think I don't
remember if it was Emma or Reed,but one of them were like no, I
want to be in my room with mymom.
So thanks for ruining, ButLaura, Ann and Lily, and they
(04:39):
had a slumber party in the bed.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
They lived their life .
Speaker 3 (04:42):
OK, so this is where we're going to get into the
nitty gritty.
So she told me we were going tobe waking up early.
Yep, and I told the kids wewere going to be waking up early
.
And we woke up early, like howearly, 6 AM.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
OK, that's early.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
I was like I literally looked at Lauren and I
think I said I think I used ahand gesture that was
inappropriate to her I was notvery happy about that And
because for Disney, you wake upWhenever Well, whenever.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
But also if you want to get a lightning lane or your
first thing for Genie Plus, yes,You can stay in bed, but you
have to wake up at like 6 50.
So you can get on there at 7 AM, but you don't have to wake up.
Were you leaving at 6?
Speaker 3 (05:28):
No, OK, that's what I OK go.
So Lauren actually had the soundof a sign.
I'm not going to lie to you,she was very good at this.
So we woke up, we got everybodysituated and then she called.
We valed our car.
She called valet.
We went and put all of ourstuff in the car, got the
(05:49):
stroller out, which was becauseshe was like we're bringing the
stroller.
I was like done, i will say,because everything is not as
convenient in the park as it isat Disney, we would throw our
stuff.
Ooh, so sorry, i just took themicrophone like a crazy man.
We would put our stuff in therebecause you cannot bring it in
on the rides.
So we brought the stroller.
(06:09):
All right, so we put our stuffin valet, grabbed the stroller,
came back, grabbed coffees forher and I.
The kids were eating likegranola bars and we were leaving
the hotel to walk to Universalor whatever the gates.
We were leaving the hotelbefore 7 AM, wow.
(06:29):
So doors open for peoplestaying on property.
The gates open at 8 AM.
I'm doing quotes.
No one can see this, but Sarah,they open at 8 AM.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
8 AM quote, unquote So they definitely opened at
7.45.
OK, that's Disney, That's what.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Disney does that too.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
We were probably.
They have, let's say, 10 gatesIn the line we were in.
We were probably 8th or 9th inline.
So they open the gates and weare running to Hagrid's Or
Hagward's, Hagrid's, Hagrid's.
There it is.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Harold's.
We're running to Harold'sUniversal Islands of Adventure
side.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Yes, we're on Islands of Adventure side Because
Hagrid's does not have ExpressPass.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Right, it's the only ride at Universal Studios who
does not use the Express Pass.
So if you have an Express Pass,you can't use it for Hagrid's,
and it just so happens to be themost popular ride, the most
popular And I don't know.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
It's almost like a in my mind.
I'm like that is.
I feel like one out of Disney'splaybook, like let's create
this.
It really is a great ride,right?
I'm pretty sure that Disney didthe same thing with all of
their big rides, Right?
Also, i'm watching my son playoutside.
This is amazing, anyway.
So we go there.
(07:50):
Lauren is like Lauren toUniversal is like Sarah to
Disney.
She had it.
Like I said, she had it down toa science.
She knew what to do.
And she's like you're taking thekids here, I'm taking the
Schroller here.
Throw everything in theSchroller, and I will meet you
there, gosh.
I love a woman with a plan, idon't know what we're doing.
(08:12):
Lilian's, like Miss Brannick,turn to the left.
Yes, oh my god.
So Lauren somehow finds a sinline And we're just walking.
I'm literally like this is soaggressive.
I feel like this is the madrush.
This is what Moses felt likegetting these people out, we are
going, so we get there, and Ithink that from by the time we
(08:35):
entered the line, which wassignificantly far back to When
we got on the ride maybe 10minutes- Oh, wow that's amazing
minutes, i mean, and we are,they are getting you in.
I mean, we're walking thoseMm-hmm, you know if 10 minutes.
So they get us on the ride andwe are read and I are in the
very back, the lat, the end, andI'm like on the ride.
(08:58):
This guy, like I know what theend, i know what the back of the
roller coaster means right, itdoesn't matter what roller
coaster where you are, yeah it'sthe most intense.
It reads like let's go and.
I'm like let's, why don't you go?
so It's Laura and and Emma.
No, laura and and Lillian, emma, lauren and then me and read,
(09:21):
and it is a phenomenal ride.
I'm not gonna give any.
No, lauren told me nothing, andanytime Lillian and Emma tried
to tell me something, lauren waslike don't say a word.
So Nobody said a word to me.
I knew nothing Except for that.
It was maybe like Tron.
That's what.
Emma said It's maybe like Tron,and I'm like you've never done
(09:42):
Tron, so you're giving meanxiety.
Yeah right now.
So we go, and it is aphenomenal ride.
Long the ride is so long.
Yes, you, where Disney messesup and where Islands of
Adventure slash UniversalStudios has, it is the length of
the rides.
Yes they have it down, pat Imean I think that it was like a
three-minute ride.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
It was.
It's long.
I mean it feels very long.
You think it's over and it'snot over.
It's not over to be clear.
Yep.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
I learned that very fast.
Yes, it was not over when Ithought it was yeah and I
screamed bloody murder the wholetime get me off of the thing.
Yes, and then we got off andread was like that was the
coolest thing ever and I waslike agreed.
Yes but also I'm glad that theydidn't tell me.
I'm glad, right.
So we did that ride.
By the time we got off, thewait time for that ride was 95
(10:30):
minutes.
Yes, so that was an experience,right, i that.
So then we went straight fromthere to this breakfast place,
across it, literally across thewalkway.
We went and got breakfast andthen we went on this one Harry
Potter ride, where you it?
you got on it, like you do?
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Is it in the bank or in the castle?
the castle, that ride isTerrifying, awful, horrible
That's.
I could not get off of it fastenough.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
I literally was like, if I close my eyes, what will
happen?
Speaker 2 (11:06):
I'm gonna throw up either way either way, i'm out.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
So you get on it like you do.
You get.
You get on it like you do.
Haunted mansion right, right,you've got the conveyor belt
thing and.
Then you're sitting, they havethese boxes and it's kind of
like Soaring, but it's four deep.
Mm-hmm.
So you've got four people ineach of your little cars and
you're in your individual littlecage.
(11:29):
Mm-hmm and Harry Potter isteaching you how to fly and
you're flying.
Mm-hmm and I don't I.
That's all I gotta say aboutthat.
I mean so a long run, also avery long too long, too long.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
I was like this is I'm gonna die, i'm gonna.
This is where it all ends forme.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
I'm pretty sure that after that read was like do not
put me on another ride.
I trust no one and I didn'tdisagree with him.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
I know.
Well, let me tell you, ourHarry Potter experience was Was
great.
We waited until we had two daysat the park, mm-hmm, you know,
we had a lot of people with us.
So when we were there, therewere a bunch of people, we had a
field trip, fifth graders, alot of parents, just as many
parents as there were kids.
(12:13):
So it wasn't like, you know,the ratio wasn't five to one or
anything, it was definitely oneto one.
So we go there.
We do most of universal first,like the front part of the park
on the universal side.
You're saying universal studios,yes, universal studios.
We did that side first and thenwe went to like Harry Potter
(12:34):
World Kind of at the end of theday, and we did the gringots,
that bank kind of ride, did youguys?
Speaker 3 (12:41):
do that?
No, we only did the castle rideand Hagrid's, hagrid's.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Okay the gringots is that's a really cool ride.
I really did like that.
It's not.
It doesn't make you want tothrow up Like the one in the
castle.
We did that.
We did lots of Harry Potterthings because lots of kids had
wands and did that wholeexperience and that was really
neat.
I don't read Harry Potter, So Idon't really care.
Yeah but my kids do and Ashleydoes, and lots of the parents
(13:08):
and they were super excited,yeah.
So I was like this must bereally cool.
That was me to a Harry Potterperson me to you.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
I was like yes, i mean, i think that this is a
great design.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Right, yeah, i was like that's cool, this you know
How do you go on?
Speaker 3 (13:22):
ever is for the first time and you're like standing
in line and you're like, oh, wow, they really thought about all
of these details.
Yes, that's how I felt withHarry Potter.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Yes, exactly, i felt like that too.
I was like, oh, this is my,this must be what it feels like
in the movie.
Yeah.
All the design, the sets, whateverything looks like a dragon,
all of it.
Yeah, um, we waited.
we did the train over to theother side, okay, so cool, by
the way.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
We did that.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
So cool, So cool like I loved that our Hagrid's was
different.
We waited to the end of the dayto do Hagrid's.
Okay, ashley was like we're notgonna get there early enough to
To be able to do kind of like arope drop Hagrid's, so we're
gonna have to wait till the endof the day when the time goes
down.
We kept looking throughout theday and it was always like 95
(14:10):
plus minutes.
So when we got over there itwas raining it like it poured
torrential downpour For an hourbefore we got into Harry Potter
world.
We go do the train, go over toHagrid's and it still isn't
opened yet from the rain.
Okay, the Crowd, that.
(14:31):
And we were there for a while.
Like we kind of waited for like20 minutes Before it had even
opened up, just for it to openand the the park for that was
closing at seven and it was.
We were like we need to get inline at six to be able to do
this.
We're in line.
A little before six they saw itand opened it, so it opened it.
(14:53):
We waited there for like 45minutes.
The aggressive nature of thecrowd With.
We had all these children withus in the front and the people
all behind us.
It was crazy, absolutely crazy,the pushing that was happening,
the, the people working forUniversal.
They are Aggressive witheveryone.
(15:13):
The way they talked to all theguests, that would not happen at
Disney.
That was like my one thing.
I was like the way this womanis talking to us, no way would
this ever happen at Disney.
She was like, let me point youout of the crowd and let make
sure you don't get on this ride.
Like she was aggressive, likeand she had a power trip.
It was, it was a lot, and allthe kids were very nervous.
They were like what's gonna goout?
(15:34):
there were kids, childrencrying.
It was, it was a lot.
Now We did the ride.
It was great.
We actually got on and I don'tthink that whole crowd got to do
it because they shut it backdown again.
That's the best right I've everbeen on.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
I Am gonna be honest with you.
I don't disagree.
Like I it was so well done.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
It was so well done.
I was like I can't believe.
I'm gonna say this This is thebest ride I have ever been on.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Yeah it was very well done.
I, like I said to you before ifyou've never done it, don't ask
for anybody to tell you whathappens.
No, no, in fact I said that toScott.
I was like I will not tell youwhat happened, i will not give
you any of the lowdown.
You're just gonna have to.
You're just going to have toknow that you're going to do it
on your own.
Yeah, and that's what I thinkand that's what I wanted to say.
(16:21):
Where Disney?
I think that where Disney andUniversal are different is one
Disney has a plethora of optionsto do.
I mean a million differentoptions to do.
Universal, niles of Adventurethere's not a lot to do, and so
they make your time worthwhileby making the rides longer.
(16:42):
It's like Disney is tapas andUniversal is a sit-down meal,
and I think that that is a great.
Yes, i do not disagree.
It was a very well done ride.
You don't have to read HarryPotter to understand it, just
like with, i think, any Disneyride.
You did not have to watchGuardians of the Galaxy to
understand Guardians of theGalaxy the ride.
(17:04):
So, yeah, our Harry Potterworld experience.
We did Hagrid's, we didBreakfast, we did that weird
ride, and I think that Reed waslike I think that I don't ever
want to come here ever again.
He did not love it.
Loran was like I don't think Iwant to do that again.
And they both were kind of likecan we leave Harry Potter world
(17:26):
?
I think that it just kind ofthat ride kind of they've never
read or seen Harry Potter.
So I think that it was a littlebit aggressive for my kids who
are, like me, with an overactiveimagination.
So Loran was like let's go toJurassic Park World, okay.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
So Like, this is a little intense for us, so let's
go see the dinosaurs.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Let's go see the dinosaurs.
Thanks, loran.
So I was like how about I willkeep the littles who are not
little Emma is going into thirdgrade, reed's going into second
grade.
I will keep them and thestroller at child swap.
Y'all go ride it.
I'll see you when I see you,because, lor I mean Emma and
(18:12):
Reed there were a lot of ridesthat they were not tall enough
to do.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
And.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
I think that that is also important for you to know.
If you are traveling with yourfamily and you have younger kids
or shorter kids, you need tolook at the height requirement
because, it is much differentthan Disney, very different
Disney.
I mean, i'm pretty sure thatyou have to be.
I think that there's like tworides, that you have to be 48
inches to ride in the wholeworld at Disney World, but at
(18:38):
Universal Studios some of themare like 52 inches.
Yeah, are you looking upJurassic Park, the Los?
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Arraptor Coaster.
Well, i'm just looking at theheight requirements in general,
because it's true There is not.
It says, you know, 40 inchesfor some of them 34, 48 inches
for revenge of the mummy.
Let's look at Highlands ofAdventure, because those are the
big ones.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Yeah 51 inches for Velocic Coaster.
Yeah, so Velocic Coaster.
Okay, so Lauren rides it withLaura, ann and Lillian, who?
Lillian is going into sixthgrade, lillian is going into
fourth grade.
I am like sitting with the twolittles, living my best life.
Lauren comes in and she's likeyou're riding it right now And I
(19:26):
was like, oh, i'm not.
And Lauren is like, yes, youare mommy, i loved it.
And I was like what is wrongwith you?
What is wrong with you?
And she is like she's a thrillseeker, she is her father, she
has the biggest grin on her faceAnd she's like, if you don't do
it, you don't love me.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
I go away.
You're right, i don't.
Yeah, so I do it.
You have to walk through ametal detector to get on this
ride, like I'm going throughlike state prison to get on this
ride.
So you get on and guess wherewe sit?
The very back, the very back,the last two seats, and Laura
(20:12):
Ann and Emma are.
I mean, laura Ann and Lillianare like high fiving each other.
They're like so pumped Lap, barlap bar Lap bar.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Nothing over your shoulders, nothing over your
shoulders And just so we'reclear.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
You can see the whole track, so I know what I'm about
to experience And you'veprobably just watched.
No child swap is on the inside.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Oh, it's on the inside, which was nice.
Which was nice You didn't getto see.
I didn't get to see.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
You probably wouldn't have written it if you saw it
before, so, but you get to seeit when you come into the line.
Yes, so I've got the lap barthing on me, you know, and I'm
like, can you triple, triplecheck this?
Let's talk about fears that Ididn't have when I was 16 years
old, that I now have as a motherFears you didn't know you were
(20:55):
going to have an experience.
Yeah, i loved a roller coasterwhen I was 16.
Not now, because I could die.
So I am, and again, like you'rewalking through a metal
detector and I'm like, why?
And they're like because wedon't want you to forget
anything, in case it comes out,it can knock you in the head And
I'm like, okay, cool, great,great, love that.
I'm like I'm going to be alittle bit more mature.
So we go and you, it shoots youout and I don't even.
(21:18):
I have no words.
I have no words to describe.
I have no words to describethat ride.
You are hanging upside down atone point in time for probably
the length of four houses puttogether, and you're just
hanging and going.
You're just, it's just, you'reback.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Over water And I think at one point I remember
being on it, i think I touchedthe water.
I think I got baptized.
I was like do we go under water?
Do our heads hit the water?
Yeah, I was like what's theworst ride when we go upside
down?
I was so scared, Terrified.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
So scared, terrified.
I could see Scott Braynettdoing that right eight times in
a row.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
No question about it, lap bar is aggressive, like
that's not enough.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
But I get why they did it.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
Lap bar is not aggressive enough in terms of
safety.
Why?
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Because they wanted you to get the feeling of zero
gravity.
They wanted you to have that.
They wanted you to hit.
all of it Seems too risky to me.
I a thousand percent.
whoever designed that?
I mean it's, it's a lot.
So, that experience.
Lauren got a great videopicture of me And I think that,
if that's no, if that, if thatwas the last picture of me taken
(22:21):
, i think that it makes sense.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Yeah, we're going to post it on the Instagram.
It was quite the journey.
It was quite the journey.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Yeah.
And then you have my daughterin the background like, oh my
God, this is the best thing ever.
Oh my word, you look likeyou're going to die.
I did die, i think.
And also I think that my textis to Ashley Draper.
After I got out, i sent that toSarah and Ashley And then my
text was I will ride Tower ofTerror 18 times in a row with
Josh Schaper before I get onthis ride.
(22:48):
Ever again, yeah, ever again.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
You thought you had experienced something so scary
with Tower of Terror and thenyou got on Voss Coaster and
you're like I did not know theywere letting people do this.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
I did not know that that was alive allowed.
I did not know it was legal.
I think it's legal in fourcountries easily.
So that experience was ajourney to ride home on.
And then we went to Dr SeussWorld.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Yes, thank God for Seuss Slanding.
I was like I need a piece.
You can't even be taller thancertain inches on some of those
rides.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
So I want to just say about Islands of Adventure, and
then we can go.
So there was no one there.
I mean, if everybody wasprobably just in the Hagrid's
line, but we were walking around, there were times when there
was literally no one around.
Yeah, now this is in the middleof the week that you went.
Yes, we went on a Tuesday ormaybe a Wednesday.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
And schools from up north weren't out of school yet.
Oh, fun fact, yeah, and so itwas still kind of a sweet spot.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Yeah, we really hit it at a right time.
The weather was nice, it was,and Lauren knew this, so we
bought it.
It was buy one day, get twodays free.
So we got that and Lauren saidshe was like Elizabeth, we're
going to be done by lunchtimebecause Emma and Reed won't be
able to do a lot of things andthey will lose their patience.
(24:18):
And I was like I love that,whatever you tell, i am here,
you, this is great.
And Reed, after Dr Seuss World,was like I haven't gotten to do
very much And we were supposedto do the Hulk after that.
And Lauren was like let's go,let's go do the train, let's go
take them over to the other sideand let's see what's happening
over there.
And so we did.
(24:38):
We took the train over to the,over to Universal Studios, which
you have to have the parkhopper in order to do that.
So we had the park hopper, wedid the train, which was so cute
.
Yeah, that was cool, it wasreal.
I'm not even.
I don't even think that I wantto talk.
I don't want to talk about howthey did that, but just know
that it was very well done andkudos to Universal Studios.
(25:01):
I'm very excited to see howSuper Mario World turns out.
Oh my gosh Seeing how they didHarry Potter.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
I really I mean again never read Harry Potter, never.
I've never seen Harry Potter,neither of my kids, and I felt
like I was able to understand itAnd so knowing Super Mario,
which we all grew up with likeit's gonna.
They really hit the nail on thehead with that one.
They did a great job.
So we went over to UniversalStudios.
We hung out in Harry PotterWorld over there for a minute.
(25:29):
One of the rides was closed sowe weren't able to do that ride.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
I guess that must be the Gringotts one.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
That's what's over there on the Universal side.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
Okay, yeah, we couldn't do that So we just
walked in on the little storesand it was.
We got Butterbeer, which wasvery good, yes.
And then we went to UniversalStudios and that was a little.
There was nothing.
There was really nothing to do.
Despicable Me.
The Express Lane Pass was anhour And so I said to the kids
(26:02):
we're not gonna do this.
And Lauren agreed and everybodywas losing it.
So, in the grand scheme ofthings, knowing that we had two
extra days of tick, if we hadbeen staying that night we would
have just gone back to thehotel, swam and then gone back
later.
But we went home knowing that wehad two more days, that we
could come And Scott willprobably get tickets and we'll
(26:25):
go with him because I think thathe would truly.
It is a.
I know we talked about this thedifference between a theme park
and an amusement park.
Yes, scott grew up in Clover,south Carolina, which is just
south of Charlotte, andCarowinds is there And it's like
a.
I mean it's an amusement park.
It's there for the thrill, it'sthere for it's like a bush
(26:47):
gardens.
But Universal Islands ofAdventure did have themes.
Quote unquote.
They did theme it out.
I can also see why going withyoung kids is difficult.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Yes, well, yeah, because Reed and Emma, they
couldn't do it.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
And it's not that it was a problem that they couldn't
do it.
I think that a lot of it wasjust too mature for them to,
even if they were old enough.
I mean, like think about thatone castle ride.
Yeah.
Emma even said Emma who hasread Harry Potter, loves Harry
Potter.
Emma was even like I guess I'lldo it today.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
Yeah, because it's scary.
It is scary, It's intense.
The revenge of the mummy rideis like that.
There are a couple of rides atUniversal that my friend Lauren,
she and her kids and her kidsare just finished fifth grade
and third grade And her kids arelike I don't really like these
because they're a little kind ofjust too dark.
Yeah, They're too dark and theydon't really enjoy it.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
And I think that the maturity aspect, when we're
saying that is not because ofthe thrill of the ride, it's
more of the content of the ridesand it's not that the content
is inappropriate, it is.
You just have things that popout at you.
You have dark areas, You havescary noises, and when you're
(28:00):
seven and eight and even nineyears old, when you're 35 years
old, those things scare you allnight.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
It's true, it is a more mature audience that is
going to enjoy Universal AndI'll say there were even fifth
graders for the trip.
I know who didn't come toUniversal because of the height
requirement, because you do haveto be.
You know, there's some of themwho haven't gone through their
growth spurts and they're nottall enough And what a bummer to
not be able to do those ridesAnd your friends can, and your
(28:29):
friends can.
So they didn't come.
But also I do think that interms of the darker thrill, as
in scary thrill, not likethere's a difference between
Rise, the Resistance and Revengeof the Mummy, and there's even
(28:50):
like a I can't remember I thinkthere's like a King Kong ride at
Universal And people aregetting torn apart, you know, i
mean like people are dying andeverything, and so that's not
something that Disney does AndUniversal doesn't have a problem
with that, which is fine.
It's just you know, know youraudience.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
I do want to say that I've complained a lot about
Disney here recently And ithasn't really been a real
satisfaction, and I think thatafter going to Universal Studios
Islands of Adventure, i want toapologize to Disney.
Even when the magic was, thefairy dust was hard for them to
(29:34):
sprinkle, they still sprinkledit out.
I know that this is a veryfirst world problem thing to say
, but Disney is there for yourcomplete experience, complete
experience from start to finish.
They want you to have a fourseasons experience, whether
(29:54):
you're staying at the All StarResort or staying at the
contemporary they don't care.
They want your experience to bememorable, magical, whatever
they can do, and you're going tospend more money that way And
they have that down to a scienceuniversal, and it's everything
from the appearance of the staffto how they're.
Disney employees don't scowl,they don't.
(30:19):
If you walk up to a Disneyemployee and they're having a
conversation with another castmember, they're immediately
stopping that conversation andthey're going to talk to you.
Universal Studios, that is notthe case.
There was a lot of They'rethere.
That's their job.
And I'm not saying that theyweren't friendly, i'm not saying
that they weren't nice.
(30:39):
I'm just saying that it is adifferent training method And
I'm sorry, disney, that I washard on you.
Yeah.
I'm sorry.
I think one of the other thingsis And we said this when Disney
was going through all of theirhiccups Disney cast members have
the support of their executiveleadership anytime of the day,
(31:01):
and there's also an expectationfor guests.
It's kind of like rules rightLike if you have rules in your
classroom or at your school andyou enforce your students or
your children to abide by thoserules, it's going to stink at
first, but then, after a while,the behavior is going to change.
Disney versus Universal is thesame way.
(31:22):
Disney has rules andexpectations for you as an
attendee, as a patron ofwhatever, and you have to do
your dress code, theirexpectation of your behavior.
And if you act a fool at Disney, disney is going to remove you
(31:42):
from that situation.
Period and discussion.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
Yeah, there's no scene that's brought really like
there's Now.
We've seen it on the newsbefore like different things.
Yes A bra or whatever, yes,there's some sort of stupid
fight or whatever, but it'samazing who comes out and takes
care of it And takes care of itAnd you don't even know what was
happening.
Like five team members justgather, like cast members in
suits or whatever, and then youare removed from the situation,
(32:08):
and you are.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
It is done in a discussion.
There's no yelling, there's noyelling.
The chances of you coming backare slim to none.
Yeah, and there is probablysome Disney prison that you are
being sent to.
Yeah, and a single cast memberknows that if they are put in a
position to where one of theguests are acting a fool, they
(32:32):
will have the support from uppermanagement to handle that
situation.
I have a feeling that atUniversal Studios Islands of
Adventure, that is not the case,and it is truly an every man
for themself kind of a situation.
Yes, but if there is noexpectation for the guests,
there is no dress code for theguests.
(32:53):
There is no, and I'm sayingthese things in general, i'm not
saying them like the dress codeis what defies it.
But there is an expectation forthe guests at Disney, there is
not one for Universal.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
Yeah, i mean the fact that the team member I don't
know what they call them atUniversal that I did.
I saw her out when we got offHagrid's and I thanked her
because I didn't like the wayshe was talking to everyone, but
I felt like this is my firsttime here.
Yeah, she's been here for Idon't know 100 days where she
(33:26):
has had to say do not trample myteam members My team members.
I was like, i mean, i was, youknow, appalled by that.
But then I was like, what hasshe been through?
Yeah, she has someone workinghere where she has to say, do
not trample my team members.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
And not mess around, right?
And so, while it was your firstexperience, to your point, it
was not her first video And thatwe're in an era where social
media is prominent and peoplecan post videos, so you know
that, like the first 100 timesthat that happened, somebody's
like taking a video of it andposting it on social media.
So then, oh, i'm going, and Isaw that you can do this.
(34:01):
I'm going to do that, Yes.
So I think that that is also.
I think that that is whereDisney was great, and I don't, i
don't know, i don't know why.
That's not a thing, but I dothink that it also comes back to
the mature content.
Yes, at Disney there is, it's alot of younger, the maturity is
(34:21):
, it's whimsical and everythingis just like chill.
And I mean I say chill.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
There's no Tower of Terror is the scariest ride at
Disney World for crying out loudMy kids, because they have
never been to anything thatscary to get them on.
Rise of the Resistance was likeI mean, they have not even
looked at Tower of Terror.
Speaker 3 (34:42):
Yeah, like they haven't even looked at it.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
That's a great, that's a great But like Rise of
the Resistance was a littleintense for them.
the first time they did it, ihad to bribe.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
I still have to bribe Reed to go on the Stormtrooper
ride.
Yeah.
And so and in the green, and soI do think that there is
something to be said about them.
And again, I'm not sayingmature content in a bad way, I'm
just saying that it is a PG-13rated R movie versus a GPG at
best for Disney And so youraudience is a little bit more.
(35:11):
I don't know, i don't know whatthe right word is for that, but
I will say I can see why peoplewait until later middle school,
high school to take.
I can see why Disney peoplewait to do that.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
Yeah, i totally agree 100%.
Speaker 3 (35:25):
But I don't regret the trip.
We had a great time.
Yes.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
And I will go again Like my like I'm not doing that.
But Sydney wants to go.
She loves Harry Potter, shewants to be able to go and do
some of the things there.
What's really did like herexperience at Universal.
I did have to remind her thatwe stayed at a hotel, also that
had the limited express pass.
(35:50):
And I will say what thesehotels are really quick, just so
people know Free UniversalExpress pass, unlimited, so you
can go as many times all the,all the rides, attractions,
except for Hagrid's, lowe'sRoyal Pacific Resort, which is
where we stayed, the Hard RockHotel, which is where Elizabeth
(36:11):
stayed, and then Lowe'sPortofino Bay Hotel, and that's
it.
So there's three hotels thatyou can stay at and get it.
Speaker 3 (36:19):
There's more hotels on property.
Yep, there's three that you canstay at.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
Now it's like okay, the Royal Pacific starts at 325
a night, I think ours, I thinkwe paid like for all inclusive.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
It was like 419 taxes and it.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
Yeah.
The Hard Rock says it starts at372.
The Portofino starts at 388.
The tier above that thatdoesn't give you unlimited
express pass, it's 210 a night.
Okay, so you have to thinkabout that like.
Speaker 3 (36:48):
Yeah, and express passes like $200 to $300 a
person.
Per ticket per day, yeah, perday, and you get, and that's.
I'm glad that you said that.
So we checked in on Monday andwe went to the park on Tuesday.
We had express passes forMonday and Tuesday, right, so we
could have gone to the park onMonday, yes, but we didn't, and
you also, whereas Disney I feellike Sarah, you've said this
(37:13):
you'll take your kids to thepark and you'll be like what is
one thing that you have that youhave to do, and you just
guarantee that those are therides that you do.
Right.
And then they may not, and thatmay be it right.
You may only be able to do afew things because of how
lightning lane and stuff is Atuniversal slash islands of
adventure.
You can truly do everything ina day.
(37:34):
Yes, There is no question aboutthat.
So definitely if you're goingfor two days or three days, two
nights.
You can easily do every singlething multiple times, no
question about it, and just havetwo days in the park.
Yeah, there's no question aboutthat.
I do think that you look at all, they have a lot of specials
(37:54):
that they run for Floridaresidents.
Like I said, by one day, gettwo days free, and it's the park
hopper one.
I want to say this real fastbefore we go.
So the hotel TV you know how,in the hotel room at Disney
there's like 15 Disney Worldchannels.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
Yes, okay.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
Now that we've gone to a theme park that we've never
been to before, i wish thatthey had that Universal Studios
had that.
They had one for Volcano Bay,which they had their like magic
band for Volcano Bay.
I'm like when is Disney goingto adapt this?
That was very like you per thevideo.
(38:32):
Okay.
You would sign it like youwould scan in for a ride and
then it was a virtual queue,then it would ding your phone or
it would ding your watch totell you when to come back to
ride the ride.
Oh, that's nice Per this videothing.
There was nothing else thatshowcased the property, the
hotel, the theme parksthemselves.
(38:55):
you know, things to eat, thingsto do, places to eat shows, etc
.
So I always thought that it wasannoying that Disney did that
and there were hotels.
I was like why are we doingthis?
And of course you know my kidswanted to watch the whole thing
a thousand times Yes.
Props to Disney.
I'm sorry that I criticized you.
Yep Internally.
Speaker 2 (39:13):
We can admit when we're wrong.
Speaker 3 (39:14):
I will always admit when I'm wrong and a thousand
percent I was wrong and I.
that is something that I wishbecause, like I said, my kids
had no idea what to expect.
No idea what to expect, and Ido think that that would have
set that expectation for them Sothat is me just being annoying.
Speaker 2 (39:31):
Yeah, no, i totally agree, like there are certain
things that Universal I thinkdoes better and certain things
that Disney does better.
Am I my personality?
Do I like Disney more?
Speaker 3 (39:40):
Yes, A thousand percent Yes.
Speaker 2 (39:43):
Like I totally understand why there are some
people who just prefer Universaland people who like both, and
they, you know.
Have you ever been to BushGardens?
Yes, do you know my BushGardens story?
I grew up in Tampa, oh okay,and my summer between sixth and
seventh grade.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes I spentevery single day at Bush
Gardens, Okay so that was Scottwith Carowins.
(40:04):
Yeah, yeah, that was my daycamp.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
It was yes, it was only open in the summertime, or
like spring, summer, andliterally that's because the
moms would drop them off andthey would spend all day there
every day.
Yes, and so I do see where,like I think that when Scott
goes to Universal Studios, ithink that there is going to be
a nostalgia for him of justgoing to an amusement park,
(40:28):
right Versus the nostalgia forme of Disney World.
So I can see where that is.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
Yeah, And if you compare, kind of like going to
the back to the Express Pass fora second, you know if you are
paying $400 a night, and I gotit for all three of us Right.
So if you're paying $400 anight, let's even say that it's,
you know, $100 for each of youlike for that night, but you get
(40:58):
it for both days.
So the breakdown for yourExpress Pass is like $50 a day
for each person.
The thing is, and if you haveonly have four people in the
room at Disney, they have theGenie Plus.
Now the new thing is it's GeniePlus for each park.
You can do a park hopper one,or you can buy Genie Plus if
(41:20):
you're just doing a one day pass, and it's a little less
expensive for, like, animalKingdom versus Magic Kingdom,
but you have to fiddle with yourphone the entire day, i will
say You can't get.
You may get like three or four.
You know lightning lanes orfast pass I can't keep up with,
however, what it's called.
(41:40):
You may get three, but atUniversal, and you're paying $27
, maybe $25 a tip per ticket perday, versus $50 per ticket per
day just by staying at a hotelat Universal, But you're going
to get everything exceptHagrid's.
So it's just like I don't know.
I mean, i think it's kind ofequal.
Speaker 3 (42:02):
Like it washes out.
Speaker 2 (42:04):
Yeah, it kind of washes out because you could.
if you're in Orlando and youdon't want to stay at the hotel,
you could still just have areservation, get your Express
Pass and not even stay at thehotel And still just be able to
have that benefit, because it'smore expensive to get just the
Express Pass attached to yourticket.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
So you might as well just get one of the hotel
reservations.
Yeah, i am interested to see.
I do not know how to makeDisney's Lightning Lane, genie
Plus whatever fast passsituation better.
I don't have a remedy for thatAnd even after doing Universal
Studios, disney could not do theExpress Pass because they're
(42:44):
booked up, i mean everybody.
Even if they did it for theDeluxe Resorts, disney could not
offer that because there's toomany people And while there are
so many attract, it would belike the Minions thing where the
wait time for the Express Passwould be an hour.
I don't know what the remedy isfor Disney, but I will say the
Universal Studios Express Passexperience was very convenient.
Speaker 2 (43:08):
Convenient, easy.
You don't have to message yourphone Easy breezy, beautiful
cover girl.
Yes, love it, Live it Live,laugh, love.
Love it, live, laugh, love.
All right, that's going to doit, that's it friends.
For our commentary on UniversalStudios.
Speaker 3 (43:21):
I'll be sure to report back when we're going to
go again with Scott Brannockover the summer, because I think
our three day or two extra daysexpire at the end of September.
And I told him I was like we'regoing And he was like, as long
as I'm not going to Disney Worldbecause I'm Scott the Scrooge,
oh my gosh, he didn't really saythat That was really annoying,
all right, well, thanks so muchfor listening to this week and
(43:43):
we'll try to get back to younext week.
Yeah, Maybe not, though.
Maybe not, though.
It's summer, all right, i'llsee you next week.
Bye.
Hello, you're listening to the Tiki Room
podcast.
Today we will be talking aboutUniversal Studios.
Thanks for listening.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Please subscribe and leave a review wherever you
listen to podcasts and follow uson Facebook and Instagram.
Enjoy the show.
All right, welcome back.
Sorry, we're a couple weeksbehind, but we're here.
We're here.
We're just summering around youall.
We are summering around.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
I mean Elizabeth has been living my summer dream.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Has been living her summer dream on boats, on.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Going to Dude Perfect .
Yes, like decided an hourbefore we were leaving that we
were going.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
That's the ultimate summer.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Like summer scenario where you're like we don't have
any plans.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
We don't have anything.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Let's do something tonight.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
I did like.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Like drive an hour and a half away to go see Dude
Perfect, let's go.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
I did.
We're in the month of June.
The kids had two.
They had three weeks of camp,Okay, And that was it.
And then they I think that Reedhas like golf camp in July, but
other than that I'm like, no,we're going to.
If we want to wake up and gosomewhere, we're going to go,
But also it's rained the entiremonth of June.
Yeah.
So there went my like Go to thebeach day.
(01:22):
Yes.
But one of the things, as someof you have heard, is we went to
Universal.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Oh my gosh, we've been waiting for this.
We haven't talked about this.
I went to Universal last month.
For school For school.
I went on a field trip with mydaughter for their fifth grade,
like end of the year thing, andwe went for two days And then
Elizabeth went two weeks ago.
We have not talked about it,have not?
We will, we refuse.
(01:48):
We have been together for thepast few days.
We've seen each other likethree or four days in a row.
We will not talk about it.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
I will not talk about it.
We've waited for you all.
I was a little bit like a rockdraper wanted to talk about it
And I told him no, i was nevertalking to him, ever again.
So I am going to start from thebeginning.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Okay, yes, i'm like, so tell us your experience of
Universal Studios.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Okay.
So Lauren to be listened to thepodcast and she was like
Elizabeth, really it's going tobe okay.
I was like to be I know, i know, i know it's going to be okay
And she's like I promise it'snot going to be like Disney, but
I also promise it's going to befun.
So we stayed at the hard rock.
Okay.
So, as many of you know, if youstay at certain properties you
get the fast pass thing orwhatever the heck it's called.
(02:32):
But the hard rock was theclosest to the walking distance.
So I don't know if Lauren to bedid that so that I had zero
room to complain or not, but shedid it.
She picked that accordingly.
So we got there at I don't knowlike three or four o'clock in
the afternoon and the check-inprocess is different than a
Disney resort.
You cannot check in on yourphone.
(02:52):
No, you have to do it.
Old school, i would have myline and my kids were literally
like what is this?
Yep.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
What do you mean?
you have to wait in line.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Yeah, yeah, so that was, and you you know.
We checked in and they werevery accommodating.
We asked if we could have aroom next, an adjoining room,
and they were like, oh yep, wehad you here, we're going to
move you here, don't worry aboutit, but the check-in process
probably took 45 minutes.
Yes, it took a long time, hadto go over to another line to
get my express pass, and so wewere able to go into our room.
(03:26):
The rooms were nice.
I mean, they were great.
We had the two queen beds.
They brought in a twin for likea rollaway bed for Reed.
They had a sink on the outsideAnd then in the where the shower
and the toilet were, there wasanother little sink in there.
So that was very nice, veryaccommodating.
(03:48):
We were literally in the roomfor less than 12 hours, so it
was fine.
So we went and ate dinner atthis little restaurant at the
hotel And then the kids did thepool for the rest of the day,
which was so fun.
And then we came back to thehotel room.
The kids, lauren and I, werelike are the kids just going to
(04:11):
all sleep in one room And herand I are going to sleep in
another room?
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Because they were watching what is it?
Speaker 3 (04:15):
American Ninja Warrior.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Yes, and.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Laura, ann and Lily and we're in one bed, emma was
in another and Reed was in thetwin bed And Lauren and I were
like are we about to live everydream we ever thought we would
live?
And then, of course, we didn't,because I think I don't
remember if it was Emma or Reed,but one of them were like no, I
want to be in my room with mymom.
So thanks for ruining, ButLaura, Ann and Lily, and they
(04:39):
had a slumber party in the bed.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
They lived their life .
Speaker 3 (04:42):
OK, so this is where we're going to get into the
nitty gritty.
So she told me we were going tobe waking up early.
Yep, and I told the kids wewere going to be waking up early
.
And we woke up early, like howearly, 6 AM.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
OK, that's early.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
I was like I literally looked at Lauren and I
think I said I think I used ahand gesture that was
inappropriate to her I was notvery happy about that And
because for Disney, you wake upWhenever Well, whenever.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
But also if you want to get a lightning lane or your
first thing for Genie Plus, yes,You can stay in bed, but you
have to wake up at like 6 50.
So you can get on there at 7 AM, but you don't have to wake up.
Were you leaving at 6?
Speaker 3 (05:28):
No, OK, that's what I OK go.
So Lauren actually had the soundof a sign.
I'm not going to lie to you,she was very good at this.
So we woke up, we got everybodysituated and then she called.
We valed our car.
She called valet.
We went and put all of ourstuff in the car, got the
(05:49):
stroller out, which was becauseshe was like we're bringing the
stroller.
I was like done, i will say,because everything is not as
convenient in the park as it isat Disney, we would throw our
stuff.
Ooh, so sorry, i just took themicrophone like a crazy man.
We would put our stuff in therebecause you cannot bring it in
on the rides.
So we brought the stroller.
(06:09):
All right, so we put our stuffin valet, grabbed the stroller,
came back, grabbed coffees forher and I.
The kids were eating likegranola bars and we were leaving
the hotel to walk to Universalor whatever the gates.
We were leaving the hotelbefore 7 AM, wow.
(06:29):
So doors open for peoplestaying on property.
The gates open at 8 AM.
I'm doing quotes.
No one can see this, but Sarah,they open at 8 AM.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
8 AM quote, unquote So they definitely opened at
7.45.
OK, that's Disney, That's what.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Disney does that too.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
We were probably.
They have, let's say, 10 gatesIn the line we were in.
We were probably 8th or 9th inline.
So they open the gates and weare running to Hagrid's Or
Hagward's, Hagrid's, Hagrid's.
There it is.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Harold's.
We're running to Harold'sUniversal Islands of Adventure
side.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Yes, we're on Islands of Adventure side Because
Hagrid's does not have ExpressPass.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Right, it's the only ride at Universal Studios who
does not use the Express Pass.
So if you have an Express Pass,you can't use it for Hagrid's,
and it just so happens to be themost popular ride, the most
popular And I don't know.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
It's almost like a in my mind.
I'm like that is.
I feel like one out of Disney'splaybook, like let's create
this.
It really is a great ride,right?
I'm pretty sure that Disney didthe same thing with all of
their big rides, Right?
Also, i'm watching my son playoutside.
This is amazing, anyway.
So we go there.
(07:50):
Lauren is like Lauren toUniversal is like Sarah to
Disney.
She had it.
Like I said, she had it down toa science.
She knew what to do.
And she's like you're taking thekids here, I'm taking the
Schroller here.
Throw everything in theSchroller, and I will meet you
there, gosh.
I love a woman with a plan, idon't know what we're doing.
(08:12):
Lilian's, like Miss Brannick,turn to the left.
Yes, oh my god.
So Lauren somehow finds a sinline And we're just walking.
I'm literally like this is soaggressive.
I feel like this is the madrush.
This is what Moses felt likegetting these people out, we are
going, so we get there, and Ithink that from by the time we
(08:35):
entered the line, which wassignificantly far back to When
we got on the ride maybe 10minutes- Oh, wow that's amazing
minutes, i mean, and we are,they are getting you in.
I mean, we're walking thoseMm-hmm, you know if 10 minutes.
So they get us on the ride andwe are read and I are in the
very back, the lat, the end, andI'm like on the ride.
(08:58):
This guy, like I know what theend, i know what the back of the
roller coaster means right, itdoesn't matter what roller
coaster where you are, yeah it'sthe most intense.
It reads like let's go and.
I'm like let's, why don't you go?
so It's Laura and and Emma.
No, laura and and Lillian, emma, lauren and then me and read,
(09:21):
and it is a phenomenal ride.
I'm not gonna give any.
No, lauren told me nothing, andanytime Lillian and Emma tried
to tell me something, lauren waslike don't say a word.
So Nobody said a word to me.
I knew nothing Except for that.
It was maybe like Tron.
That's what.
Emma said It's maybe like Tron,and I'm like you've never done
(09:42):
Tron, so you're giving meanxiety.
Yeah right now.
So we go, and it is aphenomenal ride.
Long the ride is so long.
Yes, you, where Disney messesup and where Islands of
Adventure slash UniversalStudios has, it is the length of
the rides.
Yes they have it down, pat Imean I think that it was like a
three-minute ride.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
It was.
It's long.
I mean it feels very long.
You think it's over and it'snot over.
It's not over to be clear.
Yep.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
I learned that very fast.
Yes, it was not over when Ithought it was yeah and I
screamed bloody murder the wholetime get me off of the thing.
Yes, and then we got off andread was like that was the
coolest thing ever and I waslike agreed.
Yes but also I'm glad that theydidn't tell me.
I'm glad, right.
So we did that ride.
By the time we got off, thewait time for that ride was 95
(10:30):
minutes.
Yes, so that was an experience,right, i that.
So then we went straight fromthere to this breakfast place,
across it, literally across thewalkway.
We went and got breakfast andthen we went on this one Harry
Potter ride, where you it?
you got on it, like you do?
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Is it in the bank or in the castle?
the castle, that ride isTerrifying, awful, horrible
That's.
I could not get off of it fastenough.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
I literally was like, if I close my eyes, what will
happen?
Speaker 2 (11:06):
I'm gonna throw up either way either way, i'm out.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
So you get on it like you do.
You get.
You get on it like you do.
Haunted mansion right, right,you've got the conveyor belt
thing and.
Then you're sitting, they havethese boxes and it's kind of
like Soaring, but it's four deep.
Mm-hmm.
So you've got four people ineach of your little cars and
you're in your individual littlecage.
(11:29):
Mm-hmm and Harry Potter isteaching you how to fly and
you're flying.
Mm-hmm and I don't I.
That's all I gotta say aboutthat.
I mean so a long run, also avery long too long, too long.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
I was like this is I'm gonna die, i'm gonna.
This is where it all ends forme.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
I'm pretty sure that after that read was like do not
put me on another ride.
I trust no one and I didn'tdisagree with him.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
I know.
Well, let me tell you, ourHarry Potter experience was Was
great.
We waited until we had two daysat the park, mm-hmm, you know,
we had a lot of people with us.
So when we were there, therewere a bunch of people, we had a
field trip, fifth graders, alot of parents, just as many
parents as there were kids.
(12:13):
So it wasn't like, you know,the ratio wasn't five to one or
anything, it was definitely oneto one.
So we go there.
We do most of universal first,like the front part of the park
on the universal side.
You're saying universal studios,yes, universal studios.
We did that side first and thenwe went to like Harry Potter
(12:34):
World Kind of at the end of theday, and we did the gringots,
that bank kind of ride, did youguys?
Speaker 3 (12:41):
do that?
No, we only did the castle rideand Hagrid's, hagrid's.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Okay the gringots is that's a really cool ride.
I really did like that.
It's not.
It doesn't make you want tothrow up Like the one in the
castle.
We did that.
We did lots of Harry Potterthings because lots of kids had
wands and did that wholeexperience and that was really
neat.
I don't read Harry Potter, So Idon't really care.
Yeah but my kids do and Ashleydoes, and lots of the parents
(13:08):
and they were super excited,yeah.
So I was like this must bereally cool.
That was me to a Harry Potterperson me to you.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
I was like yes, i mean, i think that this is a
great design.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Right, yeah, i was like that's cool, this you know
How do you go on?
Speaker 3 (13:22):
ever is for the first time and you're like standing
in line and you're like, oh, wow, they really thought about all
of these details.
Yes, that's how I felt withHarry Potter.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Yes, exactly, i felt like that too.
I was like, oh, this is my,this must be what it feels like
in the movie.
Yeah.
All the design, the sets, whateverything looks like a dragon,
all of it.
Yeah, um, we waited.
we did the train over to theother side, okay, so cool, by
the way.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
We did that.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
So cool, So cool like I loved that our Hagrid's was
different.
We waited to the end of the dayto do Hagrid's.
Okay, ashley was like we're notgonna get there early enough to
To be able to do kind of like arope drop Hagrid's, so we're
gonna have to wait till the endof the day when the time goes
down.
We kept looking throughout theday and it was always like 95
(14:10):
plus minutes.
So when we got over there itwas raining it like it poured
torrential downpour For an hourbefore we got into Harry Potter
world.
We go do the train, go over toHagrid's and it still isn't
opened yet from the rain.
Okay, the Crowd, that.
(14:31):
And we were there for a while.
Like we kind of waited for like20 minutes Before it had even
opened up, just for it to openand the the park for that was
closing at seven and it was.
We were like we need to get inline at six to be able to do
this.
We're in line.
A little before six they saw itand opened it, so it opened it.
(14:53):
We waited there for like 45minutes.
The aggressive nature of thecrowd With.
We had all these children withus in the front and the people
all behind us.
It was crazy, absolutely crazy,the pushing that was happening,
the, the people working forUniversal.
They are Aggressive witheveryone.
(15:13):
The way they talked to all theguests, that would not happen at
Disney.
That was like my one thing.
I was like the way this womanis talking to us, no way would
this ever happen at Disney.
She was like, let me point youout of the crowd and let make
sure you don't get on this ride.
Like she was aggressive, likeand she had a power trip.
It was, it was a lot, and allthe kids were very nervous.
They were like what's gonna goout?
(15:34):
there were kids, childrencrying.
It was, it was a lot.
Now We did the ride.
It was great.
We actually got on and I don'tthink that whole crowd got to do
it because they shut it backdown again.
That's the best right I've everbeen on.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
I Am gonna be honest with you.
I don't disagree.
Like I it was so well done.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
It was so well done.
I was like I can't believe.
I'm gonna say this This is thebest ride I have ever been on.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Yeah it was very well done.
I, like I said to you before ifyou've never done it, don't ask
for anybody to tell you whathappens.
No, no, in fact I said that toScott.
I was like I will not tell youwhat happened, i will not give
you any of the lowdown.
You're just gonna have to.
You're just going to have toknow that you're going to do it
on your own.
Yeah, and that's what I thinkand that's what I wanted to say.
(16:21):
Where Disney?
I think that where Disney andUniversal are different is one
Disney has a plethora of optionsto do.
I mean a million differentoptions to do.
Universal, niles of Adventurethere's not a lot to do, and so
they make your time worthwhileby making the rides longer.
(16:42):
It's like Disney is tapas andUniversal is a sit-down meal,
and I think that that is a great.
Yes, i do not disagree.
It was a very well done ride.
You don't have to read HarryPotter to understand it, just
like with, i think, any Disneyride.
You did not have to watchGuardians of the Galaxy to
understand Guardians of theGalaxy the ride.
(17:04):
So, yeah, our Harry Potterworld experience.
We did Hagrid's, we didBreakfast, we did that weird
ride, and I think that Reed waslike I think that I don't ever
want to come here ever again.
He did not love it.
Loran was like I don't think Iwant to do that again.
And they both were kind of likecan we leave Harry Potter world
(17:26):
?
I think that it just kind ofthat ride kind of they've never
read or seen Harry Potter.
So I think that it was a littlebit aggressive for my kids who
are, like me, with an overactiveimagination.
So Loran was like let's go toJurassic Park World, okay.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
So Like, this is a little intense for us, so let's
go see the dinosaurs.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Let's go see the dinosaurs.
Thanks, loran.
So I was like how about I willkeep the littles who are not
little Emma is going into thirdgrade, reed's going into second
grade.
I will keep them and thestroller at child swap.
Y'all go ride it.
I'll see you when I see you,because, lor I mean Emma and
(18:12):
Reed there were a lot of ridesthat they were not tall enough
to do.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
And.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
I think that that is also important for you to know.
If you are traveling with yourfamily and you have younger kids
or shorter kids, you need tolook at the height requirement
because, it is much differentthan Disney, very different
Disney.
I mean, i'm pretty sure thatyou have to be.
I think that there's like tworides, that you have to be 48
inches to ride in the wholeworld at Disney World, but at
(18:38):
Universal Studios some of themare like 52 inches.
Yeah, are you looking upJurassic Park, the Los?
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Arraptor Coaster.
Well, i'm just looking at theheight requirements in general,
because it's true There is not.
It says, you know, 40 inchesfor some of them 34, 48 inches
for revenge of the mummy.
Let's look at Highlands ofAdventure, because those are the
big ones.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Yeah 51 inches for Velocic Coaster.
Yeah, so Velocic Coaster.
Okay, so Lauren rides it withLaura, ann and Lillian, who?
Lillian is going into sixthgrade, lillian is going into
fourth grade.
I am like sitting with the twolittles, living my best life.
Lauren comes in and she's likeyou're riding it right now And I
(19:26):
was like, oh, i'm not.
And Lauren is like, yes, youare mommy, i loved it.
And I was like what is wrongwith you?
What is wrong with you?
And she is like she's a thrillseeker, she is her father, she
has the biggest grin on her faceAnd she's like, if you don't do
it, you don't love me.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
I go away.
You're right, i don't.
Yeah, so I do it.
You have to walk through ametal detector to get on this
ride, like I'm going throughlike state prison to get on this
ride.
So you get on and guess wherewe sit?
The very back, the very back,the last two seats, and Laura
(20:12):
Ann and Emma are.
I mean, laura Ann and Lillianare like high fiving each other.
They're like so pumped Lap, barlap bar Lap bar.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Nothing over your shoulders, nothing over your
shoulders And just so we'reclear.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
You can see the whole track, so I know what I'm about
to experience And you'veprobably just watched.
No child swap is on the inside.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Oh, it's on the inside, which was nice.
Which was nice You didn't getto see.
I didn't get to see.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
You probably wouldn't have written it if you saw it
before, so, but you get to seeit when you come into the line.
Yes, so I've got the lap barthing on me, you know, and I'm
like, can you triple, triplecheck this?
Let's talk about fears that Ididn't have when I was 16 years
old, that I now have as a motherFears you didn't know you were
(20:55):
going to have an experience.
Yeah, i loved a roller coasterwhen I was 16.
Not now, because I could die.
So I am, and again, like you'rewalking through a metal
detector and I'm like, why?
And they're like because wedon't want you to forget
anything, in case it comes out,it can knock you in the head And
I'm like, okay, cool, great,great, love that.
I'm like I'm going to be alittle bit more mature.
So we go and you, it shoots youout and I don't even.
(21:18):
I have no words.
I have no words to describe.
I have no words to describethat ride.
You are hanging upside down atone point in time for probably
the length of four houses puttogether, and you're just
hanging and going.
You're just, it's just, you'reback.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Over water And I think at one point I remember
being on it, i think I touchedthe water.
I think I got baptized.
I was like do we go under water?
Do our heads hit the water?
Yeah, I was like what's theworst ride when we go upside
down?
I was so scared, Terrified.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
So scared, terrified.
I could see Scott Braynettdoing that right eight times in
a row.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
No question about it, lap bar is aggressive, like
that's not enough.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
But I get why they did it.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
Lap bar is not aggressive enough in terms of
safety.
Why?
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Because they wanted you to get the feeling of zero
gravity.
They wanted you to have that.
They wanted you to hit.
all of it Seems too risky to me.
I a thousand percent.
whoever designed that?
I mean it's, it's a lot.
So, that experience.
Lauren got a great videopicture of me And I think that,
if that's no, if that, if thatwas the last picture of me taken
(22:21):
, i think that it makes sense.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Yeah, we're going to post it on the Instagram.
It was quite the journey.
It was quite the journey.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Yeah.
And then you have my daughterin the background like, oh my
God, this is the best thing ever.
Oh my word, you look likeyou're going to die.
I did die, i think.
And also I think that my textis to Ashley Draper.
After I got out, i sent that toSarah and Ashley And then my
text was I will ride Tower ofTerror 18 times in a row with
Josh Schaper before I get onthis ride.
(22:48):
Ever again, yeah, ever again.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
You thought you had experienced something so scary
with Tower of Terror and thenyou got on Voss Coaster and
you're like I did not know theywere letting people do this.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
I did not know that that was alive allowed.
I did not know it was legal.
I think it's legal in fourcountries easily.
So that experience was ajourney to ride home on.
And then we went to Dr SeussWorld.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Yes, thank God for Seuss Slanding.
I was like I need a piece.
You can't even be taller thancertain inches on some of those
rides.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
So I want to just say about Islands of Adventure, and
then we can go.
So there was no one there.
I mean, if everybody wasprobably just in the Hagrid's
line, but we were walking around, there were times when there
was literally no one around.
Yeah, now this is in the middleof the week that you went.
Yes, we went on a Tuesday ormaybe a Wednesday.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
And schools from up north weren't out of school yet.
Oh, fun fact, yeah, and so itwas still kind of a sweet spot.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Yeah, we really hit it at a right time.
The weather was nice, it was,and Lauren knew this, so we
bought it.
It was buy one day, get twodays free.
So we got that and Lauren saidshe was like Elizabeth, we're
going to be done by lunchtimebecause Emma and Reed won't be
able to do a lot of things andthey will lose their patience.
(24:18):
And I was like I love that,whatever you tell, i am here,
you, this is great.
And Reed, after Dr Seuss World,was like I haven't gotten to do
very much And we were supposedto do the Hulk after that.
And Lauren was like let's go,let's go do the train, let's go
take them over to the other sideand let's see what's happening
over there.
And so we did.
(24:38):
We took the train over to the,over to Universal Studios, which
you have to have the parkhopper in order to do that.
So we had the park hopper, wedid the train, which was so cute
.
Yeah, that was cool, it wasreal.
I'm not even.
I don't even think that I wantto talk.
I don't want to talk about howthey did that, but just know
that it was very well done andkudos to Universal Studios.
(25:01):
I'm very excited to see howSuper Mario World turns out.
Oh my gosh Seeing how they didHarry Potter.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
I really I mean again never read Harry Potter, never.
I've never seen Harry Potter,neither of my kids, and I felt
like I was able to understand itAnd so knowing Super Mario,
which we all grew up with likeit's gonna.
They really hit the nail on thehead with that one.
They did a great job.
So we went over to UniversalStudios.
We hung out in Harry PotterWorld over there for a minute.
(25:29):
One of the rides was closed sowe weren't able to do that ride.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
I guess that must be the Gringotts one.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
That's what's over there on the Universal side.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
Okay, yeah, we couldn't do that So we just
walked in on the little storesand it was.
We got Butterbeer, which wasvery good, yes.
And then we went to UniversalStudios and that was a little.
There was nothing.
There was really nothing to do.
Despicable Me.
The Express Lane Pass was anhour And so I said to the kids
(26:02):
we're not gonna do this.
And Lauren agreed and everybodywas losing it.
So, in the grand scheme ofthings, knowing that we had two
extra days of tick, if we hadbeen staying that night we would
have just gone back to thehotel, swam and then gone back
later.
But we went home knowing that wehad two more days, that we
could come And Scott willprobably get tickets and we'll
(26:25):
go with him because I think thathe would truly.
It is a.
I know we talked about this thedifference between a theme park
and an amusement park.
Yes, scott grew up in Clover,south Carolina, which is just
south of Charlotte, andCarowinds is there And it's like
a.
I mean it's an amusement park.
It's there for the thrill, it'sthere for it's like a bush
(26:47):
gardens.
But Universal Islands ofAdventure did have themes.
Quote unquote.
They did theme it out.
I can also see why going withyoung kids is difficult.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Yes, well, yeah, because Reed and Emma, they
couldn't do it.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
And it's not that it was a problem that they couldn't
do it.
I think that a lot of it wasjust too mature for them to,
even if they were old enough.
I mean, like think about thatone castle ride.
Yeah.
Emma even said Emma who hasread Harry Potter, loves Harry
Potter.
Emma was even like I guess I'lldo it today.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
Yeah, because it's scary.
It is scary, It's intense.
The revenge of the mummy rideis like that.
There are a couple of rides atUniversal that my friend Lauren,
she and her kids and her kidsare just finished fifth grade
and third grade And her kids arelike I don't really like these
because they're a little kind ofjust too dark.
Yeah, They're too dark and theydon't really enjoy it.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
And I think that the maturity aspect, when we're
saying that is not because ofthe thrill of the ride, it's
more of the content of the ridesand it's not that the content
is inappropriate, it is.
You just have things that popout at you.
You have dark areas, You havescary noises, and when you're
(28:00):
seven and eight and even nineyears old, when you're 35 years
old, those things scare you allnight.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
It's true, it is a more mature audience that is
going to enjoy Universal AndI'll say there were even fifth
graders for the trip.
I know who didn't come toUniversal because of the height
requirement, because you do haveto be.
You know, there's some of themwho haven't gone through their
growth spurts and they're nottall enough And what a bummer to
not be able to do those ridesAnd your friends can, and your
(28:29):
friends can.
So they didn't come.
But also I do think that interms of the darker thrill, as
in scary thrill, not likethere's a difference between
Rise, the Resistance and Revengeof the Mummy, and there's even
(28:50):
like a I can't remember I thinkthere's like a King Kong ride at
Universal And people aregetting torn apart, you know, i
mean like people are dying andeverything, and so that's not
something that Disney does AndUniversal doesn't have a problem
with that, which is fine.
It's just you know, know youraudience.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
I do want to say that I've complained a lot about
Disney here recently And ithasn't really been a real
satisfaction, and I think thatafter going to Universal Studios
Islands of Adventure, i want toapologize to Disney.
Even when the magic was, thefairy dust was hard for them to
(29:34):
sprinkle, they still sprinkledit out.
I know that this is a veryfirst world problem thing to say
, but Disney is there for yourcomplete experience, complete
experience from start to finish.
They want you to have a fourseasons experience, whether
(29:54):
you're staying at the All StarResort or staying at the
contemporary they don't care.
They want your experience to bememorable, magical, whatever
they can do, and you're going tospend more money that way And
they have that down to a scienceuniversal, and it's everything
from the appearance of the staffto how they're.
Disney employees don't scowl,they don't.
(30:19):
If you walk up to a Disneyemployee and they're having a
conversation with another castmember, they're immediately
stopping that conversation andthey're going to talk to you.
Universal Studios, that is notthe case.
There was a lot of They'rethere.
That's their job.
And I'm not saying that theyweren't friendly, i'm not saying
that they weren't nice.
(30:39):
I'm just saying that it is adifferent training method And
I'm sorry, disney, that I washard on you.
Yeah.
I'm sorry.
I think one of the other thingsis And we said this when Disney
was going through all of theirhiccups Disney cast members have
the support of their executiveleadership anytime of the day,
(31:01):
and there's also an expectationfor guests.
It's kind of like rules rightLike if you have rules in your
classroom or at your school andyou enforce your students or
your children to abide by thoserules, it's going to stink at
first, but then, after a while,the behavior is going to change.
Disney versus Universal is thesame way.
(31:22):
Disney has rules andexpectations for you as an
attendee, as a patron ofwhatever, and you have to do
your dress code, theirexpectation of your behavior.
And if you act a fool at Disney, disney is going to remove you
(31:42):
from that situation.
Period and discussion.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
Yeah, there's no scene that's brought really like
there's Now.
We've seen it on the newsbefore like different things.
Yes A bra or whatever, yes,there's some sort of stupid
fight or whatever, but it'samazing who comes out and takes
care of it And takes care of itAnd you don't even know what was
happening.
Like five team members justgather, like cast members in
suits or whatever, and then youare removed from the situation,
(32:08):
and you are.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
It is done in a discussion.
There's no yelling, there's noyelling.
The chances of you coming backare slim to none.
Yeah, and there is probablysome Disney prison that you are
being sent to.
Yeah, and a single cast memberknows that if they are put in a
position to where one of theguests are acting a fool, they
(32:32):
will have the support from uppermanagement to handle that
situation.
I have a feeling that atUniversal Studios Islands of
Adventure, that is not the case,and it is truly an every man
for themself kind of a situation.
Yes, but if there is noexpectation for the guests,
there is no dress code for theguests.
(32:53):
There is no, and I'm sayingthese things in general, i'm not
saying them like the dress codeis what defies it.
But there is an expectation forthe guests at Disney, there is
not one for Universal.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
Yeah, i mean the fact that the team member I don't
know what they call them atUniversal that I did.
I saw her out when we got offHagrid's and I thanked her
because I didn't like the wayshe was talking to everyone, but
I felt like this is my firsttime here.
Yeah, she's been here for Idon't know 100 days where she
(33:26):
has had to say do not trample myteam members My team members.
I was like, i mean, i was, youknow, appalled by that.
But then I was like, what hasshe been through?
Yeah, she has someone workinghere where she has to say, do
not trample my team members.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
And not mess around, right?
And so, while it was your firstexperience, to your point, it
was not her first video And thatwe're in an era where social
media is prominent and peoplecan post videos, so you know
that, like the first 100 timesthat that happened, somebody's
like taking a video of it andposting it on social media.
So then, oh, i'm going, and Isaw that you can do this.
(34:01):
I'm going to do that, Yes.
So I think that that is also.
I think that that is whereDisney was great, and I don't, i
don't know, i don't know why.
That's not a thing, but I dothink that it also comes back to
the mature content.
Yes, at Disney there is, it's alot of younger, the maturity is
(34:21):
, it's whimsical and everythingis just like chill.
And I mean I say chill.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
There's no Tower of Terror is the scariest ride at
Disney World for crying out loudMy kids, because they have
never been to anything thatscary to get them on.
Rise of the Resistance was likeI mean, they have not even
looked at Tower of Terror.
Speaker 3 (34:42):
Yeah, like they haven't even looked at it.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
That's a great, that's a great But like Rise of
the Resistance was a littleintense for them.
the first time they did it, ihad to bribe.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
I still have to bribe Reed to go on the Stormtrooper
ride.
Yeah.
And so and in the green, and soI do think that there is
something to be said about them.
And again, I'm not sayingmature content in a bad way, I'm
just saying that it is a PG-13rated R movie versus a GPG at
best for Disney And so youraudience is a little bit more.
(35:11):
I don't know, i don't know whatthe right word is for that, but
I will say I can see why peoplewait until later middle school,
high school to take.
I can see why Disney peoplewait to do that.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
Yeah, i totally agree 100%.
Speaker 3 (35:25):
But I don't regret the trip.
We had a great time.
Yes.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
And I will go again Like my like I'm not doing that.
But Sydney wants to go.
She loves Harry Potter, shewants to be able to go and do
some of the things there.
What's really did like herexperience at Universal.
I did have to remind her thatwe stayed at a hotel, also that
had the limited express pass.
(35:50):
And I will say what thesehotels are really quick, just so
people know Free UniversalExpress pass, unlimited, so you
can go as many times all the,all the rides, attractions,
except for Hagrid's, lowe'sRoyal Pacific Resort, which is
where we stayed, the Hard RockHotel, which is where Elizabeth
(36:11):
stayed, and then Lowe'sPortofino Bay Hotel, and that's
it.
So there's three hotels thatyou can stay at and get it.
Speaker 3 (36:19):
There's more hotels on property.
Yep, there's three that you canstay at.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
Now it's like okay, the Royal Pacific starts at 325
a night, I think ours, I thinkwe paid like for all inclusive.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
It was like 419 taxes and it.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
Yeah.
The Hard Rock says it starts at372.
The Portofino starts at 388.
The tier above that thatdoesn't give you unlimited
express pass, it's 210 a night.
Okay, so you have to thinkabout that like.
Speaker 3 (36:48):
Yeah, and express passes like $200 to $300 a
person.
Per ticket per day, yeah, perday, and you get, and that's.
I'm glad that you said that.
So we checked in on Monday andwe went to the park on Tuesday.
We had express passes forMonday and Tuesday, right, so we
could have gone to the park onMonday, yes, but we didn't, and
you also, whereas Disney I feellike Sarah, you've said this
(37:13):
you'll take your kids to thepark and you'll be like what is
one thing that you have that youhave to do, and you just
guarantee that those are therides that you do.
Right.
And then they may not, and thatmay be it right.
You may only be able to do afew things because of how
lightning lane and stuff is Atuniversal slash islands of
adventure.
You can truly do everything ina day.
(37:34):
Yes, There is no question aboutthat.
So definitely if you're goingfor two days or three days, two
nights.
You can easily do every singlething multiple times, no
question about it, and just havetwo days in the park.
Yeah, there's no question aboutthat.
I do think that you look at all, they have a lot of specials
(37:54):
that they run for Floridaresidents.
Like I said, by one day, gettwo days free, and it's the park
hopper one.
I want to say this real fastbefore we go.
So the hotel TV you know how,in the hotel room at Disney
there's like 15 Disney Worldchannels.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
Yes, okay.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
Now that we've gone to a theme park that we've never
been to before, i wish thatthey had that Universal Studios
had that.
They had one for Volcano Bay,which they had their like magic
band for Volcano Bay.
I'm like when is Disney goingto adapt this?
That was very like you per thevideo.
(38:32):
Okay.
You would sign it like youwould scan in for a ride and
then it was a virtual queue,then it would ding your phone or
it would ding your watch totell you when to come back to
ride the ride.
Oh, that's nice Per this videothing.
There was nothing else thatshowcased the property, the
hotel, the theme parksthemselves.
(38:55):
you know, things to eat, thingsto do, places to eat shows, etc
.
So I always thought that it wasannoying that Disney did that
and there were hotels.
I was like why are we doingthis?
And of course you know my kidswanted to watch the whole thing
a thousand times Yes.
Props to Disney.
I'm sorry that I criticized you.
Yep Internally.
Speaker 2 (39:13):
We can admit when we're wrong.
Speaker 3 (39:14):
I will always admit when I'm wrong and a thousand
percent I was wrong and I.
that is something that I wishbecause, like I said, my kids
had no idea what to expect.
No idea what to expect, and Ido think that that would have
set that expectation for them Sothat is me just being annoying.
Speaker 2 (39:31):
Yeah, no, i totally agree, like there are certain
things that Universal I thinkdoes better and certain things
that Disney does better.
Am I my personality?
Do I like Disney more?
Speaker 3 (39:40):
Yes, A thousand percent Yes.
Speaker 2 (39:43):
Like I totally understand why there are some
people who just prefer Universaland people who like both, and
they, you know.
Have you ever been to BushGardens?
Yes, do you know my BushGardens story?
I grew up in Tampa, oh okay,and my summer between sixth and
seventh grade.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes I spentevery single day at Bush
Gardens, Okay so that was Scottwith Carowins.
(40:04):
Yeah, yeah, that was my daycamp.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
It was yes, it was only open in the summertime, or
like spring, summer, andliterally that's because the
moms would drop them off andthey would spend all day there
every day.
Yes, and so I do see where,like I think that when Scott
goes to Universal Studios, ithink that there is going to be
a nostalgia for him of justgoing to an amusement park,
(40:28):
right Versus the nostalgia forme of Disney World.
So I can see where that is.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
Yeah, And if you compare, kind of like going to
the back to the Express Pass fora second, you know if you are
paying $400 a night, and I gotit for all three of us Right.
So if you're paying $400 anight, let's even say that it's,
you know, $100 for each of youlike for that night, but you get
(40:58):
it for both days.
So the breakdown for yourExpress Pass is like $50 a day
for each person.
The thing is, and if you haveonly have four people in the
room at Disney, they have theGenie Plus.
Now the new thing is it's GeniePlus for each park.
You can do a park hopper one,or you can buy Genie Plus if
(41:20):
you're just doing a one day pass, and it's a little less
expensive for, like, animalKingdom versus Magic Kingdom,
but you have to fiddle with yourphone the entire day, i will
say You can't get.
You may get like three or four.
You know lightning lanes orfast pass I can't keep up with,
however, what it's called.
(41:40):
You may get three, but atUniversal, and you're paying $27
, maybe $25 a tip per ticket perday, versus $50 per ticket per
day just by staying at a hotelat Universal, But you're going
to get everything exceptHagrid's.
So it's just like I don't know.
I mean, i think it's kind ofequal.
Speaker 3 (42:02):
Like it washes out.
Speaker 2 (42:04):
Yeah, it kind of washes out because you could.
if you're in Orlando and youdon't want to stay at the hotel,
you could still just have areservation, get your Express
Pass and not even stay at thehotel And still just be able to
have that benefit, because it'smore expensive to get just the
Express Pass attached to yourticket.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
So you might as well just get one of the hotel
reservations.
Yeah, i am interested to see.
I do not know how to makeDisney's Lightning Lane, genie
Plus whatever fast passsituation better.
I don't have a remedy for thatAnd even after doing Universal
Studios, disney could not do theExpress Pass because they're
(42:44):
booked up, i mean everybody.
Even if they did it for theDeluxe Resorts, disney could not
offer that because there's toomany people And while there are
so many attract, it would belike the Minions thing where the
wait time for the Express Passwould be an hour.
I don't know what the remedy isfor Disney, but I will say the
Universal Studios Express Passexperience was very convenient.
Speaker 2 (43:08):
Convenient, easy.
You don't have to message yourphone Easy breezy, beautiful
cover girl.
Yes, love it, Live it Live,laugh, love.
Love it, live, laugh, love.
All right, that's going to doit, that's it friends.
For our commentary on UniversalStudios.
Speaker 3 (43:21):
I'll be sure to report back when we're going to
go again with Scott Brannockover the summer, because I think
our three day or two extra daysexpire at the end of September.
And I told him I was like we'regoing And he was like, as long
as I'm not going to Disney Worldbecause I'm Scott the Scrooge,
oh my gosh, he didn't really saythat That was really annoying,
all right, well, thanks so muchfor listening to this week and
(43:43):
we'll try to get back to younext week.
Yeah, Maybe not, though.
Maybe not, though.
It's summer, all right, i'llsee you next week.
Bye.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!