[markb]

Part 3
Monday 16th July 2003

Another late start today. We all woke at 9:30 ish, so we didn't get to the park until 11:30. We paid our $8 and parked the car. After walking the 2 miles to the park gates we were already hot and thirsty. Luckily when I bought the Passporter from the web site I got a free bottle strap. I'd seen these in previous years, but never thought they were any use. Now that we've got one and used it just about every day in the parks I don't know how we survived without it! It is so handy. Lloyd and Jay even bought one in MK they liked ours so much.

Another great tip I picked up before we left was a lifesaver too. When we were in Wal-Mart we bought a case of 500ml bottles of water. It cost about $2.50 I think for 12 bottles. We froze 6 and put 6 in the fridge. Each morning we were in a park we would get 2 chilled bottles for the straps, and put 2 frozen bottles into a small cool bag in the boot of the car. By the time we left the park at lunchtime the bottles were half water half ice. So we all had a freezing cold drink for the drive home. We then put the bottles back in the boot for the evening ride home, by which time they were thawed but still very cold. It also works out a lot cheaper to take your own water into the parks too. If you want to you can even top the bottles up from the drinking fountains too, which we did on a few occasions.

We'd bought our USF tickets before we left home too, so we skipped the ticket boot queue and headed straight into the parks. On the way in I saw something about Universal Express tickets, but took no notice as we'd used them before so knew how it worked. We wanted to start the day with a thrill ride so we went to the Hulk. The queue time was about 45 minutes so we thought we'd get Express passes. But when we got to the machines they were closed. A sign above them said that all the passes had been issued for the day. I mentioned to the others about seeing the Express pass sign at the entrance so we went to find out what it was about. It turns out the Universal now restrict the number of passes that the machines issue. They then sell books of them for $15 per person! [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] You get 1 pass per ride, that can be used once, just like a normal Express pass. I would quite happily explained to them where they could put their books, but Mark wanted to ride everything, as it was his first visit. Personally, I think this is disgusting. Having paid for entry to the park you then have to pay extra to get on the rides! I'm going to send an e-mail to them to tell them so. I'm still angry about it now, and it was 5 weeks ago now.

So $60 later the 4 of us went back to the Hulk. I'd not ridden this before. I love RnR and Duelling Dragons so I was really excited. The launch is amazing, just like RnR, but up hill. It just keeps accelerating, until you leave the launch tunnel and straight into a zero G roll [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Wow! My only regret is that we didn't buy the on-ride photo. After Hulk we walked round to Spiderman. Another favourite of mine. The 3D is so good, the first time we rode it in 2000 I even put my hands up to save myself when you [edit, sorry almost spoilt it then] lets just say it's convincing. Mark loved Spiderman too, but I knew he would. We ended up riding it 3 times that day.

Lloyd wanted to ride Dr Doom at this point. I explained to him in frank language what he could do. He managed to talk Mark and Jay into riding it though. When they came out Lloyd was ginning from ear to ear, as was Mark. Jay on the other hand was calling Lloyd all the names he could think of. I'm not sure if he enjoyed it though [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Next up was Duelling Dragons. Mark was looking forward to these coasters. He's a coaster nut like me, and Lloyd had told him about the 3 meeting points on the ride, and the part of ice where you nearly hit the wall. We rode Ice first, then Fire. And he wasn't disappointed. By now it was mid afternoon and we were all hungry. We decided to eat in the Enchanted Oak. The food in here was great. Proper steak burgers with fresh lettuce, tomato and huge pickles. I couldn't finish mine, so Mark helped, bless him [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] The amount he eats he should weigh 40 stone, swine!

After eating we went off to find Jurassic Park. I hate water rides like this and Splash Mountain. No idea why, I just do. I offered to hold the bottles etc. while the other 3 loons rode it, including the 85 foot drop in the dark, that my brother had forgotten about :lol when they got off they were all wet, so we decided to ride Popeye & Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges next. This ride is so fun. You get totally soaked to the skin. As we neared the loading dock I untied my boots and the others took their trainers off ready to put them in the centre tub to keep them dry. We struck rally lucky here. The boat that we got into was the wheelchair one, so it doesn't have a centre tub. They wheel out a huge plastic box for you to put your things in. We loaded all the shoes, boots, caps, wallets, maps and car keys into it [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Mark loved every minute of this ride, as did the rest of us. We got off totally soaked. It was as if we'd showered with our clothes on!

We decided to do the Poseidon show next. Last time we were quite impressed with parts of this, but we left feeling that it could be better. This year we were amazed how it had changed. It's so much better now. More like part Fantasmic part Indiana Jones. If you've done this show, you'll know what I mean. To go from one part and another you walk through a tunnel of moving water. As the door opened and the water started to spray up, the host told us to hurry into the next room. Mark looked at me and said "No?" I just grinned and said "oh yes" [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] the finale is much better too now. Lots more action and explosions [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

We wandered into Seus Landing next. Last year I rode Cat In The Hat with everyone else. They all loved it, but I got off feeling really sick. I hate rides that spin, like this one, or the teacups. This year I didn't ride, even though Mark took the mickey.

It was now 7:30, and time to head home. We walked the 2 miles back to the car and set off back down I4 and back to the villa. After a quick shower we went out to dinner at the Ponderosa.

In the next part, Epcot, my favourite park.