WHO YA GONNA CALL" 29 NIGHTS OF GHOSTBUSTERS, MONSTERS & MORE - A 2019 HHN/SFR/RPR TR

That's my life!! LOL

Some of that is work, some are mini-trips, and some is volunteering at our local thrift store - their volunteers are dwindling and so I stepped up and took 2 saturdays a month

Oh goodness a real mix of tasks!!

It’s good of you to volunteer like that..... so many of these places sometimes have to close down because of lack of volunteers. But, mini trips are always fun!
 
Oh goodness a real mix of tasks!!

It’s good of you to volunteer like that..... so many of these places sometimes have to close down because of lack of volunteers. But, mini trips are always fun!

Very much so - alot of the volunteers are older and they can't do as much as they used to - so I am happy to step in (plus, i get a 25% discount on those days :blush:)


Did I miss what day you are leaving for Orlando??

My Birthday is on September 9th - so you can celebrate for me too!!
 
Well, I`m sure you`ll have a wonderful time in "that other place" lol.....no you will.....I hope you get to do everything you want to do there.....are you going to Star Wars too??

I know Tom would love to go see it, at some point......he`s a massive SW fan...me not at all :headache:........but, it looks spectacular from all the pictures we`ve seen......

And yes, December in Universal is beautiful...….we love the holiday season after visiting twice..….hope you enjoy reading this trip report too.....:wave2:
Yes I do love "that other place" too and anytime spent with my SIL is fabulous! We do plan on going to Star Wars! I am a casual fan at best, but since we are staying at the Swan we have the 3 extra hours in the morning where I hope we can visit Batuu relatively painlessly. I have been to the Disneyland version (I travel to Cali for work) and it is very well done. I'm sure if Tom is a huge fan he would love it. My SIL hasn't been there yet though so it will be fun going with her to see it the first time. We also plan to catch the Halloween party fireworks while having a cocktail from Cali Grill Lounge so I'm very much looking forward to that!
 
Very much so - alot of the volunteers are older and they can't do as much as they used to - so I am happy to step in (plus, i get a 25% discount on those days :blush:)


Did I miss what day you are leaving for Orlando??

My Birthday is on September 9th - so you can celebrate for me too!!

Nice to have a benefit of volunteering though!

We fly out Tuesday September 3rd.......5 weeks tomorrow....not that I’m counting.....lol.......

Oh I’ll certainly celebrate for you on the 9th.......any excuse works for us!!!
 


Yes I do love "that other place" too and anytime spent with my SIL is fabulous! We do plan on going to Star Wars! I am a casual fan at best, but since we are staying at the Swan we have the 3 extra hours in the morning where I hope we can visit Batuu relatively painlessly. I have been to the Disneyland version (I travel to Cali for work) and it is very well done. I'm sure if Tom is a huge fan he would love it. My SIL hasn't been there yet though so it will be fun going with her to see it the first time. We also plan to catch the Halloween party fireworks while having a cocktail from Cali Grill Lounge so I'm very much looking forward to that!

How lovely you get on so well with your SiL......well, I do know what Batuu is now as DisneyAndi mentioned it in her trip report and I googled it.....lol.......I have no clue about anything SW!

Oh goodness yes, if Tom ever disappears I’ll know exactly where to find him, he is such a big SW fan.......I tried to watch the first movie as a child, hated it.......tried to watch it with Tom years ago......fell asleep. He’ll watch anything of that genre though..........

Sounds like you have some lovely plans for your trip too......and seeing your SiL reaction will be fun to see....... :thumbsup2
 
Nice to have a benefit of volunteering though!

We fly out Tuesday September 3rd.......5 weeks tomorrow....not that I’m counting.....lol.......

Oh I’ll certainly celebrate for you on the 9th.......any excuse works for us!!!

Awesome!!
 
Oh you`ll have a blast too at both hotels.....can`t really go wrong can you! Can`t fault either hotel in any way...….

Yes! I can't wait! We haven't stayed at SF since 2016 I think, and RPR is my favorite so I can't wait to go back.

some we only did once and wouldn't repeat purely because of the walk.

Always how I feel about the Kidzone ones :lmao:

I just love these old pictures......and I always enjoyed seeing pictures of them as they filmed the movies in unguarded moments off set......seeing Dracula and Frankenstein`s Monster enjoying a cup of tea was quite surreal.....

I love this too!

It's kind of a reverse from last year where all the originals sounded like they'd be amazing. This year I'm really excited for all the IP houses they've announced so far, and one of the rumored ones (Us). Although the other rumored IP is a Rob Zombie movie, and those aren't really my thing so right now I'm thinking I won't love that one.

Although not quite the same genre.....but Young Frankenstein was one of my favourite movies as a child......Peter Boyle doing Puttin on the Ritz is a classic!!!!

Yes! Such a good movie.

Universal really need to do more with the Classic monsters in the parks.....and who knows they might just do that...……. :rolleyes1

I'm hoping it will be involved in the "epic" announcement this week :scratchin

I hope considering they are escaping an arctic blizzard that this is a cold house.....extra cold

Me too!

Stranger Things will be enjoyable..…...

We enjoyed the first series and struggled with the second, need to try and watch it again, but really looking forward to this house too......it might not be one we do every visit, but they themed it so well last year, if they do it anywhere near as good as that, it`ll be excellent!!! This house had tremendous lines last year and there was one evening at least we chose not to even join the EP line as it was massive!!! Quite unusual for it to be that long......but it can happen.

I thought the first was pretty good, but the second and especially the third got really good. I wasn't as excited for it last year, but I can't wait this year. However because of the line we did only go in it once last year.

There`s always one house every year I am disappointed in

Same.

I have to thank @Raeven and @keishashadow for us eventually understanding the genre....and actually, yes...….this is brilliant!!!!

And the Klown scare zone got better every time we went through it......by the end we loved it!!!! And we are looking forward to the house this year....we get it now.

:rotfl: I'm so glad you ended up liking it! I'm excited for the house too.

We did the SA Dining Experience last year...….we thought it was dreadful and didn't have a good experience.

Ugh, I wish the SA dining experience was better. We did it the first 2 years we went, but the food was horrible, and we had good interactions one of the years and not the other so we gave up on it.

I tried to watch the first movie as a child, hated it.......tried to watch it with Tom years ago......fell asleep. He’ll watch anything of that genre though..........

I couldn't get into Star Wars either. I remember going as a kid to see one of the newer trilogy because my brother wanted to see and I think I fell asleep in the theater lol. I wonder if the I'd like the Disney ones better, but I tried watching the first 6 a few years ago, and I just wasn't a fan.
 


Yes! I can't wait! We haven't stayed at SF since 2016 I think, and RPR is my favorite so I can't wait to go back.



Always how I feel about the Kidzone ones :lmao:



I love this too!

It's kind of a reverse from last year where all the originals sounded like they'd be amazing. This year I'm really excited for all the IP houses they've announced so far, and one of the rumored ones (Us). Although the other rumored IP is a Rob Zombie movie, and those aren't really my thing so right now I'm thinking I won't love that one.



Yes! Such a good movie.



I'm hoping it will be involved in the "epic" announcement this week :scratchin



Me too!



I thought the first was pretty good, but the second and especially the third got really good. I wasn't as excited for it last year, but I can't wait this year. However because of the line we did only go in it once last year.



Same.



:rotfl: I'm so glad you ended up liking it! I'm excited for the house too.



Ugh, I wish the SA dining experience was better. We did it the first 2 years we went, but the food was horrible, and we had good interactions one of the years and not the other so we gave up on it.



I couldn't get into Star Wars either. I remember going as a kid to see one of the newer trilogy because my brother wanted to see and I think I fell asleep in the theater lol. I wonder if the I'd like the Disney ones better, but I tried watching the first 6 a few years ago, and I just wasn't a fan.

I think you could be my daughter Raeven!!!!! We have so many similar opinions and likes......dislikes too!!! ::yes::

I did wonder when I saw the Rob Zombie connection......hmmmm….not my favourite…..not sure if his films were supposed to be a house or just a scare zone.....but, he`s not a favourite of mine.....although he did use the phenomenal song Don`t fear the Reaper in his Halloween remake.....so I can find something redeeming in that!!!

Even with EP, ST lines were overwhelming some nights last year.....although I know one night they did have a "guest incident" that caused a long delay.....but it was just such a popular house.....we do need to give the next two seasons a try again......and definitely not trying the SA dining again......too many people saying the same thing.

I get teased a lot for sleeping during movies in the cinema....but, I was the person who used the now defunct T2 show as time for a nap!!! Kyle still reminds me how I slept through a Bug`s Life or some other similar movie at the cinema when he was young.....lol.....oh dear!!! So really Star Wars never stood a chance with me...….same with some of the houses....and yes, totally agree......the kidzone houses were beyond ridiculous to walk too...….I was praying for a pedi cab line somewhere in there...….they`d have done roaring trade in those areas if they were allowed :wave2:
 
One of the many things we love to do in Orlando is to get out and about and see things well out of theme park areas...…..of course there are some lovely places not too far away too and just a short drive.

But, having a car always gives us the freedom to get around when we choose too...….we don't use Uber or any of the other ride share vehicles, we will uses cabs or the ODC outside the hotels if we both want to have a drink......never had an issue with either of those options.


But, for us a car is convenience and we do try to make use of it.

Some places we have been to a few times, and many years ago we went to Cocoa Beach and loved it actually......we probably didn't stay as long as we should have the day we went as we had the Disney Dessert Party that night (gosh that seems a lifetime ago) and when I think it was around $17 plus tax a person, it certainly was long ago...…




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Now seeing the VAB at KSC behind us here, I`m genuinely mystified why we never went there before we did......but......heyho……...

We did enjoy it, but recently one Dis member mentioned Cocoa Village to us recently as somewhere we might enjoy......we had never heard of this place....thanks to @Tgrgrl …...so it`s somewhere we looked at and thought yes, we`d like it there.....it`s in our list of places we`d like to see.....

So, one option is maybe leave early hours and spend the morning on New Smyrna beach...…do what we want to do on the beach area, then drive back down to Cocoa Village...…..it looks like it has a very old style feel about it, like Mount Dora has...…..plenty of unique little stores and plenty of restaurants.


Places like that we love to visit...….. ::yes::

New Smyrna Beach is one place we are looking forward to going back to also...…..we had two visits in May and the first wasn't the best as we had a fabulous storm and love bugs..…..but, at least the storm cleared the love bugs while we had lunch...….an open sided beach bar certainly benefitted from the storm in that respect.




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But, our second visit was just beautiful...…..we couldn't have asked for a better day.




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We won`t be going to the same place for lunch if we go back here, although it was lovely and we know lots who go and have always good things to say about it,, but we wanted to try some new places too. And there are certainly plenty of choice around!!!

We also want to go across the other side of the road where there is a boardwalk and our friend speaks of it so beautifully...….so we have a couple of things we want to do here again...…..not being people who will go and spend all day on a beach, we`re quite happy to wander around and not just sit in the sun.

As to whether it`s a day on it`s own or a joint day with Cocoa Village I`m not sure...….as usual, we`ll probably decide on the day. And of course weather plays a part too........we`re expecting rain or being too darn hot might play a part in this decision...…..





On that side of the coast, our favourite place we have visited so far out of the parks is St Augustine...……

At around a 2 hour drive from Orlando, it is onne of the most beautiful places we visit and although we don't do that much when we`re there.....we love it. Such a relaxing day.

There are many excursions we haven't even looked at. For example we haven't gone through the Lightner Museum, the Lighthouse and Maritime museum the Jail or the Pirate and treasure museum.


The Pirate Museum is somewhere we might look to visit one day......

So many things to do there for anyone...….and it is so beautiful a place to just wander around if you so desire...…




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We did visit the St Augustine Distillery in May, and we did enjoy it, but it was somewhere you go once and that was enough....so we won`t go back there again.

But, there are many little streets with shops and plenty of places to eat around, so you can pass a day easily here.


We did think of staying overnight and doing the ghost tour, but really we don't want to leave Orlando for two days...….nice idea though as there are some beautiful little guest houses around...…..

And hopefully we get to meet up with @JaxDad this time......we`ve been unlucky to miss him last few visits as we were there when he couldn't meet us for a coffee or a drink...….maybe this time we can manage even a quick hello at least...…….


More plans coming up...…..
 
I am one of those people who don't like to be spooked. But find the process of creating the haunted houses fascinating. So I like watching behind the scenes.

Love Stranger things. I watch through my fingers sometimes but I do watch it. Only thing that has ever tempted me to go to HHN
 
I love the beach!! We were hooked on the gulf side after our first visit so my hubby won’t do the Atlantic side anymore 😂 New Smyrna used to be our go-to
 
I am one of those people who don't like to be spooked. But find the process of creating the haunted houses fascinating. So I like watching behind the scenes.

Love Stranger things. I watch through my fingers sometimes but I do watch it. Only thing that has ever tempted me to go to HHN

I honestly didn’t realise ST was as huge as it was when I first heard of it.......it’s not my favourite house ever, but was well done. As for the show, yes, we liked the first series, but do need to try the second again......

Yes, if you don’t like being spooked, nothings going to change that.......we love it! So it’s fun for us.....but it’s not for everyone.......so you don’t think you’d ever give it a try one year??
 
I love the beach!! We were hooked on the gulf side after our first visit so my hubby won’t do the Atlantic side anymore 😂 New Smyrna used to be our go-to

Yep......the Gulf is beautiful too.....probably even more beautiful......but we had gone to the Gulf a few times, and thought we’d spend some time over on the other coast........and that beach was so deserted! I can understand why you went there as often........ :thumbsup2
 
I honestly didn’t realise ST was as huge as it was when I first heard of it.......it’s not my favourite house ever, but was well done. As for the show, yes, we liked the first series, but do need to try the second again......

Yes, if you don’t like being spooked, nothings going to change that.......we love it! So it’s fun for us.....but it’s not for everyone.......so you don’t think you’d ever give it a try one year??

I think about it and then I think about chainsaws and then no. Closest I came was last year as I am a child of the 80's. But I figure that By the 2nd house I'd be at the Starbucks hiding under a table.
 
Here I am! Ready to enjoy your new TR and all the fabulous previews to come :flower:Loving the recap of some of the great places you've visited, and of course looking forward to hearing about meals, lush cocktails (!), and activities you plan to try or repeat. I am way to scared to do HHN, I can barely watch a horror movie! But seeing it through your eyes I feel like I get to experience it without being scared, which is pretty awesome!
 
I think about it and then I think about chainsaws and then no. Closest I came was last year as I am a child of the 80's. But I figure that By the 2nd house I'd be at the Starbucks hiding under a table.

Lol......you do see a few folks under tables there!!

Have to admit I don’t like the chainsaw element of the event......it’s boring and been done to death. But, teens especially teen girls love it.....and SA love the reactions they get from them.......I wouldn’t miss them.

Yep, I’m an 80’s gal through and through......... :wave2:
 
Here I am! Ready to enjoy your new TR and all the fabulous previews to come :flower:Loving the recap of some of the great places you've visited, and of course looking forward to hearing about meals, lush cocktails (!), and activities you plan to try or repeat. I am way to scared to do HHN, I can barely watch a horror movie! But seeing it through your eyes I feel like I get to experience it without being scared, which is pretty awesome!

:welcome: along Maria!!! So happy to see you here........

I was scared to watch “real” horror movies for a long time,......but eventually I did and some I wished I hadn’t, so I can understand they’re not for everyone........but the classic monster movies I loved......so, totally excited for this house along with a few other fun houses......Ghostbusters especially..........

I’m glad you enjoy reading about it though.......and yes, will be thinking about reviewing over food places soon........I love food pics too when folks post them!!!

Again, glad you’re here and ready to read along.....:wave2:
 

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