Aren't Graduations Grand! - May 2015 TR (New 10/30 - MK and California Grill)
- Thread starter SimplyGoofy
- Start date
SimplyGoofy
"You are not Mickey Mouse... you are a rat!"
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2011
Bound for the Dark Side
Hello, DIS friends!
I wanted to pop in and say hello
and I hope you're all well! G and I are heading to Universal Studios this evening - it will be very strange to go to Orlando and NOT go to Disney World! (It will be the first time I've visited baggage claim at the Orlando airport since 2006!) 
Now that they've made nearly everything a Universal Express attraction (at least, according to what I've read - here's hoping it was correct!) US and IOA should be a breeze. I'm super excited to revisit Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, drink more butter beer, and enjoy several more rides on the Mummy. I'm also super excited to stay at a new resort - we'll be checking out the Portofino. I hope I've learned enough to make Volcano Bay an easy experience - we'll see! It should be super fun!
The other good news is due to a recent job change, I should have more DIS time to share with all of you.
I'm looking forward to binge reading a whole slew of reports upon my return early next week!
I'll see you when we return from the Dark Side.
Hello, DIS friends!
I wanted to pop in and say hello
and I hope you're all well! G and I are heading to Universal Studios this evening - it will be very strange to go to Orlando and NOT go to Disney World! (It will be the first time I've visited baggage claim at the Orlando airport since 2006!) Now that they've made nearly everything a Universal Express attraction (at least, according to what I've read - here's hoping it was correct!) US and IOA should be a breeze. I'm super excited to revisit Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, drink more butter beer, and enjoy several more rides on the Mummy. I'm also super excited to stay at a new resort - we'll be checking out the Portofino. I hope I've learned enough to make Volcano Bay an easy experience - we'll see! It should be super fun!
The other good news is due to a recent job change, I should have more DIS time to share with all of you.
I'm looking forward to binge reading a whole slew of reports upon my return early next week!I'll see you when we return from the Dark Side.
Last edited:
chunkymonkey
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 27, 2009
Bound for the Dark Side
Hello, DIS friends!
I wanted to pop in and say hello
Now that they've made nearly everything a Universal Express attraction (at least, according to what I've read - here's hoping it was correct!) US and IOA should be a breeze. I'm super excited to revisit Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, drink more butter beer, and enjoy several more rides on the Mummy. I'm also super excited to stay at a new resort - we'll be checking out the Portofino. I hope I've learned enough to make Volcano Bay an easy experience - we'll see! It should be super fun!
The other good news is due to a recent job change, I should have more DIS time to share with all of you.
I'll see you when we return from the Dark Side.
Hi Jenny!
I hope you have a great time at the Dark Side. I was just there over labor day weekend. It was a ton of fun!
We loved having express pass for all the Harry Potter rides. Sadly the Dueling Dragon challenge ended just 2 days after we rode it. We had no idea!
Have fun and hope to see more of you on the DIS!
pkondz
Brace yourself for immediate disintegration
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2007
I wanted to pop in and say hello
I'm sorry. Who are you again?
Nice to see you again, Jenny!
(It will be the first time I've visited baggage claim at the Orlando airport since 2006!)
You'll never find it!That stuff is amazing.
The other good news is due to a recent job change, I should have more DIS time to share with all of you.
Yay!! See you soon! I just started a new TR if you're interested, so not much reading involved. In my siggie if you want to pop over.
cindianne320
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2010
Hope you had a great trip! I love to visit the Dark Side every so often...
we"reofftoneverland
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2015
Love your trip report. Thanks
SimplyGoofy
"You are not Mickey Mouse... you are a rat!"
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2011
The DIS is Calling
Hello, DIS friends!
It's been a while (558 days to be exact!) since I last updated this report!
So much has changed since our trip almost FOUR years ago! Back then, I was a single working gal who traveled with her sister... now I'm married and have a nine-month old. Holy cow!
We're making very early plans to travel to Disney next spring with our family. I can't wait to go with my husband and introduce our daughter to one of my favorite places. It will be a very different but very magical trip!
Whenever I start thinking about a Disney trip, I'm always pulled back to the DISboards. I love hearing about all of your plans, your trip adventures, and your wonderful tips and suggestions that have turned me into a Disney aficionado.
It may have been almost four years ago, but I still think back fondly of this spectacular graduation trip and feel bad that I never finished sharing our adventures. Therefore, we're going to give this trip report another go! Let's see how far I get before I take another year-long break!
So, let's step back in time! It was a time when Pandora was still in-progress, One Man's Dream still existed, and you still bought your Carrot Cake Cookies at the Writer's Stop. There was no Toy Story Land, no determined plans for a Star Wars Land, and the Be Our Guest dinner was still a la carte. Hopefully it will be a fun look back for everyone!
I'm not sure how many of my original readers are still on the DIS after all this time... I believe chunkymonkey, pkondz, and Glennbo still have trip reports going, and I believe I've seen heathsf and Tracy161 comment somewhat recently! Anyone else that's out there, whether an old friend or a new one, I look forward to sharing more about our adventures with you!
and herrrreee weeeee gooooo!
Hello, DIS friends!
It's been a while (558 days to be exact!) since I last updated this report!
So much has changed since our trip almost FOUR years ago! Back then, I was a single working gal who traveled with her sister... now I'm married and have a nine-month old. Holy cow!
We're making very early plans to travel to Disney next spring with our family. I can't wait to go with my husband and introduce our daughter to one of my favorite places. It will be a very different but very magical trip!
Whenever I start thinking about a Disney trip, I'm always pulled back to the DISboards. I love hearing about all of your plans, your trip adventures, and your wonderful tips and suggestions that have turned me into a Disney aficionado.
It may have been almost four years ago, but I still think back fondly of this spectacular graduation trip and feel bad that I never finished sharing our adventures. Therefore, we're going to give this trip report another go! Let's see how far I get before I take another year-long break!
So, let's step back in time! It was a time when Pandora was still in-progress, One Man's Dream still existed, and you still bought your Carrot Cake Cookies at the Writer's Stop. There was no Toy Story Land, no determined plans for a Star Wars Land, and the Be Our Guest dinner was still a la carte. Hopefully it will be a fun look back for everyone!
I'm not sure how many of my original readers are still on the DIS after all this time... I believe chunkymonkey, pkondz, and Glennbo still have trip reports going, and I believe I've seen heathsf and Tracy161 comment somewhat recently! Anyone else that's out there, whether an old friend or a new one, I look forward to sharing more about our adventures with you!
and herrrreee weeeee gooooo!
SimplyGoofy
"You are not Mickey Mouse... you are a rat!"
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2011
Andy! I don't believe you're on the DIS any more... but I hope you're well!
Yes, it was truly spectacular. So bright and colorful and fun!
I was rather stunned how dark it was. How do they not have injuries from people bumping into things?!
I agree. So many additional stores and corners and areas really makes a difference!
I'm not sure if you're still here, Kathy, but you've had lots of time to read my last update!
I'm still strongly a Disney gal, but I've been more and more impressed with each visit to Universal. They really hit it out the park with both Wizarding World lands and their other updates have been well-done, too.
When you go (notice I said when, not if!) you MUST try a Butterbeer! It's wonderful!
Thank you! I think it's quite easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of things to see. I've certainly seen things in other's trip reports that I didn't notice myself!
I absolutely agree with you that they hit it out of the park with the Wizarding World. It's excellent!
I think she may be mine, too. I know Voldemort is evil, but how was Delores Umbridge even still employed after her fiasco as the DADA teacher? What a terrible, horrible woman.
I didn't see them, but that would be a wonderful addition!
So, you liked it then?
Um, yes. Perhaps a little bit.
It absolutely was! I'm so glad we included Universal in our trip!
Thank you! Also, a WEEK?! I would've been so sad to have missed it! You'll have to go back!
SimplyGoofy
"You are not Mickey Mouse... you are a rat!"
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2011
Perhaps we were tired as it was the end of the day, but we got a bit turned around the first time we found Diagon Alley. We had no trouble the subsequent times!
We loved Hogsmeade (and still do!), but Diagon Alley was just so grand that the amazingness just hit you right in the face. It was immediately impressive instead of just, "well, this is nice!"
We did not buy a Firebolt - I didn't even look at the price!
So could we! We had the same thought about spending loads of time in many stores!
She didn't, but she thought it was fun!
You can exchange them for Wizarding World merchandise... so, sort-of!
He does! He's similar to the Potato Head animatronic at Toy Story Midway Mania - he'll chat with the guests that come into the Exchange.
It was SO well done!
The vanishing cabinet, the cursed necklace, and that hand doohickey that Harry was caught in in the second film. I think there were more things as well that I didn't see!
It was!
Thank you! I'm sorry it's been so long between updates!
Thank you! They were wonderful and I really loved seeing everything in them.
Thank you!
chunkymonkey
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 27, 2009
Hey Jenny! I'm still here! LOL. Glad to see you back!
Congrats on your baby girl! Wow 9 months already! That's so exciting you're taking her to WDW next year!
We're headed back to WDW in 2.5 weeks for the Epic trip! Can't wait!
Congrats on your baby girl! Wow 9 months already! That's so exciting you're taking her to WDW next year!
We're headed back to WDW in 2.5 weeks for the Epic trip! Can't wait!
SimplyGoofy
"You are not Mickey Mouse... you are a rat!"
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2011
I'm sorry. Who are you again?
Thank you all for the good wishes! We had an excellent trip to Universal, minus Grant getting an illness and missing out on a park day. If I actually become a better poster I'll write a brief post or two on that trip.
The short version: the Wizarding World is still awesome, Jimmy Fallon's new ride was amazing, and Volcano Bay was SPECTACULAR!!!
Hi, Su-Lynn! I'm so excited that you're still around!
Thank you! It's amazing how life changes and how time flies. I'm SUPER excited to go back to Disney World - it will have been four years since my last trip!
It will be a different trip with fewer thrill rides and fewer fancy restaurant ADRs, but it will be wonderful to see my daughter's reactions to Disney World. It will be so much fun to make plans!I've read snippets of your most recent trip report, but I've got to get caught up! Have fun with your remaining plans for your upcoming trip and have SO MUCH FUN when you go!
SimplyGoofy
"You are not Mickey Mouse... you are a rat!"
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2011
Escaping from Gringotts
Day 3 – Part IV
It was finally time to escape from Gringotts!
We stashed our bags in the required locker and made our way into line. We weren’t sure how long we would be waiting (remember our LONG wait in the Forbidden Journey line the night before?), but were excited enough about the ride that we were happy to wait.
It was only ten minutes weaving through a bit of overflow queue outdoors before we made our way into the Gringotts lobby.
Just like everything else in Diagon Alley, it was incredibly well done!
It was fun to watch the goblins “work” as we walked past them.
After walking through the lobby, we walked past a few examples of vaults:
Again, the detail on the vault doors… amazing!
Next, you walk through a hallway where they take your picture, and then you walk past the office doors of several Gringotts employees.
We enjoyed seeing the Daily Prophets that were scattered in sections of the hallway:
Next, we were directed and closed into a room where we met up with Bill Weasley and a Gringotts goblin:
They were projected somehow into the office décor that was in front of us and around the room. It was difficult to photograph well but was quite neat in-person!
After receiving our Gringotts tour introduction from Bill, we were directed to an elevator. It’s hard to see in the picture, but it was neat to see the elevator hands move as the elevators arrived!
We stepped into our elevator:
I’m sure it’s discussed elsewhere, but it was tough to figure out if we were actually moving or if the floor just jiggled and rocked for our elevator journey. (Honestly, I’m pretty sure we didn’t switch floors and simply walked through the elevator to the other side of the wall, but it was a pretty neat effect, nonetheless!)
We picked up our 3-D glasses and started climbing stairs to board our ride vehicle. The Gringotts vehicles are somewhat similar to the Dinosaur cars – multiple rows of several riders. Soon we were on our way!
Similar to Forbidden Journey, it’s pretty difficult to take pictures on the ride as Escape from Gringotts is quite thrilling!
As noted, the premise is that you’re taking a tour of Gringotts… a tour that is interrupted by a visit from Voldemort and Bellatrix LeStrange. Yikes! You also cross paths with a Gringotts guard, a dragon… and everyone’s favorite trio who are escaping from Gringotts themselves with a horcrux!
When you get into the ride vehicle, you suspect that you’ll mostly be moving along a track with perhaps a few dramatic sways or bumps along the way. Imagine our surprise (and absolute delight!) when in sections of the ride you start to lean downward and suddenly zoom down a hill like a roller coaster, are spun around, or lean downward again and feel like the car is falling. We shrieked with joy during all of these surprises. We had VERY high expectations and we were absolutely blown away!
Anika and I both LOVED Escape from Gringotts!
It’s a really tough call whether Forbidden Journey or Escape from Gringotts is the better ride. I think Gringotts may eek out the win as the ride itself is so thrilling and well-done, but I still adore Forbidden Journey. They are different thrill rides and both are wonderful experiences!
On a Gringotts high, we were excited to grab a late-night snack. Anika especially loves ice cream, so we were excited to visit Florean Fortescue’s:
We both selected hard-packed ice cream. Anika chose the Apple Crumble in a cone:
While I chose both Clotted Cream and Earl Gray and Lavender in a cup:
Anika thought her ice cream was excellent and I thought the same. I enjoyed the Clotted Cream slightly more, but I wouldn’t hesitate to order either flavor again.
We climbed up the stairs by Sirius’s motorbike and enjoyed our view of Diagon Alley while enjoying our ice cream:
We enjoyed relaxing with our snacks – one nice thing about our long vacation is I was much less anxious to pack it all in. It was nice to feel like you had plenty of time to relax among the excitement!
With our ice cream devoured, we enjoyed taking in the sights of Diagon Alley. It is beautiful at night!
I noticed a few things I didn’t notice earlier, including the (not entirely loveable) buffoon Gilderoy Lockhart:
Yes, he absolutely moved around like you would in any good wizard photograph!
And the door to the Daily Prophet office:
Ah, the details.
You can’t stand in Diagon Alley at night without watching the dragon shoot fire:
This happens throughout the day, but it is SPECTACULAR at night!
With park closing coming shortly, we made the easy decision to ride once more on Gringotts before heading back to the resort. It was just as fabulous the second time!
The crowds had really dissipated and we made it through the whole ride in fifteen minutes. Certainly better than the forty minute experience earlier (but that was worth it, too!).
We were ushered out of Diagon Alley after our ride as it was park closing time. The shops were closed to new visitors and the Wizarding World employees were lined up and waving to send us back through the wall to the Muggle world. Goodbye until tomorrow, Diagon Alley!
We were surprised to catch most of the nighttime lagoon show:
We didn’t stake out a spot far in advance like we do for Disney World nighttime shows, but our view was just fine and it was fun to see the movie clips!
After watching the remainder of the show, we made our way out of the park for the night. We weren’t nearly as put off by the walk around the resort since we knew to expect it, and slept hard after our fun-packed day. Our first full park day of our vacation was a great success!
Up Next: Back to Diagon Alley
Day 3 – Part IV
It was finally time to escape from Gringotts!
We stashed our bags in the required locker and made our way into line. We weren’t sure how long we would be waiting (remember our LONG wait in the Forbidden Journey line the night before?), but were excited enough about the ride that we were happy to wait.
It was only ten minutes weaving through a bit of overflow queue outdoors before we made our way into the Gringotts lobby.
Just like everything else in Diagon Alley, it was incredibly well done!
It was fun to watch the goblins “work” as we walked past them.
After walking through the lobby, we walked past a few examples of vaults:
Again, the detail on the vault doors… amazing!
Next, you walk through a hallway where they take your picture, and then you walk past the office doors of several Gringotts employees.
We enjoyed seeing the Daily Prophets that were scattered in sections of the hallway:
Next, we were directed and closed into a room where we met up with Bill Weasley and a Gringotts goblin:
They were projected somehow into the office décor that was in front of us and around the room. It was difficult to photograph well but was quite neat in-person!
After receiving our Gringotts tour introduction from Bill, we were directed to an elevator. It’s hard to see in the picture, but it was neat to see the elevator hands move as the elevators arrived!
We stepped into our elevator:
I’m sure it’s discussed elsewhere, but it was tough to figure out if we were actually moving or if the floor just jiggled and rocked for our elevator journey. (Honestly, I’m pretty sure we didn’t switch floors and simply walked through the elevator to the other side of the wall, but it was a pretty neat effect, nonetheless!)
We picked up our 3-D glasses and started climbing stairs to board our ride vehicle. The Gringotts vehicles are somewhat similar to the Dinosaur cars – multiple rows of several riders. Soon we were on our way!
Similar to Forbidden Journey, it’s pretty difficult to take pictures on the ride as Escape from Gringotts is quite thrilling!
As noted, the premise is that you’re taking a tour of Gringotts… a tour that is interrupted by a visit from Voldemort and Bellatrix LeStrange. Yikes! You also cross paths with a Gringotts guard, a dragon… and everyone’s favorite trio who are escaping from Gringotts themselves with a horcrux!
When you get into the ride vehicle, you suspect that you’ll mostly be moving along a track with perhaps a few dramatic sways or bumps along the way. Imagine our surprise (and absolute delight!) when in sections of the ride you start to lean downward and suddenly zoom down a hill like a roller coaster, are spun around, or lean downward again and feel like the car is falling. We shrieked with joy during all of these surprises. We had VERY high expectations and we were absolutely blown away!
Anika and I both LOVED Escape from Gringotts!
It’s a really tough call whether Forbidden Journey or Escape from Gringotts is the better ride. I think Gringotts may eek out the win as the ride itself is so thrilling and well-done, but I still adore Forbidden Journey. They are different thrill rides and both are wonderful experiences!
On a Gringotts high, we were excited to grab a late-night snack. Anika especially loves ice cream, so we were excited to visit Florean Fortescue’s:
We both selected hard-packed ice cream. Anika chose the Apple Crumble in a cone:
While I chose both Clotted Cream and Earl Gray and Lavender in a cup:
Anika thought her ice cream was excellent and I thought the same. I enjoyed the Clotted Cream slightly more, but I wouldn’t hesitate to order either flavor again.
We climbed up the stairs by Sirius’s motorbike and enjoyed our view of Diagon Alley while enjoying our ice cream:
We enjoyed relaxing with our snacks – one nice thing about our long vacation is I was much less anxious to pack it all in. It was nice to feel like you had plenty of time to relax among the excitement!
With our ice cream devoured, we enjoyed taking in the sights of Diagon Alley. It is beautiful at night!
I noticed a few things I didn’t notice earlier, including the (not entirely loveable) buffoon Gilderoy Lockhart:
Yes, he absolutely moved around like you would in any good wizard photograph!
And the door to the Daily Prophet office:
Ah, the details.
You can’t stand in Diagon Alley at night without watching the dragon shoot fire:
This happens throughout the day, but it is SPECTACULAR at night!
With park closing coming shortly, we made the easy decision to ride once more on Gringotts before heading back to the resort. It was just as fabulous the second time!
The crowds had really dissipated and we made it through the whole ride in fifteen minutes. Certainly better than the forty minute experience earlier (but that was worth it, too!).
We were ushered out of Diagon Alley after our ride as it was park closing time. The shops were closed to new visitors and the Wizarding World employees were lined up and waving to send us back through the wall to the Muggle world. Goodbye until tomorrow, Diagon Alley!
We were surprised to catch most of the nighttime lagoon show:
We didn’t stake out a spot far in advance like we do for Disney World nighttime shows, but our view was just fine and it was fun to see the movie clips!
After watching the remainder of the show, we made our way out of the park for the night. We weren’t nearly as put off by the walk around the resort since we knew to expect it, and slept hard after our fun-packed day. Our first full park day of our vacation was a great success!
Up Next: Back to Diagon Alley
Last edited:
SimplyGoofy
"You are not Mickey Mouse... you are a rat!"
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2011
Holy cow, the pictures in this update are HUGE! I'll try to fix them later... but enjoy the post regardless!
Edit: All fixed!
Edit: All fixed!
Last edited:
purplelover88
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2014
Hi Jenny! I’m so glad you’re back and are still working to finish this trip up. Congratulations on your daughter, I’m sure her first Disney trip will be amazing. I also graduated in 2015, and took a spectacular trip to celebrate. As I am now one month away from my college graduation celebration, I too look forward to reliving the memories of this time!
pkondz
Brace yourself for immediate disintegration
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2007
It's been a while (558 days to be exact!) since I last updated this report!
Oh? Seems like only 543 or so.
Holy smokes! And... congratulations on... everything!!!Let's see how far I get before I take another year-long break!
Come on over!and I'm finally going to see it... in about 3 weeks!
You can exchange them for Wizarding World merchandise... so, sort-of!
sort of...
Cool!
pkondz
Brace yourself for immediate disintegration
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2007
Erm… no. Sorry! It almost feels like it was 558 days ago instead of just the night before.
The themeing is incredible!
You have "work" in quotations. Were they actually goofing off? Watching YouTube videos maybe?
Again, the detail on the vault doors… amazing!
I'll have to think about that when we go!
Yay!
Mickey, Donald and Goofy?
Anika and I both LOVED Escape from Gringotts!
I can't wait! Thanks for the pre-view!
Oh, dang that sounds good!
Pretty!
Wow! Great shot!
cindianne320
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2010
Welcome back! Congrats on your little one!
And thanks for the great update/pictures! Love hearing about HP!
And thanks for the great update/pictures! Love hearing about HP!
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