Milkshakes for breakfast?? Why the hell not…after all, Grayson has been waiting all week for a Banana milkshake and he lost the hard fought battle with sleep to enjoy last nights shake. Fortunately even in a tired state he was savvy enough to store it ready for a banana filled wake up. Nice Gray? “Banantastic Dad…like yellow heaven”…calm down kid, I’m sure it’s nice but let’s not over exaggerate a banana milkshake. Ok that may not have happened…I think he said something like “mmm delicious” or something generic.
Ok, aside from banana filled brain freeze…The age old Waffle vs pancake debate. Like the great scholars of Ancient Greece had long debated, so too did Grayson and Alaska. Gray wanted pancake, Alaska wanted waffles…surprisingly Grayson won the debate…who’d have thought ey? To be fair, Alaska was pretty happy with anything as long as she didn’t end up syrup sticky at the conclusion…
Oh and shock, horror, devastation…no Starbucks this morning…the line was longer than Hagrids at midday…knew I should have rope dropped the Cabana Bay Coffeetorium; rename it now, all I want is a few cheeky Starbuckaroos and coffee lightening lanes as a thank you.
Flagging from a lack of early morning caffeine already…damn you Starbucks!!! We had a delayed start to the day. In an effort to avoid a 30 minute wait for the Aqua Coaster at park close yesterday, I had made a promise to Grayson; to return today to ride the aqua coaster one last time. A promise I’d hoped he’d forgotten; a promise that Grayson certainly did not forget…”Dad, you said you’re not a liar and always keep your promises”. Damn you Dean, damn you and your integrity!!!
Ok ok, why the hell not…we don’t need a head start to the parks, we can wait around for Volcano Bay to open just to visit for 10 minutes. Do we really need to though? Apparently we did. A fuming Jordan heads off with Alaska to create water filled havoc of their own in Dreamworks Land whilst me and Gray head to Volcano Bay for early park hours through the super secret Cabana Bay entrance. Obviously making an impression, we are recognised at the gates and high fived on the way in…I guess my 99 YouTube subscribers have finally brought me fame; well that or the fact that Grayson is an adorably charming kid (when he wants to be), and has the ladies wrapped around his finger. Nah, it’s definitely the YouTube thing.
Beeline to Krakatoa…5 minute wait, first on…let’s do this!!! Awesome…one more time? Oh go on then…woooooooo!!!!!. Right let’s get back to ….what? One more time? Ah ok, third times a charm….straight on. WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Awesome, 3 rides and back to the hotel before 10am…see Gray; integrity. Top Dad I am.
Right, let’s get going. “I’m taking my time now, I’ve done what I want”…aww hell, Grayson is in full on Dale the Snail mode; even worse that he’s doing it on purpose to slow me down…little bugger. Anxiety sets in as we see the manic lines of Universal Orlando security checkpoints. Yep, it’s a busy one…fortunately Dales special talent for the day is finding the shortest lines possible. You know the story of the Tortoise and the Hare right? What they don’t tell you is that the snail actually won that race on account of being a sneaky bugger. Nice one Gray.
Success was short lived as we hit line after line in what seemed to be tortuous payback for our successful lack of lines for Krakatoa.
Me and Gray head to Today cafe for genuinely the longest line we end up queueing for all day; and for what? The privilege of paying over the odds for a couple of pastries and a coffee? Of course, didn’t you know vacation money isn’t real money? Well…the more I spend, the closer it gets to real money, bad times. Coming soon, my seminar on how to blow over $2000 in 5 days. Coffee and pastries acquired; accent queried…Welsh or Australian? Well technically I guess Australians were once upon a time Welsh (the naughty naughty ones)…so either I guess. ‘Chuck another Welshcake on the barbie mate’.
Legging it to meet Jo and Alaska before Jordan’s Chocolate Croissant melts was a sport in itself…a sport I am now the champion in. Watch this space, the next Olympics will see me defending my crown.
Catch up with them in Dreamworks Land, and a soaking wet Alaska…she’d been causing havoc in Shreks swamp and usurped the Ogre’s land. Of course I’m greeted with a freezing cold, soaking wet hug from the Swamp Queen…thanks babes, now go help Mammy eat her croissant. Playtime over, Alaska changed and ready to head on to the first ride of the day…E.T!! Oh no, not you too Jordan, what’s happening to these Harry Potter crocs??!! I lost a charm last night and in a fit of devastation bought another pair, and now Jordan had too. Quick Gray, grab your wand and ‘Accio lookos’ or something. It worked…charm found, day saved…now we’re expecting his Hogwarts letter in a few years.
Ok, digressing as usual…where was I? Oh yeah, E.T. I was shocked that the kids were so excited to go on this…when I was a kid I was terrified; locked into your seats whilst a savage alien breaks out while you’re in complete darkness…terrifying (and I only did the Stitch version). Oh no, of course not….wrong park, wrong decade. This is alien Peter Pan ride. You knew this Dean…stop trying to be funny! Ok, disregard the last paragraph.
E.T…we were heading for E.T.
The kids love this ride…like really really love it. It’s nostalgic as hell to be fair, and despite the animatronics being absolutely shocking, helping save Deeply Moot Moot and the rest of the Green Planet (Yep, the alien in the Forrest queue really did say that name) is just good family fun and a really enjoyable ride. Only made better by Grayson’s in line rap entertainment; watch out Eminem, there’s a new rap god, and he spreads to good word of E.T.
You know what winds me up? When you help save a planet, and the little alien doesn’t even thank us. Can’t remember my name huh? I get it, ‘Dean’ is difficult to remember…not quite as easy as ‘Deeply Moot Moot’. Screw you E.T.; next time pay for your own phone call home.
Partly devastated that she helped E.T. To save his planet (this will not look good on her Vicious 6 application), partly due to denial of an overpriced marshmallow lollipop; Alaska breaks in to the most enormous tantrum Universal Orlando had ever seen. E.T. even called back to let us know they can hear her on the Green Planet…”tell Alaska to keep it down…Deeply Moot Moot is trying to sleep”. Not wanting E.T. to return, Alaska finally calms down and we head on our merry way. Poor thing, think the combination of heat and long park days has finally got to her.
Back to it…Brown Derby for some Annual Pass discount shopping for more unnecessary merchandise. Chuck 50% off and I’ll buy anything…I bought the HHN Chucky popcorn bucket here the other day for a tenner…do I need it? No. Do I need it for 50% off? Hell yes.
Waddling out with half the store, we decide to treat Grayson and Alaska to the most immense show I’ve ever seen…The Bourne Stuntacular!! This show is insane. Amazing combination of live action and amazing worked stunts and digital sets. I don’t quite think Grayson and Alaska understood just how impressive it was…but yeah, incredible!!!
Back to The Tribute Store, Quick Look around for some more Mardi Gras merch…a mask for Alaska and some pins for me and it’s on we go. By the way…this tribute store is awesome, I love it…it’s much better than the HHN 2024 store. Merch is lacking though…bad times.
Catch up with The Simpsons…great interaction, the kids love them, and then we make our way to their hometown.
Oh no…what the hell is this??! Before we know it we are commandeered on the edge of Hollywood by famed director ‘Manny Petty’, and I am led to the directors chair. FML…what the hell is going on now?? I become the unwitting star of the show alongside Marilyn Monroe (pretty sure it wasn’t really her to be fair). Good thing I don’t embarrass too easy nowadays. Had a good laugh being centre stage in the latest production and showcasing the most ‘Dad Dance’ moves this side of the Atlantic. That’s it Dean, show them what us Welsh men can do…oh no, not that…
Fighting my way through crowds of women (Jordan is a lucky lady), we finally make it to our intended destination…I told Homer and co I’d be 5 minutes, but fame called and I answered…sorry Simpsons. Shocked at myself, we’ve been here 5 days already…How have we not been to Springfield yet?!! Such a fun place to visit, bright and vibrant and full of fun vibes.
“One giant doughnut please”…nice one Grayson. Yep we ‘shared’ the classic big pink doughnut. Well…again I was allowed the scraps that Gray and Alaska would afford me…was delicious though. Just wish I didn’t have to beg for something I’d bought for myself. Ahh the joy of greedy kids.
Jordan takes the kids on Twirl ‘n’ Hurl (those naughty aliens are up to no good I’m sure…you’d think they’d have gone in to hiding being so close to MIB headquarters). I manage to avoid and opt for a cheeky Duff Beer instead…is there anything better than beers in the sunshine watching the kids having a great time? Grayson was just chuffed he didn’t have to ride the same ship and Mammy and Alaska; little independent woman as he is.
Quick rock, paper, scissors; that I was losing regardless, and I was given the worst trade off since Universal decided Back to the Future was to be replaced by The Simpsons ride. Jordan would ride MIB with Grayson whilst I was allowed to ride The Simpsons with Alaska…she was desperate and I couldn’t say no to my princess…well definitely not after seeing the earlier tantrum anyways.
To my surprise, The Simpsons was actually pretty enjoyable, with the added jeopardy of Alaska announcing she needed a wee minutes before boarding. Ooo, great, the potential for water effects…hold it in little Loo, you can do this. I’m sure they’ve changed The Simpsons ride since I last rode it a few years back…it’s not terrible now, and Alaska really really enjoyed watching an oversized Maggie destroy Bob.
Quick…to the toilet!!!
Succumbing to a big parent ‘no no’, I give in to Alaskas demands and spare tired tantrum two (love some alliteration) of the day and throw money down the metaphorical drain on the sideshow games. Catch a fish, win a prize…ladies and gents, let me introduce “Kieth” the rubbish parrot. Hold the applause please…no idea what Alaska actually called it, I was just fuming I dropped $10 to win rubbish. She loves Keith though so I’m happy for her.
Minion cafe to complete my title of ‘Dad who always keeps his promises…well the ones the kids remember anyway’…I know, it should be a category at the Dad Oscars. Grayson had one main goal for this holiday…eat at Minions and get Mel’s Meatball Mountain. Goal achieved…though he refuses to share with Alaska. Fine, guess we’re all having a full meal. Note to self: when Grayson claims he can finish something you know he can’t, don’t listen to him. Meatball Mountain wasted, Mac & Cheese wasted, Dad disappointed. We did have a lovely evening meal here though…always had good food whenever we come here.
Oh is that the time? No time to cry over Meatball mountains…it’s party time!!! You’d think after 2 previous viewings the parade would be less fun…WRONG!! I’ve never seen a more enjoyable vibe to a parade (sorry Disney). The atmosphere is great, the team members are great, and the kids are dancing from start to finish…oh yeah, and beads…so many beads. We love Mardi Gras…I’ll be shocked if we don’t return tomorrow.
Quick dash to The Mummy. Grayson’s request…I know right? He loves it after a brief stint of being terrified of it. Poor Brendan still hasn’t got his coffee mind…
Manage to take a crack at Villain Con quickly on the way out (no such luck hitting the top 30 today though…now I know how Grayson feels), as we head in to City Walk.
On my list of things to do this vacation…check out the Cursed Coconut Club. Great overlay to this once again. Not quite as good as the 80’s vampire HHN overlay, but still lots of fun. Alaska had an awesome time getting her face painted as a ‘Kitty Unicorn’ (don’t ask), and then was in mission mode to hunt for yet more beads. Dances for beads, dances for beads…she’s bloody obsessed. No idea how we are getting them all home mind.
Back at Cabana Bay, we close the evening with the outdoor pool area Minions movie viewing and head back to the room for some much needed rest.
Where has the time gone? Another fabulous day.
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