Orlando Florida Day 4 - Universal Studios

After a bit of a recovery yesterday we were all fired up to hit the theme parks again today. Also as we were starting t get our bearing's we ventured the furthest we had to date by taking the 25-30 minute journey North East to head to Universal Studios. Now I had really high expectations for today as when me and Tina went to Florida some 29 years or so ago, this was my favourite park. However I was also aware that it has changed a lot and some of my old favourite rides such as "Back to the Future" and "Jaws" were no longer there. In fact I think the only original one from our previous visit might have been the "ET ride.

Anyway the park really didn't disappoint and was arguably one of the best days of our holiday again. We started the day heading straight over to the Harry Potter Diagon Alley to jump on "Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts" before it got too busy. After a brief panic to get all our belongings stowed away in a locker we joined the queue and luckily didn't have too long to wait (unfortunately no DAS pass today as this is not a Disney park). The ride was just spectacular and the 4D element of it is next level. At one point a huge snake popped out and Holly physically dodged to her left thinking it was going to hit her.

Universal Studios also now has some absolutely epic rides including "The Transformer's", "Rip Ride Rocket" where you got to pick your own soundtrack. "Men In Black" ride was good fun but the surprise and delight for the day was the "Jimmy Fallon Ride Through New York" which was very unexpected and put a smile on all of our faces. Unfortunately "The Mummy" was closed for refurb.

I guess my only disappointment was they no longer seem to run the stunt show on the lake, however the Jason Borne stunt show is absolutely phenomenal. An absolutely epic day finished of with a nice meal on the Boardwalk and then a visit to Voodoo donuts which Michael highly recommended.

Crossing the river for our first adventure in to the Universal theme parks.

The entrance still has the infamous Universal spinning globe.

Me and the family at Universal.

Even the entrance is oversized and spectacular.

Day 4 and it is getting hard to get the boys to pose for photo's in the heat.

Like Disney they have Halloween decs up as well.

The Transformers ride was just epic and we went on this a good few times. 

Hum, trying to find Diagon Alley - are we lost? I thought we were in Orlando?

I didn't spend all this money and travel 4,000 miles to see Leicester Square!

Finally we find Diagon Alley whch is just as immersive as the Star Wars area at Disney.

The fire breathing dragon at the top of the building at the end.

Once you enter the Harry Potter area it really feels like you are on set.

Trying to capture the fire breath on camera.

As you queue for "Escape from Gringotts" you have to go through the bank from Harry Potter.

Just like Harry Potter world back in the UK.

With so much to see it doesn't seem like a queue for a ride.

More from Diagon Alley.

Surprisingly Brandon wasn't really interest in the Harry Potter shops etc, he just wanted more thrill rides.

Another battle to try and get a picture of the kids in front of the triple decker bus.

Time for some Daddy fun in Fast and Furious with an old Corvette.

Some Jap crap for Brandon.

Definitely one of the better cars from the film, except maybe the Chargers.

Some American muscle from the film.

As you queue for the ride you get to go through the workshops and see even more cars from the F&F series of films.

Wasn't this the one from Tokyo drift?

My era of cars, a beautiful Mk 1 Escort Mexico.

Neon lights, right up Brandon's street.

Not sure I like this one much.

Universal Studios is so different from when me and Tina last visited 29 years ago. In fact unrecognizable.

The epic "Rip Ride Rocket" where you get to pick your own soundtrack.

Higher than it looks up there!

One of the many fast food and drink outlets in Universal.

More lovely old American cars just decorating the streets of the theme park.

Just beautiful.

Nice to see they still had the cars outside the Drive In.

Holly always happy to pose for a photo.

More of the cars.

Are we in Orlando or Hollywood?

Tina and H.

Matching Stitch shirts for the day.

Oversized glasses and hat.

A little water slide by the "ET" ride.

Josh went up with Holly to get in the water and cool off a bit.

The "Back to the Future" ride is gone, but the train from the movie is still there.

And of course the Delorean.

More of the train.

Going back in time.

Michael warned us about the Simpsons ride, definitely a case of motion sickness on this one!

The Jaws ride has gone, but may shark is still there.

Me, Tina and H in the sharks mouth.

Really amazing how the coaster meanders through some of the buildings.

A little parade we caught on the streets of Universal.

Loads of music and dancing to watch.

Happy Halloween, kids locked away.

At the end of our day we watched the Jason Borne stunt show which was bloody amazing and very unexpected. How in the hell that put that show together on a stage with some of those effects is amazing. Outside the show were some movie props like the bike from the film.

And the Mini.

After and long day and a nice dinner it was off to Voodoo donuts. Too many options.....

Armed with our desert, our day was coming to an end.