Day 18

Parentals go home today so no real plans for the first half of the day. We penciled in Hollywood Studios for fireworks later, if, IF the weather holds up.

Woke up and out of bed at 9 and we decided to do early lunch so spent a little time in the morning packing some cases. Mum went to the pool to get some final rays (I don’t think she quite managed to get as much sun as she’d wanted this holiday with all the activities we had arranged). Golden Corral for lunch and we were all getting pretty hungry at that point so we were in the right place. Inhaled some large plates of bourbon chicken and rice, GG went for scrambled eggs, Ann for other breakfast-y things and Patrick for the watermelon and applesauce (yeah applesauce, they serve it as a side with most kids meals, weird I know but PG seems to love it). Think Robert mostly skipped regular food and went for the desserts, ice cream and marshmallows with chocolate. I did actually have pinch some oatmeal and raisin cookies fresh out the over whilst up getting Gracie’s strawberries and chocolate with a side of marshmallows and more chocolate. She was also drinking mountain dew, which would usually start alarms bells going of but Gracie seems not to be affected as much as the boys when it comes to sugar-highs, so we kinda let her just get on with it (coincidentally she is also the best at brushing her teeth). As we exited, Robert wanted a shot of one of those prize grabber machines (y'know the ones which you never win anything from?). I said Id give it ago and on my second attempt I only went and won him a ball! Huzzah! Just call me the new Kevin O'Donnell! (brother-in-law who is uncanny at these games and wins everytime, just so you know ;). First prize ball of the day! ;) Gracie was a wee bit unhappy I couldnt do the same for her though :(

Leaving on a jet plane

Headed off to Walgreens after that so my mum could pick up some final things and gave the kids some money to spend (uh-oh here comes more ponies!!! DJ PON-3 from Equestria Girls - Rainbow Rocks as it happens). Robert, the financial minded one, had his money spent up to the last 50c - hes the only one out the family who is going to have any savings when he grows up (just as long as he sees his old da arite ;). Then back to hotel to get changed and load up the car for the airport trip. Having become a little bit more used to the roads and how some freakin’ maniacs drive over here, the airport run took us a lot shorter than it did when we first arrived. Mum and Dad dropped off, a wee bit of an emotional goodbye (save for Grace who just seemed to be more interested in playing on my phone), and that was that.

Now, back to the hotel (via a stop at Walmart from extra luggage and Gamestop for yet another game for Patrick), we had a look at the weather and as it was scheduled for Thunder, we opted to go to Universal/Islands as there were some to-do things to be done and we swapped Hollywood for tomorrow (which was originally meant to be Universal, if that makes sense). Everyone as still quite full from lunch so skipped on dinner and went to the park (which was meant to be cheap parking after five but they somehow now made it six). We were met by a swarm of people leaving the park as it was early evening but probably more so that the weather turning - but we were on a mission and had had our rain jackets to overcome any weather eventuality (yup, I checked I definitely had mine this time).

First items on our to-do list were actually in City-walk, the shops, bars and restaurants area before going in to the parks proper. Patrick & Robert had seen some Stampy Longnose tshirts (who is a guy you do Minecraft YouTube videos apparently). They weren’t just any tees though, these things were custom made on the spot, which meant $$$! Watching the guy do the artwork on the tee-shirts was amazing though, sort of like Grafitti art, very impressive and the boys were overjoyed. Meanwhile Ann wanted to get some pearls from actual oysters for Grace, to put in to earrings for when she is older (apparently for her wedding day, though Grace did remind us tonight that she’s not getting married when she grows us because shes going to be a doctor). Ooookkk, this process was pretty cool too, GG picked out some oysters from a pool, and the guy shucked them right there and then plucked out the pearls, cleaned them up and they put them on some earrings, all inside 15 minutes. Grace said she didn’t want earrings now or even when she grows up as she doesn’t want her ears pierced. A little rain and a hundred or so bucks down, we head into the park (I can tell this is gonna be an expensive night).

Headed straight to Hogsmeade for Harry Potter stuff (would you expect anything else now?), and the first port of call was Olivander’s! After an little interactive sketch the kids went to choose their wands, Patrick went for Sirius, Grace for Hermoine and Robert for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named’s wand or Voldemort for short (he already had Harry’s so was a good choice). Even the sales assistants kept full character and we eventually found out what all those people where waving their wands about in the streets were doing - they had interactive wands! We kinda heard something about this and wanted to do it, but this was our last night in Universal and it was late so decided to go for the regular ones. Another trip on the Forbidden Journey (my personal favourite), another round of butterbeers (for the cups this time as we had some at home), then off on the Hogwarts Express to Diagon Alley in Universal studios.

We managed to get a second trip on Escape from Gringotts this time (as it was closed last visit). It really is an excellent attraction, even in the queues, but I didnt take my phone or camera again this time so no snaps to show :( Patrick really wanted a chocolate frog so visited the Weasleys Wizarding Weezes shop and picked up one for his brother and sister too (what a nice big brother to have).

Over into Krustyland next (where our adventure stopped short last time by a huge storm), and we headed off to The Simpsons ride (again). Gracie asked why we kept going on The Simpsons ride, I mean she said really likes it, but she didnt want to kept getting caught by the fuzzy hair guy (sideshow bob) and threatened with death! O_O Anyway, after that Robert asked to do one of the fairground attractions (he actually asked on all the occasions but we always managed to distract him long enough to move on). He loves basketball and really wanted to win one so tried the hoot shot (or eye-carumba as the stall was called). He stepped up and unfortunately missed the hoops so never managed to win. He got a little upset and I tried to explain that these game are made to be difficult (I wont even mention the fact I only got 88/100 in the strong man challenge stall the other day ;), however the guy running the stall took pity and gave him another go and another and another. In fact the guy even took some shots for Robert and only eventually got one in after like the six or seventh try. As we walked away, the guy asked Robert what his favourite ball was, Robert pointed to the Krusty one and the guy threw it to him anyway then told us to shoosh and go away ;) WOW! Nice guy, that guy! :). Second ball Robert ‘won’ today! He was beaming!

GG wanted me and her to go on Kang & Kodos’ Twirl N Hurl - a ride that goes round and round and up and down. So we did, as did Robert (who wanted to fly on his own as he was tall enough). We were in a UFO named Ronald Ray Gun and Roberts was Kang Tiki. Grace loved being able to control our UFO up and down, and with it now dark the lights along the waterfront in Universal were a really nice change. Got off the ride to find that Patrick had won a prize too - another ball (and a little Krusty doll for GG). I made a comment on Robert has always like playing with a ball when he was young and used to have hundreds, to which he announced that today is Balls Deluxe! (which I told him not to really repeat out in public again ;).

So it was getting dark and the kids were a little hungry, we had planned to first of all get Turkey Legs, which didn’t happen, then to go to Krusty burger, which was shut, so they said that they wanted to go to McDonalds instead - a place they hadn’t been since they got here. Ok, didn’t have a problem with that since I have my eyes set firmly on Hooters for tomorrow night :P McDonald’s it was, so we said good night to Universal & Islands for the last time and off we went to the largest McDonald’s in the World! It was confusing, not only could you get regular Mcdonalds'y stuff, you could also get pizza, subs, steaks and proper ice cream. What should be a relatively simple fast food order, became something quite weird. We ordered, we ate, we were still hungry (even Grace, the one who does not eat food in America, said she wanted a second burger). Ah well, lesson learned not to eat so late next time. Plans are continually changing for tomorrow but looks like Orlando Eye, Ripley’s & Hollywood Studios for some more merch!