"Must-Do" Rides at Universal Orlando!

I recently went on vacation to Universal and I had a great time, as always! I stayed at Universal's Royal Pacific Resort, so my party had Express Passes. We were lucky enough to go on almost all of the rides multiple times, and we stayed for four days.
If you are planning to visit Universal, put these rides on your vacation bucket list! Don't miss these attractions!
 ALSO, check out my Etsy shop! I have recently added new merchandise. For example, this Universal Park Map Phone Case www.etsy.com/shop/ThemeParkTeen

Here are the five must-do rides at Universal Orlando:

5. Jurassic Park River Adventure
Jurassic Park is such an iconic movie series so the majority of people are familiar with the story (as opposed to Dudley Do Right, another Universal water ride). If you are not, life-like dinosaurs are still fun. River Adventure is a great way for the family to cool off during a day in the Florida sun, as you can be sure you will be wet. Don't be afraid of the drop at the end; it is over in about 3 seconds!

4. The Incredible Hulk Coaster
If you are a big fan of coasters, or you are feeling daring, take a ride on Hulk. the launch at the beginning is so much fun. After the launch you will corkscrew then drop 110 feet!
Hulk is closing is September for a few months!!! Universal's website

 

3. Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

This ride is technologically advanced and is different from most other rides in the park. You will be wearing 3D glasses while riding along in a mine-cart style vehicle. The whole family can experience this ride. This is still fun for any non Potter fans because it is a great experience.

2. Transformers the Ride 3D

You will experience an exciting battle while riding Transformers! You can feel every motion that you see on the screen. Because it is a simulation, some people may feel sick.

1. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

This is the best ride in the park. It is an unbelievable experience for Potter fans and non fans alike. You really feel like you are flying. Although there is no Express pass, it is worth the wait. Forbidden Journey's queue takes you on a fun tour of Hogwarts. The ride is also about 5 minutes long, which is more than most other rides.

Don't forget to experience these rides at least once on your visit to Universal Orlando Resort!

:)

What NOT to Wear to a Theme Park

I have already written an article about what to wear to a day at a theme park see blog post but in just in case you dislike the items I listed, or you still had questions, here is what to NOT wear/bring.

NO Flip flips!
I admit I find these shoes comfortable for the beach or pool, but they are bad for your feet when walking around for a long time. Also you would have to take them off for all the thrill rides.

NO long pants in the summer!
Florida is very hot all day so I can assure you that you will be comfortable in shorts.

NO swimsuits!
Although Universal and Disney have water rides, bathing suits tops or bottoms are not recommended and you might get some funny looks from other guests.

NO huge backpacks!
In my other post I recommended a backpack or purse, but only bring a reasonable sized one. You might have to fit it in the square lockers when you go on a thrill or water ride.

NO heavy items!
Leave the huge cameras at home if you are visiting a theme park for a family vacation.

NO new shoes!
Nobody wants blisters! Break in your shoes at home first.



Overall, just be comfortable. You went to a theme park to have fun so make sure that is your priority and you shouldn't have to worry about your clothes all day!

:)

DIY Disney Nails

In the days before a vacation, I always love to get in the mood by adding themed accessories to an outfit or something of that sort. Before I went to Disney World in February I saw some creative and crazy Disney nail art on Pinterest. But I wanted to do something a little more simple but still impressive.
As a fun way to get psyched up for a WDW vacation, here's a tutorial for some Disney nails.

First start off by gathering/purchasing all the colors you will need.
I used yellow, red, black, and white (Mickey Mouse colors). I actually do not own white nail polish, so I used white acrylic paint and it worked fine!








Then paint each nail as shown below and let them dry completely.

 

Using the back of a small paint brush, paint 6+ dots on the two red nails.

Then paint three dots in the shape of a Mickey head on the black pinky nails and yellow nails.

Paint a red stripe on the bottom half of the remaining black nails. Add two dots to each of these nails.
Finish with a clear top coat to seal.

Terrible lighting, but this Mickey bracelet is for sale on my Etsy shop!

Now go show off your cool Disney manicure!

:)

The Best Harry Potter Purchases from Universal

Now that Universal Orlando has two Harry Potter themed sections, the merchandise possibilities are endless! Universal features over 10 stores just like the HP books/movies. If you're on a souvenir budget you'll have to limit the purchases you make. Although this can be difficult this list of only the best things should help. I have bought all of these things :)

• Butterbeer!!! Although you cannot take this home with you, any fan needs to taste this delicious drink. It is available in slushy form or regular, in a disposable cup or souvenir cup. This drink goes perfectly with a meal at the Three Broomsticks!

Also try Butterbeer Ice Cream from Diagon Alley. Yum!

Interactive wands! $40 With a swish and flick in a specific location, magical things can occur in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. 

• T-shirts! $24.99 Show your house pride or tell everyone that you visited the Wizarding World in a fun HP shirt.

Lanyards and Pins! Lanyards are very functional during your stay in Universal and pins add a little personal touch. There are so many to choose from.

• Hogwarts journal! I personally love to record fun things that I do and this journal is displayed in my room. Tip: Get a Owl Post stamp in the journal for free in Hogsmeade!

Even if you decide not to buy anything HP related, browsing the stores is still a fun experience! Each one is different and exciting.

:)

ETSY SHOP UPDATE!

I have recently added new merchandise to my Etsy shop!

The new items are all Harry Potter themed, so go check out my shop Potterheads!

 The original items are still for sale and are customizable. Everything is at a great price and great quality. Everything will ship within a week except for the shoes.

If you have a question or want to make a suggestion contact me through Etsy! I am always available through Etsy conversations.

:)

Sports Competitions at Walt Disney World

WDW is home to a huge sports complex, called ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. I was lucky enough to play in a field hockey tournament there, this past February (see photo below). WWS has many fields, stages, and more and hosts tons of sports competitions throughout the year. The facility is beautiful and playing here is a great experience.

WWS is on the WDW property and on-site hotel buses can take you there, but when I went we stayed off-site and parked the rental car there for the day. The complex is huge but you would only go to the field(s) pertaining to your sport. Many places to buy food are located throughout the place.

Spectators must pay a fee to watch their athlete play. But athletes receive discounted Disney theme park tickets, so I strongly recommend visiting at least one park while you are there.
A common question is will I have time to visit a Disney park while at a WWS competition?
Yes you probably will. When I played, even with my many games, I had time to spend a few hours at a park three out of four days.

If you are serious about the sport you play, many college coaches go to the Disney tournaments. Athletes get to play teams from all over the country, and may even win a medal!


:)

Roller Coasters at Six Flags Great Adventure!

On Sunday 5/17 I visited Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ! This was my second time visiting this fun theme park. I will describe all of SFGA's roller coasters and I have ridden all of them except Kingda Ka because it was closed both times I went.
(my photo)

Kingda Ka

456 ft tall and top speed of 128 mph and the ride is only 50 seconds long. 0 inversions. This coaster is the tallest in the world! And the fastest in North America. No wonder the wait times are hours long.

Nitro

230 ft tall and 80 mph. 0 inversions. This is great ride because it is 3 minutes long and the lines go very fast! I timed the wait from the sixty minute sign to the ride and it took 15 minutes!

Batman: the Ride

105 ft and 50 mph. 1 min 40 sec. 5 inversions. This is a classic inverted coaster and is very similar to Dragon Challenge at Universal.

Green Lantern

154 ft and 63 mph. 2 min 30 sec. 5 inversions. This ride is unique because you are standing up the entire time!

Bizarro

146 ft and 61 mph. 3 minute 15 sec. 7 inversions. This ride is certainly crazy. But watch out for the balls of fire and no floor on the coaster.

El Toro
181 ft and 70 mph. 1 min 42 sec. 0 inversions. As wooden coasters go, this is a really fun one. The drop is long and steep, but the ride broke down when I went to SFGA.

Superman: Ultimate Flight
108 ft and 60 mph. 2 min 25 sec. 3 inversions. This is exactly like Manta at SeaWorld and it is a lot of fun. But it is noticeably slower than all other coasters at this park.

Overall, my favorite ride here is either Nitro, because of the height and short wait, or Bizarro, because of the inversions. All Six Flags theme parks are a lot of fun and I recommend visiting one close to your home for a day trip!