If you’ve been following us you know that this trip started off when we got a letter in the mail, a weekend away with free airfare included. When we called the number it was a timeshare presentation. This timeshare was also offering a free cruise for two so we decided to go and hear them out.
If you want to read more about the timeshare and the not so free gifts click below, there are two articles we wrote about it:
When Meredith and I were daydreaming about this mother/daughter weekend we were going to have, on the timeshares dime, we planned on going to Universal Studios in Orlando.
The trip would be for two nights and the airfare would be all set. But as you read in the earlier post, only adults over 21 were allowed to use these vouchers. So we needed to make our weekend away happen but as inexpensively as possible.
First, I had to scour the internet for inexpensive airfare. I searched and searched, changing dates, changing times. Finally we settled on April 6th-9th, three nights instead of two and Spirit Airline was the least expensive non-stop flight for $147 round trip/pp.
Next, I started the search for a hotel. This was a pain, I searched the Universal hotels and the hotels nearby. The hotels at Universal give you transfers to and from the hotel/airport as well as transportation between the hotel and park. They also included our tickets to the park and the express passes (to pass to the front of the line).
Now the decision was between Double Tree which was across the street from Universal Studios or the Cabana Bay Resort which is a Universal hotel. We chose Cabana Bay Resort.
In the end Cabana Bay Resort was a better deal. If I had to rent a car, pay for express passes, and pay for parking it would have been about the same amount of money. Also, I would have had to navigate around Orlando and pay for parking.
Furthermore, at the Cabana Bay Resort we were able to enter the park one hour early to get in and around The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter. That was the reason we chose Universal Studios to begin with.
My daughter Meredith is a Harry Potter fan and when we went last she hadn’t read all the books and she wasn’t tall enough to go on all the rides. So now that you know how the trip came about we will get to the trip itself.
Wow, what a weekend we had. It started out Friday evening. We were scheduled to fly out of Boston, MA on Spirit Airlines at 5:45pm. The airlines decided not to fly into Boston since there was a snow flurry outside.
We didn’t leave until 10:20 pm. That put us arriving to our hotel room at 3 am. There is a Facebook Live posted on http://www.facebook.com/lifeoftheemptynesters under videos dated April 7, 2018 if you want to see our Cabana Bay Resort room.
The room was a great room, I would definitely stay there again. All the staff that I had the pleasure to talk with were both very friendly and helpful!!
The hotel had a Starbucks, Diner, Bowling Alley, Two Pools, Hot Tubs, a Lazy river and a Water Slide. I purchased a few Starbucks gift cards before I left home to use in the park but we ended up using them more at the hotel.
I also booked the hotel through AAA so the gave us a activity credit to use that was worth $50 so we purchased a 1 day meal plan for two with it. That allowed us to eat free for two days.
We shared the lunches and the snacks. Meredith and I did splurge for a Brownie Sundae at Ben and Jerry’s though, oh my god I am still thinking about that sundae (we both are, lol).
Meredith and I had so much fun together. There were several times we would be thinking the same thing and one of us would ask the other “do you think such and such?” and we would burst out laughing because the other one was thinking the same thing. I guess my mother’s curse came true. She said, “I hope someday you have a child just like you”. Well mom, I do and it’s a blast!
Day 1
So we entered the park through City Walk both days. Day one Meredith and I went directly to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter through the Island of Adventure. We were in awe with the size of the castle. The castle was huge.
Our first stop was Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey. The ride actually stopped for about 1 min while we were on it so we were able to immediately get back on and ride again. It was great!
Universal has a lot of simulation rides and they can be harder for adults. I am better at actual roller coasters than simulation. There were a few rides that I had to close my eyes off and on so I wouldn’t feel sick.
Our next stop was Flight of the Hippogriff, a family friendly roller coaster. It was very fun and not too scary. We then traveled down to the entrance of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and took the Hogwarts Express at Kings Crossing over to Universal Studios.
The express was a quick journey and it is a little different each way so make sure you travel both ways. You also need a park -2-park ticket in order to ride this attraction.
As Meredith and I exited Kings Crossing in Universal studios we found a food vendor that was serving large baked potatoes. Meredith and I split a loaded potato for lunch and refilled our water bottles.
During the trip, I used a water fountain or asked a vendor if they could refill our water bottles. In my small purse I have a water flavor bottle. This way I buy one water a day and stay hydrated for free.
After lunch we entered Diagon Alley, this was very cool! There is a large fire breathing dragon on top of Gringotts Bank. Keep your eyes up because every 10 mins the dragon breathes fire. It is even cooler looking at night.
Harry Potter and the escape from gringotts was next. This was Meredith’s favorite ride. The ride is so neat, as you walk inside you pass by goblins that are bank tellers waiting for there next customers. There are also villains during this ride.
Voldemort and Bellatrix are in attendance which is very cool. Meredith and I also tried a frozen butter beer. It was tasty, kind of like butterscotch. I think everyone should try it. We liked it!
Meredith and I spent the rest of the day going through Universal Studio. We went on Men in Black and shot at aliens. The Simpsons Ride is a simulation roller coaster and we helped E.T. save his planet.
The Horror Makeup show was inside with air conditioning so we sat through that. The show was interesting and a comedy at the same time.
The fun continued with Despicable Me Minion Mayhem which was more like a 3D movie. Hollywood Rip Ride Rock it was a standard roller coaster, yahoo!! The Mummy was also worth the wait, we really enjoyed it.
We did skip a few things but we were very happy with what we were able to see. We headed back through the Hogwarts express to the Island of Adventure.
At this point, a rain storm was heading our way so we headed back for the night. Meredith and I would be returning in the morning no need to burn ourselves out.
Cabana Bay has a few different places to eat and room service, we grabbed a bite to eat back at the hotel. They also sell wine buy the bottle or there is a lounge to buy drinks. I returned to our room with food and a bottle of wine. A nice way to end a long hot day.
Day 2
Meredith and I again entered through City Walk and went to Island of Adventure. Today, we went on the Island of Adventure attractions that interested us.
The Incredible Hulk Coaster, our kind of coaster. Doctor Doom’s Fear fall , is my favorite type of ride. Spider Man is a simulation ride but definitely worth your time, there are many twists and turns that are very exciting. Poseidon’s Fury was very good but cold, be prepared.
We revisited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for souvenirs. Meredith and I then decided to go back to our room for a few hours and come back in the evening. We missed the evening last night because of the rain. I can tell you the park is just as much fun at night as during the day. Actually, the park seemed even more magical at night.
Nighttime at Hogwarts Castle is amazing. It starts off with the sorting hat talking to the crowd and the Harry Potter score playing in the background. Each house takes a turn and the castle is lit in the house colors. It is so fun to watch.
Day 3
We had a very relaxing morning by the pool before we had to go to the airport. Meredith and I were able to use the water slide, pool. and the jacuzzi. As much as we enjoyed the parks, we really enjoyed the pool area.
The pool area was very relaxing and energizing. The weather cooperated too so that was even better. We both even came home with a little sun tan.
Our first Mother/Daughter weekend was a success! We are looking forward to many more in the future…. Destinations unknown.
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