Ooh..this is a bit posh for us! Day 5 - Portofino Bay, US, IOA, Citywalk and Bubba Gumps

[purple myra]

Day 5

Portofino Bay, U.S, I.O.A and City Walk

I was awake before the alarm this morning; 5.30am for the third day in a row….no laundry today though we were heading for Universal Studios and our first glimpse of all the “Harry Potter Stuff”. We were showered, dressed (in thin, easily dried clothes) and standing at the boat dock just before 7.30am. When we arrived at Universal there was already a short queue at the entrance, for some reason – possibly crowd control? – there are only about 5 manned entry points.

Like rats out of a trap we were through the gates and following the herd towards Gringotts… it felt like the Pamplona bull run, but slower There was little time to take in the surroundings, or take photos. I did manage one or two quick snaps





…but all that could be done once we had tackled Gringotts.


When we arrived at the ride; I would never have found it if we hadn’t been following the crowd, it was posting a 30 minute wait. The locker set up here is really poor; we were in the queue for a few minutes before we reached them/realised we had to use them. I’m not sure if there is another system to do this but pretty much you have to leave your place in the queue, lock your bags up and then try and return to the queue….our attempt our second day was even worse! Anyway, I soon realised that locking my mobile phone away was a mistake as I had no means to take photos inside the bank (I wasn’t so silly the next day!). If our wait was 30 minutes it certainly didn’t feel like it, the attention to detail and everything about the ‘Bank’ and the queue area was stunning. We arrived at the ride area with our mouths hanging open… and then the ride! Absolutely amazing! We loved it and would have gone on again right away but the wait time was now posted at 50 minutes and we’d had no breakfast!

We looked around outside and got a few photos,







I noticed lots of people had butterbeer so I decided to try it. I’d read mixed reviews on The Dibb and Jake said a workmate told him it was horrible… undeterred I wanted one so I joined a short queue and by the time it was my turn to be served Jake wanted one too (I had offered to share one as I don’t drink a lot, unless it’s wine of course!). We got the regular chilled ones rather than the frozen and we both liked it, it reminded me of an ice cream drink or American Cream Soda.






Our thirst was satisfied but our tummies were rumbling so when we stumbled upon The Leaky Cauldron we went straight in. I had the pancake breakfast and Jake opted for the traditional, we both had hot tea although I still had half a glass of butterbeer (which they allowed me to take in). I like the set up in here; we ordered at the counter then a CM shows you to a table and another CM brings your food. We both enjoyed our choices although there was some discussion at to where in the U.K it is traditional to have a croissant with a fry up?






Thirst quenched and appetite sated we carried on wandering and gawping and then entered King’s Cross station to take the Hogwarts Express. The wait time was posted as 10 minutes but it was a walk on. As we got close to the ‘magic wall’ a CM was on hand to point it out to us so I stood back to capture a picture of Jake disappearing through the wall… although the photo didn’t turn out great but it’s a really good illusion.








The steam train and the effects on board are really good and in a matter of minutes we arrive at Hogsmeade Station. Again, there is lots of wide eyed gawping … the entire Harry Potter area is stunning.







Jake brimming with excitement at finally getting to WWOHP






It feels really busy and the walkways all feel crowded but this isn’t reflected in the ride wait times. Jake’s new found love of coasters means we headed for Dragon Challenge, it was posting a 10 minute wait but we used our express passes anyway. We rode the red side first and the CM was very forceful in getting the over-head restraint to fit me. We both loved it and I screamed all the way round! As we were exiting we came across the opening which allowed you to re-ride and we went straight back on. This time we chose the other side (Blue?) but the CM wasn’t quite so forceful and made me swap seats (into a fat seat), I didn’t enjoy the ride as much this time as I was rattled about much more, I preferred the super tight restraint of the first ride.
With two coaster rides under our belt we wandered into Hogwarts and the standby line showed 30 minutes, it was certainly quicker than that as we didn’t seem to stop moving at all. Again, this attraction has stunning theming throughout. To avoid another embarrassing seat move I chose (what I thought was) the fat seat – only to be swapped with Jake. This is not quite as intense as Gringotts and I hated the spiders but we both loved it. We also spotted the Soarin’ reference!

Next up was Flight of the Hippogryff, back in the days when Jake was a coaster wimp and Billy had joined us, we had all enjoyed this in the guise of the Unicorn (or something similar)… Deary me! What a horrible bone ratting abomination is this? It wasn’t how I remembered it at all. Battered and bruised we left WWOHP behind and continued on to the older rides of I.O.A. We were going to take advantage of staying onsite and throwing caution to the wind we decided the time was right for the “wet rides”. Jurassic Park River Adventure was up next, after a brief stop on the bridge for a photo (one of the very few photo connect photographers we saw).

This is really good fun and we did get a wee bit wet. We watched Ripsaw Falls for a while but neither of us was brave enough for that final drop so we continued on to Popeye’s Bilge Rat Barges where we got absolutely drenched! We felt a little sorry for a middle aged guy in jeans and leather waistcoat (Biker style) who had a wee laugh at us getting wet just seconds before he got soaked to the skin!

The soaking was our cue to leave the parks, but not before attempting to drip dry while we poured quarters into the super soakers and exacted some revenge on unsuspecting rafters. We dripped all the way to the boat dock and made our way back to Portofino Bay. We collected a cuppa from Starbucks on the way to the room where we dried off and had a nice chill out. We’d had a busy morning.

Suitably refreshed, scrubbed up and with a change of clothes we were on our way again. We had no intention of spending time around Portofino Bay or making use of the pools etc. but we did go for a wander just to see what was on offer.









The sun was really blazing down today and we were grateful for the canopy over the waiting area at the boat dock.




Our plan this time was to start at I.O.A and work in the opposite direction to this morning’s adventure. We spotted this new restaurant on our way…



Our first stop was Spiderman, unfortunately we got landed with a bunch of loud guys who appeared to be on a Stag Do! Their carry on did spoil the ride slightly so as soon as we were off we headed straight back on. This is still one of Jake’s favourites. We wandered through I.O.A without really bothering to go on anything else until we reached the WWOHP where we joined a 20 minute queue for Forbidden Journey; in reality it was another walk on. We loved it even more the second time around. Then it was time for a repeat performance on Dragon Challenge to end out WWOHP experience. We caught the Hogwart’s Express back to Universal Studios and enjoyed a look around just as it was getting dark.











Again, despite not seeming to have done very much we were getting weary and footsore. We had our first experience of the Simpsons in Orlando (having enjoyed it in Disneyland CA.) and then felt it was time to settle down to some dinner. It amazed us just how quickly it got dark… it was a lovely twilight as we left King’s Cross but it was completely dark by the time we came off the Simpsons ride. A few photo stops en route to City Walk where I had my eye on Margaritaville. Sadly, it was not to be as the wait time was around half an hour. We looked at the menu for Cowfish but nothing really caught our eye so we settled on an old faithful and headed for Bubba Gumps, we still had to wait 20 minutes or so but we had a seat on a bench outside and people watched quite happily.

[purple myra]

Once settled in a perfect little booth for two we ordered drinks; Corona for Jake and Tennessee Iced tea for me.







We both really wanted dessert so to make sure we had room left we decided to share a starter (I love having a starter so we can’t skip it), we had the popcorn shrimp. (this is the aftermath… I forgot to take a pic!




Jake followed this with Mama Blues Southern Charmed Fried Shrimp




and I had Shrimper's Heaven.



Another round of drinks followed and I tried an Alabama Southern Punch this time.



We were still determined to have dessert despite being rather stuffed. Jake opted for a chocolate chip cookie sundae and I had keylime pie.




Bubba Gumps very kindly give tipping guidance to visitors from overseas… very handy





To be honest as well as being stuffed, I also felt a bit squiffy! Those drinks were strong *hic*. One of my drinks came with a free souvenir glass so we had to pop into the gift shop to pick it up… of course you are given the option of buying a second one so that you have a pair (why I would need a pair, I’ve no idea)…but I bought one anyway! This was only the first impulse buy!

I made the somewhat poor decision to visit Fossil, it had always been a tradition to buy a Fossil watch on our trips to the U.S.A but I never wear a watch these days and my collection is all in a box now, unworn, but not entirely unloved. I looked around and nothing really took my fancy, so I looked around again… still nothing jumped out at me until a lovely young assistant came along determined to help me! She took a pretty rose gold coloured watch from the glass case and we both ooooh’d and aaaaah’d over it, I thought it looked a wee bit masculine and asked if they had a smaller version. My weakness was immediately picked up by my ‘helper’ so the soft sell continued…just try it on, it won’t look so big when it’s on….oooooh it suits you….did you realise it is automatic, it never needs wound up….isn’t it pretty….etc. etc. Now when I’m browsing, I obviously do the whole “crane your neck to try and check the price tag tucked in the back”…with my little helper in tow I had no such opportunity. Completely sucked in now I was escorted to the counter with my ‘fabulous’ new watch, my slightly pink cheeks, my silly grin and my woolly head…I only gulped a little bit when the watch was rung up by the cashier! Jake remained silent and slightly bemused!



We went straight to the boat dock and home for a nice cuppa before bed!

As a slight aside; I’ve been home for 3 weeks and the watch hasn’t been on my wrist yet!

[Pussycat Doll]

It is a lovely watch though! Sounds like a great day. Pussycat

[scotsman2010]

Another great day Myra Great photos too! And my Fossil watch has not been on my wrist yet either!

[Grapesoda]

Get that watch on your wrist girl, it's stunning x

[Milner]

Great day and what a lovely watch.

[Tartan Tigger]

Sounds like a great day

[Guest]

Another great day. Brilliant photos from the Harry Potter areas, does look like they've done a great job with Diagon Alley.

I dread to think how much the watch cost! Cocktails followed by shopping might not have been the best mix.

[Ms Finkelstein]

Myra! You are Scottish, being pished is no excuse to not check the price!

It is a beaut though.

Di x


PS Link to this day not on your trippie index.

[purple myra]

Originally Posted by Ms Finkelstein

Myra! You are Scottish, being pished is no excuse to not check the price!

It is a beaut though.

Di x


PS Link to this day not on your trippie index.

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Thanks for pointing out the Index issue...it should be sorted now x