Across the Universe - highs lows and future plans

[Rescuer]

Highs, lows and future plans

Index is here

Overall we had a brilliant trip, it was so nice to be back. It all felt so familiar and so normal.

Highs

Sapphire falls - such a beautiful resort with an amazing atmosphere. Facilities were great. Rooms were spacious and gorgeous. Staff were friendly and helpful. It was big though and there were a few times we got a bit mixed up as to where we were going. I love it’s just across the street from Aventura which is another one of our favourites.

Universal in general - we had a great experience with a mix of having express pass and not. Might have been a better idea to have planned the other way round but it meant we could totally relax during the sapphire but as we’d done everything. Loved the pace and the team members were great. All helped by the fact our annual passes had been frozen and reactivated.

Mardi Gras - I love all the extra wee touches, riding in the parade was brilliant and they’ve really upped their game in terms of food offerings. Plus the Mardi Gras food cards were a great deal.

Food, I wasn’t sure what to expect with the low carb diet but staff were so happy to suggest changes I could make easily. I think my food at Lombards, big fire and longhorns were my favourite. Plus I could have normalish type snacks from the supermarkets like tortilla chips and sweets.

Velocicoaster - has to be the best coaster I’ve ever ridden. So smooth, brilliantly designed from start to finish, even the locker set up impressed me.

Lows

A wee one - Building work at Hard Rock, not a big impact but not nice to look at or have people wandering past your room on scaffolding.

A huge one - The return home - these things happen but the lack of customer service and just being fobbed off by BA staff is what annoyed me the most. Still waiting for any kind of response.

A couldn’t be helped one - The mummy refurb - we knew it was shut but still missed it!

Future plans

Summer -2022

So I’d booked 8 nights at Port Orleans with the dining credit offer on a bit of a whim really. I’d ideally wanted to fly out a few days before the Disney stay but when flights came out it was cheaper to have that as our arrival day.

Along with the flights I booked 9 nights staying at cabana Bay in a family suite for a price cheaper than endless summer with BA and our last 5 nights at Portofino Bay, we weren’t that bothered which express pass hotel and Ds was really keen for Portofino so we went for that, hard rock was coming in the most expensive.

Fast forward to this holiday and the fact it needed pretty much zero planning and was a fairly chilled pace got us tang about the Disney nights we’d booked. This combined with some of the reviews of mouse keeping, dining issues, the cost, genie + and Ds really wanting to try out more coasters, helped us come to the decision to shelve Disney for just now, although I’ve not cancelled it yet.

I’ve booked 8 nights at dockside which will cut our costs significantly and we will just spend more time at Seaworld, Busch gardens and aquatica. We also have discovery cove. I’d like a Disney springs trip or an after hours event if one pops up.

So 22 nights all at universal accommodation with universal annual passes and discovery cove ultimates. Really looking forward to it.

Halloween 2022

I had booked our first hhn for last year which was then cancelled. Same day I checked the virgin Edinburgh route with a stay at the hard rock and it popped up with a decentish price but just for 6 nights. I only get a week in October. I’m beyond excited to try HHN. Express pass will be great as HHN will be the priority so we will just dip in and out the parks and Hard Rock location will be a blessing after those long nights

So 6 nights with direct flights, I won’t be getting used to that luxury, at hard rock for hhn and general universal with maybe a boo bash or MNSSHP thrown in.

Hoping for a frequent fear pass to cover HHN but not sure if we should get the express option or maybe do one night at an RIP tour, still debating this bit. Id be grateful for any thoughts or advice.