We headed down to Florida June 30th from New York with my family DH, DD 18, DS 15, DS 14, MIL, FIL and SIL. Flight was delayed going down but not too bad. Tony Hinds (Art) picked us up and after a snafu with MIL taking wrong luggage off plane, we were finally on our way to the Portofino for a week at Universal. We stopped at Publix on the way and got water, creamer and some crackers, pretzels. I had booked three rooms, all under the same last name, and no matter how many times I spoke with hotel, somehow me and DH got the handicapped room when it should have been MIL and FIL who both were using scooters and don't get around very well. I would end up needing the handicapped room later in the week, so maybe the hotel knew what it was doing after all. LOL In laws had to move to a different room after the first night and that was a bit of an issue, but hotel resolved everything.
I had tweaked my back in the shower the day we left - I have a history of back issues - so I was a bit hobbled but was powering on. We went to the park on the 1st - we always start at Studios to ride Mummy - always the first ride we go on. We got MIL to ride it for the first time - she was a rock star and so willing to try new things. She liked it but said it was a one and done for her.
Thankfully this board recommended dining reservations and we had lunch and dinner reservations every day because FIL likes to eat. We ate at Finnegan's, Vivo, NBC Grill, Confisco, Antojitos, Cowfish, Trattoria, Sal's. We loved everything and did a few of the places more than once. We saw people without reservations being turned away so I was very glad that I had listened to the folks on the boards here.
My back was really hurting so I had a massage at Mandara Spa, which was lovely, but didn't help. What also didn't help was going on Hulk, Hagrids and the Velocicoaster. Oh my - I came off the Velocicoaster and couldn't walk. I tried another massage where I needed help getting off the table when it was done and then tried the pool, figuring the weightlessness might help - it didn't - and then asked my DH to please take me to the hospital. We ended up at Dr. Phillips Hospital where I was admitted. I was discharged after a day with 3 prescriptions and powered on, although my family would not let me back on Hulk or Velocicoaster. I did do Hagrids a bunch of times and Mummy and Gringotts. My MIL went on Hagrids and Gringotts as well and liked them both.
The weather was not too hot because it rained a lot, but we were fine with that. It definitely made things a little more bearable for me because I have blood clots in both lungs after getting the first vaccine and was hospitalized almost a week with acute respiratory failure. The doc that took care of me in the hospital then was also going to be in Universal the same time and said I could go on everything, just no screaming. I tend to smile during rides so no issues there. I do get winded easily now but really had no problem with that - it was just my back. It's always something, right?
Overall, it was a great trip and we had fun with family. My MIL and FIL being in late 70's early 80's it is probably the final time that they'll come with us to a theme park so we were glad to spend the time with them, although the beep beep of backing up scooters is still in my head - I hear it everywhere now!! They got their scooters tied up with each other a few times and we all laughed our heads off.
My DD and I are going back next month for a 5 night trip just the two of us before she leaves for school - she'll be a freshman at RIT studying Engineering and playing women's basketball - with the dream of becoming a theme park engineer. Theme parks are her happy place - especially Universal parks. I am hoping to have whatever issue with my back resolved by then because we plan to ride everything!!
Sorry if this was a rambling mess!! Thanks for reading!!
I had tweaked my back in the shower the day we left - I have a history of back issues - so I was a bit hobbled but was powering on. We went to the park on the 1st - we always start at Studios to ride Mummy - always the first ride we go on. We got MIL to ride it for the first time - she was a rock star and so willing to try new things. She liked it but said it was a one and done for her.
Thankfully this board recommended dining reservations and we had lunch and dinner reservations every day because FIL likes to eat. We ate at Finnegan's, Vivo, NBC Grill, Confisco, Antojitos, Cowfish, Trattoria, Sal's. We loved everything and did a few of the places more than once. We saw people without reservations being turned away so I was very glad that I had listened to the folks on the boards here.
My back was really hurting so I had a massage at Mandara Spa, which was lovely, but didn't help. What also didn't help was going on Hulk, Hagrids and the Velocicoaster. Oh my - I came off the Velocicoaster and couldn't walk. I tried another massage where I needed help getting off the table when it was done and then tried the pool, figuring the weightlessness might help - it didn't - and then asked my DH to please take me to the hospital. We ended up at Dr. Phillips Hospital where I was admitted. I was discharged after a day with 3 prescriptions and powered on, although my family would not let me back on Hulk or Velocicoaster. I did do Hagrids a bunch of times and Mummy and Gringotts. My MIL went on Hagrids and Gringotts as well and liked them both.
The weather was not too hot because it rained a lot, but we were fine with that. It definitely made things a little more bearable for me because I have blood clots in both lungs after getting the first vaccine and was hospitalized almost a week with acute respiratory failure. The doc that took care of me in the hospital then was also going to be in Universal the same time and said I could go on everything, just no screaming. I tend to smile during rides so no issues there. I do get winded easily now but really had no problem with that - it was just my back. It's always something, right?
Overall, it was a great trip and we had fun with family. My MIL and FIL being in late 70's early 80's it is probably the final time that they'll come with us to a theme park so we were glad to spend the time with them, although the beep beep of backing up scooters is still in my head - I hear it everywhere now!! They got their scooters tied up with each other a few times and we all laughed our heads off.
My DD and I are going back next month for a 5 night trip just the two of us before she leaves for school - she'll be a freshman at RIT studying Engineering and playing women's basketball - with the dream of becoming a theme park engineer. Theme parks are her happy place - especially Universal parks. I am hoping to have whatever issue with my back resolved by then because we plan to ride everything!!
Sorry if this was a rambling mess!! Thanks for reading!!
