There are two Universal parks right next to each other, the entrances to which are connected by a sort of outdoor mall and teen meet-up/date destination. The taxi deposited us at the base of an escalator. We ascended and were greeted with a security bag check and metal detector after which we crossed a moving walkway across an overpass that spanned the freeway and down another escalator into the mall area, complete with a mini golf course, multiplex, and every manner of shop and eating and drinking establishment. Uncle stopped to sign up for an American Express card in order to get "get to the front of the line" passes, only to find out that they don't get you to the front of the line of any of the Harry Potter rides because "the line is part of the experience".
While he did that, I ran ahead and picked up our tickets while Grandma sat with the kids and they played at being surfers.
Then we all met up and headed in. As we walked forward we had the choice of veering right to enter through Universal Studios or left for Islands of Adventure. Wendy suggested right, since that is home to Diagon Alley where she and Uncle could immerse themselves in Harry Potterness before boarding the train to Hogsmeade and Hogwarts Castle. In retrospect, Grandma and the kids and I should've entered the other way as there's more they were looking for on that side, but the map looked like there was plenty of kiddiness to enjoy both ways, so we journeyed forward.
It is set up very much to look like a big sound stage and we sat for a moment next to a man dressed as Betelgeuse while we got our bearings. The kids and Uncle waited in a short line to meet Bumblebee from the Transformers, who was impressive and communicated to his fans through snippets of awesome '80s music, so I was entertained.
And then we split up, aiming to meet up again at Diagon Alley in a few hours. We wandered around and found a Mel's Diner just like the one the kids go to with Daddy (very impressive).
We didn't make it to the "San Francisco" section, which looks impressively like the Embarcadero and Fisherman's Wharf from a distance, but which boasts of "fish throwing", which didn't seem geographically appropriate. We headed over to the kids' area looking for Spongebob, but he was on a break. So we went to the Woody Woodpecker roller coaster, which is a teeny, one-loop coaster. It advertised that you could ride it if you were 36", so we strode up only to be told that kids under 48" had to ride with an adult. Only problem - we had three kids and only two adults. The solution is what Universal calls "child swap", which is not as exciting as it sounds. It means there's a waiting area at one end where Grandma got to sit with two kids while I went up to the exit of the roller coaster with the third kid to ride. I did this FIVE times.
And this is when we discovered that Universal is not really geared for the under-48" set. As we looked around, there were hardly any strollers and hardly any ECVs (this is an abbreviation I was previously unfamiliar with. It means "Electric Convenience Vehicle" or something like that and is what they call the motorized scooters Grandma and Boppy had been availing themselves of at Disney.) The crowd seemed be mainly in the 13-60 age range, I'd guess.
After the roller coaster we went back to find Spongebob again, still not there. So we went to the E.T. ride. We all loaded into the ante room and as the doors were closing behind us, Daniel bolted. And so I followed and we made some souvenir pennies and played a bit and waited for everyone to come out. When we saw them, Caroline again informed Daniel that he "made the right choice" because the ride had been dark and scary. Oh well.
From there we took a potty break and were going to head up to see if we could find Uncle when the kids decided they wanted to "meet" Spongebob's friend Patrick.
This cheered everyone up and we headed off through the Simpsons-themed area. We bought ice creams and found a Dumbo-styled ride to ride that pleased everyone because they could watch cartoons in line and then go up and down at will on the ride. From there we walked through a carnival area and decided to use some of our "get to the front of the line" passes for the Simpsons coaster, only Daniel didn't want to go so he stayed with Grandma and played a carnival game in which you essentially pay $10 to "win" a Simpsons stuffed toy. After Max and Caroline and I emerged from the ride (everything at this park seems to be one of those "new" Star Tours-type rides where you're in a capsule that moves around in response to images on a screen projected in front of you), they "played" too and we left Simpsonsland with two Barts and a Lisa and a need to remind the kids regularly who Bart and Lisa are.
And from there we went to Diagon Alley, waiting outside the Kings Cross Station for Uncle and Wendy. We went in and the kids got to "do magic" with Wendy's wand. Grandma and I sat out this part of the experience, I went to get us some food and people were generally rude to me, and I had my first (I hope) complete meltdown of the trip.
And then we went and got in line for the train to the other side of the park. The kids really enjoyed being on the train and seeing what was "happening" outside - especially when the chocolate frog jumped across our window! When we got to the other side we gave a quick wink at Hogwarts, said good bye to Uncle and Wendy, and headed off to find Marvel's Super Hero Island.
On our way, we passed through a Sunday comics-themed area that was heavily under construction and thoroughly perplexing. It seemed to be aimed at young kids, but featured all the comics I grew up with and all the ones from well before my time.
Our first stop was the Spider-man ride. It was a hybrid roller coaster and screen projection, including areas when water spit at you or you could feel the heat of an explosion. All very immersive. Caroline LOVED the ride. Daniel and Max HATED it. So when we got outside and saw that Spider-Man was right across the street posing for pictures, we let Grandma and Caroline go back on the ride and we waited in line.
After what had been a relatively disappointing day for me, Spider-Man turned it all around. He was amazing, chit chatting with everyone in a snarky, Peter Parker style. When he saw that Max and Daniel were wearing Captain America and Spider-Man shirts respectively, he said, "Aha! So it seems I'll be playing the part of Peter Parker today!" He quizzed the boys on what Captain America and Spider-Man had in common (they're Avengers), who their favorite villain is (trick question! they were supposed to say none!) Then he wondered aloud what he should get Doctor Octopus for his birthday. The boys suggested getting him a Spider-Man t-shirt.
And then they posed for photos.
At the end, he shook their hands, arm wrestled with Daniel, and got "taken down". The boys could not have been more pleased.
Just as they were finishing up, Caroline came running up, so I got back in line with her. When it was her turn, I tried to explain to Spidey that she was the triplet sister of the Spider-Man and Captain America he'd met before, but I stumbled over myself and for some reason said Batman and I think he heard "triple" instead of "triplet" because he started talking to her about how impressed he was that she was a crossover, hybrid superhero who didn't care for any of that DC/Marvel rivalry. He asked what she was doing in town, explained that he was here fighting crime and taking pictures - well, mostly taking pictures, but if crime came by he'd fight it. He suggested that since they were both in town, maybe they should meet up later to grab dinner and fight a little crime and then asked if she'd pose for a picture because the Daily Bugle was on a deadline and, since he knew they'd end up getting the bad guy anyway, he'd like to have a picture for the early edition.
And then we proceeded to buy up the entire store - each kid selected a Captain America themed gift for Uncle, everyone got a t-shirt and a soft toy, and then we went outside to sit on a bench and wait for Wendy and Uncle to find us. At some point, I lost my wallet and it was turned in to Lost and Found, so I got to collect it as we exited while everyone else shopped just a little bit more.
And then it was back to the hotel, a late dinner in the room, and to bed!
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