Universal Studios - A roller coaster too far....

Well, we didn't quite get away as early as we had hoped...but still managed to get there for about 11ish which all being said and done, was pretty good going.

The day was a SCORCHER...well into the 90's by the time we got there, but that was ok - we were going to treat Lily to a top day with the highlight being the Jurassic Park boat ride ! We had both ridden this ride years ago in LA and just knew it would be a scream for her....we had no doubt she would love it !!

Off we set...fighting against the crowds ( this was after all a bank holiday and my word....it was packed solid ! ) Universal is all about simulator rides. Yes, there are some WHOPPING roller coasters ( none of which Lily could ride because of her height ) but in the main, they are very clever rides that use not just 3D technology....but 4D in most cases that create huge fun experiences without ever leaving the floor. The Spiderman ride was our first stop, and it didn't dissapoint. It has it all....and Lily ( in the main part ) loved it. Me and Ali.....adored it !!! It was a fantastic ride that leaves you breathless at the thrill.

The park was busy - very busy. We were banking on the fact that lots of people would probably leave the park early ish. By early....we mean 6 ish, and bearing in mind the whole park stayed open until 11pm, we figured we were in for the night and just went with the flow. A good tactic as it turned out. Yes it was heaving, and yes we did queue for ages for some things, but by the end of the night....the park was ours !

Jurassic Park

It is very difficult to explain what the Jurassic Park ride is like, it is one of those things you just have to experience. But taking Lily on it, was a dream come true.

She laughed..
...and cried...

I don't think I wanted anything other than those reactions to be honest.

Does that make me a bad dad ?

Nahhh.....I gave her memories she won't forget and that suits me fine !

( I am also the man that tricked her into standing in the 'Splash Zone' with 50 people watching as the ride splashed to its watery end.....and the look on her face at the realisation of the drenching she was about to receive, was worth the entrance money )

She stood just to the right of the round light in this picture......ahhhh....magical kodak moments I only wish I had captured on video !

So, tears and tantrums later ( and 20 minutes in the toilets drying off ) ...we head off to the new Harry Potter land.

Ali & I both rode the monster roller coasters they have built ( Lily too small ) and then we all went on the star attraction...the broomstick simulator ride - ooops....not all of us enjoyed it !

A little too much for Lily, and to be fair, it was a pretty scary ride - spiders and ghosts, mixtures of animated and real experiences. An amazing ride, so very clever...but about 1 minute in, we had one very upset little girl who wanted off !

Ho-Hum....she survived, but unlikely she will ever do that one again in a hurry !

It was another great day....again very tiring and very late home ( well past midnight ) but packed full of lovely memories I know we will all keep.

We didn't get many photos nor video of the day...just the way it went.

My feet were killing me....

Swift gave me a 1.2 million pound order today....

My feet don't feel so bad....!......