2026-01-10

Hello journal! It's been a few days and they have been packed with awesome. Let's start with a quick recap from where I last wrote... ah yes. I was on the flight to MCO trying to burn some time because I wasn't really feeling the flight (cramped, tired, already been traveling). We got off the plane and Sarah lost her phone, but we were quickly reunited with it although we had to work with the police to get back to the gate it was lost at. We took an Uber to the hotel and checked in without a problem. We, perhaps in a moment of judgement lapse, went to Applebees for a quick meal. It was a disappointment and all of the things that make that establishment at least O.K. (cheap apps, cheap and strong drinks) were just not part of the deal here off i-drive in Orlando. I ran over to the liquor store and grabbed some rum and a 2-liter of Pepsi (which, silly enough, I have not yet opened). We went back to the hotel and I did my best to try and sleep but it's really been hard, even tonight I went to sleep at 10:30/11pm and woke up at 4ish without any feeling of tired remaining, just a growing excitement for the day and what it holds. End of the 6th

On the 7th, after trying to sleep I woke up and grabbed some supplies and stamps from the Walgreens we forgot, woke Sarah up for breakfast (for Sarah, Avocado toast, and for me a breakfast pizza) and we got in line and eventually on the Bus to Epic Universe. We are staying in the low-cost universal hotel called "Endless Summer: Surfside" so we were able to enter the park at just before 9am and get into the queue for Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge at just past 9am. Super Nintendo World is amazing. (It's going to be a main focus today too). I ran over to Donkey Kong: Mine-cart Madness but the ride was on a unknown delay so we pivot'd over to "constellation carousel", which broke for a moment right before we were to get on. They made it right by giving us an express pass to return for another ride later (we are still sitting on these passes). Somewhat discouraged by these setbacks, we set off for another short queue at Fyre Drill and ended up a bit disappointed with the lack of water pressure on the ride. The worlds are super impressive so although it was series of minor setbacks it wasn't really ruining the great mood. The park will really shine when they can get it all working perfectly though! We walked over to Dark Universe and Sarah (somewhat to my surprise) rode "Monsters Unchained" with me. It was the most impressive mechanical arm / dark ride I've ever been on. The animatronic for Dr. Frankenstein('s great granddaughter, who is also a doctor of the monster creating / controlling kind) was super impressive with a projected face with blinking and light effects and more. We left from that ride over to 1920's magical Paris for "Le Cirque Arcanus" which was a really great show! We almost purchased a wand at Cosmo Actures' Baggeuett Magique but (lucky for Sarah we would find out on the 8th) ended up heading into the the show right before and decided to hold off. After that we decided to watch the other show at the park "The Untrainable Dragon". It was an impressive mix of animatronics, puppets and costumes to tell a fun short story in the world of How to Train Your Dragon. We returned to Super Nintendo World for some interactive power band fun and rode "Yoshi's Adventure". The ride had broken buttons on some machines (which seemed to be a result of the dew that would form from the humidity). We didn't get the bonus on the app our first go around, so they allowed us to go again and that time it worked on my side (Sarah's was still broken but it counted on her app too so she was happy). The ride was really cute and certainly had some good views and seeing the characters really makes me happy (Kamek and Propeller-Guys spotted)! It was then time for our celebratory meal and Sarah chose "Atlantic" which certainly has the best dining view in the park (not counting the Helios hotel bar, which we still might want to try). Although a bit expensive it was worth it for our wants and the tuna tartare was really super (made with avocado, watermelon, yuzu and sesame). I ordered the lobster roll (which was not exactly as big as I hoped, but was tasty for sure) and Sarah ordered a Salad. We both ordered their non-alcoholic drink and it was very good, a cherry and orange granished and flavored sparkling drink if I recall correctly. After that we decided to return to the "Constellation Carousel" and this time we were able to ride (although we didn't get on a constellation that is part of the spinning inner platforms so I want to try that too. Also, the ride has lots of variations I read about so it's a much more re-rideable carousel than I've ever seen before). Once we'd finished that we decided it would be a good time for me to run over to the roller coaster "Stardust Racers" while Sarah did some of her own exploring (which I would later find was her spoiling me with some Nintendo World souvenirs like the plush Yoshi Blanket I am warmed by as I typed this from the hotel bed). "Stardust Racers" was amazing and I was able to ride it three times, once each side and then again after returning back from a ride on the family coaster over in Dark Universe: "Curse of the Werewolf", it was fun too! Sarah was done for the night (we'd already been at it for 13 hours so, very understandable) and held us a spot of the water show while I finished up my coaster rides. The water show was a great way to end the night and we made our way back to the hotel. That leaves the family coaster "Hiccup's Wing Gliders", "Dragon Rally Racers", "Donkey Kong: Mine-Cart Madness" and "Harry Potter: Battle at the Ministry" as our remaining ride at the Epic Universe park.

Eager to continue our exploration of USOR and to continue to see Sarah just as happy with her time here we decided to visit "Islands of Adventure" on the 8th. We started with a split, I ran over to Hagrid's Magical Creature Motorbikes (known for almost always running up a really long queue) and "Velocicoaster" right after. Sarah went to "Olivander's Wands" and was picked by the wand, which made her very very happy (some people have wanted it to happen for years and never get picked) we played with the wands after purchasing the one that chose her (only 1st gen, non app ready wands pick people it seems) and one of the newer 2nd gen wands. After a bit of trouble with some of the spells in Hogsmead we decided to jump on the Hogwarts Express to visit Diagon Alley. Now over in "Universal Studio's Orlando" disembarking from King's Crossing we saw and chatted with the shrunken head on the Knightbus and then entered Diagon Alley. The spells and adventures across the area were super and I took a moment to split off and ride "Escape from Gringots" while Sarah cast spells across the area. Knocktern Alley was dark and thematic, everything was really impressive. I stopped for a street show by ? and the Banshees and met up again with Sarah. We enjoyed a Gryffindor strawberry and peach popsicle together and more spell adventures this time with me taking the lead. Hunger found us and Sarah ordered for us a pie and some fruit from "The Leaky Cauldron". We put away our wands and decided to explore Universal Studios. We did the minon ride, villian con shooter (x2) and probably something else, I'll have to recall...
ET. Trollercoaster (with Sarah, she HATED it lol) MIB (x2 it had no line!) and we ended up getting invited to a time share presentation (mainly interested in the gift and a break from the packed day). anyway It's now 7am and I typed away the early pre-morning and now it's time to get ready for the day. I guess I'll have to write about the 9th and the relax day later. Main highlight: we met up with my Aunt on my Father's side and my cousins for dinner, it was great to meet my niece and nephew cousins and reconnect. Okay gtg, peace out journal-reader.

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Created: 2026-01-10 02:57 (5:57 Orlando Time)
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