This year we decorated our Halloween houses downstairs since we didn't want to make a mess upstairs right before the family party. We watched Halloween movies while worked on them.
Everyone hard at work
The finished houses:
Sam's monster house
Ev's terrifying masterpiece
Mike and worked together to make a Jurassic Park themed one
This year our schools and the surrounding schools teamed up to do a giant Halloween orchestra concert. They performed in the AFHS gym, and had orchestra students from 5 schools. They had some extra challenges to contend with - it can be tricky to play with that many people, and the gym is much more echo-y than the auditorium, but they did a great job and it was a lot of fun.
Sam
Ev
The whole group!
Zombie Tango
Creepy Classics
The Evil Eye and the Hideous Heart (based on the Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe)
We spent 2 and a half days in Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
Getting started out at Universal Studios, since they close early on the days they have Halloween Horror Nights
Villain-Con
It has been quite a few years since we went on the Jimmy Fallon ride because the first time we did it, half of the group got motion sick. Sam couldn't even remember what it was like and wanted to try it again, so Ev and I went on it with him.
The preshow in the lobby as you wait for your group to be called is probably the funnest part
Sam got motion sick on the ride, so I guess it goes back on the no-ride list lol
Checking out the Tribute Store
Ev getting ready to party on The Fast and the Furious
Ev watching Men in Black after the Alien Attack ride
The Simpsons Ride - when the ride was over a man in our vehicle said "That was so dumb" very seriously and it made me laugh
Grabbing some tasty sandwiches in the Today Cafe - it might not be the most exciting restaurant, but it was delicious
Some HHN windows
Waiting to go on the Minions ride
We were able to see some of the Halloween Horror Nights decorations - but they cover up anything scary/gory during the day before the event
The E.T. ride is a must
The kids told the employee that their names were Poop to see if E.T. would say it at the end of the ride - he did not. I think he can only say names out of an approved database of names
The Trollercoaster was new since we were here last
It is definitely a kiddie coaster, but it was cute and fun
One of the "scary" spiders
The Gringotts queue
I asked Ev to take a picture of us by these fun pumpkins
She took a bonus selfie for me to discover later
Some of the Halloween treats in the candy store
It was a little after 5 when we were leaving to go to Islands of Adventure, so they had started uncovering the HHN decorations
We started out in the Jurassic Park area
We got pretty wet on the River Adventure
We had a yummy dinner at the Three Broomsticks
The next day - starting out in Universal Studios again
I wanted to go look at the Wicked store, so Mike and I did that while the kids went and rode the Mummy and some other rides
There is a yellow brick path leading up to it!
There are also costumes from the film on display
I know Shiz is the name of the school in the musical, but this merchandise is so funny to me because I usually hear it as a swear-substitute
Beetlejuice out reading his newspaper
Spending some more time in Diagon Alley
Taking a drink break
We were able to see the Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees show
We met back up with the kids and rode the Hogwarts Express to IOA
They have added an Express Pass line for Hagrid's Magical Creatures - there are not as many cool things to look at in the express line, but it was nice to have a shorter wait
The Beauxbatons performing in the Triwizard Spirit Rally
For lunch we went to Thunder Falls Terrace - I love the big dinosaur chandeliers there. Another great thing about this restaurant is they have a ton of GF options!
Waiting to board the Kong: Skull Island ride
Going on the Spider-Man ride - Ev realized she forgot to wear her Spider-Man watch
Doh!
Dr Doom
We had never actually ridden the Storm Force Accelatron ride and I wanted to try it - it is similar to the teacups ride at Disneyland, but you can spin your vehicle super fast
Sam and Ev rode the Hulk coaster - this one rattles my brain too much
Of course we had to ride the Cat in the Hat -
We looked around the giftshop afterward
Ev was surprised by how tall these pants were
A little duck friend
Going back to Jurassic Park
The kids rode Velocicoaster again while Mike and I explored the Discovery Center
You could meet a little baby dino that a handler had in a bag
We had never done this activity before - and we created an abomination
The dinosaur egg nursery
These three left to go to HHN at Universal Studios, while I stayed by myself in Islands of Adventure and did my favorite thing - walking around at my own pace and looking at EVERYTHING lol
The cat porch
Someone offered to take a photo of me with the T-Rex
On our last day, we packed up and checked out of the hotel and then were able to go to the park until 3pm since we had a late flight.
Tigress was out meeting guests
Checking out the Halloween store in IOA
Spending some time in Hogsmeade
Mike, Ev, and Sam playing Concentration 64 in line
There is something that I had always wanted to try, but we had never done before - the Raptor Encounter. The rest of the group decided to humor me and we gave it a go. I thought it was really fun - we got to meet Blue from Jurassic World
Blue's expression in our photo is hilarious
This is the funniest transition in the park to me - going from a tropical jungle to a little Scottish snow-dusted town lol
Riding back over to Universal Studios
For our last ride of the trip, we rode The Mummy again. It is definitely a favorite
For our late lunch/early dinner we ate at the Minion Cafe. We had never been in here before and it is so cute and silly!
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