Universal Studios Day #2, Part #2 - Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

So much happened on Day #2 of our trip that it needed two separate blog posts!  You can read part #1 of our day (in Universal) by clicking HERE! 

After we spent the day in Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, we headed back to our hotel room around 3pm to change and head to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom!  This is a special party ticket!  The party officially starts at 7:00pm but with your ticket, you can get into the Magic Kingdom at 4:00pm!  

We took an Uber from the Cabana Bay Resort to the Polynesian Resort!  Uber is such an easy way to get around, but you cannot take it directly to the Magic Kingdom.  You either need to take it to one of the on property hotels or take it to the Ticket and Transportation Center.  We took it to the Polynesian because that is where we stayed last year, and John and I wanted a Dole Whip!  Otherwise, I would have taken it to the Contemporary since you can walk to the Magic Kingdom from that resort! 

Driving through the Walt Disney and Magic Kingdom gates! 

John at the Polynesian! 

Our friend Corey, who was in town on business, met us there! 

 Dole Whip!!! If you have never had one of these, you are seriously missing out!  I love the Pineapple and Vanilla swirl! 

We took the boat from the Polynesian to the Magic Kingdom and walked through the front gates.  They scan your ticket and give you a Christmas Party wristband! Cast Members check these wristbands throughout the night.

As soon as you walk in, you got a cookie!  You get lots more complimentary treats throughout the night as well! 

Our first stop was STARBUCKS!  At this point, no one should be surprised!  

Starbucks is good all the time, but it's the BEST in Disney! 

After our coffee, we rode so many rides!  This is the best thing about the Christmas Party - the entire park is open and there are very little wait times!  They have two times that you can see Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade - one at 8:30pm and one at 11:00pm.  Almost everyone with little kids goes to the 8:30pm parade (and they start lining up on the street as early as 7:00pm to get a front row seat).  If you can stay late enough for the 11:00pm parade, you definitely should so that you can do tons of rides during the first parade time slot! 

Here are a list of the rides we were able to get on with a 15 minute or less wait:

Pirates of the Caribbean 

The Haunted Mansion

The Jungle Cruise (which they turn into the Jingle Cruise for Christmas)

Space Mountain

It's a Small World

Tomorrowland Speedway

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 

Dumbo

The Barnstormer

Mad Tea Party

John got to carry the time card! 

John and I also waited to meet Disney's newest princess Elena of Avalor!  She was so sweet and friendly!  The girls will be very excited to meet her on our next trip!

We also stopped to eat treats along the way!  This year they are offering different treats at each stand! 

Peppermint Cookies and Hot Chocolate

 Sugar Cookies and a Snowcone

This is a list of all the complimentary treats around the park! 

Around 9:45pm we headed to the front of Cinderella's Castle so that we could view Holiday Wishes, a special fireworks display set to Christmas Music (what could be better than that?!?)! 

As soon as the fireworks are over, about 75% of the people head right for the gates!  This is the perfect time to grab a spot on Main Street and wait for the second parade that begins at 11:00pm!  

We grabbed a front row spot...right in front of Starbucks! 

How cute is this cupcake I ate while I was waiting?!?

Snow on Main Street! 

Little Bits of the PARADE! 

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Universal Studios Day #2, Part #1

Today I am recapping Day #2 of our KID FREE trip to Florida last week! 

We woke up REALLY early so that we could be on the bus and get to Universal Studios for the opening!  One of the many advantages to staying on property is you are able to enter Universal Studios one hour before the park is open to the public.  You will need to show your ticket and your room key!  The only part of the park that is open at that time is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, so you get to see it before the crowds! 

Before getting on the bus, we stopped at STARBUCKS right inside our hotel!  I seriously cannot say enough how wonderful it was to have a Starbucks right inside the hotel.  Of course there is one right when you walk through the gates of CityWalk and there is also one inside each park! 

We rode the bus and got off at CityWalk.  You have to walk through CityWalk before you can enter Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure.  You walk through a metal detector and the actually pass your bags through a scanner as well.  In the year 2016, I truly appreciate the extra security measures! 

This is what CityWalk looks like during the day!  Mostly everything is closed this early in the morning.  Just a Starbucks and a Cinnabon were the only things open! 

We walked through CityWalk to the Universal Studios gates.

Once you are through the gates, you have to walk to the back of the park to get to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!  There's a small area outside of the actual Harry Potter area that is made to look like London! 

Then you walk through this hole in the bricks (which sounds as if the bricks are actually moving) and you enter Diagon Alley!

The Leaky Cauldron! 

The main ride here is Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts!  This ride is inside Gringotts Bank, and it did not disappoint! 

 After the ride, we got Butterbeer!  I got HOT Butterbeer and John had FROZEN Butterbeer!  The hot was AMAZING and I highly recommend it! 

 Outside of Diagon Alley is King's Cross Station!  This is where you go to ride the Hogwarts Express!  In order to do this, you must have a park hopper because it takes you to Island's of Adventure (Universal's other theme park).

Getting on the platform!

It creates an illusion like you are truly walking through the wall! 

PLATFORM 9 3/4!!!!

On the Hogwart's Express!

When you get off the Hogwart's Express in the other park, you are in Hogsmeade! 

They made this AMAZING! It's so cute! 

You walk through the little town of Hogsmeade and arrive at HOGWARTS! Inside Hogwarts is the main ride for this side - Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey!  THIS was my favorite ride!  Even the wait in line as you walk through the castle is spectacular!  They have free lockers outside of this ride and they make you empty your pockets completely before riding! 

I loved that they had these little signs all over for PRAM parking!  And all of the elevators are called LIFTS!  It really set the tone! 

I know that right about now if you don't like Harry Potter, you are probably so bored!  But we did do some other things too!  

We rode the Transformers Ride (which was amazing) and the Simpsons Ride! 

We walked through Seuss Landing and the reading specialist in me was sooooo happy! 

Then we had seriously the BEST burgers I have ever eaten at this restaurant is Island's of Adventure - Confisco Grille!  

We took the Water Taxi back to our hotel! 

Back at our hotel we grabbed another STARBUCKS! 

Then it was time to head to DISNEY!  Come back tomorrow as I recap Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party!

Are you thinking of planning your own trip to Universal Studios in Orlando?  I would love to help!  All of my travel concierge services are 100% FREE!  You can check out my travel page HERE and email Lindsay@magicfamilygetaways.com for a quote today!