After limited sleep and a wee bit of tiredness carried over from our day of adventures and excitement at Disneyland and California Adventure Park, our group of intrepid travellers awoke full of pep and were ready to do back it up and do it all again today at Universal Studios – the home of some of the largest grossing movies in the history of film making that includes Jurassic World and Harry Potter. Excitement levels were high but many did enjoy the chance to catch a bit of shut eye on the 90 minute drive across town, you know just to get themselves ready for another day on the go.

One thing I have noted both yesterday and today, is that we seem to have had a shift in our student movements. The boys who usually brought up the rear of the group with their slow relaxed gait now seem to have moved to the front, and I’ve even seen running on occasions. (Definitely not the same speed when it comes to laundry time). Sweating and shining is back, especially if it means they’re going to get to the front of the line.

On arrival at Universal Studios, we stopped for the obligatory group photo shoot and then it was straight into the park and over to Harry Potter World. Now this was impressive, the set itself is enormous and you felt like you were in the middle of Hogwarts. It was absolutely amazing! This was our first team ride of the day and it was fantastic. After we had waved our magic wands it was down the biggest set of escalators you have ever seen to ‘The Mummy’ for the traditional team ride. Again, this was a fast paced roller coaster and just as before, it was the usual crowd either gritting their teeth and bearing the feeling of being nauseous or at the other end of the scale they were screaming with excitement. Either way there were plenty of laughs. Other highlights of the park included Transformers 3D, Simpsons virtual roller coaster, the studio back lot tour (which included the “Fast and Furious” 3D ride and the Jurassic Park adventure.

We had several goes on these rides and the students were really in the zone as they had the adrenalin pumping but this was all about to change as Bucks called an urgent team meeting near the entrance of The Walking Dead. Strange location we thought but on arrival we learnt there was method to his madness. Once we all arrived Bucks enforced the special ride rule – this is the once per trip ride the tour leader chooses for every single person to drop what they’re doing and all attend. This year it was the Walking Dead, for those not familiar with the walking dead it is a post-apocalyptic walk through world where you have to fight for survival as walkers (zombies) appear randomly in iconic landscapes. Not for the faint hearted – and there were definitely more than a few in the group begging not to do it. No luck.

I would like to say we were all brave about the impending battle for survival, but that may be a slight stretch of the truth, while some reveled in the chance to do battle the dead, there were others who shall remain nameless, that expressed ‘self-doubt’ in the line with some of the students doing a better job of scaring themselves than the actual ride itself. Sometimes fear doesn’t bring out the best in us and I have to admit while going through the life or death situation there may have been a moment where I pushed poor James Holmes in front of the zombie to protect myself. Not my finest moment.

Once we’d recovered from our fight for survival there were more than a few Titans who treated themselves to enormous doughnuts (it was the size of their head) from ‘Lards Lads Donuts’ in ‘Krustyland’, home of The Simpsons. Mmmm donuts.

Special mention must be given to Malok who on winning a large stuffed toy in Krustyland (and realising there was no way he was getting it home on the plane without buying it a seat), he gave it to a young girl who had been gazing at it longingly. Nice work Malok.  

After a day full of fun, we left Universal Studios at 6.00pm and headed back on the bus. From there it was a night of manouvering items in the suitcase in preparation for our very early flight tomorrow. Hawaii here we come.

Universal Studios Fun Facts:

• In the early days of Universal Studios, tours cost 25 cents.
• At one time the main attraction was the “Glamour Tram” which took visitors around on the Studio Tour. This cost only $ 2.50 to ride and gave you a view of the studios and a chance to spot some stars.
• Even though the park opened in 1964 it wasn’t until 1991 that a stand-alone ride was introduced which was the E.T. Adventure which no longer exists as of today.

The Flag!

A lot of our tour participants seem to be adrenalin junkies and absolutely loving the thrills of the rides we’re encountering at Disneyland, California Adventure Park and Universal Studios. None more so, than Matt Black, which leads us to today’s nomination. Welcome! Young Matt, decided the extreme drops and rapid acceleration on the Guardians of the Galaxy ride just wasn’t enough for him and wanted to experience the ride in it’s pure, natural form, with his seatbelt loosened so that he felt the full brunt of the stops. Luckily, he still had the harness restraint over his shoulders to hold him in place but after a couple of jumps and jolts, the ride stopped mid way. What could it be? A fault in the ride maybe, a chance to correct a slight glitch, or maybe an opportunity to remove a rider who had loosened their seat belt? That’s right, two security guards came in, mid-ride, and removed Matt, escorting him out, with a stern warning about the dangers and not to hop on the ride again for the day. Back to the bumper cars for you Matt.