In a Hot Dense State
Right out of the gate.
For bonus points...
Without Googling,
can you tell me what the title
has to do with Universal?
Bare Naked Ladies & the current theory of the origin of the Universe
And how those two things relate to Universal of course.
It all started with a big…
It was a dark and stormy night.
Making your bid for the Bulwer-Lytton Awards?
Well, I don't think it was stormy,
but it was probably dark.
Unless it was a full moon,
then it wasn't all that dark.
I don't think the sun was up.
Naaaa….
It lands in Arizona every evening.
You can look it up for yourself.
I grabbed a Chai Latte for Kay,
(I don't remember what she wanted,
but they didn't have that either.
And... she hated it.)
and a .... Coke... for breakfast...
for me. Gross.
Well…
Still better than wolfing down a bag on Funyuns in three bites and chasing that by shot-gunning a PBR
Hmmm...
Would the invention of the internet
qualify as better than sliced bread?
It’s more akin to the invention of the printing press in terms of its cultural effect.
But sliced bread did completely rearrange how we eat and where we buy most of our food.
So it ain’t what I’d call insignificant.
So I'll stick with the sliced bread.
Maybe lightly toasted.
With a big gob of jam on top.
Rye toast for me please.
In the form of a grilled-cheese if possible.
Or maybe as part of a Rubin. Yeah, that would be really good right now.
I know I am…
Thanks for that.
Standing in a hotel parking lot having just slammed the boot lid on your baggage.
(I mean other than standing
in front of the fridge,
looking for a jar of jam.)
No, that’s where you are now, I mean back in the story.
This whole chapter
and the ones that follow
are all gonna be a bit of a crap shoot.
So long as it’s not Russian Roulette…
works for me.
Doesn’t mean I was paying attention though.
Now, does it?
Harry Potter land.
That's what it's called.
Better than being in a Potters Field.
At least that's what I call it.
So much shorter than typing out
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Or go with the acronym
Those things are all the rage on those new-fangled surgically attached cell-phone thingies.
This is not the first time
one of my "shortcuts"
has resulted in a "longcut".
While riding a motorcycle, this could be a good thing (assuming it’s not inclement)
When doing any type of work however…
you know what?
If you can't keep up, then... too bad!
No more acronym translations!
WFM…
The pass allows you access to the front
of the line once for each ride.
So if you want to ride something twice,
then you have to stand in line at least once.
Capiche?
Capiche…
And remember, always take the cannolis.
but if the goal is to ride everything once...
Then rope drop is sufficient.
Capiche…
We no sooner took off
when the video projection stopped running.
We came to an abrupt halt and sat there
for a short while.
Drat…
My darts lied to me.
That’s what I get for trusting inanimate objects.
But then again, trusting animate objects that are known for their tendencies toward purposeful obfuscation is not a much more reliable scheme either, so what’cha gonn’a do.
The theming here, as in all of HPL
is really top notch.
On par with Disney.
(Gasp!)
They have upped their game considerable.
Apparently, we're all jerks.
That’s what she said…
All you do is... bow...
and then you can approach and...
MY EYE! MY EYE!!!! OH MY GOD, MY EYE!!!!!!
Well that escalated quickly…
Apparently he’s also an excellent judge of character.
The ride itself is a pretty tame
little coaster.
Which is why I figured you’d skipped it.
That’s two shots right in the Lumber Yard.
Coincidentally, that ride was the longest
we stood in line all day.
Go figure.
Actually, I’m not surprised.
The kiddie coasters tend to be like that as parents go out of their way to get the little ones on something that their height and experiences can handle. It’s been a long-long time since I’ve had to take similar actions, but I have done such.
Yes, the frozen one is the
better of the two.
IMHO.
So much for the no more acronyms mandate.
Good information, none the less.
Except when you are.
And... Kay is not a fan of getting wet.
And you can on this ride.
Not Kali wet... but...
Not a fan of it myself.
Except when that is the specific goal as when we took a trip that included Universal way back in 2013 (One of several adventures that I never got around to writing about. Or did I?)
And I’ve still never ridden Kali, by the way
Revenge of the Mummy was next.
We rode that and laughed our heads off.
Fun ride!
That was our take as well (assuming that it’s the same configuration on both coasts).
The seats were a smidge uncomfortable but the coaster was fun.
(and I’m partial to “mine-train” type coasters).
We didn't have to wait long
and we got excellent seats;
2nd row, center.
I imagine the young’en was particularly pleased with that arrangement.
Everyone knows where Springfield is, right?
Not too far from North Haverbrook.
You know, that other place with one of those monorails.
We entered Krusty's and ordered up some grub.
Krusty Grubs…
Mmmmmm.
Oh... shoot.
Beach's closed.
Oh, it's probably just something silly.
I'm sure we can go in.
You’re going to need a bigger tram…
I mean... how bad can your special effects be?
So, it’s on par with the Disco Yeti, then?
(of course, they didn’t purposely set out for that to be non-functional)
We passed from Amity to Whoville.
Jim Carrey was not in evidence however.
Just as well…
Much prefer the 1966 version, myself.
It’s ain’t the holidays until after I hear Boris Karloff tell the story.
Whatever.
I think it has something to do
with this cozy looking motel.
I hear that they have issues with the showers in that place.
We rounded a corner and...
Ever see the movie
War of the Worlds
with Tom Cruise?
Nope.
I’ve listened to the Mercury Theater’s radio broadcast, though.
Several times…
I’m also old enough
(and just geeky enough)
to have had a copy of Jeff Wayne’s version of the story as well.
It certainly ain’t for sissies.
Whelp...
Let's go ride Forbidden Journey again!
WFM…
Oh wait, not supposed to be using acronyms anymore.
Sorry about the minor breach of etiquette, there.
Funny looking willow tree...
It’s a whomper all right.
This time, I decided to sneak
my camera on the ride.
I wouldn't use it during,
but... the queue was fair game.
At’a boy!
We don’t need no stinkin’ rules.
Hi Dumbledore!
Sorry you got changed
into a newt at the end
of the books!
Well, he got better…
Wait, wrong movie again.
Good thing too, cause they might have tried to make a bridge out of him in that one.
(It would’a been a fair cop, though.)
Oh, dear. Did I just ruin it for you?
Only if you tell me that the Tardis was destroyed by a proton torpedo fired from the parapets of Barad-dûr while the doc was attempting to beat 12 parsecs on the Kessel Run.
Then I might be just the tiniest bit perturbed.
One last photo of the Grumpy Hat
The Universal equivalent of Mickey Ears?
A secret entrance opened and we went into another room
where a sorceress descended a set of stairs
and picked out a young lady to see about
getting an appropriate wand for her.
(No. Not Kay.)
Too bad…
I know that they’re going to pick one of younger young’ens, but that would have been a nice little B/D extra for our heroine.
I believe there are 13 different
types of wands.
If there’s a limited number on offer, that the limited number Id have chosen.
(it’s also a lucky number in our household, but that’s not a particularly relevant detail, to be honest)
Kay purchased an interactive one.
Took a while to find just the right one.
No…
It found her.
That’s how this stuff works, ya’ know.
You stand in a marked spot,
wave your wand in a specific way
(Each location has a different gesture
and it usually takes several attempts
to get it right)
and "magic" happens.
That’s actually kind’a cool if you’ve got the time to play with it.
(The real trick would be if it still worked on store windows back in Winnipeg.)
Guess what we got! Guess!
Just stay away from the Ogre Boogies.
Nasty stuff, that.
Come up with your own story
about that photo.
Bonus points if you do.
Having had just about enough, Mel sent the rest of the kitchen staff out to search the rest of the restaurants in the area to determine once and for all just what these “grits” are that Flo is forever telling him to kiss.
Seen the real thing in Paris.
Where are the vanes???
Kind’a hard to do any millin’ without those.
My best guess, one of the dragons ripped them down.
I'm sure LA rush hour traffic
isn't as bad as I've been told.
People exaggerate, you know??
Nooooo…
Do tell.
hold on, let me get the dart board back out.
And the fates say…
1. a. 2 hours
2. a. Shake Shack
3. d. California Screamin'
4. c. HM
5. d. Ornament
PM to be sent later on this evening…