Road Trip through Florida – My Travel Diary – Part 7 – Orlando – Action and Fun at Universal Studios 

13.03.2013

Orlando

Five days of Spring Break in Panama City Beach were now behind us, and I have to admit—yes, it had been an epic time, seriously amazing—but we were actually glad to be back on the road again, with an exciting new destination ahead: Orlando! Yiiipppiiihhh! The world-famous theme parks were waiting for us over the next few days. But before reaching Orlando, we had the longest leg of our road trip ahead: nearly 540 kilometers, mostly along the highway in our SUV. First, we left Panama City and headed inland via Interstate 75 toward Youngstown.

The Attack of the Monster Pizzas…

Since I thought it would be smarter to grab something to eat along the way rather than sitting down for a leisurely breakfast right at the start—risking our whole schedule in the process—the girls were already a little grumpy. To be fair, I had hoped we’d find a food spot pretty quickly, but once we left the city… nothing. Nada. And to make things worse, I was starting to get hungry myself. All I could think was: “Damn, that backfired.”

The GPS was taking us along the same route we had driven a few days earlier for Spring Break, so I knew we’d be passing a Pizza Hut in a little nowhere-town called Blountstown. Rather than continuing to complain that we should’ve just had breakfast back in Panama City Beach, Melly and Mary had already drifted off into dreamland, their heads leaning against the backseat windows.

They only noticed we had arrived when I hit a speed bump pulling into the parking lot—and boom, they were instantly wide awake. At first, all eyes were still gleaming with joy… but that quickly changed when we found out that we had missed the lunchtime “All-you-can-eat” deal by just 30 minutes. I could feel the mood in the car shift instantly.

Of course, I’d been looking forward to that buffet myself—imagine going wild on everything from pasta to pizza to those legendary cinnamon rolls. But well, nothing we could do about it now. So we each ordered a regular pizza. Regular, as in normal-sized. But hey—what’s “normal” in the U.S.?
What we ended up getting would easily pass for XXL pizzas back in Germany.

Our table was completely hidden beneath a mountain of pizzas. I already knew we wouldn’t be able to finish these mammoth slices and that we’d end up taking some of them home as pizza to go.

We ran into a little problem when we stood in front of the car with four pizza boxes and had no idea where to put them. The car was packed to the brim — right up to the lower edge of the upper lip. After a round of grumbling from my two sweet divas, they had no choice but to place the boxes on the floor and rest their dainty little feet on top of them until the pizzas were devoured. Both Kathy’s and my pizza ended up beneath her feet.

Now before anyone screams in horror — “How could you?! That’s disgusting!” — let me assure you: the pizzas were safely sealed in cardboard boxes, and no one had to press their bare feet into melted cheese. laughs

The journey continued. We finally hit the highway entrance, which meant we’d be on a straight shot to Orlando now — cue the monotony. My travel companions, stuffed to the gills, had already drifted back into their dreams. Paddy’s mixes (aka Patrick Pfeffer) — Totally Patrick — were playing from the USB stick he had loaded for us back at his place. Other than that, the car was silent.

And then it happened. Somewhere between Tallahassee and Live Oak, my eye started to itch. Without thinking, I rubbed it with my finger.

Damn. My contact lens had shifted.

When a lens fits so perfectly that you forget it’s there, you also forget in moments like this that there’s something in your eye. Now it was stuck somewhere off to the side, forcing me to squint slightly just to make the discomfort bearable.

I should have taken the next opportunity to exit the highway and fix it properly. But I knew if I pulled over now, all three of them would instantly wake up, and that beautiful silence would be gone.

So I decided to brave it with one squinty eye for another 60 kilometers, until I just couldn’t take it anymore. I exited the highway and aimed straight for the next McDonald’s.

Just as predicted: all three girls were suddenly wide awake.

I fixed the lens in the restroom, we each grabbed an Oreo McFlurry, and then we hit the highway again. There were still about 150 miles to go, and twilight was slowly settling in.

Next Stop: Orlando – The Mecca of Great Entertainment

Before we arrive in Orlando, I want to share something that happened during the drive. You can be on the highway for hours, covering a long stretch in a single day, and barely see a single State Trooper (the U.S. equivalent of the German autobahn police) on the road. Strangely enough, though, you do see them quite often parked on the side of the highway, having pulled someone over. On this particular leg of the trip, I must have seen that happen ten to fifteen times. Considering how invisible they are while driving, it’s quite remarkable — and it still doesn’t answer the question of how they manage to stop so many cars without being seen. Strange!!

Anyway, back to the journey. When we arrived in Orlando, it was around 9:30 p.m. and already dark outside. For the next three days — until Saturday, March 16th, 2013 — the Radisson Orlando – Lake Buena Vista would be our new home.

You know that one? You arrive and the first thing that happens is you get completely screwed over…

Right at check-in, we spotted a stand to the left of the reception desk promoting all the major theme parks—probably where we were supposed to pick up our tickets. The stand looked a lot like those last-minute vacation booths you see at every airport. The woman there flashed us her brightest toothpaste-commercial smile. She must’ve immediately seen it in our faces: we had absolutely no clue about how or where to get tickets for the parks.

We were so tired and out of it from the long day on the highway that we were the perfect prey that evening—ripe for the picking. She handed us brochures and park maps for Disney and Universal Studios, began making complex mathematical calculations on what each three-day package would cost us here versus there, and then dropped the magic word: “Discount.” That got our attention right away.

It was a bit like Pavlov’s dog—you know, the famous behavior experiment where the dog starts salivating at just the sound of a bell, because it learned that meant food was coming. Well, for us, the bell was the word “Discount.” She had a brilliant idea: we could each save $50 on a 3-day ticket. The only catch? We just had to show up the next morning at 7:30 a.m. at the Sheraton Hotel, attend a “short and informative presentation” (which even included free breakfast!), and afterward, we’d get our discounted tickets.

Why on earth didn’t the four of us realize this was a giant scam floating right above our heads? Why didn’t we see it? I even signed something saying we’d attend the next morning. To this day, I’m still shocked at how careless I was in that moment. Oh, and of course we paid for the “discounted” tickets right then and there with our credit cards and got a receipt to present at the Sheraton the next day. We were still all smiles and even thanked her for her help. facepalm Then we disappeared into our room.

March 14, 2013
Orlando, Florida

The night was short. We all had to be in the hotel lobby by 7:30 a.m. sharp, where a bus would pick us up and take us to the Sheraton. So naturally, we were up at the crack of dawn. None of us looked fresh—“wrecked” was more accurate. The only thing lifting our mood at that point was the thought of finally visiting Universal Studios, which we’d chosen for the day.

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When the Sheraton took us hostage…

We weren’t the only ones on the bus. There were a few families with kids, and maybe three or four couples—all of them probably looking forward to scoring cheap tickets just like us. The ride wasn’t long; after about 10 minutes we arrived at our destination: the Sheraton headquarters, which also happened to be a massive hotel complex with several main buildings and a giant pool area in the middle.

We were dropped off and immediately greeted by a staff member who was clearly waiting for us. He led us into the main building, where the first thing they did was take the carbon copy of the paper I had signed the night before. Only then were we allowed to have breakfast.

But our excitement for a nice breakfast faded quicker than you can say “Scam.”

Bitte hier unterschreiben…

What the Sheraton had laid out for us here was the cheapest of the cheap. Hardly any selection, and what little was offered was completely tasteless. Even the coffee was awful. And then it began. Hotel sales reps started swarming the tables like moths drawn to a flame. All of them armed with brochures and iPads—and the sales show was on. We were right in the middle of an American-style timeshare pitch. *oh god. We had been lured here under false pretenses, and now we were stuck with the consequences.

Our table was still untouched, and I encouraged my ladies to please keep eating, because as long as we were still chewing, no rep would bother us. But with that kind of slop, it wasn’t easy. And then it was over. A gum-chewing guy in a suit sat down at our table.

First, he gave us a short monologue, then showed us a promotional video on his iPad, and finally handed us a questionnaire asking about our vacation needs and preferences.

To shed some light on what the whole purpose and intention of the Sheraton actually was—why they lured us here and what they were trying to sell us—it was quite simply this: a vacation for life. For a certain amount of money, ranging somewhere in the five- to six-figure range, which could be paid off in monthly installments, we would have been able to enjoy 3 to 5 weeks of vacation per year at any Sheraton hotel worldwide or within an affiliated hotel group—free of charge. Smart move. That’s how you bind people to your hotel brand.

Certainly interesting for some, but the way they tried to bait people and pressure them into signing something during their well-deserved vacation—well, to me, that already felt borderline criminal. We didn’t want to play along, and so I told our gum-chewing salesman that we had been informed the day before that the whole event would be short—not 90 minutes, as he had just claimed when we asked. He pointed to the sheet I had signed and called his supervisor. She left the room and came back a few minutes later with the paper I had signed, pointing to the fine print. Unfortunately, there it was: 90 minutes.

As the saying goes: what’s spoken doesn’t always match what’s written—and in this case, what’s hidden in the fine print. So we had to switch to plan B and made it very clear we weren’t interested and repeatedly emphasized that we would not be signing anything today, under any circumstances. He didn’t care at first and coldly continued his sales pitch, blabbering on, showing us two more promotional videos, and then asked us to follow him to another building where he wanted to show us a model apartment.

We trailed behind him, bored and unenthusiastic. After showing us the apartment on the fourth floor and leaving the adjacent building, he finally gave up, and the nightmare seemed to be over. We were told we could now collect our tickets in a nearby room and finally head to Universal Studios. It was already 9:30 a.m. But even there, we didn’t receive the actual tickets—just some kind of voucher, which we were supposed to exchange for the real tickets at the park entrance.

Now, we waited, as instructed, behind the building in the complex for a bus that was supposedly going to take us directly to the park. But the bus never came. Our mood grew increasingly sour. So we marched back to the main building, where the sales event was still in full swing, and approached the supervisor we had already met. After a brief argument, she gave in and promised to immediately call a taxi to take us to the park.

I think she saw us as a disturbance—bad for the vibe of the event—and wanted us gone as quickly as possible. Honestly, she was absolutely right about that. But even the taxi took forever to arrive. In the meantime, we warned every tourist we saw not to sign anything. And they started rushing to move us further away from the other guests, since people clearly noticed what we were doing.

Eventually, the taxi arrived. During the ride to the park, we let out all of our frustration—not just about the event, but especially about the woman from the night before. We swore we’d give her a proper piece of our mind that evening.

I can’t believe this is really happening – we finally made it to the park! Universal Studios, here we come!

Once we arrived at the park, our mood instantly lifted. We were excited for everything the day had in store… we wanted nothing but FUN!
Universal Studios is part of a massive entertainment complex called the Universal Orlando Resort, which also includes another theme park: Islands of Adventure.
In addition to the two parks, there’s a third area that’s freely accessible at any time – the CityWalk. It features restaurants, a large multiplex cinema, and various other entertainment venues.
To reach either of the parks, you have to pass through this area. Eventually, the main path splits: to the left lies Islands of Adventure, and to the right, Universal Studios.

Important to know: If you have purchased a multi-day pass, it is valid for the entire period but must be brought with you each time—otherwise, you won’t be granted entry. Upon arrival at the entrance, we finally received the original park tickets after presenting our voucher and ID cards. They even required a fingerprint to ensure that each ticket could only be used by its rightful owner. At the turnstile, the ticket was scanned, and once the correct fingerprint was read, we were allowed to pass through. Now we were in.

It was now 10:30 a.m. The crowd in the park was still manageable, because unlike parks in Germany, many tourists here stay for several days, so they tend to enter the park later and take things slow. We were able to use this to our advantage and, after seeing that “Terminator 2 – 3D” wouldn’t start until 11:15 a.m., we headed straight to “E.T. Adventure.”

To avoid giving away too much about the park’s attractions, I’ll now try to share only part of my personal impressions, without spoiling the fun for future visitors who might want to experience it for themselves someday.

Anyone who’s seen the film E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial will definitely enjoy the ride of the same name, as it instantly transports you into the world of the movie. For those unfamiliar with the film, however, the ride may feel a bit dull.

Now it was time to head straight to Terminator 2.

Did I mention that we had an incredibly blue sky that day and the temperatures must have climbed up to 26–28 degrees? If not, well… now I have. *sorry
The weather that day was absolutely fantastic – and that in mid-March!

To cool off, we headed into the Terminator hall, where we were treated to a 3D live-action spectacle featuring real actors integrated with 3D film elements and 4D effects like fog cannons and booming explosions right inside the hall.

What truly fascinated me about Universal Studios wasn’t just the attractions themselves—it was the fact that each one was directly tied to a well-known movie. Even the music, the soundtrack alone, created an emotional connection that made the experience feel even more immersive than what you might expect from theme parks in Germany.

Over the course of the rest of the day, we visited countless other attractions, including Men in Black – Alien Attack, Twister – Ride It Out, Shrek 4D, and a comedic live show called Disaster. In this attraction, a fictional movie was filmed with the help of guests, which was later impressively brought to life during a simulated subway ride through an earthquake—complete with on-screen footage. Simply brilliant.

But there are two attractions I’d like to take a closer look at.
I have to admit, when it comes to roller coasters, I’m a bit of a wimp and usually can’t approach them all that relaxed.

First up is the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster, which shoots guests straight up into the sky before immediately plunging them down again. The moment I saw that towering structure, I knew right away—and I didn’t have to think twice about it—nope, I’ll pass on that one today. I definitely don’t need to ride it.

Melly and Mary, on the other hand, weren’t about to miss out on the fun and rode it with great enthusiasm.

The second attraction, which I actually experienced myself, was Revenge of the Mummy.

Another rollercoaster – one that my own curiosity had pushed me onto. Only this time, you couldn’t see where you were going, as the ride took place entirely in the dark. The Mummy gave us a hellish ride through the pyramid, and it was an absolute blast. This ride was definitely worth it and for me, it was both an amazing and slightly tense experience. *lool

Since our bus back to the hotel was scheduled just before 7 p.m. – and it was the only one – we slowly but surely started making our way toward the exit shortly after 6 p.m. to be on time at the bus parking area. By now, we could definitely feel the fatigue kicking in – a result of the early wake-up call. Not much else happened that evening, as we went to bed early – the next amusement park was already waiting for us the following day: Islands of Adventure.

As a side note: the lady who had sold us the tickets the night before was never seen again for the remainder of our stay in Orlando.

March 15, 2013

Orlando – Florida

Day 2 in paradise – I mean, of course, in Orlando. One look out the window said it all: not a single cloud in the blue sky. The perfect sign for what was going to be an epic day in the next theme park. But before our shuttle left just before 9 a.m., we made it across the street from our hotel in time for breakfast at the Waffle House – the best place to load up on calories for the day. As the name suggests, they truly have the best waffles. Highly recommended: the blueberry waffles and the ones with chocolate chips. If I had been back in Germany, I would’ve already felt guilty – but here, so far away from home, I just didn’t care. Besides, we’d be on our feet all day anyway, so those extra calories would burn off in no time.

Next day, next park! “Islands of Adventure”

Soon enough, the bus took us straight to the park – by now we already knew our way around quite well and quickly reached the entrance to Islands of Adventure.

We remember yesterday, when I specifically emphasized that you always need to carry your admission ticket with you, since it’s valid for multiple days and required each day to enter the parks. So there we were, standing in front of the turnstiles, pulling out our tickets, when Melly’s eyes suddenly went wide. “Wait, we need our tickets again today?” she asked, surprised.

Now my eyes went wide, and I replied, “Of course—how else are they supposed to know you’re allowed into the park or that you’ve already paid?”

Melly suddenly got snippy and said she’d just take a taxi back to the hotel to get her ticket. Thankfully, this scene was cut short thanks to Mary, who had apparently thought ahead and tucked Melly’s ticket into her own wallet the day before.

No taxi ride was needed, and we were finally able to enter the park. And that’s when we first heard the sound that would follow us all day long—the deep rumble of the “Hulk” roller coaster.

A thunderous roar that truly lived up to the name of this attraction. As soon as the cars shot out of the tunnel, they forcefully tore through the upcoming loops, and it felt like nothing and no one could stop them. Simply brutal. I still wasn’t sure if this roller coaster would manage to convince me to take a seat on one of its cars. So, for now, we focused on another attraction instead – “The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man.”

There was no line here, so we were up within five minutes and the ride began — in a kind of police vehicle with twelve seats. Thanks to the 3D glasses we had to wear, we were completely drawn into the Spider-Man universe, and the illusion was perfect. The ride was so much fun that we immediately wanted to go again. But then something happened that, thankfully, we had been spared the first time: a system error. Just after the second turn, everything went pitch black. No film, no sound, no lights. A total blackout. We had no idea what was going on. It was a strange feeling, sitting there in the dark, not knowing what was happening around us. The only comforting thing was that we were together.

Then the lights came on, and we could see the bleak interior of the hall — the illusion vanished instantly under the artificial lighting. From that point on, we just jolted along the track in short segments, occasionally spotting a technician wandering around. After about 10 to 15 minutes, we were back at the starting point and allowed to exit the ride. They offered us the chance to get back on right away since the issue had been resolved, but we weren’t really up for it anymore — we wanted to move on. So we continued deeper into the park and soon came across a pretty intense log flume ride called Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls.

From a bridge, you had the perfect view of the final drop on the ride—and it truly took your breath away. It wasn’t just a descent, it was a full-on plunge, designed as the grand finale of the ride. And unless you were well protected, you were guaranteed to get soaked. Unlike traditional log flumes, each seat in this log was secured like on a roller coaster, with its own lap bar you had to pull down.

Later that afternoon, I rode it myself to round off the day. But more on that later.

The Olympic water games could begin…

Next up was Jurassic Park, and I have to say: thanks to the iconic music and the famous gate known from the movies, the illusion was absolutely perfect. We were headed for the “Jurassic Park River Adventure,” another ride that promised lots of water—and even more soaked clothes. And that’s when the park’s brilliant marketing strategy kicked in: you could buy ponchos to protect yourself from getting wet. Just 8 dollars—what a bargain—for a flimsy plastic bag that probably justified the price with the words “Universal Studios” printed on it. But we weren’t stupid enough to buy four of those things. Instead, we bought one and took turns on the ride.

The protection was definitely justified, because the ride was awesome — and at the end, extremely wet. If anyone had hoped to stay dry without any sort of protection, they could at least dry off afterwards in so-called drying cabins, where a session cost 5 dollars. Hard to believe, but those cabins were in high demand. The Asian visitors in particular seemed to really enjoy this kind of drying experience.
Then it was on to Harry Potter, and once again, the creators had truly brought the entire Harry Potter universe to life in a perfectly crafted illusion.

Just moments ago, we were still in Jurassic Park, and just a few steps further, Hogwarts Castle revealed itself in all its glory. Behind the castle awaited one of the most popular rides the park currently has to offer: “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.” A roller coaster is nothing compared to this. But I won’t give away too much here—otherwise, it would ruin the suspense. Just one little tip from my side: one thing they didn’t quite get right.

For several rides, there are lockers available to store your bags or backpacks, as they’re not exactly practical to take along. However, for the Harry Potter ride, the lockers are not conveniently located in front of the attraction but are only accessible after you’ve entered the narrow castle corridors. They’re tucked away in small rooms with low ceilings. If you’re claustrophobic, you might want to avoid these lockers altogether.

I’d also like to mention something else: the food and drink prices in the park. Outrageous. And the worst part? You’re forced to pay them, because if you spend an entire day in the park, hunger and thirst will kick in sooner or later—and bringing your own snacks or sandwiches is strictly prohibited. You simply have to eat something.

Just to give you an idea: a salami pizza, which normally costs around $12 at Pizza Hut, had a hefty price tag of nearly $30 inside the park.

Now, everyone’s probably wondering if I went on the Hulk roller coaster or not. Well—no. Kathy and I once again let Melly and Mary take the lead while we waited for them down by the exit.

All in all, I only skipped two attractions over the course of those two days—but I did everything else. smile

How to Ruin the Mood in a Group – This Little Experiment Shows It Perfectly!

The vibes were great in our group. After waiting for Melly and Mary at the roller coaster, I was dying to go on the log flume ride from earlier that morning one more time. I grabbed my rain poncho and made a quick agreement with the girls that they’d wait for me at the exit. They immediately agreed, and I disappeared into the entrance of the attraction.

Luckily, I didn’t have to wait in line for long – but the path to the boarding area was still surprisingly long and winding. I don’t even want to imagine how long the wait must be when that entire zigzagging queue is filled with people. The ride itself was fun and wet, and then we reached the final climb. I knew the grand finale was just ahead. Our log reached the highest point, turned a corner – and there it was: the drop. My stomach twisted – the slope was just a few meters away. Okay… the view from up there was stunning. An incredible panorama of the entire park. But it also made me instantly realize just how high up we were. And before I could dwell on it any longer, down we went. Absolute madness. Water everywhere – from all directions. Then, just like that, it was over. Through the final splash zone and back to the platform.

Soaking wet shoes and all, I hopped off and headed to the exit right away – didn’t want to keep the girls waiting. But… no girls. Not a single familiar face. Where were they? Was this even the right exit? A quick look back confirmed – yep, only one exit here. But still – nowhere to be found. The longer I stood there looking around, the more frustrated I got.

To keep it short – let me get to the point faster than the clarity I got that day. The girls figured the ride would take longer, since the posted wait time at the entrance said 20–30 minutes. So, they thought they had time to grab something to eat. I waited there for a solid 25–30 minutes after the ride, walking in circles, searching for them, before heading toward the bus stop.

Back in Germany, no big deal – just a quick WhatsApp or Facebook message to find each other. But here? We didn’t use mobile data – too expensive abroad. Our bus was scheduled to leave shortly before 7 p.m., same as the day before. I arrived at the bus stop at 6:40, steaming with frustration, still waiting for the three ladies to show up. After ten minutes, they finally strolled up… and immediately asked where I had been. That was it. The final straw. I completely exploded.

Why hadn’t at least one of them waited while the others went to get food? Keeping an eye on the exit would’ve been way easier than forcing me to hunt for them. Right? But they didn’t want to hear it. And for the first time on the whole trip, the vibe was truly ruined. We didn’t speak a single word to each other for the rest of the evening.

They had already planned to visit Disney World the next day – but two amusement parks in a row was more than enough for me. I decided to skip it and spend the day visiting a massive outlet mall nearby instead – just relaxing and enjoying some peace and quiet on my own.

March 16, 2013
Orlando, Florida


A Day Without the Three Ladies from the Grill Can Be Surprisingly Refreshing…

Early in the morning, the ladies disappeared on the shuttle toward Disney World, and I checked out calmly on my own. No rushing, no pressure. I packed the entire car in peace. After that, I called my brother in Germany – it was his birthday. He was overjoyed to hear from me and thrilled that I’d remembered his special day. Kind of surreal to hear that it was already 4 p.m. back home while it was only 10 a.m. here – and they were already sitting down with coffee and cake.

Even better was hearing that it was freezing cold in Germany – while in Orlando, we were headed for a toasty 30°C day. After the call, I drove to the outlet mall and spent the rest of the day treating myself to some relaxed solo time.

I did plenty of shopping there too. *smile
In the evening, we had agreed to meet at 7 PM in front of our hotel, where I was supposed to pick up the three of them again. Of course, they showed up almost an hour late. Without saying a word, without even a greeting, they got into the car and the drive began. All three of them immediately fell asleep and only woke up again when we reached our destination. The mood had hit rock bottom.

Our destination for the evening was the Holiday Inn in Titusville, located in the east just before the Atlantic coast, near the Kennedy Space Center.

What happened next, how we experienced the following days, how the team spirit evolved, and what I have to share from Miami — the final stop of our journey — all that awaits you in the eighth and final part of my travel diary.