Just landed in Orlando
8 Likes
How’s the weather?
1 Like
Glad you got out before the snow in Boston! Have fun!
1 Like
Gorgeous!
1 Like
So much news to catch you up on, so little time to write it all down.
First impressions of Helios Grand
Helios has historically been wildly expensive but I managed to book an AP rate for a theme park view room for $400 per night all-in, which is about as cheap as I’ve seen it. I’ve read mixed reviews.
The theme park view rooms seem to come in three sizes and we have one of the larger ones. The hotel is not busy (we sat eating Chick Fil A in the lobby before check-in, from around 8-8.30pm and I didn’t see a single person check in) and so I think they were being nice and upgrading people.
For me, this room is absolutely worth it. The view is breathtaking: I can’t take my eyes off it. We watched the show from our room and it was awesome, although they didn’t think to get the music piped in. Back in 2018 I paid $500 for a very tired room at the Poly with a view of nothing and I’m still angry about it. This room is not huge, but it’s not small. We have two double beds, a pretty large chaise long and an armless armchair. There’s plenty of space for the two of us. And the finishings are upscale.
I had Stella Nova booked at about $98 plus tax, but I have no regrets. And we still have to take advantage of the direct entry, which will no doubt make me love it more.
So initial impression: 
18 Likes
It’s 6.45am. I can confirm that the lights stay on all night (I got up for a pee at about 4am). The fountain is currently running and the music is playing. Also: sunrise.
22 Likes
Beautiful view, thank you !
3 Likes
Dressed now. Although the hotel room isn’t huge it is very nicely appointed. Lots of little luxury touches. For example, you can close the curtains (why would you want to?) using the iPad. I have no complaints. Oh, other than the fact that we don’t get bathrobes. I brought my own. Well, @juliamc bought me a Frette bathrobe in a thrift store in New York for $6. Brand new. She was very excited. Apparently they cost a lot more than that.
Here is the current view:
14 Likes
You are making me regret my Stella Nova booking!
5 Likes
As a Epic Universe Virgin, and as a Universal Hotel Virgin,
I am VERY impressed.
Toiletries in the bathroom were lovely. Shower had good water pressure. The pillow situation is NOT my beloved Westin, but the view makes up for that. I wouldn’t stay here more than a couple of nights because I need proper sleep, BUT.
So far so good.
I am however extremely overdressed for Universal and @umbridgepink fits right in. 
Photo from probably 3am or something stupid.
15 Likes
That would make a nice ad for TouringPlans!
6 Likes
So, @JuliaMc has done her usual and taken over the whole day 
I don’t know what this is, but it’s annoying to wear around my neck.
16 Likes
Wow! Looks like you will have a great day! Enjoy!
4 Likes
What a view! Enjoy your tour!
Always love your ensembles!
2 Likes
Currently at MCO, terminal C, awaiting my flight back to BOS, where I’m meeting Paul — and a Liner — before flying back to London this evening.
So: yesterday. A friend of @JuliaMc’s gifted her a private VIP tour, which I knew nothing about. I knew she was up to something because somehow she cancelled my dinner reservation and then told me to trust that there was a good reason for this. I only knew what was happening as we approached the VIP tour guides at the entrance to the park. Joining us were three of Julia’s friends, who were really lovely and tremendous fun.
I’ve been on many UOR non-private tours, and I’ve been on WDW private tours, but this was a private UOR tour and it was pretty special.
We started with breakfast at the Oak and Star Tavern. First stop after that was Darkmoor and Monsters Unchained, via a meet-and-greet with Frankenstein’s monster and the Bridge of Frankenstein. With all UOR VIP tours you get straight-to-the-front-of-the-line access, unlike the WDW ones, where you just get LL access. This ride is a technological marvel and I enjoyed it more than I have in the past as I figured out more of the plot details. When we emerged it was slightly raining and we didn’t fancy Curse of the Werewolf, so we headed to Battle at the Ministry. We were able to specify which seats we wanted: from my experience in the summer, the seats at the side edges have the worst views, so I requested front centre. Again, it’s a technological marvel, though one animatronic wasn’t working. We had entered the attraction through the flue network and had seen the cavernous atrium, but we then skipped everything. We asked if we could visit Umbridge’s office, and our guide arranged this.
I think we next went to Berk and rode Dragon Racer’s Rallye — this does not take Express Pass and so the only way to skip the line is to be on a VIP tour. I didn’t fancy spinning so I just enjoyed the view, Julia very nearly managed a full barrel roll. From here to Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, which I think might be my favourite ride in the park. We were able to choose which seats we wanted and we went for back row.
Next up was lunch (all meals were included) and we went to the Blue Dragon. I’ve heard good things about this place but, honestly, none of us was particularly impressed. I had the orange chicken and found it pretty meh. I wouldn’t go back.
Then on to Nintendo, which I kinda hate. It’s so loud and crowded and a sensory overload. We rode Mine Craft Madness and then left, after a quick M&G with Mario and Luigi (we got front-of-line access to that, too). Next up was the Carrousel. It was allegedly the only thing Julia wanted to do and she couldn’t wait any longer. As the weather was dry (and had been for some time) we went back to Curse of the Werewolf, and managed to see the recently restored windmill doing its burning blades thing.
From there back to Paris for some reason. I think maybe we wanted Butterbeer. We wandered round, did a spell, and talked to the British lady in the portrait, which was really fun. Then back to Burke where we did Dragon Racer’s Rallye again, and had a meet-and-greet with Toothless (which had been pre-arranged so, again, no waiting in line). I was really impressed by the length of the interaction. It was really fun and Julia cried a little.
Then over to Wing Gliders again, which we rode twice in succession (you can only do that on private VIP tours: you could ride it all day if you wanted).
At some point I guess we went back to Nintendo and did Mario Kart, which was more fun than I was expecting (I really loved the Rainbow Road, and we beat Bowser) and the dumb people-mover ride.
We had had our guide for 8 hours and so time was up. He dropped us off at Atlantic, which was also included. I’ve heard much praise for this but, again, our group was kinda disappointed. It’s beautiful inside and the staff were working hard, but the food was not particularly great. I had the $52 crab claws, which were really disappointing. Then the filet, which was fine, but didn’t come with anything (except minimal bits of carrot and whatnot) and there was no option to add anything. We did the fruit caviar dessert which did nothing for me, but you get a souvenir tin, and the bucket and space dessert, which was fun and pretty nice.
We didn’t emerge feeling particularly sated. After wandering around the park some more (our VIP tour tickets gave us Express Passes for after the tour, but we didn’t use them) we were hungry so while Julia rode the Carrousel again, one team went to Pizza Moon to collect pizza, while another went to Paris to collect Butterbeer. We met back at our hotel room in time to watch the nighttime show, which is just so good.
In the middle of the night, Julia was sick. I had digestive distress, and two of our party were also sick we heard this morning. We blame Atlantic. Our running joke after Blue Dragon and the Atlantic was “we shoulda gone to Pizza Moon”.
UOR’s customer service was on top form. I had booked two tickets for the horror make-up experience back when this side-trip was going to be me and Paul. I didn’t use them but GS were happy to refund them. I also had an Express Pass that I was given after my summer debacle, which obviously I didn’t use. They were happy to reallocate it to one of the new friends who toured with us and who will be back at Epic before I will. I was also able to return some merch that I changed my mind about overnight.
In conclusion:
Monsters Unchained x1 9/10
Curse of the Werewolf x1 6/10
Battle at the Ministry x1 9/10
Minecart Madness x2 8/10
Mario Cart x1 7/10
Dumb Nintendo ride x1 4/10
Dragon Racers Rallye x2 7/10
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders x3 10/10
Frankenstein M&G x1 8/10
Mario and Luigi M&G x1 6/10
Toothless M&G x1 10/10
Blue Dragon 4/10
Atlantic 6/10
Helios Grand 10/10
Private VIP tour 10/10
I will post many photos later.
16 Likes
Oh no I’m now concerned because I have both of those TS booked. Hmmmm should I cancel? It’s one thing to say the food’s meh and another to get sick!!!
5 Likes
Only exception: we did not have a great tour guide. But I am glad we had a great GROUP of friends to enjoy the situation.
I have done vip tours with just two people and a guide and you have to have a really good guide for this to work.
Which was not the case. Later in the day the guide seemed to rally, but from a customer service standpoint? The valet attendant at Helios and the gal at guest relations in the park both had more je ne sais quoi in their little fingers than our guide possessed.
I’ve had hit or miss reviews from clients who’ve done private tours at universal, and I went into fairly blind.
pro tip: eat at the French cafe in Harry Potter land for lunch and pizza moon for dinner. Don’t listen to the VIP department that pushes the sit down options because food is included.
it’s a ruse!!
All in all, a VERY fun day. I loved the carousel
10 Likes
Can confirm. The valet guy at Helios was a customer-service whizz — and he’d only been at Helios for three weeks. Our tour guide did not have that spark.
7 Likes