Hi all,
Just got back from a jam-packed weekend in FL and have never done a TR but I figured this trip was memorable enough to warrant one though YMMV. So first off, I need to thank 2 hurricanes for making this trip possible. Two years ago (post-COVID) we had planned a long trip and managed to make it through BGT, SWO, Discovery Cove and WDW before Hurricane Ian made us cancel the Universal finale of the trip. I kept looking at possible dates/events to return again but it was hard to find a time that worked with our kids' schedules that wasn't peak season. Then about a year ago, Orlando Informer announced their February 2024 Meetup and it seemed like a perfect fit. We usually stay at the premier hotels at Universal to get Express Passes, but the rates have gotten so high that weekends are out of the question, and we really did not want to pull the kids out for 3+ days midweek. So we flew in on a Friday and came back Monday with short stops at SWO and BGT with our Platinum passes. We wanted to ride Pipeline but it was closed that day. Other than that, everyone enjoyed the experience and we thought we would try it again one day. Well, flash forward to this summer, and we arrived in Galveston, TX for a family reunion and then the next day everyone starts to leave because of Hurricane Beryl. We were stuck moving from hotel to hotel until we were able to fly back home early. Everyone was upset, but then I got a text that tickets for the Winter Meetup would be going on sale and we decided we deserved another trip.
We flew into Tampa Thursday night so that we could hit BGT bright and early. We didn't plan on staying for long, we just wanted to ride the coasters we don't have at BGW. It was more crowded than we expected with a lot of youth bands/choirs, and some radio DJs were supposed to be there in the afternoon to kick off Christmastown. Well, we went to Cheetah Hunt first because it usually has a long line. We saw it running with empty cars so we were cautiously optimistic only to see the entire ride area blocked off because there was forklift setting up a Christmas tree. Ok, at least the ride was eventually going to open, but unfortunately we ended up following everyone else to Cobra's Curse, which had a 30 minute wait. Fun ride & great theming, especially for a 42" min coaster, but we've ridden it before and were really just hoping the tree would be done by the time we got off. Nope. Still putting pieces on the tree. So we made are way to Phoenix Rising. This was one of 3 new coasters we have not ridden (with Pipeline & Penguin Trek at SWO) and we knew it would be similar to BBW2 so we definitely wanted to ride it. Luckily there was no wait, but then we rode it and realized why people weren't rushing to it. Meh. Onto Iron Gwazi which always makes the detour to Tampa worth it. Absolutely devastating to think that BGW is getting something like PR when they could have gotten an RMC, but who knows, maybe one day? So we're back at the front of the park, and still no update on Cheetah Hunt on the App. I suggested that we go over there one final time and my 11yo starts complaining that it's gonna be closed so what's the point? Well, the minute we get there we see people running towards the entrance and the barricade being removed. Dad was officially right for the first time on this trip, and it wasn't even noon yet! We made it on the second train. My 14yo enjoyed it more than the first time he rode it 2 years ago, and I was just glad we didn't have to wait. At that point we hit the shops and restrooms and decided to head towards Orlando in traffic. The park was still setting up for CT as mentioned earlier, but it did seem festive. They had a Platinum Member preview of their Ice Skating show later in the day, and they were working hard to decorate the outside of the building. I do wish we had time to stay for the actual CT event as they had booths set up with various specialty foods ala Food & Wine. I wish BGW could step up their culinary game but then I wouldn't have discovered so many hidden gems in Wburg. Anyway, until next time here's the tree at the entrance:
Just got back from a jam-packed weekend in FL and have never done a TR but I figured this trip was memorable enough to warrant one though YMMV. So first off, I need to thank 2 hurricanes for making this trip possible. Two years ago (post-COVID) we had planned a long trip and managed to make it through BGT, SWO, Discovery Cove and WDW before Hurricane Ian made us cancel the Universal finale of the trip. I kept looking at possible dates/events to return again but it was hard to find a time that worked with our kids' schedules that wasn't peak season. Then about a year ago, Orlando Informer announced their February 2024 Meetup and it seemed like a perfect fit. We usually stay at the premier hotels at Universal to get Express Passes, but the rates have gotten so high that weekends are out of the question, and we really did not want to pull the kids out for 3+ days midweek. So we flew in on a Friday and came back Monday with short stops at SWO and BGT with our Platinum passes. We wanted to ride Pipeline but it was closed that day. Other than that, everyone enjoyed the experience and we thought we would try it again one day. Well, flash forward to this summer, and we arrived in Galveston, TX for a family reunion and then the next day everyone starts to leave because of Hurricane Beryl. We were stuck moving from hotel to hotel until we were able to fly back home early. Everyone was upset, but then I got a text that tickets for the Winter Meetup would be going on sale and we decided we deserved another trip.
We flew into Tampa Thursday night so that we could hit BGT bright and early. We didn't plan on staying for long, we just wanted to ride the coasters we don't have at BGW. It was more crowded than we expected with a lot of youth bands/choirs, and some radio DJs were supposed to be there in the afternoon to kick off Christmastown. Well, we went to Cheetah Hunt first because it usually has a long line. We saw it running with empty cars so we were cautiously optimistic only to see the entire ride area blocked off because there was forklift setting up a Christmas tree. Ok, at least the ride was eventually going to open, but unfortunately we ended up following everyone else to Cobra's Curse, which had a 30 minute wait. Fun ride & great theming, especially for a 42" min coaster, but we've ridden it before and were really just hoping the tree would be done by the time we got off. Nope. Still putting pieces on the tree. So we made are way to Phoenix Rising. This was one of 3 new coasters we have not ridden (with Pipeline & Penguin Trek at SWO) and we knew it would be similar to BBW2 so we definitely wanted to ride it. Luckily there was no wait, but then we rode it and realized why people weren't rushing to it. Meh. Onto Iron Gwazi which always makes the detour to Tampa worth it. Absolutely devastating to think that BGW is getting something like PR when they could have gotten an RMC, but who knows, maybe one day? So we're back at the front of the park, and still no update on Cheetah Hunt on the App. I suggested that we go over there one final time and my 11yo starts complaining that it's gonna be closed so what's the point? Well, the minute we get there we see people running towards the entrance and the barricade being removed. Dad was officially right for the first time on this trip, and it wasn't even noon yet! We made it on the second train. My 14yo enjoyed it more than the first time he rode it 2 years ago, and I was just glad we didn't have to wait. At that point we hit the shops and restrooms and decided to head towards Orlando in traffic. The park was still setting up for CT as mentioned earlier, but it did seem festive. They had a Platinum Member preview of their Ice Skating show later in the day, and they were working hard to decorate the outside of the building. I do wish we had time to stay for the actual CT event as they had booths set up with various specialty foods ala Food & Wine. I wish BGW could step up their culinary game but then I wouldn't have discovered so many hidden gems in Wburg. Anyway, until next time here's the tree at the entrance:
