Matthew

Oh, hello!

Today was our last day in Orlando. Our check-out time wasn’t until 11am, so we slept in until 8am. Our actual wake up time for the last few days was 5am, so it was great to exploit our check-out time. We did some laundry, before we packed our bags and moved everything into the lobby.

After leaving our items at reception, we casually walked to CityWalk again, in the hot sun. It was about 11:20am, so we killed time and saw The Green Lantern. Time to pick the most interesting chocolates… Cookie dough bites!

It wasn’t the biggest and best comic book movie, but terrific CGI. 3/5. That was followed by lunch at NASCAR theme restaurant, where we chewed down the burgers and drank the beer until 2:45pm.

With more time to kill, we headed to the games room and wasted $10 on arcade games. Next thing you know, 4:30pm came and our taxi was waiting. Now, we sit at Orlando and wait… For VEGAS!

Location:Jeff Fuqua Blvd,Orlando,United States

My eye was good to me today, and we hit the other side of Universal Studios – home of Jaws, Men In Black, ET, Shrek, Twister, The Mummy, and The Simpsons.

We hit the park at 7am, only to discover it doesn’t open until 9am. So after hovering around for 2 hours, we hit the entrance, and strolled to the reason why I was going in the first place – The Simpsons.

An entertaining ride, it has a few minutes of especially made animation that you’ll only see with the ride, in true Simpsons fashion humor. Once in, you’re on a virtual rollercoaster that has a huge screen surrounding you, while the cartoon is the computer animated style – similar to the Halloween Homer episode. The ride lasts for about 3 fun minutes. It gave me a kick!

Then there was the merchandise store…

I had to refrain from making many purchases, so I stuck with a t-shirt. Not for me either! 😉

After a few miserable days of weathers today turned out hot an beautiful. We went on all the other rides, especially the Rock It Roller coaster, which goes directly up at the beginning. You can also choose a song for your adrenaline rush from their playlist (Motley Crüe – Kickstart My Heart was my choice) and then you were off and riding.

After riding the rest of the rides, we came to the Blues Brothers show. Only 4-5 songs were done, but they were more of a mashup that lasted 10 minutes. I was excited to see this baby:

By the time we did the park rounds twice, it was 3pm and we were hot and bothered, so we went back to the hotel and hit the pool area. After floating around on a few pool noodles with acoustic music playing in the background, it was then it soaked in that I was on holiday (or vacation – as USA calls it). Tonight, we’re off to Disneyland/world to have dinner at the rainforest cafe, which is apparently quite breath-taking, according to Reece.

I have video footage to chop up, but I’m lazy…

Location:Hollywood Way,Orlando,United States

More really of an update of previous post. Not much has happened. I got the all clear from the hospital (praising travel insurance!) and left at 4am with eye drops. Meant to last me 5 days.

The “neighbour” in the ward recognized I’m from Australia and said how the USA misses Steve Irwin and to ‘say hello to the Queen for me!’… Whatever that means. Also, the nurse was amusing – cracking jokes a la Scrubs style such as:
“3 guys going to Vegas? Make sure you don’t spend your bail money! Hahaha!” before he administered the painkiller to numb my infected eye. After signing all the contracts for the travel insurance, I thanked Orlando hospital and went on my way back to the hotel to rest.

During the day, Reece and Pete disappeared into the theme parks while I rested in the hotel room. I didn’t get out of bed until 11am to clothes wash in the laundry. I feel much better with refreshed clothing. I only packed for a week.

It also seemed I wasn’t destined to go on the rides. By 1pm, a lightning thunderstorm rolled I’m, rattling the TV reception (screw you wearer for ruining my free HBO damn it!) So, here are 2 highlights of my day:

The fountain in the middle of the foyer

The free iceblock .. Or … “Popsicle”, colour cliched, given out in the lobby.

My eye doesn’t hurt as much, but is still red and swollen, so a good nights rest for me is on the cards, so I can ride The Simpsons Ride tomorrow. If not, I’m going to be pissed off.

Adios for now…

Location:Hollywood Way,Orlando,United States

Here’s a brief update from me, as my next day in Orlando is pretty useless.

The day we were leaving NY, I copped a minor eye infection from the pollution and dirt in the air. So I used regular Visine eyedrops. All good and well.

The next day, my eye flared up in itchiness. More eye drops. Go on the rides at Universal Studios. My eye eased up a little until lunch time, when it wouldn’t stop watering. I went back to the hotel room to put eyedrops in and sleep it off. Reece and Pete came back and I asked them to check the concierge for any doctors that do house calls. I got the doctor’s details, and they checked in at 10:45pm.

“you don’t have conjunctivitis, but you should go to the hospital. Your iris may be swollen and you could lose your vision.”

Oh great… So the hotel organizes a taxi to Orlando Hospital. Have you ever used your travel insurance before while traveling abroad? Well, I’m about to use it. The in-house doctor charged $321, so we’ll see how this hospital trip goes.

 

Location:Brandon Cir,Orlando,United States

Not much to report for the last day in New York. After a 5am wake up and 6am breakfast, the shuttle bus arrived after 7am to take us to Newark Airport.

After witnessing how New York traffic operates, I won’t complain about Sydney and Brisbane traffic for a long time. Our driver was an absolute nutbag! Squeezing a van through a narrow gap between a dump truck and a coach looked near impossible, but he did it… while hurling abuse at the bus driver. If the shuttle cut someone else off, he’d shrug it off.

We arrived at Newark, and trying to check in, we realized we were at the incorrect terminal, which was on the other side of the airport. After dropping our bags at the check in, the monorail ride to the correct terminal had a resemblance to Tron, with the windows rimmed with blue and red neon lighting. Our flight was packed with kids, so we scored the exit row seats. My long legs can stretch!

The in-flight entertainment wasn’t too shabby, until after 20 mins, they asked for $. Austin Powers, anyone?

As we touched down, we were trying to find a taxi, when a guy runs up and grabs Reece’s bags. I turn around to chase him, then discover it was the taxi driver himself. Embarrassed much?

Welcome to Orlando! Complete wet!

We arrive at 3pm to Universal, and we stroll around CityWalk. Themed restaurants and cinemas surround us.

We can’t investigate the theme parks until the next day, and with limited WiFi, there will be limited updates.

Here’s to 3 days at Universal!

Location:Hollywood Way,Orlando,United States

No video diary today.

This morning after a massive breakfast of an egg and “cheese” omelette, fruit loops and bagel, we headed to the NBC Studios at 30 Rockefeller Plaza for a studio tour.

If you were thinking a 30 Rock style with pages similar to Kenneth, sadly it doesn’t happen that way. Our 2 Pages, sounded less than enthusiastic to give us the tour, probably because they’ve done it a few million times and heard as many Kenneth jokes around. There was no photography allowed, so all I got was the shots before the tour.

We were shown the studios of Dr Oz, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and Saturday Night Live. I was mesmerized that only a panel of glass separated myself from the studio where Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Phil Hartman, Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Tina Fey and others made their careers flourish. 36 years of comedic history, all on a single platform.

We went into a smaller room where they showed us how makeup was put on their actors for SNL, then we were taken into a smaller room to do a mock news report.

After the tour, we hit the studio store, and bought up big. From Community merchandise, to FRIENDs and Seinfeld, House and Saturday Night Live, I was in heaven.

After dumping the stuff off, we headed to the Harry Potter Exhibition, which once again – no photos. Reece & Pete got a thrill out of it, but it went all over my head.

After which, we headed to Planet Hollywood for burgers and beer. The food was average, but it filled is up. The movie displays were impressive, but nothing spectacular.

After the fill-up of food, it was 2pm, and headed back to the hotel for a cat nap. That cat nap went until 11:30pm… We’re still getting used to the time difference.

Tomorrow, we’re trying for David Letterman, and take a stroll down to hopefully Moby’s Cafe and the WTC. Fingers crossed!

Location:8th Ave,New York,United States

Who would’ve thought getting to the airport via train would be hectic?

The train at Leumeah said the airport train was coming, then as it arrived, the v/o said it was to Granville, so we didn’t hop on it. Turns out it was the airport train…

So the conductor told us to get on the next train to Glenfield, get off there and take the express to Central, and back track to International airport. We did it with slight confusion, but arrived with 4 hours to go.

As we checked in, our flight to NY had been changed to stop off at SF instead of LA. After a few printed corrupted tickets later, we checked in with 3 hours to go. Time for duty free… Chocolate anyone?

Only eating breakfast since 6am, we treated ourselves to something healthy: Maccas.

Might as well get used to it…

Awaiting our flight now, so this will be the last post for about 28 hours.

Location:Perimeter Rd,Mascot,Australia