How Universal Got Smart with their Refill Cups

We've been in Central Florida for YEARS and have had annual passes to either Disney or Universal over the years.

We really like the Universal ones mainly because they're more affordable.  The Disney annual passes are insanely expensive, especially if you're a family of 4.  Yes, the Florida Resident passes are excellent compared to what our visitors from out-of-state/out-of-country pay, but we just cannot swing $2,500+ for the same passes we paid $1,300 for about 8 years ago.

Anyway, Universal.  See this cup?

We've had this cup for about 6-7 years.  We pay $1.27 (it used to be $1.06 three years ago) for refills now.  They never say anything.  They never say "we can't fill these anymore."  I love Unuversal for that.

So when they began their Coca Cola Free-Style system, I thought "What?"  See, you buy a cup like this for $9.99

and for the rest of the day, you get free refills of your choice in selected areas that have the Coca Cola Freestyle Machines.  You can't just go to any food kiosk and ask for a refill. You have to go to set locations in both parks that have these.

All that I can think is, "How in the WORLD are they going to keep a handle on this?  How can they stop people from coming back tomorrow, the next day, next year?" 

I figured it out today AFTER I purchased one.  We got our cup, And went to go fill it.  I tried selecting something but got an error like this one:

It sensed a cup was not on the dispenser area.  I'm thinking "OK, it senses there's no weight there." We filled it, drank our drink and then went back 9 & 1/2 minutes later to refill it.  How do I know it was 9.5 minutes?  Because the screen then displayed "Your next refill is available in 33 seconds."  There's a 10 minute wait time in between refills.

"How does this know this," I think?

RFID Chip.  THIS is how Universal got smart with its refill cups.  After 24 hours, this cup is null  void, and you can no longer use the cups, unless you reactivate it for $6.99 or so (I'm finding this info on the internet from 2014, so that may have gone up/changed)!

I am so thankful that I still have two of the older refill cups.  $1.27 refills is much better to me than a $10.00 cup I can only use in certain areas.  Maybe for you, if you're ok waiting in lines to use the machines (I have to wait in kiosk lines anyway to get an employee to give me my refill too)  and you can get at least 10 refills in your day (dang, that's a LOT of soda!) then it may be worth it to you, but tomorrow, you have to pay like $7.00 and refill it at least 6 times ($1.27 refills for the other cup) to get your money's worth.  I'm not getting that much soda, so my old red cups are  going to be our go-to cups when heading to the parks.  

Diagonally!

Holy Moly! I have not posted in a month!  WHAT has happened in November?

Oh, I won tickets to Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights plus two one-day park hopper passes. I gave the HHN tickets to Jacob and a friend to use before they expired on November 1.  Then David and I went on a random Tuesday, while the kids were at school, to the parks to FINALLY see the new additions to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter areas.

Side note:  It is NOT CALLED HARRY POTTER WORLD.  It is NOT its own theme park. I groan when I hear people saying they're coming down to Florida to visit "Harry Potter World."  No, you're not.  You're coming down to visit Universal Orlando Resort, which includes Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and City Walk.  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a section of Islands of Adventure, and now with the new addition of Diagon Alley, it's also a part of the Universal Studios park too.

We were not aware of what side the new additions were on when we got there.  We entered Islands of Adventure, looked at our map and realized we should have been at Universal Studios.  Ooops.  Thankfully, I won park hoppers AND there was a new attraction that would take you from one park to another, as long as you have a park hopper; the Hogwarts Express, a ride between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.

Waiting to Board the Hogwarts Express

Squee!

Inside our own compartment.

Hi David!

As we rode off, we could see the countryside roll by us.  Even Fred & George flew by.  They'd missed the train, but then proceeded to get on.

Fred and George walk by our compartment door. 

Then Harry, Ron & Hermione walk by.

Arriving in London

So we're walking out of King's Cross, just looking around, when a park member says "Diagon Alley, this way" and points to brick walls, right where the people in the picture below are walking.  I'm thinking "What? Where? It's just a building facade,"  We walk in and around.

 and THIS is behind the wall/  I just stopped and gasped.  My grin was ear to ear.  I teared up.  It was AMAZING.

The Leaky Cauldron

Time to ride!  Wait time was maybe ten minutes! Woo hoo random Tuesday before the Holidays!

There were no pictures allowed inside the ride, but we sure did have a blast!


Lunch was at The Leaky Cauldron!  Squee!!

And dessert was at Fortiscue's Ice Cream Parlour.

I wish I could post ALL the shots we took (we went into Madam Malkin's robe shop, the Owlry, and even DARK Knockturn Alley), but they're not that great (cell phones) and way too many, so I will leave you with these two.

Spring Break 2014: Monday at Universal

The menfolk had University and Work.

The womenfolk had Universal Studios.

Kind-of Creepy.

Squeee!  Can't wait!

Florida Theme Parks 101

Dear Tourists Coming to Theme Parks in Florida:
Dear Florida People Coming to Theme Parks in Florida:

This is "Florida Theme Parks 101."  I will be your instructor, Kaaren Noseypantserson.  This class will instruct you on the hows and whys of navigating Florida theme parks.  (I like to call this class "Kaaren's Pet Peeves" to myself.  Don't tell the head honchos though.)

Arriving/Parking:

• Have your $$ already ready to pay for parking.  This is not a surprise, the paying of parking, so why are you waiting before you dig our your purse/wallet?
• After you have parked, walk IN FRONT OF YOUR CAR to get to the trams, or moving sidewalks etc.  WHY are you walking in the empty spaces that other cars need to park in?!? You're going to get killed, and you're slowing the traffic flow down.  Pay attention.
• BIG PET PEEVE ALERT: You have just arrived at the Universal Orlando, you CANNOT be tired already, so why are you on the moving sidewalks, standing still, standing three-abreast?  Move over to the right if you're not going to walk. If you're already this tired, I feel for you and the rest of your day.  Stand to the right, walk to the left, don't block the way for others (ME) trying to keep walking. Also, DON'T take your stroller on there.  It says so RIGHT THERE; No strollers.

In the Parks: The fine art of walking:

• We walk on the right here.  Please do the same.
• If you are a party of 10, don't feel the need to walk 10-abreast.  Seriously.  Why are you taking up the entire sidewalk?  And also...
• Don't randomly decide, en masse, to STOP mid-stride to discuss where you want to go next.  This causes EVERYONE behind you to try and not run into you, or everyone else.  It's crowded people!

Photo from OrlandoInformer.com

In the Parks: What the heck are you wearing?:

• Sometimes.....it's scary.  Why aren't you wearing a bra, random 50 year old British lady in the fluorescent tank top?  
• High heels. Really? Yes, you're a gorgeous foreigner, but heels?
• BIG PET SKEEVE ALERT: Why are you wearing flip-flops?  I stepped on your toes, why? Because your group of 10 stopped  right in front of me.  Those flip-flops just skeeve me out.  Dirty toes, no arch support at all, corns, calloused heels,  toenails...Ick.   I think my feet are ugly too, hence you'll never see me in flip flops at a theme park.  
• Shirts with foul language.  This is a family theme park. Yes, yes, you rebel, you, wearing your "F**K You" shirt so everyone can see.  It's never been done before. Nice. We're all impressed.

Final Note:

• Body odor in cramped spaces is no fun at all.  Make sure you pack your deodorant and use it.  Don't be stinky tourist gal.  

Summer Kid Recap

You haven't heard much about Jacob. That's because he's been working like a mad person trying to pay off last semester's school debt to us (done) and get started on the fall semester bills he will have (already paid off the first month's payment and is on his way to month # 2.  He has to give us $200 a week minimum to cover the semester.)   On his off time, he's gone to see some bands;

The World is a Beautiful Place and I am No Longer Afraid to Die, Dads and Anamanaguchi.

The guy in purple is from Anamanaguchi.

and has hung out with pals, but mostly, he's been sleeping and being a bum at home.

Isabel has had a pretty ok summer.  We wanted to sign her up for a Summer Camp at the church, but the church cancelled it due to lack of interest/too expensive.  Very saddened with that.  We did sign her up for Jazz dance classes.  She went one day a week for 5 weeks and loved it, so we signed her up for Fall sessions too.  

Her cousins came from Tennessee and stayed with us for a few days. They went to the beach here, and then they drove over to Tampa to stay for the rest of their week.  Jacob and Isabel drove to Tampa (mommy-in-near-panic) and met them at Busch Gardens for the day.

She went to her first Roller Derby game and her first Vacation Bible School.    She's already counting the days until next year's VBS.

We spent a lot of time at Universal, she & I mostly, but we did get David to come with us and mini-golf.   He just cannot do this summer heat, poor pink man.    

She looks thrilled.  It was the end of our day and she was DONE.

We went to the mall to do some dryer comparison shopping at Sears (can you believe that Lowe's won?  More on that later.) and while there, she asked again if she could do the bungee jump in the food court.  I always say no, but this time, I had $10 she was gifted from someone, so I paid the $7 for her to jump.  She was a weeeee bit scared and would not flip.

We went school-supply shopping (new tennies, two new outfits, new Jazz shoes for the fall classes, and her usual paper/pencils, etc. supplies). Fourth grade starts (started, by the time I post this) on Monday the 19th.  Jake starts his sophomore year on the 21st.

Good luck to my babies.  I will post "First Day of School" pics soon.

Mini Golf at Universal Orlando

We've been wanting to go Universal City Walk's Hollywood Drive-in Golf  for quite a while now.  We walk by it every time we go to the the theme parks there.  This Sunday after church, we headed out to play some mini golf.

Isabel chose "The Haunting of Ghostly Greens" 18-hole course versus the "Invaders from Plant Putt" side.  Some holes are super short, but most were normal mini golf sized and just so detailed.

It. was. HOT.  My poor whitey white hubby and daughter were drenched.

Getting cool with the misting fans.

We had a really good time AND got a buy-one-get-one coupon for next time, when we try the alien side. Hopefully Jake doesn't have to work one day this next weekend so we can take him too.

There I am!