It’s Raining Beads!!! | Florida February 2025: Day 1

Bloody body clock…up at 2am; it’s too early to start queuing for Hagrids yet right?. FINE! Back to bed I guess. My body clock is way off, waking sporadically throughout the night to browse some social media and admire the ambient views of Volcano Bay just outside the window…ahhh. Daylight finally emerges as the sun peeps out from behind Vol. Jordan did explain why the sun was delayed this time of year in Florida…you think I remember the blatant lies she told me? Of course not.

Anyways, my night of comatose dozing left me looking akin to a Walking Dead extra seven years in to the series. I was bloody shattered, so obviously required some overpriced caffeination to kickstart the day. Starbucks to the rescue; my favourite way to waste money…I’m not addicted, I can quit at any time…I just don’t want to 🙄.

Absolutely rammed here, so Grayson decided to treat the morning punters to a bit of entertainment. Nothing like a bit of morning chair acrobatics…yeah, I thought it was made up too, but apparently it’s a niche form of the sport that only Grayson and every other kid who can’t sit still for 5 minutes possesses within their skill set. As you can probably guess, it very nearly ended in tears when Grayson’s finale ended in a crumped mess on the floor and pleas of “but I didn’t know”…didn’t know what kid? If you swing on the back of the chair then the odds are kind of out of your favour. There’s always tomorrow…Starbucks have already booked ‘Cirque de So-Lame’ in for a 4 day stint…well done Gray, you’ve made it buddy.

Ok we’re all proud of your new found fame Grayson, but if you can squeeze you’re head through the door, we should really make a move to the parks…we’re here to chill, but I still need to get in some rides.

Cabana Bay is great; besides the great theming and proximity to Volcano Bay, it’s also got a walking path to City Walk which we love for the convenience. Although it does also take you close to nature as you pass through ‘Squirrel Alley’. It’s probably not named that officially (in fact it’s 100% not called that), but it bloody well should be. This year it looks like we are forgoing the lizard spotting tournament of 2024, and instead keeping a running tally on squirrels…9 of the brush tailed vermin spotted in a matter of minutes; Grayson the score master forever keeping a running total. I digress…we had a nice morning walk in to Universal Studios, mainly because we’re too lazy to fold the stroller down for the bus, but it also helps to rack up the steps in a solid effort to de-fattyfy (add it to the dictionary) ourselves following our excessive eating thus far.

20 minutes and 2 squirrel death matches later and we are in…time to tour the Islands. First stop…Seuss Landing (obviously). Time to put my Seuss knowledge into action and see what this pesky Cat is up to…bloody Cat and his Hat causing absolute havoc; always nice to see Gray and Alaska make a cameo here though…these ‘Things’ are wild!

Great ride though, always love it to start the day here. Right, no time to enjoy the rest of the landing, Trolley Train Ride will have to wait for today…we have one plan for the day…and it’s something that Grayson has not let us forget; HAGRIDS!!!

Grayson has finally surpassed the height restriction for the cobbled together tour of Hagrids most memorable mistakes, and literally was about the explode with excitement faster than the purple button could propel us through the forest (if you know, you know). How does this guy keep being trusted to guide people through the Dark Forest?? Oh no. I knew Jordan’s mockery of the mythos statue would come back to haunt us…the heavens open and we are left to find out whether maternal or survival instinct would kick in for Jordan. She’d brought 2 ponchos between the four of us. I was out of the running in an instant, there was no discussion; she must have somehow found out I’d recently appointed her as my beneficiary should I die whilst in service and was trying to speed up the process via a not so subtle bout of hypothermia. Then it was a Sophie’s Choice between the kids. Fortunately for Grayson, she had a last minute change of heart after his lips began to turn blue and he started to slip into delirium. Ahhh nice and dry…the rest of us, well let’s just say Jordan didn’t need to visit the toilet for the rest of the day and slowly began to smell of urine (we were soaked; just incase I was being too subtle).

Damn that ride on Hagrids was painful…and just not very fun…not for me anyways; Grayson bloody loved it, so much so that he went on again (just incase there were any dry areas remaining on him). Who knew they had converted Hagrids to a water ride?

Ahh let’s just succumb to peer pressure (well that and a fear of hypothermic shock). Let’s join the ‘Poncho Gang’ with some way overpriced plastic bags. It was like a valleys Halloween circa 1998 the amount of people wearing bin liners. Honestly though, made the day so much more pleasant, and were somehow quite warm too…well until Jordan managed to rip a huge hole in the side of hers and then conveniently swap it for mine. Cheers love.

This rain was bloody mental today, we desperately needed to chill in the warm (yes I recognise the irony of that sentence), so managed to stop for some respite (technically rest-bite) at the Three Broomsticks. Ahh traditional British fare like Chicken and Ribs and Mac & Cheese…ahh feels like home; I distinctly remember the time in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire when Harry had the munchies for a “proper good Mac & Cheese” following a late night bender after the death of Cedric Diggory; all whilst Ron was knawing on a half rack of Ribs. That was a mad after credits scene that.

Full of traditional British fare, and a hot Butterbeer, me and Gray headed to ‘Forbidden Journey’ where I managed to convince him for long enough that the ride was not ‘scary’ despite me still being mildly terrified of the Demontors scene. Well that and the part where Delores Umbridge pops out and flashes you for a handful of Mardi Gras beads (new for the 30th anniversary of Mardi Gras at Universal apparently). As suspected, he was not best pleased…didn’t stop him making me re-ride it though; he has always had a thing for Delores to be fair.

After conquering Harry and his band of Merry trouble makers, we left for a more muggle friendly Jurassic Park. By now the rain was in full on torrent mode and we were ready to return to the room and regroup; even forgoing the promise of a 25 minute line for Velocicoaster. Madness I know, but neither of us fancied being battered by a million tiny raindrops as we navigate the Raptor Paddock.

Quick swing by the Passholder lounge to pick up our free badge and spend a bit of money of Mardi Merch (and a new popcorn bucket). Grabbed some popcorn on the way out by some happy chappy that made me fill up an Alligator's ass full of green popcorn (looked great though). Then headed back to warm up and dry off.

Once again bullied by Grayson into taking him to the pool…travelled half way across the country, one of the best parks in the world; the kid just wants to swim. It’s the simple things I guess, but we’d more of less done that for the whole morning. Cabana Bay is great mind; lazy river it is Gray Gray, and a good old fashioned game of ‘let’s drown dad’. Always a pleasure to partake thanks Grayson…maybe Alaska and mam would miss me though. Thankfully I managed to survive the onslaught of attempts on my life whilst the lifeguards watched on and placed bets as to my survival. Luckily between rescue breaths I managed to place a tenner on myself to survive and won enough to treat us to food this evening.

Following the attempt on my life we make it back to collect the rest of the crew and head back to Universal Studios Florida just in time for the parade to start. Not before the whole bus was treated to the lyrical stylings of MC Dad Death himself (I guess his rap name should have forewarned me) busting out in freestyle rap. No idea what he was on about mind…still don’t.

Surviving the mob of newly acquired fans hell bent on receiving Graysons autograph before he hits the big time, we made it through to Universal Studios and straight to join the Vicious 6 in Minion Blast. Such a good ride, such a terrible ride; I bloody love it!!! Oh and I beat everyone too…yay, go Dean.

Just in time to start the Battle for the Beads. Man, Universal Parades are nowhere near as intense as Disney, but you have a load of floats chucking out sparkly plastic held together by string, you better believe it’s going to be manic. It was crazy; the floats were amazing, the kids collected an excessive amount of beads, and it was a great vibe. Didn’t even have to flash them for the beads either…..this I was disappointed with…poor form Universal, next year, make it more realistic. I do wonder whether the float riders are told to aim for the face when throwing them, or whether I was just a figure of hatred amongst them for an unbeknownst reason? I guess we’ll find out at the next parade.

Failed ride on the Mummy to end the day…bloody thing was next up for the curse of Jordan and had an evacuation…guess that’s a tomorrow ride then. Then it was time to head home.

Little browse around the Mardi Gras merch (honestly, release any new branded mementos of an event and I’ll buy the lot), and it was time to head back to the hotel for the evening.

Food in Bayliner Diner again, and a lecture from Grayson how back in the olden days, Netflix didn’t exist and potato heads were real potatoes…THE OLDEN DAYS??! …he was speaking of 10 years ago mun; Cheeky bugger, glad I completely trounced him in the race back to the hotel room; when will be learn?

Decent day…let’s hope the weather tomorrow is nicer.