Interlude - Steak, Planes and Hotels

Wrapping up our final day in sunny Orlando, Florida, the gang got packed up and ready to go. Since our flight was in the afternoon, we dumped our luggage in the hotel’s baggage hold and went out to The Knife for lunch.

Sharp.

An Argentinian steakhouse, The Knife boasts a full salad bar and all-you-can-eat meat grill. For just under 22USD (excluding tips and tax) you can get full access to both, as well as a bottle of wine or beer, a complimentary cut of rib eye or filet mignon, and dessert. Though the restaurant specialises in steak, the grill isn't just stocked with beef. You can find all manner of meaty goodness, like bacon-wrapped chicken, German sausages and baby back ribs.

The impressive grill.

We ate as much as our stomachs could muster and shared a bottle of red wine. Unfortunately, our complimentary rib eye was overcooked. The server also gave us beef (the crappy metaphorical kind) for leaving a bottle of soda on the table. That’s a big no-no when dining in the States, so just watch yourself if you happen to carry around labelled drink bottles.

Though the food was decent and we were mostly satisfied, all the hype we had built up since first learning about The Knife resulted in a disappointing meal. The overcooked beef, the server’s attitude towards our faux par, the restaurant’s insistence on how much gratuity we should pay and our inability to eat more than half our bodyweight definitely put a damper on things. If you aren't that big an eater, then stick to Seoul Garden. At least they don’t put on airs.

After lunch, we called a cab and parted ways with Jieqi, who was headed for Las Vegas, at the airport. The rest of us took our first flight to San Francisco, which transited in Houston, Texas. Due to a slight delay and a very short transiting window, we missed our connecting flight and got put on standby for a late-night flight instead. When that didn't go through (the flight was oversold, because yes that’s a thing), we waited in line for nearly an hour at customer service. Everyone was tired and pissed off from having ran up and down the airport too much—it wasn't a pleasant wait.

Once we made it to customer service, the kindly counter-staff—bless her—gave us meal vouchers and put us up in a complimentary hotel twenty minutes from the airport. She also got us confirmed seats on an early flight the next morning to San Francisco. We bought our dinners and took a shuttle bus to the Park Inn & Suites, and I immediately regretted not picking a later flight; the hotel was more luxurious than the Disney Resort, and the room came with a microwave oven, a fridge, cable TV and two queen-sized beds.

Goodnight.

Sadly, we could only stay a short night. Early the next morning we went back to the airport and eventually managed to get on the plane. But guess what? The flight got cancelled due to a mechanical fault. We de-planed, thoroughly amused at our dumb luck. Fortunately, instead of cancelling the flight, the airline managed to reschedule it, pushing it back about two hours. We finally took off, much to the delight of flight crew and passengers alike. The plane was empty; I got three whole seats to myself, so I suppose it was a small blessing in disguise. Still, the moral of the story is clear: do not do business with United Air.

After that entire episode, we landed safely in San Francisco and checked into the San Francisco International Hostel, a seedy little hostel located downtown. The building was so old, even the elevator was declared senile. It was a huge step down from the hotels we had previously stayed in at Houston and Orlando.

Wait, is this Alcatrez?

Since we couldn't afford to spend 300USD a night at the Hilton, we made do, though not without some Singaporean bitching. For dinner we headed to the nearby Pinecrest Diner. I ordered a hearty bowl of classic mac n’ cheese which definitely filled me up.

Cheesy.

And so our adventure in the land of theme parks and tourist traps came to a close. Jetlagged and flight-wearied, we went to bed, unsure of what other delights or horrors the next phase of our travels would bring.  

Orlando, Day 5/6 - Universal Studios

After our Sunday rest, we once more made our way to Universal Studios, this time to try out their flagship theme park. Like in Day 3, I’ll give a quick breakdown of some of the attractions that we visited. As this park was quite huge, we dedicated two whole days to it, so this post covers both Day 5 and 6. Enough talk; here we go!

Terminator 2: 3D

He'll be back.

Can’t get enough of Arnold? Terminator 2: 3D is a multi-sensory show which brings audiences into the heart of the conflict between Skynet and the Connors. The show combines live-action actors, lighting, 3D visual effects and pyrotechnics to create an exciting yet oddly nostalgic experience.

E.T. Adventure

Go home.

A family-friendly ride through the forests and out into space as you attempt to deliver everyone’s favourite wrinkly alien to his home planet. If you’re lucky, E.T. might even say goodbye to you in person at the end of the trip.

Krusty Burger

It markets itself.

Grab yourself a signature Krusty Burger or a deliciously overpriced Ribwich over at the Simpsons’ themed cafeteria. If you aren’t a fan of demented clowns, there are other themed stalls you can visit as well. How about a waffle chicken sandwich or a smoking, sputtering cup of Flaming Moe’s?

The Simpsons Ride

This obviously isn't the ride.

A 4D thrill ride that puts you on a death trap of a rollercoaster in Krustyland. Join the Simpsons as they are hunted by the villainous Sideshow Bob. Escape into Springfield and avoid getting killed in the most cartoony ways possible. A fun ride with good old Simpsons humour and gags.

Diagon Alley

You're a wizard.

Escape into the Wizarding World when you slide through a not-so-secret passage into bustling Diagon Alley. Here you can pick up your very own wand at Ollivander’s, trade your Muggle money for wizarding currency, cast spells at various predetermined locations, sip frozen Butterbeer at The Three Broomsticks and watch a fire-breathing dragon claim Gringotts’ Bank as its nesting ground. Another must-see for all Harry Potter fans.

Minions Mayhem

Yes please.

Love those crazy yellow critters from Despicable Me? Now’s your chance to be a Minion yourself. Strap yourself in for a 4D simulation through Gru’s lab as you begin your training to become a full-fledged Minion. The ride is fun, family-friendly and ends on a heartfelt note—that is, if you can get past the two-hour line.

Animal Actors on Location

A great live show where Hollywood’s greatest animal actors show off just how talented they really are. Highly-trained dogs, cats, pigeons, vultures and even pigs run around on stage, causing all sorts of hilarious mayhem. Many of the critters are better trained than some of the children in the audience. If you’re an animal lover, this is a must-see.    

Transformers

Roll out!

This ride is exactly the same as the one in Universal Studios Singapore. Safeguard the All-Spark as you race through the city streets, battling Decepticons on-board Autobot Evac in a thrilling 4D adventure. Still pretty good the fifth time round.

Superstar Parade

Seriously though, who is this guy?

It wouldn't be Universal if the day didn't end with our favourite cartoon characters strutting down the street to the beat of their various theme songs. Snap pictures of Spongebob, Patrick, Squidward, Dora the Explorer, the Minions and some rabbit dude in a suit as they parade through the park, accompanied by a host of dancers and mascots nobody really cares about. If you aren’t a parade kinda guy, now’s probably the time to go queue for rides.

Of course, there are still many attractions we either had no time to visit or simply did not write about. Nevertheless, our time at Universal and Islands of Adventure has been incredible and memorable. Here’s hoping we get to come back one day. 

Orlando, Day 4 - Church & Buffets

Sunday rolled in to swap shifts with a tired, hungover (from fun) Saturday. Moses and I started our morning right with the resort’s all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. For it was, the buffet’s spread wasn’t all that impressive, though the Mickey Mouse pancakes were definitely delightful.

Feels weird eating his face.

And for some of us Sunday means church. In Orlando, the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe, was both the parish of choice for visiting travellers as well as a tourist attraction in its own right. After reading about it online, Moses and I made a little pilgrimage to the minor basilica for mass.

When we got to the basilica after a long walk, it was too early for mass. We decided to check out the church's museum, which had two parts: an art gallery featuring original sacred paintings (no pics allowed) and a walk-through gallery featuring the history of Orlando and the parish itself. There was even a relic of St. Desiderius on display.

Sacred bones.

We left the museum and headed for the main church. I was mesmerised by the its beautifully dignified architecture. Not having been to too many different churches myself, it was my first time basking in one that emanated such grandeur and, at the same time, prayerfulness. There was also a smaller chapel next to the main church designated for daily mass. The sombreness of that sacred space was so tangible I didn’t dare take pictures inside (I took one through the window, though).

The main church (top 2) and the chapel (bottom).

We stayed for mass (the choir sang Panis Angelicus and it was awesome) and went on ahead to the gift store after the recessional hymn. As we shopped for souvenirs and trinkets, it started to rain, leaving us stranded for a little while. When the rain showed no sign of subsiding, we decided to Uber back to the resort.

Once we were back we lazed around for a bit as the others figured out how to get to our next destination. We took a bus to the Kissimmee area and checked out the flea market there. There wasn't really anything interesting there, though Shaun did leave with a new bag and some clothes.

After exploring all four segments of the indoor flea market, we walked down the street to look for grub. We initially planned on visiting Ichiban, an Asian buffet restaurant, but the queue was long and our stomachs were growling. We settled for the Kabuki Oriental Buffet, which also served up all-you-can-eat Asian cuisine. The food was good for the price we paid, and the spread was a mix of Chinese, Japanese and Mexican. They even had dessert.

(Also, I forgot to take pictures.)

Satisfied with our dinner, we took a bus back to the resort, looking forward to some TV, booze and our second day at Universal Studios. 

Orlando, Day 3 - Islands of Adventure

Day 3 was the day we finally got to visit Universal Studios. The attractions were split into two main parks: Islands of Adventure and the original Universal Studios Theme Park. Since we got Single Park Admission tickets, we had to pick one, so we went with Islands of Adventure.

Rather than do a play-by-play of what we did at the park, I’ll be doing a run-down of some of the rides and attractions (including special food and beverages) that we came across in our full day at Islands of Adventure.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

Welcome to the Daily Bugle.

This 4D experience is somewhat similar to Universal’s Transformers ride. The riders take the role of Daily Bugle volunteer reporters, cruising through New York in a ‘state-of-the-art’ vehicle called the SCOOP to uncover newsworthy details of a villainous plot by the Sinister Syndicate. The SCOOP bucks, spins and turns as several classic Spidey villains attempt to destroy it. Of course, Spider-Man comes to the rescue, and Stan Lee also makes a couple of guest appearances. A fun ride, especially if you enjoyed the old-school Spider-Man cartoons.

Jurassic Park Discovery Centre

Cue theme music.

Not a ride, but an actual miniature science centre with life-sized statues of dinosaurs. A good place to hide out from the rain, though there are usually lots of kids running around, banging away on the various displays and interactive exhibits.

River Adventure

Another ride that’s found its way to Singapore’s Universal theme park, the River Adventure is far more exciting than its Southeast Asian counterpart. Rather than a circular raft, riders are seated four in a row and sent out to explore Jurassic Park. Things go awry and the ride is diverted to a darkened facility dominated by escaped raptors. After a T-Rex rears its head, the ride finishes with a wet, steep drop.

Ripsaw Rapids

Located in Toon Lagoon, this wet and wild ride is guaranteed to get you soaked. Riders are seated in a log floating on a stream of water. The ride starts off deceptively slow, accelerating along bumps and drops as it progresses and ending with a pretty steep drop and a huge splash.

The Three Broomsticks

Butterbeer!

This themed restaurant comes right out of JK Rowling’s beloved bestselling books, and is situated in Hogsmeade, one-half of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Eating here means getting in line and waiting in a pretty long queue, but it’s definitely worth it once you get your first sip of Butterbeer or Pumpkin Juice. Though the food is pricey and in no particular way memorable, the impeccable décor and highly-immersive ambience make The Three Broomsticks a definite must-see for all Harry Potter fans.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

The magic begins.

Right beside Hogsmeade stands Hogwarts castle, which, really, deserves an entry all on its own. But inside the castle is a unique 4D ride which puts riders on an enchanted journey through the world of Harry Potter. As your feet dangle above the ground, you are taken on a disorientating trip through Hogwarts, the Dark Forest and even the Chamber of Secrets. Unexpected dips and tilts, alongside cinematic graphics combined with real-life moving props make for a truly engaging experience.

The 8^th Voyage of Sinbad

It's like candyland.

This action-packed show about Sinbad's quest to rescue Princess Amora from the clutches of an evil witch is filled with brilliant stunts, quirky humour and impressive pyrotechnics. There is a pretty entertaining pre-show, so make sure you get there early. The acting is decent for a theme park show, but what’s really great about this show is their use of the set to create some uncanny effects.

There are definitely other rides and attractions in the park, many of which I did not personally experience. The highlight of Islands of Adventure has definitely got to be the Wizarding World, so if you’re a Harry Potter fan and are looking for a one-of-a-kind HP experience, that’s the place to be.

Be here for Day 5 where we will be reviewing Universal Studios Theme Park’s attractions and rides. Till then!

Orlando, Day 2 - Raining Pancakes

Though we had planned to get up early and make our trip to Universal Studios, the entire gang woke up late on Day 2. We took one of the cabs provided by the resort down to Universal CityWalk. From there, we walked down to the ticketing booths.

That was when the rain hit. The ticketing booths had shelters with crappy design. It started pouring on us while we queued. We went up to the counter and had a messy exchange with the counter lady over the roar of the rain. She misunderstood us and gave us 2-day Park-to-Park tickets which cost us 200+USD each. Jieqi realised something was wrong and got us to ask her to do a double-check. What we really wanted were 3-day Single Park Admission tickets. She corrected the mistake while we waited in the rain, and eventually passed us our tickets.

TIP: If you wish to get tickets, buy them online instead of getting them directly from Universal’s ticketing booths. You will save 10 to 20USD on each ticket that way.

Since half the day was already over and it was raining shits and giggles, we decided we wouldn't activate our tickets until the next day. Once the rain lightened, we walked back to CityWalk and had lunch at the Cowfish, a fusion restaurant that combines Japanese bento and sushi concepts with American burger fare. I got a cup of tea and a burger called The Big Squeal, which had pulled pork stacked atop a juicy beef patty, smothered with cheese, onion strings and bacon coleslaw.

That thing's a monster.

After lunch, Jieqi found out there were actually bus services that could get us back to the hotel. The entire cost of a one-way journey was just 2USD per pax, a huge difference from the hotel’s transport service. We walked towards the bus stop from Universal, stopping along the way to watch some ducks.

Who let these quacks out?

We got back to the resort with one transfer. A quick break later, we went out once more to do some exploring. We soon ended up at the International House of Pancakes, or IHOP as it’s called. They basically serve up breakfast all day, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The servers are friendly, personable and efficient, refilling our bottomless drinks as soon as we drained our glasses, offering to take pictures of us and chatting us up after we’d finished our meal.

Group shot!

For dinner, I ordered IHOP’s special: four white chocolate pancakes soaked in raspberry syrup. Each table is also equipped with four bottles of syrup: traditional pancake syrup, butter pecan syrup, blueberry syrup and strawberry syrup. It was an amazing late-night breakfast meal.

When dessert becomes a meal, that's when shit gets real.

A short post for a short day. Day 2 was faced with a slight hiccough, but nonetheless managed to end on a white chocolate and raspberry syrupy note. All’s well that ends well with pancakes.

Orlando, Day 1 - Welcome to Florida

After two flight delays, two transfers, one redirect, and sixteen hours of waiting, flying and hobo-ing, we finally arrived in Orlando, Florida. From the airport, we took a cab over to the Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort, thereby kicking off the first part of our post-OIP vacation.

Finally, a real hotel!

Since we arrived early and were unable to check in, we decided to dump our baggage in the resort and explore the immediate area. Orlando’s weather is familiarly balmy, not unlike Singapore’s warm and humid climate. What’s more, Florida is very prone to rain, so you can bet we felt right at home (not really). We walked over to a stretch of restaurants called the Crossroads. For lunch, we tried the steamy sandwiches at Firehouse Subs, which was apparently established by firemen and made to resemble a fire station. I ordered a Steak & Cheese sub, which came with grilled onions, peppers, beef steak slices and melted cheese. It was good, though I honestly thought it could have used some kind of sauce.

Smiles, steaks and subs.

Since we were all tired out from the long flights, we decided to cut our exploration short and retreat to the resort lobby. While waiting for our check-in, we played a couple of card games, visited the resort’s arcade and took some quick naps. Eventually we were given the key cards to our freaking awesome rooms.

Check out that room!

We showered and almost all of us crashed immediately onto our beds. We woke up in the evening and, with the exception of Shaun, headed out to take the shuttle to Disney’s Epcot Park. Our plan was to walk to the Disney Boardwalk from there. However, we were told by a Disney staff we’d have to take another shuttle to Hollywood Studios instead, since we’d have to pay good money to enter Epcot just to get to the Boardwalk. The poor, cheapskate students that we are, we took the staff-member’s advice and headed to Hollywood Studios, but not before taking a shot of Epcot's white golf-ball-like landmark.

Ball.

From Hollywood Studios, we walked by the river to the Disney Boardwalk, a vibrant quay lined with several restaurants, resorts and other attractions.

It's preeettyyyfuuuul.

As we wandered the Boardwalk looking for food, we stopped to watch a street entertainer terrorise innocent children. It was a fun show. We walked on further and came to a beach of sorts. There was some kind of beach party where vacationers could roast marshmallows at a fire-pit, a huge shipwrecked pirate ship that actually functioned as a massive water slide, and a lighthouse that needed no description.

The Friendly Lighthouse.

Hungry and a little bored, we took a ferry across the Boardwalk back to Hollywood Studios. From there, we hopped on a shuttle back to the resort and reunited with Shaun. We went back to the Crossroads and had dinner at TGIFridays. I ordered a ribeye steak and ribs combo, along with a side of tangy coleslaw and the best mac-and-cheese ever. It cost a small fortune, but it was definitely money well spent.

SO GOOD.

Before heading back to the resort, we stopped by a 24-hour supermarket at the Crossroads and bought a six-pack of beer, along with some snacks. Our vacation’s proving to be quite luxurious, and we’re hoping it’s only going to get better. Coming up, more delicious food and of course, Universal Studios Florida!