Universal Orlando Resort - Day 2 - Universal Studios

Started out a little later today - headed out around 9:30 for the water taxi. Long wait - should have walked. Its great that all the parks and City Walk are all a short and pleasant stroll from the hotel - you really don't waste any time travelling around.

Loved the layout of this park, has a really nice feel to it. We worked our way through Hollywood, World Expo and San Francisco before lunch. Really enjoyed the ET Adventure (dragged our 15 year old kicking and screaming, but then glad he went.... ). Had lunch at San Francisco Pastry Company - yum! Happened to break for coffee at Beverly Hills Boulangerie, coincidentally just in time

for the Universal Superstar Parade and had excellent seats! Easily polished off New York Production Central after lunch. Our favourites were World Expo and Production Central - seeing the world from the viewpoint of a minion was pretty cool.

We were really impressed with the 3D simulation rides. It was incredible how you felt you were interacting with the characters, from the xx in the Simpsons, to Spiderman jumping on the roof of your car, to being shrunk into a Minion on Despicable Me and seeing the world from their diminutive perspective. Universal has a great locker system for stowing your things on rides that move around a lot. Note if you're in a ride line-up before the park closing time they will keep the attraction open until the last person in the line has gone through.

Finished the day with a lovely dinner at Lombards, followed by buffet desert (great draw for the kids!) and prime seats for the laser show on the water. Great finish to a lovely day. We purchased the dinner package (Lombard's Cinematic Spectacular) before departing on our trip but, depending on the time of year, it may not be necessary to pre-book.