I have a fantastic hubby. This year, he planned a trip to Disneyland and Universal Studios to celebrate my birthday. Fantastic, right? I only wish Mother Nature’s contribution to my “special” outing hadn’t been a record-breaking scalding. Here’s the lowdown on those high temps and our cool trip.
We spent the first couple days of our vacation in Disneyland. Disneyland was a bit crowded, it being summer and all, but we avoided lines all the same. We took advantage of the FASTPASS system and the thinning of the crowds late in the evening, which resulted in 15-20 minutes being our longest wait. We still hit almost all the most popular rides.
In my prestigious opinion, sampling the food at Disneyland is almost more fun than sampling the rides. With that in mind, we munched corndogs, Mickey beignets, Dole whips, safari skewers, and Mickey macaroons. We endeavored to go easy on the sugar, but it went down a little too easy. We dined at Napa Rose, The Blue Bayou, and Carthay Circle. Since we were celebrating my birthday, the staff at Carthay Circle gave us one of the restaurant’s best tables on the terrace. From that vantage point, we got to watch the evening parade and fireworks. It was, dare I say, magical. Peter Pan gave us a surprised look as he passed us high on his float perch, a startled look he probably gives Carthay’s balcony dwellers every night.
My actual birthday was actually awesome. Jason surprised me with a whole assortment of Disney-themed birthday goodies that the hotel staff arranged in our room while we were out; I’m talking Dudley Dursley quantity here. Good thing I’m too old to be classified as “a brat.” Jason also insisted I wear a birthday button. More people seem to be taking advantage of Disneyland’s buttons these days. Hence, only a handful of park goers offered me wishes, but plenty of staff members gave me good birthday vibes.
I’m no Disney nut, but I have to admit that Disneyland does it right. Not only is the park kept remarkably clean for the number of people that crowd into its borders, but its characters have a way of making you feel enormously important. We ate breakfast at the Storytellers Café on my birthday, and all the critters were so sweet. They held my hand, kissed my forehead, gave me pats; I felt loved. Kylo Ren wasn’t so doting. He attempted to get me to join the dark side. I gave him an ambiguous maybe- I just couldn’t say yes in good conscience.
We spent our last couple days at Universal Studios. Jason was a wee lad the last time he went back to the future. And, for me, it had been over a decade. More importantly, neither of us had been to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Birthdays are a good time to remedy oversights like that.
Our second day at Universal, we decided to upgrade to the VIP Experience. This decision was based off two points. First, a record heatwave was expected, prompting an excessive heat warning from the National Weather Service. As predicted, that hot spell spiked the temperatures at Universal Studios up to 113 degrees and other parts of L.A. to 117, the highest temperatures on record in some of these areas. When things get hot, the hot get guides… or something like that. The other reason? We wanted all the secrets of the backlot to be revealed to us. Thanks to our knowledgeable guide and VIP status, not only did we discover many studio curiosities, we also effortlessly hopped on every ride, walked through the props department, and received a meal that deserved its “gourmet” designation. Our favorites attractions at Universal Studios? We most enjoyed the Studio Tour, Revenge of the Mummy ride, Special Effects Show, and everything Potter.
Speaking of Potter, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter was charming but searing. Sadly, Hogsmeade’s winter glazing didn’t make it any cooler; we melted while its snow didn’t. At Ollivanders, an ash wand selected Jason during the choosing show. I guess his magical abilities are as alluring as the rest of him. We tried casting spells throughout the village, sometimes with success and sometimes with fiasco. Although most of the food options at Universal Studios are underwhelming, Jason and I loved the Three Broomsticks with its mix of British pub fare and wizarding ambiance. And, the Nighttime Lights projected on the Hogwarts castle were pretty extraordinary; they are worth catching almost as much as a Golden Snitch.
That last boiling day in Universal, my bad ankle swelled up in a manner befitting a sad balloon at a clown show. I guess heat does cruel things to impaired tissue. Time to slip some Deflating Draught out of Snape’s stash!
Mother Nature, like my husband, must have pulled out all the stops for my extraordinary celebration because L.A. was 25 degrees cooler a few days later. It was a birthday for the record books!