Travel

Universal Studios Hollywood – Super Silly Funland – Theme Parkaholics

Universal Studios Globe
I’m a huge Despicable Me fan. Ha Banana. So upon hearing that Universal Studios Hollywood added in an area dedicated to Despicable Me, that is when I jumped on the annual pass train for Universal.

So for my first Theme Parkaholics post I present you, Universal Studios Hollywood. Red CarpetUniversal Stuidso Red CarpetUniversal Studios
While Universal is a bit more of a drive than Disneyland is, it’s still a fun place to go to. The last time I went to Universal Studios Back to the Future was still there and no one knew of what a Transformer was, well at least movie wise to all my comic book fans.

So with the great success of Despicable Me, Universal Studios decided to invest lots of money and make Super Silly Funland into a reality for kids. You see, Universal Studios used to be geared towards teens and adults because how can you compete with Disneyland not too far south of you. But with the new addition, it’s making Universal Studios a more kid friendly place.France Universal StudiosTo get to Super Silly Funland you have to walk through the streets of Europe until you reach the Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem ride. The first time I went to Universal, this ride was only a 30 minute wait, but as soon as summer came along it jumped to a 2 hour wait. Safe to say, we didn’t go the second time.

While in line you have misters spraying at you to help protect you from the wonderful LA heat, TVs with minions, and even workers playing catch with you or spraying you with a water gun. The ride itself is a fun 3D simulator. You basically get to become a minion and part of Gru’s top secret mission, which will first be led by the girls putting you through basic minion training.

So if you’re a fan of minions, bananas, and just love Despicable Me, you’ll surely love this ride as much as I did. And hey, at the end you get to be a part of a dance party.

But after you get out of the Minion Mayhem, the fun doesn’t stop there. You end up in the Despicable Me store filled with everything Despicable me, I ended up buying my very own minion cup and I love it!

Despicable Me

And then you end up outside in none other than SUPER SILLY FUNLAND! AGH!
Super Silly FunlandThis little corner of the park includes a ride for small children, game booths filled with fluffies (and cheating workers who don’t let older kids win), and a mini waterpark all the while blasting songs like Happy by Pharrel (one of my favorite songs) and the whole Despicable Me soundtrack.

And yes, I said waterpark. During the summer this place is filled with dripping wet children in their bathing suits, if they’re a veteran, or just in their t-shirt and shorts. I have not had the pleasure to go through this waterpark, but I have passed by it and I would definitely have my bathing suit and change of clothes ready if I were to go through it.

But my favorite part of Super Silly Funland is hidden behind the waterpark. There is this balcony with little view finders and you can see the whole Universal Back lot and the mountains behind it. It was a beautiful site, unfortunately this is where smokers can smoke, but on a slow day it’s quite beautiful to overlook studio city from high above. Check out my video here.

Overall Super Silly Funland in Universal Studios is a great place to take the kids during the summertime and maybe even take a picture with a minion or two.
MinionMe Minions
Cheers my travelers. Hope you enjoyed the first edition of Theme Parkaholics!

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Theme Parkaholics

DCA

These posts are simple, it’s about theme parks. I simply love going to theme parks. I’m an adventure seeker and roller coasters, expensive food, and scary mazes help fill some void in my life.

I currently hold annual passes for Disneyland/California Adventure, Universal Studios Hollywood and Knotts Berry Farm/ Knotts Soak City. So at least once every month I’ll feature a theme park, ride or food found in a theme park and maybe even a tip or two and blog about it. I’ll post awesome pictures and some videos and show you how fun theme parks can be. I’ll probably even include zoos and fairs and things of the like.

I hope all you travelers enjoy my Theme Parkaholics posts because I know we’ve all been to a theme park at least once in our lives and whether you bring your children there now or still run around in a theme park with the child within you, then I’m sure you’ll enjoy this.

Passes

Do you have a favorite theme park that brings out the inner child in you? Comment below or tweet me @lostwithyvonne.

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Comic-Con International: San Diego – The Flashback

So San Diego Comic Con 2014 has come and passed. And I was not there again this year and I’m okay with that.

Why would I be okay with it? Well that answer is as simple as saying that I don’t like crowds and waiting in lines (a reason why Disneyland can be conflicting to me).

But I have had the great privilege and pleasure to have gone to TWO Comic-Con Internationals in San Diego in my life. That’s two more than a lot of people.
Comic Con

On the Trolley to Comic-Con, just a tad excited.

It’s been years since my last Comic-Con experience and every year I hear how it keeps getting bigger and bigger. Comic-Con in San Diego is the biggest event that San Diego holds every summer. And big name celebs and directors all come here to reveal movie, book, and TV plots and pilots.

I want to throw it back to the old Comic-Con years I went to and how I felt so out of place at the convention they call ‘for the nerds’.

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Fab (and fattening) Fair

The San Diego County Fair or known as The Fab Fair for this year’s theme was quite a full-filling experience. And I mean that literally.


SAM_4278

Located at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, which is the Del Mar Racetracks, as usual, the fair consisted of lots of unhealthy eating, thrill rides that make you re-think having eaten that deep fried corndog, and so many little shops you feel like you’re in an infomercial. And even though my body hated me the next day after binge eating grease and who knows what else, I am so glad I got to have a big cheat day and eat all that delicious food.

The San Diego County fair has always been special to me. I’ve grown up going to the SD Fair; it’s always a big deal in San Diego, as is any fair in any city really. But this fair has always been my main one. I mean I’ve performed a dance on one of the concert stages, worked for a radio station during the Michael Jackson zombie tribute, did the scary bungee ball ride.

But this year, we focused on the food, as it’s supposed to be.

The fair is always known for making the most outrageously bad, but actually so good, food for you. And every year the heart cloggers get more and more grandiose. While I didn’t try it, this year’s big heart attack item was called the Triple Decker Krispy Kreme Cheeseburger and I have heard reviews that it is good. I guess it tastes like it sounds: a cheeseburger wrapped around two glazed donuts, so if you’re up for it. I say, why not?

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Travel is Life

Travel

Life, it’s a precious thing. I’m sure you all know that. But how much do we truly appreciate life and how much do we truly take for granted. Due to recent events in my life, I wanted to share why I have such a big passion for travel. Well one of the main reasons why (I have many).

To me, travel is life.

While I was not privileged to get to travel to exotic places when I was young, I decided to change that and make traveling my life goal. And I have never been so passionate about something in my entire life.

Already I’ve visited places like New York City, Las Vegas, and some islands on the eastern Caribbean. And for that I am truly blessed. And now, this upcoming fall of 2014 I get to finally live out my dream of going to Europe (More on this on another post).

But what I want to elaborate on is how much I appreciate the life I live and how privileged I am to be alive. While, no, I don’t make money traveling and no I don’t have a particular job that lets me travel the world. But I am living, breathing, and loving everything and everyone in my life.

You see, travel is something that doesn’t come easy. I mean it can for people who have money, but for many others it can be something that they can only dream of. I lived a good life growing up, my family loved and cared for me and gave me everything my heart desired.

And while it took me awhile to realize how important it was to travel and dream big, (I’d like to thank Samantha Brown and Great Hotels on Travel Channel for that), now I realized how much I want my life to be a big adventure no matter how big or small it will be.

Personally, everyone has excuses to not do something they’re passionate about. They also have excuses as to why they think their lives suck and why they can’t do this or do that. Well, in my opinion, those people need to wake up and realize how fortunate they are.

Everyone has their own issues in life and everyone has things that are tough and need to get through. I will include myself in that last statement. I’m not rich or famous, so I can’t just pick up and travel the world on my daddy’s dollar. I have to work for it. Just like everyone else does.

I guess what this post is basically saying is to wake up and just do it. And put a smile on your face while you’re at it. Life is hard. Life can suck. But how about you start thinking how far in life you’ve already come and how much you’ve already overcame in this life no matter what age you are at. Think about the people that are surrounding you in your life and how much they care and love you. Think about how you’re breathing and alive.

Think about positive things. Think happy. Maybe it’s the optimist in me and all you cynics are just scolding me. But try smiling and try thinking about how you’re alive and how you currently live. I’m sure you’ll find something good.

So cheers to happiness and cheers to traveling to add to your happiness. And a bigger cheers to you and the life you live.

Also never be afraid to dream BIG. You might surprise yourself at what you’re capable of doing to achieve those dreams.

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Beautiful Disaster: San Diego Wildfires

As I drove to work, early Thursday morning on May 15, 2014, I looked east as the sun began to peek out through the mountains on my hour long commute. As I left Riverside County into my hometown of northern San Diego I saw a haze covering the city with a smell of burning land and smoke.

Fire season started early this year.

SD Fire

I know my blog is about traveling and the great things about it. But sometimes we also need to realize in some of the most beautiful places, there can be much danger deep in its root.

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A tree to happiness

Tree

Sometimes I like to walk away from my 9-5 job and just take walks during my breaks. The overwhelming life of a full timer can take a lot from a girl. Especially one that day dreams of throwing coins into the Trevi Fountain. So i decided to share a little gem I found on my walk away from work. Who knew this was located right behind my building, but all I can say is; this tree made me happy. The setting, the lighting, the tree, everything about this is bliss.

I guess all I want to say is maybe just take a walk away from your usual routine sometimes. And you never know what you may find. It might make your whole day happier (like mine did) or maybe at least smile for a brief moment, but at least it’ll do something to brighten your day.

Cheers.

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