Festive Holiday Background Music! -->

So during my holiday break from the Air Force, I head back home to where it all began for me, in a little entertainment destination down the street from Disney known as Universal Studios. So I went down to pay the old green guy a visit and see this Holiday Whobilation they call Grinchmas.



They had decorations all over the place.



This is the first year they're doing the Grinchmas show inside a soundstage, and it was fantastic.



I see you, Cindy Lou Who!



Grinchy looking absolutely dashing in red.



Showing off his good side.



Did I ever mention how cool this set was?



Sorry it's a bit blurry, but it looked better in person. Maybe if you squint your eyes it'll look normal?



Last song and dance



Glad to know the Sky Trolley runs on Military Time



I thought this was funny, the Seuss Sky Trolley has a child swap!



The backside of Seuss Landing, now 25% more festive!



What not to do at the table in front of your mom. I later on found out the hard way.



I love these palm trees they have. Did you know, these trees survived Hurricane Andrew down in Miami and due to their awkward shape, were a perfect fit for the world of Dr. Seuss where there's no thing as a straight line.



Noted!



This was where they used to hold the Grinchmas show the past couple years. Note: Standing room only.



Even the Lorax dressed up!



These guys were playing under Honk Honkers, thought that was funny also.



More Universal coming soon!

Thanks AP looks inviting maybe one year we will go at Christmas while at Disney !

Thanks AP & MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! It's nice to see you on here!!



I hope the Air Force is treating you right

Harry Potter and the crowd of doom! Ok, maybe they weren't that bad, I should really watch what I say, the walls could be listening.



Here's the backside of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, mocking me as I try to find a way inside it's gates.



Hogwarts from 'the outside'



Finally, after hours of waiting, I'm in!



It's a train. It goes choo choo and blows smoke.



Here's how crowded it was, even with 'return tickets with specified time stamps' to help regulate the crowds. And I thought FP was bad.



This guy was cute, I wanted to adopt him.



Three Broomsticks



Inside the Owlry, they had owls. Who knew?



Fill in the blank, "If pigs can fly, _______________"



Hogwarts up close



I don't know this guy is, but I like him. I shall call him Hugo.



This is one of Hugo's friends. I didn't have enough time to come up with a name for this dude.



Reasons why you should avoid this ride:



There's a lot of pictures here. They talk to each other.



This is Hugo's pet Gila monster with wings Humphrey.



I'm quite familiar with all things Pygmy, or at least I thought so. Could anyone please explain me what exactly is a Pygmy Puff?



Hooray for recalled chinese toys!



Don't go down the alleyway, there's a crowd of people out there!



Bye bye Hogwarts!



(More Universal to be continued)

Look inviting AP thanks !

Those look Amazing!

And now . . . the rest of the story. Here's the rest of Islands of Adventure, what I felt like taking pictures of anyways.

The adventure begins, or continues. Eh whatever, part 3 begins!



Ever want to learn how to play the 3 Nozzled Bloozer? Talk to this guy!



For those who have a really big appetite might want to use one of these.



However, if you eat too much, you'll end up looking like this guy:



If you've never ate at Mythos, I highly recommend it!



I could sit here and watch people talk with this fountain for hours and not be bored.



If you make a wish to the fountain in the form of spare change, your wishes turn into dreams for kids and are greatly appreciated.



If it wasn't for this guy, there'd be no restaurant underneath that rock.



Inside the main lobby of Confesco's Grill. Note how they have a little bit of everything from all the islands here.



I'm surprised this group still holds meetings despite all the cancellations.



Sounds like a smart idea!



Ooooh Popeye!



I love this windmill!



One of these days I'll travel the parks in a Kon Tiki.



Universal's version of Duffy, except he's not shoved down our throats to buy this bear and he looks cuter.



Oooh, fire!



They had the Triceratops Encounter open to help relieve the crowds for Harry Potter. Not too many people took advantage of it, and I soon found out why.



We're taken to this paddock with big door and see this sick Triceratops inside.



Lucky for us, she enjoys company.



This guy was rather lackluster and boring.



I really feel for Peter Parker, he's got some strict rules to follow.



See what I mean?



Inside Camp Jurassic. Even though this is a kiddie area, I still love taking a walk through here.



Trashbag boy gets soaked!



There's climbing nets all over the place, and a cool cavern with geysers inside.



The Adventure lives on!



Bye bye Islands of Adventure lighthouse!



(Universal Studios and Manheim Steamroller, Next on A Very Merry Pygmy Grinchmas Special!)

Thanks AP maybe I will hit the park next year

I finally figured out who Duffy is. He is the mascot for the Disney Dream, right?

Good morning ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the Universal Studios Trip Report. Well, here it is, the late seventies going on 1985. You know, so much of the music we hear today is all pre-programmed electronic disco, we never get a chance to hear master blues men practicing their craft anymore. By the year 2010, the music known today as the blues will exist only in the classical records department of your local library. So tonight ladies and gentlemen, while we still can, let us welcome, from Rock Island Illinois, the blues band of Joliet Jake and Elwood Blues, the Blues Brothers.

Jazz starting off the show.



Mabel joins in the fun too.



Here they are, the Blues Brothers!



They came to sing some holiday songs instead of the usual routine.



They had their own tree with decorations and everything.



Just about everywhere there's a holiday show in Florida, the Florida snow or foam appears. Still trying to figure out if this is by coincidence . . .



Santa hats just make everything better.



"Hey baby, would you like to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what you want?"



Fun Fact: The snowfetti used in this portion of the show has been lovingly collected all year long from the band's scalp. And you thought the band wasn't flaky at all.



Finally checked out Disaster! For those of you who've been to Universal before and remember Earthquake, it's pretty much the same ride, except there's Christopher Walken's evil ghost stunt double.



They have this thing to welcome you to Disaster! Studios. Nice, eh?



Basically in other words, watch your step!



This guy's got several memorable quotes posted all over.



Nice little tribute to Earthquake, which opened when the park opened back in 1990.



I'm not sure if this mechanical shark was used in one of the Jaws films or not. Either way, it looks freakin' cool!



Looks like they've seen some explosive action inside them soundstages.



We have now been welcomed to Disaster Studios by the mastermind of destruction, Frank Kincaid!



(More Universal to come!)

AP, You totally rock for posting those Blues Brothers pictures. They're adorable.

If I sat on Jake's lap, I think they'd need the jaws of life to get me off! <3

Looks like you had a rockin' time. Thanks so much!

More nice Pictures!

I don't know what those Pygmy Puffs are, but they are ADORABLE!!!!

Cool pictures AP I remember the first time I went to the first park back in 1996 ty !

Well I hope I get one.

And now the rest of Universal Studios, or whatever I felt like taking pictures of. This section of A Very Pygmy Grinchmas is brought to you today by Captain Jake's Amity Boat Tours. The best, and only boat tour on the island! Mention this ad by Dec 25th and you'll receive one free life preserver (normally $29.95 per person when available.) It's Captain Jake's way of saying Merry Fishmas.



This explains why Jaws skippers get paid more than those from the Jungle.



It's Christmas in July, or is it vice versa? Anyways, Happy 4th of July! Join us for our annual regatta!



What vacation isn't complete without stopping off in Krustyland? The Krustiest place on Earth!



Krustyland has more fun and games than the Jungle. Who'd thunk?



Here's my personal favorite rigged game:



Every morning when you wake up, and need that sudden burst of energy? Try Krusty-O's!



But wait Apu, there's more!



An hour away from Manheim Steamroller.



The preshow featured an accapella group, just on the other side of this crowd.



Chip Davis and the Chippettes, or better known as Manheim Steamroller.



Look at that Steamroller go!



They had the cast of Grinchmas up on stage to sing a few songs from their show with Manheim Steamroller. Did you know that the songs featured in the Grinchmas show in Islands of Adventure were all new songs created by Manheim Steamroller just for Grinchmas?




Coming up on A Very Merry Pygmy Grinchmas, Santa Claus! Stay Tuned!

Thanks AP for sharing Look forward to next

And now, grand finale, Macy's Holiday Parade, only at Universal Studios Florida. The balloons, floats, and costumes are all shipped down from New York after being used in Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, so you might recognize some of these floats and balloons and yes, they are the same ones you saw on TV a few months earlier.

OPD's here, clear da' way!



Now the parade can start!



Santa tried some of Mr. Wonka's amazing chewing gum, and now he's a cherry.



Grand Marshall and some crazy lady.



Hey Winkey! Miss you.



Here's Chloe the Clown.



And more clowns and the hamster wheel. I miss playing in that thing.



This has got to be the coolest stilts ever!



I wonder what happens when I tug on this string?



Mother Goose float. I was on the wrong side to catch the Kung Fu duckie.



Look at those sweet morsels



Hey there Uncle Sam!



He also had the amazing gum too.



I don't think I remember this float, but it looked cool.



It looks like they took my bus and carved it down to a taxi. Nice to see the monkey and his owner are still riding it.



This float looks familiar.



Here's another classic Macy's balloon.



Who doesn't love penguins in Santa hats?



They say that this guy was one of the original balloons used in one of the first parades Macy's has done in New York.



Big drum go boom.



Rainbow star is now christmassy.



One of the guest bands of the parade. These guys decorated their horns section.



I think this toy knows me.



Rocking horse and lumber jack stilt.



Flower pots are always a favorite of mine.



So are the candy canes.



Another cool float that's new to me.



Big ornament on wheels.



More ornaments, except one of them tried the blueberry pie gum and we just painted on some silver stripes.



These are now my second most favorite stilts, close to the puppeteers.



Santa's coming!



Here he is, and lost the weight. Lookin' good Santa!



Bye bye Macy's Parade!



Thank you all for coming along with me to Universal Orlando. Hope this will invite you all to come check it out one day, and I'd love to hear how your trip went. Until then, this is Pygmy signing off.