Universal Orlando 2017 - Halloween Horror Nights, Day 2

Universal is split up into two theme parks, a water park, and a shopping/dining district.  The theme parks are Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.  The Hogwarts Express links the parks if you have a park-to-park ticket allowing you to visit both parks on the same day.

On this day Jackie, our friend from Florida, met us at Islands of Adventure at 9am.  Whenever we visit the area she's always gracious enough to spend a day at the parks with us, and we always have a great time hanging out with her.  This day was no exception, and she even got soaked with us on the river raft ride: Popeye & Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges.

I'll spare you the play-by-play description and just share some highlights.

The start of a fun day

Skull Island: Reign of Kong

Hogwarts

This was our first time to ride Dr. Doom - it was better than I expected

Post-river raft ride.  Nothing was dry.

We had an excellent lunch at Mythos restaurant.  I had thick cut pork chops and they were cooked perfectly.

After our day in the park we went back to our hotel for dinner in the Islands dining room.  I enjoyed some wine, crab rangoon, the most amazing coconut rolls, and banana cream pie.  Our waiter Yasir was very efficient and did an excellent job.  

The hotel's inner courtyard with check-in desk in the background

Standing in the courtyard looking toward the front entrance of the hotel

Courtyard fountain

We had a fun, full day and made it back to the room around 8:30pm.