Rolling Reviews from the Backseat: Rip Ride Rock-It Rollercoaster
By The Back Seat Reviewer — Road Trip Mom’s Daughter!
On my recent trip to Universal studios, one of the most thrilling and original rides in the park was the Hollywood Rip Ride Rock-It. This bright red roller coaster covered in dazzling florescent lights could be seen from anywhere in the park. The fun starts the moment you get to the front of the line. Immediately after you sit down and pull your seat belt across your lap, you have 30 seconds to choose a song from a variety of music. Choices range from music by Fergie, to songs like I Will Survive; so everyone can get a song they know. If you don’t pick your song before the ride starts, on is picked for you. The song you picked will play out of speakers by your ears throughout your ride.
Unlike most roller coasters that have a steady incline that brings you to the top of the first hill, the Rock-It saves space with a vertical climb to the top of the park, followed by an equally frightening near-vertical drop. After that comes a series of stomach churning loop de loops and cork screw turns that rip through the park. The whole time your face is being recorded by a camera on the back of the seat in front of you so that when the ride is over, you have an opportunity to view and purchase your own music video. The only problem is that because this is one of the most popular rides in the park, the line gets extremely long and there is no express line, so getting there early is a must. All and all this an amazing ride that anyone who love roller coasters and music should be sure to ride.
Keep reading for lots of tips on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Universal Studios theme parks.
NOTE FROM ROAD TRIP MOM: This is a review by one of my road trip daughters! She and her sister are becoming regulars on my website with their product reviews and backseat opinions.
________________________________
All material copyright ©MomsMinivan.com
January 30, 2012 No Comments
Geography Car Game
The geography game is super easy to play. You simply take turns naming different cities, states or countries around the world. The only catch is that when it’s your turn, your geography point must begin with the same letter that the last person’s ended. Simple! If you have an atlas in the car, this game will have your kids scouring through it and learning new places.
Devra, my friend and frequent road-trip cohort from Parentopia.com, has played this game with her family (and me) for years. But somehow it always seems to me like there are a lot of geography points that start AND end with the letter A — Alaska, Alabama, Alameda, Australia, Angola, Argentina, Albania, … see what I mean? Next time I’m on a roadtrip with them, I’m using “Arkansas” as my secret weapon. If you can’t spell it, you won’t know that it ends in an “S”! And if that doesn’t get them, then I’ll try “Albuquerque.” Ha!
________________________________
All material copyright ©MomsMinivan.com
January 12, 2012 No Comments
Make a Nyan Cat Cake!
Check out my article on how we made this adorable birthday cake look like the nyan cat from youtube!
We also have a video of the cake. Please hit the “Like” and “share” buttons! Enjoy!
________________________________
All material copyright ©MomsMinivan.com
January 11, 2012 No Comments
Best Souvenir Ever!
The best souvenir we’ve ever had from any trip is a memory book filled with all the pictures from our trip. You can make your own memory book, starring YOU! It’s not expensive and it’s really easy. Upload all your pics and order a hard-bound copy. then order extra copies for each of your children.
The best place I have found to do this is at Snapfish. They frequently have specials and will also do regular prints dirt cheap! We have found the quality to be excellent.
Here’s a book I made from our recent trip to Universal Studios Orlando. I got a copy for each of my children which I gave to them as a gifts at Christmas.
This is truly a souvenir that they will cherish the rest of their lives, that won’t get lost in a drawer somewhere, or tossed aside and forgotten. As an added bonus, you get the the thrill of reliving those memories every time you look at it. Without a doubt — the best souvenir ever!
________________________________
All material copyright ©MomsMinivan.com
March 1, 2011 3 Comments
For the Road: Make a Trip-Journal
Keep the kids busy in the car by having them make a Trip-Journal or Scrapbook of their own. Give everyone a big spiral bound sketchpad and a box of crayons or markers. Each day of the trip or for each event along the way, draw a picture of what you did that day, or draw a map of where you went, and write about it. You can also attach souvenirs.
Even children too young to write can draw pictures, and then you can write in the details for them by asking them about the picture. Be sure to include the date since this will be come a treasure forever.
________________________________
All material copyright ©MomsMinivan.com
October 14, 2010 4 Comments
How to Make a Pirate Map
Do you have some swashbuckling youngsters about ye? Are ye surrounded by crazy mad rowdy tricksters? Need ideas to keep them busy? Send them on a treasure hunt!
Start with your very own authentic looking map. Here’s How to make your own authentic looking pirate treasure map!
Avast ye, mateys!! It’s time for some fun on the high seas!
________________________________
All material copyright ©MomsMinivan.com
August 1, 2010 1 Comment
Oddities Attract
Stopping for a crazy road side attraction is something we love to do on a long car trip. Take a break and give yourselves something to talk about for the next leg of your journey. I’ll tell you where to find these amusing sights and how to make the most of your stops…
Read the entire article and see some of the crazy road side photos I’ve taken with my family at Oddities Attract – Side tracks Remind You that Half the Fun Is Getting There.
What weird roadside things have you seen lately?!
________________________________
All material copyright ©MomsMinivan.com
July 10, 2010 2 Comments
Paper Plate Car Games
More fun ideas for the road — check out this video of some travel games you can make with paper plates! Make them in the car, or make them at home to bring on the road with you.
________________________________
All material copyright ©MomsMinivan.com
May 15, 2010 3 Comments
Reader Favorites – Car Travel Activities
It’s time to share some of YOUR favorite car travel activities!
“We enjoy passing around a fake mike, as we take turns being the solo singer to the radio or cassette tunes! Sometimes we will unexpectedly lower the sound to make the singers voice really stand out.” (Lin)
“A great car activity for children ages 5 (with adult help) and up, is to make a pot holder on a weaving loom! My 3 sons, ages 5, 10 and 12 all three enjoyed picking out their own colors and designing their own pot holder to give as gifts to grandparents and friends when we returned home from our trip! They also make neon colored material for the weaving looms. You can buy a whole bag for under $2!” (Johna)
“Whenever we hit the road, we are always sure to grab a bottle of bubbles. We turn on the car fan, hold the bubble wand in front of the vent, and voila! A car full of bubbles. The bubbles generally go straight toward the back of the car, and are barely a distraction to the driver. This is great fun in traffic, when we not only amuse ourselves but so many drivers alongside us. And their happy grins
are a great amusement in themselves!” (Elaine)
Thanks Readers! Keep sending in your ideas! ~~Laurel (Roadtrip Mom)
________________________________
All material copyright ©MomsMinivan.com
May 8, 2010 5 Comments
Roadside Oddities and pranks – Zombies attack!
Yesterday, right around the corner from where I live, was a rather remarkable roadside oddity. Apparently someone was playing a prank and hacked into the digital construction sign and changed it to read, “ZOMBIES AHEAD”.
The construction company was not amused — but I was. Zombie humor really tickles my funny bone. As a testament to my love for zombies, a month ago I participated in a huge community zombie event for Halloween. (A photo of my zombie persona is posted at my friend Devra’s blog).
After a quick search, I have learned that this road side prank is not unique. Apparently construction sign hackers in cities around the country have been pulling this stunt for a while. For example:
Zombie sign outside Austin, TX
Zombie attack warning Fairfax, VA
Zombie sign Cadillac, MI
Zombies in Lattingtown, NY
The zombie road sign warning made our evening news.
As for me, having recently posted an article about roadside attractions and oddities, I am thrilled to have an “oddity” of zombie humor caliber right in my own backyard. Meanwhile, I will keep careful watch and listen for the cries of the undead in my backyard
________________________________
All material copyright ©MomsMinivan.com
December 8, 2009 Comments Off
Subscribe to my Feed
