It has been a very busy and stressful year. Between wedding planning, preparing for Kristen’s baby (which we are all super excited over), and work, I have been extremely off lately. I have been streaming pretty regularly on Twitch, but the past week I needed a break from it because every time I plan on getting on, the same day I end up staying late for work because something pops up. I am hoping tomorrow I will be able to restart my schedule, as well prioritize myself and my loved ones more.

With that being said, I wanted to get out of the house on Saturday, so I ended up going to Universal Studios by myself while Matt worked. I really want to get into photography, and I have been wanting to go out and practice more! I was really up in the air about it, however because 1) I am not a solo person and 2) it was already super hot out and I was already experiencing a migraine. I decided to get ready and make the choice once I got to that step, and I am happy I did!

I got to the park around 4:00 pm, which ended up working out because our passes include fast passes after this time. I wasn’t in a rush or anything, but it was nice to have it there in case I wanted to! I knew it was off to a good start when the premier parking was actually close, so it was already a good day. Getting through security and the ticket stand was smooth, and honestly for a weekend in July the park wasn’t that busy. I was able to take pictures comfortably, and wasn’t shoulder to shoulder with people.

Once I got to the Horror Make-Up Show, I went inside just to take pictures. This is when I realized my settings weren’t on auto and my pictures’ brightness was getting blown out. Thankfully at this point I fixed my setting issue and moved on.

I ended up walking over to E.T. but instead got side tracked seeing the new Dreamworks area (because a giant ogre hill caught my eye). I took a quick picture, deciding to come back after going on the ride. I ended up being let on immediately with the fast pass, and I got front row on top of it! I know E.T. is super cheesy and one of the original rides, but I enjoyed it. I also actually heard my name at the end of the ride, which I feel like was another win.

After the ride, I went to explore the new Dreamworks area, and it is super cute. I only took a few photos here because it actually looked more kid oriented, but the theming is super cute! I am curious how they are going to work the queue for the haunted houses in the upcoming months, because I want to say they have two separate lines that form through that area. We will see soon!

I made my way through to Diagon Alley, where it was a little more crowded but still not terrible. I got some pretty pictures here too, as well as treated myself to a butterbeer and got a $10 bill at the Gringotts money exchange for my sister and her husband. I really enjoyed taking pictures in this area, although I didn’t get as many as I wanted because I was trying to finish my drink.

Once I was done with Diagon Alley, I made my way towards New York, where come to find out people were lining up for the new parade. I decided to find a spot, because it was only going to be a 15 minute wait time. Well that turned into 30, and although it was hot I am glad I waited. The floats were super cute, although I wish they had more. The characters were fun, and everyone looked wonderful!

Once the parade passed, I decided to call it a day. On the way home I had treated myself to my favorite pizza place and some boba, so it was a really nice ending to the day. I will say, I would love more solo park days for photography because it was so much nicer than sitting at home!