Since there was no decent breakfast option at our hotel, once we were up and ready we crossed the parking lot to the Waffle House.
Looking a little draggy, aren't they? Probably a good thing this is our last day.
Nothing quite like the Eggs 'n Cheese plate to start my day off right.
We hit the road in plenty of time to make it to Universal Studios by opening time. Unfortunately, so did a lot of other people.
We parked and made our way through the walkways and down CityWalk, where we lost over half the crowd. With Harry Potter in IOA, that is where most people go now. Once the new HP section opens up on the US side, I'm sure that crowd level will shift again.
Universal Studios has lots of the Macy's Holiday Parade balloons around the park.
We went through the gate and straight to the new Despicable Me attraction.
The wait time was already listed at an hour, but I knew that this is one of those lines that won't get better. It will only get worse as the day goes on, so we sucked it up and got in line.
They had minion cartoons running on the overhead screens and some funny signs along the way.
And then there was this one, that was unintentionally funny to us.
I said it was the "no jack-in-the-boxes allowed" sign.
Since we had been in this building before when it was Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast (and I was on it way, way back when it was the Funtastic World of Hanna Barbera), we knew what kind of ride/show it was going to be. We just didn't know exactly what they would do with it. They redesigned the pre-show area. Lots of Despicable Me things to look at while you are waiting for the storyline movie clip to run.
It was a very cute minion story and we were all glad we waited that hour to see it. I'm not sure I'd be in a big hurry to wait it out again, but it was totally worth it this time. As you exit the ride, there is a "dance party" where you can meet a minion.
I decided we should move away from the entrance crowd in the Production Central area, so we headed for the Woody Woodpecker's KidZone section of the park. On the way, we spotted Scooby and Shaggy.
As soon as the boys spotted this store, we *had* to go in.
And there was a meet and greet with SpongeBob with NO LINE at all. Okay. Can't pass that up!
They decided to explore SpongeBob's pineapple...
... and as I was telling them to pose for this picture...
... look who photobombed us on his way by.
Talk about timing! I guess he was on his way to the back for his break? Anyway, the boys thought it was hysterical.
We walked next door to ride the classic E.T. Adventure.
There was only a few minute wait, while the pre-show before us finished would be my guess, and then we were on our way. The only time we stopped in line was to give our name at the "boarding pass" station.
The best part? E.T. was working! He said our names when we went by. 
We have been on that ride SO many times where E.T. just says "goodbye Friend, Friend, Friend, Friend, Friend..." that it was a nice surprise to finally hear our names again.
Next we took a quick ride on Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster. I guess I didn't get a picture of that because there was no line. We just walked straight on.
Then we headed to the new (to us anyway) expanded Springfield area. The last time we were here the Simpsons Ride was open, but they hadn't developed the section around it to look like Springfield.
I didn't get pictures of everything, but Duff Gardens Brewery made me chuckle.
I wasn't too sure about the new Kang & Kodos Twirl ‘n Hurl (based on the name) until I saw it.
Oh, okay. It's just a Dumbo/Astro Orbiters/Flying Carpet type ride. I can handle that.
Next up was the Simpsons Ride.
There was about a 20 minute wait, but that's not bad considering the last time we were here we waited over an hour to ride it. I love watching the clips in the first pre-show area.
We finished off the back of the park with Men In Black Alien Attack.
At least the locker storage areas here weren't quite the madhouse that Harry Potter always seems to be. We had about a 15 minute wait in line.
We were getting tired and hungry, a dangerous combo, so I suggested a break for lunch.
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