My Favorite Universal Park Photos: An Evening at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium

Why didn't I think of this sooner? My Favorite Disney Park Photos has long been a staple of the Insight and Sounds blog. But now after three visits to Universal Orlando Resort- and more to come- it's time for me to do the same for our trips to this growing and fun-filled Disney competitor.

After a great day at Islands of Adventure, it was time for an evening out at City Walk. With so many great places, where would we go? Where else to continue the fun than Toothsome Chocolate Emporium.

When Ms. Penelope Toothsome and her steampunk robot Jacques stopped by to chat with our son, the results were hilarious and the photo opportunity great. The end result of the evening of good food, great desserts, and character interaction made for some terrific memories. And none of the exorbitant prices found at Walt Disney World's character meals. You have to check this place out!

Want to full review of Toothsome Chocolate Emporium? Jump over to this Dine or Ditch review.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Damaged Epcot

Epcot is broken, and not even the cast of every Marvel movie can save it- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind won't do it and neither will Remy's Ratatouille Adventure. Yes, there's finally new attractions to be found, but there's also too much construction lasting for years now. Universal Orlando Resort is making headway. Epic Universe is coming faster than Bob Chapek can imagine ("Can he imagine too? they ask.) Everything they've built of late- from Velocicoaster to Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure- is proving massively successful. Universal now inhabits two of the top five parks in the United States based on attendance. Gaining by the millions, actually. Now holding positions two and three after the Magic Kingdom. Disney holds a lackluster D23, making it a relative laughing stock in the industry, akin to the disaster that was California Adventure in 2001. Can someone- anyone- wake up at The Walt Disney Company before its too late?

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)