On Jan. 15, Coral Gables Senior High’s Class of 2028 and 2029 spent the day at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure. With a group of around 156 students, participants were more than excited to take part in the annual freshmen-sophomore class trip. Cavaliers’ thrills and excitement were not only produced from the rides, but also from the time spent with friends that gave the day a  wholesome atmosphere.

At 4:45 a.m., students gathered in front of the school, before boarding their assigned buses, and departed at around 5 a.m. After two to three hours of napping, listening to music and talking with friends, the buses made a stop at Fort Drum for a bathroom and snack break. There they enjoyed muffins, granola bars and bottled waters all provided by the advisors of the trip, Ms. Depaola and Ms. Noval. After 15 minutes, the group headed back on the road.

“This class trip was so much fun, I had the best time spending it with friends I don’t see that often outside of school. Islands is definitely the best place to have fun with friends because the rides are super thrilling and much more themed than a lot of other theme parks,” sophomore Savannah Serpa said.

At 9 a.m. buses made it to Islands of Adventure where students were dropped off and made their way to the boardwalk. Excitement quickly arose as students entered the park, taking photos and posing in front of the famous Islands of Adventure tower. Groups split up and made their way to their previously established ride, many going immediately to Jurassic World’s VelociCoaster or Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, which usually have the longest wait times.

As the day progressed, many freshmen and sophomores stopped to eat lunch, while others rode coasters like the Incredible Hulk Coaster or simulator rides like The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, creating memorable experiences for students. At 1 p.m. students were asked to send a photo of themselves, so advisors could be aware on what the students were up to.

“My favorite part of the trip was definitely the memories I made with my friends. I hung out with a group where I didn’t really know some of the people really well but I definitely got to know them much better after this trip. From waiting in long lines at Hagrids, we were able to bond and get close so I love that I got to make new friends,” freshman Alessandra Santos said.

After hours of walking, Cavaliers were in need of a necessary break. Luckily, calmer rides like the Cat in the Hat or the High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride in Seuss Landing were there to calm and relax visitors after the many rough and harsh rollercoasters Islands has to offer. In addition to these, the park also had many different shows to watch, like the Frog Choir in Hogsmeade’s Village, which gives fans of the franchise a chance to see an in–person experience from the movies. 

“I think Hagrid’s is the best ride in the park, even considering the other Universal parks. Even though the wait is long, I totally think it is worth waiting two or more hours,” sophomore Ja’khiylah Rainey said.

As the day came to an end, Cavaliers met up in the parking lot of the park and made their way into their buses. During the five hour drive back to Gables, the majority of the students spent their time sleeping after a long day of walking and riding attractions. Reflecting on the trip, students had more than enough fun on the different coasters, and are already planning on taking part in next years class trip.

“Honestly my favorite part of the day was being able to sit down and eat lunch with my friends. After a long few hours of waiting in line and walking, sitting down and enjoying a good meal with my friends was relaxing and refreshing,” sophomore Tatiana Prieto said.