BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
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 1/9/2005 6:33:10 PM
Preface:
Photos will be coming... I took about 220 so Ill try to upload as many as possible and provide the links when available.
Not everything in this TR is about the parks. Sorry.
If you read all of this, you deserve an award or something anyway 
Sorry if you have read this elsewhere
Day 1 -- Wednesday, January 5th, 2005
OK, after months of hype, me an two of my friends finally got to go on the long-awaited Universal Orlando trip. We arrived on Wednesday the 5th. It took a little under 7 hours to get here, much better than what Mapquest estimated (8 hours) especially when you consider that there was all sorts of construction on I-75, stopping traffic completely on one occasion, between Tifton and Valdosta I believe, and there was also a 30-minute backup on the Turnpike due to a multi-car pileup (maybe 5 or 6, including a logger truck). Maybe Mapquest expects you to travel the speed limit though... anyway, upon arrival, we checked into our hotel, the Caribe Royale (I recommend this one, what a hotel) which is near the end of International Drive in LBV. It was an awesome hotel, a few pics will be available later. We hit the Pondarosa across the street, dont ask why, I dont even like it that much but we did and I almost threw up my pitiful excuse for a steak. We had fun though, from messing with the hostesses and just hanging out period, something that has not happened much since we all parted ways for school.I hadn't been feeling too good, I had this serious neck cramp and had already hit the limit on the Motrin bottle. But off we headed, by now around 10:30PM, to City Walk, just to check things out and get a feel for it once more (all of us have been here before). We walk all the way around the lake and finally head back up to the main area, this time putting consideration into going to one of these places. My buddies wanted to check out the Groove, but yeah, we're all 18. Out of luck, we walk around and hang out some more, and by midnight, we bounced. The hotel is about 10 minutes away, and we hit the sack for the night.
Day 2 -- Thursday, January 6th, 2005
We woke up a little later than expected, and were at the park at about 9:45. We headed over to Universal Studios first, because I wanted to ride the Mummy, and one of my friends rode it last spring and he like it over any of the rides in either park. We head back there and its about a 5 minute wait, unfortunately, I didn't have my glasses on (though I probably could have) and this guy was carrying what my friends told me was a plastic crab, but it scared the crap out of me because all I saw was pinchers and I didn't know what to think. We headed up the stairs to the station, and hopped on (I dont remember what row, but towards the front). Anyway, one of the ride ops told me that my shirt may be offensive to some people (from Family Guy when peter's shirt says No Fat Chicks). Oh well, if it comes up again I'll change. The Mummy was awesome, so many suprises, I just would feel aweful if I ruined any, but it is certainly the best ride at the Studios, I just dont know if I can compare it to Spiderman, I mean its a coaster, so that makes it difficult, I am still undecided on which is better, because both have very good features. I think it will hit my Top 10, I'll have to think about it some more, but the best special effects for a ride period.
Once we hopped of of that, we headed over to expereince Twister, which to me, is kinda weak. I mean, unlike most of the rides/shows in the park, Twister didn't seem to have anything to advance a certain technology. To me, its the same thing as Earthquake, except it didn't even improve upon it, no advancement whatsoever. We then hit the previously mentioned Earthquake. No suprises here, same old Earthquake. We then went over to Jaws, a ride that I had never been able to experience. We sat in the front row, and I liked the New England fishing town themeing, but thought the captain/actor was weak.<
Message updated 1/9/2005 7:30:01 PM by BobFunland
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Swimace
Posts: 5916
Registered: 8/28/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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1/9/2005 7:32:28 PM
Great TR  I recently went on Ripsaw Falls for the first time a couple of weeks ago too. About Popeye, it was made by Barr Engineering, but I haven't heard of any other rides made by them
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
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1/9/2005 7:45:18 PM
Thanks, I'm adding a bunch of reviews right now, but I'm putting off reviewing the Mummy, I don't know what numerical score to give it, nor do I want to give out any secrets.
I bet that Barr Engineering probably did the one at Sea World S.D. because they have the same station design and both had similar ride styles.
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tacoking
Posts: 9914
Registered: 2/19/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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1/9/2005 8:14:49 PM
You don't have to reveal secrets when you review. Just tell us what you thought about, in detail. 
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
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1/10/2005 4:44:19 PM
Universal Orlando
This will provide the ratings for Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure/City Walk Overall Complex, and for those who don't remember my smilie system:
Great:
Good: 
Average: 
Poor: 
Aweful: 
Attractions:
For this, both theme parks were awesome. None of the rides were aweful whatsoever, with only a couple of the older attractions at Universal Studios being less than stellar. The rides are all kept running well, with lines usually moving increasing capacity to produce low lines on all days, even when it was busy on Saturday. The parks have six coasters combined, but after throwing out the "kiddie" ones, we are left with an incredible inclined launch steel looping beast, a unique dueling Invert gargantuan of tangled steel, and a coaster with the best special effects ever seen. Both parks have there share of great shows, frm Poseidon's Fury to Terminator 2. They both have great interactive rides, such as the amazing Spiderman ride and the MIB interactive shooter. Plus, there is tons of stuff for the kids to do, from ET to the Kids Zone over to the rides at Seuss Landing in IOA. While in City Walk, there may be two kiddie portables, but I rated based upon the artifacts available to look at, including the race cars at the NASCAR Cafe, the rock and roll stuff at Hard Rock, the fishing themeing of Margaritaville, etc... all rolled up make the resteraunts as nice to just visit as they are to eat in them.
Ratings:
Ripsaw Falls - 9
Bilge Rat Barges - 9
Jurassic Park River Adventue - 8
Poseidon's Fury - 8
Dueling Dragons Fire - 9
Dueling Dragons Ice - 8
The Cat in the Hat - 7
The Adventures of Spiderman - 10
Doctor Doom's Fearfall - 6
Incredible Hulk Coaster - 10
Nick Live! - 7 (not listed on TPC)
Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast - 5
Shrek 4D - 8
Twister - 6
Revenge of the Mummy - 10
Earthquake - 6
Jaws - 6
Men in Black Alien Attack - 9
Back to the Future - 7
Animal Planet Live - 5
Curious George Goes to Town - 8 (not listed on TPC)
Horror Makeup Show - 9
Terminator 2 - 9
Look at that, 3 10's from these two parks, and I've only given out four others I believe
Atmosphere:
What else is there to say about the themeing and amazing attention to detail placed into the parks. Hardly a thing could be considered dull, certainly nothing is out of place. The sets of Universal Studios are all well put together and all coordinate well with the surrounding attractions. The set up of both parks as a large loop is always nice, better than the messy jungle of concrete that some places (cough, Cedar Point) is. The parks paid attention to detail and accuracy... the streets that are supposed to look like Little Italy in NY do and the areas that are supposed to resemble the Bay Area do. No boring stations here... or boring queues anywhere. They keep you entertained, even while in line or just waiting for the "real guts" of the show to begin. As good as Universal Studios is, Islands of Adventure just blows it right out of the water with the themeing. As hard as it is to believe, the Jurassic Park Island may have been the least imaginitive. The Marvel island was well done to fit the scene of a big city with superheroes such as the Hulk and Spiderman. Toon Lagoon features some amazing buildings, artwork and scuptures, especially the area around Ripsaw Falls. Back in JP, the area is filled with exotic tropical plants, and very well done at that. The Lost Continent may provide the best work, from the Dueling Dragon Sculptures to the Enchanted Oak to the Poseidon-Mythos area. Truly mystifying. Seuss Landing is really cool too with the hurricane-bent trees to the wild colors on the styrofoam-mishaped buildings, it is just stunning as to what these folks pulled off, all while having kind and courteous employees well dressed (usually in costume). City Walk provides yet another great example of atmosphere, especia
Message updated 1/10/2005 4:44:50 PM by BobFunland
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yfz450
Posts: 1743
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Rank: Platinum Critic
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1/10/2005 8:20:35 PM
great TR. You really love family guy lol. Glad to see you had a good time. That report makes me want to go there when I go to florida.
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tacoking
Posts: 9914
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1/10/2005 8:30:37 PM
You should already want to go to them. 
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
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1/10/2005 8:46:12 PM
Quote:
yfz450 said:
great TR. You really love family guy lol. Glad to see you had a good time. That report makes me want to go there when I go to florida. |
 So someone caught that part. Hehe, of course I love Family Guy, I'm a character in it
OK, the long awaited photos pages are up, messy, but up.
Universal Orlando 1/5-1/9 Photo Index
WARNING Dial Up users: the pages contain usually 5-15 photos each at about 200KB a piece... so dial up may result in long load times. Also, just use the browser to move back and forth for now, I didn't add any indexing links yet.
Message updated 1/10/2005 8:47:42 PM by BobFunland
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yfz450
Posts: 1743
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1/10/2005 8:52:24 PM
Quote:
tacoking said:
You should already want to go to them. |
But BGT looked better IMO. But after reading his TR about the noncoasters they have at the park. I might have changed my mind.
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tacoking
Posts: 9914
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1/10/2005 9:34:18 PM
You should. The coasters may not match up - just because BGT has more, but when it comes to non-coasters, food, and theming, both parks have BGT beat. I feel BGT has some great staff, but I can't say it's better or worse than the folks at the Universal parks.
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
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1/11/2005 12:23:40 PM
Review updates!
Incredible Hulk
Dueling Dragons Ice (+1 pt from last visit)
Dueling Dragons Fire (+1 pt from last visit)
The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman (+1 pt from last visit)
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Animan1
Posts: 5394
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1/11/2005 4:57:45 PM
Excellent, about time another person sided with our "IoA is the Best" club. Great TR.
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Swimace
Posts: 5916
Registered: 8/28/2003
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1/11/2005 7:44:07 PM
Quote:
BobFunland said:
Thanks, I'm adding a bunch of reviews right now, but I'm putting off reviewing the Mummy, I don't know what numerical score to give it, nor do I want to give out any secrets.
I bet that Barr Engineering probably did the one at Sea World S.D. because they have the same station design and both had similar ride styles. |
The one at Sea World is Intamin, they also make the same type of station. Roman Rapids at BGw also had a spinningg station. So do most rapid rides. Actuall, the only one I've been on that doesn't have a spinning station is Congo River Rapids at BGT, being that it's an earlier model
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"Not even the Magi can save you now"
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
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1/12/2005 12:05:28 AM
Oh, the only other river rapids rides that I had been on (all at SF parks btw) have elevated station platforms where the boats just roll up the conveyor to the strait station.
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Swimace
Posts: 5916
Registered: 8/28/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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1/12/2005 8:01:38 AM
Yeah, that's what Congo River Rapids @ BGT does. So does the crappy one at Wild Adventures. But whatever, Popeye rocks
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
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1/12/2005 9:28:22 PM
More updates:
Cat in the Hat - 7
Dr. Doom's Fearfall - 6
Men In Black Alien Attack - 9 (+2pts from last visit)
Terminator 2 3-D - 9 (+2pts from last visit)
Earthquake - 6 (-1pt from last visit)
Jurassic Park River Adventure - 8 (+1pt from last visit)
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Animan1
Posts: 5394
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1/14/2005 7:42:04 PM
Only 6 pts for Docter Doom? I think it's a pretty good tower myself.
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Docter
Posts: 223
Registered: 12/21/2004
Rank: Bronze Critic
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1/14/2005 9:32:57 PM
Ya I agree Doom is an awesome tower that deserves at least an 7,8 or 9
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
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1/15/2005 4:06:37 PM
Quote:
BobFunland said:
Oh, the only other river rapids rides that I had been on (all at SF parks btw) have elevated station platforms where the boats just roll up the conveyor to the strait station. |
I think CP has a spinning station also
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It's not a choice between war and peace. It's a choice between war and something much worse.
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3r1c
Posts: 5466
Registered: 6/7/2003
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1/16/2005 12:12:06 PM
Quote:
Animan1 said:
Excellent, about time another person sided with our "IoA is the Best" club. Great TR. |
You guys are turning into a cult. It's getting just as bad, if not worse, than the CP fanboys in the enthusiast community.
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"The war is not meant to be won, but it is meant to be continuous. A hierarchical society is only possible on the basis of poverty and ignorance, this new version is the past and no different past can ever have existed. In principle the war effort is always planned to keep society on the brink of starvation. the war is waged by the ruling group against its own subjects and its object is not the victory over either Eurasia or east Asia but to keep the very structure of society in tact. It does not matter if the war is not real. For when it is, victory is not possible."
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tacoking
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1/16/2005 8:19:47 PM
The only diffirence is we are basically kidding about the subject, while those CP fanboys (see: CP Guy) are dead serious. ;0
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
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 1/17/2005 7:58:45 PM
Quote:
tacoking said:
The only diffirence is we are basically kidding about the subject, while those CP fanboys (see: CP Guy) are dead serious. ;0 |
Yes, it was meant to be a mockery of the "fanboys" to an extent, hence, I put it in the FON rather than the coaster critic's forum.
Thanks Larry, I didn't do any water rides at the point because it was pretty chilly when I was up there. Plus, I was at America's Roller Coast, and I tried to ride most of the coasters.
As for Doom's, I don't care for tower rides y'all, so that comes into play. It has excellent themeing, but I still don't get a huge thrill out of it.
Message updated 1/17/2005 8:00:28 PM by BobFunland
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larrygator
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1/18/2005 11:44:22 AM
Regarding Dr. Doom: if you are going to enclose the tower ride in the launch area, why not fill it up with smoke also right before the launch. just a thought
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