OCaml

Yeah I know haha. I've been going here since I was like 8, and I still am not really used to calling it the Dragon Challenge. It'll always be Dueling Dragons in my heart.

Most people grow apart from their high school friends after a year of college. I am lucky enough to know a few young men that I am still extremely close with, even after meeting a ton of new people at college. Given that this week was the only week we were all in town, we decided to take the three-hour road trip to Orlando and hit up Islands of Adventure. This was my first ever road trip, and I definitely enjoyed the drive up. It was great to chat with old friends like old times. I definitely plan on doing more coaster road trips in the future, given the success of this one. I don't like where Islands of Adventure is headed. I've been there many times throughout my life, and I think that the park has gone downhill recently. First of all, several employees were extremely rude to me and my friends to the point where I wanted to speak to a manager about it. Moreover, Universal and Islands used to have free lockers for popular rides that one could put their belongings in. Those lockers now cost $4 to use. Prices in general were also higher than I'd remembered, and food portions were smaller. The souvenir cups cost 79 cents to refill now, whereas almost every park I've ever been to has offered free refills on them. They changed the Jurassic Park River Adventure ride by adding more immediate brakes at the bottom of the drop, which actually hurt (my momentum carried me forward into the lap bar). The Dragon Challenge (formerly Dueling Dragons) no longer duels. They runs the trains separately, which pretty much ruins the point of the ride. So, while the rides are as fun, I don't think I'm ever going to go back to Islands of Adventure or Universal Studios. I've been to the park enough times now, and I can't imagine them opening any new rides in the near future. I'd be better using my time by going to Disney / Busch Gardens or by experiencing a new theme park. With that being said, I still enjoyed myself a ton. Here are some photos with witty captions. Heading north on the Turnpike and listening to some tunes. Some Busch Gardens advertisement on a Wendy's cup. I found this man to resemble Leonardo DiCaprio, and I found him to have a really funny facial expression. On the left is an excessively happy man eating potato chips. On the right is my imitation of him. A closer look at potato chip man (taken on a trip to Orlando last year). Oxygen is dangerous. Hulk was under repair (a storm knocked out some of its sensors), so our first ride was Dr. Doom. Found this gem in the Express Pass line for Dudley Do-Right. What the hell, Universal? "I'm excited to ride Dueling Dragons!" -Me "This is the Dragon Challenge. It's never been called Dueling Dragons." -Universal employee Hulk went back up by noon. Here's a nice cobra roll photo. Here's a nice barrel roll photo. The ride was boring, as you can tell by our faces. (No clue who the chick in the Red Sox shirt is.) But really, we're just trolls who wanted to take funny pics. Hulk was running great! We couldn't imagine taking an adventure to Jurassic Park without staying hydrated! The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride was really weird. Chris's facial expression is one of perplexion. New 3D glasses on Spiderman. How do we look?

The back row gives a more intense ride because the weight of the rest of the train pulls it through the coaster, giving you a bit of extra speed and force. Moreover, if you're on a coaster that sits four people in a row, do yourself a favor and sit on the outside. The outside seats provide a significantly and noticeably more intense ride than the inside seats.

As much as I love steak, it's probably out of the budget for a college student road trip. I'll call up Sloppy Taco Palace and ask about the age limit.

Thanks! The place looks delicious, and the prices look fair. Any other suggestions from anyone?

It's the Vineyard Vines whale.

The Python at Playland's Castaway Cove, some crappy little park in Ocean City, New Jersey. I would have loved to go to Six Flags Great Adventure instead, but my friends were pulling for a trip to the Jersey Shore. This thing hurt.

Hey guys! Long time TPR reader (probably since I was 10 or 11 - I'm 19 now, for reference), first time poster. Now, as a native Floridian, I made my roller coaster bones at Disney / Universal / Busch Gardens. Thus, I don't really need any advice concerning the parks. However, I'm taking my first ever road trip up to Islands of Adventure with a couple of friends. Since this is really my first time going there without my family or a school field trip, I have a question specifically in regards to the road trip. What are some good places to eat in the Orlando area? I'm deliberately trying to avoid places like Mythos, as good as they may be; I'm hoping for under-the-radar restaurants. Thanks in advance!