Photo TR: Florida

[Sir Clinksalot]

Day 5 - Universal's Islands of Adventure (Or one of the best Theme Park Days EVER!!!)

 

Our day started WAY too early and we were the first car at Universal (we weren't sure of traffic patterns in Orlando)

 

Another glorious weather day

 

 

The entrance area

 

 

The park is really beautiful

 

 

 

Marvel Superhero Island

 

 

First up was Spiderman. BEST RIDE EVER!!! Seriously, no dark ride even comes close to this. Sorry Disney.

 

Next was Hulk. A fun coaster and the only B&M coaster to have a launch.

 

 

We then headed over to Seuss Landing, one great kids area

 

 

 

 

 

Next up was the Cat in the Hat dark ride

 

 

More of Seuss Landing

 

 

Next up was the new High in the Sky, Seuss Trolly Ride

 

 

You can get some good views of the park from the ride

 

 

 

 

More of Seuss Landing

 

 

 

 

After leaving Seuss Landing we headed for the Lost Continent area

 

 

Inside there is Mythos

 

 

Pokey

 

 

Bypassing Mytho's (For Now), we headed for Dueling Dragons

 

 

 

Awesome ride. We rode both sides in about 10 minutes (5 of which was walking through the queue).

 

After the ride we find some sword fighting going on (I think everybody was getting hungry)

 

 

Josh joins the fight

 

 

Then it was sister to the rescue

 

 

After our brief midevil interlude, it was time to head for Jurassic Park

 

Josh is scaring the T-rex

 

 

Jurassic Park was fun, but it's one of the VERY few rides that's in both CA and FL that is actually better in CA.

 

We then headed for Toon Lagoon and Dudley Do Right's Ripsaw Falls (Say that 5 times fast)

 

 

You get WET on this ride

 

 

You can't see it, but there is a log there

 

 

Told ya

 

 

We got wet

 

 

The guy with the Queer as Folk shirt is "Lindsay" from the MNSSHP photos

 

 

Next up would be our longest wait of the day at IOA ... the kiddie coaster Flying Unicorn

 

 

How many adults can you fit on a kiddie coaster?

 

 

Best Warning Sign EVER!!!

 

 

It was now time for lunch, and not a moment too soon.

 

Mytho's, #1 Theme Park Restaurant. The food and service were great, so I'm not going to argue this ... although I think some of the restaurants in Epcot could give this a run for it's money.

 

 

First off, I was dissapointed that the Balsamic Chicken was taken off the menu ... but again, great food and service.

 

I had to try the Mytho's beer (it was yummy)

 

 

Our table

 

 

Table # 2

 

 

The kids became honorary chef's

 

 

 

Lunch is served

 

 

I feel pretty

 

 

Hulk from just outside Mythos

 

 

The back-side of Mythos

 

 

Ain't we Cute???

 

 

The rest of the group decided to see the Poseiden show or something, we thought we would head back over to see about getting on Spiderman again before heading for the Studios

 

Not only did we walk on Spiderman again, but I got a front-row ride on Hulk with no wait.

 

We met up with the group and headed over to The Studios park.

 

The Adventure Lives on

 

 

IOA is such an awesome park, it's not even funny. Every bit as good as the best Disney parks ... seriously.

[knottslover77]

Great photos, I can't wit till January 2nd when I go there!

 

--Jay

[Sir Clinksalot]

Day 6 - Magic Kingdom

 

We decided to drive to the MK this morning so we could take advantage of the monorail. Honestly, it wasn't much quicker and may have been slower than the Bus.

 

Still recovering from 'Ohana

 

 

It was a beautiful morning

 

 

I want to stay here next time

 

 

Upon entering the Magic Kingdom we see the crane (It would be there until about 2pm)

 

 

Our main goal for getting to the park so early was to ride the Fantasyland rides

 

First up was Peter Pan. OMG, SO much better than the CA version

 

My two girls loved it

 

 

Next up Snow White

 

 

The end of the ride (You mean they don't just live happily ever after when the witch falls?)

 

 

We were also very priviledged to be joined by Lee again this morning!!! (Seems were the only ones in our group who can actually get up for EMH, although we did see more peeps later in the morning)

 

 

Then it was Winnie the Pooh (This was our 2nd ride, we rode once during MNSSHP)

 

 

As a final verdict I still give Disneyland's Fantasyland the upper hand. Yes their Snow White and Peter Pan are better, no questioning that. Philharmagic is effin' sweet. Pooh does make them a bit closer, but they took out Toad (Still my favorite fantasyland dark ride) to do it. Also no Alice, no Casey Jr, no Pinnochio and no Storybook Canal boats. Throw in the Matterhorn and it's no contest.

 

Up next, Indy Speedway (It was okay)

 

 

 

After grabbing some FP's for Space Mtn and doing the ROCKET JETS (I refuse to call it that other name) it was time to head for Splash Mtn.

 

Liberty Square

 

 

 

Frontierland (Look at all that space, it's AWESOME!!!)

 

 

Splash Mountain

 

 

Big Thunder

 

 

 

Haunted Mansion looming in the distance

 

 

Next up some friends had made lunch reservations at the Crystal Palace and invited us along. It was AWESOME!!!

 

Flower Pooh

 

 

Tigger!!!

 

 

All of the characters come by your table and great you. It's great

 

The kids with Pooh

 

 

With Tigger

 

 

Tigger gets his picture with the famous with Gregg and Kristi

 

 

After Lunch, Buzz Lightyear

 

The kids with Zurg

 

 

The CA version of Buzz is better, but if this version had the removal guns and light-up targets it would be better. I like the tron-esque speed tunnel.

 

After Buzz it was time for Carousel of Progress (I loved it!!)

 

 

STITCH Rocks!!! Too bad his attraction doesn't.

 

 

Now that the crane was gone, it was time for some castle pics

 

 

 

 

 

Next was the Hall of Presidents

 

Our current president

 

 

More Haunted Mansion

 

 

 

We then saw the Country Bears and called it a day.

 

Great day at Magic Kingdom. Great weather, great people to hang out with, etc, etc, etc.

[gmoney422]

So great pics, Gregg!

 

Question: Where did you get the "1st Visit" pins the kids had on? From the park? Hotel?

 

Just wondering for future reference when we take the twins in about 6-7 years...SEE BELOW.

We're definitely waiting til they're at least 6 to go to WDW.

[Sir Clinksalot]

^ Yep, we got them from the hotel. Just make sure when you check in you make them aware it's their first visit. I think you can also get them inside the parks at City Hall (MK) or Guest Services at the other parks. But I'm not 100% sure on that.

[gmoney422]

Kewl, thanks!

[GURZU]

Woow! Amazing photos!!