jedimaster1227 Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 Today, my friend and I decided to deviate from our all Disney theme park visits and take a trip over to the other famous chain of theme parks in Orlando, Universal. Due to our earlier tornado scare in Orlando along with the bleak chance of it not raining, the parks were empty... As in completely empty! Everything had a walk-on wait of less than 5 minutes; even the coasters! It was even better than when everybody came to Universal in October as the parks were nearly abandoned. Here is our journey... (Oh, and just for those of you who were wondering what time of day it was when we got to the parks, it was about 4:00 p.m.) Spiderman was empty too! This is getting scary... Such a great wait time too! "Doombots, ignore safety warnings and set for maximum extraction!" Such a great entrance! Chillin' with the old school Spidey in his Spider-mobile. Too bad the thing nearly fell over when I sat in it (or should I say, sat on it). First up as always was the Hulk. It was empty... Who here is scarier: me or the dinosaur? What a waste of time... Can't they make this into NBC's iCoaster Live? If they don't keep this, I might cry... I haven't even had a chance to eat at Mythos yet! Voldemorts Fury: Escape from Doom... Coming 2008... I really love this picture! This will probably become the Deatheaters Grill... Here comes Harry Potter Quiditch Cup Live Aeromatic Spectacular... Woot... Here is the infamous wheelchair seat on the Flying Unicorn. The Flying Unicorn had no wait at all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 Did you skip school? ...I envy you for going to theme parks today... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedimaster1227 Posted February 3, 2007 Author Share Posted February 3, 2007 ^No, we went after school. I did miss my first period today though due to our lovely weather situation. The weatherman on Local 13 said that it was raining 22 inches this morning. In fact, they had to evacuate the portables at our school as the water had risen to the level of their floors. Today's journey continues... Now there you have it. An official notice of warning to those attempting to trespass on the new construction zone. The next few photos were taken behind the barriers as I didn't want to get arrested. It is somewhat odd that they still have this sign up considering that the Nickelodeon Studios is long dead (at least the Orlando studios are). I am ready to be one of the first to walk this pass to get to the first show! Looks like we might have some sort of sign or arch being ready to be put over the new Blue Man Group entrance path. I have already purchased my opening night, opening show tickets. Have you? An overview on the latest look of Citywalk... Yes, I am riding a monkey... No more McMonkey McBean's face either... No more McMonkey McBean's butt... More great waits around the park! The Blue Man-ification of the old Nickelodeon Studios has begun... I am so ready for this show to open! Apparantly they need a large garbage bin in the old queue to deal with all of the interior construction... Ooh! The old queue for the Studio Tour! Not anymore... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoshiFan Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 A place to take a wheelchair on a coaster? Even if it's a kiddie/family coaster it still seems strange they would allow that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedimaster1227 Posted February 3, 2007 Author Share Posted February 3, 2007 ^I guess they tried to cater to everyone in this case. Here are more of the photos from today... We left the Studios for today and went on for some dinner at Bubba Gumps! ... Suprisingly enough, the last ride happened to be the best ride that I have ever had from the Mummy. Insane airtime, no trims and plenty of time that I had my sides rammed into my seat. Now that is pure joy! It was so empty, they had us use the Express Pass line. Little did we know that we would be the last riders of the day... It was 6:00 p.m. at Universal Studios when they were closing down so we attempted to grab one last ride on the Revenge of the Mummy. The streets actually have Mardi Gras style carts set up. I even saw one that was advertising the sale of rum! This is a pretty big stage for a pretty big event. Mardi Gras schedule actually looks pretty nice. Isn't it sad that I still listen to Huey Lewis and the News? These signs are right by the previously mentioned building, and they are definitely new. The building on the far right used to be cover in Nick-themed stuff. I believe the new entrance to the theater from the park will begin right before this building. The last of the orange paint on the columns has yet to be removed... Stage 18 will become the home of the new Blue Man Group theater. The last slime green portion of the old Studio Tour queue... Somebody was upstairs, but we couldn't tell who... The columns have begun to get their base designs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoshiFan Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 Poor Nickelodeon Studios Though the way it was running in at the end was bad with just the game lab and no looking at sets anymore (I guess becuase they stopped filming there?) I wonder what happened to the Slime Geyser. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrakenKing Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 You forgot to mention Dueling Dragons and how it'll be converted to "Dueling Hippogryphs"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedimaster1227 Posted February 3, 2007 Author Share Posted February 3, 2007 ^Don't joke... That could really end up happening... Now that is my worst nightmare... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electerik Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 No, they don't chain wheelchairs to the back of Flying Unicorn. It's a bridge for wheelchairs to go from Load to Unload. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 Wow. A TR without a mention of knowing an Imagineer? BTW, where are there trim brakes on Mummy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 Did you go on Jurassic Park? Was the second (I guess technically first) T-Rex working? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedimaster1227 Posted February 3, 2007 Author Share Posted February 3, 2007 ^^^No, back in October we had the whole process explained to us. That is the wheelchair seat for the coaster. They have a harness that they attached to the wheelchair. ^^ Considering that this is a thread about Universal, it would be hard to mention an Imagineer. As for the trim brakes, there is a set right before the fake exit platform. We didn't progressively stop this time (like normal), in fact, we actually stopped on a dime without any warning. ^ We didn't want to get wet so we skipped out on Jurassic Park, so I am not sure... Here are the last of the photos from yesterday! Yes!!! Bubba Gump's has a new sign on Citywalk! Friendly workers at the Nascar Cafe waving back... The new and improved Nascar Cafe is looking like it will be pretty nice. Hopefully it's rennovation puts up to a level that is on par with NBA City. I leave you with this question: "Why would you ever send someone a T-shirt postcard?" Thank you so much! Did the Grinch ever try to steal Hannukah? Another donkey for TPR! ... This was my fourth Bubba Gumps... The others that weren't on the table that I have been to were New York, Daytona Beach and of course, Orlando. This was my sixth Bubba Gumps. This was my first Bubba Gumps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carnage Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 ^^^No, back in October we had the whole process explained to us. That is the wheelchair seat for the coaster. They have a harness that they attached to the wheelchair. Did they strap you to the handicapped seat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electerik Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 ^^ Well, I certainly don't want to argue about it, but I assure you that you were mislead about the wheelchair seat. I worked at Islands of Adventure for four years--at several different levels, but always in rides. And, yes, I even worked on The Flying Unicorn. There is no such harness, and there never was. I mean, seriously, does that even remotely sound like something some po-dunk fun center would do? Let alone Universal?! All you have to do is look at the ride's signage: You must transfer from your wheelchair to ride. Yes, it is often referred to as "the wheelchair seat," which is probably where the confusion comes from. But that name is simply a mixture of its function (allowing wheelchairs to cross the track) and its location (in place of a proper seat), and should not be taken literally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyrider06 Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 Great trip report, love some of the pictures.. i so wann go there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 Er, regarding the whole strapping a wheelchair onto Flying Unicorn question, are you sure someone wasn't just pulling your chain? I know that at Epcot they have boats on El Rio de Tiempo with platforms to which they can strap wheelchairs; however, I find it a bit hard to swallow that they could strap a wheelchair to even a kiddie coaster. I think Universal's liability insurance carrier might have a few things to say about that. Why not just mount the wheelchair on the track and have the train tow it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 Did the Grinch ever try to steal Hannukah? No, because no one cares about jews Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedimaster1227 Posted February 3, 2007 Author Share Posted February 3, 2007 ^^ Well, I certainly don't want to argue about it, but I assure you that you were mislead about the wheelchair seat. I worked at Islands of Adventure for four years--at several different levels, but always in rides. And, yes, I even worked on The Flying Unicorn. There is no such harness, and there never was. I mean, seriously, does that even remotely sound like something some po-dunk fun center would do? Let alone Universal?! All you have to do is look at the ride's signage: You must transfer from your wheelchair to ride. Yes, it is often referred to as "the wheelchair seat," which is probably where the confusion comes from. But that name is simply a mixture of its function (allowing wheelchairs to cross the track) and its location (in place of a proper seat), and should not be taken literally. I guess you are right, but you can ask anyone from the group that came to Universal in October as we were all (except Joe- he wanted his flyers credit) told straight from the mouths of the ride ops that this was used for the purpose I described earlier. No, because no one cares about jews It comforts me to know that no one will ever try to steal Hanukkah then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electerik Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 I guess you are right, but you can ask anyone from the group that came to Universal in October as we were all (except Joe- he wanted his flyers credit) told straight from the mouths of the ride ops that this was used for the purpose I described earlier. Yeah, well, some ride crew is gonna get a new memo tomorrow.... Nice trip report, by the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 Yeah you can also ask anyone ELSE from the group that was smart enough to know that the rideop was messing with you. It's so obvious that the platform is actually for the 2nd T-Rex to ride Flying Unicorn when he's got some time off from Jurassic Park! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedimaster1227 Posted February 3, 2007 Author Share Posted February 3, 2007 ^Then I guess it was all on my inability to catch these ride ops' sarcasm. My mistake... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeemerBoy Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 Who here is scarier: me or the dinosaur? You. And the T-shirt post card thing actually looks pretty cool to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedimaster1227 Posted February 3, 2007 Author Share Posted February 3, 2007 ^In that photo, I would probably agree! As for the post card T-shirts, I wouldn't ever give someone that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 Why not just mount the wheelchair on the track and have the train tow it? Good TR. Thanks for sharing the afternoon and evening there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 As for the trim brakes, there is a set right before the fake exit platform. We didn't progressively stop this time (like normal), in fact, we actually stopped on a dime without any warning. I don't think you understand what a trim brake is...because those are not "trim brakes." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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