Universal Orlando TR!

[Axman]

I have some really great pics of my February trip to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure from February of 2006. Would anyone like to see them. I ask only because the pics seem kind of outdated now. If anyone would like a 2-06 Universal TR, please let me know, and I'll whip one up right quick.

[FeelTheFORCE]

I would love to see them!

[Axman]

Okay then.

 

Please wait with your hands and arms inside the train until the construction of the TR comes to a full and complete stop.

 

FeelTheFORCE- Ghostrider #1 lovers unite!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cprocks22]

I would love to see them, seeing as my trip to Orlando is only 8 MONTHS AWAY!!! At least im going.

[FeelTheFORCE]

 

FeelTheFORCE- Ghostrider #1 lovers unite!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Yeah!!! I only rode it once when I went there last summer, but that's all it takes!

[Axman]

Days 1-2

 

Islands Of Adventure! YEAH!!!!!

 

The weather was a bit murky, but the temperature was just below 60, which is a fine coastering temperature, but not a good water ride temperature. Luckily, it didn't rain. I only have a few pictures of Dueling Dragons, because I didn't bring my camera much into the Lost Continet. However, i've got some awsome pics of Toon Lagoon and Marvel Superhero Island!

.....Caro-suess-el *IN THE DARK*.

I end this portion of the update with awsome pizza, and.....

One last corkscrewy bit of Hulk today.

So was this one. Hello Dueling Dragons!

More B&M loopy goodness, with Dr. Doom in the background, trying to get attention.

 

This picture was taken from the "Designated Smoking Area". Pretty good view, isn't it?

Now there's something you don't see every day: The back side of Hulk!

 

Take that, Jungle Cruise.

One of the only elements on this ride that doesn't turn you up-side-down.

I always thought the entrance sign for Hulk looked cool.

Corkscrew *IN THE AIR*.

After the movie, we went back for a few more rides on Hulk. How's that for a horror story?

After riding this thing about 6 or 7 times, my dad and I decided to go see a movie in Citywalk, since we had the "Hopper pass-type-things" that gave us free reign of the resort. Guess what movie we saw....FINAL DESTINATION 3!!!!!!!!

I thought the Hulk looked extra intimidating against the grey sky.

Captin America: "The Incredible Hulk got it's own roller coaster, and all I got was this flag!"

Don't you just love those classicaly un-PC, 50's icons?

The launch on Doctor Doom was not as powerful as it was, when I rode it in '99, but it's still a great ride.

No Bilge Rat Barges today! It's not warm enough yet.

 

BTW, isn't the theming around here awsome?!

Bet you cant get that much in your Subway sandwich...

Toon Lagoon from across the giant IOA Lake. (Do they have a name for that lake?)

Anyway, Back to Islands Of Adventure! Yay!

Yay! Hard Rock Cafe Citywalk!

Yay! Islands Of Adventure! But First...

Yay! Universal Studios! But first...

[Axman]

So far, all of the rides were running great! Hulk and Dueling Dragons were on 2-3 train operations the whole trip! The rest of the lines were either short, or quick-moving. Ripsaw Falls was still in surgery, though.

 

Pictures of Universal Studios (DAY #3) and more IOA (DAY #4) coming either tonight or tomorrow! Be seeing you.

[thefitness]

Nice Pictures! I like the one of Deuling Dragons a lot. The smoking area in Port of Entry is a really good picture taking spot!

[Zen Coaster]

Great shots. You can see from my avatar that I'm an IoA/Hulk fan

 

Your TR is making me want to be there right now but I only have 3 months & 3 weeks to wait. Not that I'm counting down ... Much.

 

Will definitely have to stand in that Port of Entry area on my visit. Hulk is such a good coaster in terms of proximity to great photography angles though.

 

I was there in February '05 and was disappointed that Bilge Rat Barges was closed ... I agree about the theming and the park has a consistent level of quality in this area.

 

I love the cafes too... not just because of the theming either... I had lunch at the Comic Strip Cafe - that's the one that offers a few counters... I had Chinese which wasn't too bad at all. Didn't get to do the Green Eggs & Ham, that's something I'll have to do in August.

 

Anyway thanks for sharing your shots, looking forward to seeing the others.

 

When do you plan on going back to Orlando?

[Axman]

I doubt I'll be going to Orlando any time soon. I only go on 1-2 amusement parks trips a year. Dollywood and Universal were my 06 trips. I had a Kennywood/Hersheypark/Dorney Park trip for 05, a Dollywood trip and a SFOG trip in '04, a Cedar Point/PKI trip in 03, a PKI/SFKK trip and a SFOG trip oin 02, and a SFKK trip in 01.

 

Those are the parks i've been to since I moved to Tennessee in 2000.

[Axman]

Day 3

 

Universal Studios!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!

 

 

My dad and I spent only one day at the Studio park. Quite frankly, IOA appeals to me more Much like at IOA, lines were either short or fast moving, but the weather was still a bit iffy.

 

I rode just about everyhting, but the best pictures of the scenery.

I'll wrap up this portion, with my dad, and mister Peice Pipe Redman.

Last But Not Least: Cigarz at Citywalk!

And: DAPY! The awsomest store ever! It's like Spencer's Gifts, only with more gags!

 

To bad they went out of business.

Next: The Tribute to Lucy

Then: The Brown Derby Hat Shop

Next up: Schival's Pharmacy

Prepair for a shmorgusborg of cool signs!

 

First up: The Montmartre

Mel's *AT NIGHT*

Fear Factor LIVE was really great! Dead Octupus Toss should be a national sport!

Oooh. Pretty.

Yay! Will Smith: THE RIDE.

And there it is.

I never saw the third movie, but I'm sure this posess some relevance.

Back to the Future was good, but jerky, and old, and a little painful, and--wait--what was I talking about again?

Food and Film = Outdated simulator and alien hunt land.

And here's one of the rest of San Fransisco.

Here's a panormamic shot of The Fisherman's Warf.

WEENIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cafe La Bamba. The only problem with being the park with the best food, is that you can't have 12 meals in one day. Unless you're an ACEr.

Universal is signing a contract with Macy's department stores that will allow them to sell Universal brand make up at their stores. All the make up saleswimen will be requred to give demonstations of the make up's uses.

I think it's the coolest themed resturant in the park.

Ahh, Mel's. If Shapiro aquired Universal, this would become a Jonny Rocket's in les than a heartbeat.

NICKSTUFF! Whoot!

"I would like a Frankenstein Pate and Bloody Mary please."

The signage is cool, though

Here's Twister, which didn't kick so much ass in comparison.

... and the Paradise Theater and Museum, home to Mummy: The Ride!

 

It really kicked ass!

Here' the Palace Arcade...

This one and the last one were taken in the New York area.

I just loved this parks theming. The rides were great, but I loved the surroundings!

O.K., back to the Studios part of Universal Studios.

[Axman]

More Toon Lagoon and Bilge Rat Barges tomorrow!

[Axman]

Day 4

 

More Islands Of Adventure!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Today was beautiful, so we hit Toon Lagoon for some much-needed soaking!

And, I end this TR with a fish Crossing.

DD, of course, also looks lovely from across the lake.

We found there Duck just outside the S.S. Olive. Chillin'.

My ass was quite soggy after that endeavor.

The ride ops were good to us. They let us ride 3 times in a row!

And here's my dad, being.....umm...... a dad.

Here I'm am, making the Toon Lagoon Designated Somking Area look pretty.

Thar She Blows!!!!

It's the S.S. Olive! Wait, where's Popeye?

I want to live here....

*SIGNATURE PIC* #2

*SIGNATURE PIC* #1

Toon Lagoon has the best vantage point in the park! I f you follow the winding paths behind Popeye's, you end up at the shores of the lake, which has great views of all of the biggest rides!

Yay! Back to IOA!!!

[knottslover77]

Great Pictures, hope theirs more!

 

--Jay

[Axman]

Sorry! I scraped the bottom of the barrel with these.

 

I will have awsome pictures of my trip to Beech Bend eventually.

 

As soon as I go.

[Zen Coaster]

Great shots; again, thank you so much for sharing.

 

Can you put in your impressions of the rides/attractions/places you ate etc? That would round things off.

[Axman]

Of course!

 

Islands of Adventure is definitely the best Theme park I've ever been too! This was my second visit, and things ad IMPROVED from their previous state. Family-friendly rides like Storm's Accelerator and The Flying Unicorn really boosted the park's image, and added more depth to the all-ready-incredible themed areas! The Confisco Grill, located in the Port of Entry, and as pictured on Pg.1, had the best food that we ate. The Pizza was delicious! Every last establishment, including Confisco's, down to the restrooms, was themed to an extreme extent. There were also some "Cinnabon" walk-up counters that were new, and were perfectly themed and wedged into their surroundings. There were virtually no lines for any of the rides. The longest line was 15 mins for the Hulk when we first got there. Basically the same story with Universal Studios. We had great Seafood at this restaurant on the Fisherman's Warf in San Francisco. The Mummy was a fantastic addition, and is their most intricately-themed ride since Dueling Dragons. My dad and I got a 4-day "park-hopper" type pass for both parks for only $99 a piece!!!!! Fantastic Deal!!!! Forget Disney,(well, don't FORGET it, it's good too) Universal Orlando is a MUST-SEE Theme park Experience!!!!!!!!