Photo TR: Soren Visits IOA and Universal Orlando!!

[Erik Johnson]

Hey all! I was lucky enough to be invited to document Soren's first visit to Islands of Adventure. Yes, we did have a good time. Before I get on with the pictures, there are a few news worthy items I would like to mention to you all about the park.

 

** Dueling Dragons will be closed until early June according to some of the employees standing in front of the ride. DD is finally getting its brand new coat of paint. They also mentioned that the ride could be open this weekend as they are only currently working on painting the lift hills this week.

 

**Lots of new Annual Pass news. I was able to find out some interesting information concerning AP passes. In about two to three weeks they are going to be closing both IOA's as well as USO's pass processing centers. They are going to be changing the format of the AP passes themselves. The new passes are going to be very similiar to the Disney AP passes as they will not have your photo, will be using biometric technology, as well as being on "tough to tear" paper instead of plastic.

 

--They will soon offer a 2-year Preferred renewal for about $189 (you will save $9)

 

--There is also a super preferred pass in the works which should be available to buy in a month or two. It is going to cost $300+. What is different about this one is that they will act as an Express Pass after 4PM, will get a free HHN pass on an off-night, as well as additional discounts in the parks. The bad thing is that you will not be able to upgrade your current AP passes to the new one by paying the difference. If you want this new pass, you will have to pay the full amount.

 

**Suess Landing is getting a bunch of TLC with new paint and landscaping. I guess it is all due to the new ride that is opening this summer.

 

**Mythos has "officially" added back Balsamic Chicken. Now all they need to do is add back its Tomato and Cheese salad, as well as those awesome desserts.

 

**Parking has increased $1 to $10.00.

 

Ok enough writing, onto those pictures:

As well as a final photo of a brand new AP Power Pass.

This may be one of the final photos you see of the AP processing center.

This was when we first found out two credits are going to be closed until early June.

Soren is paying money for his AP pass.

An hour later both Soren, and his roomate/Epcot co-worker Stefan, show up.

Its great to see Universal selling more donkey style T-shirts.

I made sure that all the effects were working before Soren arrives.

Oh God, I will make sure not to be anywhere close to this place when that event occurs.

And here come Frank with several boxes of brand new porcelin deer.

Larry and Joe are doing thier very best to make Universal more, "artist friendly."

More work has been done on the new Bubba Gump at Citiwalk.

Well, its not really a surprise that I am considered sad and pathetic anyways.

Soren missed his bus, which means that I will be sad and pathetic for another hour.

Parking has increased by $1.

I wonder why all these signs can be found all over central Florida now?

[Erik Johnson]

Ok onto the first credit. Yes it is a green color.

More referb stuff.

Yes, all this was really needed. Thanks for spending more money on this kind of stuff IOA.

Lots of these signs everywhere.

The entire Suess Landing is pretty much in referb mode now (though the rides are all running).

This wall has been extended out further for more construction.

Some kind of plastic monster thingy in the beginning of the dark ride section.

I wonder if he is testing out the new "guest removal machine" for the new ride.

Both tracks seems to be completed.

Some people may try to count this as two credits.

Thank you!! Now if you add that Tomato and cheese salad back to menu, Mythos will be R&E friendly again.

OMG!!! Look what is back on the menu.

At least Dueling Germans was open today.

DD really does need a new paint job. Tom and Wes really should consider themselves lucky!

They even had theming for our disappointment.

What's up with the drums in front of Dueling Dragons?

Soren's second credit of the day. The Flying Unicorn.

Two thugs from the hood.

Onto Spiderman. The wait was about 90 seconds when using the S&P line. We ended up riding together as well.

Both Soren and Stefan seemed to enjoy the coaster. Yeah, both front and backseat rides.

How does someone lose hats on this ride? I wonder....

Though he seems to prefer Bruce Banner over the Hulk.

Yeah, its a real credit for Soren.

Here is a picture of Soren taking a picture of The Incredible Hulk coaster.

[Erik Johnson]

Yes more.

Oh dear, the pain is about to begin.

At least Stefan brought his industrial strength motion sickness bag.

Uh-oh, time for Back to the Future.

I guess that silver flash-rod memory thing worked too well today.

Did you already lose your MiB suit Stefan?

Most certainly my highest score ever.

That was Soren's score flashing in the background.

Yes, this is where it all started folks.

Onto another awesome Universal attraction.

This was starting to become a familiar sight today, at least the lockers are free.

I never did find those Pac-Man or Mappy machines.

While Soren had his money mixup problem fixed, Stefan guarded his ice cream.

All that fire made Soren hungry for some ice cream.

Yes, it is time for Soren to get that Mummy credit.

We ended up over at Universal for a few hours.

Another photo of Soren taking a picture of the Incredible Hulk Coaster.

Thing 1, Thing 2, Thing 3, and Thing 4.

[Florida420]

Thanks for stealing my thunder Erik.

I wait a month to post my PTR and what do you do????

you just post a PRT of the same damn park, except you got a couple of Germans with you!!

 

 

 

I'm just playin'

no I'm not.

Yes

Yes I am, I guess the key phrase here is "I wait a month to post my PTR"

I'm glad you guys had fun, too bad Soren missed out on DD.

But now I'm defiantly gonna put the "guess that toilet game" in my TR, just for you, since you where just there, you should get a good score.

My PTR should be done in another 4 hours, I can't see, it's hard to type.

 

BTW, when are these new AP gonna be available, mine runs out in June, I want to look into the one with HHN and fast pass privileges.

 

See Ya

 

P All

[Erik Johnson]

Yes more!

 

And more photos can also be found here: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=172385#172385

Yes, it was a good day today. Thanks for reading. And yes, the adventure lives on.

Soren's photos here: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=172385#172385

All those rides today certainly builds up an appitite.

I do not think Stefan could have been more soaked.

Well, I guess they ended up far enough away from each other.

Both of these barges pretty much launched at the same time.

More water for Stefan.

These rides get you so soaked.

He deicded to ride Bluto's Barges, twice.

Looks like you got a little wet.

You like that Stefan?

Here is Stefan drowning on Ripsaw Falls.

Stefan decided to take on some more water rides.

These are the brand new German Cast Member uniforms.

I love Raptor in a box.

Time....everything was working on the JP ride today for Soren.

Speaking of water rides, we ended up back at IOA to ride Jurassic Park.

Here comes all the water, and its all heading for Soren.

Uh oh! Things start to go wrong in the subway tunnel.

All seems ok so far.

Earthquake time!

Yeah, Soren is now only missing three credits. Though those will have to wait until June.

Soren only had to wait for about 1 minute for this ride, unlike NGT and Parktrips.

Oh yes, Vekoma goodness.

Time for another credit for Soren.

Look who we ran into at the park.

We ended up not riding the "Old and Stupid" water ride today.

But that is ok, he was able to fill his stomach right back up.

Back to the Future removed all of Soren's

food.

[Slacking]

--There is also a super preferred pass in the works which should be available to buy in a month or two. It is going to cost $300+. What is different about this one is that they will act as an Express Pass after 4PM, will get a free HHN pass on an off-night, as well as additional discounts in the parks. The bad thing is that you will not be able to upgrade your current AP passes to the new one by paying the difference. If you want this new pass, you will have to pay the full amount.

 

Nice pics Erik. Looks fun.

 

As far as I know, the $300 Premier AP has quietly been on sale since April. The oddest perk for this pass supposedly is 8 free bottles of water. You also get free preferred/valet parking. May not be worth the extra cash, but its interesting nonetheless.

[Shockwave]

Duelling Dragons really needed that paint job, it was looking awful! Shame it will be down till June, but it'll look great once it opens again.

 

Soren, if you're reading this, you have to ride Row 2 on Ice!

[JT3000]

The dragons need a paint job more than the ride does, but yeah... They should also paint that section of Hulk around the tunnel. It's almost black. Looks like they need to clean Popeye as well. At least Suess is getting the attention it needed.

[SLUSHIE]

Dammit. Last I head DD was to be open when I go next month... now apparently it wont open till June 4th.

 

Actualy, I proably wont go to Universal now.

 

Whoever pushed it back needs to die. Oh well, I still have montu.

[Swimace]

At least DD will be open for Grad Bash!

[s2pids2]

awesome photos, and it looks like Soren is having a great time over there. Agreed that DD does need a new paint job, but I would rather see a new ride for the park. Hopefully I will get to go to all these places again in the next month when I visit Disney World for 2 weeks!!

[stingrock23]

That really sucks that I'm gonna miss DD next week. I'd rather ride that than Hulk. Now I have had the good fortune in the past where everything was running, but this is really a bummer. I guess I'll just have to ride Hulk and Mummy a few more times to make up for it.

 

3 days and counting

[Erik Johnson]

That really sucks that I'm gonna miss DD next week. I'd rather ride that than Hulk. Now I have had the good fortune in the past where everything was running, but this is really a bummer. I guess I'll just have to ride Hulk and Mummy a few more times to make up for it.

 

3 days and counting

 

The ride ops said that Dueling Dragons may be open this weekend, so there is still a chance that you will be able to ride them.

[DerekRx]

I love how SORENsen was the chef at Mythos. See, all it takes is a friend working there to get the good stuff back. Now gimme the lobster and corn bisque and mozz and tomato salad and everything is better!

 

I'm slightly disturbed by the similar shirts Soren. Is that a German thing?

 

I HATE the idea of biometrics and paper passes. Can someone please explain to me how a picture of me isn't good enough to show its me. It works for my passport and drivers license, but apparently not for theme park admission anymore. For $200-300 you think you'd actually have something sturdy with a purdy picture of yourself getting your wallet raped as its happening.

 

Looks like you had fun, glad Soren finally got there!

[BrownStreak]

Oh come on, No one has mentioned that the two Deutchlanders are wearing like almost the exact same shirt!

[niiicolaaah]

^Someone did. Check out the post right before yours!

 

 

I'm slightly disturbed by the similar shirts Soren. Is that a German thing?

[KrakenKing]

Haha, you were there yesterday as well? I remember seeing those two hats in the net of Hulk... I was in the arcade most of the day playing the new "In The Groove 2" machine. It's about time they finally got one of those!

[Swimace]

That really sucks that I'm gonna miss DD next week. I'd rather ride that than Hulk. Now I have had the good fortune in the past where everything was running, but this is really a bummer. I guess I'll just have to ride Hulk and Mummy a few more times to make up for it.

 

3 days and counting

 

The ride ops said that Dueling Dragons may be open this weekend, so there is still a chance that you will be able to ride them.

 

They're going to be open for Grad Bash, so I would expect that they would be running before the park closes to the General Public so that everything is up and running when the event starts at 7:00.

[CoasterCrazy]

Thanks for posting the great pictures!

 

I'm also disturbed by the similar shirts.

[timetrial3141592]

In one of the DD pictures, did anyone else notice that only Ice was visible?

[SharkTums]

Did you get him his Pteranadon Flyers credit?!?!?!

[Ghost]

looked like some people had some fun... as if anybody could have no fun at IoA...

[Wes]

In one of the DD pictures, did anyone else notice that only Ice was visible?

 

I'm assuming you're talking about this one, although there's a piece of fire track at the bottom. What were you getting at with that question?

 

[Imhotep]

Good to see you finally made it to THE MOST IMPORTANT PARK EVER CREATED! hehe Just kidding, of course I cannot discredit the park that brought you to the states in the first place

 

 

Its crazy how much rehab/construction they have been taking on the past few months. Looks like SMMUDM's (or whatever its going to be called now) should be pretty fun!

[WillMontu]

Did you get him his Pteranadon Flyers credit?!?!?!

 

Erik and myself tried to get that credit several weeks ago, but we were unsuccessful. They require you to "obtain" a kid, unless they were being lax with the rules.