Universal Trip
#1
Posted 16 February 2015 - 08:32 PM
We got down to Orlando on Monday night and had park to park passes all ready to go to the park on Tuesday. We arrived early Tuesday morning and went to the studios as I had been to IOA a few years back.
Our first ride was Despicable Me, we had been warned that it had an insane line all day long and for a 5 minute wait we jumped in line. It was a cool ride, after that we headed towards Diagon Ally as we expected that would be packed later in the day. Once we arrived we got in line for Gringotts and ended up waiting about 20 minutes, but about 10 minutes of that was the pre-show so it wasn't terrible.
Gringotts was a cool ride, definitely innovative and unique. After Gringotts we did a lap around Diagon Ally then left and continued to make a loop around the park, making our next stop MIB. Which was really fun but we had no clue what we were shooting at.
After that we continued past The Simpsons ride as I've never watched the show and we had park to park passes so we were trying to choose rides wisely. We then stopped and rode ET, we waited for a few minutes then got filtered through an area where they asked for our names, then gave us some plastic cards only to take them about 2 minutes later in the line making them useless? Not really sure what the point of them was. ET was really cool, relaxing as well.
Next up was HRRR. I have no clue why everyone says this is rough coaster, it was smooth as glass as me. Pretty fun, delivered a good ride!
Next up was Mummy, which actually was probably my favorite ride of the day. Had some cool ride theming and the overall experience was really fun and intense. We then continued to Transformers, using the single rider line we got right on the ride. Since I had already ridden Spiderman a few years ago it wasn't much new for me, none-the-less it was fun.
We then hopped on the Hogwarts Express headed for IOA, once we got to IOA I rode each of the Dueling Dragon's coasters twice then The Forbidden Journey.
After Hogsmeade we started making a clockwise loop around the park, arriving at Hulk next. I rode it once then we continued our walking around the park.
Because I had already been to IOA we skipped most rides in IOA and headed back to the studios. Once back at the studios I rode Gringotts again (this time waiting about 45mins in the single rider line), Mummy 3 more times, as well as T2. We happened to walk out of T2 as the parade was doing a dance number so that was interesting.
We then proceeded to HRRR which ended up having a HUGE single rider line so in the sake of saving time we skipped it and left Universal Studios walking to IOA because it was closing and the Hogwarts Express had a giant wait time.
We then did another lap around IOA before it closed, riding Hulk again, The Forbidden Journey twice, each side of Dueling Dragons once, then back to Hulk one more time for a night ride. My night ride on Hulk was probably one of the best rides of the day, the cool air blowing in your face felt really good as well as all the lights shining in the dark.
Overall I had a great day at IOA and Uni. Studios, the crowds were relatively small as well as the weather was perfect (sunny, 65-70°).
SSCoasters Moderator
Fear the Bankatana | The SSCoasters Forum Rules
Maverick|Tatsu|TTD|Fahrenheit|Skyrush|MF|Cheetah Hunt|Storm Runner|SheiKra|Montu
Coaster Count: 102
#2
Posted 16 February 2015 - 09:11 PM
#3
Posted 16 February 2015 - 09:46 PM
It's really cool to see this park from someone else's perspective. All the pictures are well taken, and it seems like you got to ride all of the good rides (multiple times for some which is even better ).
Glad you had a great time!
EDIT - What was your opinion on the Dueling Drag- *ahem* Dragon Challenge queue? Did you have a difficult time seeing where the path was?
Edited by Rollerfreak987, 16 February 2015 - 09:49 PM.
1- Time Traveler 2- Magnum XL-200 3- The Voyage 4- Velocicoaster 5-Iron Gwazi 6- Phantom's Revenge 7- The Beast 8- The Legend 9- Tiested Timbers 10- Steel Vengeance
Follow me on Instagram @coastergeek987
Credit Count: 305
#4
Posted 16 February 2015 - 10:29 PM
Nice trip report! Sounds like you had a great time! What row did you ride HRRR in? I rode in the back, and I noticed some pretty hardcore rattling, though near the front I've heard is great.
Maverick|MF|Diamondback|Hulk|Banshee|Raptor|The Bat|Mean Streak|The Beast|DD Ice
Diamondback count: 586 Banshee count: 197
[23:45:59] Im gonna take a selfie with you tomorrow and show my mom that you are not a rapist
#5
Posted 17 February 2015 - 08:22 AM
#6
Posted 17 February 2015 - 06:21 PM
I am also a huge fan of Forbidden Journey, so I have been eager to give Gringotts a spin. I have heard some people call it disappointing because they were expecting something more along the line of Mummy, but I want to be the judge of that before I agree or disagree.
ET has got to be one of my personal favorite rides at USF for reasons beyond me. I think it is because I am a huge fan of the queue once you are inside. It is just a really easy ride to enjoy.
Sounds like you had fun, though! Nice TR.
Check out my blog: Life Is A Roller Coaster
(Coaster count: 504)
Blitzen Cyber Chase Prowler Tuscarora Ra: God of Sun Jersey Thunder Phoenix La Bestia Ripsaw
#7
Posted 17 February 2015 - 08:51 PM
Its a great ride!It sounds like it was a great trip! I never got to ride Dueling Dragons when I went, so I'm totally jealous of you!
Haha I noticed it was extremely dark as well in some parts. Was way easier to navigate at night with my eyes adjusted.^You're not missing much. (All of my recent posts seem really pessimistic, haha)
It's really cool to see this park from someone else's perspective. All the pictures are well taken, and it seems like you got to ride all of the good rides (multiple times for some which is even better ).
Glad you had a great time!
EDIT - What was your opinion on the Dueling Drag- *ahem* Dragon Challenge queue? Did you have a difficult time seeing where the path was?
I'm trying to remember what row, I feel like first car, third row on the left. But I'm not positive. I can see the back being smoother, although the coaster was incredibly quiet throughout the park as well, I wonder if the cool weather had something to do with it.^ I really enjoyed the Ice side when I rode it, the zero g is pretty cool.
Nice trip report! Sounds like you had a great time! What row did you ride HRRR in? I rode in the back, and I noticed some pretty hardcore rattling, though near the front I've heard is great.
Did the queue get redone with HP world? I'm really bummed I missed the "Dueling Dragons" period, especially since now the lift system works to mis-align trains if they are anywhere close on the lift.I've always liked Dueling Dragons, especially before the change. The queue line used to be awesome. The lift hill system to align the trains to duel properly was cool to experience as well.
I also am a huge fan of Forbidden Journey, a few years back I loved it, although I didn't get as immersed so to say on this trip. I don't know why, but I didn't get the insane feeling of flying during the projections like I did a few years ago. It seemed like the projection and the ride movements may have been a bit out of sync causing that. Gringotts was definitely a great ride, but its so different from FJ that you can't really compare the two. Its like a mix of the pre-show of Mummy and Spiderman/Transformers, its a shorter ride but the trick elements are real insane, especially in the very back seat. Nothing to complain about on that ride.Mummy is definitely my favorite coaster at Universal without a doubt.
I am also a huge fan of Forbidden Journey, so I have been eager to give Gringotts a spin. I have heard some people call it disappointing because they were expecting something more along the line of Mummy, but I want to be the judge of that before I agree or disagree.
ET has got to be one of my personal favorite rides at USF for reasons beyond me. I think it is because I am a huge fan of the queue once you are inside. It is just a really easy ride to enjoy.
Sounds like you had fun, though! Nice TR.
Also I must say I loved ET's queue, it really immersed you into the environment plus the high dark ceiling gave me the feeling of an infinite ceiling with really tall trees. Yeah it was a good trip, I kept my phone on airplane mode and ended up at 1% battery at the end of the day from taking pictures haha.
SSCoasters Moderator
Fear the Bankatana | The SSCoasters Forum Rules
Maverick|Tatsu|TTD|Fahrenheit|Skyrush|MF|Cheetah Hunt|Storm Runner|SheiKra|Montu
Coaster Count: 102
#8
Posted 18 February 2015 - 11:02 AM
Sorry for the mild rant
EDIT: Spoiler much?
Edited by pkiknex25, 18 February 2015 - 11:07 AM.
1- Time Traveler 2- Magnum XL-200 3- The Voyage 4- Velocicoaster 5-Iron Gwazi 6- Phantom's Revenge 7- The Beast 8- The Legend 9- Tiested Timbers 10- Steel Vengeance
Follow me on Instagram @coastergeek987
Credit Count: 305
#9
Posted 18 February 2015 - 11:43 AM
Awesome shots you got there! I love the night one across the lake with all the neon lights! (3 from the bottom)
TOP 10
1. I305 2. Fury325 3. Skyrush 4. Manta 5. Thunderhead 6. Stormrunner 7. Wildcat 8. Fahrenheit 9. Intimidator 10. Wild Eagle
I305 Count: 11
#10
Posted 18 February 2015 - 12:59 PM