| Date:
Nov 22nd
Type: Theme Story
RE: Universal Studios Islands of
Adventure
BY: Toni
When friends ask me how our recent
getaway to Orlando was, I tell them "We had as much fun as
you can possibly have in four days". Planning our trip one
week prior was just as fun and gave us that feeling of spontaneity
(wouldn't always recommend, those airfares can get fairly expensive
for last minute travel). We packed our bags and the three of us
my husband, 13-year old daughter and myself headed off on our
for an action packet adventure. Our daughter had not experienced
the Theme Parks since she was 4 years old and we were looking
forward to a new and different look at the Parks. Our plan was
to visit Universal Studio's and their NEW Islands of Adventure
Theme Park, Disney's MGM Studios and the new Cirque Du Soleil
show "La NouBa" and believe or not we managed to accomplish
all of this!
We chose Universal Studios Islands
of Adventure as our first stop, and good planning that was, it
was much quieter on a weekday and the downpour of rain kept the
crowds to a minimum (we didn't mind it a bit). This park is set
up with several different themes (islands). Marvel Super Hero
Island was first for us the Super Hero city setting is just incredible
and makes you feel as if have just stepped into your favorite
comic book. The rides here are definitely for an older crowd.
We decided why walk when you can run and jumped on the Incredible
Hulk Coaster, front seat of course, as my heart jumped to my chest
we went round and round and upside down over and over again, what
a way to start your day. Doctor Doom's Fearfall rockets you 150
feet into the air, then pushes you down faster than gravity, this
was a ride that my husband and daughter went on as I watched.
(I was saving myself for the Tower of Terror the following day).
We next put on our 3-D Spider-Vision goggles and experienced the
eye-popping Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. This was the best
ride at the park, packed with every villain Spider-Man has ever
comes up against, this is one of those rides that you just have
to experience, words can not do it justice.
From there we headed to Toon Lagoon,
this area is set up for small children with all their favorite
cartoon characters coming to life. Here we enjoyed the Dudley
Do-Rights Ripsaw Falls a wild flume ride, which has a big drop
at the end and is guaranteed to get you wet!
Around the bend you enter Jurassic
Park, they've done a great job here, the lush vegetation, backgrounds
sound and setting give you the feeling you are truly experiencing
the movie. Camp Jurassic is prehistoric playground for the smaller
child. Take my advice pass on the Pteranodon Flyers a 72 second
ride was not worth the longest wait we had all day. Jurassic Park
River Adventure on the other had is an exciting ride though primeval
dinosaur habitats and of course ends with a big splash. Jurassic
Park Discovery Center is an interactive area that all ages will
enjoy. You have a chance to pet a moving, breathing dinosaur at
the Triceratops Encounter, they've done a great job of making
it a real as possible.
Next on the map is The Lost Continent,
is similar to a medieval village. And yes time for another roller
coaster, actually two of them. The Dueling Dragons is the first
inverted dueling roller coaster, one dragon fire and the other
ice, this was another exciting rides with lots of hoops and turns.
Poseidon's Fury: Escape from the Lost City takes you below the
sea where you watch a battle between Zeus and Poseidon for control
of the Lost City. The Eight voyage of Sindbad allows you to sit
down (much need by this time) and enjoy a live action stunt show
featuring amazing feats and explosive action.
Suess Landing is the following
island and a great place for youngsters to enjoy some easygoing
rides. It's also a great place for adults, we've all read the
books, they have done a great job of making it all come to life.
The Caro-Seuss-el is a wonderful Merrily go-round with a menagerie
of Seussian creatures. Everyone has to check out The Cat in the
Hat ride, you sit on a couch and travel through pages of this
famous book. We loved this new and exciting theme park and would
definitely recommend it to teenagers and young alike.
As much as I would love to tell
you more about each and every park I can see I am quickly running
out of paper. So just a few quick highlights Universal Studios
other theme park is great fun and best of older children. MGM
is great for the whole family a must for older children are The
Twilight Zone, Tower of Terror, and Areosmith's Rock 'n' Roller
Coaster you'll go from 0-60 is 2.8 seconds. La NouBa, I would
recommend for 12 and up, adults will love this show, Cirque Du
Soleil has once again accomplished their mission statement: "Evoke
the Emotions, Invoke the Imagination, Provoke the Senses".
It's time to call the experts at
James TravelPOINTS and head off to this magical playground for
the first time or one of many return trips.
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