IOA Wins Applause Award

[pheneix]

Islands of Adventure has been given the Applause Award at this year's IAPPA convention. This is the most coveted award an amusement park can win in this industry.

I was not expecting Universal to get it this year, considering how that place has been operated over the past few years. I'm guessing that they gave IOA the award for its past accomplishments in the theme park industry.

 

[JROK]

Islands of Adventure has been given the Applause Award at this year's IAPPA convention. This is the most coveted award an amusement park can win in this industry.

I was not expecting Universal to get it this year, considering how that place has been operated over the past few years. I'm guessing that they gave IOA the award for its past accomplishments in the theme park industry.

Our maybe it's because they're still suprised that nobody has made a dark ride to top Spiderman yet... Congrats Uni!

 

[DigitalDisney]

Despite some management/personnel problems, IOA is still one of the best theme parks in the world.

Even after all these years, it still has some rides that people consider to be the best of their type.

Spiderman - Duh
Popeye and Bluto - I'm not sure if this one has been topped. It really is an outstanding ride
Dudley Doright - Since the ride is in bad shape, this one's debatable. When everything is working, the ride competes for the best log flume in the world
Hulk - Not quite a top coaster, but definitely in almost everybody's top 5 or 10 list.

 

[mkt]

Hulk - Not quite a top coaster, but definitely in almost everybody's top 5 or 10 list.

No if they've been to Cedar point and Magic Mountain

<----

 

[mkt]

Our maybe it's because they're still suprised that nobody has made a dark ride to top Spiderman yet... Congrats Uni!

Jared...

am I the only person that was never really that impressed with it?

 

[mousermerf]

Or that IAPPA is a member-based group which focused mostly on amusement attractions and off the shelf attractions with minimal themeing from which the Disney parks are mostly removed and often considered the "enemy" but Universal is seen by members as being the pinnacle because they have big coasters.

That could be it.

 

[imagineer99]

Jared...

am I the only person that was never really that impressed with it?

You're not alone. Maybe it's because it was so hyped that I couldn't help but being disappointed, but for some reason, the 3D effects just don't impress me. I'd much rather have real, tangible audio animatronics.

I felt the same thing upon riding "Curse of Darkkastle"--a very, very similar ride in Busch gardens Williamsburg. It too users the Spiderman technology.

 

[mkt]

Or that IAPPA is a member-based group which focused mostly on amusement attractions and off the shelf attractions with minimal themeing from which the Disney parks are mostly removed and often considered the "enemy" but Universal is seen by members as being the pinnacle because they have big coasters.

That could be it.

Methinks you're right

 

[cmatt]

Islands of Adventure has been given the Applause Award at this year's IAPPA convention. This is the most coveted award an amusement park can win in this industry.

I was not expecting Universal to get it this year, considering how that place has been operated over the past few years. I'm guessing that they gave IOA the award for its past accomplishments in the theme park industry.

despite what some on these boards say (and of whom sound like a broken record *glares a few posts up*)

I say well done, i love this park - quiteliterally! the only ride i hated was duelling dragons as i got pins and needles :veryconfu but other then that i loved the place. :sohappy:

 

[JLW11Hi]

I've only been to IOA a few times, so I guess I can't speak for everyone who has had many visits to really take in what the Universal parks have to offer.

I'm still quite enthused with the Universal parks. I've been to Disney SO many times, that when I do get a chance to get to Universal everything is so new and different. I loved IOA when I was there. The rides all seemed very ambitious and successful. I do think Spiderman is one of the best attractions out there, and rides like Dueling Dragons and the Hulk, while they probably can't compete with anything Six Flags or Cedar parks have to offer, are still good rollercoasters. And I love Toon Lagoon, for Dudley Do Right and Popeye. And I still want to spend time just looking around at the scenery and theming in Seuss Landings.

Of course, I have only been there a few times. So it all still seems new to me.

I have noticed that there hasn't been much going on in terms of new additions to the park, except for that kids coaster in Jurrassic Park that seems kind of dull, and the tram that finally opened in Seuss Landings.

 

[kcnole]

there's still the ongoing rumor that they're working on something new for Jurassic Park. That rumor just doesn't seem to go away. If it turns out the be the jeep ride that was originally planned to go there on opening, I would be very excited.

 

[pheneix]

the Disney parks are mostly removed and often considered the "enemy" but Universal is seen by members as being the pinnacle because they have big coasters

Disney has won the award twice. Once for the Magic Kingdom in 1980, and once for Epcot in 1986. Putting those awards in their context, I'd say they are very well deserved. So was Universal Studios Florida's award in 1994.

 

[retroeric]

My only question is, why did it take IOA so long to win this? What parks won since 1998? I am curious.

 

[mkt]

Read the previous post... it seems that it takes a while for these things to get awarded. MK didn't win till 9 years after opening, Epcot 5 years, and USF 5 years as well