I decided about a month ago that I should get a Universal annual pass. So, on May 9th, both Tifani and I got one. Here are the events that occurred on that day (lol...this is turning into a Texas Chainsaw Massacre)
My mom and I got out of the car, and started our 50 mile hike to the Universal Studios gates. My friend Kiara was going to meet me there. I met up with her, and we waited in line to get my pass. I said bye to my mom, and we were off. It was 9:45, and we were meeting Tifani at 10am. Kiara and I went into the park, and our first stop was Jimmy Neutron. The line was only 10 minutes, so we figured that we'll wait, and then go to the front of the park to meet Tifani. I thought Jimmy was alright, but it wasn't anything to write home about. We got out, and my phone started ringing. It was 10:15, and Tifani was on the other line.
*me* - "Oh hey Tifani. You Here?"
*Tifani* - "Ah, no. I'm at Publix."
*me* - "Tifani, why the heck are you at Publix?!"
*Tifani* - "Cuz my mom needed to get some things. We're leaving now, but we gotta stop by Burger King to get my Annual Pass coupon"
*me* - "Tifani....just call me when you get here"
So after she called, Kiara and I went over to Men in Black. I had never done it before, and it was walk on, so we got right in. I was very impressed with the ride. We did it twice. When it first started, and I saw the cardboard cutouts of the aliens, I was saying to myself "All this talk about it being better than Buzz Lightyear..." and then we turned the corner. I was very impressed with the theme of the ride too, with the fake "Universe and you" presentation. It was kinda stupid though, in the elevator, the employee left the doors on the other side open, and it was obvious that we didn't move 1 inch (think Living Seas Hydrolators). After doing that twice, Tifani called me and said she was waiting by the Lucy Tribute. We walked over, and Tifani and her mom were there. Her mom got a pass aswell. So, all 4 of us started walking through the park. We got to Earthquake, and did that. Tifani was picked as a volunteer sailor for the preshow. After that boring "attraction" we walked over to Men in Black, and did that again!. We were all starving, and the first restaurant we saw was "international screenings" or something like that. All I know is that I ordered off of the Italian menu, and got the Chicken Parmesan. That has got to be the best theme park food I have ever had. Kiara, Tifani and I were ready to do some real rides, so we headed over to Islands of Adventure. Tifani's mom stayed at the Studios. We got to the entrance, and first headed over to The Hulk. The line was 60 minutes, so we kept going clockwise around the lake. Dudley was an hour, and we decided to come back, since that is my favorite ride in the whole park. We went over to Jurassic Park, and it was obvious that everything had over a 45 minute wait. Hot and exhausted, we just decided to wait for Dudley Do-Right since most of the queue was in the AC and we would get wet. When you are waiting outside in that line, you're baking. It was SO hot, the line was muddy, and I guess it was "lets not put deodorant on" day, because people were STINKING!. We got on the ride and cooled off. We got our "Universal Express" passes for JP River Adventure (I had never been on it). Our time was 5pm-6pm. It was 3pm at the time, and The Hulk was our next stop. The line was 45minutes, and the free lockers were only available for 30 minute rentals, so the singles line was our only option. All 3 of us were on the same train, but not next to each other. I also did not care for having to wait underneath the station, next to machinery, enclosed by a fence for the singles line. We got off, got our stuff from the locker, and headed over to JP. I have to say, Jurassic Park River Adventure was so dumb. It was a great drop and all, but those AA Dinosaurs are nothing compared to that of DINOSAUR! and the whole storyline was just so weak.
We were all getting tired and hungry and the last ride that we just had to ride was Dueling Dragons. We were able to do both Fire and Ice. I liked those much better than I do the Hulk. We walked through Suess Landing and out to the exit. We walked through "the 50 mile mall" or as others refer to it, CityWalk, and met Tifani's mom.
So, it was a great day. I was surprised with how Universal is atleast trying to make it's "resort" nice. Just little things that you would never see at Disney that Universal makes as the norm. One being that the Universal "employees" are nowhere near as nice, friendly, or helpful as Disney Castmembers are. Graffiti is everywhere in the park, and things are not kept as clean. Case in point was the Dudley queue. It was muddy and nasty. The Dueling Dragons queue had beer bottles all over.Soda was 25 cents more than Disney's. Parking was 1$ more...Oh yea, Don't even get me started on the Parking Garage lol.
I liked Universal's locker system. Dueling Dragons was available for an hour and 15 minutes, but the Hulks was only for 30 minutes. That was stupid. Does it change depending on how busy the ride is? I liked the fingerprint system though. I prefer Universal's AP's over Disney's. Universal's has my picture on it, and is made of plastic.
It was a great day, but there is no way Universal can ever beat out Disney. I felt dirty just being there lol. I heard Mummy TR's will start tomorrow, so next weekend will be a Universal/Disney combo. A DISNEY ISTCrew Original should be up next weekend.
If you would like to see the Universal Pictures, Click here
My mom and I got out of the car, and started our 50 mile hike to the Universal Studios gates. My friend Kiara was going to meet me there. I met up with her, and we waited in line to get my pass. I said bye to my mom, and we were off. It was 9:45, and we were meeting Tifani at 10am. Kiara and I went into the park, and our first stop was Jimmy Neutron. The line was only 10 minutes, so we figured that we'll wait, and then go to the front of the park to meet Tifani. I thought Jimmy was alright, but it wasn't anything to write home about. We got out, and my phone started ringing. It was 10:15, and Tifani was on the other line.
*me* - "Oh hey Tifani. You Here?"
*Tifani* - "Ah, no. I'm at Publix."
*me* - "Tifani, why the heck are you at Publix?!"
*Tifani* - "Cuz my mom needed to get some things. We're leaving now, but we gotta stop by Burger King to get my Annual Pass coupon"
*me* - "Tifani....just call me when you get here"
So after she called, Kiara and I went over to Men in Black. I had never done it before, and it was walk on, so we got right in. I was very impressed with the ride. We did it twice. When it first started, and I saw the cardboard cutouts of the aliens, I was saying to myself "All this talk about it being better than Buzz Lightyear..." and then we turned the corner. I was very impressed with the theme of the ride too, with the fake "Universe and you" presentation. It was kinda stupid though, in the elevator, the employee left the doors on the other side open, and it was obvious that we didn't move 1 inch (think Living Seas Hydrolators). After doing that twice, Tifani called me and said she was waiting by the Lucy Tribute. We walked over, and Tifani and her mom were there. Her mom got a pass aswell. So, all 4 of us started walking through the park. We got to Earthquake, and did that. Tifani was picked as a volunteer sailor for the preshow. After that boring "attraction" we walked over to Men in Black, and did that again!. We were all starving, and the first restaurant we saw was "international screenings" or something like that. All I know is that I ordered off of the Italian menu, and got the Chicken Parmesan. That has got to be the best theme park food I have ever had. Kiara, Tifani and I were ready to do some real rides, so we headed over to Islands of Adventure. Tifani's mom stayed at the Studios. We got to the entrance, and first headed over to The Hulk. The line was 60 minutes, so we kept going clockwise around the lake. Dudley was an hour, and we decided to come back, since that is my favorite ride in the whole park. We went over to Jurassic Park, and it was obvious that everything had over a 45 minute wait. Hot and exhausted, we just decided to wait for Dudley Do-Right since most of the queue was in the AC and we would get wet. When you are waiting outside in that line, you're baking. It was SO hot, the line was muddy, and I guess it was "lets not put deodorant on" day, because people were STINKING!. We got on the ride and cooled off. We got our "Universal Express" passes for JP River Adventure (I had never been on it). Our time was 5pm-6pm. It was 3pm at the time, and The Hulk was our next stop. The line was 45minutes, and the free lockers were only available for 30 minute rentals, so the singles line was our only option. All 3 of us were on the same train, but not next to each other. I also did not care for having to wait underneath the station, next to machinery, enclosed by a fence for the singles line. We got off, got our stuff from the locker, and headed over to JP. I have to say, Jurassic Park River Adventure was so dumb. It was a great drop and all, but those AA Dinosaurs are nothing compared to that of DINOSAUR! and the whole storyline was just so weak.
We were all getting tired and hungry and the last ride that we just had to ride was Dueling Dragons. We were able to do both Fire and Ice. I liked those much better than I do the Hulk. We walked through Suess Landing and out to the exit. We walked through "the 50 mile mall" or as others refer to it, CityWalk, and met Tifani's mom.
So, it was a great day. I was surprised with how Universal is atleast trying to make it's "resort" nice. Just little things that you would never see at Disney that Universal makes as the norm. One being that the Universal "employees" are nowhere near as nice, friendly, or helpful as Disney Castmembers are. Graffiti is everywhere in the park, and things are not kept as clean. Case in point was the Dudley queue. It was muddy and nasty. The Dueling Dragons queue had beer bottles all over.Soda was 25 cents more than Disney's. Parking was 1$ more...Oh yea, Don't even get me started on the Parking Garage lol.
I liked Universal's locker system. Dueling Dragons was available for an hour and 15 minutes, but the Hulks was only for 30 minutes. That was stupid. Does it change depending on how busy the ride is? I liked the fingerprint system though. I prefer Universal's AP's over Disney's. Universal's has my picture on it, and is made of plastic.
It was a great day, but there is no way Universal can ever beat out Disney. I felt dirty just being there lol. I heard Mummy TR's will start tomorrow, so next weekend will be a Universal/Disney combo. A DISNEY ISTCrew Original should be up next weekend.
If you would like to see the Universal Pictures, Click here
