Went to IOA and Universal today

EPCOT.nut

EPCOT.nut

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Yes I went somewhere other than WDW! I won a pair of tickets to IOA and Universal on our local radio station, Rock 104, and decided to use them for Labor Day instead of going to MK for Labor Day, which is the normal routine.

I hadn't been to Universal since 2003 and never been to IOA. Maybe today was just special, but the staff at both parks were very friendly, helpful and fun. I had a wonderful time today. Other than the heat and health issues bogging me down, I got to do almost everything I wanted, and the crowds were small.

Got to walk onto the Mummy without a wait the first time, and a 10 minute wait the 2nd time. Compared to 1-1/2 hours June 2003! That ride is truly a thrill.

Got totally soaked head to toe on Popeye. I was wearing corduroys and they weighed 20 pounds when I took them off. So glad we brought a change of clothes today!

At the MIB gift shop they had the shotglasses and mugs for 1/2 price. YAY!

The 1/2 pitcher of sangria took its toll on me and the last half of the day was a little slower paced. The only bad part of today is that Universal has no shade. IOA has some at Jurassic and the Lost Continent but that is about it. The queue lines seemed pretty long to walk through when there was no one ahead of us. If I can get pictures posted soon I will. I didn't bring the digital...:lookaroun ...very unusual for me!
 
bobjl527

bobjl527

Member
EPCOT.nut said:
The queue lines seemed pretty long to walk through when there was no one ahead of us.
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I know what you mean. The queue line for Dueling Dragons has to be the longest I have ever seen. Seems like a mile of twists and turns. I think they over estimated the popularity of that one.:D
 
sknydave

sknydave

Active Member
This thread is obviously one big lie. It is a known fact on wdwmagic that all visitors do not have a good time at Universal and that you are supposed to be cussed out by several rude employees while there. I'm surprised you even made it out alive.
 
kirst_al UK

kirst_al UK

Member
malice said:
use the express line, there is never anyone checking for them in the 'choose your fate' room.
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Well there im not sure if what im talking about is the "cut through" for the express line but i'll tell you anyway and you will have to let me know..........in the past we've had to queue the once but then on the way out there is a door on your left just before you join the outdoors - this takes you straight back through to the "choose your fate room". Sometimes the door is shut and as its pitch black and its set back in the wall you cannot even see it but if some kind person has left it open you can see the colours at the other side.

:animwink:
 
crazydaveh

crazydaveh

Active Member
Universal is a lot of fun. People on this site bash it all the time because it's a WDW fan site!

Good thing that you had fun! I was over at Shamu's house and it was pretty slow on Monday.

I agree with you about the shade at Uni, there's hardly any and it can get hot!

Sorry you had to go back to Gainesville... GO DAWGS! This is our year!
 
EPCOT.nut

EPCOT.nut

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
crazydaveh said:
Universal is a lot of fun. People on this site bash it all the time because it's a WDW fan site!

Good thing that you had fun! I was over at Shamu's house and it was pretty slow on Monday.

I agree with you about the shade at Uni, there's hardly any and it can get hot!

Sorry you had to go back to Gainesville... GO DAWGS! This is our year!
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:lol: :lol: I love football! I dunno -we've got a lot of talent again this year! But I am partial! GO GATORS!

As for having a great time - I really did! I've been going to WDW at least 10 times a year so I hated to leave my comfort zone. Also I am not a movie person - and IOA and UNI are themed around movies. I really liked the cartoon area and they have some great photo ops. Because of getting completely drenched we put the camera up so I didn't get a lot of photos. I regret not getting them back out but the lines for the lockers were longer than I was willing to wait!!!!

Absolutely love the Mummy ride. They need one like that at EPCOT. :animwink:
 
zim119

zim119

New Member
Glad you had a good time.I hope you make your way over there again!
Universal and WDW are terrible during the summer.It's crowded,hot,and people get aggitated easily,and yes The Mummy rocks!
 
mousermerf

mousermerf

Account Suspended
I think people here bash Universal for some very specific reasons:

A) It costs a lot. Many of us owned or have pwned annual passes for Uni, but never used them, so dropped them. Then we buy single or double day tickets and are PO'ed. Why? Cuz we own WDW annuals, and the parks are pretty much free for us. Thus, when someone goes for free - as the OP did - its wonderful. I'd go for free and enjoy it too.

B) Sometimes service sucks bad there. It happens.

C) Things are neglected or poor quality in the first place. We get on Disney's case a lot, but with Uni - as the imagineer guy said in his inspirational speech - we've jsut stopped caring. Uni does not seem to try and maintain some parks of their expeirence. Poor IOA got run down :(
 
Z

ZambeziZelda

Member
mousermerf said:
B) Sometimes service sucks bad there. It happens.
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Sometimes the service sucks bad at Disney, too. Seriously. You should have seen some of the people I met while on my Program last year.

Since I started working at Universal a month ago, I've been playing in the parks a ton. I haven't had any overly unsavory team member interactions. Honestly, the only time I can recall ever really getting bad treatment at Universal was last April, when someone gave us a smart remark about looking at our maps when we asked what time Twister would be open.
 
EPCOT.nut

EPCOT.nut

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Lexxweb said:
The Mummy didn't open until May 2004...

:cool: Lexxweb
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YEAH I noticed that I put the wrong year I went which is sad because it was on my 10th anniversary. LOL I guess when you get married you get alzheimer's.

I never edited my post because I didn't really think it mattered all that much.

Sorry to upset! :lol:

I think the correct year is in my signature, tho...
 
Figment1986

Figment1986

Well-Known Member
bobjl527 said:
I know what you mean. The queue line for Dueling Dragons has to be the longest I have ever seen. Seems like a mile of twists and turns. I think they over estimated the popularity of that one.:D
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Actually, they didnt over estimate... there are times they use that mile long queue.. perhaps when harry is ready they will use it again... where they over estimated was the switchbacks which was where they put flying unicorn...
 
bobjl527

bobjl527

Member
Figment1986 said:
Actually, they didnt over estimate... there are times they use that mile long queue.. perhaps when harry is ready they will use it again... where they over estimated was the switchbacks which was where they put flying unicorn...
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I guess we've just been lucky with low attendance. The 5 times we've been to IOA the wait was shorter than the time it took to walk all the way up. And on several occassions, my wife got off one coaster and immediately boarded the other. Now watch, when we're there in October the wait will be like 2 hours:ROFLOL:.
 
mousermerf

mousermerf

Account Suspended
Figment1986 said:
Actually, they didnt over estimate... there are times they use that mile long queue.. perhaps when harry is ready they will use it again... where they over estimated was the switchbacks which was where they put flying unicorn...
Click to expand...

If properly maintained and cared for (thus updated and added to on a timely basis) I feel the top 3 parks in Orlando should be MK, Epcot, IOA. I dont feel IOA should out-pull Epcot, but it can certainly surpass AK and MGM is managed properly. Physically, it's not a bad park.
 
PanfanAL

PanfanAL

Member
And for people like my father-in-law who really love the thrill rides you can't beat IOA. Disney has great rides, but not really many thrill rides. But, you can't beat Disney when it comes to family friendly rides.
 
BarryH

BarryH

New Member
I've seen the entire Dueling Dragons queue filled during busy times.

Universal is expensive? $85 for a 7 day ticket? If you go two days, that's still a good deal.

Oh, and...

GO GATORS!

:)
 

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