Brief Florida Coaster Trip

Hey folks -- the last week of this month the Mrs and I are taking a cruise but when we come off the boat we are spending two days in Florida and yeah, I am seeking some ideas on places to hang our hats. We are going to stay in the Orlando area, so I thought I would see if anyone has any thoughts on Universal Studios or is there another locale you would recommend? We have already done Disney (including Epcot) and MGM before, so those would be time wasters for us this trip. Lemme hear from those who have gone to Universal -- thanks!

IOA is a nice place, but if it isn't busy I would have something else planned as well to do in the afternoon/night as IOA can easily be done in half a day with light crowds, and can get quite boring after a while. Either that or do some of Universal Studios in the morning and then hit IOA later.

I've always liked going to Animal Kingdom, nice scenery, some fun rides and now Expedition Everest.

You've got to check out Islands of Adventure. It's freakin' awesome! The Hulk is on my top 5 steel coasters list, Dueling Dragons is definitely an unforgettable coaster, Spiderman is my favorite non-coaster ride by far, the scenery is simply amazing, and you don't get water rides that are much more intense than Ripsaw Falls, Jurassic Park River Adventure, and Bilge Rat Barges. DEFINITELY go to IOA. This park is my third favorite in the world, just behind Holiday World and Cedar Point.

Its just too bad that Hulk has such a good first half and such a crappy and mediocre second half. [:P]

Also, depending on how far you want to drive, you also have the choice of going to Tampa and doing Busch Gardens (ShieKra, Kumba, Montu, Gwazi etc etc).

Yeh, IOA is a great park, almost every ride there is worth going on, and if it's anything like when I last went there, the lines tend to be really short all day.

Try and stay in the 'Doubletree Orlando Hotel' its just across the freeway from Universal Resort. Islands of Adventure, The Studios and City Walk.
You've got Sea-World just down the road which is definitely worth the trip just for Kraken, honestly.

Islands of Adveture is propbly the must 'un-real' place on Earth.
I'm sure people will agree with me that the theming is absolutely breath-taking. And the Hulk is one of the most intense rides i have ever been on. And i've been on 96 different coasters.
Duelling Dragons is absolutely superb, extreme g-forces on the Ice Dragon through the Cobra Roll.

That park is simply my favorite place on Earth, its beautiful.
Especially at dusk, looking out of the Hulks launch tube into the sunset with seeing the 0g roll dissapear into oblivion.
You must ride in the front seat.

And not forgetting daily bus-rides to Busch Gardens.
That is an amazing place without a doubt.
And Sheikra.........[:D]

I forgot, i've just posted all the above and i posted a trip report of all my trip to Orlando+Tampa a month back.
It will definitely help you, its a clear trip report and u can skip through to find the reviews on the rides so im sure it will help.

I do hope you go because Orlando is my favorite place on Earth.
http://www.coastercrazy.com/forum/topic.a ... C_ID=11146

Thats the link for the TR.
Please use it dude, it took me ages.

Thanks for reading.
EcG

I can ride (which I did - 25+ times) Dueling Dragons all day. Its just that freakin awesome. I like Fire better myself, most people tend to prefer Ice. But Cobra Rolls arent all my thing (plus it felt kind of weak) and Immelmans are plus the helix that wraps around the second Immelman has some of the most intense forces Ive felt on a coaster. Heck, Ive never had a ride pull my arms down from force but that almost did.

Plus, your ticket gets you into USF as well. GO ON MUMMY! You have to go over and get on Mummy. Its AWESOME. Plus, Brendan Fraser is just hilarious in the video segments. Its worth it just to stand in line.


IF it werent for IOA/USF Orlanda would be my most hated place on earth, lol. I cant stand Florida. The summer sucks.

Well i go to florida every year so i could probaly help ya. Ok if you didnt do Animal Kingdom yet do it! First there's Expidition Everest which looks amazing IMO but also other fun things like Primeval Whirl (spinning wild mouse) Dinosaur and the big tree thing. The like everyone else is saying Do IOA maybe Universal but the only thing you'll find there thats fun is mummy everything else is kinda eh. Seaworld is close to that go there kraken is probaly the best floorless coaster IMO but journey to atlantis is also a great ride too. Plus they got all those shows and what not which are pretty cool. If its possible i would definatly hit Busch Gardens tampa? africa? what ever you wanna call it but Shiekra is awesome. So is montu and gwazi and kumba. But kumba is pretty rough so if you have a headache before you go on it i wouldnt recommend going on it. The smaller rides are pretty fun too. But python is also pretty painfull. Scorpian isnt to bad its a nice little ride. Well yea im done hope you have fun where ever you go

Appreciate the inputs guys -- and Real, I heard that as well about Mummy. We already have reservations at the Sheraton (cause that's how we roll - lol), We are only gonna be in Orlando for a bit, and then driving back to Alabama so we really have like 1.5 days to hit IOA ... it sounds like USF might be at night, but yeah, Real's plan sounds like the one we will do.

And yes, there will be a picture heavy trip report when we return!

[coolbeans326]

I think you should do a Universal Trip. Next week, I'm basically hitting eaverythiang in Florida except the Dana Beach Hurricane as that is all the way by Miami and no where near Orlando.[:(]

lol @ python being painful.

Why I have not ridden a painful arrow coaster yet? Oh - I ride like the instructions tell you - not like a limp noodle and not trying to press my head out of the restraints.


Plus its really not that bad. Its an Arrow Corkscrew. Ive been on worse roller coasters for sure.

well when i was on it, it was a bitch lol

I can bet you just didnt ride it properly. No one ever, ever does and Ive taken quite a few people to parks and have seen why.

Its ok. Just read the directions or listen and youll see why Arrows are painful. Some simple techniques keep you from 90% of the pain.

Honestly, python was so painfull it nearly made my ears bleed lol[lol]

[coolbeans326]

Why I have not ridden a painful arrow coaster yet? Oh - I ride like the instructions tell you - not like a limp noodle and not trying to press my head out of the restraints.

You must be short because those Old School Arrow Horse Collars really kill my shoulders, and thier bad transitions don't help.[xx(]

Hence why you do not raise your arms, you keep your head centered and back against the head rest and just enjoy the g's. Arrows are not the time to get cute and show the folks seated behind you how "extreme" you like to be on a coaster. That is basic common knowledge ...

In-deed, still dude, if you get the chance to ride python........DONT

[jayman]

o.k. , wait, where on earth did you find a wonderful woman who will not only go to rollercoasters with you , but join you in going out of the way for them?? that's so cool.. anyways have fun, i don't know if there's much wood where youre going, but enjoy the cruise..

Originally posted by coolbeans326

Why I have not ridden a painful arrow coaster yet? Oh - I ride like the instructions tell you - not like a limp noodle and not trying to press my head out of the restraints.

You must be short because those Old School Arrow Horse Collars really kill my shoulders, and thier bad transitions don't help.[xx(]

6'0"

Your ears werent going to bleed ECR. Everyone just likes to make Arrows seem like the devils coasters. Maybe you just cant handle some forces? Ive been on a Python clone - it wasnt bad at all.

[jayman]

yep.. a back seat ride on viper kills me.. my knees a wedged against the seat in front of me and i cant sit fully upright in my seat because of the restraint, .. it actually takes physical effort for me to ride this in the back of a car because my back is arched the whole time...

I rode Viper 2 weeks removed from a broken collar bone, and not one thing was felt. I just go by something simple: If it's a coaster, ride it!

[jayman]

no, really, my knees couldn't move , nad i was actualy buckled by the restraint, however the front seat of any car is ok because i can move my legs

Originally posted by jayman

o.k. , wait, where on earth did you find a wonderful woman who will not only go to rollercoasters with you , but join you in going out of the way for them?? that's so cool.. anyways have fun, i don't know if there's much wood where youre going, but enjoy the cruise..

Lots of interviews grasshopper ... lots of interviews.
Seriously though, she loves me and knows that I love coasters - so, to be with me she hops right into the seat next to me. Although, she hates the clicking sound of the chain though -- which of course I just roll my eyes at. Note this picture ... this is the whole family on SUF, need any more info?



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[jayman]

is that a flying ride?... i've had bad experiences with girlfreinds at amusement parks..