Florida Trip - Islands of Adventure

Another note about Universal Studios before we get too far into today's topic, I really liked the streets they had set up near the Mummy ride. There were these sets (I guess) that felt like a street in Chicago from the 1930s or so. It's where the Bluesmobile would show up. There were alleys and streets so it wasn't just a big building with designs on the outside but it felt like a couple of city blocks. I enjoyed wandering through that.

Regarding the Universal parks in general, entering them is a pain in the tuckus. These were relatively slow January days and it took ten to fifteen minutes to enter either park. The process is damaged and needs attention. I'm afraid to think how long those lines must get in the summer.

Now, let's talk about some of the stuff I did at the Islands of Adventure park.

The Cat in the Hat - a ride where you have the book read to you as you 'live' through it. Very simple, very basic, but very fun. The displays look like the illustrations in the book (as I remember them) and the car moves at a pace that felt very Seussian. Very enjoyable.

Caro-Seuss-el - it's a carousel with Seuss styled animals to ride. Not much more to say really. I've filled up my carousel needs for awhile I guess.

The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride! - basically a train ride in the air with a story about Sneeches (?) being told. Also more fun that it should have been. You go through the one restaurant early on and it's fun waving at people that are eating. Like Cat in the Hat, worth riding once.

Jurassic Park Discovery Center - as seen in X2. Not a ride or a show but a pretend museum with a restaurant in it. Really good fries in the restaurant. It was okay, a good place to let the kids run around in but not really that much to see here. Use your Meal Deal to get a hamburger, look around a little while you let it digest, and move on.

Jurassic Park River Adventure - boat ride. You peacefully motor down a river in Jurassic Park, watching dinosaurs frolic in the water and trying not to get too wet. The doors and fences and such are straight out of the movie and add to everything nicely. Then the boat takes a wrong turn, into an area where the more violent dinosaurs have taken over. Raptors fight over a shirt that must have belonged to a person at one point. The cries on the intercom become frantic and you realize the boat it's calling for to help you is the one flipped over and destroyed. The grass around you moves ominously. Dinosaurs cry at you as you enter the ravaged Research Center. The boat starts to climb as raptors and such dart at the boat, working to get towards you through the fences. The boat dips a bit as you crest a hill before climbing again and there, bellowing at you, apparently trapped in the wall you're heading right for is the T-Rex! Once you get over that concern, you realize there's a mighty drop ahead (right when the 'oh crap!' panic hits is when they take the picture)! You splash down into safe waters. You will get wet! Good time, even with the drop. Would have probably ridden this again but it got colder during the week and the idea of being wet like that lost it's appeal.

Camp Jurassic - playground. Rope netting to run around in, caves to explore, good fun until the kids run you ragged. I think they were trying to kill me. We went on the River Adventure after about 45 minutes in here in order to cool off.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man - 3D adventure simulator that moves. We rode this three times. The queueing area is the Daily Bugle and a cartoon (animated in the style of the 90's cartoon) sets up the story: the Sinister Six (here Dr. Octopus, Electro, Hobgoblin, Hydro-Man, Shriek, and ... hmm, maybe it's not Six on the ride) are attacking New York with Dr. Ock's new anti-gravity gun. The Statue of Liberty is being held for ransom. You are to get into the new SCOOP vehicle (the ride car) and get that story! As you head into the city scape (the ride car does move and the displays are a combination of physical items as well as animated screens), a shadow swings through the city. Then the Spider-Signal displays on the buildings. With a thump, Spider-Man lands on the SCOOP, warning you that this could be our most dangerous night ever! After dodging a vehicle or two, we come across the Sinister group and our presence is not appreciated. Doc Ock tries to hit us with the anti-gravity gun and we dodge parts of the Statue of Liberty as we make our escape. Hydro-Man attacks, dripping water on us. Electro hops on the SCOOP and fries the controls, sending us spinning. Spidey uses Hydro-Man to short out Electro and both are dealt with for now. Hobgoblin tries to throw pumpkin bombs at us but Spidey manages to knock them away. Dr. Octopus tags us with the anti-gravity gun and up we go! Spidey tries to slow us down but we crash into the Goblin glider, thus helping Spidey catch him. Doc Ock hits us with a reverse ray and we crash to the top of the skyscraper all are fighting on. The SCOOP is knocked off and falls to the street below! Spidey swings down and creates a web net to catch the SCOOP safely (great gag, in the centre of the screen with the web net is a man hole cover that reads 'Not an Exit'). The villians are all webbed up and Spidey thanks us for our 'help', even taking our picture. As we exit the ride, the anti-gravity gun is active, pointing at the office of J. Jonah Jameson (editor of the Daily Bugle if you're not familiar, he doesn't care much for our Webbed Hero), where Jonah is helplessly bouncing against the ceiling. Spidey ponders getting him down (the note attached to the gun says something to the effect of 'Dear Jonah, here's that raise you asked for, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man'), eventually. Loved it!

Storm Force Accelatron - we rode this 3 times when George and Moppy rode the Hulk. It's a spinny ride, sorta like the Mad Tea Cup ride or a Tilt a Whirl. Basic fun. There was no line so we rode it, got off, and ran back on. It was worth it for what it was.

In the Seuss area there were costumed characters, the Grinch was particularly good. In the Marvel area there were a number of super-heroes and I got my picture taken with all but the X-Ladies (Storm and Rogue) as they seemed the least like their characters. I did get Wolverine, Cyclops, Captain America, and, later, Spider-Man. I didn't shave that week and, when I walked up, he said I had a Sabertooth vibe going, so he had me pose that I was hitting him! I figured that it was the fight Marvel heroes tend to have when they first meet and all was probably well right after that. When Spidey found out we were from Wisconsin, he expressed his love for Culvers. Gotta get me some Culvers!

The completely costumed individuals don't talk. When we met the Simpsons in Universal Studios (Homer, Marge, Bart, and Lisa), they just waved. That said, Jason gets autographs from the characters and Lisa stayed in character by signing his book and adding 'Go veg'! Homer almost tripped me when he pulled me into the picture. It was an accident; he's got big shoes!

Doc Brown was by the DeLorean in Universal Studios but he sounded British, which was odd. The Blues Brothers put on a little song show by the car but I missed getting a picture with them. Just got the car. The kids got pictures with Spongebob, Jimmy Neutron, and Dora that I didn't need to be in.

I think that's about it. There's a ton of gift shops. I was a bit surprised by them really as, for the most part, the prices were more reasonable than I expected. I only freaked out a little in the Marvel area when I realized I was standing on the corner of Stan Lee Blvd and Yancy St.

Tomorrow we can start reflecting on Disney.