Photo TR: Universal Orlando 9-17-05

We went to Universal Orlando today. This was the first time my mother has been to the park. Plus, we met up with my sister's family. My nephews today earned thier first two coaster credits today. #1 being The Revenge of the Mummy. #2 being the Woody Woodpecker coaster. They are there for the weekend while staying at the Hard Rock Hotel. Because they are using thier hotel keys for fast-passes, we were unable to keep up with them a good part of the day, but we did get to meet up with them for a few hours to take in a few shows. Ok...onto some pictures.

Anyone ever notice how similiar Shrek is to TPR? They both have an ogre, a girl who loves that ogre, and a donkey.

Ok, I can see Robb encouraging Elissa to play this game in order to get some great footage for next year's DVD.

The prize for drinking the most disgusting shake ever was a free pin. I would rather win my pins from MGM's audience participation game.

While he could fly like Superman (or like Liu Kang from Mortal Kombat), he was elminated after this event.

Ahhhhhh!....no thanks.

This guy paid $60 to come into the park to have live emperor scorpions dropped on his head. I would rather ride the Mummy again a 2nd time personally.

This guy was the 2nd person to fall during the event. I'm glad they already had volunteers to clean up the mess.

Fear Factor Live! is USO's new attraction this year.

Its was thier 8th birthday (it really was 2 weeks ago), but the chef came out anyways to greet us, he was very cool.

Drayton is on the left, while Jordan is on the right. (Yes they are twins). They are cool cause they now like coasters.

This is my nephew Drayton enjoying a chocolate milk shake. He earned it because he just earned his first coaster credit, The Revenge of the Mummy.

Some of you may be happy to know that its shark appreciation month at USO.

While my mom did not ride the Mummy, she did ride everything else. She did like Back to the Future quite a bit.

But my mom prefers Antonio.

Leanne agrees. The donkey from Shrek is the best donkey ever.

I don't think I have a chance in being a replacement for our logo.

I noticed they put up some fencing near the studio. I wonder if this has something to do with the upcoming HHN events. While IOA is hosting HHN this year, 3 of the USO sound stages are going to be used as haunted houses.

Leanne and my mom excited to be able to go to USO today.

This is a picture of my mother (or mum for some TPR readers). She is excited to visit Universal Orlando for the first time.

It's game time. USO's games are very expensive. $5 for two chances. WOW!

I'm not sure what they are doing in this picture.

Drayton riding the Woody Woodpecker coaster for a 2nd time. He already has learned how to raise his hands on a coaster. (That is him on the front row)

My sister "volunteered" Leanne and I to take the twins back on E.T.

This picture is for some of you penguin lovers out there.

There are never enough pictures of The Incredible Hulk.

Its some kind of promo CD, though the Mummy section might be interesting, I shall check it out soon.

We were wondering why everyone was wearing these CD laynards around the park today, so Leanne picked one up at the exit.

Just one more month till the Florida meet.

Jordan really has a strong arm when it comes to throwing a baseball.

Some people may be interested in knowing that the twins had no interest in the whack-a-rodent game.

Just a few more to go.

At least USO does have a few memorials of its past rides. Kong R.I.P

You know that Family Guy finally has earned some respect in that you can win Brian and Stewie at the games-of-skill booths.

A simple picture of Leanne and I

Cool pics. I think they are really good.

Nice pics. Hopefully I'll make it there soon, I haven't been on Mummy yet.

Anyone ever notice how similiar Shrek is to TPR? The both have an ogre, a girl who loves that ogre, and a donkey.

That made me happy.

Well, looks like you had a great time! I cant wait to get out there some day. *sigh*

I want to go back there so much, great pictures, it's sounds like you all had a good time

cool pics! so was that CD-ROM any good? probably not since it was free. lol.

Great photo TR. It looks like you had a good time there. Thanks for posting.

--Sören

Dude, Awesome TR!

Your captions were hilarious, and I want to make sure when we're there that we see all of the penguins. As for the Fear Factor show, I'd like to see it once before doing it, but yes, you're right, Robb has already told me that I have to participate in it!

Did you ride ET? Do you agree with me that its indeed "its a small world on acid"?

Anyways, nice TR, and the CD. Its nothing but anoter OMG, 11ty BILLION HOURS OF AOHELL FREE! disc. Ive been meaning to put that in my comp and see what it is.

Did you ride ET? Do you agree with me that its indeed "its a small world on acid"?

 

Anyways, nice TR, and the CD. Its nothing but anoter OMG, 11ty BILLION HOURS OF AOHELL FREE! disc. Ive been meaning to put that in my comp and see what it is.

Yeah the 2nd half of E.T. certainly can be compared to "small world on acid." What's even better is that I got to ride it twice since my mom wanted to ride it earlier that day. Oh well, at least the lines were short for it. I'm not sure what Leanne did with that CD-Rom. I wanted to try it out to see the Mummy stuff, but its nowhere to be found in the house. Oh well, maybe later.

I want to go back to florida badly!!!

Craiggers "Hasen't been there in 9 years" K.

Cool TR Eric!

I read this at work the other day. The skivey on Jaws.

Universal places Jaws on a reduced schedule

 

Chris Cobbs | Sentinel Staff Writer

Posted September 13, 2005

 

Universal Studios is scaling back the operation of its Jaws attraction -- one of the park's original rides -- keeping it open only for peak periods and special occasions for the rest of the year, a spokesman said Monday.

 

Spokesman Tom Schroder said the attraction will be on a modified schedule to steer guests toward newer rides, like Shrek 4-D and Revenge of the Mummy, and also to allow for basic maintenance.

 

"Jaws has a very dedicated following," he said. "But many people have yet to experience the newer rides."

 

The change in schedule will not result in the loss of jobs among the park's full-time, part-time or seasonal workers, Schroder said.

 

"Team members will be reassigned to other responsibilities," he said. "They were told of the changes on Monday."

 

The ride will close starting Thursday and is expected to return to a full schedule next year, though no date has been set yet, Schroder said..

 

"This is not uncommon in our industry and makes good business sense," he said. "In the past, we made similar operating changes and staggered the opening times for some rides to achieve efficiencies."

 

The ride will be open at Thanksgiving and Christmas and also for special events, like after-hours events, that already have been scheduled, he said.

 

Guests will be informed of the schedule change by signs in front of the attraction and also by Universal staffers, who will be able to recommend other rides.

 

Jaws is one of several of the park's original attractions, including Earthquake, that have been in service since Universal Studios opened in 1990, Schroder said.

 

"It's been operating successfully for many years," he said.

 

However, a couple of the original rides, Jaws among them, didn't work properly at first and had to be rebuilt.

^Creepy...I had no idea they were officially scaling it back. Wonder what's up with that?

^^ I guess they are going to do this like Disney does with Epcot's Wonder's of Life, and MK's Timekeeper. I sure hope that they do keep it maintained during the off-season. I have only done Jaws once and that was probably about 8-10 years ago, so I don't really remember it very well.

Hey Erik and anyone else who is interested. That fence up around the boneyard area in US is for a special "Passholders" party, for us lucky folks with a prefered annual pass . I got my flyer in the mail a couple of weeks ago, it's every HHN night except the 13th (for some reason)

it says:

Exclusive "Party Zone" in the boneyard area from 4pm-6:30pm

Happy Hour drink specials :mrgreen: and food discounts

Early access to select haunted houses (yippie)

Preferred seating to the evening's first Bill and Ted show

I'll be attending it at least one of the nights that I am going, maybe more if it is any good. So everyone hurry up and get your passes

P All "C'mon October 12th"

I don't think he meant a normal fence. He was more likely referring to the chainlink fence maze currently being constructed in the Boneyard. It will be open exclusively on peak nights for HHN. I've seen someone refer to it as "Bat Run".

BTW, the AP party is only on non-peak nights.

I don't think he meant a normal fence. He was more likely referring to the chainlink fence maze currently being constructed in the Boneyard. It will be open exclusively on peak nights for HHN. I've seen someone refer to it as "Bat Run".

 

BTW, the AP party is only on non-peak nights.

While I did not get very close to the fence, it did look more like a maze. I have to admit I was not sure what exactly it was for, but it did look like they were building it for some sort of event for HHN.

GREAT TR, thanks, maybe one of these day's i will get my butt out there, but not today

Anyone ever notice how similiar Shrek is to TPR? They both have an ogre, a girl who loves that ogre, and a donkey.

Someone please explain to me why I laughed so hard at this. hahahaha

-Julie (Sorry Robb )

Hey Erik and anyone else who is interested. That fence up around the boneyard area in US is for a special "Passholders" party, for us lucky folks with a prefered annual pass . I got my flyer in the mail a couple of weeks ago, it's every HHN night except the 13th (for some reason)

it says:

 

Exclusive "Party Zone" in the boneyard area from 4pm-6:30pm

Happy Hour drink specials :mrgreen: and food discounts

Early access to select haunted houses (yippie)

Preferred seating to the evening's first Bill and Ted show

 

I'll be attending it at least one of the nights that I am going, maybe more if it is any good. So everyone hurry up and get your passes

 

P All "C'mon October 12th"

Damn, for real?!?! I haven't gotten any flyer yet! S**t like this makes it harder & harder for me NOT to attend HHN this year...ARGH!!!

Shocking news on the Jaws ride, I rode it mid August & my daughter (who is one) loved all the water & fire effects. Too bad its "inactive" for such long periods of time. Hopefully that doesn't mean their planning on eventually getting rid of it.

As for the CD. I got THREE of them when I went just this last weekend...and wouldn't ya know it haven't even so much as OPENED one yet. I picked one up on my way out of Universal & made the mistake of leaving it on when I rode the Jurassic Park ride & One Fish, Two Fish...so one of them got pretty wet.

^ well as

JT3000 said:

BTW, the AP party is only on non-peak nights.

So you would only miss it on the weekdays (which is when I'm going)

and JT3000, I hope it makes you feel good to point out the short commings of others....JK

There is gonna be a party somewhere around there and I'm gonna find it.

Also to get your flyers on that stuff (for APH) you have to sign up online with your account no. from your pass. Although, they usualy send it a little late, I got my "special passholder sneak peak for fear factor live" flyer in the mail on the last day of the "special" dates.

P All