Photo TR: Islands of Adventure 12/8/07

A few weeks ago, my school organized a field trip to Islands of Adventure on the weekend before finals. The cool thing? All I had to spend was $20 just for the ticket and bam, an awesome day at IOA. Most of the lines were light 10-30 minute waits.

So me and a few of my friends end up attacking IOA. Here are some of the specifics for those of you who like reading TR's:

Incredible Hulk (7/10)

The Incredible Hulk isn't aging very well and I hope Universal gives it some rehab. Although it is a fun ride still, the track is beginning to really show rust and the first corkscrew gives your ears a good banging in some seats.

Spiderman (8.5/10)

Spiderman is still an awesome dark ride, not much else to report on it.

Pteranodon Flyers (3/10)

Probably my only peeve of the day was my friends wanting to ride the flying thing inside Jurassic Park. The horrendous capacity made what would seem like a brief wait at any of the other rides into 30 minutes. While it is a great family ride in a relaxing setting, I just wished/hope that Universal would or will install a higher capacity alternative in the future.

On a personal note, this was basically the first time I hated being an enthusiast since I did try to convince my friends to do Jurassic Park or Dudley Do-Right's instead. Oh well.

Poseidon's Fury (5/10)

Still a decent walk through attraction, but I really kind of hate the cheesy subplot of the archaeologist.

Dueling Dragons

We did both sides of Dueling Dragons today. Overall though, DD had tempermental operations that day. One side (particularly the Fire side) kept breaking down. Ice had slow dispatches (they even announced it in line that they were running behind normal hourly dispatches). On to my reviews:

Ice (8/10)

Did this in the back and the G-Forces are constant. I can see why some people say Ice totally owns Fire because of it and my right leg hurt from the forces right afterwards. But am I joining the majority? Nope, still doesn't convince me.

Fire (8.5/10)

I always liked rides with variety and the Fire side always had a variety of forces from the airtime hill to the forceful turns. Still my favorite side, I don't care what people say of it.

Jurassic Park (7/10)

Still the same old fun ride JP has always been, with its detailed theming and huge splash.

After that, my friends and I messed around the park and rode Hulk a few more times. It was still a great time. The lines were low, the weather was beautiful. Although I will miss Lost Continent, I hope my friends and I will go back again once Harry Potter is opened and we end up singing that Potter Puppet Pals song again.

Twas a great day, now here's a bad shot of me in a Dr. Seuss hat to haunt your dreams. The end.

After a great day at IOA, we had to give the Hulk one last ride.

Messing around at Jurassic Park. I love the angle of this shot.

But eventually the kinks were fixed out and the line remained relatively short.

In this bad shot, here's proof that Dueling Dragons had a bad day.

It looks like Harry Potter construction has begun on the DD queue.

And I wish I also had time to ride Sylvester McMonkey McBean's.

I love Universal's detail. Even down to the wacky trees.

Seuss Landing was all decked out for Grinchmas. Complete with people that look like Who's.

Mythos, I wish I had the time and money to eat there at least once if it lives up to the hype it gets.

Poseidon's Fury is a great way to cool off from the sun.

It's sad I could see Carlos Mencia doing a routine stolen from Larry the Cable Guy based off this sign.

A great family ride, but the horrendous capacity always makes a short line a 45 minute wait.

Since I was bored in the line of Pteranodon Flyers, I took an artsy fartsy shot of the ride. Might I say, kudos to the scenery.

I wanted to ride this until I realized the greatest log flume in the world now has restraints.

Oh shi-...

But since I had no Terrance, my friend Josh will have to do...

I could totally see Terrance doing something R-rated to that thing... *shudder*

My friend Jason thinks he is the Iceman. Interesting? No, not really. Schizo? Indeed...

As you can see in this picture, the rust is really starting to show. Also, this corkscrew gives your head a good banging.

We start the day off with everybody's favorite bipolar Green Giant, Hulk.

We're here!

Most of the gang is in this pic up the escalators.

The morning starts on the bus and I have a girlfriend now? Hell has frozen over...

We start the day off with everybody's favorite bipolar Green Giant, Hulk.

Awesome! Great pics man. Congrats on a cool trip and new woman.

nice trip report.. my friends and i are hoping to go to IOA this year, hopefully we can fit it in with our all ready planned schedule lol

I hope I can get out there right at the grand opening of Harry Potter.

Nice TR

Great TR. Too bad about Hulk's aging condition. Never mind, if it becomes too severe then Universal will probably give it the rehab it needs.

I agree with you on Hulk, but once in awhile I'll get a random glass-smooth ride. I think it might have something to do with the trains.

I agree with you on Hulk, but once in awhile I'll get a random glass-smooth ride. I think it might have something to do with the trains.

I actually thought Hulk gave me a pretty good ride when I went. I didn't notice any roughness or anything, but I cant say the same about Kumba. Them corkscrews were rough.

I agree with you on Hulk, but once in awhile I'll get a random glass-smooth ride. I think it might have something to do with the trains.

 

I actually thought Hulk gave me a pretty good ride when I went. I didn't notice any roughness or anything, but I cant say the same about Kumba. Them corkscrews were rough.

I Totally agree, I went in summer and it was perfect. Kumba on the other hand

Hey, you were there the same day as me & my fam! We went mainly for the Grinchmas & Macy's Parade! I thought I saw some of your Yellow loud shirts around the park.

Did U do the Grinch show? Looks like they based it off the broadway play moreso than the Jim Carrey movie...still, it an upgrade from last year & the new "if U have a child, you get to sit up front" thing worked out PERFECTLY for us.

 

Did U do the Grinch show? Looks like they based it off the broadway play moreso than the Jim Carrey movie...still, it an upgrade from last year & the new "if U have a child, you get to sit up front" thing worked out PERFECTLY for us.

I think it's actually based on the cartoon, rather than Ron Howard’s movie. How did you like it? I can't wait so see it.

Great Pictures Homer!

To bad the Hulks corscrew is a bit rough, when I went on it I remeber it being very smooth. I need to get down to Florida again, I havn't been in so long.

Good Photo TR.

I will disagree with you on Hulk as I thought it was Glass Smooth.

Glad to see Dudly Ripsaw Falls is open again.