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Photo TR: First Time to Orlando! WDW, Universal, Busch, More


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Having been working at Busch Gardens since last year and going pretty regularly all my life, I know that operations at this time of year are very off and on. At log flume (where I am), during the weekdays, we almost never run both channels. We just don't expect that many people. Even if the queue gets very lengthy in the middle of the day, it doesn't make sense to add boats as that would take up even more time.

 

Now speaking as a guest of the park, I have only ever seen Montu run one train once in my life. Kumba runs one train all the time. Therefore even though it's my favourite coaster, I rarely ever go back there because I know the queue will be horrendous. SheiKra usually is pretty good about keeping the trains from stacking, even if they only run one station.

 

Hope you guys have a better time the next time you guys come!

Oh and RiP Gwazi.

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Love this trip report Craig. It was a blast hanging out with you and seeing some of these parks through the eyes of a first time visitor. We can sometimes forget how awesome some of these rides are here in our backyard. Glad you liked Busch Gardens and its great to hear a first timer agree that they have a kick ass collection of coasters. And Falcon's Fury is worth the trip alone.

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Love this trip report Craig. It was a blast hanging out with you and seeing some of these parks through the eyes of a first time visitor. We can sometimes forget how awesome some of these rides are here in our backyard. Glad you liked Busch Gardens and its great to hear a first timer agree that they have a kick A$$ collection of coasters. And Falcon's Fury is worth the trip alone.

 

It was great hanging out with you as well! The park definitely does have a kick arse collection of coasters, especially now Gwazi is closed

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To answer your Mold-A-Rama question, they were a very popular souvenir around museums, science centers, and some theme parks in the 60s and 70s, and then all the machines kind of died out. About ten years ago, another company stepped in to revive the business and they are slowly being brought back and have been very popular with parents wanting to make a nostalgic souvenir for their kids. And also, they are just a lot of fun!

 

Here's some more info:

 

http://mold-a-rama.com/index.php?p=1_2_About-Us

 

http://www.waymarking.com/cat/details.aspx?f=1&guid=6de6e6c2-89b3-4ed2-8884-85003af637e9

 

http://www.moldamania.com/current-locations

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Great photos! I'd love to get back to BGT soon. THeir B&M collection is amazing.

 

 

Ditto, BGT is definitely one of my top 5 parks. I also loved their animal exhibits as well even thought I didn't see all of them. Hopefully next time.

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The next part of the trip signalled the start of the Disney portion of my trip! The first stop was a trip back to Hollywood Studios as there was no way I was going to miss out on a Frozen show or meeting Baymax!

 

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We got to the park nice and early as we had FP for the first show of the day!

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#hatwatch

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Ah very clever I see what they did there.

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These 2 are the royal historians of Arendelle and take you through the story of Frozen. Also they are seriously funny! I almost want these guys to be in the next movie in some way!

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Awww look its not just Olaf who loves warm hugs!

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This is the real reason I had to see this show! ELSA!

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I can't stress how good this show was! If you are a Frozen fan even a little you need to see this show if you at the park!

 

 

After mine and Robb's Frozen fanboy was satisfied we met up with Elissa so we could take a trip to San Fransokyo!

 

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Who knew Arendelle was so close to San Fransokyo?

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#BaymaxFistBump

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Elissa fist bumps much better than me! #Bah-a-la-la-la

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Don't forget though is not all about Baymax, Hiro is also there!

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So when you visit San Fransokyo make sure you give Hiro some loving!

 

Baymax has some mad karate skills!

 

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The Baymax costume is really good and Hiro was amazing! Make sure you take the trip out to San Fransokyo when you can as you won't be disappointed!

 

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"I believe that anything can be a princess thing!"

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I think it would be rude not to take another ride on the ToT!!

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Even the girl in front is disgusted by the stupid selfie stick. Either that or she is shocked by its size! What do you think?

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Watching this pre show in English was really nice as before this trip I had only seen it in French! It was at this point I noticed every video has subtitles on park! I know the reason they are there but I can't help feeling they only got put there because some people moaned.

 

Honestly out of the 2 Towers I have been on now this is by far the best. The ride system is really cool with how the vehicles travel to the shafts and then the drop sequence starts. I think that also makes the whole show a lot better as well. I can see why they changed the design for the newer towers but my personal preference is this system is much better.

 

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While we were waiting for our Toy Story Mania fast passes Robb suggested we go and experience MuppetVision.

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I personally am a fan of the Muppets even if Most Wanted was just awful and Walter is the dumbest Muppet ever. I mean Disney had the chance of a life time when they brought the Muppets back to create a NEW Muppet and the one they come up with was Walter?

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I really enjoyed the show but I think that it reminded me of what I think the Muppets should be. The effects in the theatre were really good and I was surprised just how much happened off the screen. I could understand if this gets removed somewhere down the line for a future project sooner rather than later but I think this attraction has stood the test of time very well.

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The final thing left for me to do at studios was Toy Story Mania. Previous to riding this I had been on Maus au Chocolat at Phantasialand so I was looking forward to comparing the two.

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After Once Upon a Time I will never look at Peter Pan in the same way!

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This technique has many applications in life!

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Yes me and Robb both scored some pussy on Toy Story Mania!

 

Honestly I really enjoyed Toy Story Mania even if my arm was tired as hell afterwards. My biggest issue with the ride though was it seemed like there was so much dead space between screens. I remember Maus au Chocolat having really nice theming between the screens and it made it a much more complete experience. Still its a great ride and I would happily go on it again!

 

After Toy Story Mania it was time to leave Hollywood Studios. My thoughts on the park are mixed if I'm telling the truth. The park does have some great rides and attractions in it that I wouldn't hesitate to ride again but the park really doesn't have much to do. There is no way you could spend a whole day at the park, I just don't think its possible. Also does anyone actually know the layout of the park? Its a mess! Even if I was a cast member I think I would struggle to give good directions.

 

After studios we took a drive out to the Orlando Eye so I could take a look at Merlins newest installation. Being from the UK I have basically been over saturated by them and even worse than that having worked for them I know far too much about them but I was still interested to see how this project was going and what it looked like compared to the London Eye.

 

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The Orlando Eye dominates the skyline far more than its London brother!

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I will be interested to see how this is received when it opens as I can't think there will be too much to see with Orlando being so flat.

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They discovered all these remains during construction..........

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Work was coming along at a decent pace in all the little buildings that make up part of the complex and I'm sure it will all look fantastic when its finished.

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I think they should have definitely called it "Giant Wheel Orlando" over "The Orlando Eye" but thats my personal preference!

 

I think Merlin did the sensible thing here by putting the SeaLife centre and Madame Tussaud's right by the eye so it does give more incentive to go and visit. Im sure the whole area will do good business, just how good though I'm not too sure. I look forward to seeing what people think when everything is finished though and if I am back out in Orlando I will definitely take a look.

 

After the Eye we went and crashed out for a bit because as everyone knows afternoon naps are amazing! We then headed out to Epcot in the evening!

 

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I don't think its ever possible to get bored of this view!

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What a weird looking fish!

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"I like fish, I like fish"

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You can't come to Epcot and not ride Test Track! I really like this ride!

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This time I made a speed machine.

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and Robb decided to make this bad ass flower power machine!

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Looks like Elsa has already made her mark in Epcot!

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What better way to end an Epcot update than with Eric Idle Moon Face!

 

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We left the park a bit early that night as we had to head to the airport to pick Garbles up and literally with in 5 mins of picking him up #DumbSh!tGarblesSays was in full swing.

 

Overall it was another fantastic day in Orlando and at Disney but I couldn't hide my excitement for what I knew was happening the following day at Magic Kingdom. Was it to ride Big Thunder? Seven Dwarfs? Haunted Mansion? Or any of those other classic Disney attraction? NOPE! I was going to meet Elsa!

 

So stay tuned to find out what happened when I took my first trip to Magic Kingdom and finally got to meet Elsa!

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^The creepiest moment in any Disney attraction!

 

This is true but honestly my lasting memory of it will be once we picked Garbles up from the airport and he was convinced this was in Spaceship Earth and that in that ride you were the moon. This is how that ride ended up being Spaceship Moon!

 

Here's hoping they put up some sort of Big Hero 6 teleportation device at the end of the street!

 

Or a giant Baymax! #BaymaxWatch!

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^The creepiest moment in any Disney attraction!

 

This is true but honestly my lasting memory of it will be once we picked Garbles up from the airport and he was convinced this was in Spaceship Earth and that in that ride you were the moon. This is how that ride ended up being Spaceship Moon!

 

 

And the legend continues . . .

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Here's hoping they put up some sort of Big Hero 6 teleportation device at the end of the street!

 

YES!!! Or just a full scale replica of the entire city of San Fransokyo!! I'll move immediately!

 

Who wouldn't move there?

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