August 17-24, 2013
Website: https://www.universalorlando.com/
Attractions: The Mummy's Revenge Roller Coaster, Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket, Animal Show, ET Ride, Simpson's land etc. etc.
Price: It varies, but it's not cheap. If you are going more than 2-3 days a year it's better to get season passes. Don't buy a 2 park pass if you are going to spend all day in one park. We saw some people who bought a 2 park pass and spent all day in Universal Studios, by the time they got to Island's of Adventure it had closed. These parks don't usually stay open late.
How we got there: Airplane to Orlando then rental car
Best For: 6 and up
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Most Interesting thing I learned: The Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket line is always longer than it looks.
Universal Studios Orlando
Important tip: At Universal they make you check your backpacks on all the good rides. Anything other than a pair of glasses or a hat has to go in the lockers. If it doesn't fit in your pocket it can't go on the ride. The lockers are free, for a half hour but it's a hassle getting your stuff in and out, especially if the lines are short and you want to go on the ride again.
The Transformer's ride is pretty hard to take seriously if you are a girl. It's a ride where you sit in a little box with 16 other people and wear 3D glasses. It moves on a track, but it's not a roller coaster, it's a motion simulator. Every time I saw Octimus Prime I almost laughed my head off because it looked so stupid. They kept telling us we had to protect some diamond while giant robots punched each other and then turned into trucks. This ride had a huge line because it just opened, go in the single rider if you are dying to ride it. If you want to go on a ride like this with your family, go on Spiderman in the next park over. At the end of the ride they say "The world thanks you." and then you get dumped in the gift shop. It's a bad ride based on a bad movie. I don't recommend it.
Simpson's Land just opened when we got there and it's a must see. Everything looks so real, it's exactly like the TV show. They have a food court inside and behind Moe's. There is one new ride the "Twirl and Hurl" If you are looking to spin, this is not the ride you want to go on. It does not twirl, and I didn't feel a bit sick after going on it. It's a disgrace to it's name. The actual Simpson's ride cracks my father up. This is a must ride. It's a motion simulator and a comedy for all ages. Look out for the quote "No one ruins my vacation but me, and maybe the boy."
My favorite ride is the Mummy's Revenge. Younger kids might find this ride a bit scary, because of how real they make the mummy look. I find the waiting line scarier than the ride. I think it's the second most thrilling ride in the park. It's one of the smoothest roller coasters so it's easy for people that don't like roller coasters. Even my mother loves this one, and she hates lots of roller coasters. It goes backwards, at one point you think it's over but it's not. There is a lot of fire effects and robot mummies. When you think the ride is over, and it starts up again, make the "FACE OF FEAR" to the camera on your right when you go down the drop.
The kids area has a Barney Play section that I haven't been into because I'm 10 and it might give me a rash. I'm not sure little kids know who Barney is anymore. The rest of the Mouse playground is pretty fun, it has a giant waterslide. If you don't want to get wet, pull back on the handlebars the entire time. Some of the areas are specifically for younger kids and they keep older, bigger kids out. This includes the ball pit and the bounce house. There is a Woody Woodpecker roller coaster that is pretty much like the Barnstormer at Magic Kingdom. It goes up, down and swerves to both sides. It's a good first roller coaster ride for little kids.
The ET ride is pretty much a cross between Peter Pan and the Little Mermaid, with aliens. The waiting area is like being in the movie. Before you get on the ride, you get a card and it puts your name in a computer, if you are lucky, ET will say your name and that you're his friend at the end of the ride.
The Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket is a great ride, but it starts off going straight up and that makes me uneasy. For littler kids it's really hard to pull the safety bar over and down, the workers have to get it. You get to pick songs from 2 different categories. Pick it quick, if you have to mess with your safety belt you might not have time to pick and a random song will come on.
Men in Black might scare little kids, especially if they are afraid of alien monsters, but it is loads of fun and very true to the first movie. There is lots of interesting stuff to look at while you are walking to the ride. This is a target shooting game, it spins at one point but it isn't a roller coaster. It doesn't go very fast. Shoot as many of the aliens as you can, the world depends on it! Push the red button the second you are told to get 100,000 more points. At the end they "erase" your memory just like in the movie, and let me tell you, it works, I had no clue what happened and had to ask my Mother.
My Dad really likes the Blue's Brother's show, across from the Mummy Ride. People my parents age and older dance around like loons in the street. I like the show but I haven't seen the movie.
The Beetlejuice show is good for kids who like classic rock sung by monsters.
The animal show is worth seeing.
The best place to have lunch is on Fisherman's Wharf, they have a big fish tank in the restaurant.
They are building a new Harry Potter Ride in the park, that looks like it will be very cool. We saw a You Tube video of an animated version of the ride but it looks like it's been removed.
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