Luv2Roam
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2000
- Messages
- 15,479
Not exactly a trip, but it was interesting time Saturday evening and Sunday.
Saturday evening --
DH and I went to Universal Studios for their Mardi Gras parade.
We arrived a little early, grabbed a quick bite and rode MIB twice (singles line). (Too bad Buzz isn't a tad more like MIB.
)
We camped out on a curb and waited for the parade. And it was well worth waiting for. US did a terrific job. Thumbs up on the parade. And there is a band afterwards, but we left US and headed to HRC. DH did a little bargain shopping and we left.
Sunday -- Return, but this time we went to IoA. (Our first time. We were at US February 28.)
We rode The Hulk, Spiderman, Doctor Doom, Jurassic Park, Dueling Dragons.
Dueling Dragons was a walk on, and I liked it better than the Hulk. Most rides were 20 - 30 minute waits. Anything longer we passed on.
DH liked the Hulk better than DDrag. Without realizing it, due to me, we waited in the front seat line of the Hulk.
Neat, but took probably an extra 20 - 30 minutes of line standing.
Doctor Doom was a 20 minute wait, and not worth that wait time, IOHO.
US/IoA front of the line passes we thought are too much $, so we passed. No discounts for passholders, and it was $21 and some change for both parks, per person. $18.95 (I think) for one park.
Had it been a HOT day, and if we were on vacation, it may be a consideration. Considering FotL is something that is no cost to US, I think the price is unreasonable. But that's just me.
But FotL is that -- FRONT of the line. Not like the FP line. But for those prices, you can see why guests deserve FotL.
I was surprised at how some IoA que areas did not have A/C or ceiling fans. It was warm outside, but not hot. And some ques were hot and stuffy.
I was disappointed with Pteranodon Flyers. First, we would not have gone on as there was a 60 minute wait!
Two, they don't allow adults to ride unless they have kids with them! I can't imagine Disney saying -- sorry adults can only ride kid's rides with a kid in tow.
US/IoA is good. But we like Disney better, and more relaxing. (I know WDW and relaxing doesn't sound it belongs in the same sentence. )
US needs themed music and core characters. They play loud top 40 music. Sometimes it was so loud we had to yell at each other when we were standing side by side. I guess the good point is you don't hear anyone else around you either. Crying/whining kids were not a concern.
We paid for priority parking Saturday night. $4. And still parked further away then than we did Sunday. I wouldn't waste $ on priority parking unless we arrived in the morning and stayed the day.
US/IoA has many more smokers than Disney too. A real downside for us.
Either park is a very fun time. And some things they beat Disney. Some Disney beats them. Both are good and certainly worthwhile.
Mid afternoon we went back to apartment, leaving late afternoon for dinner.
We chose Concourse Steakhouse. (First time for us there.)
Good food. Not great. But good. I liked mine better than DH. (Review on restaurant forum)
Driving into the Cont parking lot, opposite the road was a Disney bus, pulled over, with other CM's and a sheriff. Have no idea what happened. Didn't look like a wreck -- but could have been.
After dinner, we were stuffed and walked over to MK. It was a beautiful night last night.
We wandered around, took a leisurely ride on the gas propane (small) firetruck. Walked back to Tomorrowland and rode TTA -- twice -- without getting off. It was very pretty (nighttime) and very interesting as Space Mountain was broke down during our first trip through. All the lights were on and we were Looky Lous.
Buzz was a walk on, so we HAD to ride that.
Then over to stand in front of Casey's Corner to watch the 8:00 p.m. Wishes fireworks.
We stood beside a photographer who was set up. We helped block him in.
After that -- returned to the apartment.
Overall a great time at US/IoA/MK.
Saturday evening --
DH and I went to Universal Studios for their Mardi Gras parade.
We arrived a little early, grabbed a quick bite and rode MIB twice (singles line). (Too bad Buzz isn't a tad more like MIB.
)We camped out on a curb and waited for the parade. And it was well worth waiting for. US did a terrific job. Thumbs up on the parade. And there is a band afterwards, but we left US and headed to HRC. DH did a little bargain shopping and we left.
Sunday -- Return, but this time we went to IoA. (Our first time. We were at US February 28.)
We rode The Hulk, Spiderman, Doctor Doom, Jurassic Park, Dueling Dragons.
Dueling Dragons was a walk on, and I liked it better than the Hulk. Most rides were 20 - 30 minute waits. Anything longer we passed on.
DH liked the Hulk better than DDrag. Without realizing it, due to me, we waited in the front seat line of the Hulk.
Neat, but took probably an extra 20 - 30 minutes of line standing.
Doctor Doom was a 20 minute wait, and not worth that wait time, IOHO.
US/IoA front of the line passes we thought are too much $, so we passed. No discounts for passholders, and it was $21 and some change for both parks, per person. $18.95 (I think) for one park.
Had it been a HOT day, and if we were on vacation, it may be a consideration. Considering FotL is something that is no cost to US, I think the price is unreasonable. But that's just me.
But FotL is that -- FRONT of the line. Not like the FP line. But for those prices, you can see why guests deserve FotL.
I was surprised at how some IoA que areas did not have A/C or ceiling fans. It was warm outside, but not hot. And some ques were hot and stuffy.
I was disappointed with Pteranodon Flyers. First, we would not have gone on as there was a 60 minute wait!
Two, they don't allow adults to ride unless they have kids with them! I can't imagine Disney saying -- sorry adults can only ride kid's rides with a kid in tow.
US/IoA is good. But we like Disney better, and more relaxing. (I know WDW and relaxing doesn't sound it belongs in the same sentence.
)US needs themed music and core characters. They play loud top 40 music. Sometimes it was so loud we had to yell at each other when we were standing side by side. I guess the good point is you don't hear anyone else around you either. Crying/whining kids were not a concern.
We paid for priority parking Saturday night. $4. And still parked further away then than we did Sunday. I wouldn't waste $ on priority parking unless we arrived in the morning and stayed the day.
US/IoA has many more smokers than Disney too. A real downside for us.
Either park is a very fun time. And some things they beat Disney. Some Disney beats them. Both are good and certainly worthwhile.
Mid afternoon we went back to apartment, leaving late afternoon for dinner.
We chose Concourse Steakhouse. (First time for us there.)
Good food. Not great. But good. I liked mine better than DH. (Review on restaurant forum)
Driving into the Cont parking lot, opposite the road was a Disney bus, pulled over, with other CM's and a sheriff. Have no idea what happened. Didn't look like a wreck -- but could have been.
After dinner, we were stuffed and walked over to MK. It was a beautiful night last night.
We wandered around, took a leisurely ride on the gas propane (small) firetruck. Walked back to Tomorrowland and rode TTA -- twice -- without getting off. It was very pretty (nighttime) and very interesting as Space Mountain was broke down during our first trip through. All the lights were on and we were Looky Lous.
Buzz was a walk on, so we HAD to ride that.
Then over to stand in front of Casey's Corner to watch the 8:00 p.m. Wishes fireworks.
We stood beside a photographer who was set up. We helped block him in.
After that -- returned to the apartment.
Overall a great time at US/IoA/MK.
