Any fellow 'mos gone to US/IOA before?

[glenpreece]

I know thi is the Disney area but I was just curious if any of you have been there before? I am going to the AEP in March at Disney and I have 1 full day before we get into the conferences. So i thought about doing Universal. Just wanted some input on what you think about it etc. With my TA discount I can get a 2park/1 day ticket transfers (mears) to and from WDW and the express pass for 103 usd. So pretty good deal I'd say.

Thanks for you advice.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

I am way too addicted to pixie dust to go to the other place. I am sure that there are others here that have managed to get over there for a day or two.

Anyone?

 

[rudetreehill]

On several of my past visits, I've gone to UA/IOA. Universal is a pretty fun park, but IOA? Yeah, it's amazing. It is, in all honesty, the park Disney most has to worry about when it comes to competition because it -- gasp -- actually has attractions geared toward adults. While disney has focused on adding kid-friendly attractions (to the point of neutering one of my must-see attractions, Alien Encounter, by turning it into a Stitch-based ride), IOA has excelled in thrill rides.

Don't get me wrong: I love, love, love Disney. I spend a week there every year or two. Generally speaking, if I'm there during the off season, I tend to head to IOA for a day and, if the crowds are small enough, can hit all the major attractions during that day. I just wish that Disney would realize that they are in danger of falling behind in the theme-park wars if they don't step up to the plate and acknowledge that not everybody needs every ride to be kid-friendly. (Even Everest, which I love, is not what most coaster fans would call a true "thrill ride.")

If you have any questions about Universal or IOA, drop me a private message. I'll do my darndest to answer 'em!

 

[OrlandoMike]

IOA rocks!

And if you are worried about the pixie dust thing, just remember, the whole place was designed by Imagineers who left Disney!

Universal is just so-so in my book!

 

[jeanigor]

I would agree with Mike. IoA is awesome. Universal...eh, whatever. I like that there is still a strong sense of theming at IoA, but it isn't sickeningly sweet and syrupy like it can be at WDW. Most definitely worth a visit.

 

[MonorailMan]

The last time I've been to US was over a decade ago. It was alright, but it didn't have the nice, comfy-cozy, warm feeling that Disney parks tend to give me. It kind of had a "We're-trying-to-be-like-WDW-but-focussed-on-movies" feeling. (I know that was a bad explanation. ) At the time, there were really only 2 attractions that I thought were worth while.......and ironically, those 2 are no longer there. I used to chat with one of the guys who wrote for/designed a few of their attractions, and last we spoke he said within the past decade it's really improved quite a bit. If you've never been, I say go just for the sake of saying you've been there.

 

[OrlandoMike]

I gotta ask, for personal reasons, what two attractions?

 

[MonorailMan]

I gotta ask, for personal reasons, what two attractions?

Back to the Future and the E.T. ride.

Okay....the E.T. ride wasn't great.....but it was the one ride there that almost felt like a WDW attraction, which is probably why I liked it.

 

[OrlandoMike]

Whew....

Not that the following words ever came out of my mouth....


"Hi folks, welcome to Amity, my name is Mike and I'll be your skipper today!"

 

[MonorailMan]

Whew....

Not that the following words ever came out of my mouth....


"Hi folks, welcome to Amity, my name is Mike and I'll be your skipper today!"

If that ride was there, we more than likely didn't go on it because I don't like things that explode.

 

[jamieandben]

If that ride was there, we more than likely didn't go on it because I don't like things that explode.

 

[MonorailMan]

What? You'll see me watching Illuminations plugging my ears. For some reason if I hear really loud fireworks or gunshot-type explosions that are unexpected I have what are almost like small seizures. I'm not sure why.

 

[jamieandben]

What? You'll see me watching Illuminations plugging my ears. For some reason if I hear really loud fireworks or gunshot-type explosions that are unexpected I have what are almost like small seizures. I'm not sure why.

You know the same thing happens to me.

 

[wallyb]

I dig "things" that explode!
There's nothing like a nice big BANG!

 

[MonorailMan]

You know the same thing happens to me.

We'll have to watch the fireworks together.

I dig "things" that explode!
There's nothing like a nice big BANG!

I thought you were much more distinguished than that.

 

[jamieandben]

We'll have to watch the fireworks together.

Sounds good, But you can't plug your ears.

 

[MonorailMan]

Sounds good, But you can't plug your ears.

I dunno if that's possible. If I know the show by heart and what to expect it might not be as bad.

 

[wallyb]

I thought you were much more distinguished than that.

Distinguished!! Yuck.

Sounds good, But you can't plug your ears.

I dunno if that's possible. If I know the show by heart and what to expect it might not be as bad.

Fairies.

 

[rpmdfw]

I thought you were much more distinguished than that.

"distinguished" = "old"

 

[jamieandben]

Distinguished!! Yuck.





Fairies.

Jealous?