Mother's Day at Universal

[ColoradoBelle1]

First time to IOA ever.
After much deliberation, decided to buy a 3 day nonexpiring pass for $122 from ticketmania.com. The tickets were waiting when I went to pick them up along with some free stuff. The ticketmania office was within blocks of where we were staying (Wyndham) and just off the bee-line from the airport on Universal Blvd. They were very competent and professional and I highly rec'd them.

Mother's Day was not at all busy. It was almost eerie! We tried to get an early start as is rec'd here. And we would have , except that my sister had her ticket through Hilton Honor's and HH screwed up all around...she ended up waiting from 9-11 to have them fax her confirmation so she could get a ticket. Meanwhile, DD and I went inside IOA and rode Hulk, Spidey, Fire, Ice twice each before she came to join us...no lines a t all. The US people felt so bad that she had to wait so long , they gave her a ticket with express priviledges for all 3 of us!!!! So, we rode the above 4 rides twice again (for her!) and then ate at Mythos (just fair) and did Poseidon ..I thought it was good tho lots of standing and my feet were already getting sore).

Walked over to US and did Shrek and Mummy...loved em both! Did ET and Men in Black and Mummy again and perhaps a few others I'm forgetting.

My favorite three: Hulk, Mummy and Shrek. Spidey was good, and the technology is amazing but it could have been so much more if the 'car' you rode in actually did some spinning and bounching and such. So for me, I had too high expecations and it left me feeling that it was good, but could have been more. (Don't flame me!). So, my advice would be to try to keep your expectations in hand so that you will enjoy it more.)

Because of the lack of lines and the express pass, it was easy to do everything we wanted, several times, stop to eat at a sit down restaurant, and get both of the parks done in one day. Both IOA and US closed at 7pm.

I'm really glad to have gotten the 3 day no expiration pass, because I don't think I would have wanted to go twice in one trip . I think my daughter and sister would agree.

So: even tho it was a Sunday, there was hardly anyone there and even without the express pass, I think we could have seen everything. If I were going to go during a busier time, I now know that it would be worth it to stay onsite to get that FOTL. (I was staying at the Wyndham almost free, so this trip it wasn't a consideration.)

Last bit of wisdom ( ) if you are wearing sneakers, take them off for the water rides...you do get REALLY wet and wet sneaks are not fun.

Is anyone else bothered by having to use those lockers and then not be able to get your stuff out cause the system can't read your fingerprint? I can't imagine how much of a hassle it might be when it's busier!

So: Both IOA and US have fun rides and I'm really glad I didn't just go to IOA as originally planned. Had a great time!

 

[Motherfletcher]

Last bit of wisdom ( ) if you are wearing sneakers, take them off for the water rides...you do get REALLY wet and wet sneaks are not fun.

Agreed! Sneakers+water= pain!

Glad you had fun.

BTW, you won't get "flamed" here, that's the WDW Forum!

 

[Metro West]

Glad you had a great time and hope you'll come back again!

 

[gschmerl]

Whenever we've ridden Spidey the car did plenty of spinning and bouncing!!

 

[ColoradoBelle1]

About Spidey:
I think that I had built up my expectatiions from all the advance promo I had read about here. I went on it with my D and she didn't think it was anything special (tho she thought the rollercoasters were superfine.) And while I liked it more that she did, and even more the second time through, I can't exactly say what it is that felt 'missing' but it was something . What I loved the most was the depth of the virtual reality. And I felt like I was plunging into the sewer at the end. Maybe that I didn't feel 'involved' in the story line, or that there really wasn't a story line? Heck I don't know. All said I think that the 'Indy' ride at DL is still my fav 'all-time' ride. But hey, I went on Spidey four times which HAS to tell you that I must have enjoyed myself just fine .