My First Holiday Trip To Universal 12/17

[nerdboyrockstar]

12/17

I've never been to Universal during the holidays so I wanted to see what they did to the parks and see Grinchmas, finally..

First, I thought Universal was amazing. The decorations all around the park was great. The Christmas tree is amazing.. All the balloons.. The Christmas music playing loud everywhere (especially my jam, Paul Mcartney's "Wonderful Christmastime").. Every attraction was open including JAWS! AND I got to ride it at night, which is the best.. and the skipper Mike was hilarious and really into it. It was my friend's first time on it and he had a blast.

I really thought the park was in great shape. I got annoyed by this mother and son in line for Mummy. They were like "we're going on this again because it's great, but then again its the only ride in the park." I was like.. umm.. "No, it's not. Have you been on Men In Black?" and they said "Thats not really a ride. It just goes around and you shoot." But then they sang Island's praises. I don't know.. Universal's my favorite park but I really don't think Mummy is the only attraction I'd consider a "ride" by any means.

Well the RIDES and attractions we did do was.. I think in this order..

Shrek 4-D
Twister (which we were in the front for and it was really powerful today.. haha.. you know how it just has its days?)
Revenge of the Mummy
Jaws
Back To The Future (this ride needs something.. quick!)
Men In Black
Fear Factor Live
E.T. Adventure
Universal Horror Make-Up Show
Terminator 2

I ate at International Food & Film Festival.. I always eat there. I just love the fried chicken meal. The only other places I've eaten are Mel's Drive-In and Richter's Burger Co but that was years ago.. But the new Universal Meal Deal is really a good deal.. $18.99 all you can eat at Louie's Italian Restaurant, Mel's Drive-In, and International Food and Film Festival. If you're planning to be at the parks the whole day (and the parks close late) its perfect if you're having more than one meal or snack.

I did want to try Mythos in Islands but the hours feel like such a short window for me. (11:00am - 3:00pm)

The only thing that bugged was the 7PM closing.. why?? The parks are so fun at night. I didn't get to see the Macy's parade because I wanted to head over to Islands.

Islands SUCKED today.. Dudley Do-Right's is my favorite ride (the drop is just killer..) and visiting the park again when its closed is really starting to get to me. If you guys are wondering just how seasonal it is, it's not even on the map right now. Disney has Splash Mountain open year round.. I really don't get the difference. Popeye's was open but it was a little too cold to get on that. I really didn't see anyone wet around the park which I usually do.

Next, Jurassic Park River Adventure was CLOSED.. This was about at about 4:30 or 5:00pm. Also, a LOT of food and drink stations were closed. No idea why.. Then I headed over to Seuss Landing to check out How The Grinch Stole Christmas but alas.. Moose Juice Goose Juice was closed, my favorite drink in both parks. I was so pissed.

Then we saw the Grinch show and it was great. The make-up for the Whos is excellent and the Grinch (or Grinches) looked amazing. It was really good but I definitely think the show would benefit by being put on a stage with some more sets. Maybe in the Toon Landing stadium.. It really is a good show though. I loved it.

But with a lot of little things closed in Islands here and there, it just felt dead. And it was a Saturday.. so I was like.. forget this.. let's go back to Universal.

So we did and rode Jaws again, Mummy again and Jimmy Neutron.

The park looked awesome at night. Anyway, my friend is a huge Disney kid but I think I made a man out of him with his first trip with ME to Universal..

And I got this bad-*** new Universal t-shirt.. it's black and has a skull in gray.. with cool writing. AND the discount for annual passholders on Saturday was 35%!!!!

And I'm lucky if my Disney annual pass lets me get 10% off at a gift shop in the park. And let's not talk about food..


-Anthony

 

[GammaPro]

We went last year the week before Christmas and Dudley Doo Roght was open. This year, to my dismay, it was closed. Of course, it was fairly cool that day, so it may have been a blessing.

Also, the Grinch seem to have been evicted from the "house" he occupied last year.

 

[phamton]

The only thing that bugged was the 7PM closing.. why??

The closing times are based on crowd levels. Next week it is open until 8:00 PM.

Dudley Do-Right's is my favorite ride (the drop is just killer..) and visiting the park again when its closed is really starting to get to me. If you guys are wondering just how seasonal it is, it's not even on the map right now.

They alwys take the attractions off the maps when they are being refurbished. That is just how they do things.

Disney has Splash Mountain open year round.. I really don't get the difference.

Oh really? The first year we went to WDW, Splashmountain was closed for refurbishment during Spring Break. Believe it or not, Disney also closes rides for refurbishment. Universal does most of their refurbishments during winter months when the parks are not as crowded. Dudley is being refurbished and will be back up in the Spring.

Next, Jurassic Park River Adventure was CLOSED.. This was about at about 4:30 or 5:00pm.

It was down for technical difficulties.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

Why is Dudley being refurbished? It was refurbished not too long ago.. and it's been down since October. And I heard the re-opening date is April. I'm sorry but closing a ride down for over 6 months.. it better look brand spankin new..

And phamtom, I wasn't complaining about it being down for refurbishment. Rides are refurbed all the time. I heard it was now a seasonal attraction which I am not okay with.

 

[phamton]

It is not seasonal it is being refurbished. The seasonal rumor was started on IOACentral by someone who didn't have a clue and the rumor was quickly debunked. It was due to be opened in December but the refurbishment has been extended until April.

I'm sorry but closing a ride down for over 6 months.. it better look brand spankin new..

Kind of like "It's a Small World" being down for over a year.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

It is not seasonal it is being refurbished. The seasonal rumor was started on IOACentral by someone who didn't have a clue and the rumor was quickly debunked. It was due to be opened in December but the refurbishment has been extended until April.

Kind of like "It's a Small World" being down for over a year.

And came out looking brand new..

 

[phamton]

Well, whether it looks new or not, I'll take Dudley over Small World any day.

It just makes sense to do the water ride rehabs in the cold months. No one wants it to be closed when they visit but, if rehabs need to be done, the winter is the best time to rehab the water rides rather than the summer months.

 

[macraven]

the only ride that has been closed in the last 15 trips i have made to universal was jaws this year...........

when i have been to disney, i run into ride closures a lot more there .