Need some advice on IOA rides

[SGF]

We will be visiting IOA and my husband doesn't really care for the simulated rides that really toss you around. Would hate to start our vacation off with him feeling sick so could someone please tell me which rides he should avoid besides the rollercoasters? Hope Spiderman isn't one of them. He doesn't mind fast rides just the ones like Body Wars (Epcot) that start and stop with quick movement. Thanks!

 

[ClareH]

We went to IOA last week and it was brilliant. It's such a great park. Spider Man is the best ride ever, we went on it 5 times (!) but unfortunately it is like Body Wars with a lot of jolting about. We found this park more 'thrill ride' orientated, there's the big Hulk rollercoaster which I wouldn't go on it you paid me a million dollars. A good ride is the Jurrasic Park, it has a big, big water drop at the end but that's the only 'bad' thing. It doesn't matter whether you go on the rides or not the park is so cool you'll have a good time anyway.

Word of advice, if you do any of the water rides make sure you take a change of clothes and rent a locker ($5) for the day. We'd been prewarned about this and thankfully we took notice. We came off the rapids absolutely soaked, like we'd been in a shower. We immediately went back to the lockers and changed whilst everyone else was left in wet clothes for the rest of the day.

Make sure you take advantage of their 'Express Pass' which is like Disney's Fast Pass but better. If you have a 2 day pass you can get up to 3 express pass tickets at one time but don't leave it until mid/late afternoon to get your passes as they can run out and then you have to queue for 45 minutes plus (unless you're staying on site). We got our passes in the morning and after lunch and didn't have to queue once. Brilliant idea.

 

[nhrenee]

Sorry, SM is defenitely one of those rides that start and stop all the time. Too bad, it is amazing.

If he likes fast rides he probably wouldn't mind the Hulk Coaster. It is incredibly smooth, not jerky at all. The take off is "WOW!"

 

[SGF]

Thanks for responding so fast. I guess the kids and I will have to try that one out ourselves. We will be staying on their property so with FOTL maybe the wait won't be too long. Maybe he'll try it at the end of the day as the last ride!!!! Would be ashame not to go on Spiderman atleast once while visiting IOA.

Two more questions:

Are there lockers near the water rides and can you reuse them during the day without paying another fee?

Which ones are the water rides? We want to do all those first as you have all suggested then change.

 

[Robinrs]

I'm sorry, I could not compare Spiderman to Body Wars...

Body Wars actually makes me so sick I have to sit for awhile afterwards. It is terribly jerky and hard to handle.

Never had this problem on Spidey. Can ride it over and over.

I guess it depends on your DH's tolerance level. I hope he doesn't miss this experience though.

 

[BarryHom]

The water rides are:

Jurrasic Park River Adventure
Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls
Popeye and Bluto's Bildge Raft Barges

As for the lockers, I can't recall if you can open them throughout the day.

 

[SGF]

Thanks Robinrs and Barry:


Appreciate you both responding. After reading your post Robinrs my husband decided to give Spiderman a try. He figures if Body Wars also makes you sick but this ride doesn't then hopefully he'll be ok too. I'm glad he'll be joining us on this attraction as I heard it is great! Barry, thanks also for the list of water rides. We are going to try and do all of those first. I guess I'll have to wait until we get there to find out about the lockers.



I am so glad I found out about this board. Certainly helps when planning a vacation to have all this great information.

 

[damo]

I get sick on motion simulators too. I rode Spidey 4 times last week. The ride is not violent and that makes all the difference. There is a possibility of getting a bit queezy but that feeling does not last since there is a real mixture of different venues of rides. He can always avert his eyes to many other places to ward off the motion sickness. Removing the 3D glasses also helps.

Don't miss the ride though.

 

[ClareH]

The lockers are right by the main entrance - as you go through the gates they're on the right hand side. It costs $5 for the day and you can go back and get into your locker throughout the day at no extra cost. The lockers are computerised and you first go to a screen and request a locker, you're then allocated a locker number and you're asked for a 4 digit pass/pin number which you will need to access the locker through the day. You only pay $5 once, nothing else. If you work your way round the park clockwise you go through the Super Heros bit then you come to Toon Town where the
the first water rides are, Jurrasic Park is the next one on. Toon Town is only about 5 minutes walk from the lockers.

 

[robvia]

I agree, Spiderman and a motion simulators like Body Wars are not the same thing. Motion simulators make me sick, they're the only ride that does this. They trick the brain into thinking your moving and you get qweezy if you have food in your stomach. BGT used to have that simulator next to Montu, I rode it near the end of the day and I came off it feeling tired and dizzy. Back to the Future at Universal also does this. I don't like motion simulators.

Spiderman is completely different. Sure, the car spins around, but you are moving, whereas in a simulator, they are tricking you by shaking the entire simulator. And the scenes where you are falling down the side of the building are so realistic, it seems like you're actually falling. You don't get sick on Spiderman like you do on a motion simulator because it's so real. The car doesn't tilt from side to side like a simulator, I think this has a lot to do with it.

Tell him to ride it, he won't get sick. If not then he'll change his mind when you come running out of the exit yelling how great it was.

 

[kellymonaghan]

I would like to second the observations of some folks here about Spiderman. Even people who have problems with simulator rides like Body Wars, Akbar's Adventure (at Busch gardens Tampa) and the Wild Arctic ride at SeaWorld, seem to enjoy Spidey.

My guess is that because the vehicles have to move forward as well as bounce up, down, and around) the motion is not as extreme. Also, the motion in Spidey is so perfectly synced to the 3D visuals that you get little of the disorientation that comes with a lot of simulator rides.

It would be a shame if your husband missed a brilliant ride that he might very well LOVE.

Another note: Poseidon's Fury is an attraction that your husband might enjoy, but it is closed for revamping until late June at the earliest.

 

[IOAFREAK9386]

Well as i can see how somepeople would compare spiderman to bodywars i actually have an experience like this my cuz gets very motion sick and was fine on spiderman and yes there are lockers by jurassic park but i dont think by dudley dooright and there is a bin on popeyes. I recomend for ure husband. SM, Duduley doright, jurassic park, i dunno bout popeyes u spin and i dont know bout dr. dooms u go high but dont spin u just go up rapidly.
IOAFREAK

 

[SGF]

Thanks to all who posted. Now that we know Spiderman isn't like Body Wars or Back to the Future he's agreed to try it. I'm sure from the way you all described it our whole family will enjoy this ride. We've been to Orlando many times but never visited IOA. We are getting excited about the upcoming trip as it's not to far off. Definitely going to get one of those lockers as well. All your help is certainly making it easier to plan a day at the theme park.