Someone - Please Get Me Excited

[Diz]

I am a 43 year old male and having a hard time getting excited about going to US/IOA. The wife and I go to Las Vegas about 2-3 times a year, and that excites me. Las Vegas is not a place to take kids, so for the family vacation my daughters (15 & 17)picked Orlando and US/IOA (they said WDW was for kids. LOL)

Anyway, the old man here can only picture finding a cool place under a tree

The only thing I am excited about is the rental house we secured, other than that I fear I may be bored to death.

Someone - Anyone --- Help me understand what is so cool about US/IOA

 

[nhrenee]

Well, I can tell you what I enjoy about USO.

IOA: The atmosphere and level of detail here is unlike anything you've ever seen.
How about a 3-d ride where you are part of the action as Spiderman bids for your help catching criminals all the while you are being attacked by comic book characters. As betty davis said"Hang on, you're in for a bumpy ride".

or maybe a roller coaster named "Hulk" where you go from 0-60 in 6 seconds!

or a coaster called "Dueling dragons" where the que is through a castle that is an attraction in itself! Once you reach the coaster you have decide which you'll ride, fire or ice. Each coaster climbs the first hill side by side then goes off into it's own track only meeting up again to come with 2 feet of each other before breaking away at the last minute to avoid slamming into each other.

Mythos: a gourmet restaurant in the middle of a theme park. Resonable prices, amazing food and atmosphere and great "potion of the gods".

At Universal: Terminator 2-3d: amazing experience: n'uff said.
Men in Black: a ride of multi color, fast shooting aliens you have to eliminate before they get you all. Of course you have to do this while in motion.
Back to the future: a wild ride in your delorean through glaciers, volcanos and space.
You can get close a giant ape, experience an earthquake and see a cheezy looking shark; all this on one street.

You can watch the blues brothers preform their "hits" while you are sipping a cool bass or guinness. Have your picture taken with the Marx brothers is you can get them off the grass at central park, that's where they often play golf. Say hello to Lucy and Dezi if you see them out for a stroll.

And yes, you'll find many places to sit down under an umbrella and enjoy a cool beverage.

 

[MIB999999]

i am 46 and go to the parks every weekend. There is always something to do and watch and explore.
if you are bored with IOA and Studios, stay home and plan your funeral, it can not be that far away

 

[Diz]

Ok - You have my interest a bit now. Although Las Vegas offers many a cool things as well. Plus I know the city like the back of my hand. Orlando will be like a foreign country to me

 

[suzysezso]

I'm 47 myself, and in the years before I had my kids Vegas was my favorite place in the world and I went there at least once a year. In fact I have not been there since 1989 but Vegas will probably always be my favorite place in the world if my only consideration is pleasing myself.
I also love going to Universal and IOA but it's not because of a favorite ride or show. It's because my kids love going there and when I take them there they think I am the best Mom in the world, and we have a great time, and I know they will have some wonderful family memories years from now and that's a treasure I can't win at the craps table!

(I also highly recommend the 25 cent foot massage machines in the Amity area of Universal)

 

[Robinrs]

Diz: Forgive me, but this is the FIRST time I realized you were a GUY!! ...after all that correspondence thru PMs, I have to apologize to your wife!

Call this the Old Fogey Confession Post, I'm pushing 46 (YIKES) myself and I LOVE Universal and IOA! Cool? My son is 9 and like yours, he thinks WDW is for babies! except RnRC and TOT of course!

I also like the "lie under the tree" aspect of a vacation, which is why I choose to stay in vacation homes for the major part of my trip so I can RELAX! Believe me, you're getting the best of both worlds.

Have fun, get excited, and when you get back you'll know what we're talkin' about!

 

[Muushka]

WOW, are all the lovers of US/IOA really old like us????
I will be 48 next week, YIKES. Do we need to start a poll

 

[Muushka]

WOW, are all the lovers of US/IOA really old like us????
I will be 48 this week, YIKES. Do we need to start a poll

 

[Muushka]

WOW, are all the lovers of US/IOA really old like us????
I will be 48 this week, YIKES. Do we need to start a poll

Oops, I digress, sorry.

As mentioned above, the rides are fantastic, the detail is amazing, and I never thought I would love anyone or any place as much as the Mouse, but Dr. Seuss characters, comic strip characters (Popeye, my all time fav) and IOA in general, well I just love it. And the coasters, aaaaahhhhhhhh. Makes me feel like a kid again.

Also, another thing I really like is the music played while entering the area that wisks you along on the people mover thingy. Rock! I guess after so many years of Disney kiddie style music, it is refreshing to me. It feels like it caters to all age groups, not just the kiddos.

The rides are exciting. For example, Popeye and Bluto's Bilge rat barges is awesome, you get soaked! But the water ride at AK (cannot even remember the name, that is how lame it is) is boring to me. I will stop there.

Also, at City Walk they start happy hour at 4 (I think). Kind of fun to go get a drink and not have to refinance the house!

 

[oshun]

48 isn't old!!!

My DH is 47 and I'm 42 and we LOVE IOA/US and we feel so young when we are at these parks. Our twin 13 year olds and our 9 year old LOVE them also. I hope to be old (75 or older) and still love IOA/US!!

 

[Muushka]

Yup, I can see me storing my walker before going on HULK

 

[Diz]

Originally posted by Robinrs
Diz: Forgive me, but this is the FIRST time I realized you were a GUY!! ...after all that correspondence thru PMs, I have to apologize to your wife!

Call this the Old Fogey Confession Post, I'm pushing 46 (YIKES) myself and I LOVE Universal and IOA! Cool? My son is 9 and like yours, he thinks WDW is for babies! except RnRC and TOT of course!

I also like the "lie under the tree" aspect of a vacation, which is why I choose to stay in vacation homes for the major part of my trip so I can RELAX! Believe me, you're getting the best of both worlds.

Have fun, get excited, and when you get back you'll know what we're talkin' about!

Heh.... Gee, do I type like a girl ?

 

[Robinrs]

NO, Diz, I just had a friend who's nickname was Diz when I was a kid and she was a girl. For some reason I pictured HER!

:slowly taking foot out of mouth:

LOL, Muushka about the walker! My Mom is on a walker now and is trying to figure out how to do the park! The nut doesn't fall far from the tree!

I always tell people that Orlando is the only place where my son and I are the same age, and there is a 36 year difference in our ages. It's where Mom and Mike are exactly alike!

 

[Kitty 34]

We've never been to Universal but I'll tell you my DH-49 is more excited than the boys for our planned trip this June!!!

 

[robvia]

Ok, so everyone told you about the rides and fancy restaurants.

Now I'll tell you where the bars are.

At IOA. As you're walking down the main entrance. Head to the right. You'll see a restaurant called Confiscos, near bathrooms before Suess Landing. They server beer and mixed drinks. Let the kids go on the rides while you slam a few and let them meet you at noon for lunch.

At USF, two places. After you enter, head to the right past T2, near Animal Planet is a bar. Also across the street from Kong is an Irish pub.

Once you have a few drinks, you'll be happy, and watching your kids have fun is the best part of all. When they come running up to you saying how much fun they had on the rides, that's worth it.

Of coarse, the best part is eating at Mythos for lunch. Make a reservation in the morning as you walk into the park. There is a reservation stand just before entering city walk in the middle just as you exit the moving walk ways near the movie theater. Mythos has mixed drinks, and the food is the bomb. Scan the board and you'll see a bunch of threads about the restaurant.

I used to visit Vegas, but it's hard to win out there. The games are negative expecataion, you will always lose. Why do that, when you can have some drinks, and watch your kids have a great time.

Have a few drinks. Go on a couple rides. Soak in the magic, and watch your kids have fun.

 

[MsDisney]

Let the kids go on the rides while you slam a few and let them meet you at noon for lunch.

LOL Rob...I didn't see THIS side of you at Molokai-Gram!!! Even I don't get slamming until at *least* 12:01 pm!!!

Sorry...couldn't resist....a habit I'm sure many of you are getting used to!

Karen

 

[Babblin'Boo]

A 43 yr old male needing help to get excited... I mean, motivated to visit USF...

Well, the first time I went there I was on a business trip, by myself. I promised myself I'd never return without my children, and I never did! I loved it.

So, you may be looking to be served when it comes to motivation needs, but the fact of the matter is, just visit the parks, check them out and you'll find your own reasons for looking forward to returning.

 

[robvia]

He He He.

I partied Friday night watching the parade and house band at USF.

The next day I was recovering. Actually woke up fine and was on the frist train out on Hulk in the front. MIB999, RW, and your son we're right behind me. I had water at Mythos because I had enough sugar for the weekend. Plus I drove home that night. Seems weird but I like to have all of Sunday to relax before going back to work.

 

[MsDisney]

I partied Friday night watching the parade and house band at USF.

Well that explains it then!

And it's not weird to want to relax on Sunday or the last day of vacation...lots of people need that "unwind" day...I'm not one of them...but I know plenty of people who are!

Karen

 

[ringo]

try in order Hulk,Dueling Dragons, Spiderman.