robvia
<font color=red>DIS Veteran<br><font color=indigo>
- Joined
- May 7, 2001
- Messages
- 3,983
TR SWF/IOA/USF 03/29/03 03/31/03
Cast:
Robert (39)
Laurie (33)
We live in Plantation Florida, just west of Ft. Lauderdale. Have been many times, drive up often. This was our first trip of the year. Our daughter stayed behind to be with her horse. She spent the night with grand parents. She is going next week with a school trip to IOA.
Saturday March 29th
3.5-hour drive from Plantation FL arrived IOA around 1pm. I had previously purchased fun card annual passes on the web site. I swiped my credit card at the Kiosk, entered my 6 digit confirmation, and the tickets printed. Went into IOA, and got our APs processed, line was 30 minutes, not bad. They had people walking out with clip boards so people could fill out the form (name, address, dob of each person) while waiting in line. Inside, they didnt ask to see our fun card or license. For those who used the 0015 fun card code on the web site, youre all set. Dont worry if you have the old fun card. Checked the wait board, Hulk/Spiderman was 60 minutes, Dr Doom was 45. Didnt matter, was only going there to get our passes processed. There was a cheerleading competition, place was packed.
Checked into the www.hojo.com suites located about 1 mile north of USF. Address is 4601 S. Kirkman Rd. Nice hotel, got it for $50 a night. Has a living room with a couch, TV, kitchen (fridge, microwave), and a bedroom, which also has a TV. Rooms overlook a lake with a fountain in the middle. Free breakfast and a large pool with chairs around it. No slide, but its nice. Laurie likes relaxing in hotel room, and I have an AP to SWF, so off I went at 4pm.
Got in line for row 2 of Kraken (10 minute wait), and what do you know, the front was open. Front seat ride, row 2 exit re-ride. Went around again and got the back, and row 7 as an exit re-ride. Thats basically all I did at SWF, Ive been many times.
7pm, Laurie and I go to USF and watch the Mardi Gras parade at 8pm. Caught a few beads, then wait for the concert. It was supposed to be Counting Crows, but they cancelled, so it was Brian McKnight. The concert was supposed to start at 08:30, but for technical reasons, they were late, and the crowd got angry. The parade had already passed at 8pm, and it was boring to wait there watching the jesters throw beads. Somebody was messing with a guitar on stage. Why didnt they check all this stuff out before hand?
So Brian comes on at 08:40, and they run this movie, showing him racing a motorcycle, falling, getting rebuilt like the bionic man, and finally he starts singing. The sound system was turned up so loud, it hurt our ears, and we were a good 50 feet back of the stage. USF, you win, your sound system is loud, you are worthy. It reminds me of when I go see a movie in a theater. I suggest they start the concert after the parade passes the stage and turn down the sound system. Maybe they do, but on this night, it didnt happen. Went back to the room, ate sandwiches and snacks, we brought with us. I slammed a few beers and cable surfed the tv.
Sunday March 30th
Ate the free breakfast at the hotel. Bagel with cream cheese, muffin, pastry, bananna, OJ. Arrived to the parking garage at 08:30am, gate of IOA at 08:45am, they were letting people in. 5 minute wait for the front of Hulk, 2 more walk-on rides in other rows. 10-minute wait for Spiderman, 5 minute wait for Dr Doom. The program on Dr Doom has changed. It doesnt force you down from the top as fast. Before, when you got to the top, it would push down and you would be pinned to the restraint. Now it slows down at the top and you float out of your seat, then drop back down. I like the new program much better. Went to Dueling Dragons next, front rows had long waits so we went in the back. Only one train running each side, so we had to wait thru 3 or 4 train cycles before boarding. Did the Triceratops encounter, surprised it was open, then continued to JPRA, rode in the back. The entrance doors were working. From the time we went on JPRA to exiting the ride, the cold front came thru. It got windy, started to rain, and got cold very fast. Rode Rip Saw falls. The temperature was dropping, we were wet, and now my shirt was soaked because I was in the front row. Well worth the view, but now my shirt was wet and it was cold. Walked to the parking garage freezing but happy. It was 11am and there were many people walking towards the park. Felt sorry for them because many were wearing shorts and a t-shirt and were freezing.
Im sure these are the type of people who will write a bad TR, saying they had a bad day. Well, what did you expect? Get to the park early and they would have been done by 11am.
Took a nap in the hotel and rested. Went back to USF that evening. The wind and rain had stopped. It was cold, but I had planned wearing long pants and a jacket. Rode ET (15 minutes), MIB (30 minutes). Bought a Sponge Bob Square Pants souvenir cup for our daughter. Its $12.75 and refills go for .89 cents the day you visit. Holds about 2 cans of coke. Ate at La Bamba and called it a night. Youre saying, Why didnt you go on all the other stuff? Because weve been many times and our feet were tired. Came back to the hotel room. Laurie watched a Disney movie in the living room, and I was cable surfing in the bedroom.
Monday March 31st
Temperature was 45 degrees, windy, but the sun was out. Did the free breakfast at the hotel. Arrived to the parking lot at 08:15am, gate of IOA at 08:30am, and the line already stretched to the ticket booths. A ticket taker told us a new line would open and asked us to come up front. We didnt argue, went to the front and were literally first into the park at 08:45am. There was a short 5-minute wait near the bridge, but they let us go at 08:50am. Ran from the bridge to the Hulk queue, got the first train out front row. Nothing like starting your day in 45 degree weather in the front of a roller coaster. The wind made our face cheeks cold, and our hands were also cold. I put mine in my jacket, and that helped. Rode two more times in other rows.
Spiderman was a walk-on. Rode Dr. Doom twice, the 2nd time going back thru the single rider side since no one was there. One kid was even getting exit re-rides in the same seat. Did all this and it was only 09:15am. Walked to Dueling Dragons and the back of the park was open. Both sides were running 1 train. Got in line for the front of Ice and people on the Fire side yelled two for the front. We were there, no wait. Then we waited 2 train cycles for the front of Ice. Rode again in the back row.
Rode the Caro-Suess-El and that was it. 11am, and we are done. Too cold for the water rides. As we walked out, the crowds were coming. Hundreds of people making their way from the parking garage to City Walk. What are they thinking? Drove home arriving Plantation about 4pm. Slammed a few beers to celebrate a great trip.
Im convinced you can visit IOA on any day of the year and take a lap of walk-on rides if youre there at 08:30am. On many days, the park opens a few minutes early, and you can do Marvel Island in minutes.
Thanks for reading.
Cast:
Robert (39)
Laurie (33)
We live in Plantation Florida, just west of Ft. Lauderdale. Have been many times, drive up often. This was our first trip of the year. Our daughter stayed behind to be with her horse. She spent the night with grand parents. She is going next week with a school trip to IOA.
Saturday March 29th
3.5-hour drive from Plantation FL arrived IOA around 1pm. I had previously purchased fun card annual passes on the web site. I swiped my credit card at the Kiosk, entered my 6 digit confirmation, and the tickets printed. Went into IOA, and got our APs processed, line was 30 minutes, not bad. They had people walking out with clip boards so people could fill out the form (name, address, dob of each person) while waiting in line. Inside, they didnt ask to see our fun card or license. For those who used the 0015 fun card code on the web site, youre all set. Dont worry if you have the old fun card. Checked the wait board, Hulk/Spiderman was 60 minutes, Dr Doom was 45. Didnt matter, was only going there to get our passes processed. There was a cheerleading competition, place was packed.
Checked into the www.hojo.com suites located about 1 mile north of USF. Address is 4601 S. Kirkman Rd. Nice hotel, got it for $50 a night. Has a living room with a couch, TV, kitchen (fridge, microwave), and a bedroom, which also has a TV. Rooms overlook a lake with a fountain in the middle. Free breakfast and a large pool with chairs around it. No slide, but its nice. Laurie likes relaxing in hotel room, and I have an AP to SWF, so off I went at 4pm.
Got in line for row 2 of Kraken (10 minute wait), and what do you know, the front was open. Front seat ride, row 2 exit re-ride. Went around again and got the back, and row 7 as an exit re-ride. Thats basically all I did at SWF, Ive been many times.
7pm, Laurie and I go to USF and watch the Mardi Gras parade at 8pm. Caught a few beads, then wait for the concert. It was supposed to be Counting Crows, but they cancelled, so it was Brian McKnight. The concert was supposed to start at 08:30, but for technical reasons, they were late, and the crowd got angry. The parade had already passed at 8pm, and it was boring to wait there watching the jesters throw beads. Somebody was messing with a guitar on stage. Why didnt they check all this stuff out before hand?
So Brian comes on at 08:40, and they run this movie, showing him racing a motorcycle, falling, getting rebuilt like the bionic man, and finally he starts singing. The sound system was turned up so loud, it hurt our ears, and we were a good 50 feet back of the stage. USF, you win, your sound system is loud, you are worthy. It reminds me of when I go see a movie in a theater. I suggest they start the concert after the parade passes the stage and turn down the sound system. Maybe they do, but on this night, it didnt happen. Went back to the room, ate sandwiches and snacks, we brought with us. I slammed a few beers and cable surfed the tv.
Sunday March 30th
Ate the free breakfast at the hotel. Bagel with cream cheese, muffin, pastry, bananna, OJ. Arrived to the parking garage at 08:30am, gate of IOA at 08:45am, they were letting people in. 5 minute wait for the front of Hulk, 2 more walk-on rides in other rows. 10-minute wait for Spiderman, 5 minute wait for Dr Doom. The program on Dr Doom has changed. It doesnt force you down from the top as fast. Before, when you got to the top, it would push down and you would be pinned to the restraint. Now it slows down at the top and you float out of your seat, then drop back down. I like the new program much better. Went to Dueling Dragons next, front rows had long waits so we went in the back. Only one train running each side, so we had to wait thru 3 or 4 train cycles before boarding. Did the Triceratops encounter, surprised it was open, then continued to JPRA, rode in the back. The entrance doors were working. From the time we went on JPRA to exiting the ride, the cold front came thru. It got windy, started to rain, and got cold very fast. Rode Rip Saw falls. The temperature was dropping, we were wet, and now my shirt was soaked because I was in the front row. Well worth the view, but now my shirt was wet and it was cold. Walked to the parking garage freezing but happy. It was 11am and there were many people walking towards the park. Felt sorry for them because many were wearing shorts and a t-shirt and were freezing.
Im sure these are the type of people who will write a bad TR, saying they had a bad day. Well, what did you expect? Get to the park early and they would have been done by 11am.
Took a nap in the hotel and rested. Went back to USF that evening. The wind and rain had stopped. It was cold, but I had planned wearing long pants and a jacket. Rode ET (15 minutes), MIB (30 minutes). Bought a Sponge Bob Square Pants souvenir cup for our daughter. Its $12.75 and refills go for .89 cents the day you visit. Holds about 2 cans of coke. Ate at La Bamba and called it a night. Youre saying, Why didnt you go on all the other stuff? Because weve been many times and our feet were tired. Came back to the hotel room. Laurie watched a Disney movie in the living room, and I was cable surfing in the bedroom.
Monday March 31st
Temperature was 45 degrees, windy, but the sun was out. Did the free breakfast at the hotel. Arrived to the parking lot at 08:15am, gate of IOA at 08:30am, and the line already stretched to the ticket booths. A ticket taker told us a new line would open and asked us to come up front. We didnt argue, went to the front and were literally first into the park at 08:45am. There was a short 5-minute wait near the bridge, but they let us go at 08:50am. Ran from the bridge to the Hulk queue, got the first train out front row. Nothing like starting your day in 45 degree weather in the front of a roller coaster. The wind made our face cheeks cold, and our hands were also cold. I put mine in my jacket, and that helped. Rode two more times in other rows.
Spiderman was a walk-on. Rode Dr. Doom twice, the 2nd time going back thru the single rider side since no one was there. One kid was even getting exit re-rides in the same seat. Did all this and it was only 09:15am. Walked to Dueling Dragons and the back of the park was open. Both sides were running 1 train. Got in line for the front of Ice and people on the Fire side yelled two for the front. We were there, no wait. Then we waited 2 train cycles for the front of Ice. Rode again in the back row.
Rode the Caro-Suess-El and that was it. 11am, and we are done. Too cold for the water rides. As we walked out, the crowds were coming. Hundreds of people making their way from the parking garage to City Walk. What are they thinking? Drove home arriving Plantation about 4pm. Slammed a few beers to celebrate a great trip.
Im convinced you can visit IOA on any day of the year and take a lap of walk-on rides if youre there at 08:30am. On many days, the park opens a few minutes early, and you can do Marvel Island in minutes.
Thanks for reading.
