Universal Studios Resort (Orlando) - 12/4 - 12/06

Preamble:

I've wanted to return to Universal Studios Resort since my first visit last May. The experience was so incredibly different than what I've been used to at regional parks like Cedar Point or Kings Island. The level of detail that immerses you into the different areas is an attraction on its own. The rides only heighten that to the point where it almost doesn't matter if it's a good ride or coaster if you leave having had a good time. I was excited to go back to the park with my good friends Jess and Andrea who joined me last year. This time we knew the park and could look for the smaller details that we may have missed the first time.

Since we went to the park over three days, sometimes with Express Passes, sometimes not, I'll summarize the rides and experience over the entire trip. The rides, the park, and the staff were extremely consistent that the experience didn't change.

Lodging:

Jess and I stayed at Cabana Bay (Andrea lives in Orlando) because it was one of the lesser expensive hotels on property. It's definitely geared towards families, so if that's not your vibe, I would avoid. The rooms were pretty basic and there was some staining around the molding. Not the nicest hotel. But it was kind of cool to have so many food options without leaving the (very massive) building. I paid $12 for a brownie sundae and I thought I was just paying a premium. No, the thing was massive. If I could do it over, I would have chosen a more adult oriented hotel that was slightly nicer.

The Park:

Crowds were pretty tame this time of year. From what I understand, this is one of the weeks before the park is transitioned for Christmas. Most of the major rides had a wait of an hour or less (except Hagrid's, of course).

Both Islands and Studios are fun parks in every sense of the word. No matter where you're walking or looking, there is something exciting to take in. We typically start on the Islands side (because of VelociCoaster) and walk through the Marvel area and I'm always excited to see the comic book theming. Each section is distinct in what its trying to represent and I think the park does them so well. But because the "islands" are so distinct, it's sometimes jarring going from one to the next. Skull Island into Jurassic park works really well, especially with the presence of dinosaurs in each world, but Seuss Landing into the Lost Continent is jarring. Still, crossing over actual bridges between islands does help reset your brain a bit.

This isn't really an issue on the Studios side since its overall theme is being a movie studio. You expect varied theming because that's the experience of a movie set. It reminds me of PeeWee's Big Adventure as he went through various movie lots. Studios also feels a bit more laid back and less involved than Islands. There are more sit-down shows than thrill rides. There is much more open space and less immersion unless you're on a ride (unless you count the movie lot theme). While Islands is where I wanna be, I really appreciated my time over on the Studios side and spent much more time there than last time.

The Staff:

One obvious difference between the Cedar Fair parks I visited this year vs. Universal is just how many people work at the park. They have staff everywhere, which makes for a really great experience. If I had questions or needed help, there was always someone to turn to. The ride operators were plentiful and great at their jobs. Part of this is due to very few coasters at Universal having seatbelts, but the staff really pushed to move the line. Our wait for Hagrid's was an accurate-to-the-sign 60 minutes, but we were always moving forward.

One thing I realized is just how special live entertainment is to the experience. I've been trying to loosen up and take in more than just the thrill rides and coasters. There were so many instances of me noticing the street performers interacting with guests, whether they be kids or adults. That really adds something to visit even if it's not directed at me. I was happy to see Cedar Point add street performers to the boardwalk this year, but I'm skeptical that they will keep it going. They should because it's always a nice surprise. In fact, they should have way more. I think a lot of parks could stand to do this in their own way. But overall, the team did a wonderful job, especially those in the Wizarding Worlds.

The Food:

Yeah, I don't know...it was pretty standard. I tried hot Butterbeer for the first time (it was a high of 60 that day) and it was actually pretty good. The fish and chips at the Three Broomsticks was really good. We now have a tradition of eating at one of the big tourist chain restaurants and this year we tried Bubba Gump Shrimp (last year was Margaritaville). The staff was fun, but my meal at the Three Broomsticks was superior. Other than that, frozen Butterbeer is best.

The Rides:

• VelociCoaster (5x): I came into this trip with VelociCoaster at the top of my coaster rankings with only one ride recorded...it was that good. But since that first ride, I've tackled Steel Vengeance and Fury 325, both some of the best in the world. I was eager to see how I felt about VelociCoaster after what I hoped to be many rides. I have to say, VelociCoaster is still my top coaster by a hair (Fury is 2). One of the best features of this ride is the minimal restraint. VelociCoaster is a wild ride and despite me pushing my lapbar as far down as it can go, I still find myself coming out of my seat in scary (but safe) ways. It always feels like I'm going to slip out and I never do. With all that freedom, the ride shines. The first half is bonkers enough with all those tight turns in unpredictable directions (especially at night), but we all know the second half steals the show. From the stall to the Mosasaurus roll over the water...and let's not forget that second launch. VelociCoaster is almost a perfect roller coaster, somehow getting better as the ride progresses. Riding in the day is fun, but riding at night is by far the best experience. If you've not memorized the first half of the ride, certain elements will take you by surprise. One thing I noticed is that Universal doesn't light VelociCoaster's track at all, so outside of lighting from other attractions, you're experiencing the ride in the dark. That makes a huge difference and they should absolutely keep it this way. I would recommend riding in the front seat, despite me being a back seat kind of guy. VelociCoaster has so many elements you'll want to be pushed through instead of pulled. Still, back row is great too. The theming on this ride is top notch, though I found myself getting annoyed with the video of Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard.

• The Incredible Hulk Coaster (2x): I understand why the park chose to rehab this coaster instead of removing it. It's just something special. The theming is top notch and there is something to see in every part of the indoor portion of the queue. The launch on Hulk is short, but very quick and very punchy. The shortness of the launch almost makes the drop itself surprising. But from that point on, you're on an enhanced version of a typical B&M from that era. The soundtrack makes the ride feel epic, especially as you dive over the water. The misters do a great job of obscuring the drop below the water. You move into the corkscrew with more speed than you'd expect since it's on the top of an incline. Oh, and a really small thing...I love how the music hits right after the mid-course brakes.

• The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man (2x): When I rode Spider-man for the first time last year, it marked my first 3D dark ride. It also made me realize that these kind of rides make me insanely motion sick. As soon as the car started spinning, I closed my eyes for the rest of the ride to avoid puking. But this year, I was prepared with Dramamine and got through the entire ride just fine. It blows my mind that this ride was created back in 1999 (yes, it has been refurbished, but still). Every time it looks like a villain is right on top of the car and the car moves in response, I am just in awe. Again, there is a lot to notice about this ride if you go on more than once. I can't speak much on the queue since we went the Express Pass route that doesn't give you a lot of the theming I assume the regular line has. I think my only issue with the ride (and this goes for all of the 3D dark rides) is I wish the screens were much brighter to counteract the darkening effects of the 3D glasses. I also wish the lenses of the 3D glasses were larger.

• Skull Island: Reign of Kong (2x): While not as cool as Spider-Man, I always enjoy this ride. The queue is incredibly dark which gives an ominous feeling as you go from room to room. Unlike last year, the ride didn't take the outside route and instead took the shortcut that's typically used for inclement weather (the weather was fine). The ride itself is fun, immersive, but nothing revolutionary. You're on a bus that moves forward, with screens creating the illusion of faster progression, even when you're moving quite slow. The effects work for me, especially when the bus is supposedly falling off a ledge. It's exciting! Do yourself a favor and take your glasses off at the very end. The Kong animatronic is stellar and massive. Don't let those glasses get in the way.

• Flight of the Hippogriff (1x): I won't lie, this was the first time I rode a coaster for the credit instead of general interest. It's a family coaster, but it's got some bite to it. I actually had a lot of fun, but will definitely skip it in the future. But if you've got a kid, this will give them a thrill.

• Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (1x): Because Hagrid's doesn't have Express Lane, we planned to ride at the beginning of the day when the line was only an hour long. But even at 90 minutes, the wait isn't all that bad. The line is constantly moving and like most rides at Universal, you're mostly indoors and the theming itself is entertaining. In fact, I'm often sad that we miss out on the entire story when we used Express, but that's not an issue with Hagrid's. I've ridden both in the sidecar and on the bike itself and always prefer the bike. While the coaster isn't aggressive, I'm always impressed with complexity of the ride. It's a miracle that it runs at all given the various launches, switch tracks, and show moments. I can't wait to see it in 5-10 years when the vegetation has really grown over the space. I'd love a night ride on this one.

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (1x): This was another dark ride that made me sick last year, but it was no problem this time around. I love this thing. The theming of the castle is top notch and the ride itself is just so impressive, especially if you know how it works. Feeling the cars move from real environments to virtual in such a seamless fashion is exciting. I always sit in the seat that gets blasted with "fire" and it always makes me giggle.

• Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast (1x): I told my buddies that this year, I wanted to experience things I typically wouldn't as a coaster enthusiast. Yes, we would ride coasters, but let's ride everything. Minion Blast was actually a fun attraction. You stand on a moving platform and shoot things on massive screen monitors. Once you learn how to locate where your gun is pointing on the screens, you can really do damage. I learned to never stop shooting in the existing room until you pass over the threshold in the next room. Learning this early helped me beat Jess and Andrea in terms of points.

• Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit (1x): Being a child of Arrow Dynamics, rough coasters don't bother me unless we're talking Mean Streak rough. I enjoyed RRR last year, but Andrea and Jess did not. We were all pleasantly surprised at how much we loved our ride this year. Maybe it was because our expectations were lower or maybe because it was later in the season...or maybe its because we were actually able to pick our songs this time (MCR - The Black Parade) and could sing along. Also, I love the lack of OTSR.

• Transformers: The Ride 3D (1x): We rode this last year, but I had almost no memory of it. Riding it again, I could understand why. This dark ride is extremely similar to Spider-Man in terms of experience, only I connect more with Spider-Man and his villains. This ride is fun and loud, but continues to be forgettable. That doesn't mean you shouldn't ride it, again, it's a lot of fun. But maybe ride it more than once so it's cemented in your head.

• Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon (1x): We skipped this one last year, so we rode this year. Unlike the other dark rides, everyone sits in what feels like theater seating and the entire platform moves. I mean, it was fine. but sitting towards the far end made it feel like we were moving slight sideways when traversing the virtual city. I think this is a good step up ride to Spider-Man or Transformers since the movements aren't as dramatic, but yeah...it was just kind of okay.
• Revenge of the Mummy (3x): Mummy was closed last year, so I was eager to ride this year. Boy, was I surprised. The effects absolutely look like they were from 2004, but I absolutely love dated effects. Some of them still hold up though. What was a big surprise was the coaster itself. When I saw the lift hill, I knew it was time for the coaster portion, but I didn't expect to be launched and absolutely yeeted over the top. There were a lot of great positive G's, a few negative G's, and one weightless moment that I loved. The ride doesn't take itself too seriously and I dunno...we loved it so much that we kept re-riding it.
• Fast & Furious: Supercharged (3x): Let me start by saying I'm not a F&F fan and I can understand why people don't like this one. When you have absolutely thrilling dark rides like Transformers and Spider-Man that are old compared to F&F, it's gotta be disappointing to get to the station only to find out that you're getting on a party bus. But I love how cheesy this ride is. We've been lucky to have great actors playing Pat and Jamie in the show moments and if you go through the ride more than once, you can see how performances change from actor to actor (they don't even have the same responses!). The ride itself is over-the-top. It's like they knew the bus was boring, so they amped everything else up. The movie actor performances are hammy, which makes the experience even better. I will always ride this every day that I visit Universal and if they ever change it, I will chain myself to the entrance in protest.

• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts (1x): Judging by the restrains on this coaster, you'd think you'd be riding an RMC. VelociCoaster has less restrictive restraints! I enjoy Escape from Gringotts, but I leave wanting more coaster moments or more intense cinematic moments. The theming leading up to the ride is stellar as usual, but the ride itself feels more like a simulator than coaster. I wouldn't skip it, but I wouldn't re-ride it.
  

• Men in Black: Alien Attack (1x): Great theming, but an ok shooter. Enemies often feel too far away and I'm not always sure what to shoot at. I wish the space was a bit darker to add to the mood. I was also not happy that Jess and Andrea absolutely destroyed me in terms of points. Honestly, I think the space this ride takes up could be better used.

• E.T. Adventure (1x): Andrea's husband warned us that this ride hasn't been updated since the 90s and boy was he right! It all felt ancient, so of course I loved the cheesiness. But I was also in awe. Seeing this ride from the lens of being a kid (or even an adult) in the 90s...there is a lot of creative stuff going on. The flyover the "city" was a really awesome effect for its time. Dark rides often need to be modern as possible so when they start looking dated, parks typically tear them out or update them. But I love E.T. for all the reasons I love Blazing Fury at Dollywood. It's a look back into what was impressive in the past. Cheesy, sure. But still impressive.

• The Bourne Stuntacular (1x): This is such a creative live show. It features a massive high def widescreen that blends itself with real set pieces and it does it extremely well. I wish we saw more shows like this. The action happens on the stage and above the audience. It's kind of weird seeing Jason Bourne given how old the franchise is at this point, but I was a big fan of the film series, so I was happy. Still, I think this is a space that could easily be updated for a new stuntacular featuring a different franchise. Still, this is one I'll always check out.

• Universal Orlando's Horror Make-Up Show (1x): We missed this last year, but after seeing reviews online of hour entertaining it was, we checked it out. It was a great! The actors were hilarious (lots of great improv) and it was kind of cool learning some of the secrets behind the practical effects we've seen in the past. It's a quick show, but extremely enjoyable.

Final Thoughts:

Universal is so different than the regional parks I often visit. Instead of going for quantity, they go for quality. Sometimes that means really long lines for attractions, but rarely will you be disappointed. With Express Lane, it's easy to ride everything in 1-2 days. But that's not really what Universal is about. I know I've used the word "experience" a lot in this review, but Universal is a park you should experience. Look for small details that you may have missed out on if you were just running from one coaster to the next. Ride rides that you typically wouldn't because there is a lot of fun to be had. Check out the shows...they are short and they'll give a change of pace between thrill rides. And explore EVERYTHING...shops, restaurants, and smaller areas. Would recommend.

Great write up! I'm headed there next year with my family for our first visit. Thanks for sharing all the details.

Jephry:

The Incredible Hulk Coaster

Curious, is this still there since they rehabbed the ride? I believe it was inside the building where you exit the ride.

The counter service food at UO is mostly terrible, but great at the Potter locations. That seems so odd to me, because clearly they can do better than Sysco-basic, but they only do it when the theme merits it.

The counter service food at UO is mostly terrible, but great at the Potter locations. That seems so odd to me, because clearly they can do better than Sysco-basic, but they only do it when the theme merits it.

Okay, this makes me feel so much better because I was surprised at how meh the food was given how high quality everything else was there.

It really depends on the counter. There's good food beyond the Potter places for sure. The kababs and falafel on The Lost Continent, crepes in Studios, jacket potatoes in London... Those are my favorite counter service places in the parks that I can think of off the top of my head.

Yeah, I can vouch for the kababs, good call. I wonder if the Jurassic stuff is any better given the attention to that area. They had the worst "chicken" back in the day.

I've never actually ate at Thunder Falls Terrace for some reason but the empanadas from the carts are good but tend to be hit or miss on the freshness scale.

Oddly enough, I ate the grilled chicken sandwich in the Jurassic Park center and it was pretty terrible. A bun and a chicken breast. I regretted not just getting a burger.

Mythos, Confisco, butterbeer. Probably not missing much anywhere else. Though the potter restaurants are solid as well.

I'll third the kebabs. Those were pretty good. I'm always down for Cowfish, but some of that might be nostalgia on the part of my daughter.

Oh, well if we talk outside of the parks then bigfire isnt bad, nor is toothsomes. The bun place was something different also.

I was wondering walking through the parks, why not toss a few big grills around the parks and sell burgers/dogs/random street food? But then I suppose is people are already paying 15 for crappy hotdogs why bother?

I was prepared to dismiss Toothsomes as a gimmick, but it exceeded expectations.

Their brussel sprouts were fire, but last time I went they were like a third the size for the same price. The wings were good too, most of the food actually is, strangely the thing I like least is those huge shakes, they just seem over whipped and the texture is wrong.