the water fountains are warm because they want you to pay for a cold drink. Thats right they think if the fountains are warm people will buy water or soft drinks in the park.
That is food for thought just a heads up
price for a drink in the park is 2.75 for water
hard rock cafe 3.15 for a soda
Parking at universal
The enclosed parking garage utilizes moving sidewalks, escalators and elevators, on-site wheelchair rental, and an on-site kennel. Vehicles can leave the garage and return the same day by stopping at the toll plaza upon re-entry and presenting their parking ticket.
Daily parking fees per vehicle:
- Cars, Vans, & Motorcycles: $12.00
- Buses, RVs, & Cars with Trailers: $15.00
- Preferred Parking: Available for automobiles for just a few extra dollars.
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2009
Parking from 6pm - 10pm will be $3.00.
____________________________________________________________________
Showing posts with label universal orlando. Show all posts
Showing posts with label universal orlando. Show all posts
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Kongfrontation we will miss you
Kongfrontation was a ride at the Universal Studios Florida theme park, in Orlando, Florida, the main attraction in the park's New York section. It opened as one of the original attractions at the park in 1990 and was closed in 2002. Revenge of the Mummy opened in its place in 2004. It was based on a scene from the long running Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood. A King Kong themed roller coaster will open at Universal Studios Dubailand in 2010.
Contents
[hide]
Ride
Queue
Guests entered a recreation of Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan, New York City. The queue line was themed to a New York City Subway station and city block on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, intricately detailed right down to the graffiti covering the walls and the stocked storefronts. Television monitors overhead covered a special news report: "Kong On The Loose". The giant ape King Kong had escaped and was wreaking havoc on the streets of New York City. Kong had destroyed two elevated trains and was rapidly approaching the East River with authorities seemingly powerless to stop him. Guests then walked up a ramp to the Manhattan station of the Roosevelt Island Tramway.
[edit] Ride
The ride consisted of a cable car ride under the pretense of an evacuation of the city during Kong's attack. Traveling through elaborate street sets, the tram had repeated encounters with Kong, first at the Queensboro Bridge, where debris and overturned squad cars were seen, and once more as the beast cut the tram off upon arrival at Roosevelt Island. Choppers fired on Kong as he lifted the tram up and subsequently dropped it. Narrowly escaping the enraged beast, the tram's passengers would then see themselves on a breaking news report as they arrived safely at Roosevelt Island station. Kong was never defeated. The ride was based on the 1976 remake of King Kong.
[edit] Photograph
Guests exited the attraction into a King Kong themed gift shop called Safari Outfitters Ltd. There was a Kodak photo opportunity where guests could pose with King Kong appearing to grip them in front of a New York City bridge backdrop.
[edit] Construction and design
Two King Kong animatronic figures were built for this ride and were scaled to be 39 feet (12 m) tall with an arm span of 54 feet (16 m). The one used for the "street sequence" weighed approximately 13,000 pounds, while a lighter figure, that weighed approximately 8,000 pounds, was used for the "bridge sequence" of the ride.
The Kongs were built to be both analog and digital, giving them the ability to perform sixty two separate functions. A smeltzer device was constructed to give the Kong figures "Banana Breath," which was emitted during roars at the riders.
The show building was built to be 35,000 square feet (3,300 m2) wide, and the slabs used to build the exterior walls are the largest of its kind ever used for construction. To make the city setting appear as realistic as possible, fifty facades were modeled after Manhattan's Lower East Side circa 1976. News reports from the TV station WWOR-TV were integrated into the ride because MCA/Universal owned the station at the time the ride was built. The helicopters that were used in the ride were molded from actual helicopters and were true to size, which is why they looked as realistic as they did.
[edit] History
Originally a scene for the Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tram Tour, Kongfrontation has been credited as being the catalyst for the Universal Studios Florida project (which has since evolved into the Universal Orlando Resort).[1] Universal originally envisioned the attraction as the crown jewel of the Florida park. While the attraction drew substantial crowds, it had an unreliable track record due to the complex special effects involved.[2] Universal engineers attempted several times to improve reliability, which ultimately required removing functionality of Kong by limiting his movements and some of the background effects.
Kongfrontation was a signature piece of Universal Studios Florida, more than any of the attractions that remain there today, and the idea to close such an attraction struck many visitors as being 'unreal'. Despite many protests and complaints from fans, Kongfrontation officially closed on September 8th 2002. There has never been a solid reason given by Universal for closure, although it is speculated that maintenance issues and the costs of repairs are the main reasons. The attraction joined a list of original and popular Universal Studios Florida attractions that have since been retired and replaced, including Ghostbusters Spooktacular, The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera, Back to the Future: The Ride and Earthquake: The Big One.
[edit] Other uses
During Halloween Horror Nights II at the park, the attraction was turned into a "horrified attraction" titled Tramway of Doom where it was themed that Darkman was on the loose in New York, and after riding Kongfrontation, guests had to exit the tram and walk on the ground of the ride, where a haunted maze awaited. Guests were also permitted to walk on the ground during Halloween Horror Nights XI, in a show titled The Oozone Fright Club, where guests entered an employees only area of the queue line for the show, and then had to exit to the ground where another haunted maze awaited.
[edit] Universal Studios Hollywood version
Main article: King Kong Encounter
The Kongfrontation attraction at Universal Studios Florida had originated from the King Kong Encounter at Universal Studios Hollywood. The scene, formerly part of the Studio Tour in the Upper Lot area of the theme park, was destroyed by a massive fire in 2008, and will be replaced by a future King Kong attraction.
The attraction featured a brief encounter with an animatronic King Kong, who would shake the tram and attempt to destroy a chopper which was supposed to rescue tour guests. A TV monitor in a New York building facade displayed fake breaking news updates. Eventually, Kong is defeated and the tour guests survive.
[edit] Employee mythology
Many employees who have worked on Kongfrontation reported that the ride was haunted by the spirit of a maintenance worker named Whitaker who supposedly fell to his death near the part of the ride where the video was filmed. While these rumors are unsubstantiated, several ride operators have claimed to have refused to take empty trams through the ride, as the "ghost" would appear on the video when no guests were on the ride. During construction on Revenge of the Mummy, an electrical fire was mysteriously ignited delaying the opening of the ride. Some have speculated that this is related to the ghost. Subsequently; Several Revenge of the Mummy Ride and Show attendants working at the ride between its opening in 2004 and 2006 claim to have seen the ghost riding in their ride vehicles near the ride's unload station and in various locations of the queue. They also attributed a random recurrence of Kong's banana smell to the same ghost.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Am I tall enough yet?' Orlando-area theme park ride height restrictions
OK before you go to any park make sure your kids are tall enough for the ride
i have seen over 1000 times they pay for a ticket and the kids cant ride any of the rides it breaks my hart to see kids all happy than levee with a sad face here is a url that will help you http://tiny.cc/heightonrides sorry about my spelling my mined is not working 100% today
i have seen over 1000 times they pay for a ticket and the kids cant ride any of the rides it breaks my hart to see kids all happy than levee with a sad face here is a url that will help you http://tiny.cc/heightonrides sorry about my spelling my mined is not working 100% today
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
hollywood Rip Ride Rockit now open
Here's a roundup of our Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit goodies in conjunction with the Universal Studios' roller coaster official debut on Wednesday:
Today's Calendar cover story is a large overview of what to expect. Further advice: go early, go single-rider if available. There's a little talk about the hidden tracks, although no official confirmation from Universal. The quote from ride designer Louis Alfieri: "There are many layers of the experience that our guests have the ability to come and discover for themselves."
Sure, we've heard more, but we want to actually test it before reporting it. Join us! )And why is everyone so focused on "The Rainbow Connection"?)
Today's Calendar cover story is a large overview of what to expect. Further advice: go early, go single-rider if available. There's a little talk about the hidden tracks, although no official confirmation from Universal. The quote from ride designer Louis Alfieri: "There are many layers of the experience that our guests have the ability to come and discover for themselves."
Sure, we've heard more, but we want to actually test it before reporting it. Join us! )And why is everyone so focused on "The Rainbow Connection"?)
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Hold on TIGHT! First Look: Universal Orlando's new Rip Ride Rocket Coaster
Universal Orlando Resort is getting ready to unveil one of the most radically innovative roller coasters ever created - Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit - set to open late spring/early summer. The coaster combines hit music, breathtaking first-ever maneuvers and highly sophisticated audio and video for a one-of-a-kind ride experience.
Riders will pick their own soundtrack and listen as it blasts through individual concert-quality audio systems - all while hurtling through a series of never-before-attempted maneuvers and at speeds up to 65 m.p.h. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit's audio system will carry songs representing five genres of music: rap/hip-hop, country, classic rock/metal, pop/disco and club/electronica. Each rider's song pick will also be featured on a ride video they can purchase that uses a network of sophisticated cameras to mix music, moves and special effects.
Since announcing Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit last year, Universal Orlando has not revealed details of the ride - until now.
Universal Orlando's Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is the tallest, largest and fastest X-CAR style roller coaster in the world. The X-CAR coaster vehicle is more maneuverable than other coaster vehicles and uses innovative restraints that are less restrictive, more open and more exhilarating. That X-CAR design also means Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is capable of maneuvers other coasters are not. The coaster design also allows for more vehicles on the track at one time than with other coasters - creating non-stop movement and action.
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit features 3,800 feet of steel track, a 17-story vertical lift and six maneuvers - three of which have never been built before. For the first time, Universal Orlando shares details on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit's signature moves below. Brace yourself for Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit's catch-your-breath maneuvers.
Vertical Lift
You strap in, select your soundtrack and race 11-feet-per-second at a 90-degree angle toward the sky. You conquer all 167 feet of the vertical lift, the tallest point of the coaster, in just 16.5 seconds. At the top, you will be at the highest point of any coaster in Orlando.
Double Take - First-Ever Maneuver
You drop from the vertical lift at 65 m.p.h. and ascend into the Double Take, the world's largest non-inverted loop. You zoom along the inside of the track until you reach the top, where you twist to the outside of the track and ride over the top of the loop. You then twist back inside the loop for your descent. The Double Take stands at 136 feet tall and is 103 feet at its largest diameter.
Treble Clef - First-Ever Maneuver
You rock out to music during your Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit journey, but when you reach the Treble Clef, you get to ride a music symbol. Universal Orlando engineers and designers worked to bend the steel of the track into the shape of a treble clef music symbol. Not only is it the first time this maneuver has ever been done, but the Treble Clef also bursts through a building facade, sending you roaring over the New York area of the park. Fun fact - this move was first sketched out on a paper napkin.
Jump Cut - First-Ever Maneuver
Typically, a negative-gravity maneuver is straight up and down (often referred to as a camelback). Instead, the Jump Cut is a spiraling negative-gravity move, making it a first-ever coaster maneuver. When you reach this point on the track, you feel like you are experiencing a corkscrew without actually going upside down.
Crowd Surfer
Soaring 33 feet above ground, you are turned at a 95-degree angle as you fly over a crowd cheering you on from the load platform as they jam to in-queue music.
Drop Tuning
As you barrel past the Blue Man Group theatre toward Universal CityWalk, you'll drop underground and emerge from a chasm near the entrance to Universal Studios.
Plot Twist
The final maneuver is an inclined loop - meaning it leans at an angle to the ground - and has a 150-degree banking turn as well. You also fly around a complete 360-degree turn before heading back to the station.
Now sit back, strap in and select your song!
Riders will pick their own soundtrack and listen as it blasts through individual concert-quality audio systems - all while hurtling through a series of never-before-attempted maneuvers and at speeds up to 65 m.p.h. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit's audio system will carry songs representing five genres of music: rap/hip-hop, country, classic rock/metal, pop/disco and club/electronica. Each rider's song pick will also be featured on a ride video they can purchase that uses a network of sophisticated cameras to mix music, moves and special effects.
Since announcing Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit last year, Universal Orlando has not revealed details of the ride - until now.
Universal Orlando's Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is the tallest, largest and fastest X-CAR style roller coaster in the world. The X-CAR coaster vehicle is more maneuverable than other coaster vehicles and uses innovative restraints that are less restrictive, more open and more exhilarating. That X-CAR design also means Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is capable of maneuvers other coasters are not. The coaster design also allows for more vehicles on the track at one time than with other coasters - creating non-stop movement and action.
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit features 3,800 feet of steel track, a 17-story vertical lift and six maneuvers - three of which have never been built before. For the first time, Universal Orlando shares details on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit's signature moves below. Brace yourself for Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit's catch-your-breath maneuvers.
Vertical Lift
You strap in, select your soundtrack and race 11-feet-per-second at a 90-degree angle toward the sky. You conquer all 167 feet of the vertical lift, the tallest point of the coaster, in just 16.5 seconds. At the top, you will be at the highest point of any coaster in Orlando.
Double Take - First-Ever Maneuver
You drop from the vertical lift at 65 m.p.h. and ascend into the Double Take, the world's largest non-inverted loop. You zoom along the inside of the track until you reach the top, where you twist to the outside of the track and ride over the top of the loop. You then twist back inside the loop for your descent. The Double Take stands at 136 feet tall and is 103 feet at its largest diameter.
Treble Clef - First-Ever Maneuver
You rock out to music during your Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit journey, but when you reach the Treble Clef, you get to ride a music symbol. Universal Orlando engineers and designers worked to bend the steel of the track into the shape of a treble clef music symbol. Not only is it the first time this maneuver has ever been done, but the Treble Clef also bursts through a building facade, sending you roaring over the New York area of the park. Fun fact - this move was first sketched out on a paper napkin.
Jump Cut - First-Ever Maneuver
Typically, a negative-gravity maneuver is straight up and down (often referred to as a camelback). Instead, the Jump Cut is a spiraling negative-gravity move, making it a first-ever coaster maneuver. When you reach this point on the track, you feel like you are experiencing a corkscrew without actually going upside down.
Crowd Surfer
Soaring 33 feet above ground, you are turned at a 95-degree angle as you fly over a crowd cheering you on from the load platform as they jam to in-queue music.
Drop Tuning
As you barrel past the Blue Man Group theatre toward Universal CityWalk, you'll drop underground and emerge from a chasm near the entrance to Universal Studios.
Plot Twist
The final maneuver is an inclined loop - meaning it leans at an angle to the ground - and has a 150-degree banking turn as well. You also fly around a complete 360-degree turn before heading back to the station.
Now sit back, strap in and select your song!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Matching Disney, Universal raises base ticket price
Universal Orlando has matched Walt Disney World's latest price increase -- sort of.
Universal has raised the price of a one-day, one-park ticket purchased at the gate to $79, a move that came less than a week after Disney World increased its base ticket to the same price.
But while Disney raised prices on all manner of ticket packages, Universal said it left all other prices the same. That includes the online price for a one-day, one-park ticket, which is $73.
"Pricing for our most popular, most value-driven tickets remains unchanged," Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said.
Universal has raised the price of a one-day, one-park ticket purchased at the gate to $79, a move that came less than a week after Disney World increased its base ticket to the same price.
But while Disney raised prices on all manner of ticket packages, Universal said it left all other prices the same. That includes the online price for a one-day, one-park ticket, which is $73.
"Pricing for our most popular, most value-driven tickets remains unchanged," Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said.
Introducing the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios
Did you ride the Rockit this weekend? Universal Studios started its "technical rehearsal" of its new Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster, and we'd like to hear the thoughts of folks who have been onboard already. We're especially interested in song selection -- did your music work especially well with the movements of the coaster? Share in this post's comments or email to dbevil@orlandosentinel.com and we'll use some of your observations in an upcoming story.
I rode yesterday afternoon, and I'll share some tidbits that didn't fit into today's story in a moment. But first, a reminder: In this phase of the coaster's life, there are no guarantees. There are kinks to be worked out, the occasional stoppage, a learning curve from the operators. But just because you go the theme park does not mean you'll definitely be allowed on the Rockit at this point. Parkgoers, beware.
Overview: I found Rockit to be a fun coaster. In fact, it exceeded my expectations in a few ways. First, I didn't think I cared about the soundtrack. Big woo, I'm all about the ride, right? But I actually quite enjoyed my first two selections ("Guitars, Cadillacs" by Mr. Dwight Yoakam and "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor) and it made me want to ride again and hear the other 28 selections that Universal makes readily available. Sneaky!
Secondly, there were more thrills and spills that I expected from my on-ground inspection of the track. It looks pretty standard: big hill, big loops, dips, spills, curves, etc. But the design and sequence of the events makes for constant entertainment and a good deal of air time. Lesson learned: don't judge a coaster from the ground.
Comparisons: Rockit is reasonably smooth with a pinch of rattle. It's not nearly as jarring as the Incredible Hulk, its sister coaster at Islands of Adventure. And the physical sensation is way different than on IOA's Dueling Dragons, which features riders dangling, inverting and corkscrewing. On Rockit, your legs are very secure and your arms are more free than on Dragons. I'd put Rockit ahead of Revenge of the Mummy, but maybe that's the new-toy effect? And in many ways, the ride is more like Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom than the similarly themed Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
The wait: On Sunday, folks were lined up at 9 a.m. though there was no movement on the ride. My friend Greg and I joined the line a little bit before noon -- once shade was thrown from the Music Plaza stage. A lot of folks around us were just accidental tourists who couldn't believe their dumb luck of being there on a day that the Rockit MIGHT open. Universal workers in Rockit attire came by on occasion to tell us they were trying their hardest, but there were no guarantees. They'd also tell people "there is no line" but those of us in line begged to differ. A water/beer cart was rolled out for our convenience.
About 12:30, we were allowed into the official line. Universal Express was not in effect (this brought cheers from the crowd), but they were doing single-rider line at that time.
The queue area is pretty basic back-and-forth routine but decorated in the establish Rockit rockin' motif and LED screens. Only a small part of the extended line is not under cover, and there were misting fans there to battle the heat. The screens feature animated characters who go through the safety rules (think Spider-Man pre-show) and explain how to lock in the song of your choice.
Another unexpected benefit: The snippets of the available songs almost create a dance party in line.
The queue snakes around a few areas on the ground floor, then goes upstairs to the loading platform. Up there is an offshoot line for folks who want to wait for the front row. Child swap is there too.
The restrictions: You must be 51 inches tall to ride -- but no taller than 6-foot-7. There's even a mark on a pole in the queue indicating "you can't be taller than this." The usual heart-condition restriction apply plus the unusual warning of "keep your flipflops on." They don't want you sitting on them.
The loading: Each train holds 12 passengers: six rows, two people across. It's a modified version of stadium seating. Row 2 is a little higher than Row 1, Row 3 is higher than both.
The seats are molded and surround your head a bit. After getting in, a Universal team member glides the large, curved lap belt into position. I would call the fit extremely snug. There's no way you're falling out of that baby. In the center of the lap bar is the touch-screen selection pad, about the size of an iPhone. The whole contraption looks like a chastity belt, Greg noted. I laughed.
Go ahead and make your soundtrack selection. Touch one of five genres (classic rock/metal, rap/hip-hop, club/electronica, pop/disco and country) as instructed by the animated characters in the queue. Then pick one of six songs that fall into that category.
If when you are seated, there's already a song on the screen, hit the BACK button to get back to the genre screen. There's not a lot of time to do all this, so it's best to make up your mind on the ground floor. (Right now, there's no video reminders or signage to remind you on the loading platform).
The ride: First thing, straight up, flat on your back. In fact, it may be a little past flat. Mainly you can only see sky, a bit of lift hill and hoops. The curved seat back (with speakers) gives an isolated feeling. The music starts during ascent. It's loud, but not painfully so. I could not hear any of my neighbors' choices.
What goes up then comes down and heads into the loop behind the Music Plaza stage. You never go completely upside down. Midway up the loop, the rail twists and shifts the car around to that passengers are sitting ATOP the loop and right-side up. It's twists back to "normal" on the way down.
You're heading for the back part of the ride now, including the bust-through of the New York movie set (smile, that's where the still-photography camera is) and the Treble Clef maneuver. This steers you back toward the station, over the queue and past the station again before heading through a low-lying bumpy area and a double curve near CityWalk.
Then coasting back to the station. The music ended abruptly. Remember the songs have NOT been rearranged for the ride. What you're hearing is a 95-second snippet from the originals, beginning where the designer felt would be most effective.
The team members at the loading station were appropriately enthusiastic, Lots of "ROCK 'N' ROLL!" hollering, some of it staged and themey, but much of it just happy to have "real" folks onboard.
The aftermath: Leave the car to the right, go downstair, land in a photo spot. Many kiosks to look at your photo and (eventually) sample the video on board. Photo prices begin at $16.95. The videos will got for $29.95, but there will be combo packages available.
The lockers where you really should leave your loose belongings (really, do it) are nearby. And if people will follow the signs to the exit back to park, the traffic flow shouldn't be bad.
Bottom line: Fun and freewheeling. Worth the wait.
I rode yesterday afternoon, and I'll share some tidbits that didn't fit into today's story in a moment. But first, a reminder: In this phase of the coaster's life, there are no guarantees. There are kinks to be worked out, the occasional stoppage, a learning curve from the operators. But just because you go the theme park does not mean you'll definitely be allowed on the Rockit at this point. Parkgoers, beware.
Overview: I found Rockit to be a fun coaster. In fact, it exceeded my expectations in a few ways. First, I didn't think I cared about the soundtrack. Big woo, I'm all about the ride, right? But I actually quite enjoyed my first two selections ("Guitars, Cadillacs" by Mr. Dwight Yoakam and "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor) and it made me want to ride again and hear the other 28 selections that Universal makes readily available. Sneaky!
Secondly, there were more thrills and spills that I expected from my on-ground inspection of the track. It looks pretty standard: big hill, big loops, dips, spills, curves, etc. But the design and sequence of the events makes for constant entertainment and a good deal of air time. Lesson learned: don't judge a coaster from the ground.
Comparisons: Rockit is reasonably smooth with a pinch of rattle. It's not nearly as jarring as the Incredible Hulk, its sister coaster at Islands of Adventure. And the physical sensation is way different than on IOA's Dueling Dragons, which features riders dangling, inverting and corkscrewing. On Rockit, your legs are very secure and your arms are more free than on Dragons. I'd put Rockit ahead of Revenge of the Mummy, but maybe that's the new-toy effect? And in many ways, the ride is more like Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom than the similarly themed Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
The wait: On Sunday, folks were lined up at 9 a.m. though there was no movement on the ride. My friend Greg and I joined the line a little bit before noon -- once shade was thrown from the Music Plaza stage. A lot of folks around us were just accidental tourists who couldn't believe their dumb luck of being there on a day that the Rockit MIGHT open. Universal workers in Rockit attire came by on occasion to tell us they were trying their hardest, but there were no guarantees. They'd also tell people "there is no line" but those of us in line begged to differ. A water/beer cart was rolled out for our convenience.
About 12:30, we were allowed into the official line. Universal Express was not in effect (this brought cheers from the crowd), but they were doing single-rider line at that time.
The queue area is pretty basic back-and-forth routine but decorated in the establish Rockit rockin' motif and LED screens. Only a small part of the extended line is not under cover, and there were misting fans there to battle the heat. The screens feature animated characters who go through the safety rules (think Spider-Man pre-show) and explain how to lock in the song of your choice.
Another unexpected benefit: The snippets of the available songs almost create a dance party in line.
The queue snakes around a few areas on the ground floor, then goes upstairs to the loading platform. Up there is an offshoot line for folks who want to wait for the front row. Child swap is there too.
The restrictions: You must be 51 inches tall to ride -- but no taller than 6-foot-7. There's even a mark on a pole in the queue indicating "you can't be taller than this." The usual heart-condition restriction apply plus the unusual warning of "keep your flipflops on." They don't want you sitting on them.
The loading: Each train holds 12 passengers: six rows, two people across. It's a modified version of stadium seating. Row 2 is a little higher than Row 1, Row 3 is higher than both.
The seats are molded and surround your head a bit. After getting in, a Universal team member glides the large, curved lap belt into position. I would call the fit extremely snug. There's no way you're falling out of that baby. In the center of the lap bar is the touch-screen selection pad, about the size of an iPhone. The whole contraption looks like a chastity belt, Greg noted. I laughed.
Go ahead and make your soundtrack selection. Touch one of five genres (classic rock/metal, rap/hip-hop, club/electronica, pop/disco and country) as instructed by the animated characters in the queue. Then pick one of six songs that fall into that category.
If when you are seated, there's already a song on the screen, hit the BACK button to get back to the genre screen. There's not a lot of time to do all this, so it's best to make up your mind on the ground floor. (Right now, there's no video reminders or signage to remind you on the loading platform).
The ride: First thing, straight up, flat on your back. In fact, it may be a little past flat. Mainly you can only see sky, a bit of lift hill and hoops. The curved seat back (with speakers) gives an isolated feeling. The music starts during ascent. It's loud, but not painfully so. I could not hear any of my neighbors' choices.
What goes up then comes down and heads into the loop behind the Music Plaza stage. You never go completely upside down. Midway up the loop, the rail twists and shifts the car around to that passengers are sitting ATOP the loop and right-side up. It's twists back to "normal" on the way down.
You're heading for the back part of the ride now, including the bust-through of the New York movie set (smile, that's where the still-photography camera is) and the Treble Clef maneuver. This steers you back toward the station, over the queue and past the station again before heading through a low-lying bumpy area and a double curve near CityWalk.
Then coasting back to the station. The music ended abruptly. Remember the songs have NOT been rearranged for the ride. What you're hearing is a 95-second snippet from the originals, beginning where the designer felt would be most effective.
The team members at the loading station were appropriately enthusiastic, Lots of "ROCK 'N' ROLL!" hollering, some of it staged and themey, but much of it just happy to have "real" folks onboard.
The aftermath: Leave the car to the right, go downstair, land in a photo spot. Many kiosks to look at your photo and (eventually) sample the video on board. Photo prices begin at $16.95. The videos will got for $29.95, but there will be combo packages available.
The lockers where you really should leave your loose belongings (really, do it) are nearby. And if people will follow the signs to the exit back to park, the traffic flow shouldn't be bad.
Bottom line: Fun and freewheeling. Worth the wait.
traveling to orlando heere are some tips
Purchase tickets in advance
Purchasing multi-day, multi-park tickets in advance saves you money and time by allowing you to bypass the crowds at the ticket windows and walk right to the turnstiles. Purchase Universal Orlando’s Bonus Pass, only available online, and get 5-days of admission for less than the price of a two-day ticket. You can also save on shipping charges by buying online and picking up your tickets at the electronic will call at the front gate of either theme park, Universal Studios® or Islands of Adventure.
Where to stay
For convenience and value, nothing beats the On-Site Hotels at Universal Orlando® Resort, which put you within walking distance of both theme parks and Universal CityWalk®. PLUS, enjoy special park privileges including UNIVERSAL EXPRESS ride access, just show your room key card and bypass the regular lines at your favorite Universal Orlando rides and attractions. No Express Pass or ride reservations are necessary when you stay on-site!
Purchasing multi-day, multi-park tickets in advance saves you money and time by allowing you to bypass the crowds at the ticket windows and walk right to the turnstiles. Purchase Universal Orlando’s Bonus Pass, only available online, and get 5-days of admission for less than the price of a two-day ticket. You can also save on shipping charges by buying online and picking up your tickets at the electronic will call at the front gate of either theme park, Universal Studios® or Islands of Adventure.
Where to stay
For convenience and value, nothing beats the On-Site Hotels at Universal Orlando® Resort, which put you within walking distance of both theme parks and Universal CityWalk®. PLUS, enjoy special park privileges including UNIVERSAL EXPRESS ride access, just show your room key card and bypass the regular lines at your favorite Universal Orlando rides and attractions. No Express Pass or ride reservations are necessary when you stay on-site!
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