Universal Studios, a fun park and a great value compared to others.
Written: Jun 04 '08 (Updated Jun 04 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Low cost for on-line tickets, over the top theme park.
Cons: Mel's Diner
The Bottom Line: A great alternative to the Disney Parks. A lot of fun for adults and older children.
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| boomer46's Full Review: Universal Studios Florida |
The week before Memorial Day (2008), my family and friends (12 of us) from Pennsylvania went to Universal Studios on a Tuesday. We purchased tickets in advance on-line for 2 parks (Islands and Universal) up to 7 consecutive days for about $80 each.
This review will focus on Universal and our experience there. Due to our flight time we only had about 5 hours to get through Universal Studios. The day before we were at Islands for the day, also a great park. When entering Universal, the fingerprinting machine was not working properly. It took several minutes for all of us to get through the entrance. My teenage son was fooling around and fell on the concrete while waiting for the others to get through the finger printing process. The first aid near the entrance was very helpful in cleaning him up and providing band-aids.
We decided to start with The Terminator and go counterclockwise through the park (less than 1/2 hour wait). This ride was top notch after all these years. They have not changed this at all. It is part 3-D movie and part live show. Next, onto the Simpsons ride (about a 40 minute wait). This is a re-work of the Back to the Future ride. I don't want to give away the details, but this was an awesome ride for all ages. A cartoon was playing while in line that kept everyone entertained. The ride is similar to Back to the Future in concept, but it is much more stimulating and not as bumpy of a ride. The visuals are great. After the Simpsons, we went to Men in Black (15 minute wait). Again, this has not changed and is still a great ride. The spins are not as wild as the warning make you think. During this ride you receive points for the targets that you hit. Ask what to aim for, before getting on the ride. Keep your finger on the trigger to get higher points.
We skipped ET and Jaws due to time constraints and slow moving lines. The Earthquake ride was updated and changed to make it more interactive (20 minute wait). A nice change for those have been on this before. Most of us went on the Mummy roller coaster next, and some of us twice since the line was so short. One of the best coasters around. You do get knocked around alot in your seat, so if you bring on your kids, they should be on the older side.
We chose Mel's Diner for a late lunch due to our positive experience in the past. The decor and staff were very nice. Some of the meals did not meet expectations. The burgers were not made to order and must have sat for several minutes before serving. The one that I had was room temperature and the cheese was not even melted. A let down for a burger lover like me. The lines were a little long so I did not return it. The milkshake was really not a milkshake, and was more like a Wendy's Frosty. Soft ice cream in a cup. Again another letdown for a milkshake lover. Several years, back they use to do this one right, especially for an establishment like Mel's.
Shopping in the gift shops, I could not find anything worthwhile. They are in need of an update. There were some stores that the teens liked on the way out, Billabongs,etc.
Overall the trip was a great experience for all. The lines were not long. The staff was nice. The park was exceptionally clean. The landscaping and park surroundings were a lot of fun to look at and enjoy. The ticket prices could not be beat anywhere for this level of park.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
boomer46
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Reviews written: 6
Trusted by: 0 members
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