I couldn’t wait to get to Universal so I tucked into breakfast at La Quinta (DIY waffles – YUM!) and waited for the Universal Shuttle to pick me up. When travelling you get used to a shuttle being a little 8 seater van that squeaks and you feel every bump on the road – this shuttle was a Greyhound bus. I was the only one on it! We had three more stops and yup – that was it. Just me. The driver, Francesco, was very chatty. Within 10 minutes I had heard about his marriage, divorce, move from Italy, life in Florida and other worldly plans he has!
I love the theme parks over here – the minute I got off the bus you just can’t help but get a goofy smile! The walk to the entrance was just fantastic – lots of music and excited people – I got goosebumps! I decided to go to Islands of Adventure first. As I had a multi day pass I had to be fingerprinted going in, on the little screens like they have at immigration here. My heart actually started beating faster as the excitement and vibe of these places just takes you over. In the distance I could hear the roar of a rollercoaster, the whole world leaves you for the time you are in this world if that makes sense. You just forget about everything – it is amazing.
** For each of the rides here, I have put a link to it so you can see what actually happens on them!
I decided to go straight to the Spiderman adventure ride – it was great! I can’t describe it but it is 3D and when one guy shoots with his heat gun – the flames come out at you and you feel the heat of it – when water splashes – you get splashed on as well – all while riding around quickly on this mini indoor coaster – it was fantastic!!
Next was the Popeye water barges. Each time when we went to the Gold Coast for family holidays we all loved the river rapids as they were called there. It was only about 10.30am and I thought “Grouse I’ll go on this for mum!”. There was no one lining up at all so I just ran on – I was all by myself in the ‘barge’! Then a family jumped in and three girls from Spain. Yay – company! The little boy was like “We’re gonna get soaked!” but I knew it couldn’t be any different to the one at Dreamworld where you get splashed but it isn’t anything dramatic. Boy was I wrong.
The first rapid you go down – the whole thing basically fills with water.. so there we go – socks and runners soaked. Then the next one was like a TIDAL WAVE. I was soaked through – yup undies and all! It was still cool as it was early morning so we all started shivering. So this is why no-one was lining up for it – because you actually get FULLY drenched. Like it would’ve been no different if I had gone and dived into a swimming pool fully clothed. Funny thing is, I had spent all this time in the morning straightening my hair and it was just a pile of knots and dreads now. ARGH!! As the ride ended I was thinking they would have to have towels etc – it was freezing. Oh yes they have towels and t-shirts etc. ALL FOR SALE!!! And on last check, Universal Studios didn’t sell dry underwear so what was the use. My jeans were soaked through and they take long enough to dry normally, let alone on an overcast and cool day. Then I realised – aha – hand dryers in the bathrooms! I ran over (well waddled more like it) and what do you reckon? The ONE hand dryer was out of order. So I sat out on the park bench attempting to dry off for about half an hour – it made no difference. It was time to move – I’m not sure when the last time you walked around fully drenched but it isn’t the most comfortable experience. I was then on a quest – a quest not for fun (Clark!) – a quest for HAND DRYERS. There was another few people on the same quest and I found two near the entrance. But they were more blowy than letting out heat but it helped take the wet t-shirt competition look out of my top half so that was good!
I then ventured over to the Poseidon’s Fury. If you ever go to Islands of Adventure, don’t waste your time. When I got there, I had lined up for about 2 minutes and was told it was now faulty but I could wait if I wanted. Five of us stayed and we only had to wait 10 minutes. If I had known how silly this attraction was, I would’ve left. The only funny thing was I had Larry the Cable Guy’s twin on my turn so that was great – Git R Done!
Next was Dueling Dragons and I sat and watching this roller coaster go around for about 30 minutes – trying to get the courage to go. Then I thought about it – I had come all this way to go to this park – I am not going to wimp out. So I checked my bag and ran around and around the empty queuing area. Then I started getting nervous. What was I doing??! This was insane! ALl these awful thoughts started going through my head – then it was going to end up that in a few minute I was going to be ON THIS RIDE. There were two guys in front of me who asked if I wanted to go in front of them as I was on my own. I let them know how scared I was and they were like “No worries – you can go on it with us!” We were going to be in the last little area of the train and it makes me nervous even typing about it! All I was saying was “Oh my god, Oh my god, Oh my god” and deep down I just wanted to get off that stupid ride and run away. Click click click it went and then it just happened – upside down, turning, going all over the place. My brain was moving inside my skull – I was sure of it. I had my eyes closed when one of the guys yelled “KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN!!” I opened them – that was the best tip ever. Closing your eyes on these rides is what makes you feel ill. Although this ride was going so fast it actually pushes tears out of the tear ducts in your eyes – I wasn’t crying but it looked like I was!! Before I knew it, it was over. I couldn’t walk straight – my eyes were all going crazy and my brain must’ve been thinking ‘Since when did I ask to be put in a blender?’. Then those same two guys go – “Ok, now we have to go on the other one!” WHAT?!?!?! You see it is called dueling dragons – because it is two different coasters in one. Fire and Ice – we had been on Fire first – now it is time to do the Ice one. Oh lordy! This time they told me we were going in the front carriage so we can get a ‘full view’ – I just wanted to run. Talk about peer pressure!! My head was still spinning and I was lining up again!! Seriously – this ride makes the Mad Mouse look like a merry go round at Moomba. So this time were were strapped into the front and I again kept my eyes open – it was full on – again. If you look at the link to the ride you will see what I mean. INSANE. Well at least I could say I did both rides – I was a very brave Jenelle!
By this time I was starving and I was really feeling like I needed to get some food in my tummy to feel half normal so I bid farewell to the two guys when they suggested we all get lunch together. These guys were Scott and Paul and they would seriously be the nicest guys in Florida. We all got burgers and chatted right through lunch! It was awesome because it has been basically a week since Amy had left in New York and I hadn’t really spoken to anyone since – that is probably the biggest downfall of travelling alone. So many times you just want to turn around and say “Wow isn’t this amazing!”, or laugh at something stupid or just talk rubbish – and there just isn’t anyone there to share the good times with. They were both so lovely and allowed me to tag around the rest of the day with them!
As Florida residents, they both have yearly passes to Universal – it was like having my own personal tour guides – they knew all the ins and outs and the best rides (I wish I had bumped into them before the Poseidon one) and were Universal experts! How lucky was I? They showed me this Jurassic Park rope park and we had the best fun – it was like a maze! Then next, they suggested Doctor Dooms Fearfall.
Oh. My. Gosh. Now we have something like this at Dreamworld and everytime I saw it I have said to the TV – “I will NEVER go on anything like that”. Well due to the coaxing of my two Florida friends, before I knew it I was strapped in. Paul just started talking about all this stuff about the ride etc and then without notice BANG – I was being shot up into the sky – not knowing when it was going to stop. Then it stopped and I was basically free falling back to the ground. I don’t think this is an entirely normal thing to do to ones body but it is ace fun nevertheless. Then Scott let me know, Paul did the same thing to him. By him talking, you don’t hear the 3-2-1 countdown so the ride starts without even knowing! GASP!
I couldn’t help but wonder how these guys were so cool, calm and collected on all these rides when I was screaming and carrying on like a mad woman! Even swearing at some points! It ends up Scott flies light planes and Paul jumped out of planes for TEN years. Well that explained it ALL! So after that I felt very brave!
They summoned me over to the Hulk Coaster next. I had been watching this ride when I first walked in to Islands of Adventure and it looked really smooth so thought it would be fun to go on and then thought “Nah – it is just too much!”. Well before I knew it we were in the queue for this one now. How did this happen?! We weren’t just in the ‘normal’ queue – we were in the queue for the front row. Scott and Paul were saying how they put their feet on the front, don’t hang on – like seriously I was just hoping I would get out of it alive! There is actually a net under the first turn and this catches various belongs that fall out of peoples pockets. Pennies, sunglasses, other junk – so it shows you the force of this ride. At least when we got strapped in, I thought well we have the nice clickety clack ride to the top before the fall. No no no we didn’t. Clickety clack, clickety clack and then BANG. You get shot right up to the top at like warp speed. I have never experienced anything like it – I couldn’t even scream. You don’t see this when you are watching this from the ground level as this part of the roller coaster is covered. *sobs* It was SOOOOO much fun though – it was so fast, yet so smooth and so many turns and twists and falls and.. well I think that is my favourite ride – EVER. As with normal theme park practice, there was a photo taken at one point so we bought one of those as a souvenir but you should see the other guy in the picture. He looks so bored and just has NO expression on his face – just staring blankly into space. No fear, nothing. Everytime I look at that pic it just makes me crack up laughing. I will scan it when I get home and post it – just for his expression it is hillarious.
I will continue with more on my Universal adventure next time. Same bat time, same bat channel… (Can you tell I had an awesome time or what?)