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My Orlando trip report: Part 8

Re: My Orlando trip report: Part 3

We always went round starting by Canada and loved it every time, I wonder if there is some weird thing that you only enjoy it anti-clockwise? lol, I think tests need to be done on this theory :p

I agree that the FutureWorld part of the park is a bit dated but I still really enjoyed it. Soarin' is probably the most over-rated ride in existence, such a shame.

I really enjoyed the three caballeros ride, I thought it was fun and the song was really fun too.
 
Re: My Orlando trip report: Part 3

Epcot has always been a rather love hate place for me. I can never truely decide how I feel about it. I had always found it rather dated and a bit dull but there is something kinda cool about it too.

The weird thing is, with the World Showcase, on all but our last visit, we have always gone via Mexico doing the rides as we go but by the time we got to Germany we just got really bored and didn't truly look around each country. On our most recent visit, the weather was a bit cack so it was a case of getting into the shops for a respite from the rain. We looked at every single country in much more depth because of the weather and ended up really enjoying it. We had a lot of fun that day and wasn't bored at all. I don't think it has anything to do with the fact we started in Canada but more to do with the fact we were almost forced into the buildings by the weather, meaning we actually looked a lot deeper and found a lot more to enjoy.

Its a shame you opted for the tamer ride on Mission Space, although I totally understand why. On our first visit I was terrified (after hearing all the horror stories of vomit) that it was going to make me ill. I have found that spinny rides are hitting me harder than they ever used to :-( However, I thought sod it, if it makes me sick it wont last too long and there isnt really any other rides that would aggrevate the nausea (plus Marc really wanted to do the intense side). I found that I got right into it all and really enjoyed it. I didn't feel sick at all.


Glad to hear that you enjoyed Philharmagic. I adore that show soooo much. Despite the fact it gives me cravings for Churros!
 
Re: My Orlando trip report: Part 3

I think there's some substance to the 'start with Canada' theory. Even though Disney usually list the countries starting with Mexico, theme park psychology suggests the majority of visitors will naturally go to the right (although English people tend to go to the left) so it has probably been designed to work best when you go round anti-clockwise.
 
Re: My Orlando trip report: Part 3

I had always found it rather dated and a bit dull but there is something kinda cool about it too.

Thats pretty much how I feel about it. I would imagine that if it wasn't a Disney park, it would probably just be dated and dull, but being a Disney park, it does have a good side to it.

Its just a weird park really, but I did really like it.

Oh, and IllumiNations is amazing! A lot much better than Wishes.
 
Re: My Orlando trip report: Part 3

Hmm I love wishes for the story and sentimental reasons whereas I love illuminations for its sheer scale. Both are brilliant.
 
Re: My Orlando trip report: Part 3

I didn't have the best view for Wishes, plus I kept getting a cast member shout at me because my foot kept going over a white line (!), yet we had a great view for IllumiNations. Little things like that make all difference with firework displays. In saying that I did really like Wishes, I just thought IllumiNations was better.
 
Re: My Orlando trip report: Part 3

See I hate Illuminations. Maybe because I've seen it at least 50 times since it started showing around 10 years ago...
 
Re: My Orlando trip report: Part 3

Same here, we only bothered last time due to the added Xmas section.
 
Re: My Orlando trip report: Part 3

Monday 10th September

So this was our day that we had booked to visit Busch Gardens. Even though we had to reserve our free transport online, nobody asked for any info regarding any kind of booking/reservation. It was here that I saw someone who looked a like Peep!

Despite bineg ridiculously excited, the journey went fairly quick and we soon arrived at the Busch. This was probably the park that I was most looking forward to visiting on this trip. However, it did disappoint.

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I loved pulling into the car park and seeing Montu standing proud. Cheetah Hunt by the entrance looked a little less impressive.

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The parks entrance wasn't exactly grand.

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Chunt was closed to begin with, so we opted for some Montu. Such an awsome coaster, and that Batwing was just incredibly forcefull!

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And it was walk on! Which was a running theme for the day really, except for Cheetah Hunt. In the morning it had a 40 min queue, but come the afternoon that had gone down to 10 mins - so theres a tip, dont go to Cheetah Hunt first.

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Which we did... but not long after it had reopened, so we didn't queue too long. It was here where I saw the Peep lookalike again! Could it really be him? what are the chances? I hadn't seen him mention it on CF, and he was in the States earlier in the year.... nah, it wasn't him!

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Not going to lie, I didn't think much to Cheetah Hunt, at all. It was such an incredibly average coaster, which only just pokes the 'fun' boundary. The launches are weak, and the whole coaster is 90% force less, apart from the good airtime hill after the final launch. It just doesn't feel like its doing anything, just so bland. I really wanted to love it, but I just couldn't.

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We then circled the park getting in all the coasters - which sounds like a cred run, but in reality, there really isn't much at the park beyond the coasters. Plus the operations at the park can be a bit iffy, and I really didn't want to miss out on some big ass coasters!

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I loved Scorpion, these are just fantastic little coasters. Though I dont quite see why its here...

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Well ok, this one was a cred grab!

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Kumba was walk on, with only 1 train, which often left 3/4 empty - which shows just how empty the park really was!

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So, my first B&M sitdown....I liked it. It was VERY intense, which can make it a little unpleasent - and add that to horrible grinding feeling that you get through-out the ride, where the train feels like it has no rubber on the wheels, and its just metal grinding along on metal (lots of juddering, too). I liked the coaster, but it wasn't overly comfortable

After Kumba we went through the Tiger walk through, which was prett good.

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Lolz at the squirrels over there, they actually let you touch them!

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Woop!

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I liked Shiekra, not much else to say really. I really hated the pointless sound effect in the tunnel after the second 'drop', it was pointlessly loud and just annoying (same can be said for similar 'effects' on Space Mountain and Hulk)

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We then did the Log Flume - Stanley Falls. It wasn't very good tbh.

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Before going back for more Shiekra!

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And then we stumble across a cred...

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With Gwazi just around the corner.. Tiger was spiting though </3

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Tbh, I couldn't even find the entrance for the tiger side...

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Its certainly an impressive looking coaster!

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Not the most popular though!

Despite the lack of queues, it was still running with 2 trains! Which was a running theme for the holiday. No queues, yet coasters running with multiple trains! Not going to complain though.

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It was my first GCI, and its was horrific! I would imagine its actually a really good coaster, the layout was quite good, but the trains.... or track.... I dunno.... The pre-lift section was painful enough really.

We then found ourselves back near the entrance, this was where I found out that American cheese cake is nothing like english cheese cake. It was literally like a lump of mature cheddar in a cake!BLURGH!

Anyway, after that disaster, we circled the park again, this time taking more time to get some better pics.

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I gave Cheetah Hunt a few more chances, and my opinioned stayed the same. 6/10 from me. But on the other hand....

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It was here where I encounted the famous Busch operations first hand, when they stopped running Montu due to the inclement weather - which was no where to be seen. 20 mins later, it reopened. Someone mentioned in another thread that they do this for staff breaks, but that cant be right as all the staff stayed by the coaster, and I over heard one of them speaking to another guest saying that all the big rides have now closed. Luckily it didn't last too long, and it didn't happen again.

We then wondered around the African animal bit, before trying out one of them Turkey legs that are EVERYWHERE.

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It was gross.

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These guys took care of the turkey leg for us...

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I was glad to get on Scorpion, as I was majorly spited by Loudoun Castle!

It was now that we starting to realise why this park isn't actually that good. As good as some of the coasters are, thats basically all there is to do! Whilst the park is in a good location for guest numbers, its also in a bad location for people who that this thing seriously. Disney and Islands of Adventure (and even Seaworld) have an amazing variation of attractions, including world class dark rides, and IMO dark rides can really make or break a park for me, and this park is a good example of how it breaks.

When we return to Florida, if there is nothing new here, we wont bother visiting again. Why would we, when theres the likes of Islands of Adventure on our doorstep?

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After more Kumba rerides, my opinion didn't change. Its a good, forcefull coaster, but its just unpleasent to ride.

We had a look at the Rapids, they didn't look particualry good, so we gave them a miss. The Log Flume was average at best, so we thought we probably wouldn't be missing out on much.

We also went on the train ride, which had the most ANNOYING commentator/speaker I have ever come across! He basically ruined the whole thing for us, which really annoyed us! But then we saw he only had one arm and we felt bad!lol

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So we left with mixed feelings of the park. Made worse by the fact that I was really looking forward to it!

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Bye byez Montus!

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Heading back, we went through an almighty storm!

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Luckily it cleared up by the time we got back to Seaworld, so the the short walk to the hotel was a ncie dry one.

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We then opted for tea at Dennys.... It was ok, the Village Inn was much better IMO.

And that was it for our forth day. I was so disappointed with how I felt about Busch, but even worse was to come the following day...
 
Re: My Orlando trip report: Part 4 - Busch

Kumba was like that for us 2 years ago. Park was dead but we just could not re ride it, the sound gave me a bad head and it was just rough in a strange way.

I love scorpion as well would rather ride that than some of their other coasters lol.
 
Re: My Orlando trip report: Part 4 - Busch

5 years ago, Kumba was absolutely fine for us. I loved it. However, a couple of years ago we went back and it was the same for us Martyn. Its just about rideable but that racket it makes ruins it a tad.

I totally agree that actually the park is not that great either. They have some good coasters but very little else. Its a pretty enough park but it certainly lacks something. BUT I would say it is certainly improving with additions like the Tiger walkthrough area. We spent about an hour in there watching them. Some gorgeous photots you have of that.

I have never really understood the hate of Gwazi though. I have always really enjoyed it :-/ It certainly wasn't as viscious and nasty as GhostRider (KBF).
 
Re: My Orlando trip report: Part 4 - Busch

I'll get going with this report again soon, cuz you cant have enough Orlando TR's going! :lol:

I miss the place so much, it was so much fun <3
 
Re: My Orlando trip report: Part 4 - Busch

Sure, Kumba may be loud, but the ride is incredible!
Forceful yet extremely fun, which can be quite rare in a lot of coasters!

The only coaster which I don't really like in Busch is Gwazi. By far one of the worst GCIs I've been on... Although saying that my friend loved the ride, so maybe it's just a Marmite-y kind of ride?
 
Re: My Orlando trip report: Part 4 - Busch

I really cannot agree more with you, on every point. You summed up my visit perfectly. Absolutely fantasic to see it wasn't just me that wanted to like Cheetah Hunt and thought it was stupidly mediocre. It genuinely bored me to utter death. The inline/corkscrew is such an awkward element too, it's not comfy in the slightest and it just made me think that when designing it, they realised it was going to be boring so thought 'throw an inversion in to wake them up'.

The park was like this when we went too, we stayed for Howl-O-Scream too and it was the same the, absolutely dead. Amazing.
 
Re: My Orlando trip report: Part 4 - Busch

So, day 5, Universal!

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Quick I-Ride trip and we're soon there!

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I really liked the Universal Resort. Very similar to DLP, but more adult orientated.

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First up, the Studios....

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... and Hollywood: Rip, Ride, Rockit

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As soon as we entered the queue it immediately felt like Universals rip off of the Rock 'n' Rollercoasters.

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Some parts look funky, but its mostly one but ugly coaster. Its an all round turd really.

With a 5 min queue I jumped back in line for another go, and yep, still turd.

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Its a nice looking park, with a good atmosphere.

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I LOVED The Revenge of the Mummy! FIRE <3

The backwards 'bit' seemed a bit pointless, and the lack of theming for the main coaster section was 'meh', but on the whole its a great coaster. And no queue ment a godo few re-rides!

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Disaster was crap. MASSIVELY long drawn out build up, and then the end is just crap. Felt very, very outdated. Armageddon at WDS is better IMO.

After walking what seemed an age, we past all the construction walls and found ourselves at the other end of the park.

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MIB Alien Attack was ok, nothing special really....

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.... but I couldn't believe how **** The Simpsons Ride was. Its like the signature ride for the park, and its utterly ****!

It was after riding the Simpsons ride that I felt ripped off for the first (and only) time on the holiday. $10 for a TINY hot dog and packed of crisps! Robbing bastards!

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In search of a cred....

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Bingo!

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I liked the ET dark ride. Though wtf is that passport nonsense all about? Seemed a complete waste of time to me! Queuing up so someone can take your name, then hand you a card, which you give to next ride op you see....yeah, right.

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Did I say how dead the park was?!

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I liked T2, but then I do like the films. The acting aspect definitely made this more of a show really. It was the best of all the indoor crap the park has. Chloe hasn't seen the films, so she didn't know wft was going on! :lol:

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By this time we were getting sick of all the 3D screens, glasses, simulators etc, but we marched on...

Minion mayhem was ok I guess, but its just so similar to everything else the park has. I would have probably liked it more if it was a different park, like Alton or Thorpe.

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I dont mind Shrek, its kinda funny, so I knew what to expect with this. But again, it was just another bloody 3d screen with crappy effects!

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I opt for a couple more rides on HRRR. I dont like it. Its just rubbish really. The music adds NOTHING to ride at all. Only positive is the restraints weren't cutting into me come the end of the ride.

G-Force >>>> HRRR.

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Dated.

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My word they dont half build this one up with them tv screens. I was honestly a little worried as to what we were actually going to be doing. But nothing happened. Got a little wet, saw a cow, the end.

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Its a really nice looking park, but its full of ****. The Mummy is the one ride worth re-riding. And I dont know if the Harry Potter land will make it much better tbh, I cant see how it can fit in with the theme of the park.

It was only something like 2pm, so we decided to spend a little while next door. Not wanting to do everything, just a few rides to get us in the mood for a full day there tomorrow.

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Its already better....

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<3

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First stop, Hulk, which was walk on!! omfg <3

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Very intense, but I found it more enjoyable than Kumba.

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We then minced round to Potterland...

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Omg, its stunning! I'm not even a fan really, but the attention to detail is just unreal. And the castle is just spectacular!

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Even the cred lookec pretty neat!

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The Forbidden Journey is just as spectacular as the castle itself. I honestly didn't know a thing about it. Just incredible.

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So, Dragon Challenge. T'was fun. Great theming in the queue, but the coasters were just build over waste land... shame really. And I so hope they will duel again one day.

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For the record, I preffered the blue coaster. It was less intense and just more enjoyable really. Still, they're both good coasters.

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Butter Beer <3

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Loved the place already!

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We then went for some lunch in City Walk, at Pastamoré. Was pretty nice.

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Despite the Studios being awful, we still had a really good day, and was very much looking forward to returning the following day.
 
Re: My Orlando trip report: Part 5 - Universal

^ you seem to have "triple-posted" in that post ;-)

PS - Disagree about Simpsons, thats great IMHO. HRRR > Mummy too - goes to show everyone's opinion is different.

PPS - ET says "Goodbye <insert name from passport here>" as you pass him at the end of the ride ; thats the point, not a GREAT point by any stretch but some "interaction" that someone thought was cool decades ago.
 
Re: My Orlando trip report: Part 5 - Universal

Sorted. God knows what happened there.

Maybe saying the Simpsons ride was utterly **** was a bit ott, but it is just a simulator really, and I'm not the biggest fan of them.
 
Re: My Orlando trip report: Part 5 - Universal

Martyn did you actually like anything in Orlando?
 
Re: My Orlando trip report: Part 5 - Universal

Jeez, I've hardly been that negative!

I loved: WDW, IOA and Seaworld. Only disliked Busch because of the lack of 'other' attractions and I didn't like the Universal Studios park, thats it!
 
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