- MauraBOne
- First Reviewer
- 4 out of 5
- Avg. Member Rating
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Increible!
- November 9, 2009
- Rated 5 of 5 by
victorpunto from Bs.As., Argentina
Choose your dragon — Fire or Ice — as these roller coaster serpents perform loops and rolls across the sky.
It is the most incrdible and dangerous roller coaster in Orlando. You can compare all roller coaster in Orland, from Disney parks or Universal parks, and Dueling Dragons in Island fo Adventure is the funiest one.
Aproximatly 2 minutes of ride, with a lot fo loops. You head will explode with its velocity and movement.
Editor Pick
Storm Force Accelatron: A Twisted Good Time
- October 17, 2009
- Rated 2 of 5 by
Troobabiee7 from Brooklyn, New York
Storm Force Accelatron is one of the oldest rides at Islands of Adventure, having been there on opening day back in 2000. Located in the Marvel Superhero Island section of the park, it's a twist on a classic ride. You know the famous spinning teacups over at Disney World? Now picture them with strobe lights, fog and intense speeds, and you have an idea of what to expect on Storm Force Accelatron.
The ride is themed after Storm from the famous X-Men franchise. The evil Dr. Magneto is trying to take down the X-Men yet again, just for Storm to conjure up her powers of nature to defeat the evildoer. Despite the storyline, the ride isn't as much of an experience as other rides in the park. There aren't video presentations and animatronics to bring guests farther into the story, making this a ride that could be found at any other amusement park around the country. What makes the ride special are the few special effects that make the ride somewhat stand out from others of this kind.
Instead of teacups, guests board giant, futuristic pods painted bright purple and yellow. Each pod can seat four adults comfortably, or five children (although all children have to be over 48-inches tall). Unlike on traditional spinning-vehicle rides, you don't sit around a circular car here. Instead everyone sits next to each other, all facing in the same direction. As simple as that sounds, it actually makes for a unique experience since the feeling of the ride is completely different. It also ups the dizziness factor so if you don't like spinning rides to begin with, stay away from this one! There are sixteen pods in all, split up into groups of four that all spin together on a small platform. Then guests have the chance to spin their own car to their heart's content, deciding how fast, and how many times, they want to spin themselves around.
To up the excitement factor, the ride plays off of the "nature" theme. I was surprised on my first ride to find how many sound effects there were, which was something I didn't expect. You feel as if you're in the eye of a hurricane as you hear rain falling and thunder clapping. To bring the effects to the next level, there are also flashes of lightning in the form of strobe lights, and fog machines provide the feeling of clouds enveloping your car. Unfortunately we've found that the fog effect is often down, but when it does work it's really only effective at night, as are the strobe lights. If you want to experience this attraction, definitely go after dark when the effects are more visible.
As cool as the effects are, the ride really isn't anything special. A lot of times the effects don't seem to be working, and the ride isn't enough of an experience to take away time from the other, more elaborate rides in the park. The only great thing about the ride is that it's located at the very back of Marvel Superhero Island, and you can hardly see it from the main walkways. Due to this fact, many people don't even know the ride exists so there's almost never a line.
From journal Islands of Adventure: Marvel Superhero Island
Editor Pick
Dr. Doom's Fearfall: A Quick But Thrilling Ride
- October 16, 2009
- Rated 3 of 5 by
Troobabiee7 from Brooklyn, New York
When it comes to freefall-style rides, it's hard to beat Disney's offerings. Due to the incredible theming and technology used on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, all future rides of the type will be compared to it. Unfortunately, Dr. Doom's Fearfall falls short. Located in the Marvel Superhero Island section of Islands of Adventure, this is a thrilling yet short ride that gives visitor's the weightless feeling of flying while also using the excitement of anticipation to up the thrill factor.
Dr. Doom's Fearfall looks very cool. Two towers of 200-feet each stand side by side behind the Incredible Hulk Coaster. They're one of the several attractions that can be seem from the highway (and much of central Orlando), adding to the anticipation for guests as they make their way into the park. The towers are especially pretty at night, when their purple and yellow steel are filled with soft-lighting to make sure they're still visible from miles away. This is where the unique aspects of the ride end, though. Unlike everything else at Islands of Adventure, the ride isn't really themed. Yes there's a story attached to it, but there aren't video screens, animatronics or memorabilia to take the story farther.
The beauty of the ride is the ride itself. Guests seat themselves in rows of four around one of the giant towers. Then red lights begin to flash as a countdown begins. "Five... four... three... two... one!" This aspect of the ride is my favorite, since the build-up and anticipation make the ride even more thrilling. At the count of "one," the cars are shot up 150-feet in the air with more speed and power than a 747 jet engine, according to signs around the ride. Also according to statistic-signs around the ride, the cars accelerate faster than a space shuttle. This ride's INTENSE! I didn't expect it to be quite so intense on my first ride, so it definitely came as a surprise.
What makes Dr. Doom's Fearfall unique is that unlike on Disney's Tower of Terror, the cars shoot up in the air rather than falling down. While the different bobs the cars make on their way back down are fun, the thrill here is on the ride up. The ride is so intense that you need to be at least 52-inches tall to ride it, and you should be free of any heart, back or other medical problems. As wild and crazy as the ride is, the whole thing is over within a minute. It's not worth the incredibly long line that can often be found here, so go either first thing in the morning or right before the park's closing. While the ride's a lot of fun, I'd like it more if it was a little longer, and there was more of a theme to really draw guests into the experience.
From journal Islands of Adventure: Marvel Superhero Island
Editor Pick
The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman: A Legendary Ride!
- October 16, 2009
- Rated 5 of 5 by
Troobabiee7 from Brooklyn, New York
The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman is my favorite rides in all of Universal Orlando. It may even be my favorite ride in the world. I was absolutely amazed the first time I rode it, and regardless of how many times I've ridden it since, the amazement never fades. This is a truly incredible, unique and thrilling ride unlike anything else in the world. Part dark ride (where a car moves along a track in a dark building), part simulator (where a car moves on it's axis), and part 4D adventure (where 3D effects are paired with tangible surprises), this ride simulates your mind and nerve endings unlike any other attraction I've ever been on.
The experience begins in the offices of the Daily Bugle, which the attraction's line maneuvers through. Here you'll see pictures and awards given to the writer's of the fictional newspaper, as well as Peter Parker's own cubicle in the office. The attention to detail here is amazing, with different papers, articles, mugs and general knick-knacks filling each individual cubicle. Of course several of them include pictures of the ever-elusive Spiderman who's been saving lives around the city. As you move through the line you eventually come to a giant room with a video playing news briefs from the fictional New York City of the comic book, including the story that the Statue of Liberty has been stolen! This sets the tone for the ride, where you tag along with Spiderman as he tried to get it back from several evil villains.
The queue concludes with guests donning 3D glasses and being split up into rows of four. Each row is themed after a different New York City borough which, being from New York City, my family especially loved! Guests are them ushered into their car which consists of three rows of four people. If you're in a group of more than four, the ride attendants will split you evenly so no one has to ride alone. When the door to the giant car slides closed, it's time to hold on tight as the adventure begins...
It's hard to explain how truly incredible this ride is. The car moves along a track, while also tipping on it's axis in a myriad of directions. It's not quite a simulator since the car actually moves, but the rotation of the car can make it feel like it. If you get motion sick during simulator rides, you may want to steer clear of this one. The car moves between a series of gigantic screens that completely wrap around the vehicle. Paired with the 3D effects and 4D surprises that I won't give away, this ride really does put you right in the middle of the action. My favorite scene perfectly recreates a free-fall experience that feels incredibly real despite the fact that your car isn't actually leaving the ground. It's an amazing effect!
The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman can't be missed on a trip to Islands of Adventure. Located in the Marvel Superhero Island section of the park, I've found the ride to be so incredible that it alone is worth the price of admission to the park. Of course you'll want to visit other attractions while there, but I can almost guarantee you'll find yourself coming back to Spiderman time and time again. Just know that all guests must be over 40-inches tall, and that the line can get long on hot summer afternoons, so you'll want to visit this attraction first thing in the morning or wait until later in the evening when the crowds begin to disperse.
From journal Islands of Adventure: Marvel Superhero Island
Editor Pick
Hard Rock Live: An Awesome Concert Venue
- October 12, 2009
- Rated 4 of 5 by
Troobabiee7 from Brooklyn, New York
Hard Rock Live is, without a doubt, one of my favorite things in all of Universal Studio's. Universal Orlando's CityWalk is home to the largest Hard Rock Cafe in the world, full of rare memorabilia and memories of rock royalty. Located right next door, in what looks like an old-fashioned coliseum, is Hard Rock Live. A large, dark club offering performances from some of the biggest names in rock, it's definitely the coolest place in all of Universal Orlando.
There are several Hard Rock Live locations around the world, but this one's the biggest, and in my opinion, the best. Boasting one of the largest collections of rock memorabilia anywhere, you're literally surrounded by the roots of rock and roll. The club is dark and smoky, but it's just an effect. No smoking is allowed in the venue, but the presence of hidden fog machines add a mysterious quality to the air. The sound system is top-notch making it feel as if all guests, regardless of where they are, are right on stage.
The venue hosts a variety of concerts and events throughout the year, from big names bands to unknown locals. My brother and I have been lucky enough to see Bon Jovi, Weezer and My Chemical Romance on past family trips to Universal Orlando. There are also comedy shows offered at certain times, with my brother and I seeing Stephen Lynch back in 2007. The place is large but intimate in it's design, making all seats great seats. Speaking of seats, they're usually only placed out for comedy shows and certain events. Most concerts are general admission so arrive early for a good spot and be prepared to stand throughout the show.
The ticket prices for shows at Hard Rock Live range from $12 for small, local events to upwards of $75 for big name bands. Due to the intimate nature of the venue, the price is completely worth it here, especially compared to seeing shows at large stadiums. The Hard Rock Live Orlando website has the dates and prices of all upcoming events, which is worth checking out if you're planning a trip to Orlando and are looking to do something a little different. Definitely get your tickets in advance as they often sell out quickly, and most likely won't be available once you arrive in Orlando.
Security measures have been tight lately, so be sure to arrive early to allow time for bag checks. There are also no cameras allowed in the theater.
From journal Universal Orlando CityWalk: Entertainment Abounds