You'd think that after a week, I'd be getting homesick and pining for the corn and cold. I wasn't. Because on day 7, I got to go to the place that most resembles my vision of Heaven: Universal's Islands of Adventure. It was the sole reason we'd taken the trip. Ever since seeing The Incredible Hulk coaster in The House on Haunted Hill, I'd drooled over the prospect of someday being able to go there. In my mind the park was a 10 before we ever arrived. And once we got there it was about a 30. The only trouble was we couldn't get there...yet.
See, the day before, we'd taken an exit that branched off to the left. It was the only exit that said Universal. So I passed up 2 exits that said Universal before realizing the exit I'd taken on the day before had been closed off. So we drove about 10 minutes before we found a place to turn around. We were about 20 minutes later getting to the park than planned, but we made it. It just goes to show that ever Matt Smeltzer, King of the Roadtrip, can screw up. Actually, I blame it on Universal for not being consistent with their exits...
Anyway, from the entrance to the park, you can see the gleaming green monster
that had become the object of my affection. And it looked good. Real
good. Bigger and longer than in the movie. We stood in line for it
for an hour. We would've waited all day. And it was good.
There is no way to describe how it feels to be sitting there in the tunnel when
the thing launches. It's a whole lifetime's craziness pushed into 2
seconds. It will blow your mind. It has the highest rating ever on
the Matt scale.
After the ride, while we were still pretty euphoric, we went on the Spiderman
ride. And it was cool beyond compare. Once you're sitting there with
your 3-D glasses on, there is no way to tell what's real and what's not.
If you don't believe me, ride it just once in your life. You'll find
out. It's amazing.
Islands of Adventure has got to be the most high-tech park in the
world. Of course, it's only 2 years old. It's also the most
atmosphere intensive park I've ever been to. Everywhere you go is
themed. From the attraction lines to the bridges separating each
island. Everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE, in the park is themed.
And the biggest example of this is outside Poseidon's Fury (which apparently is
closing down. Pity, I loved it.) They've built a HUGE Greek temple
complete with ruins of a huge statue. With huge waterfalls. Jurassic
Park Island IS Jurassic Park, complete with music and sound effects coming from
all directions. Marvel Superhero Island has characters from comic books
all over the place. It has to be the greatest theme park on earth. No
question.
I can't say anything more about this place, but go there. Go there NOW! I've already booked my next trip! (It's in May for those of you who care)
Click here to see what Matt thought of all the attractions he visited at Universal Islands of Adventure.
Click here to move forward to Day 8.
Got a problem? Email me at worldomatt@yahoo.com.