 Fun and Universal Studios in Orlando Can Peak in the Off-Peak
"Are we there yet?" This is a question heard repeatedly when waiting in a line at an amusement park. Fortunately, for my recent vacation during the off-season of February to Universal Studios, Orlando, Fla., I found myself saying it while waiting for only two rides: E.T. and the new The Simpsons Ride.
E.T. Adventure is an old favorite of mine. The movie is more than 20 years old, but the ride still draws a lot of attention from kids of all ages. In this ride, you travel on a bike through scenes to bring E.T. home to his planet. At the end, E.T. thanks you personally by name for helping him out. It's short, but meaningful and personable.
The Simpsons ride, however, is so entertaining that You'll wait at least an hour no matter what time of the day. It stimulates a roller coaster and keeps you on the edge of your seat, literally, with twists and turns around every corner. My stomach fell to my feet at least five times. This ride replaced an old favorite of mine, Back to the Future.
The new Disaster ride is exactly like Earthquake, which was there two years ago. The introduction has slightly changed, but the ride is exactly the same. If the line is longer than 20 minutes, the wait isn't worth it.
Jimmy Neutron has graced the kids' section with a new ride, Nicktoon Blast, that all kids no matter what age need to ride. If you remember the Rugrats, you'll relive some good childhood memories through this adventure.
Shrek's 4-D show certainly ranked as a highlight of my day. Not only is it funny, like the movies, but most of the time it has a short wait line. Don't miss it; you'll enjoy it!
Then there are the exciting rides at the Islands of Adventure, like The Hulk. If you are a roller coaster lover, you have got to ride it. For those of us who can't handle roller coasters, try Dr. Seuss's trolley train ride. It's just too cute to pass up.
Water rides, including Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges, Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls and Jurassic Park River Adventure will get you wet - trust me. My family and I were soaked from head to toe after Popeye's wild ride. If you are a fan of water-park rides, these are for you, but make sure you dress for them. Walking around in wet jeans is no fun.
But my favorite ride in this portion of the park is the Amazing Adventures of Spiderman. You'll wait about 30 minutes on a weekday in the off-season, but you'll enjoy every minute of the ride. It's just pure fun!
Check out Universal Studios' Web site for some great ticket deals, like year-round passes for Georgia and Florida residents. If you are flying into Orlando for your next trip, the Orlando Airport is easy to maneuver and has cheap flights available from most of the airlines. Add Universal Studios Orlando to your vacation wish list, and you won't be disappointed.
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