Like, I mean it.

I don't know if you have noticed, but I have been spending quite a lot of time inside the Universal Orlando parks recently. Growing up, we were a strict "Disney only" household. (I'll save my parent's crazy Disney obsession for another entry.) When Universal opened, they never considered going because it was like "cheating on Mickey". I may or may not have heard it called the "u word" once or twice around the house. We used to drive from New York to Florida and I'd smuggle the Universal pamphlets they had at rest areas along I-95 back home with me. We didn't have AOL yet, so it was the only thing I had to get a sneak peek into restricted territory. 

My first visit wasn't until 1999 and it was only to Islands of Adventure. I was apartment hunting with my girlfriend at the time, and we squeezed in a quick visit. We were only there a couple hours at the most. I only got to ride the Hulk coaster, Spider-Man, and one side of Dueling Dragons(now called Dragoon Challenge.). I didn't get over to the Universal park until 2001, and that was for Halloween Horror Nights. I don't remember much of that night. I do remember riding one attraction. It was MIB: Alien Attack. After riding Space Ranger Spin, this ride was crazy! The animatronics were better! The game was better! I thought, if this is what the rest of Universal is like, I have been missing out all these years! And I didn't feel dirty or naughty like I was cheating on Mickey. I thought it was something brand new and maybe for an older audience.

I started going to the Universal parks more regularly in 2003. I missed out on experiencing some rides and attractions such as the Funtastic World of Hanna Barbera, Earthquake, and King Kong. As far as other retired UO attractions go, I've been on Back to the Future a few times, Nicktoon Blast, and of course Jaws. Never saw the Psycho House, Ghostbusters, or Murder She Wrote show. I'm sure I am leaving out other attractions I never got to see, but you get the time frame by now. I was able to ride Revenge of the Mummy, Rip Ride Rockit(and lived), Disaster, and The Forbidden Journey all in their soft open stages before actual park guests.

Between the Mummy opening in 2004, and the dual openings of Disaster! and the new Simpson's ride in 2008, the Universal parks were just kind of there. I remember saying to people how IOA was my favorite park in Central Florida, and they'd laugh at me! 

I'd say, "Just give it a fresh coat of paint and convince the TM's to pick up the trash! You'll see!".

 I always admired the theming to each island, and wanted to take endless amounts of photos. In this 4 year period, I spent lots of time in Islands of Adventure. Admittedly, during this time if I ever went in to UO, it was only to ride ROTM or MIB. It was just so much of the same thing for those 4 years. Something needed to happen to give the whole resort a shot in the arm.

Then the ball started rolling.

Disaster!/Simpsons '08

Rockit '09

POTTER 2010

The prelude to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opening caused people to spend more time in the parks. Unsure of when they'd get that first peek, they'd wander around and fall in love all over again. It helped people realize a theme park doesn't have to be a Disney park to tell a story. Or to be well themed.

It always seemed like the people who loved the Universal Orlando Resort the most, were the Team Members who work there. I started to get the feeling that there was a "community" growing when attractions like Back to the Future, and Jaws closed. The public outcry and fan support over these attractions closing almost rivaled when Mr. Toad closed at the Magic Kingdom. 

Let's get back to June 2010. Mobile social media, mainly Twitter, was still very new and it was perfect timing for the local theme park fan. #PotterWatch was born. People were camped out in front of what we knew to be one of two main entrances in to the area. Twitter became everyone's source to find out when to drop everything and head to UO. Strangers telling strangers that one of the most highly anticipated areas were opened for preview! This sort of thing never happened at Disney. Universal Orlando "fans" have been around since the park opened. Obviously. But the opening of the WWoHP and Potterwatch established the groundwork of a newly growing movement. A Universal Orlando local movement. 

There was a positive response to "New Springfield". They made a huge spectacle out of the Transformers ride opening. The internet was buzzing with speculation about the new venues coming to Citywalk before the official announcement. The Beetlejuice show goes on hiatus and it's last performance has a full capacity show? Something special is going on here. A new and honest fan community. A community not afraid to say, "Ha! The color scheme of the outside of that restaurant looks like a bad acid trip!", as opposed to never thinking against the grain and loving everything Universal does just because it's Universal. It feels like something special is happening, and I am getting to witness it from the start.

I spend lots of my mornings(10:30am-1:00pm) at Universal Orlando. My son, he will be two in May, seems to enjoy spending time here more than any other park. The crowds are light so it's easier for me to let him walk around on his own. There aren't any sort of "dark rides" he can go on, but there is still plenty of entertainment and things to keep him busy and to tire him out for his nap at 2pm. During the summer months we spent most our time in the Curious George splash area. Lately, he's all about the characters that are in the Superstar Parade. They come out in alternating sets in front of the Horror Makeup Show. (I plan on writing an entry about all the walk around characters of Universal in the very near future.)

I am still a Disney annual passholder. Premium at that. I just always think about how I dread going to the Magic Kingdom because of the "magical journey" to and from the park and your vehicle. Animal Kingdom is boring to me and Harry has enough animals at home. I don't have patience to take him to Hollywood Studios without my wife. There's only one thing he can do there besides watch the Disney Jr. Live show and that's run all over the place. We do go to Epcot the most. Which is ironic seeing as how this is the one Disney park that has been frozen(no pun intended) in time the longest. For the time of day we spend at the park, and what Harry can actually do, Epcot is the easiest and most fun for he and I. And we still go to Universal 3-4 times a week.

We're creating new family memories. My dad shot countless hours of VHS tapes of my sister dancing next to Jim the piano player on Main Street. I'll have m4v files of Harry dancing with the roller fishies in Bikini Bottom. Fellow Team Members/entertainers recognize him and make my son feel special. That right there is the best reason that Universal Orlando feels like our "home park". I don't believe in the Disney vs. Universal mentality. Both are places filled with fun things to do, shows to watch, places to eat. It's 10 minutes closer to my house. Parking is easier. We're making new friends because of how much time we spend in the park. And we are lucky enough to be here when so many new and exciting things are on the horizon!

So yeah, I don't know if you have noticed, but I have been spending quite a lot of time inside the Universal Orlando parks recently.

Mikey

*All photos and videos posted were taken by Mikey unless otherwise noted