The Wandering Disciple

Orlando, Florida: The designers of Universal Studios Florida spared no detail when trying to make their lands match the original namesakes. The New York area of the park is no different, featuring style and architecture reminiscent of the Big Apple. A stroll through the streets of New York will make you fell like you are in the NYC and not in Central Florida. The ride highlight of New York is the Revenge of the Mummy. Opened in 2004, the Mummy ride takes the place of the old favorite Kongfrontation. The ride is an enclosed roller coaster features banked turns and a series of special effects to keep riders on the edge of their seats. The almost three minute ride takes its riders through an adventure inspired by the Mummy motion pictures while reaching speeds of near 45 miles per hour. The other attraction in New York is Twister…Ride it Out. Opened in 1998 and based on the hit movie Twister, the attraction takes an inside look at the destruction caused by tornados and how Hollywood recr...

Orlando, Florida: The colorful pages of the Sunday morning newspaper cartoons come to life in this little corner of Islands of Adventure. A stroll through Toon Lagoon is like a stroll down memory lane as the cartoon characters are brought to life in every aspect of the land. Toon Lagoon is geared towards water rides, two of the parks three major water attractions are found here. In addition to the rides, there is also a few restraraunts and shops to round out the experience. Dominating the skyline of Toon Lagoon is Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls. The ride is one of the original rides of Islands of Adventure. The seven minute flume rides follows Dudley on his quest to capture Snidely Whiplash and save Nell Fenwick. Follow the plot through twists, turns and even a 75 foot plunge to see if Dudley can once again save the day. If you are looking to cool off from the hot Florida heat, Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges is the answer for you. Guests embark on a relaxing river ride until Blu...

Orlando, Florida: In addition to great food and entertainment, City Walk also provides a great venue for shopping. Thousands of visitors pass through City Walk each day, browsing the shops and picking up that unique gift or souvenir. There are several shops here featuring all types of item from Universal logo gear to items that support endangered species conservation, it is all found at City Walk. Some of the stores found at City Walk are: BMG Cigarz at City Walk Element Skateboards The Endangered Species Store Fossil Fresh Produce Hart & Huntington Tattoo Company Katie’s Candy Company Quiet Flight Surf Shop Tommy Bahama Universal Studios Store In addition to the stores listed above, many of the larger restaurants feature gift shops catering to their brand. A few of them include: Hard Rock NASCAR Sports Grille NBA City There are also several street vendor carts throughout City Walk that feature an ever changing collection of goods. The ideal location of City Walk, sandwiched betwe...

Orlando, Florida: The Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando is one of three Loews Resorts on the property. Themed to look like a hotel in the south seas, the resort features some of the properties best dining options. The menus are tailored to match the cuisine of the south Pacific while still accommodating the taste buds of all who visit. The cornerstone of the resort’s restaurants is Emeril’s Tchoup Chop. Inspired by the cuisine of the master chef Emeril Lagasse, the menu features meals of Asian and Polynesian cuisine topped with the flair that only Emeril can provide. Some of the items on the menu include: • Furikake Crusted Salmon • Thai Basil Mahi Mahi • Pepper Grilled Yellowfin Tuna • Mongolian Barbeque Pork • Roasted Duck Breast • Tofu • Sushi The resort also features the Islands Dining Room. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Island Dining Room mixes Pacific Rim cuisine with traditional American dishes. For breakfast, the dining room features a menu of all th...

Tampa, Florida: Tucked away among the thrill rides and wild animals is an oasis for the little ones, the Land of Dragons. This mystical land is home to the parks favorite kid attractions. Originally opened in 1983 as the Dwarf Village, the land received a facelift in 1995 and reopened as the Land of Dragons. The highlight of the land is the multi-story play called the Dragon Nest. The Dragon Nest features rope ladders, suspension bridge, slides and many more fun features. At the bottom of the Dragon Nest is Mizzly Marsh, a collection of fountains for the kids to splash around and cool down from the Florida heat. The Land of Dragons is also home to many of the parks children’s rides, including: • Eggery Deggery; a mini Ferris wheel. • Dapper Flappers; mini carousel • Mini flume ride • Boat ride • Car ride The Land of Dragons also houses a theater which runs children’s musical performances several times a day. There is also an exhibit called Living Dragons, where visitors can see K...

Baltimore, Maryland: The largest independent city in the United States, the city of Baltimore was a major part of early American history. From the days of the colonies through the immigration era and beyond, Baltimore was in the middle of the action. The good times also led to bad times as the city has also seen its share of violence between wars and riots. The city began its life as the Port of Baltimore under orders of the Maryland General Assembly in 1706. The town was official founded in 1729 and named after Lord Baltimore and later incorporated in 1745. Much of the colonies early economy came from the shipping of tobacco and sugar. Baltimore briefly became the capitol of the United States during the Revolutionary War. After fleeing the British in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress held session in the Henry Fite House from December of 1776 through February 1777. War came knocking on Baltimore’s door again during the War of 1812. The British attacked Baltimore on the nig...

Baltimore, Maryland: We left early in the morning on the trip to Baltimore-Washington International Airport. When we arrived at the airport, we learned that our flight was overbooked and we were moved to a later flight, resulting in a 3 hour stay in Baltimore. This was not too bad since we had yet to eat breakfast. My parents had not left the airport property, so I called them and they came back to the terminal to pick us up and we headed to breakfast. We had breakfast at the Bob Evans by the airport then decided to do a driving tour of Baltimore since we still had some time left before the flight. Our brief driving tour took us pass the ballparks at Camden Yards, Baltimore Inner Harbor and downtown Baltimore. After the hour long tour, we headed back to the airport, said our good-byes and boarded our flight. The second leg of our flight from Atlanta to Sarasota was an adventure. The fun began while we were sitting in the plane at the terminal, awaiting to push away from the gate....