Touristician Reviews – Touristician

Exploring SeaWorld Orlando: A Fascinating Journey into Marine Wonder

December 29, 2023December 29, 2023Posted in Blog, Touristician ReviewsTagged Amusement Park, Florida, hospitality, Orlando, Review, SeaWorld, themepark, Travel, zerotoheroLeave a comment

Welcome back to the blog! Previously, in my last post, I began reviewing my experiences from Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure while on my vacation in Florida. Today we are once again back in the fabulous Sunshine State and we are enjoying the sights and sounds of SeaWorld Orlando!

About The Park:

SeaWorld Orlando, located in Orlando, Florida, is a theme park and marine zoological park. It is associated with neighboring parks such as Discovery Cove and Aquatica, all falling under SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. The park is also affiliated with Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. In 2022, SeaWorld Orlando welcomed around 4.45 million guests, making it the 10th most visited amusement park in the United States. This high visitation highlights its status as a major attraction, drawing visitors to experience its entertainment and marine life conservation.

SeaWorld Orlando has been a significant part of the Central Florida entertainment landscape since its opening on December 15, 1973. Joining the ranks of the SeaWorld chain as its third park, it quickly became a pivotal attraction, effectively transforming Central Florida into a multi-park vacation destination. Notably, the park’s establishment followed closely on the heels of the opening of Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom by a mere two years. This proximity in timeline solidified the region’s status as a premier global destination for diverse, world-class theme park experiences.

Following its initial introduction, SeaWorld Orlando experienced changes in ownership that further shaped its trajectory. In 1976, the park was acquired by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, marking a pivotal shift in its stewardship. Subsequently, Anheuser-Busch, renowned as the owner of Busch Gardens, assumed ownership of SeaWorld, adding another layer to the park’s rich history. This transition in 1989 not only altered the park’s ownership structure but also contributed to the evolution of its offerings and strategic direction, reflecting the dynamic nature of Central Florida’s entertainment landscape.

Busch was more experienced with theme parks and thus developed SeaWorld in a competitive and aggressive manner, moving the park from a show-based to a ride-based park. The park joined in the Disneyland-started simulator ride wave in 1992 with Mission: Bermuda Triangle (later rethemed into Wild Arctic). The nation’s first combination roller coaster and flume ride, Journey to Atlantis, was installed in 1998. In 2000, the Kraken, a Bolliger & Mabillard floorless roller coaster, was added to the park. The flying coaster, Manta, came to the park in 2009 and won the Theme Park Insider Award as the best new attraction.

After being in business for almost 30 years, Busch Entertainment expanded by adding two parks next to each other. Discovery Cove opened in 2000 and Aquatica water park opened in 2008. The company was sold to a private equity firm in 2009 after Anheuser-Busch was purchased by InBev. This led to the closure of the Hospitality Center in February 2009. Over the years, Sea World has introduced several new attractions such as Mako, Ice Breaker, Sesame Street Land, Infinity Falls, and the latest one this year: Pipeline.

SeaWorld’s commitment to marine conservation and education has been a hallmark of its brand, with initiatives aimed at promoting awareness and understanding of marine life. However, throughout the years while trying to achieve this goal, SeaWorld has faced hefty backlash for serval incidents, including safety violations and significant fines related to one of its main orcas. However, despite some of these challenges and issues, SeaWorld has successfully created a harmonious balance between enjoyment and education, providing visitors with a deeper appreciation for the oceans and the creatures that inhabit them.

The acquisition of SeaWorld by new ownership has brought about significant changes in the park’s operations, with a renewed focus on guest experiences and environmental stewardship. This shift has seen the introduction of innovative attractions and experiences, aimed at captivating audiences while also fostering a greater understanding of marine ecosystems.

In recent years, SeaWorld has continued to expand its attractions, with a keen eye on incorporating cutting-edge technology and immersive storytelling. The addition of rides like Mako, Ice Breaker, and Infinity Falls has enhanced the park’s appeal to thrill-seekers, while Sesame Street Land has delighted younger visitors with its vibrant and interactive offerings.

Moreover, the introduction of Pipeline, the latest attraction unveiled this year, underscores SeaWorld’s ongoing commitment to providing fresh and exciting experiences for its guests. This thrilling new addition is set to further elevate the park’s reputation as a premier destination for entertainment and adventure, solidifying its position as a leader in the realm of marine-themed attractions.

SeaWorld’s journey reflects a dedication to evolution and adaptation, embracing new opportunities to captivate audiences while remaining steadfast in its mission to inspire conservation efforts and foster a deeper connection with the natural world. As SeaWorld continues to chart its course into the future, it stands poised to continue delivering unforgettable experiences that blend entertainment, education, and environmental awareness.

SeaWorld Orlando’s fascinating transformation in the summer of 2014 marked a significant milestone for the renowned company as it celebrated its 50th anniversary. The park underwent a reorganization, dividing into distinct areas known as “seas,” each meticulously crafted to embody a unique thematic essence. This innovative approach invited visitors to embark on a captivating journey, starting from the lower center and unfolding seamlessly in a clockwise direction, offering an unparalleled adventure at every turn. This reconfiguration helped to enhanced the guest experience, and also exemplified the commitment to continuous evolution and creativity that has been synonymous with SeaWorld’s legacy.

Port of Entry

The main entrance of the park features a Florida-inspired theme with tropical landscaping and a large artificial freshwater marina with a Shamu-themed iconic lighthouse.

Sea of Shallows

This area showcases most of the shallow water sea animal exhibits at the park as well as the Dolphin Theater. In addition, the Manta roller coaster travels through this section and the former Turtle Trek, A 360 degree dome film, which featured the story of a turtle. All of the Key West at SeaWorld area is inside of the Sea of Shallows. It is designed to mimic the appearance of the city of Key West, Florida with architecture and landscaping reminiscent of the area. Animal exhibits in this portion of the park include lesser devil rays, cownose rays, southern stingrays, green sea turtles, hawksbill sea turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, greater flamingos, West Indian manatees, American alligators and brown pelicans. The stingray and dolphin habitats offer opportunities for guests to feed the animals.

Sea of Legends

The Journey to Atlantis is a captivating boat ride that incorporates thrilling roller coaster elements, creating an unforgettable experience for visitors. This attraction draws inspiration from the mythical legend of the lost city of Atlantis, adding an intriguing and immersive narrative to the adventure. Additionally, visitors can also enjoy the adrenaline-pumping excitement of Kraken, a remarkable floorless roller coaster that further enhances the overall thrill of the theme park. The combination of these exhilarating experiences ensures that visitors can look forward to an action-packed and unforgettable time at the park.

Sea of Ice

Sea of Ice, originally named Antarctica, is themed around the Antarctic continent. Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin is the sole attraction in this area as a penguin exhibit. This is where the brand new ride will be based, named Penguin Trek, in 2024.

Penguin Trek is being promoted as an unforgettable family launch coaster adventure capable of reaching speeds up to 43 miles per hour. The ride is themed around viewing the breathtaking vastness of Antarctica from a snowmobile while dodging and narrowly escaping the crumbling hazards of an icy cavern. The ride ends with the rider discovering a real penguin habitat.

Sea of Delight

The Sea of Delight is truly a captivating section of the park, offering visitors a delightful experience reminiscent of a seaside Mediterranean village. The charming sub-area called The Waterfront is a picturesque representation of this, complete with quaint architecture and serene views. One of the highlights of this area is the iconic Sky Tower ride, seamlessly integrated into the theme of The Waterfront village when it made its debut in 2003. This merging of thrilling attractions with the thematic essence of the village adds a unique allure to the overall experience.

Moreover, within this enchanting enclave, guests can also enjoy the captivating Pets Ahoy show, which was hosted in the Seaport Theater. This engaging animal show provided a memorable experience for visitors, becoming a cherished part of their time in The Waterfront. Notably, just beyond The Waterfront lies the Sea Lion and Otter Stadium viewing area, offering a perfect vantage point to observe these fascinating marine animals in their natural element.

The Sea of Delight, with its exquisite blend of attractions and thematic elements, truly stands as a testament to the park’s artful curation of immersive experiences.

Sea of Mystery

The Sea of Mystery is where you’ll find the Shark Encounter exhibit and the Sharks Underwater Grill, as well as the Nautilus Theater, which they use for seasonal shows and events. Mako, a Bolliger & Mabillard steel hypercoaster, was introduced in the area on June 10, 2016. They spruced up the current shark exhibit and the surrounding area, turning it into Shark Wreck Reef. By 2018, they also added the rapids ride Infinity Falls in this area, set in the sub-area of Sea of Infinity. This spot has a rainforest vibe and also features a food spot called Waterway Grill.

Sea of Power

The Sea of Power is where SeaWorld puts on its killer whale shows. Right in the middle, you’ve got the Shamu Stadium, and right next to it is the Wild Arctic indoor pavilion. Inside the Wild Arctic, you can check out some cool animals like beluga whales, Pacific walruses, harbor seals, and there used to be polar bears, too. Right now, the Shamu Stadium is running the “Orca Encounter” as its main show, but you can catch “Shamu Celebration: Light up the Night” and “Shamu Christmas Miracles” during the holiday season.

Sesame Street Land

Formerly named Shamu’s Happy Harbor and Sea of Fun, Sesame Street Land is a kids’ area right next to Shamu Stadium. Here, you’ll find fun stuff for the whole family, like Super Grover’s Box Car Derby (a mini rollercoaster) and a cool water play area. This is the only part of SeaWorld Orlando inspired by the educational TV show, Sesame Street.

My Rating: 6/10

While I enjoyed my time at SeaWorld, my main complaint was the crowd level as the theme park was hosting the Madi Gras celebrations as well as its Seven Seas Food Festival. I am kind of disappointed I didn’t get to try any of the foods but decided it would not be worth the price, but all of the stalls were uniquely themed and the menus did look interesting. A big complaint I have for SeaWorld is their locker policy or their usage of the locker system. You do have to put items in a locker for most of the thrill rides, but they are not free like Universal’s sadly. The system was a bit more confusing to use and took a bit for me to understand fully. I wish they would use the ticket or something similar to Universal, then offer the free lockers that are smaller and paid lockers for bigger items. I loved the different walk-thru exhibits and educational posters that helped teach kids about the animals and how to save the animals. That is something that I think really makes SeaWorld a good place to visit with kids. The live action shows with animals were cute and I did enjoy watching the shows, though I think they missed out by not making the screen at the Orca Encounter in the shape of a whale tale… but eh, that is just my opinion. I did learn that the SkyTower is a charge of fee ride, so that was a bit disappointing. When I did get to the SkyTower, it was either closed or the line was too long.

My biggest disappointment was the meal ticket plan I had gotten. The restrictions of where to eat and what to eat are utterly ridiculous. I feel they could expand this a bit more to include some of the better restaurants… I didn’t really get the bang for my buck with this item and I dont not suggest it.

Tips & Tricks

Just like Universal, Sea World does have an app you can download that will help you keep track of ride times, show times, and more. I suggest just like Universal to see if you look up a calendar to show when Sea World expects a crowded time and try to avoid going to the park during those times. For the small kids, I say you really need to check out Sesame Street Land. It’s a really cute and interactive land for the younger ones, while the thrill junkies can go ride the coasters. It even has a parade of characters, but you can imagine that it causes a bit of a backup even if you are trying to get from one part of the park to the other.

And with that, the review is officially done! Though, we did go to Disney Springs before heading home on the 4th day… I feel it was unnecessary for me to give a full review on the shopping district area as we didn’t spend much time there. Again, the main complaint, the crowds were utterly ridiculous. The line for the Lego store wrapped around the store itself, if that gives you an idea on how busy it was during that weekend.

I thank you all for joining me on my great adventure. I look forward to hopefully sharing more with you all again next time. For now, here are some more pictures from my trip! Enjoy!

Exploring The Sunshine State (Part 3) – Universal Studios Orlando

October 6, 2023September 25, 2023Posted in Disney & Universal, Touristician ReviewsTagged Experiences, Florida, Hotel, Islands of Adventure, Review, themepark, Travel, Universal Studios1 Comment

Welcome back to the blog! Previously, in my last post, I began reviewing my experiences from Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure while on my vacation in Florida. In today’s continuation post, I’ll be reviewing more of the park and rating my dining experience at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen. So without further ado, let’s get back to Florida!

Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen

Located in the CityWalk, Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Kitchen (yes, that is the full name) is a steampunk-themed restaurant that makes you feel like you are stepping into an inventor’s lab. There is even a backstory that I have included below for your enjoyment.

‘From the Alps to the empire of the Aztecs, from Mongolia to Madagascar, Professor Doctor Penelope Tibeaux-Tinker Toothsome learned new and fascinating methods of infusing chocolate into the most extraordinary recipes, making friends and receiving honors everywhere she went. Upon returning home to London, Penelope determined that she would share her love and knowledge of chocolate with the world. She set about building The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen, an enchanting 19th-century themed, Steampunk-inspired dining establishment with a façade of towering smokestacks and an interior adorned with intriguing gadgets and gizmos.’

Aside from the stunning look of the exterior and interior design, there are the two main characters of Penelope Toothsome and her loyal robot companion Jacques who love to interact with the guests as they eat. The Restaurant is two levels with a stunning bar so you can get different experiences depending on where you sit. The main menu items are, of course, the delightfully delicious milkshakes featuring chocolate, peanut butter, vanilla ice cream, and more. The price range for the milkshakes is between $13.50 – $15. I ordered myself the Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake, which included Sour cream ice cream, cheesecake, graham crackers, fresh whipped cream, and chocolate dipped strawberry. I was even able to keep the cup as a souvenir of my dining experience!

While those may satisfy your sweet tooth, Toothsome also offers a great variety of options from the Savory Kitchen side. They offer appetizers, salads, soups, flatbreads, sandwiches and burgers, pasta, and delicious entrees. For those who are early birds, they even have a whole Brunch menu as well! The price range for the menus is considered between $10 – $33, so I would say a moderately priced restaurant. For my lunch, I ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo which I found to be absolutely delicious!

My Rating: 10/10

What can I honestly say more about this place? The theming: 10/10. The service: 10/10. The food: 10/10. The desert: 10/10. The interactions: 10/10. This is probably one of the best-themed dining experiences in all of Universal in my opinion. I loved watching the screen as the steampunk robots flew around with ingredients, meeting the characters, and the overall feel of the restaurant. There is nothing I would suggest to change here, it’s absolutely perfect! Which makes this rating review probably the easiest and shortest review.

Tips & Tricks

When planning my trip to Universal, I asked my travel agent to add a reservation for Toothsome specifically for the lunchtime period. While you are allowed to go at any time, it is probably best to make reservations ahead of time. The busiest times seem to be late afternoon time (3 pm) and of course, dinner time around 6 pm to 7 pm time frame. Keep in mind that weekends and Fridays may also have a higher crowd level as well. You can also make reservations by calling ahead of time or via the website as well. Another tip I suggest is to take a look at their menu before you arrive to eat. You can find their menus listed on the website as well.

Well, lunchtime is over and I am quite full. Let’s head back into the parks and continue our fun day at Universal Orlando. Keep in mind, you will have to go through the security check at the front gates at the parks even if you had already done so when you first arrived. That is the only grip I had is that I wish there was a way for easier re-entry. I understand though it is for security reasons that we have to re-enter at the gates.

Heading Back To The Park

I went back into the Islands side of the park, this time going counter-clockwise from the Port of Entry. I was able to experience (before its closure this summer) Poseidon’s Fury. I found the indoor special effects show to be quirky but you can definitely tell it was aging since it had been in the park since opening day in 1993. It’s sad how empty Lost Continent is now compared to the original opening-day experience, I can only hope that maybe in the future this land gets a much-needed facelift and rethemed. There are many rumors spreading of the land being replaced by Lord of the Rings or Zelda, but Universal has made no such announcement as of yet.

After Poseidon’s Fury, I was able to catch a ride on the VelociCoaster. Talk about an adrenaline rush. There were several airtime moments that I felt like I was about to come out of my seat. I continued on my journey back into Hogsmeade to ride Forbidden Journey and check on the wait time for Hagrids. However, when I arrived, the wait time was 120+ minutes, and the queue line was stretched into the Lost Continent section. I decided to skip Hagrids and ride the train over to the Studios portion of the park.

Universal Studios Orlando

Universal Studios Florida is split into nine themed lands situated around a lagoon. The nine surrounding themed areas, clockwise from the entrance, are Minion Land on Illumination Ave, Production Central, New York, San Francisco, London/Diagon Alley, World Expo, Springfield USA, Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone, and Hollywood. Each area features a combination of rides, shows, attractions, character appearances, dining outlets, and merchandise stores. The newest area, based on Despicable Me, will be added to the park in Summer 2023.

Minion Land on Illumination Ave

This is the newest land which has replaced a portion of Production Central located at the main entrance of the park. This new ‘mini-land’ includes the attraction of Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem and the upcoming Villian-Con Minion Blast attraction.

Production Central

This land is mostly themed to music with the rollercoaster of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and the Transformers the Ride 3D dark ride. There is no real clear theme to this area, especially with a portion of the land now being rebranded and rethemed to the Minions area coming this summer.

New York

This land is mostly themed to New York City, including many facades of some of the New York Public Library and some other landmarks from the city that never sleeps. This land hosts the attractions of the Jimmy Fallon ride, the Revenge of the Mummy indoor coaster, as well as the preview center and a Blues Brother stage show.

San Francisco

This mini-land is themed to the San Francisco bay area and hosts its only attraction: the Fast & Furious Supercharge dark ride. I have to say that this land is probably one of the weakest ones at Universal Florida sadly. Many guests state that the ride, which had replaced Disaster and Earthquake, is a horrible retheme. Though, many guests do enjoy the queue line that has some props and cars from the Fast & Furious franchise.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley/London

This second half of The Wizarding World is themed to the Diagon Alley / London location from the films. You literally get to step through the brick way into Diagon Alley, where you can not even see the rest of the theme park. This land includes the Kings Cross Stations for the train ride to Islands, a Gringotts-themed ride, and several shops and restaurants themed to the Harry Potter franchise. This is the most popular area of the park and is usually the most crowded. Don’t forget to watch the dragon on top of the Gringotts bank which is set to spit fire every 15 minutes or so.

Springfield

This area used to be part of the World Expo which originally housed the Back to the Future Ride. In 2017, this area would be rethemed to the popular Simpsons television series. The ride would be rethemed into the Simpsons Ride. There is also a spinning ride resembling the title aliens (Kang and Kodos) on The Simpsons. There is no word of what may happen to this area after the leasing of the Simpsons is over.

Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone

On January 15, 2023, the majority of Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone, including its rides Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster and Fievel’s Waterslide, the play areas Curious George Goes to Town and Fievel’s Playland, and the Shrek-themed meet-and-greet style attraction which was opened the year before after the closure of Shrek 4-D, was permanently closed to make room for an unannounced area rumored to be themed to DreamWorks Animation. E.T. Adventure and Animal Actors on Location were kept, as well as SpongeBob StorePants, a SpongeBob SquarePants-themed merchandise store, and KidZone Pizza Company, a seasonal pizzeria located by the area’s entrance. The only two remaining attractions at KidZone are the Animal Actors show and the E.T. Adventure ride.

Hollywood

There are no major thrill rides in the Hollywood section. However, it is home to the updated Bourne Stuntstactular which replaced the Terminator attraction. Hollywood’s two dining outlets are recreations of actual Hollywood outlets. Schwab’s Pharmacy and Mel’s Drive-In offer guests a variety of food and beverage options. A third outlet, named Cafe La Bamba, operates seasonally. Guests can purchase magic-related items from Theatre Magic.

My Rating: 6/10

While I normally give this a rather good rating, I was rather rushed as I only had 1 day to enjoy the Universal parks. My rating was also lowered due to the rather large crowds as it was a holiday weekend plus the Mardi Gras event at Universal. I feel that the Studios side of the theme park is rather lacking compared to the Islands side. Though, Diagon Alley did help the Studios upgrade its lineup and theming to stepping into the movies. I look forward to what could be replacing KidZone in the coming future, but there are no official announcements. The only area that I feel really needs to be replaced or redone is San Francisco. The ride (Fast & Furious Supercharged) is not really a good ride compared to what is offered in the park. I hope that Orlando decides to replace the dark ride with the coaster like they are in the Hollywood park.

Tips & Tricks

I don’t have any additional tips or tricks that I haven’t already covered in the Islands portion of this review. While you’re in Diagon Alley, I suggest taking a look around to find subtle nods to the Jaws ride that used to be in the area but was replaced. Additionally, I really enjoy all the spell-casting spots in Diagon Alley, though Knockturn Alley does have an interesting effect on the map via the dark light. Another tip, if you haven’t already, is to download the Universal app to keep track of show times, ride wait times, and character meet and greets. The locker system is similar to the Islands of Adventure locker system and uses your ticket to unlock the free small locker. While I don’t think it is required, you can also consider buying the Universal Express Pass, which can sometimes help reduce wait times.

Exploring The Sunshine State (Part 2) – Islands of Adventure

September 27, 2023September 25, 2023Posted in Disney & Universal, Touristician ReviewsTagged Experiences, Florida, Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Review, themepark, Travel, Universal StudiosLeave a comment

Universal Studios Florida is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida that opened on June 7, 1990. Owned and operated by NBCUniversal, it features numerous rides, attractions, and live shows that are primarily themed to movies, television, and other aspects of the entertainment industry. Universal Studios Florida was the first of three theme parks to open at Universal Orlando Resort, joined later by Universal’s Islands of Adventure in 1999 and Volcano Bay in 2017. In 2019, it ranked eleventh in the world – sixth in North America – for overall attendance among amusement parks with approximately 10.9 million visitors.

The success of its sister location, Universal Studios Hollywood, in the 1980s fueled the desire to build a similar park in the Orlando area to compete with Walt Disney World. Two of its early projects were partially developed by famed Hollywood director Steven Spielberg, and many themed attractions over the years were developed in close collaboration with the directors, producers, and actors of the films they are based on. An early layout and design of the park also incorporated active production studios, similar to the Hollywood location, which provided guests with a behind-the-scenes look at film and television. As the interest to produce films in the Orlando area quickly faded, the design of the park transitioned to a more immersive, first-person perspective.

Universal Studios Florida operates a well-known annual event during the fall season called Halloween Horror Nights, where the park transitions to a Halloween theme featuring haunted houses and scare zones on select nights. One of the park’s biggest draws is Diagon Alley, a Harry Potter-themed portion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter that opened in 2014. Other notable attractions include E.T. Adventure, which debuted with the park’s grand opening in 1990, Men in Black: Alien Attack, as well as roller coasters Revenge of the Mummy and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.

To make it easy for our readers, I will split the day according to how I spent it at the parks. So our review will begin at Islands of Adventure, then have a lunch review from the Toothsome Chocolate Factory, and end the day at Universal Orlando. Here are a few things to keep in mind: During my time visiting, Universal Orlando was celebrating Madi Gras. It was also President’s Day weekend so the crowd level was moderately higher than I liked. So without further ado, let our Journey begin!

Islands of Adventure

Universal Islands of Adventure (also known as Islands of Adventure or IOA), originally called Universal Studios Islands of Adventure and later Universal’s Islands of Adventure, is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. It opened on May 28, 1999, along with CityWalk, as part of an expansion that converted Universal Studios Florida into the Universal Orlando Resort. The resort’s slogan “Vacation Like You Mean It” was introduced in 2013.

Islands of Adventure is modeled after a journey of exploration, where guests embark on an adventure to visit a variety of themed islands. Initially, the park featured six islands. A seventh, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, was added in 2010, themed to the highly successful Harry Potter franchise. It was Universal’s largest investment since the resort’s founding in 1990. The expansion led to a significant increase in attendance, and in 2013, Islands of Adventure ranked seventh domestically and eleventh internationally after hosting approximately 8.1 million guests. The eighth island, Skull Island, opened on July 13, 2016, and is themed to the King Kong franchise.

Islands of Adventure is split into eight themed islands: (going clockwise around the park)

Port of Entry

Port of Entry is the park’s main entrance and is home to many shops and services including Guest Services aptly named The Open Arms Hotel. The park’s centerpiece, Pharos Lighthouse, is also located within the Port of Entry. Each night, this functioning lighthouse sends out a bright beam to lead visitors to and from the park’s gates. Like many theme parks using the “hub and spokes” format, this entry Island contains no rides.

Marvel Super Hero Island

Marvel Super Hero Island is based on the superhero characters featured in Marvel Comics. The area features comic book-styled architecture, with many building interiors created from a comic book perspective, characterized by exaggerated lines and angles. The exteriors of the buildings are painted with a special paint that appears to change color depending on the viewing angle; sometimes purple, sometimes orange. This island consists of four attractions: one tea-cup-themed ride featuring Storm from X-Men, one freefall tower themed to Doctor Doom from Fantastic 4, one 3-D dark ride themed to Spider-Man from Spider-Man, and one launch coaster themed to Hulk from The Hulk.

Toon Lagoon

Toon Lagoon is based on cartoon and comic strip characters from King Features Syndicate and Jay Ward. The area’s main focus is water-based rides. This island holds three attractions: one log flume ride themed to Dudley Do-Right, one river rapids ride themed to Popeye the Sailor Man, and one interactive kids’ playground themed to Popeye the Sailor Man.

Skull Island

Skull Island is the newest island at the park, having been opened in the summer of 2016. The area’s sole attraction, Skull Island: Reign of Kong, opened on July 13, 2016. The attraction and island mark the return of the King Kong character to the Universal Orlando Resort after the Kongfrontation attraction closed at Universal Studios Florida in 2002 to make way for the Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride. The only attraction on this island is the dark trackless ride based on the Kong films.

Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park is themed around the film series of the same name. Set after the events of the first film, the area takes on the guise of John Hammond’s dinosaur theme park featured in the series. As such, the area is filled with attractions and exhibits one would find in the “real” Jurassic Park, including thrill rides and discovery-based exhibits. There are five attractions located on this island: A children’s play area named Camp Jurassic, A river ride named Jurassic Park River Adventure based on the film and book of the same name, A suspended steel flying coaster named Pteranodon Flyers themed to the dinosaurs of the same name, A launch coaster named VelociCoaster themed to velociraptors and the Jurassic World franchise, and the interactive play area of the Jurassic Park Discovery Center based on the film and book of the same name.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade is themed around the Harry Potter universe, authored by J.K. Rowling. It officially opened to the public on June 18, 2010. On May 31, 2007, Universal announced that it had secured the licensing rights from Warner Bros. and Rowling to incorporate the Harry Potter franchise into Islands of Adventure. The 20-acre (81,000 m2) island features attractions, shops, and restaurants set inside locations such as the Forbidden Forest, Hogsmeade Village, and the iconic Hogwarts Castle. Groundbreaking began in 2007, with the official opening scheduled for June 18, 2010, as announced on March 25, 2010. As part of the promotion for the upcoming area, a behind-the-scenes documentary on the production of the park section is included on the Blu-ray and DVD release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

The Lost Continent

The Lost Continent is themed to ancient myths and legends, and is divided into two sub-sections: an ancient Arabian marketplace called Sinbad’s Bazaar, and a Grecian-Atlantis-esque Lost City. Formerly, the Lost Continent included a medieval section called Merlinwood, but the majority of that area was re-themed for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This land is also home to Mythos, which is one of two full-service restaurants in the park and was voted the winner of the best theme park restaurant by Theme Park Insider for six successive years between 2003 and 2008. As of June 1st, 2023, there is only one remaining attraction on this island: The interactive Mystic Fountain.

Seuss Landing

Seuss Landing is based on the works of author Dr. Seuss. The island features several Seuss-themed attractions, especially geared towards small children, as well as a Green Eggs and Ham Cafe and Circus McGurkus restaurant. As in the books, one of the unique characteristics of this area is that there are almost no straight lines anywhere. Palm trees bent by the winds of Hurricane Andrew were even planted in the area to continue this theme.

My Rating: 8/10

I am a bit biased when it comes to the Islands of Adventure rating. This theme park is one of the most brilliantly themed parks in the Orlando area, behind the Disney Parks. Every island has its own character and charm that you can see in the buildings and the views. You feel like you are stepping into your favorite comic strip, whether it be Spider-Man or Popeye. Or you can feel like you are stepping into your favorite book, whether it be Cat in the Hat or Jurassic Park. There are a few reasons why my rating is a bit lower, mostly due to the crowd level. I also am rating this experience on this trip instead of my previous trips before. Another reason why it is not perfect is just the fact that I was rather time-restricted due to the fact that I only had one day in both parks. I also am very lucky to get a chance to experience Poseidon’s Fury before its closure, but my main gripe about the Lost Continent is the lack of attractions since the Wizarding World takeover. This island is one of the remaining islands that have not received anything new since opening day nearly 30 years ago.

Tips & Tricks

As mentioned in the Dockside review, you can catch a shuttle bus from the hotel to the Resort for free. That eases the burden of having to worry about paying for parking at the resort or trying to find a spot in the parking lot if it’s a busy day. One tip was my use of a fanny pack that I carried with me. I kept my wallet, my phone (while on rides), and my glasses (while on rides) inside of the fanny pack and felt it was just easy to keep track of my personal items.

Keep in mind that almost all rides do require you to place items into a locker before boarding the ride, though there are a few that don’t have that rule in place. The major thrill rides, the coasters, will all have a locker system that is provided to you for free or for a paid fee for use of the day. The water rides do offer lockers for guests to use, however, they are paid lockers and there are no free lockers to rent. There are air dryers, which once again are paid, that you can use located near any water ride.

My second tip, download the Universal Orlando app. This app allows you to keep track of wait times for rides, and times for experiences like characters or shows, and allow you to mobile order for food at many of the restaurants.

Stay tuned for part two of my Universal Studios Orlando & Islands of Adventure experience where I’ll review more of the park and review the Toothsome Chocolate Factory restaurant!

Exploring The Sunshine State. Theme Parks, State Parks & Travel Tips! (Part I)

March 30, 2023March 29, 2023Posted in Disney & Universal, Touristician ReviewsTagged Disney, Florida, hospitality, Hotel, Review, SeaWorld, themepark, Travel, Universal StudiosLeave a comment

Greetings friends! I am back with a new blog for all of our friends! I will review the four-day vacation that I took recently, highlighting each day with reviews and thoughts on each park. I will also add my suggestions and tips so that you can make your vacation planning easier! So sit back, relax, and enjoy the review!

My family left our home in North Georgia at about midnight, Friday morning. Our deal was that I would pay for every other refill of gas in the car, as well as half the grocery bill and the parking fees at the hotel. We would stop around 8 am to eat some breakfast at a Pilot Travel Center for a restaurant named Iron Skillet. After our Breakfast, we would head to our first destination on our vacation… Weeki Wachee!

Weeki Wachee Spring State Park

Weeki Wachee was started by a US Navy named Newton Perry, who was looking for an interesting spot for a new business. Newton would experiment and invent a method of breathing underwater from a free-flowing air hose supplying oxygen from an air compressor. This would give the appearance of thriving twenty feet underwater with no breathing apparatus. They would build an 18-seat theater built into the limestone so viewers could look right into the natural beauty of the ancient spring submerged. On October 13th, 1947, the first showing at the theatre would open. In the 1950s, Weeki Wachee was one of the nation’s most popular tourist stops.

By the 1960s, girls were coming from Tokyo to try out for the privilege of being a mermaid at Weeki Wachee. The mermaids would perform eight shows a day to sold-out crowds and as many as half a million people would come to the Springs to see the mermaids. The city of Weeki Wachee would become incorporated by 1966, putting the small town on the map. By 1982, the waterpark “Buccaneer Bay” would open with waterslides and white-sand beaches. Weeki Wachee is celebrating 75 ‘fintastic’ years right now, with some beautifully painted mermaids along the main paths.

Now, it is time for my thoughts, reviews, and tips for Weeki Wachee. While we were at Weeki Wachee, we were able to catch the show in the lagoon but the room was rather full already so we didn’t get the best seating to see some of the action. The show they performed was the Little Mermaid, which my sisters enjoyed greatly. My first tip is to arrive at the theatre about 30 minutes before showtime if you wish to have a good seat, as it fills up quickly. Weeki Wachee also offers a boat ride but sadly it was already full for the next three trips, so we skipped the tour. I love walking down the trail as the flora is somewhat beautiful but the shade was much appreciated in the heat that day.

My Rating: 4/10

The reason my rating is so low is just due to how little there is to do at the state park. I think it is a cute pitstop, but with only three mermaid shows and a boat ride. You can easily get bored at the park. I thought they could have done more flora on the trails, though some of the flowers were beautiful. My biggest complaint was the fact that the boat rides filled up rather quickly and made the rest of our visit rather boring. There is some theming around the park, but it is sparse and mostly used for photo ops. The statues they had out for the 75th anniversary could have spread out the park, maybe like a treasure hunt in my opinion.

Tips & Tricks

My first tip for visiting Weeki Wachee is to try going for a boat ride first. Head straight to the boat docks. While many will be watching the mermaid show in the morning, the line for the boat ride will be low. However, after the first show is over, the line and queue fill up for boat rides. My second tip is to keep an eye on the times for the mermaid shows. The park opens the theater for seating 30 minutes before the show and keeps doors open until the theater is full or the show is in progress. When we arrived, the theater was rather full but we were still able to get a seat. However, when the action scenes in the middle took place, it was hard to see much.

Now, for a trick for those who have young kids. The state park does have a Ranger show towards the back that will teach kids all about beautiful animals, there is also a playground for them to burn their energy out on. My biggest trick is that we also took a child harness to help keep the youngest from running off, but allow her to still run around for fun.

Universal Endless Resort- Dockside

Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn & Suites and Dockside Inn & Suites are a pair of hotels located in Universal Orlando in Orlando, Florida forming a single resort. The resorts are built on the former site of Wet ‘n Wild Orlando, which closed in 2016. The hotels were built as value-level hotels for Universal Orlando.

We stayed for 3 nights in a two-bedroom suite on the 4th floor of the 1st tower, with our room in the middle of the tower itself. Each 440-square-foot suite has 2 bedrooms, separate bath and vanity areas, and a kitchenette. Each suite can sleep up to 6 people with two queen beds in one room and one queen bed in the other. Each suite came with two TVs, a mini-fridge, a microwave, a coffee maker, and other guest amenities including a safe. Staying at a Universal property does come with perks, including Early Park Admission alongside free transportation to CityWalk and back.

My Rating: 8/10

I was blown away at how big the hotel was, having only worked in hotels with 100 rooms at most. The lobby was really beautiful with its design and the theme of a beachside getaway. I do have to dock some points for the fact that they didn’t have enough luggage racks to handle so many guests which were rather disappointing. I didn’t include the marketplace or any of the dining options in my review as I didn’t experience it. The pool looked nice but I never got the chance to swim as I was exhausted after each day. My family said that the pool got cold easily so they didn’t stay in the pool for long. The room was really clean and I loved the location with a rather nice view of ICON Park and good views of the sunrise in the morning. Our room keys even had our names on them, with different characters from the Universal parks pictured on them. The room was straightened out each day with beds made. The checkout process was also rather simple and easy, plus we got to keep our keys as souvenirs!

Tips & Tricks

If you are staying at a Universal Resort, I would suggest that the first tip, once you are settled in, is to talk to the Universal Vacations desk in the Lobby. The guest services will be happy to answer any questions, make reservations and help you plan your day at Universal Resort. If you are going to SeaWorld (Like I did), you will need to make a reservation for the shuttle at least a day ahead at the desk as well. Another tip, while you are at the Vacation desk, is to go ahead and buy the PhotoPass. It was $70 plus taxes but cheaper than if you wait to buy the pass once you are in the park. The Photo Pass is well worth the money spent and I will explain it in the next part. When you check in, be warned that you will have to pay for parking ($15/night).

Stay tuned for the next part where I review my experiences at Universal & SeaWorld during my trip!

Kicking Back Hampton Style – Sweet Eats, Chill Vibes & More!

March 9, 2023March 8, 2023Posted in Touristician ReviewsTagged Hershey, hospitality, Hotel, Hotel Review, PA, Restaurant Industry, Restaurants, Review, Travel, zerotoheroLeave a comment

We’re officially back after being on the road experiencing even more of what Pennsylvania has to offer! This time we are in the Harrisburg Hershey area. From chill vibes in the hotel to the sweet eats, to exploring caverns, this trip had it all. So without further ado, let’s dive into today’s review!

Hampton Inn Harrisburg-East (Hershey Area)

Customer Service – 5/5

I’ve got to say Hampton Inn is starting to become one of my favorite Hilton brands and my go to hotel brand. Much like Holiday Inn Express, every time I visit a Hampton location the service is always on point and I never have issues with the service I get. Unlike Holiday Inn Express, Hampton always seems to go that one extra step and really blows you away. I’m not sure if it’s just because Hilton standards are different from IGH, but I’m seeming to like Hilton more and more every time I go.

Upon checking in, the front desk agent was very polite, respectful, talkative (in a good way) and overall on point! I’ve mentioned this in previous reviews and I’ll say it again. I absolutely love seeing fellow front desk agents out there just doing amazing at their jobs! It was honestly nice to be on the receiving end this time instead of the giving end.

Later on in the evening, the room next to ours (we had the adjoining door so we could hear into the next room slightly) went out for a while. While they were out, the alarm clock in their room kept going off for about 30 mins. I waited a bit to call since I wanted to give the neighbors the benefit of the doubt and I also didn’t want to be that person that complains. When I did call, the front desk agent was once again on point and came upstairs and took care of it right away.

Sadly for this front desk agent, he would later have to come back upstairs again around 10:30pm. The neighbors when they got back were blasting their tv all night long, talking overly loud (almost to the point where it was screaming) and making a lot of noise. Being I work at a hotel, I know what it is like having to deal with situations like these all the time. When I did call, the front desk apologized and shortly after, I heard them in the hallway knocking on their door. I heard them ask the room to politely turn the tv down and keep the noise down a bit. After that, I didn’t hear a peep out of them the rest of the night. The front desk handled that like a champ!

Rooms – 4.8/5

Out of all the rooms I have stayed in so far, this has been one of the best rooms I’ve stayed in. From top to bottom everything in the room was brand new being the hotel was recently renovated. One thing I love about this brand is their attention to every detail in their room designs. In addition to being very well kept and updated, the rooms were also spotless! As someone who works in the hotel industry, one of the first things I always look for and expect is cleanliness. Got to say, Hampton never disappoints when it comes to this. Only minor issues I noticed with the room were a few small areas that were just cosmetic and didn’t affect the room at all (just two tiny areas that had wallpaper peeling & the back of the bathroom door needed a bit of touch up paint). Other than those few very minor things, this room was perfect and well worth the price!

Amenities – 5/5

Of course what’s not a hotel stay without the free breakfast in the morning. I do have to say Hampton Inn’s breakfast is definitely far superior than Holiday Inn Express since it’s more consistent, the food selection is larger and their breakfast is always cooked and prepared perfectly.

I always make sure I hit the waffle maker section of the breakfast area. There’s nothing better than a fresh waffle topped with a vast amount of toppings. I always make chocolate chips, peanut butter or sprinkles. Usually I top half with chocolate chips then the other half with peanut butter. Of course I can’t resist the maple syrup either!

On a quick side note, I totally found it pretty cool and astonishing how the staff wrote positive messages on the bananas for the guests! This is the first hotel I have stayed at that did this. It just goes to show the level of care the staff have for guests and providing excellent guest service. Nice touch Hampton!

Final Thoughts & Rating

Overall, this entire stay was flawless and perfect just like I expected it to be. Customer service was beyond excellent, the rooms were nearly perfect and breakfast was on point as always.

Rating the hotel on a scale of 1 to 5, I would rate this location a 4.9/5! But hang on, that’s not the end of the review! Up next, we’ll be covering all the restaurants I stopped at during the trip as well as a brief review on Indian Echo Caverns.

Restaurant Reviews

The Original Golden Eagle Diner – 2/5

This was definitely an interesting diner from slot machines, a full bar and weird decor stuck somewhere between the 1960s & 1970s. Yes you heard that correctly, this diner has a full service bar which operates around lunch time and diner. However, I believe they do use it at breakfast only for mimosas and other breakfast cocktails.

Overall, the experience was not very good and I honestly wouldn’t recommend this diner. Cleanliness was a major issue from the very start. The silverware I got was not clean so I sent it back and got another set, only another dirty set. I once again asked for another set and it too was dirty. I had to combine pieces from the sets. I had to have a completely clean set. The issues didn’t stop there with cleanliness, the table I was seated at was a bit dirty to the point I had to take the sanitizing wipes they had on the tables for Covid, to reclean my table. Lastly, being I was on the road, I used the restroom prior to leaving and it was totally disgusting! It was as if nobody ever cleaned it for a long time. It was so gross!

As far as food goes, don’t expect much either. The food was really bland, and didn’t taste that good. I was expecting better because the reviews were so good for this place. Sadly, that was not the case as I ordered what I expected to be pancakes but instead got overly sugary, cake like “pancakes” which did not even taste like pancake batter.

Lancaster Brewing Company – 5/5

This honestly wasn’t my first time eating at Lancaster Brewing Company. It was back during (year) when I stayed at Holiday Inn Express in Lancaster, PA. One thing I enjoy about LBC is the wide selection of food available and their large drink selection (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic).

Check out their menu here: https://www.lancasterbrewing.com/dine/lbc-harrisburg/

I’m not much into drinking alcohol however, I did try their Peanut Butter Beer they had on tap as well as bottled. It actually tastes a lot like peanut butter and isn’t overpowering like I thought it was.

During my last visit, I ordered the LBC burger which is 1/2 pound of our signature chuck/sirloin house blend, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and house-cut fries. LBC has very good cuts of meat and burgers. One thing I also enjoy about their burgers is when you ask for it to be cooked well done, they cook it perfectly. Sometimes when they cook them well done, they tend to overdo it and cause the burger to have a burnt taste. This visit however, I didn’t go for a burger and went with a thin crust pepperoni pizza which was absolutely amazing!

Indian Echo Caverns

Our last stop of our trip found us at Indian Echo Caverns just outside of Hershey with beautiful sights hidden within plain sight thousands of feet underground. The caverns have a long history dating all the way back to the 1700s. The temperature in the caverns is a consistent 52 degrees which feels absolutely amazing on a hot summer day or freezing winter day. Let’s take a look at some photos:

And with that, this officially concludes our PA road trip in the Harrisburg Hershey area. Thank you for your patience during the past few weeks with no new content. Stay tuned for loads of new content on its way. I recently started a new job in the casino industry working on the hotel side, so expect lots of casino related content, more crazy hotel stories and travel tips. Additionally, (Zach) Hyrax recently went on a Florida trip. From Universal Studios to SeaWorld, his trip had it all. Stay tuned for the blog posts all about it!

PA Weekend Getaway (Part 2) – Restaurant Reviews

July 26, 2022November 17, 2022Posted in Touristician ReviewsTagged getaway, hospitality, PA, Restaurant Industry, Restaurants, Review, Travel, Weekend Trip, zerotoheroLeave a comment

In our latest review, we took a weekend trip out to PA where we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Lancaster – Mount Joy and toured The Turkey Hill Experience. In today’s second part we’ll be focusing on the restaurants we ate at during the trip. So without further ado, let’s dive into today’s reviews!

Metro Diner – Bensalem, PA

Customer Service – 5/5

From the very moment I entered to the time I left, all the staff I encountered were very pleasant and on the ball. I think if you’re working at a diner or lunchent you need to have the personality and right people skills for it.

The waitress I had definitely had superb service skills, was very friendly and attentive. If I were a local to this area, I would definitely return here. Another important part of a restaurant is its food and beverage. Speaking of that, let’s dive in!

Food & Beverage (F&B) – 5/5

Overall the menu had a lot of variety and unique items on it such as chicken and waffles with ice cream on top! I’ve seen lots of variations with chicken and waffles but this one had a very interesting spin to it. Their variation was as follows: Half a fried chicken and a Belgian waffle, topped with powdered sugar and sweet, strawberry butter. Served with our signature sweet and spicy sauce.

I honestly have never seen a plate of chicken & waffles with strawberry butter. This picture doesn’t do justice! The portions are huge but well worth every bite!

As much as I wanted to order this amazing dish, It was a little too much for me since it was early in the morning when I stopped in for breakfast. I ended up ordering a short stack of pancakes and bacon. Remember how I mentioned before how portions are very large? Well… these pancakes were so big they barely fit on the plate! When I went to put butter and syrup on one of the pancakes it was partially flooding off the plate. Definitely worth it though! I even had some leftovers I was able to enjoy later on in the day.

Today’s Pizza & Mamma Rita Italian Restaurant – Mount Joy, PA

There honestly isn’t too much to say about this restaurant being it is just like any other normal pizzeria you would go to. This review is going to be a little brief and not as in depth but nonetheless, we’ll still rate it like we normally do.

Customer Service – 5/5

The staff working the counter/restaurant were very friendly, professional and helpful. I really honestly don’t have much more to comment on since the service was excellent.

Food & Beverage (F&B) – 5/5

I honestly didn’t know what to expect from the restaurant. I just googled it and saw it was just a short distance from the hotel. I’ve been to many pizza places while on vacation, most were good and some were not. I honestly have to say the pizza here was pretty good and I would definitely recommend it.

As someone who has worked in the restaurant business before making pizzas, I know the science to a good pizza. When making a pizza the two most important factors that affect your dough are time and temperature. You need to make sure the dough proofs up, but don’t over proof and you also need to make sure it is the perfect temperature. The pizza I had was excellent! The dough was not too thick and also wasn’t too thin to the point where the pizza fell apart. There was just the right amount of sauce and cheese and the pizza was cooked perfectly!

Taylor Chip Cookie Co. – Lancaster, PA

This by far was one of the best parts of the weekend gateway and well worth the stop. For those that know me personally, they know I love my cookies! I’m literally always eating cookies all the time. This stop was like a no-brainer for me.

Taylor Chip Cookie Company is a local cookie store that bakes a variety of gourmet cookies from scratch using the freshest and highest quality ingredients. (That’s their secret to a great cookie!) They currently own and operate two locations in PA and offer nationwide delivery through their website.

Customer Service – 5/5

Overall, the store had very friendly and helpful associates. Once again, I really honestly don’t have much more to comment on since the service was excellent.

Food & Beverage (F&B) – 6/5

These cookies are just too good so they break our rating scale! There are so many options for cookies to choose from including: Chocolate Chip, P.B. Fudge, M&M, Brookie and so many more! For a full list of their cookies, check out their website: https://www.taylorchip.com/.

I purchased half a dozen cookies in order to take home as many cookies as I could in order to try most of them. I purchased M&M, Chocolate chip, Brookie, Double Choco Brownie, Snickerdoodle, and Loaded P.B.

Out of all the cookies I tried, I personally liked the M&M cookie the best. But all the cookies I got were amazing. I definitely recommend trying them all.

Pro Tip: If you heat the cookies in the oven at 300 degrees for 3 to 5 minutes. They actually will taste better if you do this, especially if you eat them the next day.

PA Weekend Getaway (Part 1) – Hotel Review & Ice Cream Experience

June 10, 2022June 9, 2022Posted in Touristician ReviewsTagged Experiences, getaway, Holiday Inn, hospitality, Hotel, Hotel Review, PA, Room Design, Travel, Weekend TripLeave a comment

After a long tiring (yet rewarding) semester of college and a hectic work schedule, I decided to take a brief vacation from work and do a quick overnight trip to Pennsylvania to kick back and relax. In today’s Touristician Review I will be recapping my trip from my hotel and all the stops I made along the way. In part one, we will be focusing on the hotel review and our visit to The Turkey Hill Experience. In part two, we’ll focus on the restaurants we are at during our trip. So without further ado, let’s dive into today’s review!

Holiday Inn Express Lancaster – Mount Joy, PA

Customer Service – 5/5

One of the main reasons I always choose this particular brand is because of the high service standards and never having a problem with service. This time was no different. Upon entering the hotel, the gentlemen working the front desk gave a very friendly and welcoming greeting. I honestly didn’t catch his name but I wish I did so I could have left a positive comment about him online. It honestly felt good to be on the receiving end of a check in versus on the giving end. Throughout the check-in process, the gentlemen were very friendly, helpful by providing information on the amenities and also thanked me for being an IHG Rewards member. Being a rewards member, I was able to get the membership rate of $127.00 for the stay plus taxes versus $149.00 for the standard rack rate. Honestly not a bad deal at all! Well worth it!

As a fellow front desk agent who also works in the industry, to see someone else doing your job and killing it (in a good way), is absolutely amazing to see.

Rooms – 3.8/5

Now for one of the most important areas of the review, the hotel room! This particular location was brand new and only about a year old. When you entered the halls, lobby, etc you can definitely tell it was new since it had that new building smell.

Overall, I was very impressed with the design of the room and the attention to detail that was done in the room. For example, the pillows being embroidered with the type of pillow it was (soft, firm, etc.). This not only is amazing attention to detail, but it helps you be more comfortable while relaxing and sleeping. Many of the hotels don’t do this and it makes figuring out what kind of pillow you are using difficult and more time consuming. On top of very detail oriented rooms, the technology utilized at this location is very impressive and should be used at all their locations. Upon walking in and turning on the television, you are greeted with a screen that welcomes you, says your name on top and acts as a personal concierge. From the tv you can view your bill, check out, request a late check out, explore attractions in the area as well as get information about the hotel.

You may be asking, why such a low score for such an impressive room? One of the main reasons for such a low score was due to some minor cleanliness issues in the bathroom of the room. It was mostly some soap scum stains under the shelving units in the shower, shampoo and soap remiance (these came from the shampoo, body wash and dispensers in the shower. IGH eliminated single use toiletry items [with the exception of soap] and replaced them with dispensers in the bathrooms). Other than those few issues there were a few stains on the wallpaper but they were not earth shattering nor did they affect the functionality of the bathroom.

The only other cleanliness issue I had was the microwave in the room was covered in food. It appeared like it was some kind of soup broth. (I’m honestly not sure what it was). Regardless, it was pretty gross.

Amenities – 3/5

I’m going to be honest, this was the most disappointing part of the stay right here. Upon going down for breakfast at 8am, the cinnamon rolls that were under the lamp were dry, crusty and hard. I can tell they haven’t been changed out for a while. When I went to get a fresh one that wasn’t warmed, I found a piece of plastic in the roll as I bit into it. Also too, I can tell food wasn’t being rotated out like it should have been either. A lot of the food looked like it was out for a while when I went down. I would say the absolute worst thing about today was seeing the breakfast server take the garbage can full of trash, put it on the coffee counter where I just made coffee moments earlier, take the garbage out, put a new bag in, then put the can back and never wiped down the counter.

As someone who works in the industry, I definitely have a level of understanding for employees who work in hotels. However, when I see simple things like this being done incorrectly and food not being handled safely where it affects you, I do get fired up so to speak about it. I think if you work in the industry, you tend to be a lot more nit picky and notice everything that a normal guest wouldn’t see since you’re exposed to the line of work daily.

Final Thoughts & Rating

Overall, minus the few issues I had with the stay, I did have a very nice relaxing stay. Getting back to customer service for a second, when I did mention the issues I had the brand and management was very polite and professional and handled all the issues I addressed with them. As mentioned above, one of the main reasons I always choose this particular brand is because of the high service standards and never having a problem with service.

Rating the hotel on a scale of 1 to 5, I would rate this location a 3.8/5! But hang on, that’s not the end of the review! We still have an ice cream factory to talk about!

The Turkey Hill Experience – Columbia, Pennsylvania

The Turkey Hill Experience features interactive exhibits allowing you to learn about dairy culture, the story of Turkey Hill Dairy, and how the company’s ice cream and iced tea flavors are selected and created. The best part is the unlimited free samples of iced tea and ice cream!

I have to say this was a very fun and interesting experience. When was the last time you were to eat unlimited amounts of free ice cream and sample as many ice tea and lemonade products? That was honestly the best part of the whole place! Despite having a lot of exhibits geared towards younger children, the displays and history where very interesting to both learn about and see. My favorite exhibit was the one where you had to pick a ice cream flavor and be quizzed on what went in it. Overall, a very fun stop on the trip.

If you enjoyed today’s review, be sure to check out part 2 of this post coming out shortly. In part 2, we’ll be covering all the delicious eats and restaurants that where experienced during this weekend trip.

Revisiting My WORST Hotel Experience Ever

January 17, 2022January 16, 2024Posted in Touristician ReviewsTagged Days Inn, Hotel, Hotel Review, Lancaster, PA, Travel, Worst Hotel, Wyndham, zerotoheroLeave a comment

Welcome back to Touristician and the first ever Touristician Review! Back in 2018 while on a summer vacation, I stopped in one of my favorite areas of Pennsylvania, Lancaster. Coming from Ohio to PA, I needed a place to stay the night since driving home was not feasible plus I had things I wanted to do the next day in PA before leaving the state. I stayed at hotels before and never have I ever had a bad experience like this one. Finally after all these years, I will be revisiting this experience to give it a proper rating. Before we get started let’s go over the rating system:

I will be rating the hotel on a total scale of one to five on the following categories;

customer service, rooms, amenities and finally, cleanliness/upkeep. After rating the hotel in each category, I will then rate my overall experience then give my final thoughts.

So without further ado, let’s dive into today’s review!

Days Inn by Wyndham Lancaster PA Dutch Country

Customer Service – 0/5

For the purposes of privacy, no specific names of staff are mentioned down below.

Initially when first entering the very dated and dingy lobby, there was no front desk agent present or staff at all for that matter. I stood in the lobby for five minutes with my belongings after a long day on the road. Finally the front desk agent came around behind the desk, and they seemed a bit annoyed that I was “interrupting them”. They couldn’t even be bothered to apologize for the wait or be friendly. I’m sorry, but if you’re a front desk agent that is your job and you have no right to get annoyed at a guest for wanting to check in or for needing assistance. If they truly felt this way, they are in the wrong business.

When I came back to the desk, after having problems with my room, literally nothing was done about it. The front desk agent had the nerve to say to me “Well, sir, any room I give you is going to be exactly like that so there is nothing I can really do for you.” Again, they seemed annoyed that they were being bothered again. They did not take ownership of the problems or even once apologize. They didn’t even offer me anything! It was at this point that I immediately checked out, called and had to fight for a refund and went to a Holiday Inn Express near by. In a future post, I will be reviewing that amazing Holiday Inn Express location.

Looking back and now as a Front Desk Agent myself who works for this brand, that is not acceptable by any means. I think this is one of the biggest problems with this brand is sometimes the hotels are just utter dumps that are poorly run and poorly managed. With these things unfortunately comes employees who also don’t care. I honestly don’t think this particular location was poorly run or managed based on other locations out there. I think overall they were heading the right direction but need to correct their problems to run smoother. You can tell the rooms were cleaned but there was no system to check or inspect the rooms therefore causing rooms to have cleanliness issues that should have been spotted. Speaking of rooms, let’s take a look at the rooms.

Rooms – 0/5

At this particular hotel they offered rooms with two queen beds, rooms with one king and suite rooms. From the pictures it looks like a decent, nice and affordable place to stop for the night. Unfortunately, the rooms had many issues from cleanliness to maintenance issues.

Starting off with the bathroom, which honestly for the disgusting room I had, was the cleanest spot of the room. Upon entering the bathroom, it looked like a 1990s McDonalds dining room, which honestly I could care less about except for the fact in some spots wallpaper was peeling off the walls, there was rust, dirt and hairs in the grout of the tiles. Obviously since I left, I didn’t utilize the shower despite it looking ‘clean’, I honestly didn’t trust it. Everything I touched in the bathroom was sticky and if I recall correctly, I believe the floors also felt this way. Despite all these issues, they at least got some of the basics right, clean towels, fresh toiletry items and a clean sink. Other than that, everything else like I mentioned was either subpar, dirty or was not upkept well.

Now onto the living space and sleeping area of the room, which is where the wheels truly fall off. The beds from the outside appear clean; however, once you peel the comforter off, you’re greeted with hairs, crumbs and lint all under the blankets. I honestly didn’t look at any of the pillows since I don’t usually use hotel pillows since I don’t sleep with hotel pillows. Much like the bathroom, all the furniture was sticky as was the floor too. The furniture was so bad that I had to place towels on the table I had my bags on. I think one of the most disgusting things in the room was the phone by far crushed up, and caked up layers of hairs, crumbs all over the phone and in every corner.

Amenities – 1/5

During my stay, I did not utilize many of the on property amenities since I immediately checked out. However, I did want to give my initial thoughts and feedback on what I saw at the hotel. The breakfast area was subpar and poorly executed. The entire area looked very neglected and thrown together. Seems like all this location offered was stale bagels, and old cereal in questionable looking containers. As I was putting together this post, I noticed the photo of the breakfast area looked nothing like what it did when I stayed. Makes me wonder if they finally got their acts together and improved it?

As far as the fitness center, I really did not take a look at it during my short time at the hotel. However, I do want to give my thoughts on this as well. As with the breakfast area, this fitness area shouldn’t even be called a fitness center at all. Shame on them for even attempting to call that a fitness center. If we look at the top picture this is what they are trying to pass off as their fitness center while the bottom photo is the fitness center that is actually there. You can not throw two exercise machines and weight rack in a tiny room that’s smaller than a guest room bathroom. UNACCEPTABLE!

The Reviews Don’t Lie:

For the purposes of privacy, no specific names of guests are mentioned down below.

Ouch… Looking at the ratings summary the hotel is rated a 2.9 (Fair) with a 3/5 star rating. About 60% percent of guests found safety was an major issue, 59% said cleanliness was a issue and finally the biggest percentage of them all, 83% of guests said the bathroom in their rooms was an issue. If we dive into some reviews, we see all these issues and them some:

Just as bad as the reviews are the responses from the owner. Does this owner even have a clue what the heck they are doing? For example, in the review where it mentions bed bugs, the owner has the nerve to respond by saying “The room was thoroughly inspected and no bugs were found and also the room was rented out, with no further complaints. I want to assure you that we are thoroughly investigating this claim…” TIMEOUT! This owner has the audacity to say this guest’s complaint is only a claim?!? If more than one guest is complaining review after review, clearly this isn’t a claim. The fact the owner also says the room was rented out with no further complaints is pretty much saying to this guest that they don’t know what they are talking about. If this owner responds to reviews like this then doesn’t take the proper time to take care of issues like this one then just flip the room over and resell it is unacceptable.

Here’s yet another example of this owner calling a guest out saying that their complaints are only claims. “I want to assure you that we are thoroughly investigating this claim and that although we have not found any evidence of a bug infestation, we are taking the necessary precautions to ensure that nothing is missed. We respond promptly to pest alerts with expert extermination services and also treat to deter pests on a regular scheduled basis. We take this business very seriously and assure you that management has taken all the steps to make sure that all the rooms are clean and our ultimate goal is to make sure each guest had a comfortable stay.” Okay buddy… we don’t need a whole essay here. Stop saying what guests are saying are just claims. We don’t need a essay explaining how or what you do to “address” the problem. I love how this owner thinks by writing this, they will win over future guests by showing the procedure they do. Guess what… guests do not care about your long winded response. You should be ashamed of yourself and your embarrassment of a hotel. This owner needs to be sent back to hospitality school to relearn the basics.

Final Thoughts:

Overall this hotel is in rough shape from cleanliness issues, lack of maintenance, staff problems, poor management and finally poor ownership. This definitely was one of the worst hotel experiences I had so much so it almost ruined the vacation I was on. As I was writing this, to see the hotel has not improved at all and only has gotten worse is very sad. It’s Days Inn locations that give the brand a poor image and reflect poorly on Wyndham. This hotel is in such a perfect location if they only got their acts together there is no reason they could be making bank and achieve higher ratings.

In a future post, I will be reviewing the Holiday Inn Express location that saved my vacation and helped give me my love for hotels. I hope you enjoyed today’s post. What do you think of this hotel? Have you ever had a bad hotel experience? Share your story down in the comments below!

Reviewing The Great Smoky Mountain Polar Express

December 23, 2021March 9, 2022Posted in Touristician ReviewsTagged Bryson City, Christmas, Great Smoky Mountains, Holidays, North Carolina, Review, Santa, THE POLAR EXPRESS, Trains, Travel, zerotoheroLeave a comment

Author: HyraxNixus

Welcome back to our Blog! Today, I will be reviewing my experience upon the Great Smokey Mountains Railroad Polar Express Train Ride! In this review, I will go over the history behind the Polar Express, the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, and my ratings of the experience. So grab your tickets, a cup of hot chocolate, and relax. All Aboard the Polar Express!

History of The Polar Express

The Polar Express is a children’s book written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg. It was published by Houghton Mills in 1985. The book would go on to become considered a classic Christmas story for young Children, alongside Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas. The book received great praise for its detailed illustrations and calm, relaxing storyline. Van Allsburg won the annual Caldecott Medal for his work on the book. If you have never read the story, I highly suggest you do so. To avoid any spoilers, I am going to avoid telling you the plot. That is a journey you will have to take yourself.

By 1989, The Polar Express would sell over 1 million copies and make the best-seller list four years in a row. It earned the “Teachers’ Top 100 Books for Children” vote in 2007 and “Top 100 Picture Books” in a 2012 poll. In 2004, Castle Rock Entertainment would produce a computer- animated Christmas musical fantasy film by the same name. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the movie would go on to release on November 10th 2004 and grossed $286 million worldwide in ticket sales. Shortly after the movie release, a video game was released purely based off the movie during the same year. The train model company of Lionel would start releasing model trains of the Polar Express due to its popularity. The movie would also inspire train rides to pop up all over the United States, Canada, and the UK! Even some theme parks would include a Polar Express experience during their holiday season. The Polar Express would be nominated for 3 Academy Awards, A Golden Globe Award, and Visual Effects Society Award. They would win the Grammy for ‘Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media’ in 2006.

The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (or GSMR) is a freight and heritage railroad located in Bryson City, North Carolina. As of 1999, they are operated by American Heritage Railways, Inc. Today, the railroad has excursions along the former Southern Railway branch between Bryson City and Dillsboro. As of right now, the GSMR has two steam locomotives (with one currently operational) and soon-to-be seven diesel locomotives. The GSMR owns 53 miles ( or 85 kilometers) of the Murphy Branch that used to be part of the Southern Railway that went from Dillsboro, North Carolina to Andrews, North Carolina. The line was completed in Dillsboro in 1883 and reached Andrews in 1890. GSMR would start operations in 1988 via lease from NCDOT (or North Carolina Department of Transportation). The GSMR route uses a route which passes through ‘fertile valleys, a tunnel and across river gorges’ in the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina. In December 1999, GSMR was sold to American Heritage Railways and debuted as Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. In addition to running tourist excursions year-round, GSMR has also moved freight via interchange with the Blue Ridge Southern Railroad in Sylva. GSMR runs nearly 1,000 excursions each year! In 2004, GSMR debuted its Polar Express train ride, based on the newly released movie and licensed through Warner Bros. The ride has annually been a major economic boost for the railroad and town of Bryson City. In 2019 alone, GSMR broke all attendance records with over 91,000 people riding the Polar Express excursion alone. In 2008, as a result of recession, GSMR closed their Dillsboro Depot and focused solely on the Bryson City operations. Bryson City would become the new hometown for the railroad with the move of the Administration Offices, though excursions were still running between Dillsboro and Bryson City. Due to COVID outbreak in 2020, GSMR had to suspend operations for a short 3 months before re-opening in June 2020. GSMR also owns and operates the Smoky Mountain Trains Museum located adjacent to the Bryson City depot. The museum features a collection of over 7,000 Lionel model engines, cars and accessories!

The Polar Express Experience

Tickets And Sales: Rating – N/A

Our Tickets were pre-ordered by my grandparents as part of our Christmas present. According to the website: Prices range for $43 to $93 per person depending on which class car you book. We had received the Crown class tickets, which is the 2nd cheapest above Coach class. Upon arrival, there were signs stating that GSMR required all passengers to wear masks to prevent any outbreaks. GSMR only allows one person per family to claim pre-ordered tickets located in a tent set up by the depot. You will receive your seat ticket and a golden ticket, just like you see in the film. Depending on your boarding time, they tell you to arrive 15-30 minutes ahead of scheduled time. During this time, you are free to explore Bryson City. Once it is time, you are told to stand in a numbered station, going from 1 (by the train depot) to at most 7 or 8 possibly. During the wait for the train, the GSMR would pump music via speakers and use programmed lights to get you into the holiday spirit and keep your mind off the cold. Once the train is close, the staff ask you to stay behind a safety line before asking you to have your tickets ready and present. When the train has stopped and the last ride is fully off, they will allow boarding to start.

Boarding & Unboarding: Rating – 3 out of 5

Okay, major gripe here. I don’t have a major fear of tight spaces or anything. However, the space between the bathroom and the wall going into the actual train cart is quite a squeeze. You can imagine how you can form a slight fear of claustrophobia with everyone piling in at the same time. Also, taking into consideration the COVID situation at the moment, I feel that they could have done the boarding a bit more smoothly and controlled. Once seated and all were aboard, the train started its journey.

Coming back to the station, I wish they would have done better with the unboarding situation. The major letdown is the tight squeeze to the exit with the huge crowd heading out. Again, a major case of claustrophobia waiting to happen.

The Journey To North Pole: Rating – 5 out of 5

What is there to say on this? If you ever watch or have read the book, you can feel the spirit of the Polar Express during the whole journey. You are first introduced to your server which would have a holiday themed name (for example: Ours was named Mistletoe!). After everyone shouts their name to be introduced, a small clip from the movie would start going over the intercom and speakers. This would be the “Hot Chocolate” scene , which would be introducing the delicious hot chocolate presented to you by your server. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPWYu94mzhE&feature=emb_logo)

As well as the Hot Chocolate, which is served in a small souvenir coffee cup, you are served some cookies wrapped in a plastic bag. This cookie is about the size of your palm , probably a bit smaller but I swear it is big! I believe the cookie to be a sugar cookie or something that was dusted with cinnamon possibly. Out of my family, I would be the only one who would finish the cookie. The journey would continue forward and include cute tidbits from the movie (for example, the “Hey, you forgot your ticket” scene after the Conductors punch the tickets or the howling of the wolves as you pass over the bridge). I do need to warn that a portion of the journey will be during a time where the lights would ‘shut off due to the cold’ as we got closer to the North Pole section of the ride. The major part of the trip to the North Pole area would be taken up by the reading of the Polar Express book, so make sure to bring your own with you!

The North Pole – Rating: 5 out of 5

As you approach the North Pole, you would pass through a wall of ice and enter a small town all decked out as the North Pole. The server will give you a small tour of the town, showing you the houses of the characters from the North Pole and a few points of interest. As you go along, you pass the Town Center where Santa is atop his sleigh waving at the kids. Do note that during this time, the train will stop and pick up Santa before continuing on its journey backwards. (Oh… did I forget to mention that the train travels backwards for the journey to the North Pole, then forward back to Bryson City). The train will suddenly come to another pause where there seems to be caribou blocking the passage back. The train would switch gears and start pulling you forward once more. You may notice (if you were not in the front cars that is) that Santa is no longer on his sleigh. The server will go into a panic and run off to look for Santa. The server would come back in a short while and ask everyone if they were on the nice list. If you are on the naughty list, you get called out and told that to get on the Nice List you must do something. (I guess this can depend on the ride and person, but those naughty in our car had to do the chicken dance). WIth everyone now on the nice list and the kids chanting “Santa”, the jolly man walks in to be greeted with loud cheers. Santa will pass out bells to the kids, with some helpers handing out more bells to others.

The Journey Back To Bryson City- Rating : 4 out of 5

The journey back to Bryson City would continue after Santa’s visit. The server would have you guys play with your bells and sing some Christmas songs. They also like to tell jokes and will sometimes ask for people to share any! The journey back is not as exciting as the journey to the North Pole. You get to see the same scenery passing so I can’t really add that much here not already stated in the previous section. One thing that I can state is that I wish they had put more decorations along the train ride for us to see, as there are parts where you are passing bare spots with nothing to stare at outside the window.

Overall Experience – 17 out of 20 possible

I would definitely suggest you look into booking this incredible experience for your family! What a way to make wonderful Christmas memories! There is a dress code for the ride : pajamas!! Just like the movie, all who board the train are allowed to wear pajamas and robes as part of the experience. I have included the link to the GSMR website so that you may glance at the prices, the experience, and even more.

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride

Thank you for reading! Happy Holidays!

~HyraxNixus