IOA: Poseidon's Fury Vortex Returned!

[bkroz]

In what can only be considered a tremendous triumph against the "Green is Universal" initiative (does that make me an awful person?), it is reported that the famous "water Vortex" has been returned to Poseidon's Fury: Escape from the Lost City, the walk-through / show / special effects extravaganza at Universal's Islands of Adventure. For a while, most of the park was operating in "green" mode, with fountains, waterfalls, and some water effects shuttered. There were those who ventured that the environment was probably not the real number one reason for that... But regardless, after years of inactivity, The Vortex (really the only reason the attraction exists at all) has been returned.

For those who don't know, The Vortex is a forty foot long chamber in which water, blasting out of jets at 90+ miles per hour, forms a tunnel around visitors. You then cross a raised bridge through the spinning water as a "portal to Atlantis."

You can see The Vortex in

, and you can see what the attraction looked like when The Vortex was not operating for the past two years

. Basically, when the water didn't work, the tunnel was filled with fog and strobe lights. Without the strength and sound of the crashing water, the feel of the mist, and the disorienting swirling motion of the ride's most famous and impressive effect, the point of the show was lost... (It was especially fun to touch the water and have your hand fling up into the air immediately upon contacting it).

However, it was funny, as often the "tour guides" would humorously make note of the effect's absence by holding the audience back and insisting that they check to make sure the passage is safe first, often proclaiming, "Alright, it's all clear. There's absolutely nothing in here. Don't worry, it's dry."

I'M SO HAPPY IT'S BACK.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_orlando/2010/08/islands-of-adventure-water-tunnel-flows-again-at-poseidons-fury.html

[LongliveKingsCobra]

Hmm The only thing I want to know, why was the water hot? I just remember it being really hot when I walked through the chamber...

[Guest Millennium]

I regret not riding this during my last trip to IOA. I don't know what the hell I was thinking

[bkroz]

The show is fantastic the first time though. A few things really catch you by surprise. It's certainly not a star attraction by any means, but it's a must-do your first time to the park!

[CedarPointer]

Ah, the "Green Is Universal" thing... isn't that the thing where they flew the hosts of Today to the Arctic and Amazon, wasting tons of fuel in the process?

[jzarley]

This is great news! I purposely skipped this attraction the last few times at IOA specifically because of the lack of the water Vortex.

[06jds377]

I'd really like to stop at US on my way to a cruise, but the $112 admission is really, REALLY deterring. I am not going to spend almost $225 to go to a park for one day. I can go to KI for less than $48 and Dollywood for under $67, for two people obviously.

EDIT: math fail

[bkroz]

I'd really like to stop at US on my way to a cruise, but the $112 admission is really, REALLY deterring. I am not going to spend almost $225 to go to a park for one day. I can go to KI for less than $48 and Dollywood for under $67, for two people obviously.

EDIT: math fail

And you can go to Universal Studios and Universal's Islands of Adventure for $23 dollars a day... Depending on how long you stay.

Many destination parks offer deals like that - "the longer you stay, the less you pay." Disney's is the most famous, but it's also astronomically priced. Seven days with park-to-park access is $301.00 at Disney - not worth it, if you're asking this fellow.

Comparatively, Universal's prices are quite low (and their two parks have about as many attractions as Disney's four). Use AAA, and you can get seven days for $144.00 (half the price of Disney's seven-day ticket, that equates to $20.50 per day for Spiderman, The Mummy, Harry Potter, Jaws, Hulk, Dueling Dragons, etc).

It's no question that those who are willing to stay get the deals.

A one day ticket to Busch Gardens Williamsburg? $63.00. Seven days of unlimited access to the same park, plus Water Country USA waterpark? $70.00. As in, $7.00 more.

Kings Island only offers one-day, two-day, and season's passes. But even in the two-day ticket, you get quite a deal. And I don't doubt that many people make use of it!

[06jds377]

Maybe it's just me, but when I go somewhere I don't want to go to a park for seven consecutive days, I want to go for two long days, tops. Only being in the area for one day, the price is a real turn-off. I'm not looking to spend $350 at a park in a single day for two people. Of course, it is Orlando, so some things are to be expected.