> No no no no. The front seat is bad too. The
>front seat just gives you major whiplash. The
>frying pan you get in the back seat is your
>neck support.

Then I stand by my earlier assessment of your experience (and now, mine and Carrie's): They must have cranked up the intensity on the ride since the first time I went on it.

The first time I went on it was at least seven years ago now, and I can't remember if I sat in the front or the back, but I know it absolutely ruled. It was easily the best ride at Universal, back when Universal still had Kongfrontation and other rides that were actually good.

But this time when I went on it, I thought "Ah-hah! Sam and Leen must have sat in the back seat like we just did, because from the back seat, it TOTALLY FREAKING SUCKS."

But if you say it's still just as bad or worse from the front seat, then I have to say it must be because they cranked it up or something--because once upon a time, it was easily the best ride in the park. *sigh*.

As for the downhill slide of Universal Studios in general, I'm pretty disappointed. That used to be my favorite Orlando park. Even when MGM came along, my thoughts were still "If you really like movies, MGM is better, but otherwise Universal rules." Now I wouldn't recommend that anybody waste $50 on Universal Studios. If you care about movies, go to MGM. If you don't, don't go to either one. Check out Islands of Adventure if you want thrill rides, but steer clear of Universal Studios. *sigh* They must have been spending all their time and money recently on building up Islands of Adventure, because it was so insanely cool whereas the once-cool Universal Studios is now just a bunch of shops and a few lame edu-tainment attractions and one decent ride. Oh, and fake Blues Brothers lip-synching in the streets. *shudder*

-- Dave