Universal’s Islands of Adventure is the second theme park located at the Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando Florida. Located right next door to Universal Studios and connected by either walking Universal Citywalk or hopping on the Hogwarts Express. It is as close as two theme parks can get.
Islands of Adventure opened in May of 1999 which officially changed Universal Studios into Universal Resort Orlando. The theme park is very similar in some ways to its sister theme park but also very different.
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Broken up into eight different themed islands. There is so much for the whole family to love. Let’s take a look into what makes up Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
ATTRACTIONS
Islands of Adventure is home to 18 different attractions. One of the best raft water rides in the US calls Islands of Adventure home. You will get super wet and there is no way of getting around that. Out of the two theme parks I would say this one has the better selection of rides and is more kid friendly.
Dudley Do-Right Ripsaw Falls– Log Flume Water Ride
Flight of the Hippograff– Kid roller coaster
The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman– 3D Dark Ride
The Incredible Hulk Coaster– Roller Coaster
Storm Force Accelatron– Tea cup style
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish– Aerial Carousel
The Cat in the Hat– Dark Ride
Pteranodon Flyers– Flying swings
Caro-Seuss-el– Carousel
The High in the Sky Seuss Trolly Train Ride– Elevated train ride
Doctor Doom’s Fearfall– Drop Ride
Jurassic Park River Adventure– Dark water ride
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey– 3D dark ride
Poseidon’s Fury– Show
Popeye’s & Bluto Bilge-Rat Barges– raft water ride
Skull Island: Reign of Kong– Dark Ride
Hogwarts Express– Train Ride (need park to park ticket)
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventures– Roller Coaster
If you were only able to go to one theme park at Universal Orlando Resort and had younger children, Islands of Adventure should be your go to. With a few different areas that are great for kids (Seuss Landing, Toon Lagoon, Jurassic Park) and plenty of rides for them to enjoy.
Some kid favorites include Pteranodon Flyers, One Fish…., Flight of the Hippograff, The Cat in the Hat, Jurassic Discovery Center, Camp Jurassic, Me ship, The Olive. Make sure you go inside the Jurassic Park Discovery Center to learn a little bit more about dinosaurs. If you are lucky you may even be able to watch a “dinosaur” hatch from an egg.
Teens and young adults will love The Incredible Hulk Coaster, The Amazing Spiderman, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventures, Dudley Do-Right ripsaw falls, Jurassic Park River Adventure and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Popeye’s & Bluto Bilge-Rat Barges is the best ride for getting soaked on a hot summer day. Don’t worry, not an inch of you will be dry. This is what all water rides should be like.
FOOD
Fans of Harry Potter will want to head over to the Three Broomsticks. Located in Hogsmeade you will find Fish and Chips, turkey legs and much more. Soak yourself in the atmosphere that is Harry Potter.
For some of the more picky eaters Islands of Adventure have a few great places. Check out Pizza Predattoria located near the Jurassic Discovery Center or Cafe 4 on Super Hero Island. Both are great places to pick up some pizza that the little ones are sure to love. Plus both are great places to refill your refillable cup.
Make sure you get the refillable cup. It is one of the best deals you will find anywhere in Orlando Theme parks. For 1 refillable bottle will cost you $16.99 plus tax. However, you get free refills the day you buy it. It includes over 100 coca products, and Icee’s. You read that right. Icee’s are also included with the free refills. You really can’t beat a frozen Coke on those humid Florida days. If you come back another day, be sure you bring your cup. You can get refills that day for $10 plus tax.
CHARACTERS
Islands of Adventure does not have the list of characters it’s theme park neighbor does. However, they may just have some of the cooler ones. Where else can you get a picture with Spiderman, Captain America, Storm, Dr Doom, Cyclops, Rouge, Wolverine, and Green Goblin? Right here at Islands of Adventure super hero Island.
Over in the Seuss Landing area you can find Thing 1 and Thing 2 causing chaos with that pesky Cat in the Hat. Come Christmas time if you look around, it may be found that the Grinch is in town.
But one of the coolest character meet and greets ever is the Raptor encounter over at Jurassic Park. This is a popular meet and greet and the wait is usually around 30 minutes or longer. Come get your picture with a moving Raptor from Jurassic Park or Blue from Jurassic World. If that is a little too scary for you head over and grab a picture with the JP jeep. Just watch out for the T-rex.
All the different islands at Islands of Adventure are themed perfectly. You feel like you could be walking through Isla Nublar home of Jurassic Park. Or when walking through Toon Lagoon, it feels like you are walking in the comic strips. And lets not forget perhaps the best themed area in all of Orlando. Of course I am talking about Hogsmeade. Now I am not a huge Harry Potter fan. While I enjoy the movies they are not on my top 10 list.
Hogsmeade though, is a wonderful place to check out if it is just while passing though. The shops are great and make it feel like you are in the Wizarding World. And lets not forget you can get that famous butter beer here too.
Have you ever checked out Islands of Adventure? Are you planning a trip soon? Let us know in the comments below. Also be sure to check out our articles about Universal Studios and Universal Citywalk. Kozmophotos is going to be going through a little rebranding in the next couple of months.
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