Islands of Adventure®, Orlando

Take the family on a journey of exploration in this division of the Universal Orlando Resort. Just steps away from Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure is made up of five "islands", each with it's own distinct theme. Cartoon and comic book heroes come to life along with other loveable characters in some of the wildest and most innovative rides and attractions around. Kids of all ages will find something to love in this dazzling Florida theme park.

No local rivals can match Islands of Adventure's thrill power and innovation (although Tampa's Busch Gardens is also highly rated by thrill seekers). With terrifying coasters, heart stopping-water attractions, and stunningly creative rides, it is the place to head for those who like to live dangerously.

Rides and Attractions

Here is a list of the islands along with some of their top attractions.

Note: A sixth island based on the world of Harry Potter is set to open in 2010.

Marvel Superhero Island

The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman® - The wildest ride/show in town. Sit in a 12-passenger car that twists, turns, spins, and plunges, through the comic book world of Spiderman. A simulated 400-foot drop will have your Spidey senses tingling. And to top it off, the 3-D glasses you'll be sporting will have you ducking for your life as objects fly towards the car.

Posted by: discolizita
Posted youTube: May 24, 2007

Doctor Doom's Fearfall - A twist on the traditional drop ride, this one shoots passengers up about 150 feet and then drops them at several intervals, dangling feet first. Dr. Doom is trying to extract every ounce of fear from riders, and with this diabolical device, he might just succeed.

Posted by: oucheasy
Posted youTube: March 29, 2008

The Incredible Hulk - Roller coaster and speed junkies will love this one. Riders blast off, accelerating from 0 to 40mph in just 2 seconds, and are then whipped around, spun upside down, and dropped down steep hills. It's a long one at 2 minutes and 15 seconds, and the entire ride is surprisingly smooth. Hold on tight to your belongings though, wallets, keys, and coins can often be found in the mesh net beneath the roller coaster - a testament to the wildness of the ride!

Posted by: MrMetzdorf
Posted youTube: May 27, 2007

Toon Lagoon

Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls - When it's hot outside take a trip on this wet adventure ride. Six-passenger logs take guests around a 400,000-gallon lagoon before dropping them down 75 feet at 50 mph. Don't be fooled - you will get wet!

Posted by: strangypants
Posted youTube: November 28, 2008

Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges - Take a fast and bouncy trip on a 12-passenger raft down a raging river. Watch out for water cannons and other mechanical devices that will pummel you with water. Of course avoiding them won't matter, because you'll get soaked anyway. Popeye, along with his friends and enemies, makes several appearances throughout the ride.

Posted by: beerbellybill
Posted youTube: March 02, 2008

Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park River Adventure - It may seem like a leisurely raft tour at first, but when a few raptors get loose and threaten to come aboard the boat, things take a Jurassic-size turn. The giant robotic dinos are after you and the only way out is down an 85-foot plunge.

Posted by: strangypants
Posted youTube: November 28, 2008

Camp Jurassic - This dinosaur themed volcanic playground is the perfect place for kids to burn off some energy. Rope bridges lead to makeshift huts and slides. A fun, colorful cavern erupts with liquid lava. Kids in need of cooling off can head out to the wet battle area, while parents take a much-needed break.

Posted by: Ricker090
Posted youTube: December 06, 2007

Jurassic Park Discovery Center - Scan fossilized skeletons, examine dinosaur eggs, view raptor eggs hatching, play mind-boggling games like "You Bet Your Jurassic" and more in this hands-on interactive area.

Posted by: AlexG8462
Posted youTube: February 18, 2008

Seuss Landing

The Cat in the Hat - Take a slightly chaotic journey and travel on a couch through 18 scenes based on the Dr. Seuss classic. Be prepared to spin and twist on this wacky trip and hold on to small children. Get ready to meet Thing 1 and Thing 2 as well as a few other characters on the park's signature children's ride.

Posted by: thelittleleaguecoach
Posted youTube: December 10, 2008

High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride - Riders get a great view of Seuss Landing as they glide roughly 15 feet above the whimsical area on this monorail-like ride. The entire family will enjoy this gentle journey that's also a great photo-snapping opportunity of the park as a whole.

Posted by: themeparkwatch
Posted youTube: October 14, 2007

The Lost Continent

Dueling Dragons - Need an adrenaline rush? Try this dual track inverted roller coater where two coasters come at each other at high speeds (at times coming as close as 12 inches!). This wild ride has a lot of sharp twists and turns making for a jerky ride. Don't say you weren't warned!

Which dragon - Fire or Ice - will you decide to ride on as they narrowly miss each other performing loops and rolls across the sky?

Fire

Posted by: adiblasi
Posted youTube: August 03, 2006

Ice

Posted by: diddiyo
Posted youTube: April 21, 2007

Poseidon's Fury - The story line of this show revolves around a battle between Poseidon, god of the sea, and the evil Darkenon. This standing and walking show/attraction will take you through some explosive surprises before the final battle between good and evil takes center stage.

Posted by: Madino989
Posted youTube: June 10, 2007

Tips for Visiting Islands of Adventure

• Arrive as soon as the park opens and head for the most popular rides (such as Spiderman and The Hulk). They fill up quickly during the day so getting to them early is the best way to avoid long queues.
• There are height requirements for almost every ride, so check ahead of time to make sure that kids meet them.
• Many rides will get you wet, so consider bringing a plastic poncho, or at the very least, a watertight container or bag to protect wallets and cameras.
• Outside every ride there is a sign stating the estimated wait time, however they are usually over-estimated. Don't be discouraged if it says 20 minutes or so, as you probably won't have to wait that long.
• There are also signboards scattered throughout the park that state the wait times for the most popular rides. If you see that one of the really popular ones has a short wait time you might want to dash over and take advantage of it.
• Islands of Attraction has something called the Baby Swap. Parents can line up for any ride and when it's time to board, Parent One goes on the ride while Parent Two stays back with the child. Then Parent Two can ride next without having to wait in line again.
• There are some wild rides where guests will not be permitted to hold onto any items (handbags, cameras, etc.) so consider using the available lockers. They're free for a certain amount of time.
• Wear sun block! Seuss Landing in particular is made up of bright colours that reflect the sun. If you spend a lot of time there you may get more sun than expected.

See also International Drive | Disney's Animal Kingdom | The Magic Kingdom | Disney's Hollywood Studios | EPCOT Center | The Rest of Walt Disney World | Universal Studios® | SeaWorld® Orlando | Discovery Cove® Orlando | Gatorland | Kissimmee and Lake Tohopekaliga

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