Islands of Adventure
Islands of Adventure truly has something for everyone. Split into five 'islands' it has some of the best rides in Orlando for both the biggest and smallest visitors. Wander into the Marvel Super Hero Island to see some of you're favourite Superhero's battle it out with the most dastardly of villains! If you dare take a ride on Dr Doom's Fearfall and the Incredible Hulk Coaster, you may be put off though, you can hear the riders screams from outside the park! Dr Doom's Fearfall does exactly what it says, you rocket 150 feet into the air and for a brief moment you get the most fantastic view of the park and surrounding area. This doesn't last long as you are soon plummeting back down to earth at a speed that might leave your lunch behind. The Incredible Hulk Coaster is of course bright green and we must have done something to make Dr Bruce Banner very, very angry! As it twists, turns and loops the coaster only gives you one option, SCREAM!
Don't forget to put on those 3-D glasses and check out the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. It is a truly nerve wracking experience as you drive around the city and get caught up in one of Spiderman's adventures. The baddies really do get you with fire, ice and most dramatically falling from a sky scrapper! There is someone there to save the day though!
For Harry Potter fans there is a theme park within the theme park. It openned in 2010
Universal is touting the new 20-acre "island" as a "theme park within a theme park." The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will occupy a previously undeveloped area at the park as well as part of the land that has hosted the Lost Continent (home of the Dueling Dragons coaster). It features two main areas: the village of Hogsmeade and Hogwarts castle.
After all the excitement you might want to pop over to Toon Lagoon for some lighter relief. Don't be fooled, the rides might be suitable for younger riders but they seem to have only one purpose, to soak you to the skin! Snidey Whiplash has captured Nell Fenwick, can Dudley Do-Right get her back? Can you stay dry on his Ripsaw Falls? Maybe! Strangely something similar has happened to Popeye, can he get Olive back from Bluto? This time is takes a white water ride on Popeye and Bluto's Bildge-Rat Barges to find out. If you have escaped getting wet on the last ride, you certainly won't this time! As the round rafts rotate everyone gets their, not altogether fair, share of water. Oh and if you're looking dry the visitors passing may notice and make full use of the squirters located in devilish places around the ride.
You get a chance to dry off in leafy Jurassic Park. The water there is a lot calmer! The River Adventure certainly won't get you wet, although it may leave you a little frazzled! Find out all you need to know about the beasts in the Jurassic Park Discovery Centre and for those with children fly high above Camp Jurassic on the Pteranodon Flyers. There are some great photo opportunities around here too.
As you wind you're way to the Lost Continent be prepared to witness some amazing sights! The Eight Voyage of Sinbad is a show for everyone with stunts, special effects, jokes and a certain Sinbad doing dare devil feats to save the princess. Walk around Poseidon's Fury at your own peril. More an adventure than a ride but worth it for the tunnel of water you get to amble through if nothing else. However the most exciting of all the rides in the Lost Continent and even the whole park are the Deuling Dragons. Two separate roller coasters, one called fire, one called ice, who race each other through turns, dips and loops. You really do get within inches of the riders on the other dragon, not one for the babies, in fact not one for the big babies.
Seuss Landing is the final island and is the crazy world of the Cat in the Hat, the Grinch and One Thing Two Thing. We stopped here for lunch and noticed a small train passing by within the Café. This is The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride and what a pleasant journey through the crazy world of Dr Seuss it is, join in with the rhymes or just take in the view. There's not one straight line in this little land and as you might imagine many very strange creatures. I had to get on the Caro-Seuss-el although which barmy creature to ride is not an easy choice. There was no time for us to ride One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish, but just enough time to see you got squirted if you didn't follow the musical rhyme while flying high or low around the ride! There are loads of other activities to keep the smaller ones entertained and you might even spot the Cat in Hat himself.
Islands of Adventure is a fantastic theme park, especially for older children, teenagers and adults not weighed down under five hundred nappies.