Universal’s New Islands of Adventure
Takes Theme Parks To the Next Level
Move over, Mickey! Islands of Adventure (IOA) is here and Orlando will never be the same.
Universal Studios’ newest theme park (which joins the existing Universal Studios Florida park) is a real winner. Add CityWalk, a nighttime entertainment complex and the Portofino Bay Hotel, and you have Universal Studios Escape, which must now be reckoned a real contender in a head-to-head competition with the massive Walt Disney World resort complex down the Interstate. There are already some indications that the new complex is cutting into Disney’s market share, but whatever the eventual outcome, vacationers heading to Central Florida have more choices than ever before. It is also likely that this new competition will spur Disney’s “imagineers” to greater flights of fancy. And what could be wrong with that.
Thrill Rides for the 21st Century
Universal Studios has always prided itself on pushing the envelope in its rides and attractions. Back To The Future, at the original Universal Studios Florida, was and remains the greatest simulator-based thrill ride in the world. The tradition continues at Islands of Adventure.
The Incredible Hulk Coaster and Dueling Dragons, at opposite corners of IOA, are the biggest, baddest, scariest roller coasters in Central Florida, at least until Disney scrambles to catch up. Each of them strives to break ground. Hulk shoots riders to the top of its first drop with the same force as an F-16 jet and then spins them into a zero-G loop. Dueling Dragons is actually two inverted roller coasters that use sophisticated computer technology to stage a terrifying aerial combat. At some points, the riders on the Dragon of Ice come within a foot or so of those on the Dragon of Fire.
Of course, it’s likely that coaster enthusiasts have ridden something similar to Hulk or Dueling Dragons. But no one has ever ridden anything quite like The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. This is a whole new category of thrill ride that combines the moving vehicles of the old “dark rides” with simulator technology and 3-D animated films to put the rider inside a Spider-Man comic book as Spidey battles the Sinister Syndicate for control of New York City. The experience is unforgettable.
Another attraction that’s not quite like anything you’ve seen elsewhere is Poseidon’s Fury, a special effects extravaganza that puts you in the crossfire of a battle between Zeus and Poseidon that culminates in a David-Copperfield-like magic trick that makes the entire audience disappear.
If you’ve visited Universal Studios Hollywood you’ve seen the Jurassic Park River Adventure Ride. It’s here, too, but in Florida it’s part of an entire Jurassic Park mini-theme park modeled after the one in the movie of the same name. In addition to the River Adventure, you’ll have the chance to get up close and personal with a living, breathing triceratops, fly with the pteranodons, and scramble through ancient amber mines at Camp Jurassic.
What About the Kids?
Camp Jurassic is designed with kids in mind and is just one of the many attractions at IOA that offer something special for the younger set. In fact, there’s an entire “island” — Seuss Landing — that pays homage to the special world of a child’s imagination. There you can ride the Caro-Seuss-El, an old-fashioned carousel featuring a Technicolor menagerie of Seussian critters. Next, try out The Cat In The Hat ride, a kiddie ride that packs a wallop with its sudden swoops and swerves and 360-degree spins.
Toon Lagoon is another “island” that draws its inspiration from childish things, but the Ripsaw Falls log flume ride and the Popeye & Bluto raft ride offer plenty of splashy thrills for older kids and adults.
Food, Glorious Food
One of the most unusual and thrilling features of Islands of Adventure, believe it or not, is the food. For those who think that a visit to a theme park means leaving their taste for fine dining at home, the food service at IOA will come as a revelation.
Mythos Restaurant in The Lost Continent is housed in a fanciful volcano and features gourmet cuisine that would be a credit to any big-city restaurant. To find a splendiferous place like this in a theme park is nothing short of amazing. Far more casual, but also very good is Thunder Falls Terrace in Jurassic Park. The cuisine is standard backyard barbecue but the execution is perfect, with festive and creative side dishes. Even though the service is cafeteria-style, you dine on fine china in an expansive jungle lodge setting that overlooks the final splashdown of the River Adventure ride.
For more well-prepared food in a sit-down restaurant, visit Confisco Grille in Port of Entry. Come at lunch time and pass the time with Spider-Man and other characters from Islands of Adventure.
Even the fast food is often a cut above the norm. The Green Eggs and Ham Cafe in Seuss Landing is a riotous sight gag of a building, but the signature Green Eggs and Hamwich is very tasty, indeed. (The green in the eggs comes from pureed parsley, by the way.)
Of Dreams and Themes
You don’t even have to ride the rides to appreciate what Universal has accomplished with Islands of Adventures. This place takes the “theme” of theme park and raises it to new heights.
You enter Islands of Adventure through the Port of Entry and I have never seen fantasy architecture so evocative, so beautiful, or so imaginatively rendered. It is worth it to linger as the crowds stream out at closing time, just to wander through this magical setting when it is almost deserted with a Florida moon hanging overhead.
Another visual highlight is Seuss Landing where the wacky and wonderful world of Dr. Seuss has been captured larger-than-life-sized and in living color. There’s not a straight line in the place and even the palm trees (many of which were shaped by Hurricane Andrew) twist and bend merrily. The buildings droop and drip as if sculpted out of cake icing that is now melting softly in the Florida sun.
This is also the first theme park to have its own, specially composed theme music. It is all-pervasive, but quickly fades into the scenery it animates. It changes subtly as you walk about and, when you pass from one island to another, it changes completely yet seamlessly as one island’s theme gives way to the next’s. It’s a very special achievement and so brilliantly executed that most people will probably not be aware of what a special achievement it is. Those who do can pick up the CD on their way out of the park.
For the moment, Islands of Adventure reigns supreme as the world’s best theme park. How long it retains that crown depends on the creativity of Universal’s competitors and on Universal’s considerable desire to conquer the Mouse once and for all.
