What are a few of our favorite attractions at Islands of Adventure in Orlando?
Universal Studios has become one of the most amazing theme parks in the entire world. At this point, there are so many Islands of Adventure attractions that it’s impossible to see all of them in a single day. This is where we come in.
To help ensure that you’re getting the most out of your next Orlando trip, we’re going to help you discover the best Islands of Adventure attractions. Our staff has chosen some of our favorite rides, eateries, and other things to do.
Favorite Rides in Islands of Adventure Rides
The biggest Islands of Adventure attractions are obviously the rides, so that’s where we’re going to start. There are quite a few to choose from, and they’re all fantastic, but here are some of our favorites:
Jurassic World VelociCoaster
As the tallest and fastest roller coaster at any Universal Studios park, you know this ride is something special. When you start the ride, you’re launched forward and will hit 70 mph in just 2.4 seconds. From there, you’ll ride along with velociraptors and complete four inversions as you reach 155 feet in the air, giving you a bird’s-eye view of the park (if you open your eyes, of course).
Jurassic Park River Adventure
The Jurassic Park River Adventure has been around for many years, and no matter how many times you go on it, the 85-foot drop never gets old. You begin this water ride on a smooth, relaxing jaunt amongst the dinosaurs before something goes terribly wrong. Then, before you know it, you’re in danger of being eaten by a T-Rex, and the only way to escape is with a death-defying freefall.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
The world of Harry Potter really comes to life in this amazing attraction. Throughout the ride, you’ll find yourself going through the castle gates, down the corridors of Hogwarts, and soaring above the castle grounds. This ride uses state-of-the-art technology to make you feel as if you’re really in the world of Harry Potter, but we suspect that they might have used real magic.
Flight of the Hippogriff
A hippogriff is a magical creature that’s half-eagle and half-horse. This roller coaster has been fashioned into one of these magical creatures and spirals and dives around a pumpkin patch, then swoops past Hagrid’s hut. The roller coaster is pretty smooth and great for kids of all ages.
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
It seems too obvious to call this ride amazing, but that’s exactly what it is. This is a 3D dark ride that features multiple Spider-Man villains, including the Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Electro, and more. Guests sit in a multi-person ride vehicle that moves along on a track and comes into contact with projections as the cart moves, imitating motion and producing a high level of excitement as Spider-Man saves them from certain doom.
The Incredible Hulk Coaster
The Incredible Hulk coaster is another roller coaster that everyone enjoys. With speeds up to 67 mph, you’ll travel upside down a whopping seven times on this wild ride, ranking it as one of the best coasters in Florida. While there may not be anything to “Hulk smash” along the way, there’s no doubt that you’ll love going on this roller coaster over and over again.
Skull Island: Reign of Kong
King Kong has always been one of Universal’s biggest attractions—literally! This trackless ride was gone from Orlando for more than a decade, and it’s returned with a vengeance. You venture through Skull Island and encounter intense visuals until you finally come face-to-face with Kong himself. Anyone is welcome, but keep in mind that the attraction may be a bit scary for young visitors.
Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges
Classic characters like Popeye and Pluto often get overlooked because of shiny new things like Marvel and Harry Potter. But this duo’s Bilge-Rat Barges continue to delight families from all over the world. It’s a simple water ride down a small river that leaves its passengers soaking wet, but it’s an absolute blast no matter how many times you go on it!
Favorite Eateries at Islands of Adventure
After you enjoy a few of our favorite rides, you’ll want to find some tasty food. Or perhaps you want a snack or two throughout the day.
Here are some of our favorite places to grab a bite:
Café 4 Marvel Character Dinner
With the MCU at the height of its popularity, everyone wants to see their favorite Marvel characters. You can find quite a few of them during the Marvel Character Dinner at Cafe 4, including Captain America, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Storm, Cyclops, and Rogue. The characters are always available for pictures. Just be sure to make a reservation.
Three Broomsticks
This popular Harry Potter-themed cafeteria has several British favorites that are perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Many people stop by for their shepherd’s pie, but one of the most popular items is the smoked turkey leg. If you come here for lunch or dinner, we suggest that you don’t leave without grabbing some butterbeer, whether it’s in regular beverage form, frozen, or ice cream.
Blondie’s
Since this eatery is inspired by the Blondie comic, it should come as no surprise that their signature meal is a large sandwich called The Dagwood. In addition to multiple types of sandwiches, you can also get footlong hot dogs, chili dogs, Chicago dogs, french fries, chili cheese fries, and more. Their sandwiches are all made-to-order and have multiple options for anyone who is gluten-free or sensitive to dairy or eggs.
Pizza Predattoria
We just couldn’t create a list of favorite places to eat without including a pizza hotspot. Pizza Predattoria is a great place to take your entire family. You can select between a cheese, pepperoni, or meat lover’s pizza. The menu also includes a grilled chicken Caesar salad, breadsticks with marinara, ice cream, fruit cups, brookies, and several beverages.
Other Favorite Things to Do at Islands of Adventure
In addition to rides and food, there’s always something exciting going on at Islands of Adventure.
Here are a few of our other favorite things to do:
The nighttime lights at Hogwarts Castle
After the sun goes down, Hogwarts Castle comes to life with a dazzling spectacle of music and lights. These shows begin at approximately 7:15 or 8:15 p.m., depending on Daylight Savings Time, but may start a little bit earlier. This event is refurbished from time to time. The final current light show will be on May 9th, but it will return in the near future.
Triwizard Spirit Rally
The Triwizard Spirit Rally is quite a spectacle. It takes the Triwizard Tournament referred to in the books and movies and transposes it to the stage. During the presentation, you’ll see students from the wizarding schools of Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang compete for top honors in multiple, exciting events.
Jurassic Park Discovery Center
If you and your children want to learn about dinosaurs, bring them over to the Jurassic Park Discovery Center. The concept of the structure is to emulate the way that a discovery center would be like in the actual Jurassic Park as presented by the book and movie. As kids click through interactive displays, all they need to do is look up to see the skeletons of their favorite dinosaurs.
Kingpin’s Arcade
Another family-friendly favorite on our list is Kingpin’s Arcade. While it’s true that Kingpin runs Hell’s Kitchen with an iron fist, at Islands of Adventure, he’s running an arcade with iron claw machines. There are also other skill-based games and, of course, many video games for kids and adults of all ages.
Frog Choir
The frog choir may not be super exciting, but it’s something adorable that we always get a kick out of every time we go to Universal Studios. A small choir of Hogwarts students, each with their own bass-laden frog, belts out familiar wizarding songs a cappella style. We say that if it’s good enough for Dumbledore, it’s certainly good enough for us!
Contact World Class VIP for more Island of Adventure Attractions
World Class VIP offers Island of Adventure tours that will optimize your time at the park. Our VIP tour guides will help you reduce your wait times in line, find the best hotels, locate great places to eat, and a whole lot more.