Universal Islands of Adventure
| Location | Orlando, Florida, USA |
|---|---|
| Opened | 1999 |
| Owner | NBC Universal, The Blackstone Group |
| Operating season | Year-round |
| Website | Islands of Adventure Homepage |
Universal's Islands of Adventure is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. It opened in May 1999 as an expansion to the Universal Orlando Resort and CityWalk areas. The park, part of the Universal Orlando Resort, is composed of six distinct "islands", each having its own theme.
Additionally, Islands of Adventure has an official soundtrack album, Official Soundtrack Album: Universal Studios Islands Of Adventure.
Islands
Port of Entry
The Port of Entry is the area due north of the entrance, positioned at the southernmost point of the park. It is primarily a shopping center, and has the feel of an Arabian bazaar. Its main feature is the Confisco Grille restaurant.
Marvel Super Hero Island
Located next to the Port of Entry, Marvel Super Hero Island has rides reminiscent of Marvel comic books. Its four rides are: the Incredible Hulk Coaster, the only launched Bolliger & Mabillard roller coaster; The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, a simulator ride set in New York; Doctor Doom's Fearfall, a vertically launched ride (similar to Power Tower at Cedar Point in Ohio); and Storm Force Accelatron, which is a faster version of the traditional Teacup ride.
Toon Lagoon
Toon Lagoon is geared toward both kids and adults, and is based on the properties of both King Features Syndicate and Jay Ward comic strips. The area includes Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls, a traditional log flume advertised to have the steepest drop of any log flume in America (70° pitch), and Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges, a river rapids ride. It also has a kids' playground, Me Ship, the Olive.
Jurassic Park
Set in the time of the Jurassic Park movie, the focal point of the area is the Jurassic Park River Adventure. While in line, visitors can watch a CNN-like TV network featuring Richard Attenborough as John Hammond welcoming them. Parkgoers can view animatronic dinosaurs and experience an 85 ft (26 m) drop while escaping the jaws of a menacing T-Rex. Also in Jurassic Park is Camp Jurassic, a children's play area; the Pteranodon Flyers (a suspended coaster-type attraction); and the Jurassic Park Discovery Center, a replicated (but not entirely duplicated) version of the Visitor Center from the film. Inside is a re-creation of the dinosaur skeletons seen in the center's lobby in the movie.
The Lost Continent
The land is themed to ancient myths and legends. The land features Dueling Dragons (a pair of dueling inverted roller coaster), Poseidon's Fury, and Flying Unicorn (a Vekoma junior roller coaster). This land is also home to Mythos (restaurant), nominated the best theme park restaurant several times by Theme Park Insider, however the restaurant's menu has since been reduced.
Seuss Landing
Seuss Landing is only themed area at Islands of Adventure specially geared towards small children and is based on the works of the author Dr. Seuss. It has several Seuss-themed rides, including the Caro-Seuss-el, The Cat in the Hat Ride, The High-In-The-Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride, and If I Ran the Zoo, an interactive play zone for kids. It also features a One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish ride and the Green Eggs and Ham Cafe. One of the characteristic features of this area is, like in the books, there is not a single straight line anywhere.
Opened on June 22, 2006, Seuss Landing gained a brand new attraction, The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride. The attraction was to open with the park as Sylvester McMonkey McBean's Very Unusual Driving Machines, but it was pushed back due to contractual disputes and safety issues. The bankruptcy of the ride's original manufacturer postponed its opening indefinitely. In March 2006, the track began being rebuilt for a summer 2006 opening. [1] The trolley ride uses two separate tracks, one of which runs through the Circus Mcgurkus restaurant. The cars end up on the opposite side to which they departed if the track switch is set to do so.
Former attractions
While still entertaining park guests, Poseidon's Fury had a unique plot that was changed due to guest approval ratings. It featured an old tour guide known as The Keeper who wove a tale about the great lost city of Atlantis. He led guests from a decorated temple into a lost chamber where the portal to Atlantis was opened, culminating in a breathtaking water vortex which is still in use by the current show. Guests were led through the portal into the Temple of Poseidon show arena. Poseidon appeared via large, 180 degree film screens and welcomed guests to their new permanent home. The Keeper revealed himself to be Zeus in disguise, and defeated Poseidon. The battle used water projection screens, fire and water effects, and ended with guests winding up back in the lost chamber. This effect was accomplished by the Temple of Poseidon's lights going out and walls identical to the previous lost chamber coming down around guests and lights being brought up again.[1]
Currently, Poseidon's role is played by an actor projected on water screens, who battles Darkennon, the show's new antagonist. Taylor, a nerdy archeologist, is the new guide for the attraction. The first chamber has been redressed as a dark treasure room and guests are lead into the lost chamber after the portal, which opens up to be the Temple of Poseidon after a brief blackout.
When the park opened, a boat ride, Island Skipper Tours, took park guests around the central lagoon of Islands of Adventure. It had stops in Port of Entry across from the Confisco Grille restaurant, and in Jurassic Park adjacent to the Discovery Center. The ride was closed in 2002.
Originally, Toon Lagoon featured a live show with cartoon characters. It was replaced in 2002 by a Mat Hoffman-themed BMX stunt show. The space was also used for Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure (during Halloween Horror Nights) and the former BMX stunt show during peak seasonal weeks. It is currently home to iVillage, a daily TV show and webcast based on the iVillage website for women.
There was a Triceratops Encounter attraction in Jurassic Park that featured a lifelike animatronic dinosaur. It was converted into a more self-guided Discovery Trail, but it was ultimately closed in 2005 and currently stands derelict.
References
- ^ Hettema, Philip D. (January 12, 1999). "Patent for the "Set transformation effect" used in Poseidon's Fury". Universal City Studios, Inc. United States Patent Office. Retrieved October 3.
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