Universal Islands of Adventure facts for kids
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Pharos Lighthouse with the park's old logo at its entrance
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| Location | Universal Orlando Resort, Orlando, Florida, United States |
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| Coordinates | 28°28′18″N 81°28′17″W / 28.47167°N 81.47139°W |
| Opened | May 28, 1999 |
| Owner | NBCUniversal |
| Operated by | Universal Destinations & Experiences |
| Theme | Islands with myths, legends, dinosaurs, cartoons, superheroes, children's stories, and Universal franchises |
| Slogan | Let Yourself Woah (as Universal Orlando Resort) |
| Operating season | Year-round |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 18 |
| Roller coasters | 5 |
| Water rides | 3 |
Universal Islands of Adventure (also known as Islands of Adventure or IOA) is an amazing theme park located in Orlando, Florida. It first opened its doors on May 28, 1999. This park was part of a big plan to make Universal Studios Florida into the Universal Orlando Resort, which also included CityWalk.
Islands of Adventure is designed like a grand journey of discovery. Guests get to explore many different themed "islands." When it first opened, there were six islands. In 2010, a seventh island was added: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This area is based on the super popular Harry Potter movies and books. It was a huge investment for Universal and made the park much more popular! In 2013, Islands of Adventure was the seventh most visited park in the U.S. and eleventh worldwide. A new eighth island, Skull Island, opened on July 13, 2016. It is themed around the famous King Kong movies.
Contents
Cool Characters and Stories
Just like Universal Studios Florida next door, Islands of Adventure uses characters and stories from many different companies, not just Universal's own movies. This means you can find attractions based on:
- Dr. Seuss books
- Harry Potter books and movies
- Popeye cartoons
- Pre-2009 Marvel Comics superheroes
Park History
Before Islands of Adventure was built, the land was supposed to be a shopping mall called Galleria Orlando. But those plans changed, and Universal decided to build a theme park instead!
Sneak Peek Center
While Islands of Adventure was being built, Universal opened a special Islands of Adventure Preview Center at Universal Studios Florida. This was two years before the new park opened! It let guests get a sneak peek at the themes and rides coming to Islands of Adventure. The Preview Center closed soon after Islands of Adventure opened.
Grand Opening Day
Islands of Adventure had a "soft opening" starting March 27, 1999. This meant visitors could try out the park at a lower price while the staff finished setting everything up. The official grand opening was on May 28, 1999.
After spending a lot of money to build Islands of Adventure, CityWalk, and new hotels, Universal hoped to attract more visitors than nearby Walt Disney World. At first, the whole area was called Universal Studios Escape. But people were confused, thinking Islands of Adventure was just a new part of Universal Studios Florida. So, in 2001, they changed the name to Universal Orlando Resort. This made it clear that Islands of Adventure was a totally separate park with new and exciting rides!
Islands to Explore
Islands of Adventure has eight themed "islands." Most of these islands are based on famous movies, books, or cartoons. Two islands are based on original Universal stories. You can explore them in a circle, starting from the entrance: Port of Entry, Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, Skull Island, Jurassic Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, The Lost Continent, and Seuss Landing.
Port of Entry
Port of Entry is the main entrance to the park. It has many shops and guest services. The park's tall, shining Pharos Lighthouse is also here. Every night, the lighthouse sends out a bright beam to guide visitors. This island doesn't have any rides, but it has lots of places to eat and shop.
Marvel Super Hero Island
Marvel Super Hero Island is all about the awesome superhero characters from Marvel Comics. The buildings look like they jumped right out of a comic book! Many buildings even change color depending on how you look at them.
| Attraction | Opened | What it is | Height needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor Doom's Fearfall | 1999 | A thrilling ride that shoots you high into the sky, then drops you fast! It's based on the villain Doctor Doom. | 52 in (132 cm) |
| Storm Force Accelatron | 2000 | A spinning ride where you help Storm from the X-Men create thunder and lightning. | Supervision is required for riders under 48 in (121 cm) |
| The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man | 1999 | A super cool 3D dark ride where you join Spider-Man to stop bad guys from stealing the Statue of Liberty. | 40 in (102 cm) |
| The Incredible Hulk Coaster | 1999 | A fast launched roller coaster based on the Hulk. It launches you from 0 to 67 mph (108 km/h) in just two seconds! | 54 in (137 cm) |
You can also grab a bite at Cafe 4 or Captain America Diner. Don't forget to meet your favorite superheroes like Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Captain America!
Toon Lagoon
Toon Lagoon is based on classic cartoon and comic strip characters like Popeye and Betty Boop. This area is all about water rides, so be ready to get wet!
| Attraction | Opened | What it is | Height needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls | 1999 | A fun log flume ride where you follow Dudley Do-Right on an adventure, ending with a 75-foot (23 m) drop! | 44 in (112 cm) |
| Me Ship, the Olive | 1999 | A playground built like Popeye's ship, with lots of interactive things to do. | |
| Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges | 1999 | A wild river rafting ride where you help Popeye save Olive Oyl from Bluto through bumpy waters. | 42 in (106 cm) |
You can find places to eat like Blondie's and Wimpy's. There are also shops like the Betty Boop store.
Skull Island
Skull Island is the newest island in the park, opened in 2016. It brings the giant ape King Kong back to Universal Orlando Resort!
| Attraction | Opened | What it is | Height needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skull Island: Reign of Kong | 2016 | A thrilling trackless dark ride that takes you deep into the world of King Kong. | 36 in (91 cm) |
Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park is themed after the famous movie series. It looks like John Hammond's dinosaur theme park from the movies. You'll find exciting rides and exhibits where you can learn about dinosaurs.
| Attraction | Opened | What it is | Height needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Jurassic | 1999 | A huge play area for kids with slides, nets, and water cannons, built around a giant Banyan tree. | |
| Jurassic Park River Adventure | 1999 | A water ride based on the Jurassic Park movie. Get ready for a big splash! | 42 in (107 cm) |
| Pteranodon Flyers | 1999 | A steel suspended roller coaster where you soar like a Pteranodon over Camp Jurassic. | Between 36 and 56 in (91–142 cm) |
| VelociCoaster | 2021 | A super-fast launched roller coaster based on the Velociraptor from Jurassic World. It's one of the tallest and fastest coasters in Florida! | 51 in (130 cm) |
| Jurassic Park Discovery Center | 1999 | An interactive area where you can learn all about dinosaurs and how they lived. |
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade is themed around the magical Harry Potter universe by J. K. Rowling. It opened on June 18, 2010. This amazing area has rides, shops, and restaurants that look just like the Forbidden Forest, Hogsmeade Village, and the famous Hogwarts Castle.
There are five main attractions in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter:
| Attraction | Opened | What it is | Height needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight of the Hippogriff | 2010 | A fun junior roller coaster where you fly past Hagrid's hut. | 36 in (91 cm) |
| Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey | 2010 | A thrilling motion-based dark ride that takes you on an adventure through Hogwarts Castle. | 48 in (122 cm) |
| Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure | 2019 | A super exciting motorbike roller coaster that speeds through the Forbidden Forest, meeting magical creatures. | 48 in (122 cm) |
| Hogwarts Express | 2014 | A real train ride that takes you between Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida. | Supervision required if under 48 inches (120 cm) |
| Ollivanders | 2010 | A magical shop where "the wand chooses the wizard." |
You can also enjoy live shows like the Frog Choir and the Triwizard Spirit Rally in Hogsmeade.
The Lost Continent
The Lost Continent is themed around ancient myths and legends. It has an Arabian marketplace called Sinbad's Bazzaar and a Grecian-style Lost City. This land is also home to Mythos, a restaurant that has won awards for being one of the best theme park restaurants!
| Attraction | Opened | What it is | Height needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Mystic Fountain | 1999 | An interactive fountain that talks to guests, plays music, and sprays water! |
Seuss Landing
Seuss Landing is based on the wonderful books of Dr. Seuss. This island has many Seuss-themed rides, especially for younger kids. You'll notice that almost nothing here is straight, just like in the books! Even the palm trees are bent to fit the theme.
| Attractions | Opened | What it is | Height needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cat in the Hat | 1999 | A fun dark ride based on The Cat in the Hat book. | 36 in (91 cm) |
| The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride | 2006 | A train ride that takes you high above Seuss Landing, showing off scenes from Dr. Seuss books. | 40 in (101 cm) |
| One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish | 1999 | A spinning ride where you control your own fish, based on the One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish book. | Supervision is required for riders under 48 in (121 cm) |
| Caro-Seuss-el | 1999 | A colorful carousel with creatures inspired by Dr. Seuss. | Supervision is required for riders under 48 in (121 cm) |
| Oh, The Stories You'll Hear | 1999 | A musical show featuring popular Dr. Seuss characters like The Cat in the Hat and The Grinch. | |
| If I Ran the Zoo | 1999 | An interactive play area for kids based on the If I Ran the Zoo book. |
You can also eat at Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous or Green Eggs and Ham Cafe. Don't miss the Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular show during the holiday season!
Meet Your Favorite Characters
Just like Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure has many famous characters you can meet!
Current Characters
- Betty Boop
- Dr. Seuss: Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2, The Grinch, The Lorax, Sam-I-Am
- Jurassic World: Blue the Raptor, The Mitchell Brothers, and Maisie Lockwood
- Madagascar: King Julien XIII
- Marvel Comics: Spider-Man, Captain America, Wolverine, Cyclops, Rogue, Storm, Green Goblin, and Doctor Doom
- Popeye the Sailor Man: Popeye and Olive Oyl
- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: She-Ra
- Wizarding World: Hogwarts Train Conductor
Universal Express Pass
Many rides at Islands of Adventure let you use an Express Pass. This pass lets you use a separate line that moves faster, so you don't have to wait as long! You can use your Express Pass whenever you want. The Express Pass costs extra and is not included with your park ticket.
Park Visitors Over Time
Here's how many people have visited Islands of Adventure each year:
| Year | Visitors |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 5,290,000 |
| 2009 | 4,627,000 |
| 2010 | 5,949,000 |
| 2011 | 7,674,000 |
| 2012 | 7,981,000 |
| 2013 | 8,141,000 |
| 2014 | 8,141,000 |
| 2015 | 8,792,000 |
| 2016 | 9,362,000 |
| 2017 | 9,549,000 |
| 2018 | 9,788,000 |
| 2019 | 10,375,000 |
| 2020 | 4,005,000 |
| 2021 | 9,077,000 |
| 2022 | 11,025,000 |
Images for kids
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Pharos Lighthouse with the park's old logo at its entrance
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Islands of Adventure 2023 logo
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The Pharos Lighthouse marks the park's entrance
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The Incredible Hulk Coaster
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Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls
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Construction of Skull Island: Reign of Kong (July 2015)
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Jurassic Park
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Entrance to Hogsmeade at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
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Seuss Landing
See also
In Spanish: Universal's Islands of Adventure para niños
- List of Universal Orlando Resort attractions
- Incidents at Universal parks
