Florida Ridge Villa

What is really impressive about Islands of Adventure is the fact that everything is themed, right down to the trash bins!. Nothing in the park is left looking boring and it is this attention to detail that stands this park out with many others in Florida. When you walk in the large impressive lighthouse gives you the feeling you are entering a different World.

 

Onto the rides and here you will find 4 of Florida’s top 10 rides (HULK, SPIDERMAN, DRAGONS CHALLENGE & HARRY POTTER). Each one has the usual fast pass option to allow entry onto the ride a lot quicker during peak periods. This is well worth using should you want to go on them when it is busy, but does cost a lot of money, so really is personal choice. One of the first rides you will see when you enter the park is the HULK (Well you normally actually hear the ride and everyone screaming well before you get to see it!) The ride itself has a big twist and rather than take you up nice and slowly, actually slings you up the ramp at 65mph into an inverted roll. The rest of the ride is full of loops, spins, banked turns and almost everything you would expect in a World beating ride. As this ride is right by the main entrance it can get busy later in the day, but first thing it is normally quiet while people head for HARRY POTTER.

 

DRAGONS CHALLENGE is the other main roller coaster at Universal Islands of Adventure. Designed as 2 separate rides (blue and red) each one gives a totally different experience when riding, so is in effect it is 2 separate rides in one which should be ridden independently. Red tends to be faster than the Blue, but Blue pulls higher G-force and goes though more inversions. Both cars hang from the track (similar to MONTU at Busch Gardens) giving the feeling of dangling in mid air. Both are located in the New HARRY POTTER Land and tend to have short queues due to the popularity of the Harry Potter ride itself. In total it is not unheard of to ride red, then go straight onto the Blue. If looking to do this it is always advisable to speak to the attendant before boarding. To ride these you need to be 54 inches in height (around 9 years old).

 

My favourite simulator ride in Orlando has to be the Amazing Adventures of SPIDERMAN. This is a 4-D ride that uses a car to take you through different areas of the city fighting Dr Octopus and the Green Goblin. Along the way you bump into Spiderman’s old enemies. To say this ride is intense would be an understatement. Coming off it you are grinning from ear to ear and think you have been 10 rounds with Mike Tyson! Almost every sense in your body is tested during the ride and some of the scenes are top draw, you even feel like you are actually falling 50 stories without even moving an inch! Queues for this ride can get up to 1 hour during peak periods, so is also best visited early in the morning after going on the HULK. SPIDERMAN is located in Super Marvel Hero Island.

 

HARRY POTTER has now taken over as one of the most popular rides in the whole of Florida. The ride is built underground HOGWARTS castle and takes you on an epic journey with Harry and his friends around the grounds of HOGWARTS trying to escape from the dark spirits. Anyone who has seen the films will appreciate the great attention to detail. Right down to the talking pictures on the wall, to the moving plants and grounds around the castle. Every area has been built with the movie in mind. On the ride you get up close and personal with all sorts of creatures and help Harry in his quest defeat the evil spirits within. This is certainly a great ride and with the addition of the new ride (HOGSMEAD linking Universal to Islands of Adventure) it has just made it even better. At the time of writing this report the HOGSMEAD express from Kings Cross Station to HOGSMEAD has not opened, but from peak views of it, it carries on the great attention to detail. Kings Cross Station and London Taxi and bus just add to the effect. Going on this ride will need the addition of the Universal Hopper equivalent pass, allowing entry to Universal and Islands of Adventure on the same day.

 

Most people buy the Universal 2 day pass, which allows them into Universal and Islands of Adventure, which works out better value for money. With the addition of HOGSMEAD express you might want to consider the two park in one day option, but this does add money. If you go out of season sometimes they do a buy 2 get 1 free day, making it even better value. Either way you won’t be disappointed when you visit and it is definitely a must visit park along with Disney and Universal Studios when you visit Orlando.