Best Universal Studios/Islands Of Adventure Attractions?

Anybody got some outstanding rides, food, attractions, etc to look out for?

A) Harry Potter

B) Harry Potter

C) Spider Man

D) Harry Potter

Also, Harry Potter

And Mummy. So much fun. Great effects, full of surprises. One of my all-time favorites.

And yes. Potter, Spider-Man, and Potter. More Potter. And even more Potter.

Also, the Simpsons attractions.

And did I mention Harry Potter?

Do all the dark rides, all the roller coasters, all the water rides, and all the 3/4/5D movies. There ya go. Have fun.

Can everyone just write a list of rides that they like at universal Studios and IOA? That would make a very interesting topic.

I always liked that Poseidon ride in that theater thing.

Besides all of the obvious answers, I always tell people the Horror Make Up show on the Studios side is a must. A throwback to the earliest days of the park, it is still an enjoyable, funny, and entertaining show that is often overlooked.

In my opinion The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man is the best attraction at Universal. Overall I don't think a dark ride could get any better. From the look and feel of the queue to the story and the seamlessness of the actual ride. As much as Universal tried to plus their dark rides when it comes to Harry Potter they just don't hold up in my eyes, the new tech is cool and some effects are great but when it boils down to it it is all about the story in simplest way. Spiderman is such a simple and basic concept, the rider cannot be lost in the story. It is a battle of good vs evil, that is all you need to understand to "get" the attraction. That is the downfall of the HP attractions in my eyes, there is too much to know about HP to understand the rides un less you are somewhat versed in HP. A couple years ago I took my father to the parks, he has been on Spider several times and he loves it, I took him on Forbidden Journey and when he got off I asked his opinion. He thought it was cool but then I asked did you know what was going on and he had no clue. As much as Universal tries to tell you the story and concepts in the queue many people will miss it. My father has never seen a HP film and I bet he will never will, and for that fact that is what lacks on the rides. By no means are the HP rides bad, they are amazing things but the simplistic story that Spiderman has really make it the best attraction at the park.

^

The horror make up show is a great thing to do on ones first trip to the parks. Its one of the shows that is great the first time but after that those special surprises and improv moments are a little too scripted. it teaches you a bit about Makeup and Universals history with horror. If you want an easy fun sucker bet to make your family while seeing the show, bet them when they pick an audience member from the crowd they will pick an asian woman. 99% of the time this will be true.

Rides

-Chinese Fireball (wise they would duel again)

-Incred...nevermind

-Revenge of the Mummy. My favorite scene "Silence (talk to the hand) with your souls, I shall rule for all eternity". Me and the other half reenact that every time :-)

Food

-Anything from Mythos

-Duff Beer

-pastries from Le Boulangerie (USO)

-fudge from Island Market and Export (IOA)

Everything sucks. Save your money.

The Human Cannonball ride where they shoot you out of Hulk's disconnected launch tube is the greatest!

The $20 parking.

Oops, wrong thread.

I haven't been in a long time, but don't discount some of the smaller, stuff. The One Fish Two Fish ride is very fun in a simple, family ride sort of way. And IMO, no visit is complete without eating a Green Eggs and Ham sandwich.

That food stand is almost never open.

Take your time walking through IOA. Explore the smaller paths, especially the ones that take you to the lagoon in the middle of the park. Try to notice the little details. That park is an artistic masterpiece, and sometimes I think the awesomeness of the rides and attractions overshadow that.

Seconding LK.

I'd also recommend Cat in the Hat.

Well that's too bad, but like I said, it's been a while. I'm dying to get beck, and take Boogie now that he's tall enough. But between all the food options in Simpsons Land alone, I'm not sure we'll even eat anywhere else. Oh well. Not even sure when we'll get down there anyways. Every time he has an extended weekend the flights are always full.

Tommy, what did Beck ever do to you?

LostKause said:
Take your time walking through IOA. Explore the smaller paths, especially the ones that take you to the lagoon in the middle of the park. Try to notice the little details. That park is an artistic masterpiece, and sometimes I think the awesomeness of the rides and attractions overshadow that.

You know, we get so excited about theme parks sometimes, but LK is so right about this. Right now you won't get that amazing picture of Hulk from across the water by Mythos, but there is so much at this park to just LOOK at that it is almost too much stimuli (in the best possible way). The Poseidon ride or movie or whatever it is (I never went in there) is housed in an insanely cool structure with a gargantuan hand and Poseidon's trident coming out of the earth. Jurassic World is missing something that would put the ride over the top for fun, but holy Schnike are there amazing things about that ride as well. Mythos is a decent restaurant, but when you see it, you might not even care if you eat because it's just so cool. MiB is not your average dark ride shooter. Seuss Landing might have you feel like you're walking sideways with its zany structures and wild colors. The parks, especially IoA, are one visual pleasure after another, and really, not too many rides are fails. Even the teacups have a nice long cycle and spin like crazy.

Honestly, these two parks are more of a total immersive experience rather than a typical trip to an amusement park. I've never been a Disney-phile like some people, but take me to Universal, and I'm like a kid hopped up on pixie sticks and Mountain Dew.

One thing: if you can do single rider lines for anything, do it. Especially Mummy and Spider-Man. The lines can get ridiculous depending when you're there, and a single rider line might save you significant amounts of time. I've bypassed hour long lines for a 5 minute wait many times. If that's not an option for you, I would give you the tip that supposedly Harry Potter attractions are least crowded at the end of the day. However, if you only have a short amount of time and you're a Potter fan, I wouldn't trust it to wait until close to closing and chance missing it. If you know a fair bit about the books or the movies, you will be absolutely gobsmacked by both Potter lands and their rides. There is nothing like them anywhere else in the world (right now at least). If you're staying at one of the resorts that are Universal owned and that offer early admission to the parks and free unlimited skip-the-line passes, your day is MADE! You can ride the Potter stuff at the buttcrack of dawn, and then you have the rest of the day to easily get everything else into one day. I would take a few days, but with the passes and stuff, one day is possible.

Small children might be pretty bored or really scared. Both parks have very little to do for young ones, and many of the "typical" water rides and shows are at least PG material. I think I saw a six or seven year old age about 20 years on Mummy. I'm almost 40, and the first time I rode the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, my husband couldn't stop laughing at me for a good 10 minutes. There are some...surprises in there.

Above all, just enjoy it. I'd venture to say you'll have fun no matter what you ride (or don't ride). It's one of my favorite places in the whole world. I'm excited for you. And so so so jealous.

I'll mention that Dudley Do-right's Rip Saw Falls has the most intense drop of any water ride I have ever been on, and the ride is insanely long. Wear a poncho if you don't want to get wet, but ride it no matter what!