Universal Island of Adventure

I've always wanted to go here and now I have my chance. I am really looking forward to this trip. I only get to go one day but what do you recommend riding.

Hulk, Dragons(both, Fire is my favorite)Spiderman, Fear fall, Dudly Do-Right, And just for a kicker, Poisiodans Fury.

Ride everything. One day is plenty of time. There arent many rides so you will probably be able to ride/see everything twice.

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Bob Hansen
Resident Airtime Whore

Yeah, I just made a short list. Definately ride both dragons in the front seat. Heading towards the train and then pulling up into the vertical loops is sah-weeet.

Thanks guys, I'm really excited I love heavily themed parks

Yes, all the rides in this park I will highly recommend! Even the Cat In The Hat ride in the Dr. Seuss land is a must as well.

This park is wonderful and you will have a great time. Not only are the rides state of the art, thrilling, and a blast but the park itself was really designed very well. I could spend a day walking around the park just marveling over the detail that was put into everything. It's all wonderful from the fossils on the ground in Jurassic Park to the bright vivid colors in the Comics section, to the crazy design (there are NO STRAIGHT LINES at all....) of the Dr. Seuss land. It's all just a wonder to behold, and is just jaw dropping.

I love IOA even more so for the attention to detail. You will have a blast. I am looking forward to your trip report!

thepinkdoomofmonkeys said:
And just for a kicker, Poisiodans Fury.

Poisiodan...Is that the god of bad 80s hair bands?

To repeat what Kick the Sky said, ride everything. A full day should give you plenty of time to do everything you want at IoA. One suggestion, if there's a ride that you consider passing up for a re-ride on something else, don't. You should sample every ride this park has. They are all worth the wait.

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-Vater
Have you ridden a Toboggan?

In all seriousness, if you get there at opening and utilize the (FREE) virtual queueing, you'll have NO problem riding everything (save for PF, which you CANNOT ride without a child).

In addition, there are single-rider lines for Hulk and Dr Doom that can get you re-rides without the wait...;). But I'd make sure to hit everything once before getting re-rides.....and if you arrive early enough, catch Spidey before the crowds arrive, since it is a lo-cap attraction.

There is *nothing* in the park that will disappoint you....I understand the (valid?) complaints about not enough to do for repeat visitors, but any expansion will have to maintain some VERY high standards...
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"Like most problems in life, it's nothing that can't be solved with a little bending"...Bender, Futurama

I can give you one thing that disapoints, Camp Jurassic and the food at the park.

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Love,
The Mole

Mole, if you had disappointing food, you just didn't eat at the right places (everyone says great things about Mythos, we generally go to Confisco and are ALWAYS happy).

Oh, and Camp Jurassic (done it once myself) is for KIDS....the animatronics are VERY well done, I even got sneezed on by a triceratops, LOL...;)

I am hoping to visit Orlando next Thursday (22nd) until next sunday (25th). I will hopefully be staying at one of the Universal hotels and was wondering what the parks will be like crowd wise. Also I understand that it is the Americans last day of school on the 23rd so will IOA be busy on Friday as they have extended opening hours listed on their website. Thankyou for any help given!!

(Do Universal hotels offer complimentry entry to the parks during your visit?)

A far as food goes, as rollergator has stated above 'Mythos' is a great resturant and is located right across from Posidon's Fury. It will cost you about $12 per person but it is well worth the $$ for the atmosphere and the quality of food.

HI Im New Here!! I hail from Coral Springs FL and have been to Islands countless times. My advice is to do all the dry rides first, starting with Dueling Dragons FRONT ROW ONLY!(If you get to the park early there will be No wait, most people go to hulk first) you'll want to ride both dragons because they are both unique. At first Fire was my fav, but after multiple rides, I think Ice is the more fun coaster, mainly for it's close encounter with a wall right in front of you. After Dragons, turn around and head into Cat in The Hat to cool down. Then head to Super Hero Island and do it up with Spidey and Hulk, easily the two best rides there. Im not a fan of Doomdrop but I know some people love it. Stop and get something to eat, I know your hungry! Now it's time to get wet, ***make sure you bring a change of clothes***, otherwise you'll be walking around in dampness for the rest of the day, not fun. Head to toon lagoon and take in Doo-right and popeye, both great rides!. Head to Jurassic Park, and go on river adventure (kinda weak, but a killer drop makes up for it, also get front row, much better). Ok you have been on every good ride in the park, Congrats. I woudn't waste my time on the Dino encounter unless you have kids, but I still wouldn't waste my time. I would change clothes and get back on that Hulk or Dragon Coaster. Spiderman is always crowded so you will probably only make 1 ride, although it's definitely worth the wait. Of course this is all my opinion, but this formula works for me very well. Went for Halloween Horror nights last year, amazing! though CROWDED!! Have Fun

I was just there 3 weeks ago. I rode just about everything at least twice.

Don't think that just because there are 3 real coasters that there's nothing to do. Be sure and ride the water rides. Ripsaw Falls and River Adventure are the two best water rides I've ever been on. I love the concept of both of them.

Be sure to stay at a resort. If you do, you can use your room key at the front of any line and you'll be redirected to the Express Line. I never had to wait any more than 15 minutes for anything, and I did a lot too.

If you do use the express pass, you'll have a lot of extra time. Go to Universal Studios, because the pass is good there too, and they have some great rides.

If you want to read my trip report on how I conquered everything and everything again in three days, click here.

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I recomend watching the Eighth Voyage of Sinbad if you have time. It has some great special effects and a lot of action. Don't forget to stop and talk to the fountain. It's a lot of fun. I just wish that I could get back to IOA/USF soon. They are two of the, if not the, best parks in the world.

Like everyone is saying, you should try to hit everything you possibly can. I had a day in a half there last June, and while I skiped a few things, I now regret not doing everyhing. One thing that probably wouldnt kill you to pass up is Dr. Doom's Free Fall. While its got some decent theming(everywhere in the park does), it wasnt even close to being worth the 45 minute wait I waited to ride it. Its a very simple free-fall ride, not very tall. Also be sure to do Posideons Fury, one of the best walk-through attractions ive ever been on, and be sure to check out the fountain at the entrance to the 8th voyage of Sinbad. While not a ride or even a listed attraction, Its one of the neatest things ive ever seen.

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Kennywood Park, America's finest traditional amusement park.

N: Inferno... If you are staying at one of Universal's hotels, your key card is a front of the line pass for all the rides at IOA and the Studios... So you don't really care about the crowds. (You still have to pay for park admission, though)

When I went 2 months ago, Spidey had a single riders line. I rode it 5 times using that, and could have done much more. It seemed pretty easy to spot , but no one is mentioning it.

If you're of drinking age, there is no better park in which you can drink. Fantastic adult beverages are everywhere in this park, and at very reasonable prices.
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SRM 2003-Look for the guy with my name on his chest