Islands of Adventure Theme Park

Universal's Islands of Adventure is the second theme park also based on hit movies Universal Studios has produced over the years. It is one of the three parks within the entire Universal Orlando Resort. Universal Studios Florida is the first park and Universal's Volcano Bay is the waterpark that makes up the third. Each park requires its own admission, plus there are certain themed attractions that are available in one, but not the other. We created a guide for you to navigate the different Universal Orlando Resort rides and attractions for each park.

To help you make the most out of your Orlando Vacation, we've also have written a couple of suggested touring plans for you and your family. These were written by our theme park experts, and they list rides and attractions which are "must sees" for each age group.

Islands of Adventure Schedule

Opening hours of Island of Adventure are from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm, closing times vary, and the park is open 365 days each year. The best travel time to visit is between Spring and Summer Break and between major holidays. Be sure to purchase your Universal Studios Packages and include lodging in one of our vacation home rentals in Orlando or Orlando hotels in the Universal area.

SPECIAL TIP

Most of the thrill rides and roller coasters at Islands of Adventure require a child to be at least 50 inches tall. Please be sure to first check out the height requirements on the Universal app. You don't want to see the face of your disappointed child if the they can't ride the attraction they really want to ride.

Things To See in Universal's Island of Adventure

Suess Landing

Here you'll find the beloved books of Dr. Seuss brought to life! Be sure to stop by and see Oh! The Stories You'll Hear! show. You can also find the Seuss Character Zone and catch a couple of Things, the Cat in the Hat, Sam I Am, and the Grinch in person.

The Lost Continent

Behold the mischievous spirit that lives within the enchanted fountain. The spirit tells jokes and riddles to those passing by, but beware, answer its questions incorrectly and you may get wet!

Hogsmeade Station

The Hogwarts Express, is an excellent replica of the train in the Harry Potter movie series found atHogsmeade Station. This train connects Hogsmeade found in Universal’s Islands of Adventure and takes visitors toDiagon Alleyfound in Universal Studios Florida parks. A memorable train ride that requires visitors to have both park tickets to enjoy.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter -Hogsmeade

Both parks offer a wealth of opportunities for you to immerse yourself in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Immerse yourself in Hogsmeade, the only all-wizarding village that Muggles have been reallowed to visit. Enjoy the vocal stylings of a small choir of Hogwarts students accompanied by their large croaking frogs, have your wand choose you at Ollivander's Experience (also found in Diagon Alley), and behold the amazing view of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. of There are so many unforgettable recreated places from the movie and at Universal Studios Florida. Remember to bring a camera and take pictures that you will enjoy many years later.

Jurassic Park

Walk under the infamous Jurassic Park arch into the world of the past. Here you'll have to keep an eye out for stray dinosaurs, we've heard of aSpinosaurus peeking out above the iconic Jeep Wrangler from the movie. Visit the 1993 Ford Explorer from the first Jurassic Park movie that was not destroyed by the Tyrannosaurus Rex. You might even get to meet Blue at the Raptor Encounter.

Marvel Super Hero Island

Get ready to meet Spider-Man and the Marvel Super Heroesin Marvel Super Hero Island. The only thing better than seeing them in your favorite comic is meeting them in real life!

Universal's Islands of Adventure Rides

Child Swap

Even though this is not a ride you can experience an attraction that may be too intense for a little one and not lose your place in line. With Child Swap, you wait in line with your group, someone stays behind with the little one while the rest of the group experiences the ride, then the one who waited can ride the ride also without waiting in line. All of the rides at Universal Studios Florida employ the Child Swap program except for the Hogwarts Express.

Seuss Landing

The Cat in the Hat

Ride through the pages of the classic book The Cat in the Hat. Here you'll follow Sally and her brother through a crazy encounter with a Cat (in a hat) who makes a mess of their house and are left with having to clean it up before their mother gets home.

Height: 36 inches or taller

36 to 48 inches: Supervision required

Wheelchair: Standard wheelchair okay

Thrill Level: Mild

Ride Type: Dark Spinning Ride

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Relive this famous classic book by taking in a ride in of the swooping, spinning fish. Watch and ride as fountain characters squirt in time to the music.

Height: Any Height

Wheelchair: Standard wheelchair okay

Thrill Level: Mild

Ride Type: Elevating and Spinning Ride

Caro-Seuss-el

Here you'll find a variety of brightly colored Dr. Seuss characters from books that you can ride in this carousel. 

• Height: Any Height
• Wheelchair: Standard wheelchair okay
• Thrill Level: Mild
• Ride Type: Slightly Elevating and Spinning Ride

The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!

Take a seat as the story of the Sneetches is told in this trolley adventure. You'll travel high in the sky and go through a circus on your journey.

• Height: 36 inches or taller
• 36 to 48 inches: Supervision required
• Wheelchair: No
• Thrill Level: Mild
• Ride Type: Dark Spinning Ride

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The Hogwarts Express at Hogsmeade Station

Ride in the passenger car of the famous Hogwarts Express that will take you from Hogsmeade to Diagon Alley. The excellent replica of the train immerses you right into the cab of Harry, Hermione and Ron traveled from the Muggle world (our world) to get to the only entirely wizarding village Hogsmeade. King’s Cross Station requires visitors to have both Universal park tickets to enjoy

Height: Kid Friendly

Wheelchair: Yes (ECV: Yes also) 

Thrill Level: Mild

Ride Type: Simulated/Real Train Ride

Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

Fly through the Forbidden Forest Hagrid's motorbike past the grounds of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on this quest to discover rare magical creatures! 

Height: 48 inches or taller

Wheelchair: No 

Thrill Level: Moderate

Ride Type: Fast Thrill Ride with Moderate Drops

Flight of the Hippogriff

Fly through the Forbidden Forest Hagrid's motorbike past the grounds of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on this quest to discover rare magical creatures! 

Height: 36 inches or taller

36 to 48 inches: Supervision required

Wheelchair: No

Thrill Level: Mild

Ride Type: Roller Coaster Ride with Small Drops

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Take a trip inside the famous Hogwarts castle and see the statues, corridors, and stain-glass windows that ornament it within. You catch conversations between portraits and hop on to follow Harry in this adventure through Hogwarts. Escape fire-breathing dragons, and hungry spiders, zip through the Quidditch field, and escape Dementors. It is truly a unique experience!

Height: 48 inches or taller

Wheelchair: No

Thrill Level: Moderate

Ride Type: 3D Thrill Ride with Simulated Small Drops

Jurrasic Park

Jurassic World VelociCoaster

Race through the jungle at speeds of 70 mph during one of two intense launches and face four twirling inversions. From speeding through raptor enclosures and waterfalls to running next to the fearsome Velociraptors, this is a truly immersive and thrilling experience you won't forget.

Height: 51 inches or taller

Wheelchair: No

Thrill Level: Intense

Ride Type: Intense Launches, Inversions, and a BIG Drop

Jurassic Park River Adventure

Take a gentle soothing tour down a lazy river to behold dinosaurs in their native environment... wait, where are we going?! We get unexpectantly sidetracked into a different path where our tour guide reassures us of our rescue and warns us not to get out of the boat. Alarms sound and you hope things don't go south! An amazing and intense wet ride you thrill-seekers will love!

Height: 42 inches or taller

42 to 48 inches: Supervision required

Wheelchair: No

Thrill Level: Intense

Ride Type: Water Ride with a BIG Drop

Pteranodon Flyers

Take flight beneath a Pteranodon soaring through the air overlooking the world below. 

Height: Between 36 and 56 inches

Wheelchair: No

Thrill Level: Mild

Ride Type: High Flying and Swaying Track Ride with Slight Dips

Skull Island

Skull Island: Reign of Kong

Take a journey through a treacherous jungle expedition on a mysterious island. Encounter pre-historic predators as they draw closer to you when the colossus of apes shows up, King Kong. Is he your friend or foe?

Height: 36 inches or taller

36 to 48 inches: Supervision required

Wheelchair: Standard wheelchair okay

Thrill Level: Moderate

Ride Type: 3D Thrill Ride with Small Drops

Toon Lagoon

Dudley Do-Right Ripsaw Falls

Follow Dudley Do-Right, a Canadian Mountie, as he battles his criminal nemesis Snidely Whiplash. Whiplash kidnaps the damsel in distress, Nell Fenwick, and ties her to the train tracks. He ends up rescuing her, but you narrowly escape in a big explosion. 

Height: 44 inches or taller

44 to 48 inches: Supervision required

Wheelchair: No

Thrill Level: Moderate

Ride Type: Water Ride with a Big Drop & Small Drops

Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges

Watch as Popeye the Sailor Man sets out to rescue Olive Oyl from the big brute, Bluto. From shipwrecked boats to a giant tentacled octopus, Popeye faces all these opponents to save the damsel in distress.

Height: 42 inches or taller

42 to 48 inches: Supervision required

Wheelchair: No

Thrill Level: Mild

Ride Type: Water Ride with Small Drops

Marvel Super Hero Island

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

Join our favorite wall-crawler for this amazing adventure through the skyscrapers and the villains of the Sinister Syndicate. You'll soar above the streets, swing through skyscrapers, and help Spider-Man save the stolen Statue of Liberty.

Height: 40 inches or taller

40 to 48 inches: Supervision required

Wheelchair: No

Thrill Level: Moderate

Ride Type: 3D Thrill Ride with Spinning and Small Drops

Doctor Doom's Fearfall

How brave are you? Are you able to withstand being shot up and hurled down faster than gravity from 185 feet from the sky? Doctor Doom's latest invention will suck any fear you may have so be brave!

Height: 52 inches or taller

Wheelchair: No

Thrill Level: Intense

Ride Type: One BIG Drop

The Incredible Hulk Coaster

Congratulations! You just volunteered to be a test subject. You will be the subject of a science experiment based on Dr. Bruce Banner's research and General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross give the command to blast you with gamma radiation. Before you know it you are shot through the track with Hulk-like power, but do you have his courage?

Height: 54 inches or taller

Wheelchair: No

Thrill Level: Intense

Ride Type: Roller Coaster Thrill Ride with Big Drops and Loops

Universal's Islands of Adventure with Toddlers

The Best Rides for Toddlers:

Here are some good low-key rides or activities for your toddler so they don't feel left out of the fun:

Jurassic Camp:

Jurassic Camp playground in Jurassic Park is one of the largest playgrounds in all of Orlando's amusement parks. Here children can climb the nets, explore amber mines, slide down the excavated slides and submerge each other with dinosaur-shaped water cannons. (Temporarily Closed)

The Cat in Hat:

A great ride through the pages of the classic book The Cat in the Hat. Here you'll follow Sally and her brother through a crazy encounter with the Cat (in a hat) who makes a mess of their house and are left with having to clean it up before their mother gets home. 

Height: 36 inches or taller

36 to 48 inches: Supervision required

Caro-Seuss-el:

Here you'll find a variety of brightly colored Dr. Seuss characters from books that you can ride in this carousel. 

Height: Any Height

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish:

Relive this famous classic book by taking in a ride in of the swooping, spinning fish. Watch and ride as fountain characters squirt in time to the music.

Height: Any Height

The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!:

Take a seat as the story of the Sneetches is told in this trolley adventure. You'll travel high in the sky and go through a circus on your journey.

Height: 36 inches or taller

36 to 48 inches: Supervision required

Touring Plans

One Day Touring Plan

Two Day Touring Plan

Attractions/Events

• Islands of Adventure Attractions

Special Needs Guests

• Islands of Adventure for Wheelchair Users
• Thrill Seekers Guide

Planning Your Vacation

Planning your days at the theme parks can be a little overwhelming and more expensive than most vacationers realize. We at OrlandoVacation.com want to help you plan a great Universal Orlando Resort vacation without hurting your pocketbook. The Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park is an outstanding park to visit which you can do on a budget. Also, catch up on some of the more interesting facts in the history of the Universal Theme Parks like the ordeal from its opening day disaster.

Islands of Adventure with Toddlers

Universal's Islands of Adventure offers three imaginative playgrounds that are ideal for children that are all located throughout the park:

• Dr. Seuss’ If I Ran a Zoo in Seuss Landing
• Discovery Center in Jurassic Park
• Camp Jurassic is also in Jurassic Park