Universal has 2 parks!!!

Zipadeelady

Zipadeelady

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
BryceM said:
Universal's Islands of Adventure technically only as 4 roller coasters.

1. The Incredible Hulk
2. Dragon Challenge (Hungarian Horntail)
3. Dragon Challenge (Chinese Fireball)
4. Flight of the Hippogriff

The Flight of the Hippogriff is a nice family coaster and it gives you a great view of Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. Plus there is a very neat Hippogriff animatronic. The other 3 coasters are definitely high in thrill. Dr. Doom's FearFall is another thrilling attraction and is located in Marvel Super Hero Island (where Hulk and Spider-Man are) and you may want to skip that one too. Though if you can handle Tower of Terror, you can handle Dr. Doom's FearFall.

It should also be known that Islands of Adventure has 3 water rides. Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls and Popeye & Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges are the two soakers and are located in Toon Lagoon. Think of Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls like a wetter version of Splash Mountain and Popeye as a far superior version of Kali River Rapids. If you don't want to get wet, then skip these two. The third is Jurassic Park River Adventure located in Jurassic Park. I suggest doing this one even if you don't want to get wet because honestly, you have far less of a chance of getting wet on this one than the two attractions in Toon Lagoon. Plus it's an amazing ride.

The park also boasts 2 of the world's best dark-rides (The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey), a classic dark-ride (The Cat in the Hat), plenty of fun and well-themed flat-rides (One Fish, Two Fish, Caro-Seuss-El), some stellar shows, different interactive experiences and places to explore (Camp Jurassic, Jurassic Park Discovery Center, etc.), and an amazing restaurant, Mythos, that is located in The Lost Continent. Oh, and don't forget to get some Butterbeer! ;)
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Thanks!! good info especially the water rides. Getting excited about checking out this park. Almost as much as Disney....almost.

Silly question...what the heck is Butterbeer?
 
flynnibus

flynnibus

Premium Member
To clarify one thing.. you don't get wet on the IOA rides... you get absolutely soaked like you just jumped in the pool. Jurrasic Park isn't that bad.. more like Splash Mountain.. but Dudley and the raft rides are like jumping in a pool. Pack appropriately :) We just take shirt+shorts+flip flops for that part of the stay and change back afterwards.
 
Zipadeelady

Zipadeelady

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
flynnibus said:
To clarify one thing.. you don't get wet on the IOA rides... you get absolutely soaked like you just jumped in the pool. Jurrasic Park isn't that bad.. more like Splash Mountain.. but Dudley and the raft rides are like jumping in a pool. Pack appropriately :) We just take shirt+shorts+flip flops for that part of the stay and change back afterwards.
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THANKS!! Nothing worse than walking around a park and having your shoes squish and getting chaffed from your jean shorts!!
 
bsiev1977

bsiev1977

Well-Known Member
Zipitidoda said:
Thanks!! good info especially the water rides. Getting excited about checking out this park. Almost as much as Disney....almost.

Silly question...what the heck is Butterbeer?
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You must not have much knowledge of the Harry Potter books or movies.
Butterbeer was more prominent in the books than it was in the movies.
Basically, it's the big drink from that world, one that the students at the school were allowed to drink. So, think root beer more than a Budweiser.

As it appears in IoA, it's a cream soda, with more of a caramel flavoring.
 
Disneyhead'71

Disneyhead'71

Well-Known Member
flynnibus said:
To clarify one thing.. you don't get wet on the IOA rides... you get absolutely soaked like you just jumped in the pool. Jurrasic Park isn't that bad.. more like Splash Mountain.. but Dudley and the raft rides are like jumping in a pool. Pack appropriately :) We just take shirt+shorts+flip flops for that part of the stay and change back afterwards.
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flynnibus is ABSOLUTELY correct about Bluto's. I actually think you get wetter on Bluto's than you would jumping in a pool. Dudley's is less so but still pretty darned wet. Jurassic Park River Adventure is Splash Mountain wet. But DO NOT take any electronics, phone, ipod touch, cameras, etc on either Dudley's or Bluto's. Fortunately they have lockers close by. That said, Bluto's is the best themed raft ride I have ever been on and is a great attraction. Dudley's is fun but the themeing has some dead spots. But is still a fun ride. Jurassic Park River Adventure is one of the parks headliners is a not to be missed attraction.
 
BryceM

BryceM

Well-Known Member
Zipitidoda said:
Thanks!! good info especially the water rides. Getting excited about checking out this park. Almost as much as Disney....almost.

Silly question...what the heck is Butterbeer?
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It's a drink you can purchase in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and it appeared in the books. It's like cream soda but with an amazing, creamy topping. It's very popular. You can also purchase it frozen, or regular.

I hope you have a blast at Universal's Islands of Adventure! If you have any more questions, feel free to message me! :)
 
Zipadeelady

Zipadeelady

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
BryceM said:
It's a drink you can purchase in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and it appeared in the books. It's like cream soda but with an amazing, creamy topping. It's very popular. You can also purchase it frozen, or regular.

I hope you have a blast at Universal's Islands of Adventure! If you have any more questions, feel free to message me! :)
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Thanks Bryce. I have seen the movies but haven't read the books. My daughter has them and I'm thinking I should read them before we go. I better get started on them they're pretty thick.

Oh and we'll be trying the Butterbeer...it sounds delish!
 
Disneyhead'71

Disneyhead'71

Well-Known Member
One thing about the bigger rides at Universal that is different than Disney. They do not allow lose items (Purses, camera bags, items purchased in the park, etc.) on their more thrilling attractions. Each attraction like Forbidden Journey, Dragon Challenge, The Hulk, and Jurassic Park River Adventure has free lockers near the entrance of each attraction. But they are rather limited in size. If you happen to buy a wand prior to riding Forbidden Journey, it will not fit in a locker. They have a wonderful package Pick-Up service where, when you buy your wand, they will hold it at the front of the park in the Island's Trading Company store and you can pick it up on your way out of the park. That way you don't have to worry about it fitting in a locker and you don't have to lug it around all day.

About Butterbeer, it is a very special part of the Harry Potter lexicon and tastes like a cream soda with butterscotch overtones. They add a foam on top that tastes like Cake Batter. It is pretty delicious albeit a bit sweet. They sell it in regular cups, but ALL potter fans HAVE to get the collectible mug.

butterbeer2.jpg


They also have Pumpkin Juice, which is like apple juice with Pumpkin Pie Spice added. They sell it in glasses, but true Potter Fans buy the bottled version because it comes in a decorative bottle with a Pumpkin lid.

Pumpkin-Juice.jpg


And if you really want to impress you Potter fan insist on a Cauldron Cake. They are available at the counter of Honeydukes/Zonko's.

Cauldroncakesmain.jpg
 
BryceM

BryceM

Well-Known Member
Zipitidoda said:
Thanks Bryce. I have seen the movies but haven't read the books. My daughter has them and I'm thinking I should read them before we go. I better get started on them they're pretty thick.

Oh and we'll be trying the Butterbeer...it sounds delish!
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They'll go by fast! They are great stories. I remember having to wait for the next one to come out and I would rush to the book store once it did and immediately buy it.
 
lazyboy97o

lazyboy97o

Well-Known Member
Zipitidoda said:
Thanks Bryce. I have seen the movies but haven't read the books. My daughter has them and I'm thinking I should read them before we go. I better get started on them they're pretty thick.

Oh and we'll be trying the Butterbeer...it sounds delish!
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I have never read the books and I do not at all feel that lost as to what is occurring. I had not even seen the films until after visiting a few times.
 
Jimmy Thick

Jimmy Thick

Well-Known Member
You can easily do both parks in one day. Easily.

Here's how.

1) Make sure you stay at one of the Lowes Universal resorts, that way you don't wait in lines.

2) Go to Universal first, right when you wake up and do the rides you want. Not everything there is a must do.

3) Get everything at Universal out of your system and then head over to IoA.

4) Do everything EXCEPT Potter. Go to Potter 2 hours before closing and see that there are almost no waits for anything and the area is almost devoid of people.

5) Enjoy your trip.

The problem is, people don't want to wait for Potter, its usually the first thing people want to do. Temper your patience and you will be rewarded.


Jimmy Thick- Butterbeer is disgusting, go to the new Fantasyland and grab a Lefou's Brew instead.
 
dopeylover

dopeylover

Well-Known Member
flynnibus said:
But she said thanksgiving.. meaning express pass will cost a metric @#$%-ton

If one only has one park.. one day.. IOA is probably the best if your group has the height requirements covered and you don't mind water and thrill rides. A group of more 'slow movers' would probably prefer the studios.

The resort right now is in a bit of a no-man's land between 1-2 days if you are going during a non-busy period or are just a 'selective' visitor. But if you are the type that likes exploring or going deep.. you really need at least 3 days to see it all. 2 days is good for most, 1 day is highlights at best. And 1 day during busy period.. without express pass.. may leave a bad taste in people's mouth.

My parents went to USF with my aunts and uncles.. and basically ended up blowing 5+ hrs in Forbidden Journey breakdowns and lines.. they were not pleased with their trip :/
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If that ride broke down during the Aragog/Giant Spider scene, I really think I'd have a heart attack. OMG. Terrifying, for me at least.
 

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