We at Orlando Fun Tickets have told you the best time of year to go to Islands of Adventure, the best rides to go on and shows to see, and what to eat and where to shop. Now, let us fill you in on a few insider secrets that will make your trip to this unbelievable theme park an even greater one!
- The least-crowded parts of the day will be dinner and lunchtime, so it may be best to eat at off-hours and save the busiest attractions for those times.
- Be sure to bring light rain gear with you when you head out of your hotel – especially in the summer. Umbrellas are much more difficult to carry, so a rain poncho (which can be purchased in the park) may be a better option. Rain and thunderstorms will postpone or cancel most outdoor shows and attractions, so beware that the indoor rides will all be swamped during those time periods.
- If you are staying at one of Universal’s three resorts, simply show your room key at an attraction and receive free Universal Express access to the rides, bypassing lines and letting you see a whole lot more in whole lot less time.
- Although you can’t physically get into your room at one of the three Universal Orlando resorts until later in the day, you can go ahead and check in as early as 9am and get your room key (which won’t work until that afternoon when your room is ready). This enables you to leave your luggage with the bell staff, and, if you wish, to head into a theme park and have Universal Express access on all the rides as part of your resort benefits.
- Once you have explored the Port of Entry, you will need to travel out to the various islands. If you are with children, it is best to travel to the right, and if it is an adults and teens-only trip, go directly to the left. You also have the option of hopping on the Island Skipper Tour boat, which will take you directly to Jurassic Park.
- Because of the turbulent nature of some of the attractions, guests under 52 inches (above the standard 48 inches) will not be able to experience Dueling Dragons, the Incredible Hulk Coaster or Doctor Doom’s Fearfall.
- If you return home and regret not purchasing an item from one of the merchandise shops, you can do so by calling 407-363-8320.
- The line for Pteranodon Flyers is usually one of the longest, but it is a short ride. Therefore, unless you are visiting out of peak season, it may be wise to skip this wait in favor of other attractions.
- On the Bridge that overlooks Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls, be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to squirt water at those who are on the ride.
- Along the streets that line Toon Lagoon, look overhead for comic strip captions and capture a great photo opportunity.
- For the best ride on Dueling Dragons, try to get one of the two outside seats in each row. Also, watch where the line splits for your opportunity to sit in the front row – it is a longer wait time, but well worth it!
- On Poseidon’s Fury, be sure to take off your eye glasses before you walk through the water vortex, or they will fog up completely and you won’t be able to see anything!
- Use the single rider line when available, especially for rides such as The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man.
- Guests with disabilities will love the Caro-Seuss-El because of the rocking-chariot platform with an easy wheelchair-loading system.
- You can save 10 percent on your purchases at any gift shop or at any meal (excluding food or merchandise carts) by showing your AAA Card.
- You can mail a postcard directly from inside Islands of Adventure, just buy your stamps from the IOA Trading Company in the Port of Entry and Universal will mail it for you!
- There is a small trail beside Me Ship, The Olive, with several gags along the way. Also on Me Ship, The Olive, look for the player piano, as it teaches you how to play the theme from Popeye.
- Look for the dinosaur footprints inside Camp Jurassic; if you step on them, they roar.
- In front of Dueling Dragons there is a huge red and blue interconnecting circle, and in the center of that is a bronze circular plate. If you stand there and face the tracks, you can perfectly see all three times where the two rides come within 18 inches of missing each other. Also, on this ride, if you are on the lift, look down – the lake below is in the shape of a dragon.
- Just past the entrance of Seuss Landing, on the right you will see a pond of fish. Toss some change into this pond for a surprise!
