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Universal Studios
Islands of Adventure
Orlando, Florida

After an investment of nearly two billion dollars, Universal Studios opened this theme park in May 1999.  The park is grouped into the following areas: Port of Entry, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, Jurassic Park, The Lost Continent, Seuss Landing, and Skull Island.  The amazing architecture, music, thrilling attractions, and brilliant theming combine to form one of the best theme parks anywhere!  Two highlights are their fantastic dark-rides: The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.  These rides, each of which cost nearly $200 million, are some of the most amazing rides ever built!  Universal's Citywalk connects the park to the adjacent Universal Studios Florida.

Much has changed since my last visit to Universal Florida.  After nearly two decades, the wonderful Dragon Challenge was demolished in 2017.  It was replaced in 2019 by Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, an incredibly ambitious and complex ride built by Intamin.  It features multiple LSM launches, a vertical rollback, a section where the trains roll backward, and a vertical drop track.  The ride is surrounded with amazing themed decorations and a number of large animated characters.  The Jurassic Park area will get a new coaster in 2021 when VelociCoaster opens.  It is an Intamin coaster with a couple LSM launches and lots of special effects that will give riders the feeling of being terrorized by dinosaurs.


Dragon Challenge
(Formerly Dueling Dragons)
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Incredible Hulk
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Pteranodon Flyers
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Flight of the Hippogriff
(Formerly Flying Unicorn)
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Aerial View
Aerial view of Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure


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