On your next family vacation to Orlando, “Live the Adventure of a Lifetime!” at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.  At the Islands of Adventure Theme Park, you’ll enjoy a trip through five amazing islands where some of your favorite comic book and cartoon heroes are among the main stars for the park’s series of innovative rides and attractions.  There are high-speed rides for the daring, tame rides for children, and the new-age 3D attractions will have you dazzled.  Universal has your best interests covered with its feature ticket offer found only online at Universal websites, which allows you unlimited admission for up to a week to both Universal Studios and the Islands of Adventure theme park for just $85.99 plus tax.  Universal Studios also offers options for great Orlando hotels that have you staying on-site, thus allowing you to bypass the regular ride and attraction lines.  Choose from the Royal Pacific Resort, the Hard Rock Hotel and the Portofino Bay Hotel.  On-site hotel guests benefit from a variety of special theme park privileges, not to mention enjoying the amenities offered at these 4-diamond hotels that are just steps away from Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure.

Among the many Islands of Adventure attractions are five that the park dubs as its most featured.  Kids will surely enjoy The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, which is a 3D Spider-Man thrill ride.  Don your 3D glasses and prepare for an amazing adventure that has you swinging high above a simulated cityscape.  Found on the Marvel Super Hero Island of Adventure, you’ll find this wonderful attraction amidst a comic book city that features some of the world’s greatest Super Heroes.  At Seuss Landing at Universal Islands of Adventure, enjoy The Cat In The Hat.

On this ride, you grab a seat on a couch for a simulated spinning and swerving tour through the pages of the famous children’s book.  Enjoy the laughs you’ll share with your group on this whimsical adventure.

Orlando Map

For a thrill of a different kind, head to The Lost Continent at the Islands of Adventure theme park. On Dueling Dragons, get your heart rate up on the world’s first inverted, dueling roller coasters.  Pick between the Fire Dragon and the Ice Dragon, and hold your breath as the two coasters pass within inches of each other on this ultimate adventure.  For a wet and wild change of pace, make way to the Island of Adventure theme park’s largest island, Jurassic Park.  The namesake water ride found here is called the Jurassic Park River Adventure, and it takes 1.5 million gallons of water to keep this thrill ride going.  Prepare to be part of the menu for the dinosaurs that surround you on your wet journey.  As you move along, narrowly escaping hungry Raptors and a large T-Rex, you eventually hit the 85-foot plunge that awaits you at the end.  It might be a terrifying fall, but at least you’ll escape alive.  Another water ride you won’t want to miss at the Islands of Adventure theme park, is Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges.  On this wacky white-water journey, help Popeye rescue Olive Oyl from Bluto.  You will get wet on this ride, but hey, you’re in Florida and the weather is nice.  Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges can be found on Toon Lagoon.   On Toon Lagoon, you’ll find a number of water rides and over 150 different cartoon characters.

There are a number of shopping and dining options found at Universal Islands of Adventure and you might consider starting your day off right here with the Character Breakfast at Islands of Adventure.  Each Thursday through Sunday morning from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., you can enjoy breakfast with Spider-Man and The Cat in the Hat at the Island of Adventure Confisco Grille.  The cost is $15.95 for adults, and $9.95 for children.  Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are open 365 days a year, and operating hours normally begin at 9 a.m. with varying closing times, depending on the season.  If you don’t take advantage of the aforementioned ticket deal, you can purchase a 1 day admission to both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure for $77 at the gate for adults, and $67 ages 3-9.  A one day ticket for only one of Universal’s two parks goes for $67 for adults, and $56 for children.  Families looking to visit Islands of Adventure will find numerous Kissimmee vacation rentals and Kissimmee hotels nearby for lodging, as well as a fine mix of Orlando hotels.  Other Orlando theme parks recommended for families include Epcot Center, Discovery Cove, Disney MGM Studios, Disney Quest, and Disney Blizzard Beach, among others.