Central Florida has become one of the great vacation spots on the globe, with theme parks, museums, hotels and restaurants that can provide an entertaining visit for every type of visitor.
Islands of Adventure
One of the most popular destinations is Islands of Adventure, part of the Universal Orlando entertainment complex. The park's overall theme is to provide a journey of exploration, whereby guests depart from a central entrance point to visit one of six different themed adventures.
Popular Attraction
The newest, and most popular adventure is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, an attraction tied to the globally popular Harry Potter book and movie franchise. Themed part of adventures on the island include attractions, restaurants and shops which take visitors through various scenarios from the books and movies.
Park Details
The park opens daily at 9 a.m.; closing hours vary by season, but may be as late as 10 p.m. There are a wide variety of ticketing options, including single day, multi-day, and three different options for annual passes, depending on which tier of privileges you are interested in.
Dining and Shopping Options
A host of dining opportunities await you and your guests at Islands, from the simplest casual fare to elaborate meals in specialty restaurants tied to attraction themes. Children will enjoy "character breakfasts" where they get to dine and be entertained by some of their favorite movie characters.
You'll find no shortage of outlets ready to indulge your every shopping whim, whether your tastes run to movie theme souvenirs or fine gifts to take back home. Shops are scattered throughout the park, as well as near the entrance at Universal's "City Walk."
Insider Tips and Hints
The Universal Express Limited is available to guests of Universal Hotels, and allows jump-to-the-front-of-the-line privileges, as well as early entry to the park. If you'd like to be treated like a VIP, it's possible at Islands of Adventure by booking a VIP Tour, which not only includes line jumping privileges, but offers a guided tour, behind the scenes look at attractions in the park. VIP tours are available at a fee in addition to the daily entrance ticket.
The Orlando Flex Ticket offers entrance to Islands, nearby Sea World, and options are available to add additional parks to the ticket.
Planning Your Trip
A visit to Islands of Adventure can be an exciting experience that family members will remember for years; your trip can be made more memorable by planning it in advance, choosing the order of attractions that interest you, and making decisions on whether you're going to take advantage of the various ticket options that grant you early access to ride lines and the VIP treatment while visiting the park.
