Walt Disney World With Kids (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [133]
The Islands of Adventure
Don’t-Miss List for Kids 2 to 6
Camp Jurassic
Caro-Seuss-el
The Cat in the Hat
Flight of the Hippogriff
If I Ran the Zoo
Me Ship, the Olive
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges (for older kids)
The Islands of Adventure
Don’t-Miss List for Kids 7 to 11
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
Camp Jurassic
The Cat in the Hat
Dragon Challenge (older kids)
Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
The Incredible Hulk Coaster (older kids)
Jurassic Park River Adventure
Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges
Poseidon’s Fury
The Islands of Adventure
Don’t-Miss List for Kids 12 and up
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
Dr. Doom’s Fearfall
Dragon Challenge
Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
The Incredible Hulk Coaster
Jurassic Park River Adventure
Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges
Poseidon’s Fury
Tips for Your First Hour at Islands of Adventure
Arrive 30 minutes before the stated opening time, which is generally 9 AM. Get tickets and maps, and take care of any business, such as locker or stroller rental.
Sometimes Port of Entry is open before the rest of the park. If so, browse the shops or have a quick breakfast at Croissant Moon Bakery.
The tip board will tell you which rides are running. During the on-season, most rides will open immediately; on less-crowded days, the rides may come online section by section. Either way, Marvel Super Hero Island and Seuss Landing, the two islands adjoining Port of Entry, will be open, and generally the Wizarding World of Harry Potter as well.
Time-Saving Tip
Express Passes (formerly Express PLUS Passes) are the way to go on crowded days, letting you into every express line in the park on an unlimited basis. Guests of on-site hotels get this perk without having to pay for the pass—just show your resort ID. For off-site guests, Express Passes are for sale at ticket kiosks, Guest Services (a.k.a. Guest Relations), and booths around the park. They cost $20–$60 depending upon the time of year you’re visiting. They’re cheapest in the off-seasons, obviously. But, then again, in the off-season you probably don’t need one.
One major caveat. The ride you most need an Express Pass for is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and, at this writing, it’s not included in the Express Pass program. Be sure to confirm that it’s been added to the list of Express Pass attractions covered before you purchase one.
Harry Potter is hot, hot, hot. If that section is open, go there first.
If not, and if your kids are old enough to enjoy intense rides, veer left to Marvel Super Hero Island. Ride the Incredible Hulk Coaster, Spider-Man, and Dr. Doom’s Fearfall in that order. Perhaps because most guests stay off-site and must rise, eat, drive, park, and undertake the substantial trek from the parking garage, Islands of Adventure is relatively empty in the morning (at least the islands that don’t involve Harry Potter), and grows more crowded in the afternoon.
If your kids are younger, veer right to Seuss Landing and start with One Fish, Two Fish and the Cat in the Hat.
List of Quick-Guide Tables | View a Larger Image
Port of Entry
As the name implies, Port of Entry is where you enter Islands of Adventure. It’s a visually charming area, meant to resemble an exotic Middle Eastern seaport, and it’s a great place for a group snapshot.
Many of the park services are in Port of Entry: locker rentals ($8–10), Guest Services, film-developing stands, the Lost and Found, and an ATM are all here. You can rent a stroller ($15, $25 for a double) or a wheelchair ($12, $50 for an ECV).
In addition, there are shops and restaurants. The Universal Studios