Walt Disney World With Kids (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [134]
Confisco Grille, the only full-service restaurant in Port of Entry, offers pasta, fish, and steak as well as lighter fare such as salads and sandwiches. It serves character meals during the on-season. Adjacent to the Confisco is the Backwater Bar, which serves half-price drinks during the 3 to 6 PM happy hour.
Fast-food choices include the Croissant Moon Bakery, which offers bagels, pastries, and a variety of coffees—it’s a great place for a quick breakfast as you enter the park. Later in the day sandwiches and desserts are added to the menu. The Arctic Express offers funnel cakes and ice cream, while the Cinnabon next door offers the same gooey treats you find in malls and airports. Some IOA restaurants close in the off-season. But Universal does a good job of estimating crowd flow, so there are always enough places open to serve everyone in the park.
Pause for a second as you near the end of Port of Entry. There’s a great view of the Jurassic Park Visitor Center across the water. To your left is the tip board, which gives you information on the opening sequence of the rides, approximate wait times, and upcoming showtimes.
Marvel Super Hero Island
This is by far the wildest section of IOA, the island where superheroes fight bad guys, and you test your mettle on three high-thrill attractions. Most people are so busy dashing to the rides that they don’t take the time to appreciate how well this section visually duplicates a comic-book world. Signs are intentionally generic as in “Store,” “Arcade,” or “Café”; and colors are chosen to give everything a flat grainy appearance.
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
Map Location 4
Spider-Man combines actual movement on a track, motion simulation, and 3-D effects. Unlike most 3-D shows, where you’re sitting still and the action comes toward you, in Spider-Man you’re moving from scene to scene through a comic-book story. It feels as if everything is really happening, especially the 400-foot simulated drop at the end, yet the actual ride movement is very mild. In other words, young kids or people who freak out on coasters can enjoy the ride.
The concept is that the Sinister Syndicate, made up of comic-book villains, has taken over New York City and stolen the Statue of Liberty. (Wonder why the bad guys never nab Boston or Omaha?) The plucky young photojournalist Peter Parker, alias Spider-Man, is nowhere to be found, and the city is in a panic. Chief Jameson, the bombastic newspaper editor, is “so desperate for the story that I might have to send a bunch of tourists out in the ScoopMobile.” That’s your cue.
Insider’s Secret
Spider-Man has recently been revamped, with re-animation and even higher definition. You can even see the stitching on Spidey’s gloves, and the villains are closer and more real than ever.
As soon as you’re loaded in you’ll be stunned by the quality of the recently revamped effects, which make you feel as if Spider-Man is on the hood of your car and that bricks are flying toward your face. The ending of the ride, in which you’re “thrown” off the top of a New York skyscraper and caught in Spider-Man’s net, is the biggest thrill of all.
The first time you ride Spider-Man, skip the Express and single-rider lines, and enter through the main entrance. The reason is that the walk-through to the ride is basically the preshow that tells you who you’re fighting and why. Without it, you’ll probably be wondering “Why are all these pieces of the Statue of Liberty lying around?”
The Scare Factor
Spider-Man has a 40-inch height requirement, which means quite a few preschoolers qualify to ride.
The actual ride movement has plenty of spins and bumps, but the infamous “drop” at the end is totally simulated, making it far more fun than scary. The real issue is the villains. The Sinister Syndicate throws everything it has at you, and the characters