Orlando K

Part V: Exploring the Rest of Orlando

Cameras and film. Buy film and disposable cameras at De Foto’s

Expedition Photography, inside the main entrance to the right.

Digital supplies are rather limited.

Universal has its own version of Disney’s FASTPASS, called Universal

EXPRESS. The system operates much the same as Disney’s does.

You feed your admission ticket into the machine at the EXPRESS

Distribution Center for a given ride (they’re usually located close to

the entrance of rides that accept EXPRESS passes), and you get a

second pass (along with your park ticket) stamped with a designated

time window in which you can return to ride. At any time within

the window, you can head straight for the shorter EXPRESS line

(usually no more than 15 minutes) and off you go. You can only get

one EXPRESS pass at a time, but like at Disney, you can get a second

pass just two hours after the first one is issued — the time you can

obtain the next EXPRESS pass is printed right on the first pass.

If you’re not willing to chance that there will be an EXPRESS pass

left (and they do run out, sometimes as early as noon during peak

periods) you can purchase the Universal EXPRESS Plus Pass option.

It allows access to the Express line at each and every attraction

that accepts the Universal EXPRESS Pass without having to contin-

ually obtain separate passes or wait for any time limits to expire

before heading to a Universal EXPRESS line at the next attraction.

The price varies with the season, and I have seen prices as high as

$39 during peak periods. In addition, it is only good for one day at

one park, regardless of what type of park tickets you hold, and it

can only be used once at each of the attractions.

Universal offers a separate line-beating option to visitors staying at

any of the three Universal resorts. All guests of the Portofino Bay,

Hard Rock, and Royal Pacific hotels have to do is show their room

keys to get at or near the front of the line for most of the rides and

even most of the restaurants.

You can find first aid centers just inside and to the right of the main

entrance in the Port of Entry as well as in The Lost Continent, across

from Oasis Coolers.

Rent lockers for $8 and $10 a day plus a $2 refundable deposit

across from Guest Services, near the main entrance. Lockers are a

smart place to keep valuables you might lose on the wilder rides,

and Islands of Adventure even provides lockers near the entrances

to The Hulk, Dueling Dragons, and the Jurassic Park River Adventure;

the first 45 minutes are free and every hour thereafter is $2 (with a

$14 max).

Lost children. If you lose a child, grab the nearest staff member,

and he or she will direct you to the “found children” area, usually

the Guest Services or Security area. Make children younger than 7

wear name-tags inside their clothing for easy identification.

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Parking. If you park in the multilevel garages, be sure to write down

the level, character, row, and space number so you can find your car

later. Parking costs $9 for cars and trucks. Valet parking is available

for $16. If you arrive after 6 p.m., parking is free. Universal’s garages

are connected to its parks by walkways and a series of moving side-

walks; reaching the gates can take a while.

Car assistance. If you need assistance with your car, raise the hood

and tell any parking attendant your location, or use the call boxes

located throughout the garage to call for security. The park provides

battery jumps for free.

Pet care. You can leave your small animals at the shelter in the park-

ing garages for $10 a day (no overnight stays), but you’ll have to

feed and walk them throughout the day. Ask the parking attendant

to direct you to the kennel.

Strollers. Look to the left as you enter the park through the turnstiles.

Stroller rental costs $10 for a single, $16 for a double, tax included.

Wheelchairs. You can rent wheelchairs for $12 per day in the parking

garage concourse. Electric wheelchairs are $40 per day. Both require

a $50 deposit and a signed rental agreement. Prices include taxes.

Practical Advice for Island Adventurers

If you want to get the most out of your adventure, you would do well

to keep the following tips in mind when you’re exploring the Islands

of Adventure:

Short visitors. Of the 14 major rides at Islands of Adventure, 13 of

them have minimum-height restrictions between 40 and 54 inches.

You can find a child-swap service at all major attractions, enabling

you or your partner to ride while the other watches over your tikes,

but sitting in a waiting room isn’t much fun for them. Take your

child’s height into consideration before visiting the park, or consider

splitting up for part of the day. Islands has actually a few great play

areas that will keep younger kids entertained while older kids and

parents ride some of the wilder rides.

In July 2000, Universal added two notable attractions to its lineup

as an answer to criticism that Islands of Adventure had too little for

young guests. The Flying Unicorn is a small roller coaster that trav-

els through a mythical forest. (It’s comparable to The Barnstormer

at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm in Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Chapter 12,

and Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster at Universal Studios

Florida, Chapter 18, though it still has plenty of zip.) Storm Force is

a spinning attraction in which guests help the X-Men’s Storm harness

the weather to fight her archenemy, Magneto. It’s a bit wilder and

definitely edgier in its theme than the Tea Cups at Magic Kingdom

(Chapter 12), but the idea’s the same.

278 Part V: Exploring the Rest of Orlando

Jittery or health-restricted visitors. See the preceding note about

short visitors and add the warning that height isn’t the only limit-

ing factor. If you’re pregnant, prone to dizziness or motion sickness,

or have heart, back, or other health problems, this may not be the

best choice of parks for you. Consider heading to a tamer park, like

Disney’s Magic Kingdom (see Chapter 12), Disney’s Animal Kingdom

(see Chapter 15), Disney’s Epcot (see Chapter 13), and Disney–MGM

Studios (see Chapter 14), SeaWorld (see Chapter 20), or even

Universal Studios Florida (see Chapter 18).

Cruising the Islands. If you hauled your stroller on your vacation,

bring it to the park. The walk from your car is a long one, through

the parking garage and the entertainment district’s CityWalk,

before you get to the attractions. Carrying a young child and all

their accompanying paraphernalia, even on moving sidewalks,

can make the long trek seem even longer.

Beat the heat. Several rides have lengthy pathways outside that

offer no cover to protect you from the sizzling Florida sun. Bring

some bottled water with you for the long waits (a bottle that costs

$2.50 here is less than $1 in the outside world) or take a sip from

fountains placed in the waiting areas. Alcohol is more readily avail-

able at this park than at Disney, so remember that liquor, roller

coasters, and sweltering heat can make for a very messy mix.

Exploring the Top Attractions

at Islands of Adventure

Islands of Adventure features more than 20 rides and attractions, as well

as numerous uniquely-themed restaurants and shops, all surrounding

its central sea. (It’s similar in layout of the World Showcase at Epcot,

Chapter 13.)

See the “Islands of Adventure” map on page 275 to locate all the attrac-

tions in the sections that follow.

Port of Entry

Beyond the gigantic, crumbling-stone archway you’ll find the Port’s numer-

ous souvenir shops, bazaars, and eateries lining the exotic streetscape.

Save this area for last, spending only a few minutes now to take in your

surroundings, as the architecture and attention to detail is striking. I sug-

gest you begin your adventure just beyond the second stone archway

by heading to either Seuss Landing (to the right) or Marvel Super Hero

Island (to the left). Your direction will likely be determined by the age of

your children, or whether you’re willing to start out by riding one of the

most intense and thrilling rides in the entire park.

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Chapter 19: Islands of Adventure

Seuss Landing

Within these 10 fanciful acres you step onto the pages of Dr. Seuss’ clas-

sic tales, complete with Seussian signature color swirls and whimsical

architecture and a cast of classic characters. The main attractions in

Seuss Landing are aimed at the younger set, although anyone who loved

the good Doctor as a child will enjoy some nostalgic fun.

Caro-Seuss-El. This not-so-ordinary carousel replaces the tradi-

tional wooden horses with seven whimsical Seussian characters

(a total of 54 mounts), including Cowfish, the elephant birds from

Horton Hatches an Egg, and Mulligatawnies. They move up and

down and in and out. Pull the reins to make their eyes blink or

heads bob.

This ride has a rocking-chariot platform and a wheelchair-loading

system that makes it a fun attraction for guests with disabilities.

The Cat in the Hat. All aboard the couch! In this case, the couches

are six-passenger futons that steer you through 18 silly scenes,

retelling the tale of a day gone terribly south. Seuss fans will rec-

ognize the giant candy-striped hat looming over the entrance as

well as the chaotic journey itself. The ride’s highlight is a revolving

24-foot tunnel that alters your perceptions and leaves you feeling a

bit woozy.

“It’s just not very fast and the Cat in the Hat is a little-kids’ story,”

was 12-year-old Ryan’s verdict. The Cat in the Hat is one of the

signature “young” experiences of Islands of Adventure, and

because of this, you — as well as your older children — may

find it a bit tame. Small children may be slightly frightened by

pop-up characters, although most kids ages 4 to 7 will find it a

winner.

If I Ran the Zoo. At this small interactive play area, kids can dodge

flying water snakes and tickle the toes of a Seussian creature. The

area is filled with 19 play stations that include slides, wheels to spin,

caves to explore, and other things geared to burning off some of the

excited energy of tinier tots. Just plan on them getting wet, as that’s

half the fun.

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. You move “up, up, up”

and “down, down, down” on this attraction, where you ride in a

funky flying fish whose controls enable you to ascend or descend

15 feet as you spin around on an arm attached to a hub (much

like Magic Kingdom’s Magic Carpets of Aladdin, see Chapter 12).

Watch out for squirt posts, which spray unsuspecting riders who

don’t follow along with the ride’s little rhyme (and sometimes even

the ones who do follow it).

280 Part V: Exploring the Rest of Orlando

Marvel Super Hero Island

Thrill-ride junkies love the twisting, turning, stomach-churning rides on

this island. The streets are filled with giant-sized murals of Marvel Super

Heroes, making you feel as if you’ve stepped onto the pages of a gigantic

comic book. The larger-than-life scenery was created using a special

effect that mimics Marvel’s style. The hard rockin’ music here is loud;

definitely a reflection of the island’s overall personality.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. This primo ride combines

moving vehicles, 3-D action, and an array of special effects themed

around the original web master. The script: While you’re on a ho-hum

tour of the Daily Bugle newspaper — yikes! — the boys in black hats

(Doc Oc, Hobgoblin, and the rest of the Sinister Syndicate) filch the

Statue of Liberty. You have to help Spidey get it back. Unlike the

many roller coasters and stationary motion simulators in Orlando,

this ride offers a unique experience. Passengers squeal as real and

computer-generated objects alternately fly toward their 12-person

cars, which plunge and spin through a comic-book universe. A sim-

ulated 400-foot drop feels an awful lot like the real thing.

Expectant mothers or those with heart, neck, or back problems

shouldn’t ride The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. For those

who can, know that lines here can get ridiculously long, so use

Universal EXPRESS, or, if you don’t mind splitting up your party,

use the single-rider line when it’s available.

“This was the coolest ride ever!” exclaimed Austin, age 10. Ryan

(age 12) echoed that sentiment, adding, “You gotta do this one

a couple times at least!” Dark scenes, the motion of the car, the

in-your-face 3-D effects and the simulated motion make this ride

unsuitable for extremely young kids and even some preteens.

Most of the rest of you will probably want to give it another spin —

a number of Universal employees rate it the best in the park (and

my ride-addicted editor thinks it’s the best in town). Keep in mind

that you can close your eyes if a scene is too intense, as the motion

of the car, without the combined effects, isn’t overwhelming by itself.

There’s a 40-inch height minimum.

Doctor Doom’s Fearfall. Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird, it’s a

plane . . . uh, it’s you falling 200 feet if you’re courageous enough to

climb aboard. This towering metal skeleton provides screams that

you can hear far into the day and night. The plot: You’re touring a

lab when — are you sensing a theme here? — something goes hor-

ribly wrong as supervillain Doctor Doom tries to drain you of fear

in order to power his latest evil scheme. You’re fired to the top of

the ride (pulling 4Gs in the process), with feet dangling, and then

dropped in intervals, leaving your stomach at several levels.

If you’re an expectant mother or you experience heart, neck, or back

problems, you shouldn’t ride Doctor Doom’s Fearfall. Make sure all

items are secured well — or better yet, give them to someone not

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riding for safe keeping. Plenty of riders have ended up watching their

sunglasses fly off into the wild blue yonder upon lift off. Minimum

height is 52 inches. Though it’s actually less nightmarish than the

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (see Chapter 14), I recommend kids

be a minimum 10 years of age before even attempting this one.

Incredible Hulk Coaster. Bruce Banner is working in his lab

when — yes, again — something goes wrong. This coaster rockets

from a dark tunnel into the sunlight, while accelerating from 0 to

40 mph in two seconds. Universal’s scriptwriters insist that it has

the same thrust as an F-16. Although it’s only two-thirds the speed

of Disney–MGM’s Rock ’n’ Rollercoaster, this ride is in broad day-

light, and you can see the asphalt! After you’re launched, you spin

upside down 128 feet from the ground, feel weightless, and careen

through the center of the park over the heads of other visitors.

If you’re a coaster lover, you’ll be pleased to know that this ride,

which lasts 2 minutes and 15 seconds, includes seven rollovers and

two deep drops. As a nice touch, the 32-passenger metal coaster

glows green at night. The ride is surprisingly smooth, making it

much more comfortable than coasters that are far less intense.

Expectant mothers or those with heart, neck, or back problems

shouldn’t ride. I’ve seen people ignore the warnings, only to turn

the same shade as the coaster. This is also another one where you

should heed warnings to store all loose items in a locker before you

get on . . . or finding your car at the end of the day may become a

moot point when your car keys go flying.

Mixed reviews for this “monster” of a coaster from my young

reviewers. “No way. Uh-uh, you go upside down — you won’t even

get me on it,” were 12-year-old Ryan’s final words on the subject.

But Nicolas (age 8) and Austin (age 10) both said it was “the

most amazing roller coaster ever — you think you’re going to hit

the pavement, but then you don’t — it’s fast and really smooth.”

From another coaster crazy — this one an adult — who rides

them all (and I mean all), he felt it was one of the best he had ever

ridden, mostly because it was so smooth. This is another ride that

I think is best for riders 10 to 12 years and older. Riders must be at

least 54 inches tall to climb aboard.

Storm Force Accelatron. This ride is a 22nd-century version of

Magic Kingdom’s Mad Tea Party and its spinning teacups. While

aboard, you and the X-Men’s superheroine, Storm, try to defeat the

evil Magneto. To do that, you need to spin faster and faster to give

the mistress of weather a little boost in the energy department. In

addition to some upset stomachs, your motion creates a thunder-

storm of sound and light, which gives Storm all the power she

needs to blast Magneto. Some young kids (5 and under) may find

the characters, lights, and sounds a bit too intense.

This ride is closed during some off-peak periods.

282 Part V: Exploring the Rest of Orlando

Toon Lagoon

More than 150 life-size sculpted cartoon images — characters range

from Betty Boop and Flash Gordon to Bullwinkle and Cathy — let you

know you’ve entered an island dedicated to your favorites from the

Sunday funnies.

Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls. The heroic Dudley stars on this

adrenaline-pumping, splashy flume ride that drops 75 feet at 50 mph.

Your mission is to save the fair Nell from Snidely Whiplash. The boats

take you around a 400,000-gallon lagoon and plunge you 15 feet below

the water’s surface, but this is mainly hype — the waters is contained

on either side of you. That said, you will get very wet anyway. Though

it beats out Splash Mountain (see Chapter 12) in the adrenaline

department, the latter offers better effects and a nicer atmosphere.

Expectant mothers or people with heart, neck, or back problems

shouldn’t ride this attraction. It has a 44-inch height minimum. Tall

folks should note that the boats on this ride offer legroom on par

with that in an airline’s coach section.

Me Ship, The Olive. This three-story boat offers dozens of interac-

tive activities. Kids can toot whistles, clang bells, or play the organ.

Sweet Pea’s Playpen is a favorite of younger guests. Kids 6 and older

love Cargo Crane, where they can use water cannons to drench riders

on Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges (see the following bullet).

Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges. Here’s another water special —

a churning, turning, twisting, listing raft ride with the same kind

of vehicle as Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (see

Chapter 15), but this one’s a bit faster and bouncier (though not

nearly as scenic). You’ll get wet from mechanical devices and from

the water cannons fired by guests at Me Ship, The Olive (see the

preceding bullet). The 12-passenger rafts bump and dip their way

along a course lined with villains, including Bluto and Sea Hag.

“That water is freezing, but it really feels good when it’s hot, and I

loved bouncing up and down on the waves.” Nic’s right; the water

is c-c-cold, which is a blessing on hot summer days but less so in

January, and trust me — you can get completely soaked. Riders

must be at least 42 inches tall to ride.

Along Kings Row and Comic Strip Lane you’ll find Beetle Bailey,

Dudley, and plenty of other classic comic characters out and about.

Jurassic Park

All the basics from Steven Spielberg’s wildly successful films (you’ll hear

the score from the movies pretty much everywhere you go), and some

of the high-tech wizardry, are incorporated into this lushly landscaped

locale, which includes a replica of the visitor’s center from the movie

and one of the best themed attractions in the park.

Camp Jurassic. This amazingly entertaining prehistoric play area,

designed along the same lines as The Boneyard in Disney’s Animal

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Kingdom (see Chapter 15), has everything from lava pits with

dinosaur bones to amber mines to a tropical rain forest where the

bushes occasionally rustle and you can hear dinosaurs off in the

distance. Watch out for the spitters that often lurk in the dark caves.

The multilevel area offers plenty of places for kids to climb, crawl,

explore, and wear down their batteries eventually.

While there’s only one way in and out of this attraction, keep a

close eye on young children because it’s easy to get lost inside

the caverns.

Jurassic Park Discovery Center. Inside this air-conditioned spot,

you can relax for the moment while you and your kids discover

something new. The center has life-size dinosaur replicas, including

a massive skeleton, a handful of interactive games, including a

sequencer that lets you combine your DNA with a dinosaur’s, and the

Beasaur exhibit, where you can see and hear as the dinosaurs did.

You can also play the game show You Bet Jurassic (bet you wouldn’t

see an attraction name like this at Disney), watch a tiny Velociraptor

“hatch” in the lab, and turn your voice into a dinosaur screech.

Austin (10), Nicolas (8), and Hailey (6) all give this one high marks,

but because there are a limited number of interactive stations, this

attraction can consume a lot of time on busy days.

Jurassic Park River Adventure. Your adventure cruise begins

slowly but soon throws you into a world of jungle plants and stormy

skies, where you literally come face-to-face with five-story “breathing”

inhabitants of Jurassic Park. At one point, a Tyrannosaurus rex

decides you look like a tasty morsel; at another, spitters launch

venom your way. To escape, you take a breathtaking 85-foot plunge

in a flume that’s steep and quick enough to lift your fanny from the

seat. (When Spielberg rode it, he made them stop the ride and let him

out before the plunge.) Oh, yeah — you’ll get soaked. If you can only

stomach the thought of getting on one flume ride at Islands, make it

this one — both the atmosphere and comfort level far exceed that

of Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls.

“That was amazing — the dinosaurs looked real and the waterfall

at the end was fun!” Austin could have gone back for more, though

people with height issues may not be as happy. Ryan on the other

hand said “the drop at the end was definitely too long and way, way

too steep.” Riders must be at least 42 inches tall.

Pteranodon Flyers. The line for this one is simply ridiculous! For

an 80 second ride, neat as it may be, you’ll often wait up to an hour,

sometimes more. This high-flying ride swings from side-to-side and,

unlike traditional gondolas in sky rides, on Pteranodon Flyers, your

feet dangle free from a two-seat skeletal flyer with little more than a

restraining belt between you and the ground. Now that I’ve scared

you, this is a kiddie ride — single passengers must be between 36

and 56 inches; adults can ride only when accompanying someone

that size. For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t put my young squirmers

on it even if the wait weren’t so long.

284 Part V: Exploring the Rest of Orlando

The Lost Continent

Universal has created a foreboding mood in this section of the park,

whose entrance is marked by menacing stone griffins and fire-lit torches.

This uniquely themed area combines various mythical and mystical

elements, including ancient Greek gods, crumbling ruins, and medieval

magicians and a magical forest.

Dueling Dragons. This ride has a scream factor of 11 on a

10-point scale. True coaster crazies love this intertwined set of

leg-dangling racers that climb to 125 feet, invert five times, and,

on three occasions, come within only 12 inches of each other as

the two dragons battle it out; you prove your bravery by tagging

along. The Fire Dragon can reach speeds of up to 60 mph, while the

Ice Dragon makes it to only 55 mph. It, of course, comes with the

usual health warnings.

For the best ride, try to get one of the two outside seats in each

row. Also, pay attention because the lines for both coasters split

near the loading dock so that daredevils can claim the very first

row, which many hard-core thrill junkies claim offers the city’s

ultimate adrenaline rush. And, yes, that line is even longer!

“That was so scary — but so, so cool.” Austin barely took time to

give his review as he headed back for another battle. After riding

it several times, he added, “The best seat is the front seat on Ice.”

You shouldn’t ride this ride if you’re an expectant mother or if you

have heart, neck, or back problems. (Why aren’t you surprised?)

Riders must be at least 54 inches tall.

The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad. The mythical sailor Sindbad is the

star of a stunt demonstration that includes six water explosions

and 50 pyrotechnic effects, which includes a 10-foot circle of flames.

It doesn’t, however, come close to the quality of the Indiana Jones

stunt show at Disney–MGM Studios (see Chapter 14), and some of

the characters are far scarier for young kids.

The Flying Unicorn. This small roller coaster is similar to Woody

Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster at Universal Studios Florida (see

Chapter 18) and The Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm in Magic

Kingdom (see Chapter 12). That means a fast, corkscrew run sure

to earn squeals, but probably not at the risk of someone losing their

lunch. The ride travels through a mythical forest next to Dueling

Dragons. Younger kids love it, but riders must be at least 36 inches

tall. I’d have them watch for a few minutes before they commit to

getting on.

The Mystic Fountain. This interactive smart fountain delights

younger guests. It can see, hear, and spit water, leading to plenty of

kibitzing with those who stand before the stone fountain, suitably

named Rocky. (A staff member viewing the action through cameras

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Chapter 19: Islands of Adventure

is at the helm, which makes for a personable experience.) It’s a real

treat for 3- to 8-year-olds.

Poseidon’s Fury. Clearly, Poseidon’s Fury is the park’s best show, but

that may be a backhanded compliment because it’s one of the park’s

only shows. It exposes you to fire and water in the same manner that

Earthquake does at Universal Studios Florida. You pass through a

42-foot vortex — where 17,500 gallons of water swirl around you,

barrel-style — and then get a front-row seat at a battle royale, where

Zeus and Poseidon hurl 25-foot fireballs at each other. However, some

of the special effects are not up to the usual Universal standards. If

the line is short, I recommend that you check it out, but if the lines

are long, as is often the case, it’s not worth waiting for.

Children younger than 7 may find the flaming fireballs, explosive

sounds, and rushing water a little too intense. Also, if you wear

eye glasses, take them off before you walk through the water

vortex or they will fog up completely and you won’t see much of

anything.

Dining at Islands of Adventure

After riding rides and visiting attractions, you’re probably hungry. You

can get a quick bite to eat at a number of stands in the park, as well as a

handful of full-service restaurants — any and all of which are well above

the standards at most other theme-park eateries. The park’s creators

have taken some extra care to tie in restaurant offerings with the theme

of the island they’re in. For example, the Green Eggs and Ham Cafe in

Seuss Landing may be one of the few places on Earth where you’re will-

ing to eat tinted huevos. (They’re sold in the form of an egg-and-ham

sandwich for $6.)

Best sit-down restaurant. At Mythos Restaurant in The Lost

Continent, diners are transported to a mythical underwater world.

This upscale restaurant offers selections ranging from wood-fired

oven pizzas, burgers, and simple bowls of greens, to elaborate

entrees of fish, seafood, and steaks. You can dine here without a

park ticket, however there’s a time limit and you need to leave a

credit-card number at the gate. If you’re running late, the restaurant

can call the gate to let them know so you won’t be charged. This

restaurant is best suited for adults, although older kids may be

okay. Entrees range from $10 to $24. Open daily from 11:30 a.m. to

park closing.

Best atmosphere for adults. Also in The Lost Continent, The

Enchanted Oak Tavern (and Alchemy Bar) looks like a mam-

moth tree from the outside; the interior is brightened by a blue

skylight with a celestial theme. The tables and chairs are thick

286 Part V: Exploring the Rest of Orlando

planks, and the servers are clad like wenches. Try the chicken/

rib combo with waffle fries for $13. You can also choose from

45 brands of beer.

Best atmosphere for kids. The fun never stops under the big top at

Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous in Seuss Landing, where ani-

mated trapeze artists swing from the ceiling. Kids’ meals, including

a souvenir cup, are $6 to $7. The adult menu features fried chicken,

lasagna, spaghetti, and pizza. Try the fried chicken platter for $8 or

the lasagna for $7.

Best vegetarian fare. Fire-Eater’s Grill, located in The Lost

Continent, is a fast-food stand that offers a tasty veggie falafel

for $6. You can also get a tossed salad for about $4.

Best diversity. Comic Strip Cafe, located in Toon Lagoon, is a four-

in-one, counter service–style eatery offering burgers, Chinese food,

Mexican food, and pizza and pasta ($6–$9).

You can also find several restaurants (see Chapter 10) and clubs

(see Chapter 25) just a short walk from Islands of Adventure at the

new entertainment complex, CityWalk. If you get your hand stamped,

you can leave the park and return after eating.

Shopping at Islands of Adventure

The park’s 20-something shops have plenty of theme merchandise.

You may want to check out Cats, Hats & Things and Dr. Seuss’ All the

Books You Can Read for special Seussian material. Jurassic Outfitters

offers an array of stuffed and plastic dinos, plus safari-style clothing.

If you’re a superhero fan, check out The Marvel Alterverse Store.

Remember that you may find theme- or character-specific merchandise

in only one store. Here’s a sample of some of the more unusual wares

available:

Betty Boop Store. You name it, this store in Toon Lagoon has her

famous mug on it.

Spider-Man Shop. This shop specializes in its namesake’s para-

phernalia, including red Spidey caps covered with black webs

and denim jackets with logos.

Toon Extra. Where else can you buy a miniature stuffed Mr. Peanut

beanbag chair, an Olive Oyl and Popeye frame, or a stuffed Beetle

Bailey?

Historic Families. Here’s your chance to get your own coat of arms

made in a shop that looks just like King Arthur’s armory. It’s a must

for the knight wannabe.