Tag: Islands of Adventure

Exploring The Sunshine State (Part 3) – Universal Studios Orlando

Posted in Disney & Universal, Touristician ReviewsTagged , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Welcome back to the blog! Previously, in my last post, I began reviewing my experiences from Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure while on my vacation in Florida. In today’s continuation post, I’ll be reviewing more of the park and rating my dining experience at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen. So without further ado, let’s get back to Florida!

Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen

Located in the CityWalk, Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Kitchen (yes, that is the full name) is a steampunk-themed restaurant that makes you feel like you are stepping into an inventor’s lab. There is even a backstory that I have included below for your enjoyment. 

‘From the Alps to the empire of the Aztecs, from Mongolia to Madagascar, Professor Doctor Penelope Tibeaux-Tinker Toothsome learned new and fascinating methods of infusing chocolate into the most extraordinary recipes, making friends and receiving honors everywhere she went. Upon returning home to London, Penelope determined that she would share her love and knowledge of chocolate with the world. She set about building The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen, an enchanting 19th-century themed, Steampunk-inspired dining establishment with a façade of towering smokestacks and an interior adorned with intriguing gadgets and gizmos.’

Aside from the stunning look of the exterior and interior design, there are the two main characters of Penelope Toothsome and her loyal robot companion Jacques who love to interact with the guests as they eat. The Restaurant is two levels with a stunning bar so you can get different experiences depending on where you sit. The main menu items are, of course, the delightfully delicious milkshakes featuring chocolate, peanut butter, vanilla ice cream, and more. The price range for the milkshakes is between $13.50 – $15. I ordered myself the Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake, which included Sour cream ice cream, cheesecake, graham crackers, fresh whipped cream, and chocolate dipped strawberry. I was even able to keep the cup as a souvenir of my dining experience! 

While those may satisfy your sweet tooth,  Toothsome also offers a great variety of options from the Savory Kitchen side. They offer appetizers, salads, soups, flatbreads, sandwiches and burgers, pasta, and delicious entrees. For those who are early birds, they even have a whole Brunch menu as well! The price range for the menus is considered between $10 – $33, so I would say a moderately priced restaurant. For my lunch, I ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo which I found to be absolutely delicious!

My Rating: 10/10

What can I honestly say more about this place? The theming: 10/10. The service: 10/10. The food: 10/10. The desert: 10/10. The interactions: 10/10. This is probably one of the best-themed dining experiences in all of Universal in my opinion. I loved watching the screen as the steampunk robots flew around with ingredients, meeting the characters, and the overall feel of the restaurant. There is nothing I would suggest to change here, it’s absolutely perfect! Which makes this rating review probably the easiest and shortest review.

Tips & Tricks

When planning my trip to Universal, I asked my travel agent to add a reservation for Toothsome specifically for the lunchtime period. While you are allowed to go at any time, it is probably best to make reservations ahead of time. The busiest times seem to be late afternoon time (3 pm) and of course, dinner time around 6 pm to 7 pm time frame. Keep in mind that weekends and Fridays may also have a higher crowd level as well. You can also make reservations by calling ahead of time or via the website as well. Another tip I suggest is to take a look at their menu before you arrive to eat. You can find their menus listed on the website as well. 

Well, lunchtime is over and I am quite full. Let’s head back into the parks and continue our fun day at Universal Orlando. Keep in mind, you will have to go through the security check at the front gates at the parks even if you had already done so when you first arrived. That is the only grip I had is that I wish there was a way for easier re-entry. I understand though it is for security reasons that we have to re-enter at the gates.

Heading Back To The Park

I went back into the Islands side of the park, this time going counter-clockwise from the Port of Entry. I was able to experience (before its closure this summer) Poseidon’s Fury. I found the indoor special effects show to be quirky but you can definitely tell it was aging since it had been in the park since opening day in 1993. It’s sad how empty Lost Continent is now compared to the original opening-day experience, I can only hope that maybe in the future this land gets a much-needed facelift and rethemed. There are many rumors spreading of the land being replaced by Lord of the Rings or Zelda, but Universal has made no such announcement as of yet. 

After Poseidon’s Fury, I was able to catch a ride on the VelociCoaster. Talk about an adrenaline rush. There were several airtime moments that I felt like I was about to come out of my seat. I continued on my journey back into Hogsmeade to ride Forbidden Journey and check on the wait time for Hagrids. However, when I arrived, the wait time was 120+ minutes, and the queue line was stretched into the Lost Continent section. I decided to skip Hagrids and ride the train over to the Studios portion of the park.

Universal Studios Orlando

Universal Studios Florida is split into nine themed lands situated around a lagoon. The nine surrounding themed areas, clockwise from the entrance, are Minion Land on Illumination Ave, Production Central, New York, San Francisco, London/Diagon Alley, World Expo, Springfield USA, Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone, and Hollywood. Each area features a combination of rides, shows, attractions, character appearances, dining outlets, and merchandise stores. The newest area, based on Despicable Me, will be added to the park in Summer 2023.

Minion Land on Illumination Ave

This is the newest land which has replaced a portion of Production Central located at the main entrance of the park. This new ‘mini-land’ includes the attraction of Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem and the upcoming Villian-Con Minion Blast attraction.

Production Central

This land is mostly themed to music with the rollercoaster of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and the Transformers the Ride 3D dark ride. There is no real clear theme to this area, especially with a portion of the land now being rebranded and rethemed to the Minions area coming this summer.

New York

This land is mostly themed to New York City, including many facades of some of the New York Public Library and some other landmarks from the city that never sleeps. This land hosts the attractions of the Jimmy Fallon ride, the Revenge of the Mummy indoor coaster, as well as the preview center and a Blues Brother stage show.

San Francisco

This mini-land is themed to the San Francisco bay area and hosts its only attraction: the Fast & Furious Supercharge dark ride. I have to say that this land is probably one of the weakest ones at Universal Florida sadly. Many guests state that the ride, which had replaced Disaster and Earthquake, is a horrible retheme. Though, many guests do enjoy the queue line that has some props and cars from the Fast & Furious franchise.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley/London

This second half of The Wizarding World is themed to the Diagon Alley / London location from the films. You literally get to step through the brick way into Diagon Alley, where you can not even see the rest of the theme park. This land includes the Kings Cross Stations for the train ride to Islands, a Gringotts-themed ride, and several shops and restaurants themed to the Harry Potter franchise. This is the most popular area of the park and is usually the most crowded. Don’t forget to watch the dragon on top of the Gringotts bank which is set to spit fire every 15 minutes or so.

Springfield

This area used to be part of the World Expo which originally housed the Back to the Future Ride. In 2017, this area would be rethemed to the popular Simpsons television series. The ride would be rethemed into the Simpsons Ride. There is also a spinning ride resembling the title aliens (Kang and Kodos) on The Simpsons. There is no word of what may happen to this area after the leasing of the Simpsons is over.

Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone

On January 15, 2023, the majority of Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone, including its rides Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster and Fievel’s Waterslide, the play areas Curious George Goes to Town and Fievel’s Playland, and the Shrek-themed meet-and-greet style attraction which was opened the year before after the closure of Shrek 4-D, was permanently closed to make room for an unannounced area rumored to be themed to DreamWorks Animation. E.T. Adventure and Animal Actors on Location were kept, as well as SpongeBob StorePants, a SpongeBob SquarePants-themed merchandise store, and KidZone Pizza Company, a seasonal pizzeria located by the area’s entrance. The only two remaining attractions at KidZone are the Animal Actors show and the E.T. Adventure ride.

Hollywood

There are no major thrill rides in the Hollywood section. However, it is home to the updated Bourne Stuntstactular which replaced the Terminator attraction. Hollywood’s two dining outlets are recreations of actual Hollywood outlets. Schwab’s Pharmacy and Mel’s Drive-In offer guests a variety of food and beverage options. A third outlet, named Cafe La Bamba, operates seasonally. Guests can purchase magic-related items from Theatre Magic.

My Rating: 6/10

While I normally give this a rather good rating, I was rather rushed as I only had 1 day to enjoy the Universal parks. My rating was also lowered due to the rather large crowds as it was a holiday weekend plus the Mardi Gras event at Universal. I feel that the Studios side of the theme park is rather lacking compared to the Islands side. Though, Diagon Alley did help the Studios upgrade its lineup and theming to stepping into the movies. I look forward to what could be replacing KidZone in the coming future, but there are no official announcements. The only area that I feel really needs to be replaced or redone is San Francisco. The ride (Fast & Furious Supercharged) is not really a good ride compared to what is offered in the park. I hope that Orlando decides to replace the dark ride with the coaster like they are in the Hollywood park.

Tips & Tricks

I don’t have any additional tips or tricks that I haven’t already covered in the Islands portion of this review. While you’re in Diagon Alley, I suggest taking a look around to find subtle nods to the Jaws ride that used to be in the area but was replaced. Additionally, I really enjoy all the spell-casting spots in Diagon Alley, though Knockturn Alley does have an interesting effect on the map via the dark light. Another tip, if you haven’t already, is to download the Universal app to keep track of show times, ride wait times, and character meet and greets. The locker system is similar to the Islands of Adventure locker system and uses your ticket to unlock the free small locker. While I don’t think it is required, you can also consider buying the Universal Express Pass, which can sometimes help reduce wait times.

Exploring The Sunshine State (Part 2) – Islands of Adventure

Posted in Disney & Universal, Touristician ReviewsTagged , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Universal Studios Florida is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida that opened on June 7, 1990. Owned and operated by NBCUniversal, it features numerous rides, attractions, and live shows that are primarily themed to movies, television, and other aspects of the entertainment industry. Universal Studios Florida was the first of three theme parks to open at Universal Orlando Resort, joined later by Universal’s Islands of Adventure in 1999 and Volcano Bay in 2017. In 2019, it ranked eleventh in the world – sixth in North America – for overall attendance among amusement parks with approximately 10.9 million visitors.

The success of its sister location, Universal Studios Hollywood, in the 1980s fueled the desire to build a similar park in the Orlando area to compete with Walt Disney World. Two of its early projects were partially developed by famed Hollywood director Steven Spielberg, and many themed attractions over the years were developed in close collaboration with the directors, producers, and actors of the films they are based on. An early layout and design of the park also incorporated active production studios, similar to the Hollywood location, which provided guests with a behind-the-scenes look at film and television. As the interest to produce films in the Orlando area quickly faded, the design of the park transitioned to a more immersive, first-person perspective.

Universal Studios Florida operates a well-known annual event during the fall season called Halloween Horror Nights, where the park transitions to a Halloween theme featuring haunted houses and scare zones on select nights. One of the park’s biggest draws is Diagon Alley, a Harry Potter-themed portion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter that opened in 2014. Other notable attractions include E.T. Adventure, which debuted with the park’s grand opening in 1990, Men in Black: Alien Attack, as well as roller coasters Revenge of the Mummy and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.

To make it easy for our readers, I will split the day according to how I spent it at the parks. So our review will begin at Islands of Adventure, then have a lunch review from the Toothsome Chocolate Factory, and end the day at Universal Orlando. Here are a few things to keep in mind: During my time visiting, Universal Orlando was celebrating Madi Gras. It was also President’s Day weekend so the crowd level was moderately higher than I liked. So without further ado, let our Journey begin!

Islands of Adventure

Universal Islands of Adventure (also known as Islands of Adventure or IOA), originally called Universal Studios Islands of Adventure and later Universal’s Islands of Adventure, is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. It opened on May 28, 1999, along with CityWalk, as part of an expansion that converted Universal Studios Florida into the Universal Orlando Resort. The resort’s slogan “Vacation Like You Mean It” was introduced in 2013.

Islands of Adventure is modeled after a journey of exploration, where guests embark on an adventure to visit a variety of themed islands. Initially, the park featured six islands. A seventh, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, was added in 2010, themed to the highly successful Harry Potter franchise. It was Universal’s largest investment since the resort’s founding in 1990. The expansion led to a significant increase in attendance, and in 2013, Islands of Adventure ranked seventh domestically and eleventh internationally after hosting approximately 8.1 million guests. The eighth island, Skull Island, opened on July 13, 2016, and is themed to the King Kong franchise.

Islands of Adventure is split into eight themed islands: (going clockwise around the park)

Port of Entry

Port of Entry is the park’s main entrance and is home to many shops and services including Guest Services aptly named The Open Arms Hotel. The park’s centerpiece, Pharos Lighthouse, is also located within the Port of Entry. Each night, this functioning lighthouse sends out a bright beam to lead visitors to and from the park’s gates. Like many theme parks using the “hub and spokes” format, this entry Island contains no rides.

Marvel Super Hero Island

Marvel Super Hero Island is based on the superhero characters featured in Marvel Comics. The area features comic book-styled architecture, with many building interiors created from a comic book perspective, characterized by exaggerated lines and angles. The exteriors of the buildings are painted with a special paint that appears to change color depending on the viewing angle; sometimes purple, sometimes orange. This island consists of four attractions: one tea-cup-themed ride featuring Storm from X-Men, one freefall tower themed to Doctor Doom from Fantastic 4, one 3-D dark ride themed to Spider-Man from Spider-Man, and one launch coaster themed to Hulk from The Hulk.

Toon Lagoon

Toon Lagoon is based on cartoon and comic strip characters from King Features Syndicate and Jay Ward. The area’s main focus is water-based rides. This island holds three attractions: one log flume ride themed to Dudley Do-Right, one river rapids ride themed to Popeye the Sailor Man, and one interactive kids’ playground themed to Popeye the Sailor Man.

Skull Island

Skull Island is the newest island at the park, having been opened in the summer of 2016. The area’s sole attraction, Skull Island: Reign of Kong, opened on July 13, 2016. The attraction and island mark the return of the King Kong character to the Universal Orlando Resort after the Kongfrontation attraction closed at Universal Studios Florida in 2002 to make way for the Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride. The only attraction on this island is the dark trackless ride based on the Kong films.

Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park is themed around the film series of the same name. Set after the events of the first film, the area takes on the guise of John Hammond’s dinosaur theme park featured in the series. As such, the area is filled with attractions and exhibits one would find in the “real” Jurassic Park, including thrill rides and discovery-based exhibits. There are five attractions located on this island: A children’s play area named Camp Jurassic, A river ride named Jurassic Park River Adventure based on the film and book of the same name, A suspended steel flying coaster named Pteranodon Flyers themed to the dinosaurs of the same name, A launch coaster named VelociCoaster themed to velociraptors and the Jurassic World franchise, and the interactive play area of the Jurassic Park Discovery Center based on the film and book of the same name.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade is themed around the Harry Potter universe, authored by J.K. Rowling. It officially opened to the public on June 18, 2010. On May 31, 2007, Universal announced that it had secured the licensing rights from Warner Bros. and Rowling to incorporate the Harry Potter franchise into Islands of Adventure. The 20-acre (81,000 m2) island features attractions, shops, and restaurants set inside locations such as the Forbidden Forest, Hogsmeade Village, and the iconic Hogwarts Castle. Groundbreaking began in 2007, with the official opening scheduled for June 18, 2010, as announced on March 25, 2010. As part of the promotion for the upcoming area, a behind-the-scenes documentary on the production of the park section is included on the Blu-ray and DVD release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

The Lost Continent

The Lost Continent is themed to ancient myths and legends, and is divided into two sub-sections: an ancient Arabian marketplace called Sinbad’s Bazaar, and a Grecian-Atlantis-esque Lost City. Formerly, the Lost Continent included a medieval section called Merlinwood, but the majority of that area was re-themed for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This land is also home to Mythos, which is one of two full-service restaurants in the park and was voted the winner of the best theme park restaurant by Theme Park Insider for six successive years between 2003 and 2008. As of June 1st, 2023, there is only one remaining attraction on this island: The interactive Mystic Fountain.

Seuss Landing

Seuss Landing is based on the works of author Dr. Seuss. The island features several Seuss-themed attractions, especially geared towards small children, as well as a Green Eggs and Ham Cafe and Circus McGurkus restaurant. As in the books, one of the unique characteristics of this area is that there are almost no straight lines anywhere. Palm trees bent by the winds of Hurricane Andrew were even planted in the area to continue this theme.

My Rating: 8/10

I am a bit biased when it comes to the Islands of Adventure rating. This theme park is one of the most brilliantly themed parks in the Orlando area, behind the Disney Parks. Every island has its own character and charm that you can see in the buildings and the views. You feel like you are stepping into your favorite comic strip, whether it be Spider-Man or Popeye. Or you can feel like you are stepping into your favorite book, whether it be Cat in the Hat or Jurassic Park. There are a few reasons why my rating is a bit lower, mostly due to the crowd level. I also am rating this experience on this trip instead of my previous trips before. Another reason why it is not perfect is just the fact that I was rather time-restricted due to the fact that I only had one day in both parks. I also am very lucky to get a chance to experience Poseidon’s Fury before its closure, but my main gripe about the Lost Continent is the lack of attractions since the Wizarding World takeover. This island is one of the remaining islands that have not received anything new since opening day nearly 30 years ago.

Tips & Tricks

As mentioned in the Dockside review, you can catch a shuttle bus from the hotel to the Resort for free. That eases the burden of having to worry about paying for parking at the resort or trying to find a spot in the parking lot if it’s a busy day. One tip was my use of a fanny pack that I carried with me. I kept my wallet, my phone (while on rides), and my glasses (while on rides) inside of the fanny pack and felt it was just easy to keep track of my personal items. 

Keep in mind that almost all rides do require you to place items into a locker before boarding the ride, though there are a few that don’t have that rule in place. The major thrill rides, the coasters, will all have a locker system that is provided to you for free or for a paid fee for use of the day. The water rides do offer lockers for guests to use, however, they are paid lockers and there are no free lockers to rent.  There are air dryers, which once again are paid, that you can use located near any water ride. 

My second tip, download the Universal Orlando app. This app allows you to keep track of wait times for rides, and times for experiences like characters or shows, and allow you to mobile order for food at many of the restaurants.

Stay tuned for part two of my Universal Studios Orlando & Islands of Adventure experience where I’ll review more of the park and review the Toothsome Chocolate Factory restaurant!