Two days after our incredible time at Universal Studios, we returned to one of our favourite theme parks in Orlando: Islands of Adventure. I know that all of the attention is now on Epic Universe, but Islands of Adventure really has everything, with attractions for all the family, all set within its several themed islands.
However, it’s the world class thrill rides here, which is why this park remains a popular choice for families with teenagers and we couldn’t wait to get our second day at Universal Orlando started.
Naturally, we stopped for the obligatory family photo by the park’s iconic Pharos Lighthouse and it always feels like the start of an adventure here. Universal is known for its great theming , and I think it shows at its Islands of Adventure park, starting with Port of Entry at the entrance, home to multiple shops including my favourite Christmas store.
Although Seuss Landing is usually our first stop, this time we skipped right past it to get to one of the parks most popular attractions: Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. Even though we arrived not long after opening, the wait time was already over an hour, which says everything about just how popular this ride is at the park.
Luckily, we had Universal Express Passes — and honestly, they were worth every penny. If you’re visiting during a busy season or holiday period, Express Passes make all the difference. These typically cut the stand by wait times in half and allow you to experience far more rides in a single day, which for us was really important with only 2 days to see both theme parks.
As for the ride itself, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is hands down my personal favourite ride across all of Orlando’s theme parks.
Straddling a motorbike or sitting in a sidecar, you speed through the Forbidden Forest, racing past animatronic creatures and plunging into hidden sections of track. The twists, turns, sudden launches, and drops make it an exhilarating roller coaster.
The combination of storytelling, theming and thrills is unlike anything else. When we got off, every single one of us agreed: this was the ride of the holiday so far, and using our express passes we managed to ride this again. The seating arrangement gives you two slightly different experiences, with the motorbike being more intense and the sidecar being more mild.
With our belongings safely stored in the lockers (a requirement at Universal, especially for the thrill rides), we moved on to our next adventure: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey inside the iconic Hogwarts Castle.
The queue alone is breathtaking — winding through the castle corridors past Dumbledore’s office, the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, and even the Gryffindor common room. Even if you are not a huge Harry Potter fan you will fail not to be impressed here, its like being inside the actual movie.
The ride itself uses a mix of robotics, screens, and practical effects to take you soaring above the castle, dodging Dementors, and flying alongside Harry and his friends. It’s an incredible technical achievement, but if I’m honest, it wasn’t my personal favourite, especially if you suffer from motion sickness. Compared with Escape from Gringotts in Universal Studios, Forbidden Journey although a great dark ride was not as impressive as the one at the studios park.
Having rode Flight of the Hippogriff several times on our visit two days earlier, we skipped it this time to spend time taking in the sights, sounds and experiences in Hogsmeade. Hogsmeade is just like it is in the movies, with its snow covered rooftops to the life size Hogwarts castle, the attention to detail here is incredible.
Honeydukes is always our favourite stop — the colourful displays of Chocolate Frogs, cakes and Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans are irresistible. Even if you don’t buy, just browsing here is an experience. You can even send a Harry Potter postcard home from the Owl Post which comes complete with its own Hogsmeade postmark.
From there, we entered the prehistoric world of Jurassic Park. For Chloe and Ian, the highlight was tackling the Jurassic World VelociCoaster for the first time. Watching from below, I’ll admit I was nervous — with speeds of 70mph, inversions and reaching heights of 155ft with 80 degree drops, but when they came off, their smiles said it all: “Best ride ever!” they declared.
Next up we all braved the classic Jurassic Park River Adventure. This is far more than your average boat ride. After gently floating through prehistoric landscapes, the tension ramps up until you’re face-to-face with a towering T-Rex — before plunging down an 85-foot drop into the water below.
If Jurassic Park River Adventure leaves you damp, Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls will leave you drenched. Ian and Holly braved this one, ponchos and all, and came off looking like they’d been through a car wash. The drop might not be quite as high as Jurassic Park’s, but the splash factor is on another level.
For those wanting an even wetter experience, Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges is the ultimate drenching ride. You don’t just get splashed here — you get soaked from head to toe. Perfect on a hot Florida afternoon, but not so much if you’re not a fan of squelching trainers!
The Marvel Super Hero Island section is a paradise for Marvel fans. Our first stop was The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, which remains one of the park’s signature attractions. The 3D effects, combined with motion simulation and physical sets, make it feel like you’re leaping through the pages of a comic.
Next up was Doctor Doom’s Fearfall. This tower ride blasts you 185ft in the air before dropping you back down in a stomach-lurching plunge. It’s over quickly, but the adrenaline rush is unforgettable.
While wandering this area, Chloe had a brilliant character meet-and-greet with the Green Goblin, who stayed perfectly in character and provided lots of laughs. We popped into the Fantastic Four Café for a quick break, but before long the girls were off again.
We underestimated Storm Force Accelatron, expecting something gentle like Disney’s teacups. Instead, it spun at a dizzying pace, leaving us laughing (and a little disoriented).
And towering over it all is one of the parks most recognisable rides: The Incredible Hulk Coaster. Its green track dominates the skyline, and the roar of the launch can be heard across the park. For thrill-seekers, this remains one of Universal’s ultimate rides.
In the afternoon, we circled back to Seuss Landing. When the girls were younger, this was always one of their favourite areas, and it still holds a special charm for all of us. The colourful, whimsical architecture feels like walking into a Dr. Seuss book.
We rode a couple of our old favourites, picked up some Seuss-themed cakes, and even met the Grinch alongside other characters. It was a lovely reminder that Universal caters for all ages.
With the sun starting to set, we decided to hop over to Universal Studios via the Hogwarts Express, using our park to park tickets. This is, without doubt, the best way to park hop. Not only is it practical and saves a lot of walking, but it’s also an attraction in itself.
Each direction offers a different experience, with windows showing magical scenes unfolding outside and little surprises happening in your carriage. Arriving into King’s Cross Station is particularly special — it really does feel like stepping into London (albeit a much cleaner, sunnier version!).
Back in Universal Studios, we used our Express Passes to revisit some of our top rides, including Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Revenge of the Mummy, E.T. Adventure, and Men in Black: Alien Attack. We also caught the Animal Actors on Location show for the first time, which was a delightful mix of comedy, animal tricks, and behind-the-scenes insight into how movies are made with animal stars.
By this point, even more of the Halloween Horror Nights sets had appeared since our earlier visit. The sheer scale and detail were staggering — and frankly terrifying, even in daylight. It cemented our decision that we’ll be back one autumn to experience HHN properly now the girls are the right age.
We ended our day with dinner at the Hard Rock Café at CityWalk — the largest Hard Rock in the world. For music fans, this place is an absolute must. The amount of memorabilia on display is mind-blowing, from iconic instruments to stage costumes from rock legends.
The food didn’t disappoint either. The fajitas in particular were outstanding, and the buzzing atmosphere made it the perfect way to round off our Islands of Adventure visit.
Final Thoughts
Islands of Adventure is a park that truly lives up to its name. Every “island” offers something unique, and the sheer variety of experiences makes it perfect for families. From the thrills of VelociCoaster and Hulk to the immersive magic of Hogsmeade and the playful charm of Seuss Landing, there’s something for everyone here.
As we walked back through CityWalk under the glowing neon lights, we all agreed this had been one of the most memorable days of our holiday. Universal’s Islands of Adventure is truly incredible and as good as we all remembered, and it’s one we’ll return to again and again.