Friday at Islands of Adventure: Seuss Landing

Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort is well known for its Harry Potter adventures, Marvel, and Jurassic Park. But its lesser known areas have a charm all their own too. The family friendly Seuss Landing offers some incredibly sweet and unique views! And above is one of my favorite shots courtesy Rix Flix. This guy loves Universal in all aspects and it shows. Check his channel out!

Goodbye to Countdown to Extinction / Dinosaur at Disney's Animal Kingdom

It's over and now in the past. The original Countdown to Extinction at Disney's Animal Kingdom was ambitious in some ways and lazy in others. Stealing the exact same track layout as the great Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland was the lazy part but helped contain expenses in a park that was built way over budget. But from there on out, it was a pretty clever and unique take on the dinosaur world. 

Imagineer Joe Rhode and his team brought a great respectful vibe by housing the attraction in a museum, only to counterbalance it with adding much humor to the preshow. OK, sometimes it was cheesy. Very cheesy. I mean, Dr. Grant Seeker? 

In the early years of the new park, it was a thrill ride in a whole new vein from Universal's Jurassic Park. The difference was necessary if Disney was going to stand out from its main dinosaur competitor. It was dark, scary, and exhilarating! When they renamed the attraction to match a new movie, it was a bad move and the beginning of the end. Letting effects go missing, toning down the scare factor, and seeing maintenance become less and less, it was clear Disney suits were planning a change.

I'm very sad to see Disney give up on dinosaurs, but I'm excited for the transition of the land to Tropical Americas. The new Indiana Jones Adventure will surely be a great one, and an Encanto attraction - does it really fit either?- should be charming. It's a kid friendly dark ride this park needs so badly. The land should be beautiful and fit in well with what's in Africa and Asia and Discovery Island- something Chester and Hester's Dinorama never did accomplish.

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Islands of Adventure's Port of Entry Tops The List of Florida Theme Park's First Acts

Sorry, Walt Disney Imagineering, but even the beautiful Main Street U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom or the iconic Spaceship Earth at Epcot can't compare when it comes to the grandest, most intriguing "First Acts" of Florida theme parks. The winner of them all is found at Universal Orlando's powerful Port of Entry at Islands of Adventure. It's definitely not the biggest or even the one studded with attractions. It is, however, the one that best captures what kind of day is to come.

 

The art direction, the design detail as I call it, shows what the artists at Universal Creative can do to create the mood, the atmosphere,  of a park that is like no other. You can feel the sense of adventure and excitement in the air. The anticipation of thrills, wonder, and discovery to be found beyond the mix of exotic and whimsical buildings, lush plantings and fountains, all set to a soundtrack that amps up the suspense. 

Watch this video to get the vibe.

At Epcot, Spaceship Earth used to set the stage for what was to come, but the attractions found within the front half of the park no longer deliver a look at the future, belying iconic structure's promise. At the Magic Kingdom, the real "First Act" is better seen once guests reach the hub and can see Cinderella Castle with the other land's entrances around it. The closest Disney competitor is really the grand reveal of the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom. Even though the park's entrance gardens are beautiful, they hit one note.

Universal Creative did not hit a home run at all of their Florida parks. Sadly, Universal Studios' entrance area feels barren, flat and rather  unimpressive. Beyond the turnstiles, the front of Epic Universe is lovely but doesn't come close in what's presented at the resort's second park. 

The winding path through Port of Entry furthers the impact. Guests can help but be drawn into whatever comes next. Yet, not every piece of Islands of Adventure scores so high. Beyond the entrance, the two lands to the left are nominal in its effectiveness and appeal even if their attractions are some of the strongest (and definitely wettest) in the park.  No matter. More is coming, and these three parks will only get even better, giving Disney's biggest competitor in Orlando a winning hand.

(Top photo copyright Mark Taft. Other images and video copyright Universal Creative.)

Not Our Dinosaur!

Forgive me for doing so. But to quote the infamous Dr. Grant Seeker from Countdown to Extinction aka the very generic but soon to be disappearing Dinosaur at Disney's Animal Kingdom,  "That's not our dinosaur"! Jurassic World Rebirth is a mediocre film. The big bad beast is out of place. The pacing lacks, there's too much backstory in an attempt to make viewers really care about the characters.

The talents of the cast are wasted. Under Gareth Edward's leading, the talented Scarlett Johansson just doesn't have much to do. But it is not her fault. The story just isn't there. The best of the cast performances come from Jonathan Bailey in one single moment: his sincere and slightly frightened Dr. Henry Loomis gets appropriately choked up when he touches his first prehistoric beast. 

Yes, plenty of dinosaurs eating both good and bad guys, but that's about all this movie has to offer besides the air conditioned theater it is shown in.
 

If You Can't Go to Tom Sawyer Island, Go Here Instead

The closure of Tom Sawyer Island at Magic Kingdom got you down? Does the removal of the Rivers of America bring a tear to your eye and make you wish for the days when Walt Disney ran Imagineering? Don't worry! We have you covered! There's a great place within reach that will remind you of the golden days of theme park design at its best.

Just head down the street from Walt Disney World and take a turn into Universal Orlando Resort. Head into Islands of Adventure. Walk past Hogsmeade and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and even go beyond Velocicoaster. Travel into Jurassic Park and stop. Take a deep breathe. Look around until you find Camp Jurassic. 

This place has all the charm and design detail you'd see on the soon to be demolished Disney island, just with a bit more thrill. Beautifully designed amber studded caves remind you this is not Huck Finn's playground. Is there something dangerous lurking around the bend?

Maybe there are flying dinosaurs overhead. Oh, no! It looks like the creature has a few victims that are being taken high above the island. I guess you could go up there for quite a ride and an incredible view.

But if you're inside those caves and hear a monstrous beast roaming them, hurry up! Get out of those caves, and take shelter up above! At least you'll get a better view of what is on the prowl. And you'll get to see how much there is to explore. 

This overlooked gem in a park stacked with thrills brings a different and immersive vibe on the world of prehistoric creatures. So, if you're missing Tom Sawyer Island and soon, the rest of Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney's Animal Kingdom, this is the place to go! Yes, Universal now owns dinosaurs in the theme park world. But at least they do it well!

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Jurassic World: Dinosaurs are Never Extinct

If you've ever really wondered why the suits at Disney have given up on the Dinoland U.S. A. portion of Disney's Animal Kingdom and have plans to turn it into Tropical Americas, Jurassic Work Rebirth might be the answer you're looking for.

 

It's not beyond Disney to create compelling stories that demand sequels and raise subsequent generations knowing the characters and music. But they just can't do it when it comes to prehistoric creatures of any kind. The market is just cornered by Universal's Jurassic Park  / World. They own dinosaurs just like Disney owns mermaids and now snowmen. 

I'd venture to say their dinosaur franchise is every bit as powerful as anything in Marvel, maybe moreso. It's definitely a countdown to extinction for Dinoland U.S.A. another's nothing anyone can do about it. Dinosaurs rule- and they belong to Universal. 

Walt Disney World vs. Universal Orlando- Day One: Islands of Adventure- Breaking Theme Park Design Rules, But Is It The Best Family Park for Thrillseekers?

The Disney vs. Universal Conundrum. If you have smaller kids and are visiting Orlando, you might think that Walt Disney World has to be your headquarters and Universal Orlando Resort must wait for several more years. The answer is "It depends".

Our first full day meant an early start as we had a one hour in park advantage over guests not staying on the Universal property. The busses come so often to the hotels and to the main station at the City Walk and park entrances, that it is very, very, fast and easy to go back and forth between even the least expensive hotels. 

Once off the bus, security is also fast and efficient. Then, it's a short scenic walk through the main thoroughfare of City Walk to the Islands of Adventure entrance. We arrived at the gates half an hour before opening and were within 15 or so people to the front of the line. 

This tower lets you know Islands of Adventure is straight ahead.

For better or worse, Universal Creative has broken some design rules or created their own, depending on how you view it. First case in point: the park icons are outside the park.

At Universal Orlando, you'll quickly understand why the newer Islands of Adventure was designed by ex-Disney Imagineers, and why the older portion of Universal Studios Park (meaning everything but Diagon Alley) feels redundant and cheaply built in comparison. 

From my first visit in 2007, I instantly loved Port of Entry, the park's opening act, a Main Street of sorts but with an Adventureland meets very whimsical feel. There's not a single attraction here, but the variety of architecture, lush vegetation, and vibrant colors create a funky, carefree vibe,  a place you want to explore. But not right now.

The most direct route to reach the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogsmeade is right through Seuss Landing and through the Lost Continent. 

Seuss Landing is a charming and quite colorful area without much to do unless you have smaller kids. This is unfortunate as it is a pretty big chunk of great theming to just pass through. Then, the lineup of attractions is quite extensive. 

There's the dark ride Cat in the Hat. It's not Disney worthy, but then again, the source material doesn't give you much to work with in terms of atmosphere. But as a chance to ride inside for a story, it gets the job done.

Oh, the places you will go!

Outside, the Caro-Seuss-el allows guests of all ages to ride a classic merry-go-round on animals straight from the imagination of the book author.  The high flying One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish lets you soar in the air above the crowds, but the best attraction in this elaborately themed area is People Mover like The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride. The views are great, and it's more fun for adults than you'd imagine.

The Character Zone and a stage show complete the offerings along with some very creative places to shop and eat- including the famous Green Eggs and Ham. 

Seuss Landing is Kid Central in this thrill-focused park, but it is not the only area where you'll find family friendly attractions for the younger set. 

The Lost Continent's truly incredible theming is mostly missing (pun intended) on park visitors in 2024. Why? Compared to the park opening and through the area now has no attractions left and remains as a place to eat and shop and pass through on the way to Harry's world. 

It's so sad there's no longer any attraction in this wonderfully themed area!

It's unfortunate as the theme is unique and it's rich in detail. The shops and eateries are well themed, but the attractions were just elegantly executed in terms of style and appeal. There was once the Dueling Dragons coaster, the Eighth Voyage of Sinbad stunt show, and a terrific walk through adventure, the incredible Poseidon's Fury. Toss in Mythos for table service dining, and the land was multi-faceted with something for the entire family. (I go into detail with photos on this trip report from 2007.)

All said, for an adult without any children- or without any desire to do kids' rides- that's two immediate lands that are strictly a walk through on the way to the stellar attractions. That's a lot of wasted potential, making for a less lengthy park visit.

Back to day one of our trip.

Early park entry meant quick access and very short queues to the park's headliners: Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and Jurassic Park's breath-stealing Velocicoaster- each with substantial height requirements. 

Just beyond the arch is the meadow into the Forbidden Forest.

Which way do the bikes travel? 

You'll have to ride it to find out!

Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure may be my favorite roller coaster in Orlando. Or it's a close tie- but I'll get back to that in a future post. (I've also got a future article on ranking the best coasters, but I'll publish that sometime after the trip reports.)

I love this part of the queue when the motor bikes take off overhead!

I'm a fan of theme and story, and Hagrid's has hit all the right notes. From the archway entrance to the highly detailed queue and the ride itself, this is the must- do attraction in Islands of Adventure. This may be due to J.K. Rowling's insistence, but this coaster is as rich in design detail as any of the Harry Potter dark rides. Audio-Animatronics join visual effects, incredible landscapes, and a rather funny on-board audio narration in perfect execution. Universal Creative has hit a grand slam home run with this. As with Rise of the Resistance at Disney Studios, the crowds know this is the first attraction you've got to line up for or risk paying the price with hours long waits. One day, I will ride this at night- and I just can't wait.

My wife endured the attraction, while we loved every minute. She's not a fan of launched coasters, and Hagrids- being a motorbike themed one- befittingly has seven of them, hitting top speeds of 50 MPH. Plus a surprise or two. It's as good as ride in the sidecar as it is on the bikes, making it quite repeatable. From start to finish, there's a smile on my face! I'd ride this all day- all day long if I could.

First view of the beast.

As much as we were tempted to get right back in line for another journey- and I wish we would have- my son and I were determined to hit Jurassic Park's menacing Velocicoaster before the massive crowds descended. Last trip, the dinosaur themed attraction scared the scat out of me. I wasn't sure I'd ride it again even though I wanted my son to have some company. 

Here's another place where new theme park design rules apply: It's ok- if not preferable- for roller coaster track to be exposed. This may be considered sacrilege among hardcore Disney fans, but not here. In fact, you kind of expect it. This is part of what makes this park thrilling- the joy (terror?) of anticipation.

The detailed queue and strong backstory for this extreme coaster are impressive. Chris Pratt reprises his role as do others. The animated raptors are amazingly lifelike and quite freaky as they stare you down while you wait just inches away from them. They twitch, their nostrils move, and their eyes glare in the darker setting. But the best is yet to come.

What could possibly go wrong?

Look at these stats!

No lie- this ride is intimidating. Four raptors waiting to devour you as you run the course through their enclosure are the very least of your worries. What you can see as you approach this beast- even from the first view across the lagoon- will give you pause to think twice about getting in line. But what you can't see is just as scary, if not more so.  

With only the tiniest of lap bars and no overhead restraints, the fear builds quickly. Just when you might think it's come to an end, the ride's second launch kicks into gear. Taking you over a 155' "Top Hat" (with a great view of the park) and eventually into a inverted stall- riders are parallel to the ground and fully upside down for 2 solidly terrifying seconds- the ride ends with a barrel roll just a few feet over the lagoon. The coaster never slows down all the way through. All this action happens in a mere 1.5 minutes- but it feels like a lifetime!

As a second time rider, it was much less scary than my maiden voyage. But still terrifying. I will admit, I watched the official POV video more than a handful of times in preparation. I walked off relieved and happy, with the adrenaline rush still pumping. It was not Velocicoaster that did me in. That was our next ride.

My smile did not last long.

Even with a good dose of dramamine in me, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey makes me very sick to my stomach. Not a single other ride in Orlando has that same strong effect on me.  It's too bad. 

I don't know what this is, but I like the photograph.

Where forced perspective on Beast's castle in the Magic Kingdom is woefully executed, here in Hogsmeade, Hogwart's is a masterpiece of thoughtful design and elaborate detail. Like the rest of the land, you are in the world of the movies. Fans of the crew too short to ride can walk through the queue, and it is definitely worth the time to do so. Each room offers it own charms and chills as you approach the enchanted benches that take you on your journey. 

In another Disney vs. Universal comparison, Forbidden Journey is this park's much darker version of the Haunted Mansion. Where there's humor in the Disney ghost ride, there's not a shred of it here, and the villains are right in your face instead of at a safe distance. Parents take note of this.

I was hoping my ride this time would be different, and I would walk off it feeling fine. But no. I think it is the large swooping arches during the Quidditch match that get to me.  It's really a shame as the story, setting, and overall experience rival Escape from Gringotts next door.

It's next to impossible to get photos of these lands with few people in them.

You have to be a superstar blogger and influencer in order to do so.

Last trip, I openly declared Diagon Alley to be the best themed land ever created. (See "Why Every Disney Park Fan Must Visit Universal Orlando's Diagon Alley".) I was much harder on Hogsmeade. The much more narrow walkways and fewer shops to explore made it all seem less than complete. Perhaps because I live in a state that has snowy Winters and Springs, the setting didn't seem as magical. But in Florida's humid April heat vs. our previous Fall visit, I was much more impressed by the placemaking this time. 

After a stomach-churning ride on the original Harry Potter attraction, it was more than necessary to stop, slow down, and explore the rest of the park. We wandered through the village. Taking in all the details, I was struck by how alive the area feels. It was still just under the hour before park gates were open to all, so it took me a moment to place it: There was movie music playing. It made all the difference adding a subtle but important backdrop to every detail around us. 

There's no arguing whether or not the land is wildly successful. How can it not be with such stunning environments, incredible attractions, and great entertainment and shopping? Truth be told, there's only two areas in which there could be improvement. One is obvious. The other is not.

The first is food. Other than the must eat and drink in any form iconic Butterbeer, the food (in both Universal parks actually) is mediocre at best. I'm not talking sweets and treats. I'm talking breakfast, lunch, and dinner selections.  It even seemed the food quality was a bit worse than it was previously, and it was expensive for what it was. This must be fixed if Universal wants to match Disney. 

Secondly, Hogswart's Express aside, there isn't a single Harry Potter attraction without a significant height restriction. Exploring the land and making use of the wand experience can take up a large chunk of time, but there is nothing for kids to ride. That is a major misstep in my opinion. Until they can come up with something, adding a small Magical Creature interactive meet and greet would show some special consideration for families with littler ones. 

However, all said, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter- Hogsmeade wins hands down compared to its younger sister, Diagon Alley in the Studios, on the strength of its incredible attraction lineup. It may even be equal in atmosphere. Yes, a guy can change his mind.

In actuality, we took the Hogwart's Express over to the Universal Studios Florida park and exited at Kings Cross Station, destination Diagon Alley. But for the sake of a more consistent look at each park, I'll lump together my observations into an individual post for each one.

Moving counter-clockwise, we left Hogsmeade and entered through the massive gates of Jurassic Park. 

We are all food- not friends- in the areas thrilling attractions!

It took this visit to make me see something very clear: Jurassic Park is an excellently themed, fully immersive area with attractions for the whole family, not just the thrill seekers.  The design detail here is truly astonishing, second only to the two Harry Potter worlds. 

This truth was easy to miss this because Central Florida's weather and landscapes make it seem like a fairly easy accomplishment for those at Universal Creative to come up with an area that resembles the famous movies' location of Isla Nublar. But make no mistake- this is a very well thought out land! Unexpectedly, it is also one that has plenty of things to do for kids.

The first obvious go to place is Camp Jurassic. Think of a dinosaur themed, land locked version of Tom Sawyer Island over at the Magic Kingdom. It's got multi-level places to climb and explore, dark caves filled with amber - and a surprise or two- and more. High above it all is Pteranodon Flyers, providing a bird's (reptile's?) eye view of a large portion of Jurassic Park. You have to be with a kid to ride. It's turnabout fair play for the times the kids are too little for the more intense attractions in this park. But I'd still like to see it one day.

Switch in restrictions- 

Adults need a kid in order to ride this!

There's nothing here to see. Or is there?

I was in Camp Jurassic and setting up this shot, waiting for a duo of flyers to pass by. I couldn't time it right. But as I waited, I caught one incredible design detail. Do you see it? I did not at first.

If you look closely at the middle of the photo, just below the track, you'll see a small mountain backdrop. What you're seeing is a piece of the Skull Island building that could have been left exposed (like many are in the Studios park next door). 

Not only did the clever designers camouflage the building of that huge attraction, they did it in such a way that it enhances the feel of the camp far away from it. It's a subtle but intended attention to guest's perspective that makes the whole of Jurassic Park seem real. You can just envision being on Isla Nubar, exploring on your own. 

Are those claws I see holding up the lighting?

On the way to the Discovery Center, the theming continues on. Inside, there are hands on exhibits and a hatching nursery for little creatures, plush recreations of more gentle creatures, and more. 

Speaking of purchasing plush, the shops have a large assortment of very clever merchandise that makes you want to whip out your wallet. All very humorous. There's even a new assortment of Jurassic World attraction posters up for sale.

I can't speak to the eateries in this section of the park. Usually, it is too early in the day for a meal break. This could change when the less popular islands are retimed to something different. If there's good food here, that would be a first.

The nearby Raptor Encounter provides some close up thrills, and the famous River Adventure caps off a great land that the whole family can enjoy together. The river ride is not quite as intense as the soon to be extinct Dinosaur at Disney's Animal Kingdom, even if the element of suspense is equally built. But then again, Jurassic World is not being demolished either. After my first visit, I gave Disney the win in the dinosaur competition. Not this time. Now, Disney bias put aside, I saw it for what it was.

Lurking in the shadows and the daylight.

It's really too bad that Disney gave up on Dinoland U.S.A., isn't it? But in the primeval world, it is survival of the fittest.  The hard truth is no matter how hard they tried, Imagineering couldn't kill the beast that is the Jurassic Park/World franchise. And the roar of Velocicoaster just killed off the Carnotaurus and the rest of Disney's efforts. It's a clear countdown to extinction once the changes are announced at D23 in August. Goodbye Grant Seeker, hello Indiana Jones.

It really is a lost world!

Jurassic World might be penned in, but if it is not, the thrilling jeep adventure in China's park would be an amazing addition. Better yet, a kid friendly jungle jeep safari with gentler creatures for them to see. You could put a smaller sized predator way in the back of it all to build a mild thrill element. This may be the only thing truly missing from a great land. Regardless, there's more than enough here for the entire family.

Next door, King Kong's Skull Island plays like an extension of sorts to Jurassic Park, adding yet another thrill ride but it's one that can be enjoyed by the youngest kids. We had our longest wait of our two days at Universal for this attraction as it kept breaking down. But at least we were indoors, sheltered from the sun. Like Forbidden Journey, no 3D this go around. Not much different, though. 

Walking into Toon Lagoon after the previously excellently themed lands, you can see where the place needs a refresh. There's two great water rides here and a cleverly designed kids water play area, but the painted flats and the sections themed to old comics of decreasing popularity didn't cut it. 

Be forewarned: both the flume ride Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls and the rotating rafts of Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges will get you soaking wet. It does not matter where you sit in either attraction. The splashdown does the trick for the flume, while going under a waterfall on the raft ride finishes off any dry riders. I was a very bad husband and delighted father. I did not let my wife or son know what was coming. But I was just as soaked as they were once we got off with huge smiles on our faces.

Painted flats and more painted flats. 

The theme's unique but the execution falls...flat.

Butting Toon Lagoon right next to Super Hero Island made it seem like more painted flats one after another, even if the attraction line up in both areas is pretty solid. My bet is, this comic strip themed area is set to be on the chopping block in the nearby future.

Much better than the copycat attraction

found in the Studios.

We'll wrap up our 2024 look at Islands of Adventure by taking in Marvel Super Hero Island and two of its strongest attractions: The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk Coaster. 

While the human king of the arachnids may no longer sit on the throne of must-see attractions in this park, it is still an excellent and thrilling adventure. Now, I prefer fully realized sets over 3D, but this one is just plain fun. Fun enough to make me overlook my preferences.

In comparison to its flashier neighbor, The Incredible Hulk Coaster is not as complete an experience. There's less theme and the ride is much rougher. It's not Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rock-It rough (so I'm told), but there's more rattle and rumble. For a younger family member finally tall enough to try an adult coaster with inversions, this is a good first step before moving on to the much scarier ride in a raptor paddock.

For families with smaller kids, the character meet and greets may be this area's saving grace. Storm Force Accelatron is one ride they can go on, a flat ride with an unrestricted all-you-can-spin feature. But right next door is Doctor Doom's Fearfall, a drop tower attraction that is not available to them.

Walking out of the park through the Port of Entry, I thought of how much fun I had. I also thought of how much potential this place has to overtake one or two of the Disney parks down the road. What does it need? First, add in some attractions at the Lost Continent and replace all the flats in Toon Lagoon. Then, throw in some great dark rides with no height restrictions, add back live entertainment, and then some great food in an atmospheric,  compelling environment. 

Universal Creative's new design rules work, and they work very well with few exceptions. You can see the evolution of what they are all about by looking first at the Studios, then here at Islands of Adventure, and next at what they are creating for Epic Universe. 

So, to answer the initial question: Is Islands of Adventure the family park for thrill seekers?  It depends on the make-up of your group.

If you have elementary aged kids, it's just about perfect with its mix of attractions, shows, and character experiences. For the toddler set, and if you are touring with grandparents, however, it is not yet the place to go if everyone wants to ride together. That realm still belongs to Disney's Magic Kingdom. 

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Next up on this trip report- a look at the Universal Studios park. What I love... and why I may not go back next trip.

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Universal Orlando's Attraction Posters: Jurassic World River Adventure

Everyone loves theme park attraction posters! For a rather Disney-centric blog, when I share those for Universal Orlando Resort's great Jurassic Park attractions, they are among the most highly viewed of all blog articles. And why not! Islands of Adventure is now one of the world's most popular theme parks, eclipsing some of those found at Walt Disney World. And let's be honest: When Epic Universe opens, it will take another place in the Top Ten. Disney's off their game (as everyone knows) and Universal Creative is on a winning streak. 

On the Insights and Sounds blog, I've got one of the largest collection of beautiful attraction posters for all the other Jurassic Park / Jurassic World attractions as well as for the Disney Parks both domestic and international. If you love theme park concept art as much as I do, well, that's the backbone of the blog. There's are hundreds of pieces to be found here. Enjoy!

(Art copyright Universal Orlando Resort)

Universal Orlando's Monster of the Deep

Is this terrifying enough? Universal Orlando Resort has a great series of attraction posters for their Velocicoaster at Islands of Adventure. There's a few other ones on this blog, but this may be one of the best. While you're waiting in line for this incredible coaster, these line the queue. Are they posters of what's to come in the future for the Jurassic Park themed land? Certainly dinosaurs and more dinosaurs are the order of the day. We all love them. Except at Disney World apparently.

The money minded suits and the Imagineers at Disney look to be caving big time to Universal's dominance in the dinosaur market. By planning to bring Zootopia to replace Animal Kingdom's jeep ride, it certainly seems there's a Countdown to Extinction for Dinosaur. In the old days, they'd never let their main competitors win without a fight. These days, seems the suits roll over. The big beasts deserve a place in a theme park devoted to dinosaurs, don't you think? I know those folks spending their hard earned money tend to think so.

(Art copyright Universal Creative.)

A Look at the Unbuilt Jurassic Park Attraction at Islands of Adventure

Perhaps the only thing theme park fans like more than attraction posters are discussing unbuilt attractions. We're fascinated by what's left in the vaults at Disney. But lately, fans have been taking a look at concepts for Universal parks that never made it off the drawing boards. Here, I think, is one of the best: Jurassic Park Helicopter Tours at Islands of Adventure. 

The concept art doesn't give anything away, but flying over the world famous refuge of dinos both large and small (mostly BIG!) would have been a thrill all its own... until something goes terribly wrong, as it always does.

Universal Creative has become a world class organization on par with Walt Disney Imagineering. Much to the delight of fans, each company trying to one up the other. (Is that an unintentional Mario / Super Nintendo World reference?) Will Epic Universe top whatever Disney is planning next? Probably! There's on a hot streak!

(Art copyright Universal Creative.)

D23 Revealed: Imagineering Concedes the World of Dinosaurs to Universal's Jurassic Park at Islands of Adventure

Reflecting on this year’s D23, it is a clear sign of the times. Disney's Josh D'Amaro makes the startling "Blue Sky" comment that fans may not be all that excited about Disney Imagineering's newest ideas for Animal Kingdom. Replacing Dinoland U.S.A. with a Moana and possibly Zootopia mini themed lands. This "Boundless Future" shows Disney is now going to play catch up with its competitor Universal Orlando Resort. Bob Chapek and Mr. D'Amaro now seem in lockstep, allowing the success of the soon coming Epic Universe to chart the course at Disney.

Conceding the realm of dinosaurs to Universal Islands of Adventure and its mega popular Jurassic Park franchise, the transition of letting the Dinosaur aka Countdown to Extinction attraction disappear means Disney has given up on one of the key - and most interesting- concepts for Joe Rohde and team's original lands. 

Sadly, this move will actually decrease guest interest in visiting the fourth Walt Disney World park. A park about animals but without dinosaurs? What kid wants that? Better to revamp the land and make the prehistoric attractions better. But Disney seemingly has lost its mojo unless a project is IP related. When they can play off someone else's creativity, the results can be stellar. Coming up with something compelling and new is more difficult and seemingly not on the horizon. At least not under this leadership.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

A New Islands of Adventure Attraction?

Never content to let Disney steal the spotlight without a few well placed barbs, Universal Orlando Resort, has an ace up their sleeve to compete with Disney's recent D23 exposition in Anaheim, California. Introducing the brand new Jurassic World attraction, the Gyrosphere. This would be one incredible - and definitely thrilling- attraction should they decide to add it to Islands of Adventure. For now, we'll settle for a great attraction poster. But truth be told, Universal is going toe to toe with Disney, and it seems they won't stop. Epic Universe will pull yet another day from Orlando theme park guests, while it seems Disney might be content with upcharging everything in sight.

(Art copyright Universal Creative.)

The Velocicoaster Attraction Poster

 

Great attraction posters used to be the sole domain of the Disney theme parks, Disneyland in particular. No longer! All it took was me walking through the queue of Island of Adventure's incredible Velocicoaster. Lining the walls were these beautiful and chill inducing prints based on currently built and never built attractions at Jurassic World. The above print for this article's namesake attraction perfectly captures the thrill of it all. The hunt for the raptors and the escape for the guests that is! If you're brave enough! Kudos to Universal Creative.

When the Wizarding World Met the Jurassic World

Clash of the worlds! The Wizarding World of Harry Potter meets the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park. In this case, it's Hogsmeade meets Velocicoaster at Universal Orlando's excellent Islands of Adventure theme park. I rather like this simple photograph that shows where titans collide. 

I'm busy writing the last installment of our very surprising trip, one where we directly evaluated Universal Orlando and its offerings against those at Walt Disney World. The results might be shocking. But enjoy the photos and read about the challenges I discovered comparing the two.

The Walt Disney World vs. Universal Orlando Trip Report:

- Disney Springs 

- Was Rise of the Resistance Worth All This?

- Epcot on the Downhill Slide

- Does Animal Kingdom Rock?

- Magic in this Kingdom

- Wrapping Up Disney World and Hello Universal!

- Why Every Disney Imagineering Fan Should See Diagon Alley

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Before Jurassic Park and Jurassic World

Could Epcot's soon to open Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind take us back to the era of the dinosaurs? The title itself suggests going back in time. It would be a pretty cool nod to the past! When the previous Future World tenant Universe of Energy welcomed guests, after a mesmerizing pre-show, they were carefully placed into bench style theater seats that transformed into a ride to the prehistoric age on a single guide wire. It was quite the surprise when the seating sections broke off and started moving through the attraction. What an engineering feat! Those brilliant Imagineers found ways to delight and educate.

Globally, fans love their dinosaurs! Long before Universal's Jurassic Park area, and even the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World films, the Disney theme parks were full of creatures from eons past. There are far more there than you might imagine. Take a journey into each of the parks and discover where these prehistoric beasts reside. They are taking over the world!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)