The Best Attractions to Prioritize at Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Universal’s Islands of Adventure is my favorite of the two theme parks at Universal Orlando. I love the idea of a park designed after books! And Universal’s Islands of Adventure is definitely the park I spend the most time in! This Orlando theme park offers an unparalleled experience for thrill-seekers, Harry Potter fans, and families looking for unforgettable memories. From the heart-pounding roller coasters of the Marvel Super Hero Island to the magical wizarding wonders of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I’ll help you maximize your time and create a park itinerary that ensures you don’t miss the most incredible experiences Islands of Adventure has to offer!

Prioritizing and having a loose order of attractions when visiting Universal’s Islands of Adventure is important. While the strategy is much different than Walt Disney World, you still want to have some sort of a plan. Utilizing the Unlimited Express Pass perk of the Premier Onsite hotels allows you to show up, ride, and move on with your day! It’s a huge game changer, and 100% worth it.

Before following my suggested order of attractions, you need to consider a few things:

Utilizing Early Park Admission is key. The earlier you can get a start into the theme parks, the better your day will be overall. MOST days, Islands of Adventure is your Early Park Admission option. Guests of all Universal onsite hotels have the perk of Early Park Admission–so use it!

Universal’s Express Pass is a must. Whether you add it to your park tickets, or have it as a perk of staying at a Premier onsite hotel, you want to have this in your arsenal of tools when visiting the theme parks. While I am not a fan of rushing through my day, and encourage you to take in the moments and magical experiences–using Unlimited Express Pass simply gets you through the attraction queues faster so you are able to enjoy more of the non attraction experiences in the parks.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter IS open during Early Park Admission-and if it is your priority, then absolutely go there first. This list of attractions is taking into account that you have Universal’s Unlimited Express Pass AND that you are not rope dropping the Wizarding World.

Attractions to Prioritize at Universal’s Islands of Adventure

If you have one day-or plan to park hop to Universal Studios, these are the attractions I suggest your prioritize. This is the order in which I would visit them if I had one day to tour the park.

The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman. The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman is a little further into the park-which is to your advantage. A lot of guests will stop at the closer attractions to the front, or bee line it for the Wizarding World. This attraction is a GREAT way to start your day! If guests are not going to the Wizarding World, they are heading secondly to the Hulk. So, going to the Amazing Adventures of Spiderman allows you to enjoy it without a long wait. The wait for the Hulk will taper off as the day goes on, so plan to ride Spiderman first!

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. Making your way to Hogsmeade after taking on Spiderman still puts you to an advantage while utilizing Early Park Admission. Many guests are in queue or have already ridden it thanks to Early Park Admission. Hagrid’s does not accept Universal’s Unlimited Express Pass. So riding this during EPA but before the rest of the park opens is ideal. That way, you can go through the rest of Hogsmeade with your Universal Unlimited Express Passes as the day goes on. This is by far my favorite attraction in ALL of the Orlando theme parks–and it is definitely worth the wait.

Harry Potter & the Forbidden Journey. While you are in Hogsmeade, you may as well hop on Forbidden Journey. Pro tip–to avoid feeling really motion sick, keep your head centered and against the back of your seat during the ride. This attraction accepts Universal’s Unlimited Express Pass. So after you are done on Hagrid’s flash that Express Pass and ride Forbidden Journey! By this point, it’s time for an ice cream, so getting a Butterbeer soft serve is up next!

Seuss Landing. While not an “attraction”, as you finish up in Hogsmeade, you’ll exit through the Lost Continent and find yourself in Seuss Landing. This adorable, charming land, is so fun and whimsical–you’ll love it! Even if most of the attractions here seem more “little kid” friendly, it’s still fun and full of CUTE photo ops!

The Incredible Hulk Coaster. By this stage in your day, the line for the Incredible Hulk likely has died down. If not, you have Express Pass! Saving this until later in the day is ideal for a few reasons. One, the line is long in the morning. Second, it’s intense. So saving this for later in the day, and NOT first thing in the morning, is probably something your body will appreciate.

At this point, you have hit the highlights! This would be a good time to wander back to Hogsmeade and enjoy the following and take in the atmosphere:

• Mail a post card from the Owl Post
• Wander through Honeydukes
• Cast some spells with an interactive wand
• Watch the Frog Choir
• Get some amazing photos

By strategically planning your visit and prioritizing these top attractions, you’ll ensure an unforgettable day filled with thrills, magic, and excitement. Remember that timing, park strategy, and a bit of advance planning can transform a good theme park day into an exceptional one!

Whether you’re a Marvel fan, a Harry Potter enthusiast, or simply someone who loves world-class theme park attractions, Islands of Adventure promises a simply amazing, magical experience during your visit to Universal Orlando!