After a
quarter-century spent living in the shadow of the behemoth that is Walt Disney
World, Universal Studios: Orlando has begun to emerge as a respectable theme
park. While the razzle and dazzle-Hollywood theme had managed to give Universal
a theme of its own; the establishment of Harry Potter World and the continued
success of the Marvel line of products allows Universal to exist as a viable
alternative to Walt Disney’s Goliath.
The resorts
surrounding Universal Studios are top notch. Every resort and hotel is filled
with class and professionalism, and is designed to make life as easy as
possible for park-goers. For every hotel, there are accommodations that allow
for easy transport from the hotel to the park and back. Shuttles and faeries
are both available, and run on a regular schedule to each resort. Some resorts
also offer guests special deals on Fast Passes, which are an incredible
commodity in the park. Fast passes turn an hour wait into a fifteen minute
wait, allowing guests the time to see everything there is to see and doing
everything they want to do.
(Image
Credit: Ian Dagnall / Alamy)
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Disney is going to
maintain a stranglehold on all children from birth to the age of ten, but
Universal Studios found its niche just above that. The addition of Harry Potter
World is an immense appeal to any fan of the series, especially those who fit
J.K. Rowling’s intended demographic of children aged 11-15. Universal Studios
put a lot of effort into the Wizarding World, and even those who aren’t
super-fans will find something to grab their attention. Each of the rides are
engaging, and fans of the series are rewarded with references to the series,
but strangers to the series will still be entertained by the exhilarating
twists and turns of each ride. The lines for the rides in the Wizarding World
can often be a bit much, occasionally extending to around an hour. For fans,
this wait is worth it. For those who have just a casual knowledge, an hour wait
isn’t worth it. However, for those who can handle the line, they’ll be treated
to a variety of references, and quite a bit of interesting architecture. One of
the largest sections of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the incredible
selection of shops. These shops are densely packed into the park, and almost
always have lines out the door, filled with little wizards and witches waiting
to get their own wands and robes. For those kids, the wait is worth every
second, and the price is worth every penny. It’s an incredible sight to see
hundreds of children cloaked in robes and casting spells. There are even
certain spots in the park where the spells cause a reaction. For example, if
you wave you wand at a fountain, it’ll emit a stream of water. The look of awe
on a child’s face after they cast a spell is incredible. All in all, the
Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a bucket list trip for any fan of the
series, and an enjoyable for anyone else tagging along. Lifelong fans will
likely be inclined to pick up a couple of souvenirs, but the prices and lines
may prove to be a bit steep for some park-goers.
While the
Wizarding World of Harry Potter signifies a large investment and change for the
park, Universal’s Islands of Adventure haven’t seen much change recently,
because it hasn’t needed any change.
All the beloved Marvel characters and rides are still there, with multiple
roller coasters and thrill rides dotting the island. On the inside, everyone is
still a kid. There’s an incredibly simple reason why Marvel movies make a
billion dollars. People love superheroes. Universal’s Islands of Adventure
allows people young and old to indulge themselves. Kids and parents can let
loose and watch Spider-Man save the day, they can wave to the Fantastic Four on
the street, and get blasted out of the Hulk’s roller coaster.
With
Universal’s Islands of Adventure combined with the classic Hollywood charm of
Universal Studios, the park becomes an incredibly surreal treat. After waving
to Marilyn Monroe on the street and passing rides based on Minions, Shrek, and
Transformers, guests can board a train and be transported to the Wizarding
World of Harry Potter.
If there’s
a certain older attraction that particularly appeals to your family, you may
want to plan a trip sooner rather than later.
Recently,
Universal announced a partnership with Nintendo to bring Nintendo licensed
characters and themed rides to the Orlando park. With more rides and characters
on the way, Universal is showing its ambition and initiative, but this may come
at the cost of some older rides.
For now,
Universal Studios: Orlando still has the lovely charm of old rides like ET. For
anyone who went to Universal Studios as a child and rode the ET Ride; do it
again. The ride won’t be long, and you won’t regret it. Besides, who knows how
much longer it’ll be there?
Review written by Liam Griffin
