About tickets:
Offsite visiting Universal parks even if Harry Potter is not a priority most likely would take 2 days for light to moderate crowd levels. If the crowd level is high it may take 3 days, but if you are talking holiday crowds 4 days may not “do-it-all” without the use of Universal Express Passes. Unless you prefer park hopping or plan to ride The Hogwarts Express you most likely can get by with 1 park a day tickets.
Here is a list with quick descriptions of the less thrilling side of US & IOA (Most youth attractions are not included on this list)
US – Ride, Shows & Walk through attractions:
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem – Movie Theater / Elevated moving seats or watch from nonmoving seats
Shrek 4-D - Movie Theater – Shrek, Donkey and the rest of the gang star in “Shrek 1.5” (Warning: Bouncy/rocky Seating)
TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D – Dark ride / Get a 3d view of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee in action (Ride vehicle rocks & spins)
Twister...Ride it Out – Indoor walk through attraction / Begins with scenes from the movie; ends with rain wind and a “Twister”
The Blues Brothers Show – Outdoor Street Show featuring “Jake and Elwood”
Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue – Outdoor Theater / Monsters singing rock 'n' roll
Disaster! – A move from room to room show ending with a shaky subway ride or just skip the ride
Fear Factor Live – Outdoor Theater / Watch some park guest eat yucky stuff & compete in physical challenges
MEN IN BLACK™ Alien Attack – Dark Ride / Interactive shoot and score, but the targets shoot back (Expect a lot of spinning on this ride)
Kang & Kodos' Twirl 'n' Hurl – Revolving flat ride – Think Dumbo but with flying saucers
E.T. Adventure – Dark ride / Stroll through the woods then board a flying bicycle
Terminator 2: 3-D – Movie Theater / Live action before and interactively with the movie
Lucy A Tribute – Indoor walk through attraction about the Life and Career of Lucille Ball
Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-Up Show – Indoor Theater / Behind the Scenes of Make-Up & Effects (Corny but very funny)
Universal’s Superstar Parade – Character Street Parade
Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular - 100 Years of Movie Memories Nighttime Show viewed from around the lake
IOA Rides, Shows & Walk through attractions:
Storm Force Accelatron – Spinning flat ride – Ok it’s basically T-cups with overhead light show. The light show is better at night.
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man – Dark ride / A 3D ride through the world of Spiderman (Ride vehicle rocks & spins)
Dudley Do-Rights Ripsaw Falls – Log ride / A story unfolds along the ride about Canadian Mountie Dudley, the fair Nell Fenwick and Snidely Whiplash up to his dastardly deeds (You will get wet & Exiting from low seating log can be difficult)
Jurassic Park Discovery Center – Museum (kind of) Misc. Dino attractions & if lucky you’ll see a Dion egg hatch
Jurassic Park River Adventure – Outdoor/Indoor water ride / See large and small dinosaurs along river until something goes wrong (Large drop near end of ride, you may get wet)
Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges – Raft Ride / Watch Popeye rescue Olive from the clutches of Bluto on this white-water rapids adventure (You will get SOAKED)
The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad Stunt Show – Outdoor Covered Theater
Sindbad and his sidekick Kabob attempt to rescue the beautiful Princess Amoura from the evil witch Miseria
The Mystic Fountain – Outdoor plaza / Joke around with this fountain and you will likely get wet - Or just watch others get wet
Poseidon’s Fury – Move from room to room show / An archeologist leads you deeper and deeper into the mysterious temple (What could possibly go wrong – Think Fire & Water) You shouldn’t get wet but maybe damp
The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride! – Elevated Train ride / Ride above the sites, sounds and attractions of Seuss Landing
The Cat In The Hat – Dark ride / Ride on a “couch” through the story (Some spinning will occur)
And a note about Harry Potter:
Both HP areas do feature some street shows, but no theater shows. I guess the Wand Shops and some of the other shops should qualify as walk through attractions. Also each park has a train station for The Hogwarts Express (2 Park ticket required for this attraction) which provides transportation between the two parks. Different HP stories unfold in each direction on the train rides.
G'day
I I I
