Universal Orlando 2009 Thrill Ride Guide

Universal Orlando’s two world-class theme parks – Universal Studios and Universal’s Islands of Adventure – each boast one-of-a-kind thrill rides such as Incredible Hulk Coaster, Dueling Dragons, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride and much more.

A diversity of thrill rides can be found in abundance at Universal’s Islands of Adventures, which features five uniquely themed islands – Jurassic Park, The Lost Continent, Marvel Super Hero Island, Seuss Landing and Toon Lagoon. Experience classic roller coasters like Incredible Hulk Coaster, which speeds you from zero to 40 miles per hour in just two seconds aboard a “gamma ray accelerator” at Marvel Super Hero Island; and Dueling Dragons, the world’s first inverted, dueling roller coasters – Ice Dragon or Fire Dragon – that reach speeds up to 55 miles per hour (“Past this point of no return, your only choice is freeze or burn!”).

In addition to Incredible Hulk Coaster, Marvel Super Hero Island is home to The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, a fascinating indoor thrill ride that features a great mix of 3-D special effects and live action as Spider-Man battles assorted villains; and Doctor Doom’s Fearfall, a “free-fall thrill ride that sends you speeding 150 feet high straight into the air and then hurls you back down just as quickly.

Universal’s Islands of Adventure also features several thrilling water-based rides (prepare to get soaked!) such as Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges, Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls and Jurassic Park River Adventure. Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges is a Toon Lagoon raft ride that spins you through some serious rapids as you wind your way around Me Ship, The Olive play area. The highlight of Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls, an exciting water flume ride also located in Toon Lagoon, is a 75-foot plummet down the falls. At Jurassic Park River Adventure, take an amazing boat ride as you try to escape from the Raptor Containment Area full of animatronic dinosaurs and shoot down 85 feet into the pool below.

Even though Universal’s Islands of Adventure is home to all the roller coasters at Universal Orlando, several not-to-be-missed thrill rides can be found at Universal Studios as well such as Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride, a state-of-the-art “psychological” thrill ride where you must battle an army of “warrior mummies” and other obstacles as you cruise through total darkness at speeds up to 45 miles per hour. Other classic thrill rides at Universal Studios include Twister . . . Ride It Out, a live action/simulated ride based on the 1996 hit movie, and the new Disaster! A New Major Motion Picture Ride, which replaced Earthquake – The Big One in January 2008.

“In addition to a great variety of thrill rides and attractions, Universal Orlando boasts three world-class hotels, numerous dining opportunities and CityWalk, a spectacular entertainment complex that features some of the hottest nightlife in Orlando,” said Kyle Collins, Director of Interactive Marketing for HotelsCorp.com. “And by purchasing your tickets to Universal Studios or Universal’s Islands of Adventure before you arrive in Orlando, you and your family will enjoy incredible savings on your Orlando vacation.”

Note: Be sure to check height and medical restrictions that are listed at the entrance to each of the thrill rides at Universal Studios and Universal’s Islands of Adventures.

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