Islands of Adventure: The Most Technologically Advanced Theme Park in the World

By Lisa Fritscher

The 1999 opening of Islands of Adventure was widely heralded in the popular media. Fans eagerly anticipated the new park, billed as the most technologically advanced theme park in the world. Disney Imagineering, reeling from the budget cuts that led to Animal Kingdom opening only partially built, watched closely, hopeful that the new park would prove so competitive that Eisner would have no choice but to open the Disney coffers, providing the necessary funding to complete Animal Kingdom.

Islands of Adventure delivered. Themeing that rivaled or surpassed anything Disney had to offer, groundbreaking new attractions, and world-class dining poised the park to take over a significant portion of Disney’s fanbase. Additionally, Islands of Adventure offered something Disney did not—The Lost Continent, where guests could come face to face with mythical creatures such as dragons and unicorns. Animal Kingdom’s original design concept included the “Beastly Kingdom,” an extremely similar concept. Budget constraints, however, prevented Beastly Kingdom from ever being built. Some Imagineers left Disney when Beastly Kingdom was scrapped, and Islands of Adventure gained the land instead.

There was only one small problem during the early days of Islands of Adventure. Despite all that Islands had to offer, people stayed away. No one really knows exactly why the new park was not instantly popular, though survey results indicated that due to marketing problems, the public had the initial impression that Islands was an expansion to the original park, rather than a separate, new gated park. Much of the marketing staff was replaced, and funding was authorized for heavy new advertising campaigns.

Eventually the ad campaign paid off, and Islands of Adventure was able to come into its own as a competitive part of the Orlando theme park market. The tagline continues to be “The most technologically advanced theme park in the world.” Is this still true? Can Islands of Adventure still claim the crown?

The answer seems to be an unequivocal yes. The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman combines the latest generation of motion simulator technology with a full track layout. It is, however, the addition of 3D film that sets this attraction truly apart from the competition. The film allows the attraction to create a 400 foot “sensory descent,” with an unprecedented level of realism. This attraction has won multiple awards from organizations such as Theme Park Insider.

The Jurassic Park River Adventure combines several types of attraction into one spectacular voyage. The River Adventure, based on the original novels that inspired the hit films, begins as a quiet boat ride past gentle dinosaurs. Of course, the boat is knocked off course and you suddenly find yourself in the restricted carnivore section. After dodging raptors and other small carnivores, you suddenly find a Tyrannosaurus Rex bearing down on you from above. No problem. An 85 foot plunge through darkness later, you emerge soaked but otherwise unscathed. The realistic animatronic dinosaurs combined with the track layout and drop of a log flume make River Adventure a highly technical and ground breaking ride.

The roller coasters are a cut above the ordinary. The Incredible Hulk was ranked in the top 25 Steel Coasters by Coaster Fanatic in 2005. And for good reason. The combination chain lift and powered launch propel the coaster from 0-40 mph in only two seconds. Before you have time to process what has happened, the rolls, loops, and turns begin. An excellent touch, particularly at night, is the drop “into” the lake. Okay, not really into the water, but into a tunnel through the lake, passing directly underneath the main walkway into the park. Non-riders will enjoy standing on the bridge, watching for their loved ones rushing underneath. The ride comes close enough to the bridge that it is possible to pick out individual faces.

Dueling Dragons combines an elaborate storyline with the excitement of twin “dueling” coasters. The queue wraps through an extensive recreation of a medieval castle. A combination of wooden signs on the walls and stained glass windows tells the story of the two dragons, Fire and Ice. If you pay attention to the unfolding story, your time in line will pass before you realize, and it will be time to choose your dragon. The two coasters’ launches are synchronized, with one often held on the initial chain lift to give the other time to catch up. The coasters are of the hanging “inverted” variety, adding significantly to the feeling of flight. As the tracks intertwine, you will experience three “near misses” with the coasters hurtling toward each other at 60 mph before diving or rolling to avoid collision. Be sure to ride both coasters, as the tracks are completely different. Locals have a saying, “Back of Fire, Front of Ice.” Fire is the rougher coaster, and the back row is where you will experience the most intense G Forces. Ice provides a smooth, gliding ride, and the front row allows you to feel that you are truly flying.

Throughout Islands of Adventure, the technological advances, themeing, and attention to detail are readily apparent. Mythos Restaurant, named Number One Theme Park Restaurant in the World several years running, the Cat in the Hat ride, even the wheelchair accessible Caro-Seuss-el, demonstrate significant advances in theme park technology. The park is truly one of a kind, groundbreaking when it opened and maintaining its title today.

Other theme parks have developed breakthrough attractions, earning themselves number one titles in one category or another. In any one individual category, it is possible to find attractions that surpass those offered by Islands of Adventure. However, taking the park as a whole, it would be difficult if not impossible to discover another park that offers so many groundbreaking advances across the board. Islands of Adventure must be experienced to be understood, and a visit is a highly recommended part of any Orlando vacation.