Read Part One, Islands of Adventure
Universal Studios Florida is dedicated to movies and moviemaking . There are live shows, such as the one that traces the evolution of horror makeup, as well as more interactive rides like Disaster, which puts guests in the thick of the action. It’s also home to rides based on some of the most iconic characters on the planet – Jaws, The Simpsons, Shrek and more.
For film fans looking to delve deeper into cinema history, check out the
New York section of the park. You’ll be instantly surrounded by façades from the most famous buildings in Big Apple movie lore – the Tiffany building, the Empire State Building (circa King Kong), the spots in Little Italy made famous in The Godfather … the list is endless.
The
San Francisco/Amityville section of the park contains an excellent boardwalk/midway zone that’s perfect for resting with the kids. It’s also home to Jaws. This ride is quite unlike the studio tour drive-by at Universal Hollywood … guests actually hop into a boat and enter the world of Martin Brody, Quint and the big shark. As one of the Studios’ original, iconic rides, Jaws is equal parts cheesy and fun – a perfect example of the family-friendly vibe this park caters to best.
The Simpsons Ride and Men in Black: Alien Attack are both found at the back of the park in the
World Expo section. When it comes to showcasing an international theme, this area pales in comparison to EPCOT’s World Showcase. MiB was the queasiest ride I hopped on in either park – it took a couple of passes to get accustomed to the constant side-to-side spinning action. Thankfully, my favorite ride in the Studios was The Simpsons – it gives you the feeling of being in an actual roller coaster without the whole whizzing-through-the-air thing!
After passing the lagoon that runs through the center of the Studios, our group passed by the
Hollywood section – a tribute to the great entertainers of yesteryear. Here we breezed by E.T. and Terminator 2: 3-D on our way to the front of the park, known as the
Production Lot. After the heroic roller-coaster conquering at Islands, I was too exhausted to board the famous Hollywood Rip-Ride Rocket.
The tour ended here (thanks Phil!) and I took in one of my favorite shows – Shrek 4-D - then lingered in the Universal Studios shop for some souvenirs.
Next:
The hotels of Universal Orlando Resort
