Universal Islands of Adventure Park Plan

Universal Islands of Adventure Park Plan

Universal Islands of Adventure Park Plan

Journey through legendary worlds of superheroes, magical creatures, dinosaurs, and witchcraft and wizardry at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. There’s plenty of things to see and do from amazing rides and attractions to Kids’ play areas and character encounters. Islands of Adventure is also home to some of Orlando’s most popular rides such as Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and The Incredible Hulk Coaster!

Our team members at The Park Prodigy have put together this itinerary for you to get the most out of your day no matter if you have Universal Express passes or not! We have learned that one of the most important aspects to make the most out of your time in the parks is to A) arrive early and B) stay late when possible. We recommend arriving 30 minutes ahead of park opening which will allow you to take advantage of lower wait times on some of the most popular attractions.

Islands of Adventure Park Plan With Early Park Admission

This custom Islands of Adventure Itinerary also takes into account that you will have Universal Early Admission which is included with all Park Prodigy tickets! Be sure to check the Universal Orlando website to confirm which day Early Park Admission will be held at Islands of Adventure during your trip! It is important to arrive at the park gates 30-45 minutes before Early Park Admission begins to ensure you are at the front of the line.

This park plan should ideally be used during low or moderate crowds at the parks, however it has been optimized to also help families plan during heavily crowded days. The projected wait times below are from an 8/10 crowd level day on our Universal Orlando Calendar. This Islands of Adventure itinerary does NOT include a midday break and we find it to be best suited for families with older children and young teens. Be sure to check out the Universal Orlando height restrictions for all rides if you’re visiting with small children. Please note that this Islands of Adventure Itinerary does not include a trip on the Hogwarts Express however guests can simply mix and match which rides work best for you!

Islands of Adventure Attraction Priority List

Islands of Adventure in One Day With Early Park Admission

Hour 1 – Approx 8:00 AM

• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure – 35 Minutes

**Walk to Get On Line for the VelociCoaster 

Hour 2 – Approx 9:00 AM

• VelociCoaster – 45 Minutes

Hour 3 – Approx 10:00 AM

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey – 45 Minutes
• Flight of the Hippogriff – 20 Minutes

Hour 4 – Approx 11:00 AM

• Skull Island: Reign of Kong – 35 Minutes

Hour 5 – Approx 12:00 PM

• The Amazing Spiderman – 45 Minutes

Hour 6 – Approx 1:00 PM

• Lunch Break – 60 Minutes *we love Thunder Falls Terrace or Doc Sugrue’s Desert Kebab House*

Hour 7 – Approx 2:00 PM

• Jurassic Park River Adventure – 35 Minutes

Hour 8- Approx 3:00 PM

• The Incredible Hulk Coaster – 45 Minutes

Hour 9 – Approx 4:00 PM

• Doctor Doom’s Fearfall – 30 Minutes

Rest of the Day 

• Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle
• Hogwarts Express
• Caro-Seuss-el
• One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
• The Cat in the Hat
• The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!
• Raptor Encounter

Helpful Tips for Your Islands of Adventure Day

To make the most of a one-day visit to Universal’s Islands of Adventure, planning ahead is key. Here are some tips that we use each time we visit Universal Islands of Adventure.

• Stay at a Universal Orlando Resort hotel for perks like Early Park Admission (an extra hour before regular opening) and convenient transportation via water taxis, shuttles, or walking paths. Guests at select hotels—Loews Royal Pacific, Hard Rock Hotel, and Loews Portofino Bay—also receive a complimentary Universal Express Unlimited Pass, which is a huge time-saver on busy days.

• Arrive early, ideally 45 minutes before opening, to get a head start on the crowds.

• Shortcut to Hagrid’s when you walk through Seuss Landing, stay to the left so you don’t have to walk through all of Seuss Landing for a quicker walk to Hogsmeade.

• Download the Universal Orlando Resort app to check wait times, mobile order food, and use the interactive park map. This will save you a lot of time.

• Set your priorities. It’s tough to do everything in one day, so decide your must-do rides ahead of time. Many visitors head straight to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade for rides like Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and Flight of the Hippogriff, which quickly build long lines. Others start at Marvel Super Hero Island for The Incredible Hulk Coaster since it’s near the entrance.

• Use single-rider lines where available to cut wait times, though you’ll be split from your group. Express Passes are another option—expensive, but very effective on crowded days.

• Eat during off-peak hours to avoid lunch and dinner rushes. Good options include Croissant Moon Bakery for breakfast, Doc Sugrue’s Desert Kebab House for a quick bite, Mythos Restaurant for a sit-down lunch, and Confisco Grille for dinner. Keep in mind that treats like Butterbeer often draw long lines, so skip them if time is tight or pop into Hog’s Head Pub for a shorter line.

• Prepare to get wet on water rides like Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls, Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges, and Jurassic Park River Adventure.

• Stay late if you can. Re-riding outdoor coasters like The Incredible Hulk, Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure, and VelociCoaster after dark offers an entirely different—and often better—experience.