Paramount's Islands of Adventure

Paramount's Islands of Adventure (also known as Islands of Adventure or IOA), is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. It opened on May 28, 2002, along with CityWalk, as part of an expansion that converted Paramount's Orlando Escape into the Paramount Orlando Resort. The resort's slogan Vacation Like You Mean It was introduced in 2013.
Islands of Adventure is modeled after a journey of exploration, where guests embark on an adventure to visit a variety of themed islands. Initially, the park featured eight islands. A Ninth, Phineas and Ferb's Super Duper Island of Amusement, was added in 2009, themed to the Nickelodeon animated series, Phineas and Ferb. A Tenth, Mission Base, was added in 2010, themed to both the highly successful Mission Impossible franchise and the Nickelodeon series Special Agent Oso. It was Paramount's largest investment since the resort's founding in 1990. The expansion led to a significant increase in attendance, and in 2013, Islands of Adventure ranked seventh domestically and eleventh internationally after hosting approximately 8.1 million guests. The Eleventh island, Salty Cove, opened on July 13, 2016, and is themed to the British Children's Show Pip Ahoy!.
== History ==
Before Islands of Adventure was built, the site was originally planned as a shopping mall called Galleria Orlando. Plans were first drawn up for the mall in 1985, but it was ultimately canceled in 1990, the same year Paramount Studios Florida opened next door.
=== Preview Center ===
During the construction of IOA, Paramount opened the Islands of Adventure Preview Center at adjacent Paramount's Hollywood Adventure. Opening two years before the new theme park, the Preview Center was designed to give guests a sneak peek at some of the themes and attractions for Islands of Adventure. The attraction was located in the Paradise Theater building located in the New York section of Paramount's Hollywood Adventure, next to Transformers: The Ride. In the attraction, guests would walk through various rooms themed to the various "Islands" in the new park. The final room stated when the Islands of Adventure park would open, and showed guests Paramount's future plans for the Paramount Orlando Resort. The Preview Center was closed shortly after the opening of Islands of Adventure. The space that was used for the preview center is now a locker room and a year round "Tribute Store".
=== Opening ===
Islands of Adventure had a soft opening beginning March 27, 2002, during which visitors could preview the park at a discounted price while the staff conducted a technical rehearsal and worked on the "finishing touches." During this soft opening, guests were informed that attractions might open and close throughout the day without notice and that some attractions might not be open at all. Initial plans were to open the park in mid-May, but this was ultimately delayed until May 28, 2002.
After the enormous capital expenditure required to build Islands of Adventure, CityWalk, and the resort hotels, Paramount sought to overtake nearby Walt Disney World in attendance. However, with the addition of the second park, new resorts, and entertainment district, the resort was named Paramount Orlando Resort. 
=== Former attractions ===
As with almost any amusement park, older attractions are sometimes removed to make way for newer ones. At Islands of Adventure, some have simply been closed with no replacement like Island Skipper Tours while others were altered from their initial concept to the attraction that operates today.
== Islands ==
Islands of Adventure consists of ten themed "islands", the majority of which are based on original Universal Pictures works, with only one based on licensed intellectual properties. They are, in clockwise order from entry: Port of Entry, Bikini Bottom, Angel Grove, Snoopy Beach, Marvel Super Hero Island, CJ's Neighborhood, Emerald Island, Toon Lagoon, Salty Cove, The Ark, Phineas and Ferb's Super Duper Island Pier and Mission Base.
=== Port of Entry ===
Port of Entry is the park's main entrance and is home to many shops and services including Guest Services aptly named The Open Arms Hotel. The park's centerpiece, Pharos Lighthouse, is also located within Port of Entry. Each night, this functioning lighthouse sends out a bright beam to lead visitors to and from the park's gates. Like many theme parks using the "hub and spokes" format, this entry Island contains no rides. It has dining options including Croissant Moon Bakery™, Backwater Bar, SpongeBob SquarePants™ & Friends Character Breakfast, Burger King, Sonic Drive-In, Confisco Grille™, Starbucks®, & Cinnabon®. It has shopping options such as Port Provisions™, Island Market and Export™ Candy Shoppe, DeFoto's Expedition Photography™, Port of Entry™ Christmas Shoppe, Ocean Trader Market™, and Islands of Adventure Trading Company™
=== Marvel Super Hero Island ===
Marvel Super Hero Island is based on the superhero characters featured in Marvel Comics. The area features comic-book styled architecture; many of the building interiors are created in comic book perspective, with exaggerated lines and angles. Many exteriors are painted in a special paint which appears to change color based on the angle from which it is viewed – sometimes purple, sometimes orange. The buildings are all labelled generically: "Store", "Shop", "Food", and "Comics", etc.
Attraction 	Year opened	Manufacturer 	Description 	Height requirements
Doctor Doom's Fearfall 	2002 	S&S Power 	A space shot ride based on the Fantastic Four archenemy Doctor Doom. 	52 in (132 cm)
Storm Force Accelatron 	2002 	Mack Rides 	A teacups ride based on the X-Men. Where guests use their ride vehicles to help Storm harness enough forces of thunder and lightning to defeat Magneto. 	Supervision is required for riders under 48 in (121 cm)
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man	2002 	Oceaneering International	A 3D dark ride based on Marvel Comics Spider-Man. The ride is set in New York as Spider-Man prevents The Sinister Syndicate from taking the Statue of Liberty.	40 in (102 cm)
The Incredible Hulk Coaster 	2002 	Bolliger & Mabillard 	A launched roller coaster based on the Hulk comics. 	54 in (137 cm)
The area is also home to a variety of dining outlets and merchandise shops. Food and beverage items can be purchased from Cafe 4 and Captain America Diner. Merchandise items can be bought from a variety of themed stores including Spider-Man Shop (The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man), Marvel Alterniverse Store, Comic Book Shop, and Oakley.
There's also "Meet Spider-Man and the Marvel Super Heroes", a meet-and-greet attraction, where guests can meet superheroes including Wolverine, Storm, Cyclops and Rogue, Spider-Man, and Captain America.
=== Toon Lagoon ===
Toon Lagoon is based on the Nicktoons as well as cartoon and comic strip characters from King Features Syndicate, Paws, Inc. and Jay Ward. With the area's main focus being water-based rides (hence the name).
Attraction 	Year opened	Manufacturer 	Description 	Height requirements
Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls 	2002 	Mack Rides 	A log flume ride where guests witness the adventures of Dudley Do-Right, leading to a 75 ft drop towards the end. 	44 in (112 cm)
Me Ship, the Olive 	1990 	 	A kids' playground built in and around Popeye's ship featuring interactive elements. 	
Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges	1990 	Barr Engineering	A river rafting water ride where Popeye must save Olive Oyl from Bluto whilst careening through the unpredictably rapid waters.	42 in (106 cm)
The area is also home to a variety of dining outlets and merchandise shops. Food and beverage items can be purchased from Blondie's, Cathy's Ice Cream, Comic Strip Cafe and Wimpy's. Merchandise items can be bought from a variety of themed stores including the Betty Boop store, Gasoline Alley, Toon Extra and Wossamotta U. Both Me Ship, the Olive and Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges were both opening day attractions at Paramount's Orlando Escape before they were moved to Islands of Adventure in 2002.
=== Salty Cove ===
Salty Cove is the newest island at the park, having been opened in the summer of 2016. The area's sole attraction, Pip Ahoy 4-D, opened on July 13, 2016. 
Attraction	Year opened	Manufacturer	Description	Height requirements
 	 	 	 	
=== Bikini Bottom ===
Attraction	Year opened	Manufacturer	Description	Height requirements
 	 	 	 	
=== Angel Grove ===
Attraction	Year opened	Manufacturer	Description	Height requirements
 	 	 	 	
=== Snoopy Beach ===
Attraction	Year opened	Manufacturer	Description	Height requirements
 	 	 	 	
=== CJ's Neighborhood ===
Attraction	Year opened	Manufacturer	Description	Height requirements
 	 	 	 	
=== The Ark ===
Attraction 	Year opened	Manufacturer 	Description 	Height requirements
Transformers: The Ride 3D	2011 	Oceaneering International	A 3D dark ride based on the characters from the Transformers film franchise.	40 in (102 cm)
=== Emerald Island ===
Attraction 	Year opened	Manufacturer 	Description 	Height requirements
Doctor Eggman's Sky Egg Drop 	2002 	S&S Power 	A space shot ride based on the villain, Dr. Eggman. 	52 in (132 cm)
Sonic The Hedgehog: Supercharged	2002 	Oceaneering International	A dark ride based on Sonic The Hedgehog: Animated series. 	
Sonic Speedcoaster 	2021 	Intamin 	A launched roller coaster based on the famous hedgehog from the series. 	51 in (130 cm)
Tails the Fox's Tornado Flight 	2002 	Intamin 	A computer-animated simulator ride featuring Sonic's Best Friend, Miles "Tails" Prower.	
 	2002 	 	 	
Tails' Super Soakin' Splashzone 	2002 	 	 	
The area is also home to a variety of dining outlets and shops. Food and beverage items can be purchased from Sonic Drive-In and Tails' Experimental Soda Shop (Tails' Super Soakin' Splashzone). Merchandise items can be bought from a variety of themed stores including Sonic The Storehog (Sonic Speedcoaster), and The Sega Store. The area also has an Arcade called Sega Action Zone.
=== Phineas and Ferb's Super Duper Island Pier ===
Attraction 	Year opened	Manufacturer 	Description 	Height requirements
Coolest Coaster Ever 	2009 	Bolliger & Mabillard 	A launched roller coaster based on the Coaster of the same name from the first episode of the show. The island's signature coaster with a top speed of 67 miles per hour (108 km/h).	54 in (137 cm)
Giant Ferris Wheel 	2009 	 	A Giant Ferris Wheel based on the one featured in the episode, "Leave the Busting to Us!". 	40 in (102 cm)
World's Largest Bowling Ball	2009 	Oceaneering International	A 3D simulatior ride based on the invention from the episode, "Bowl-R-Ama Drama". 	52 in (132 cm)
=== Star Wars: Galaxy Edge ===
=== Mission Base ===
Mission Base is it officially opened to the public on June 18, 2010. On May 31, 2007, Paramount announced plans to incorporate the Mission Impossible franchise to Islands of Adventure. The 20-acre (81,000 m2) island features attractions, shops, and restaurants set inside locations from the film series. Groundbreaking began in 2007, with the auditioning of a Special Agent Oso theming in late 2009, and the official opening scheduled for June 18, 2010, as announced on March 25, 2010. 
Attraction 	Year opened	Manufacturer	Description	Height requirements
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
Special Agent Oso: License to Thrill	2010 	Intamin 	 	
 	 	 	 	
== Character appearances ==
Like the neighboring Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure has a number of famous characters:
=== Current characters ===
* TBA