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.

 Storm Force Accelatron
 The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
 The Incredible Hulk Coaster

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).

 Me Ship, the Olive

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.

### Emerald Island

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

 Giant Ferris Wheel
 World's Largest Bowling Ball

### 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.

## Character appearances

Like the neighboring Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure has a number of famous characters: