More so than just about any other theme park, IOA has gone all out to create settings and attractions that transport you from reality into the surreal. What's more, no one island here has much in common with any other, so in a way, a visit here is almost like a visit to half a dozen different parks.
IOA's unique nature is first revealed when you arrive at the Port of Entry and are greeted by a kaleidoscope of sights and a cacophony of sounds. It's all designed to put you in the frame of mind for adventure.
When you reach the central lagoon, your clockwise journey commences with Marvel Super Hero Island and its tightly packed concentration of roller coasters and thrill rides. Of special note is the astonishingly high-tech and dazzling Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. Although you'll get your recommended daily allowance of thrills on this one island alone, you've only just begun.
Stepping into Toon Lagoon is like stepping into the pages of a comic book; which is the exact opposite feeling you'll get at neighboring Skull Island, where you'll find the high-intensity attraction Skull Island: Reign of Kong. The prehistoric battles here set the tone for several attractions in the upcoming island, Jurassic Park, where you'll come face-to-face with dozens of dinosaurs.
You move from the world of science fiction into the world of magic when you segue into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade. For the first time anywhere, you—and not just a few fortunate actors—can wander through the magnificently fictional, yet now very realistic, realm of the young wizard and his Hogwarts classmates and tutors. Beyond belief.
But that's not the end of it. In the Lost Continent, the mood is that of a Renaissance fair, where crafters work inside colorful tents. It's as pronounced an atmosphere as that of the final island, Seuss Landing, which presents the incredible, topsy-turvy world of Dr. Seuss. The riot of colors and shapes and fantastic wildlife pays tribute to the good doctor's vivid imagination.
