Big Coasters at Universal's Islands of Adventure

By Sammy Mack

Published: June 1, 2008

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The first ride on the list of must-screams at Universal's Islands of Adventure is The Incredible Hulk Coaster®. Located in the Marvel Super Hero Island®, one of the park's five themed islands, the Hulk is a giant, twisting track of steel painted green.

In a matter of two seconds, you go from 0 to 45 mph, and don’t take a break until the coaster car is docked at the other end. It’s two minutes and fifteen seconds of vertical loops and cobra rolls. No wonder the Discovery Channel ranked the Hulk as the "#1 Steel Coaster in the World."

Dueling Dragons® is another outstanding coaster at Islands of Adventure. The Dragons are two intertwined, inverted coasters that run simultaneously. Not only do the separate rides include a zero-G roll and a 70-degree loop spiral, but there are three points in the ride where guests' feet dangle as close as 12 inches from the feet of the riders in the opposing car.

Islands of Adventure is also home to The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman®, a ride that relies on simulation rather than raw speed and height to conjure screams. Combining 3D animation with a moving car and gigantic sets, Spiderman is a full-sensory assault. When 3D villains jump on your car, it dips as though weighted down where they stand. While an animated, watery villain hovers above, water drips on your face and arms. The highlight is a "sensory drop" that makes you feel as if you were falling 400 feet at incredible speed.

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