I love how islands is the literature park, all the islands are based off literature (except the newer kong ride now). Jurassic park was a book first, ofc Seuss, comics and the funnies, 1001 Arabian nights, Greek mythology, HP
I first went to Islands for a field trip back in 2004, in 2006 I went with my uncle, aunt and cousins, in 2023 I proposed to my now fiance at the entrance of Islands. So I have a lot of history at this park.
The amount of research that you put into these videos is impressive Matt! I can say there are several spots you mentioned and walked past that had me questioning if I’ve ever noticed before. Looking forward to my next trip to Universal to find all of the “hidden gems” you pointed out!
Appreciate the video. My lone trip to Universal with my future wife was in July 1999 with another couple. Back then, we did both parks in one day and saw just about everything (partly thanks to an early afternoon downpour that vacated Islands and left overcast clouds). Amazing how Universal wound up blocking Disney from the Marvel comic book imaging rights and yet got stuck with licensing fees for The Simpsons in the long run.
Great video. I'm worried about the future of the Lost Kingdom. It was always (For me one of the most well-themed areas of the park. I would hate to see it go away. I hope instead, they re-vitalize it and add some really great new attractions.
I hope the same. There’s rumors about Zelda possibly taking over but I’d love to see them breathe some new life into the area while sticking to the original theming. Thanks for watching!
6:00 That concept art Reminds me of the portals that are being put up at Epic Universe. Mind blowing :D I hope Universal doesn't abandon stages like the Lost continent and Toon lagoon stages with Epic universe it's not a good look. I go to Islands of adventure every year now after always wanted to go since opening. It's so fun. Since The redesign of Kidzone I hope Lost continent gets new experiences in the future. :D🦔
Island of Adventure 🎢 is my favorite theme park, the attractions I enjoy the most are Hagrid's Motorbike Adventure, Velocicoaster and Popeye's, I love the water one. Greetings from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷.
this was really informative!! i wonder if toon lagoon and lost continent will get some upgrades after the success of epic universe, i think they definitely deserve some more love
The Lost Continent area really is sad to walk through now, it’s almost useless but I feel like they’re super hesitant to demolish it completely because it’ll become the forgotten continent 😢
Universal's rights with marvel is a double edged sword. They have the rights forever, but they can never further develop/expand the marvel area without disney's approval. I wonder if they will ever retheme the marvel area in the future.
I don't think it's a double edge sword at all. MCU has changed the perception of classic heroes so much that the comic originals are almost unrecognizable today. The classic comic portrayals of the characters are timeless and really make you feel like you're jumping into the comics. One need only pay a visit to avengers campus to see how much better Superhero island handles the source material
@@deadstrider My point is that universal can never add expansions and further develop marvel superhero island without disney's approval, per the contract is my understanding. They can only update and refurbish the current attractions. Also on another note, the mcu versions of the characters are the most well known with the general public. In reality, only a very small portion read the comics compared to the widespread general audiences.
@metallicnole4514 Yes I understand that they can't expand on the park. It's unfortunate, but I never leave Superhero Island thinking I didn't get my fill of thrills and the alternative is Guradians of the galaxy and Avengers campus which I wasn't very impressed by. The fact that very few people are still aware with what comics used to be like is exactly why Superhero island is so important. It's one of the last ways to experience that Era of comics
@@deadstrider I enjoy the superhero island. I also enjoy cosmic rewind at epcot. It's a stellar attraction. I just wonder if universal will keep the island as is forever, retheme it in the future, or strike a new deal with disney allowing them to expand.
I hate to say it, but almost every attraction in Islands barring Hagrid's and Velocicoaster needs an overhaul. I would argue that the theming and set designs across the board are almost timeless, but there are so many opening day rides still in operation that simply did not receive the maintenance they needed. Worse still, they're still running a shell of an area in Lost Continent with no real offerings. This was my favourite theme park for a long time and I hope they go back and revitalise it after Epic Universe opens.
Heavy rumors that Lost Continent will be getting a retheme in the coming year or two. Definitely agree that that area needs some life breathed back into it.
I hope they keep toon lagoon and ripsaw falls but just give it new animatronics and touch ups. They have been doing a lot of work lately there, most of the animatronics on ripsaw falls are fixed almost like new. The 2 rides that aged the worst is the cat in the hat and river adventure, those need a full refurbishment. Ripsaw falls and Popeyes could probably get away with static characters due to their bright colors, but definitely not cat in the hat or river adventure
I love how islands is the literature park, all the islands are based off literature (except the newer kong ride now). Jurassic park was a book first, ofc Seuss, comics and the funnies, 1001 Arabian nights, Greek mythology, HP
That’s correct! Pretty neat!
Forgot about that.
This video was such an amazing tribute to the 25yrs of Universal Island of Adventures
Thank you! Appreciate that very much. Glad you enjoyed it!
@@MattAndAlexVlogsNever been to any Universal theme parks, Islands of Adventure is definitely a place I wanna go to one day.
@@JakeTheComicBookDude Hope you get to!
I first went to Islands for a field trip back in 2004, in 2006 I went with my uncle, aunt and cousins, in 2023 I proposed to my now fiance at the entrance of Islands. So I have a lot of history at this park.
Great memories! Glad you have good history to look back on.
The amount of research that you put into these videos is impressive Matt! I can say there are several spots you mentioned and walked past that had me questioning if I’ve ever noticed before. Looking forward to my next trip to Universal to find all of the “hidden gems” you pointed out!
Thank you!
Fun! Well done. Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Great video!!! I'm looking forward to visiting universal again this November.
Thanks so much! Hope you have a great time!
Appreciate the video. My lone trip to Universal with my future wife was in July 1999 with another couple. Back then, we did both parks in one day and saw just about everything (partly thanks to an early afternoon downpour that vacated Islands and left overcast clouds). Amazing how Universal wound up blocking Disney from the Marvel comic book imaging rights and yet got stuck with licensing fees for The Simpsons in the long run.
Thanks for watching!
Great video, my favourite theme park
Thanks for watching!
Great video. I'm worried about the future of the Lost Kingdom. It was always (For me one of the most well-themed areas of the park. I would hate to see it go away. I hope instead, they re-vitalize it and add some really great new attractions.
I hope the same. There’s rumors about Zelda possibly taking over but I’d love to see them breathe some new life into the area while sticking to the original theming. Thanks for watching!
Another fantastic video, took my kids here in the summer for the first time, just had the best time ever. Back next year
Thanks for checking it out!
I love how the deal with Marvel and Universal keeps Superhero Island anchored to a late 90s aesthetic. It’s a huge part of the charm.
Agreed. I love the feel of that land!
awesome vid😎
Thanks for watching!
6:00 That concept art Reminds me of the portals that are being put up at Epic Universe. Mind blowing :D I hope Universal doesn't abandon stages like the Lost continent and Toon lagoon stages with Epic universe it's not a good look. I go to Islands of adventure every year now after always wanted to go since opening. It's so fun. Since The redesign of Kidzone I hope Lost continent gets new experiences in the future. :D🦔
Good catch! That does resemble the portal design they’re using at Epic.
Island of Adventure 🎢 is my favorite theme park, the attractions I enjoy the most are Hagrid's Motorbike Adventure, Velocicoaster and Popeye's, I love the water one. Greetings from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷.
Thanks for watching and sharing your favorite things! 3 great rides there!
this was really informative!! i wonder if toon lagoon and lost continent will get some upgrades after the success of epic universe, i think they definitely deserve some more love
I agree! Thanks for watching!
Awesome!
glad you enjoyed it!
That shirt on a site by any chance? I think I want me one
Unfortunately not. Best bet would be eBay or another reseller site.
The Lost Continent area really is sad to walk through now, it’s almost useless but I feel like they’re super hesitant to demolish it completely because it’ll become the forgotten continent 😢
It definitely needs a refresh. Fingers crossed the rumors come to fruition and it gets a refurb in the next year or two 🤞🏻
Kind of weird they aren't making a big deal out of the anniversary....
Yeah I thought a little acknowledgment on the day of would have gone a long way. Oh well.
Wow. I never knew that they were considering Looney Tunes. What a lost opportunity.
It was originally supposed to be quite different!
I'm sure it was difficult at the time because Warner Bros. had acquired Six Flags and was using Looney Tunes characters in the parks.
Universal's rights with marvel is a double edged sword. They have the rights forever, but they can never further develop/expand the marvel area without disney's approval. I wonder if they will ever retheme the marvel area in the future.
Definitely a unique situation
I don't think it's a double edge sword at all. MCU has changed the perception of classic heroes so much that the comic originals are almost unrecognizable today. The classic comic portrayals of the characters are timeless and really make you feel like you're jumping into the comics. One need only pay a visit to avengers campus to see how much better Superhero island handles the source material
@@deadstrider My point is that universal can never add expansions and further develop marvel superhero island without disney's approval, per the contract is my understanding. They can only update and refurbish the current attractions.
Also on another note, the mcu versions of the characters are the most well known with the general public. In reality, only a very small portion read the comics compared to the widespread general audiences.
@metallicnole4514 Yes I understand that they can't expand on the park. It's unfortunate, but I never leave Superhero Island thinking I didn't get my fill of thrills and the alternative is Guradians of the galaxy and Avengers campus which I wasn't very impressed by. The fact that very few people are still aware with what comics used to be like is exactly why Superhero island is so important. It's one of the last ways to experience that Era of comics
@@deadstrider I enjoy the superhero island. I also enjoy cosmic rewind at epcot. It's a stellar attraction. I just wonder if universal will keep the island as is forever, retheme it in the future, or strike a new deal with disney allowing them to expand.
I hate to say it, but almost every attraction in Islands barring Hagrid's and Velocicoaster needs an overhaul.
I would argue that the theming and set designs across the board are almost timeless, but there are so many opening day rides still in operation that simply did not receive the maintenance they needed. Worse still, they're still running a shell of an area in Lost Continent with no real offerings. This was my favourite theme park for a long time and I hope they go back and revitalise it after Epic Universe opens.
Heavy rumors that Lost Continent will be getting a retheme in the coming year or two. Definitely agree that that area needs some life breathed back into it.
I hope they keep toon lagoon and ripsaw falls but just give it new animatronics and touch ups. They have been doing a lot of work lately there, most of the animatronics on ripsaw falls are fixed almost like new. The 2 rides that aged the worst is the cat in the hat and river adventure, those need a full refurbishment. Ripsaw falls and Popeyes could probably get away with static characters due to their bright colors, but definitely not cat in the hat or river adventure
I actually cry everytime I got to the Harry Potter world really can’t wait to see ministry of magic in the epic universe at universal studios 🥹
@@sunnygirl523 should be pretty awesome! Thanks for watching!
@@MattAndAlexVlogs ur welcome ☺️