Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
289
Fun Facts
Coaster Tidbit
One Dueling Dragon coaster seems to have an obvious advantage over the
other. The Fire Dragon can reach speeds as high as 60 mph, while the Ice Dragon
tops out at only 55 mph.
“breathing” inhabitants of Jurassic Park. At one point, a
Tyrannosaurus rex
decides you
look like a tasty morsel, and at another point, spitters launch venomous saliva your way.
The only way out: an 85-foot plunge in your log-style life raft. It's steep and quick enough
to lift your fanny out of the seat. (When Spielberg rode it, he made them stop the ride
and let him out before the plunge.) Expect to get wet (how wet depends on the individual
experience—I've seen people get soaked and some emerge barely damp). If your stomach
can take only one flume ride, this one's a lot more comfortable than Dudley Do-Right (see
above), and the atmosphere is better.
Note:
Expectant mothers and those with heart, neck,
or back problems shouldn't ride. Guests must be at least 42 inches tall.
Pteranodon Flyers
Kids
Frommer's Rating:
C+
Recommended Ages:
All ages
The 10-foot metal frames and simple seats are flimsy, but this quick spin around Jurassic
Park offers a great bird's-eye view. The landing is bumpy, and you'll swing side to side
throughout, which makes some riders queasy. Unlike the traditional gondolas in the sky
rides, on this one your feet hang free from the two-seat skeletal flyer, and there's little but
a restraining belt between you and the ground.
Note:
That said, this is a child's ride—
single passengers must be between 36 and 56 inches tall; adults can climb aboard
only
when accompanying someone that size. And, because this ride launches only two pas-
sengers every 30 to 40 seconds, it can consume an hour of your day, even in the off
season. So, although it is nice, pass it up if you're pressed for time.
7
THE LOST CONTINENT
Although they've mixed their millennia—ancient Greece with a medieval forest—Uni-
versal has done a good job creating a foreboding mood in this section of the park, whose
entrance is marked by menacing stone griffins.
As a note:
At press time, construction of
the
Wizarding World of Harry Potter
was well underway—and apparently splashing
over into the Lost Continent. Obvious signs of the intrusion include the addition of a
temporary bridge between the Lost Continent and Jurassic Park, the demolition of the
Enchanted Oak Tavern, and the construction walls blocking off what was at one time the
Flying Unicorn (which is no longer accessible or even visible).
Dueling Dragons
Finds
Frommer's Rating:
A+
Recommended Ages:
10-adult
Maniacal minds created this thrill ride—sending two roller coasters right at each other at
high speeds. True coaster crazies will love the intertwined set of leg-dangling racers that
climb to 125 feet, invert five times, and three times come within 12 inches of each other
as the two dragons battle, and you prove your bravery by tagging along. This coaster
sports a tighter track with quick banking turns and sharp twists, making the ride some-
what jerky—far from the smooth and fluid experience of the Hulk. But the roughness
