What, exactly, does that mean in the age of the coronavirus? Read on to find out:

For the first time since reopening in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure have reached capacity.

Under normal circumstances, an Orlando theme park being extremely busy on Labor Day weekend – one of the most crowded holiday weekends of the year – would hardly qualify as news. However, since Universal first closed down its parks on March 16, they have yet to hit their modified limit, which was set in place as part of stringent coronavirus safety procedures. (While today marks the first time that the two dry parks have filled up, Volcano Bay is the exception – it’s done so several separate times thus far.)

It’s no secret that the pandemic has taken a toll on Orlando’s theme-park industry, resulting in a number of closures and cancellations, including the unprecedented cancellation of Halloween Horror Nights. Both Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resorts have offered a variety of promotions to attract locals and passholders back to their locations in recent weeks, and today’s crowds seem to be good evidence that those efforts are paying off.

It’s important to note that although Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida reached capacity today, the resulting crowds were significantly smaller than they would be under normal circumstances. Universal has made it clear that safety is its number-one priority, with its maximum capacity and social-distancing requirements in place to try and keep overcrowding to a minimum. In addition, Virtual Lines and mobile ordering are set up at attractions and dining venues to further reduce the chances of guests congregating.

So, what does reaching capacity in the time of COVID mean? Simply put, Universal isn’t selling any more tickets today. If you’re a Universal Orlando hotel guest, Universal has previously said you’re a “priority” for entry, but we’re not entirely certain how this will work for this busy weekend.

As Universal continues to successfully manage the reopening of its theme parks, it seems reasonable to assume that they will continue to reach capacity on occasion, especially on particularly busy weekends, such as this one. And it remains to be seen when capacity will be increased and to what degree, as this will depend on how the pandemic continues to unfold in the coming months.

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(Wondering why you don’t see The Wizarding World of Harry Potter on this list? Don’t worry – we have something special in mind for that magical land.)

Skull Island: Reign of Kong

This 3D trackless dark ride is (loosely) based on the 2005 film King Kong, which itself is the second remake of the 1933 original. As you may have guessed, Skull Island: Reign of Kong takes place on Skull Island, home of the infamous gorilla. The queue takes you through a temple and into a base camp before you board ride vehicles that are styled as expedition trucks. Along the way, you’ll encounter natives of the island and an audio-animatronic Carnictis Sordicus worm, both of which can be seen in the movie.

Although Reign of Kong doesn’t feature any of King Kong‘s characters or plot (besides the King himself, of course), you’ll still encounter familiar creatures, including Arachno-claws, Deplectors, and a swarm of Terapusmordax. After surviving a pack of venatosaurus, your expedition truck is attacked by a group of Vastatosaurus rexes. Kong battles the vicious dinosaurs just as he does in the film, allowing you and your fellow passengers to escape and later encounter him in massive animatronic form.

Despite the more-or-less minor plot differences, fans of the movie will still enjoy being transported to Skull Island and coming face to face with the titular gorilla.

The Cat in the Hat

The Cat in the Hat is a dark ride based on the book of the same name by Dr. Seuss. It follows the original story, beat by beat, with the help of animated figures, narration, and other special effects. After entering the show building through a giant version of the title character’s famous hat, you walk through a line that features projections of the opening text from the famous book. The attraction then takes you through each scene, from the Cat in the Hat’s arrival to Thing 1 and Thing 2 wreaking havoc. Much of the dialogue is pulled directly from Cat in the Hat, and the sets and animated figures also appear nearly identical to their textual counterparts.

Although this ride is extremely similar to the book that inspired it, there are still some slight differences that are worth noting, especially the fact that Things 1 and 2 feature more prominently in Universal’s version (likely because the chaos they create makes for great entertainment). All in all, though, The Cat in the Hat is a great example of an experience that is faithful to the work of art that inspired it.

Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls

Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls is a log flume ride based on the famous Canadian mountie, who appeared both on The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends and, of course, The Dudley Do-Right Show. The attraction’s queue includes the hideout of Snidley Whiplash, Dudley’s archenemy, while another room is themed to a theater, where you watch as Nell Fenwick — Dudley’s love interest — is kidnapped (thus setting up the main plot of Ripsaw Falls).

The ride itself features many references to its television progenitor, like the sight of our fearless mountie riding his horse backward. Animatronics of such characters as Dudley, Horse, Nell, and Snidley make appearances along the way, and narration is also featured throughout, just as it is in the show. Overall, the theming and spirit of Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls are very similar to that of the original cartoons, and the finale even features a rendition of the theme song playing in the background.

Jurassic Park River Adventure

Jurassic Park River Adventure is, unsurprisingly, based on Steven Spielberg’s 1993 mega-film, Jurassic Park. The premise of the water ride is that John Hammond rebuilt a new version of the ill-fated Jurassic Park on Isla Aventura, an island near Orlando. As you tour the new facility from the water, you travel through Ultrasaurus Lagoon, Stegasaur Springs, and Hadrosaur Cove. Along the way, you’ll spot dinosaurs that appear both in the film and the Michael Crichton novel it was based on.

The most significant parallels between Jurassic Park and River Adventure are seen in the raptor containment area. Here, you’ll encounter familiar carnivorous dinosaurs that served as antagonists in the movie – velociraptors, dilophosaurus (like the one that devoured Dennis Nedry), and a Tyrannosaurus rex. Like Skull Island: Reign of Kong, this attraction is merely inspired by the source material rather than being a recreation of its plot, but fans of the franchise will still thrill in seeing the cinematic dinosaurs brought to life.

Honorable Mention: Poseidon’s Fury

Poseidon’s Fury may not be based on a movie or TV show, but ancient Greek mythology still counts as source material, right? This live theater walk-through attraction takes you into the ancient Temple of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. Inside, an archaeologist guides you beneath the ocean and through a vortex of water to witness a battle between Poseidon and the evil Lord Darkenon. Along the way, you’ll receive guidance from the Oracle and deliver Poseidon’s famous trident to assist him in battle.

Although Darkenon is – obviously – an original character, the mythological influence on this experience is still undeniable. And even if you aren’t particularly well-versed in the ancient mythos (no, not Mythos), the special effects and theming are impressive enough on their own.

What’s your favorite intellectual property-based attraction at Islands of Adventure? Share it with 100,000 other Universal fans in our Orlando Informer Community on Facebook.

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