4. Toon Lagoon Trails
Even though it’s convoluted at times, it’s clear that there’s essentially one “main path” that encircles Islands of Adventure, acting as the central street of each area and depositing guests reliably at each E-Ticket along the way. However, one of the most sensational elements of the park is just how “off-the-beaten-path” guests are permitted to get. Many of the islands have their own waterfronts, often accessed by just exploring and finding them! At Port of Entry, it’s a rocky peninsula where guests can hear arriving and departing submarines beneath the water; in Seuss Landing, it’s Sneech Beach; in Jurassic Park, it was the contemplative terraced walk of the Discovery Center (which has now evolved into a hotbed of activity since it’s the energized entrance to the Jurassic World VelociCoaster).
Toon Lagoon’s seaside walk, though, is an attraction in its own right. Accessed crossing onto Popeye Island and heading toward “Me Ship, The Olive,” you’d have to be pretty adventurous to stumble upon the unmarked access to the water. There, guests walk along winding and cascading docks filled with references to classic comics and cartoons, eye-rolling dad jokes, custom-built props (“Plymouth Rock,” anyone?) and fantastic views across the water.
The trails of Toon Lagoon gained some extra foot traffic during the construction of the VelociCoaster given that they provided exceptional views of the steel behemoth. Now that it’s open, guests will likely continue finding their way down to the waterfront given that the docks just happen to end right where trains come flying out of the coaster’s second launch and into its iconic 150-foot-tall top hat maneuver. Still, if you haven’t ever made the trek, be sure to swing by and visit this wonderful unsung walkthrough.
5. Camp Jurassic Caves
Camp Jurassic is an area that far too many visitors to Islands of Adventure walk right past. It’s easy to see why. The area is certainly part of the “elaborate playground” genre populated by Tom Sawyer Island, Animal Kingdom’s Boneyard, or California Adventure’s Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. Like all three of those, it’s a mix of climbing nets, slides, props, and caverns. But Camp Jurassic is an experience in its own right, with thematic rockwork, torches, lagoons, rainforests, and waterfalls that’ll leave even the snoodiest Imagineering purists tipping their hat. It’s easy even for adults to get lost in the sprawling, multi-level Camp.
Specifically, though, the mini-land also contains an incredible, multi-story system of interconnected caves and caverns. In-universe, these are meant to be the amber mines where Jurassic Park scientists retrieve preserved dinosaur DNA from mosquitoes trapped in amber resin. Inside, guests will find a cool and colorful system of volcanic vents to explore.
There are geothermal grottos, surprise geysers, intricate root systems, an “echo chamber,” rope bridges, and other surprises all hidden inside. About the only thing this area needs is a Disneyland-Paris-dragon-style animatronic of a Hadrosaur sleeping under a waterfall inside. Put another way, if you’ve “only” stuck to the main path in Jurassic Park, make a side trip to Camp Jurassic and you’ll see a secret spot that you won’t believe you’ve missed.
6. Hogsmeade “Public Conveniences”
It’s difficult to pick a “hidden gem” in the Wizarding World, since very little is hidden there. While Diagon Alley is packed with sideshows, surprise walkthroughs, and even secret spells that aren’t on the map, Hogsmeade is much smaller. In fact, about the only “secret spot” the land had was the back patio of the Three Broomsticks, built on a quiet arm of the Great Sea across from the tropical jungles of Jurassic Park. Of course, the arrival of the VelociCoaster in 2021 turned that “escape” into a bit of an odd contradiction, since a steel roller coaster now screams across the otherwise quiet respite.
So if you’re looking for respite from the hustle and bustle of Hogsmeade, about the only place to take a moment for yourself is in the “Public Conveniences” housed in the snow-capped Scottish village. However, even the restrooms of the Wizarding World aren’t entirely quiet. Famously, the Hogsmeade restrooms are haunted by the ghost of Moaning Myrtle, who relocated from the second-floor girls’ bathroom in Hogwarts proper. As you do your business, don’t be surprised if you hear the spirit wailing or whining as she invisibly floats up and down through the line of stalls. It may not exactly be a “secret,” but it’s one of the subtler aspects of the Wizarding World.
Comments
Very enjoyable article! Next time I go to Islands of Adventure, I will have to be sure to take my time. And the meteor crash site WAS very cool to see from above - reminded me of the giant hidden Mickey face that was originally at Disney MGM Studios! Thanks for an article that showed me a lot that I'd never seen before!