7 Fun Facts About Universal Orlando

There’s so much to see and do when you visit Universal Orlando! From special events like Halloween Horror Nights, and a whole new park coming soon, there’s a lot going on!

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

If you like being the most knowledgeable about the theme park you’re visiting, like we do, here are a few fun facts about Universal Orlando so you can flex your knowledge on your next trip!

Stan Lee’s Final Cameo Recording Was in The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

Stan Lee, the icon behind many of the Marvel stories we know and love, was famous for his cameos in the Marvel movies. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man underwent a major refurbishment in 2011 and 2012 ahead of the release of The Amazing Spider-Man. During that refurbishment, Stan Lee was added into the attraction and was given multiple cameo appearances.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man in Islands of Adventure

One of the cameos Stan Lee makes in the ride is as the ride announcer. At the very end of the ride, you can hear him telling guests to stay seated until the ride stops. This line was re-recorded just a few weeks before his death in 2018, making it his last cameo recording ever.

It Takes a LOT to Power The Incredible Hulk Coaster

We don’t have to travel far to get to our next fun fact. The Incredible Hulk Coaster in Universal Islands of Adventure is known for its high speeds and thrilling launch.

The Incredible Hulk Coaster

But how does the coaster achieve this electrifying 1G launch? There are more than 200 engines powering tires all along the launch tube. With so much power needed to launch the coaster, Universal was concerned about brown-outs in Orlando each time the Incredible Hulk started, so they had to get creative.

The Incredible Hulk Coaster

In order to lessen the electricity load, Universal created customized generators with huge flywheels dedicated entirely to powering this coaster.

It’s All in the Details

Diagon Alley in Universal Studios and Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure are both incredibly detailed. You could probably spend a whole day just walking around and taking in all of the details, and it doesn’t stop there. The Hogwarts Express, which you can use to go between Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios gets in on the fun, too.

Hogwarts Express

It starts with the ambience. When at the London station, King’s Cross, you’ll hear announcements being made overhead. These announcements are made by the same person who does them in London. Also at King’s Cross Station, the board showing what times the trains are coming and going is always ahead of you in time, as it would be at a real train station.

King’s Cross Station

Once you’ve boarded the train and found a seat, you’ll find that the fabric on the train itself is the same fabric you would find on trains departing King’s Cross Station in London.

Hogwarts Express Cabin

Also inside the train cabin is a small plaque with the name “Craig” on it. This is in reference to Stuart Craig, the production designer for the Harry Potter movies and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

DID YOU KNOW 🤓 that there’s a plaque for Stuart Craig (production designer for all of the Harry Potter films and theme park lands to date) on the Hogwarts Express at Universal? 🪄🚂 pic.twitter.com/MkrG08NN4A

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) May 3, 2022

Universal also consulted with J.K. Rowling about the plot of the ride, as we never see the return trip from Hogsmeade to King’s Cross Station in the Harry Potter movies. You should definitely head over to the Hogwarts Express and take a look at these fun details, but be aware that it will be closed for refurbishment from June 9th to June 16th.

And those are just a few fun facts we bet you didn’t know from Universal Orlando! Now, next time you visit, you can impress your friends and family with your knowledge! As always, make sure to keep reading AllEars for the latest theme park news and information.