The Wandering Disciple

  The vibrant and colorful world of the Sunday comics leaps off the page and comes vividly to life within the Toon Lagoon section of Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure theme park. This unique area is a direct and playful homage to popular newspaper comic strips and cartoon characters. Every element within Toon Lagoon, from the thrilling water rides and attractions to the various retail outlets and themed restaurants, is intricately designed to immerse guests in a world built around these beloved sequential art narratives, ensuring a deeply nostalgic and entertaining experience for visitors of all ages.  You can see more photos of Islands of Adventure here. Taken: December 25, 2005 at Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando (Orlando, FL)

As you stroll the streets of Hogsmeade Village, the world of the Harry Potter film franchise comes alive right here in Central Florida. The Hogwarts Express drops you off in the heart of the snow covered village where you can shop for your wand at Ollivanders, grab a snack at Honeydukes, fill your stomach at Three Broomsticks and much more.  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at Islands of Adventure in 2010. It features rides, shops and restaurants based on the popular Harry Potter book series by JK Rowling. In 2014, the world expanded further into adjacent Universal Studios Florida with the addition of Diagon Alley which was connected to Hogsmeade Village by the Hogwarts Express.  Taken: October 25, 2010 at Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando (Orlando, FL)

In conjunction with today's photo of the day by Donten Photography, click on the photo above to view the entire gallery of photos from our visits to Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando in Orlando, Florida.

Walk inside the Daily Bugle and embark on your day as a fill in reporter. As you cruise the streets of the Big Apple in the Scoop, you quickly realize sinister acts are in progress and with the help of Spider-Man you are no longer covering the news but making news, ridding the city of bad guys and saving the day.  The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man located at Universal's Islands of Adventure combines a state of the art ride track with 3-D special effects for a one of a kind experience. The ride brings the pages of the Marvel comic book to life and features Spider-Man and several of his nemesis including Doctor Octopus, Hydro-Man, Hobgoblin, Scream and Electro.  Taken: December 25, 2005 at Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando (Orlando, FL)

High in the sky on a Seuss Trolley Train Ride.  Get a birds eye view of the wild world of Dr Seuss and see the fun and excitement of his stories come to life at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure.  (Photo: October 25, 2010)

As you cross over the bridge and enter Super Heroes Island, you enter the world of Marvel comics.  This is a place where the Incredible Hulk roars to life, Spiderman saves the city from evil villains, Doctor Doom tries to channel your fear and Storm spins you around faster and faster to try and defeat Magneto.  The entire island is themed to look like the pages of a Marvel comic book from the use of colors and angles to the Marvel characters that comes to life.  (Photo: January 9, 2010)

A walk through Toon Lagoon at Islands of Adventure is like shrinking yourself down and taking a stroll through the Sunday newspaper comics.  Scenes from these famous comic strips come to life here at the Universal Orlando theme park through cartoon inspired rides, shops and restaurants.  (Photo: December 25, 2005)

Like a beacon guiding a ship in the sea, this lighthouse leads not to a safe harbor but to a land of adventure.  Beyond the gates, you adventures awaits at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure.  This central Florida theme park is packed with plenty of excitement filled islands with unique themes like Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, Jurassic Park, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the Lost Continent and Seuss Landing.  (Photo: September 20, 2003)

This way to the fun and hi-jinx that is the world of Dr Seuss.  The colorful pages of his beloved children's books come alive in the rides, shops and restaurants of Seuss Landing at Islands of Adventure.  Here you can play along with the Cat in the Hat, have some Green Eggs and Ham or just find out what happen if I Ran the Zoo. (Photo: July 18, 2003)

Sorcery and witchcraft fill the air as the pages of JK Rowlings's novels come to life in sunny Florida.  The entire Harry Potter franchise can be experienced at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure.  (Photo: October 25, 2010)

It may look calm from across the lake, but Marvel Super Hero Islands packs a serious punch.  Home to thrill rides like the Incredible Hulk Coaster, the Amazing Adventures of Superman and many more thrill rides, this island is fun for the whole family.  (Photo: January 9, 2010)

Soaring through the air upside down, the Incredible Hulk Coaster takes riders on a wild ride through the skies over Marvel Island at Islands of Adventure. Opened in 1999, the launch coaster takes riders on a 4-G ride reaching speeds of 65 mph. (Photo: December 25, 2005)

A colorful wizard poses for a picture at Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando.  (Photo: July 18, 2003)

What looks like an angry tree is actually home to the Enchanted Oak Restaurant at the Island of Adventure theme park in Central Florida. (Photo: July 18, 2003)

The Hogwarts Express is one of the many props used to bring the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to life at Islands of Adventure. No details are spared in making the pages of JK Rowlings books come to life. (Photo: October 25, 2010)

In a comedic spoof of Mount Rushmore, the heads of the main characters of the film Dudley Do-Right adorn the mountain peaks of Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls at Islands of Adventure.  Built in 1999, the log flume ride was one of the original rides at the Central Florida theme park.  (Photo: January 9, 2010)

The Cat in the Hat comes to life at Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando.  The family ride takes riders through the pages of the storybook by Dr Suess, making you part of the story.  (Photo: July 18, 2003)

The Incredible Hulk Coaster towers over the lagoon at Islands of Adventure. The coaster hurls its riders at over 65 miles per hour through seven inversions on the two minute thrill ride. (Photo: October 25, 2010)

A mythical statue guards the path to the Lost Continent island at Islands of Adventure theme park. The Lost Continent has been transformed over the years due to the opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. In the process, the land got a little smaller and lost two of its signature attractions, Dueling Dragons and The Flying Unicorn. Today the Lost Continent is home to Poseidon’s Fury and the Eight Voyage of Sinbad. (Photo: December 25, 2005)

The Grinch and Sam I Am stop to pose for a picture at Seuss Landing at Islands of Adventure. Here the colorful characters of Dr Seuss come to life with enjoyable theme park rides and shops. (Photo: July 18, 2003)