Run through the pages of your favourite stories at Universal Studios Orlando

There is something special about reading a Dr. Seuss story to your child. It could be that the stories have been around for so long that you can remember your parents reading them to you. It may be the cadence of the rhyme and words that make the stories so fun. Or maybe it is the bizarre and theatrical way that Dr. Seuss puts a story together. Whatever it is, there is no denying that Dr. Seuss stories are some of the literary gems of childhood. The entertainment industry realized that a long time ago, and turned many of the stories into movies, and eventually Seuss Landing was created at Universal Studios Orlando.

Seuss Landing is located in Islands of Adventure and it brings your favourite Dr. Seuss stories to life. You can ride through the Cat in Hat Story and even grab a picture with him in the park. The High in the Sky Seuss Trolly Train Ride may have the most entertaining queue line I have ever stood in. You twist and weave through a quirky line all while skipping to a tune that had to be created by Seuss himself.

During the holidays, you can watch a live performance of Grinchmas, and if you are really lucky you will spot some of the Who’s wandering the parks, and even grab a picture with them. The Grinch is often around too, and he must be feeling charitable because he will also let you get a picture with him.

Older readers may have enjoyed the Jurassic Park novel that was also made into a movie and a section of Islands of Adventure. Young dinosaur enthusiasts will be in awe of the huge dinosaurs lurking throughout the park, and if you are really lucky you can watch a dinosaur egg hatch right in front of your eyes.

Marvel fans will love meeting their favourite Superheroes and villians in Marvel Super Hero Island. These muscle bound heroes can be found zipping through the streets on their 4 wheelers or greeting their followers. Brave visitors can join Spiderman on an adventure to save the world in a fantastic 4D adventure, and true daredevils can ride the Incredible Hulk Coaster.

The ultimate experience for fans of the Harry Potter series lives in the Islands of Adventure. If you devoured every page of Harry Potter like my family did, you can’t help but have an emotional response as you step into a perfectly replicated Hogsmeade. The Hogwart’s Express looks ready to board eager wizards and you can shop for sweets at Honeydukes, see the gags come to life in Zonko’s or grab a Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks.

Like all young wizards, visitors to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter can visit Ollivander’s and find the wand that was meant for each of them. You can take a ride on a Hippogriff or a dragon on a couple of the rides in Hogsmeade, but the absolute best part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is Hogwart’s School of Wizardry and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

I hesitate to call Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey a ride because it is so much more than that. It is a fast paced experience that immerses you right into the world of Harry Potter. You come face to face with your favourite characters from the story, participate in a game of quidditch, narrowly escape the swinging branches of the whomping willow and fly around the top of Hogwarts. It is a thrilling adventure for any Harry Potter fan. The queue line for this experience is an adventure of it’s own. You travel through Hogwarts and listen to the talking photos, see the professors in their offices and hear words of wisdom from Professor Dumbledore.  If you are unable to ride, you can still tour the castle and get the chance to see the wonder inside.

Each of these exciting areas of Universal Studios Orlando is based on the stories found inside a book. If your young reader hasn’t already discovered the love of reading, perhaps his or her interest will be peaked after a visit to Universal Studios.