The boost from Islands of Adventure was offset by steep declines at Seaworld parks in San Diego and Orlando.

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At Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure, if you stay on-site you get a complimentary Express Plus Pass that lets you skip lines for certain rides and attractions.

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Asked for specific structures that have inspired him, Mr. Payne e-mails 13 photos of old parks, giant industrial pipes, public benches and the whimsically shaped "Seuss Landing" area within Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park.

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In contrast, Universal Orlando is a pedestrian-friendly and intimate complex with two excellent theme parks (Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure), three first-rate resorts, and a carnival-like restaurant and nightlife district (CityWalk) connected by lovely gardened paths or a quiet wooden-boat shuttle.

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The author, a geophysicist with a flair for writing and a passion for adventure, weaves her first-hand accounts of these islands into the scientific themes that preoccupy her.

ECONOMIST: Island life