The end has been a long time coming for Lost Continent, one of the original themed (is)lands at Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park. Certainly, when Wizarding World of Harry Potter carved out a bite out of it in 2010, it felt logical that Hogsmeade would continue to seep into its mythical territory.
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Instead, in 2014, Universal Orlando put Potter, Part 2, next door at Universal Studios Florida, and Lost Continent has flailed a bit since then with temporary closures, construction walls, an unlikely connector to the Jurassic Park area, a Halloween Horror Nights shop and other merchandise mysteries.
For years, we have puttered through, then Universal confirms it will dismantle and retheme the land in phases and the rumor mill ratchets up. If you believe the internet, Mystic Fountain may be gone before I can even type “Mystic Fountain.”
That spurred nostalgia and a trip to IOA so I could squint and still see some OG LC without cranking up my 1999 time machine.
Water world
The Mystic Fountain, located near the arched entrance to “The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad” show, has truly been an attraction for all ages. No one gets sick or scared or spun around or soaking wet or brought on stage. And who doesn’t like snarky waterworks?
The structure interacts with passers-by both vocally and, if the mood strikes, with a spritz of water. In the park’s opening year of 1999, the Orlando Sentinel reported that the story behind the fountain was that a 1,000-year-old soul was trapped inside, wanting to get out.
In the early days, it was entertaining to watch the fountain interactions, particularly when its voice mentioned something specific to the moment and most definitely not prerecorded patter. Adults would look around, trying to spy the location of the body behind the disembodied voice. Kids would double down with their taunting of the fountain and get a little damp for their trouble.
Mythos off the menu
I’m not as sentimental about Mythos restaurant, but that’s true of most sit-down restaurants in theme parks. I like to keep moving. My Mythos memories are odd: A friend hitting his head on a faux stalactite and its string of being voted best restaurant by the readers of Theme Park Insider.
The architecture is fascinating, with gods carved into the design, including a waterfall emerging from Narcissus’ mouth.
Sort of hidden on the back side is a towering Atlas carving that holds up the roof. It’s a shame there’s not more to do on the Islands platforms that face the lagoon, or at least more shade somehow.
Mythos is set to close sometime in 2027. The park’s Thunder Falls Terrace is closing this summer and reopening as a reimagined full-service restaurant.
That’s show biz
Looking back, it’s difficult to say why the “Sindbad” show wasn’t a big hit. It had a lot going for it: stunts, comedy, faux peril, good versus evil and 1,700 covered seats. It was engaging enough that I would always forget about the big boom/wake the dead sound effect near the end.
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The stage was multilevel, ship-themed and elaborate. The bulk of it was still in place when IOA used a corner of the theater as a cool-off zone last summer. The show closed in 2018.
Meanwhile, the neighboring Poseidon’s Fury attraction had three memorable special effects moments, including the low-tech reveal of a hidden message, the water tunnel walk-through and the digital yet watery grand finale.
The exterior features the impressive raised trident feature amid faux temple rubble, which now feels symbolic behind construction walls. Poseidon’s Fury was on closure watch for years before finally being shut down for good in 2023.
Griffin door
I have long admired the statue at the entrance of Lost Continent, but until today never wondered what it was. It’s all mythology, right?
Research points to the figure being a “sea griffin,” and that would seem to fit the winged creature with a beaked face, chest plate and big floppy tail.
No matter what theme comes next to this land, it feels like the sea griffin is a long shot to be staying there. Although building a Halloween Horror Nights house around it — Lost Grotto of the Sea Griffin? — isn’t the worst idea and could tie back to the brief time that HHN was a two-park experience. Discuss.
Three little Universal thoughts (non-Lost Continent division)
• The Universal Legacy Store has opened in Universal CityWalk, taking over the Epic Universe Preview Center space. Along with usual fare (T-shirts, “Jaws” merchandise) there are a slew of collectible figures where the elaborate Epic scale model once stood. Also eye-catching are photo ops — very enlarged works of artist Tom Whalen — for “Back to the Future,” “E.T.,” classic Universal monsters and “Jaws.”
• I caught one of the final days during the latest version of Horror Makeup Show at Universal Studios. I went in to refresh myself as it had been a while; I came out appreciating the live performances ‚ take that, AI and screens — and thankful for willing and witty audience participation. Universal says a new version of the show is coming … eventually.
• Know what gets me literally hot under the collar? Parking on the roof of the Universal Orlando garage in broad, blazing daylight, then passing two levels of empty, shaded parking slots. I was once told by a UOR executive that there was a system for filling the levels based on arrival and their expected departure time to allow for easy exiting. But this remains a parks pet peeve.
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