Instead of simply retheming what's there, Universal decided to completely start over to respect the IP. Universal Creative made something absolutely original that still pays tribute to DC's multi decade legacy.

Two Sublands

Attractions

Queue: “Recruits” enter the Hall of Justice’s laboratory for an opportunity to meet Aquaman himself in Atlantis. The queue is filled with nods to other heroes and villains like the suits of all the original Justice League members, weapons formerly used by villains (kryptonite, Cold Gun, etc.), and prison cells for various villains. Each cell has a label that marks who’s is who’s and other smaller indicators. For example, Cheetah’s Cell has claw marks, Grodd’s had banana peels everywhere, Killer Frost’s has icicles on the ceiling, and Black Adam’s is constantly sparking with electricity. Monitors throughout the queue convey that Ocean Master Aquamans nemesis and half-brother, has escaped prison.

Ride Experience

Entering the caves under Wayne Manor, guests eventually end up in The Batcave, secret hideout of Batman. Working their way through the trophy room and computer room of the Batcave, guests are asked to board a security drone when the cave is attacked by The Joker, accompanied by Bane, and Firefly. What follows is a whirlwind adventure through The Batcave, as guests try to escape the clutches of the trio of fiends. This all culminates in an explosive finale as guests try to stop Firefly from blowing up the Batcave’s power core.

Exploring Gotham City, guests may happen upon an old sign half-buried in the trees that reads: “Arkham Asylum 0.5mi. Use caution; hitchhikers may be escaped mental patients.” Following the road through the city, guests will eventually find themselves at the entrance to one of the most mysterious locales in the Batman mythos. The home of some of the Dark Knight’s most depraved adversaries. Its’ gates are open and is waiting for you to venture into:

Arkham Asylum: Fear Itself​

Arkham Asylum: Fear Itself is a partially guided horror walkthrough through the halls of the famous asylum. Utilizing a mix of animatronics, theater effects and live actors, Arkham Asylum is a truly unique immersive experience for today’s theme park climate. Without further adieu, let’s take a look.

Mad Science (Technical Aspects, but with a cute name)

Arkham Asylum is, naturally, situated on Arkham Island, a small island built a little ways into Island of Adventure’s lagoon. Because of this, there is essentially no backstage area for the attraction. Cast areas are situated in the basement of the Asylum showbuilding, allowing for easy and mostly inconspicuous switching of cast. Cast members will enter and leave the island in plainclothes.

The building is shaped sort of like an ‘H’, featuring two wings on either side of a large main building. This layout is purposeful, allowing for two separate but identical walkthroughs, effectively doubling capacity. The experience covers the two floors of the asylum as well as an outdoor back garden maze, and a sewer sequence separate from the asylum itself.

The rooms of the asylum are constructed modularly, allowing for easy refurbishment. With this, Universal can easily remove and rework scenes to keep the experience fresh. This also makes temporary experiences, such as holiday overlays, incredibly easy to do. Maybe Two-Face will start making appearances down the road with his own thematic elements and story beats. Or maybe guests entering the asylum on Halloween will instead be greeted by Calendar-Man instead of the normal, more well-known Batman villains. The possibilities are endless.

Prelude​

Walking through Gotham City, guests will inevitably come upon an area at the waterfront where the street opens up into a culdesac. Reaching out over the water sits a large steel grate suspension bridge, surrounded by GCPD police cars. To the left of the bridge is a small faded-blue security checkpoint emblazoned with the GCPD emblem which stands empty with its’ gate arm raised. At the far end of the bridge stand the famous gates of Arkham Asylum, looming imposingly over passing guests. The wrought iron gate is of course topped with a sign reading “Arkham Asylum,” its’ gates wide open. Through the gates sits a large courtyard driveway which has been converted into queue switchbacks. At the center of the courtyard is a large bronze statue of the asylum’s founder, Amadeus Arkham, which rests atop a large granite pedestal.

The centerpiece of Arkham Island is, of course, Arkham Asylum. The large tudor revival-style manor looks fairly inconspicuous from the outside. While a bit run-down, it looks like any other manor. Looking more closely, however, its’ true nature begins to show. The manor is accented by gargoyles, Its’ cathedral-style roof is gated by wrought iron spikes, no doubt to keep inmates from attempting to flee by using the roof. To the right of the manor is a large concrete structure labeled “Sewer Access.” Most of the trees and shrubbery look rather sickly, and, most obtrusively, is the very modern 10ft tall electrified fence that surrounds the island.

Following the queue around the courtyard, up the front steps and through the manor’s front doors, guests will find themselves in the asylum’s reception area. Passing through a set of (fake) metal detectors, which occasionally beep as guests pass through, the queue splits into two. The reception area is the converted foyer of the manor. Ornate carpeting covers the floor from wood-accented green papered wall to wall. Small ornate lighting fixtures jut from the room’s six large support columns, complimenting the large crystal chandelier that hangs from the muraled ceiling. At the far end of the room stands a large ornate staircase that splits at the wall, leading to two separate overlooking balconies. Classical music is piped in, but it oddly sounds like it’s coming from another room.

Eventually climbing one of two halves of the staircase, guests will eventually end up at a large wooden door. A sign bolted into it reads:

“Jeremiah Arkham

Director, Arkham Asylum”​

Soon the doors open, and guests, in groups of 20, are ushered in by one of the asylum’s guards.

Madness Unleashed​

Jeremiah Arkham, in an effect created by the same screen effect used in both Harry Potter attractions, greets guests, referring to them as asylum investors. They have been invited to the asylum to take a look at some of the newest technologies developed by Waynetech to improve security. Suddenly, Scarecrow bursts in. After monologuing briefly, he belches fear toxin into Jeremiah Arkham’s face, causing him o collapse on the floor, begging for something to get out of his head. Scarecrow them announces to guests that he has set all of the inmates of the asylum free, then offers a parting gift, releasing fear toxin through the air ducts and into the rest of the office. Thoroughly spooked, guests are ushered out by the security guard who declares that he knows a way out of the asylum.

Maxie-Zeus

Guests are lead into the shock therapy chamber of the asylum. The circular room is pitch black except for a single light which hangs over a slumped blue figure. Suddenly, the sounds of electricity can be heard as the figure springs to life. Maxie-Zeus, blue from his constantly shocking himself, welcomes guests as pilgrims to his sacred temple, urging them to join him in his electric paradise. Eventually he gets tired, sending a surge of electricity through the room, illuminating six of his disciples, who are hooked up to strange-looking electrical devices. Electricity visibly course through their veins as they spring awake. They try to lunge at the guests, but their machinery prevents them from doing so. The arkham guard ushers them out, as Maxie-Zeus continues to offer them salvation in the distance.

Holding Cells

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Guests enter a long hallway. Sides of the hallway feature a multitude of cells, separated by floor to ceiling plexiglass windows. Many of the inmates (some of which are live actors) egg on passing guests, screaming as they try to grab guests from their cells. Guests pass the Victor Zsasz’s cell, covered in tally marks. He silentely watches guests as they pass. Guests also pass the cells of Humpty Dumpty, who is trying to put a dismembered guard back together, Two-Face which, while empty, is split perfectly down the middle with one half being pristine and the other entirely destroyed. As guests near the end of the hall, the lights begin to go out as the sound of a single door opening can be heard. Turning around, guests see Victor Zsasz standing under one of the hall’s hanging lights, knife in hand as he stares down the hall. “Leaving so soon?” he asks emotionlessly. Guests are quickly ushered out just as Zsasz begins to run down the hall. The guard barricades the door behind them.

Professor Pyg

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Descending a set of stairs, guests enter the asylum’s main operating chamber. Before even entering, guests can hear muffled screams, fighting to be heard over blaring disco music and the giddy squeals and oinks of a strange-sounding man. Upon entering, guests come face to face with Professor Pyg who is absolutely eviscerating his screaming “patient” with a bonesaw, occasionally stopping to squeal with delight or dance to the music. Upon noticing his new audience, Pyg invites them to join his Circus of Strange as one of his perfect creations: a Dollotron. Suddenly, a small group of robotic-moving people masked in oversized Raggedy Anne-looking coverings shamble out of the shadows, towards the onlooking guests. Pyg squeals with delight as they try to barricade the door. The guard eventually wrestles them away from the door as he pushes everyone further into the asylum.

Scarecrow

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Entering another hallway, guests first notice that the floor is covered in a thick fog. Suddenly, giant bugs begin to descend from the ceiling as the lights go out completely. The only thing that can be heard is the insane laughter of Scarecrow and the sound of bugs all around. Suddenly, with a burst of wind, the lights come back on. The bugs are gone, as is the fog. However, standing in front of the exit is Victor Zsasz, staring and smiling with delight and murderous intent. “You weren’t getting away that easily. I need this.” screams Zsasz as he rushes guests. The guard puts himself in front of the group, begging them to get to the garden and find the sewer access tunnel. In his final act, the guard pushes Zsasz through the side door, out of the way of the guests. The guards screams can be heard as Zsasz fatally wounds him. Now alone, the exit bursts open as a pair of Arkham guards, wearing both a spade and heart mask, silently usher guests outside.

Mad Hatter

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Finally venturing outside, guests find themselves in the garden. The garden is made up entirely of a large hedge labyrinth. Guests are welcomed by the Mad Hatter, who invites them to find his tea party. He assures that some of his friends will help them on their way. As guests venture further into the labyrinth they can be scared by hedge monsters (actors dressed in ghillie suits), and various soldiers of his card army (wearing suit masks similar to the pair that brought guests into the labyrinth. Reaching the center, guests find The Mad Hatter who sits atop a large mushroom, smoking from a hookah. He eggs on guests through use of rhyme as they make their way into the very apparent sewer access tunnel.

Killer Croc

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Descending the stairs and into the sewer access tunnel, guests are overwhelmed not only by the rushing water just feet away, but also the distinct smell of blood. Continuing through the sewer, movement can occasionally be seen in the water. In the distance, screams can be heard accompanied by splashing and odd snarls. Further down, sunlight can start to be seen, however, so can more signs that guests are not alone. Bones litter the walkway, and blood can occasionally be seen in the rushing water. Finally, as guests reach the staircase, a large crash can be heard as Killer Croc bursts out of the water, lunging towards guests. They get away in the nick of time, climbing the stairs and emerging at the other sewer access tunnel entrance directly next to Arkham Asylum. Finally, guests have escaped the madness of Arkham Asylum.

Combining the use of state of the art theater effects, live actors, and animatronics, Arkham Asylum: Fear Itself provides guests with the incredibly unique, personal experiences that only Universal can provide.

The Flash: Rogues on Ice

The Flash: Rogues on Ice is a new ”whip ride” coming to Islands of Adventure.

Guests wind through the Central City community garden viewing topiaries of the Flash in different situations. Upon approaching the actual attraction, guests find that the Central City lake has been turned to ice due to the villainous Captain Cold! Guests board their Ice Glider (provided by STAR labs) and help Flash capture the Rogues. Be sure to watch out for boomerangs (Captain Boomerang), Fire (heat wave), and thunder storms (Weather Wizard)!

Stores

Justice Gallery and Gifts

A temporary gift shop converted from an old computer storage room for their visitor’s day. The walls are solid bright colors and its overall reminiscent of a small town museum. It sells general DC merchandise.

Behind the store's counter are broken down old computers to be repaired by Cyborg for future use.

Restaurant

Iceberg Lounge

Housed within what looks to be a 10 story skyscraper (through the use of forced perspective). The entire building looks like it's covered in ice which includes the sign over the entrance. Penguin statues stand on the sign occasionally flapping their wings when their eyes turn red. The waiting room and lounge bar is rather elegant but with arctic twists such as iceberg chandeliers, penguin themed wallpaper and the bar looks like a mound of snow. There’s a shelf on the wall with umbrellas, one of them occasionally discharges and releases a small puff of colored smoke that quickly dissipates.

The main dining room is in a circular room with seats that surrounds what looks like a common penguin habitat at the zoo. The room itself is a plain cool blue so as not to detract attention from the main stage. The Iceberg Lounge has a superlative seafood and wine menu managed by the fine feathered fink, himself. Occasionally there’s a show on the center stage with a chorus of dancing girls who come out of the igloo to introduce the Penguin. The Penguin comes out and he starts to give anecdotes and jokes about his crime until he realises he’s late for an “appointment” at the local bank and has to leave.