Seuss Landing at Universal Studios: Thing 2 – Fishy Fun and Silly Sneetch Shenanigans!

Universal Orlando is home to Seuss Landing, a place where the stories of Theodor Suess Geisel (that’s Dr. Seuss to you and me) come to life. Located in the Universal’s Islands of Adventure portion of the park, the area could be summed up with a quote from One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish: “These things are fun, and fun is good.”

But what are these things? Not to be confused with Thing One and Thing Two, today we’re talking about twirly-whirly, wibbly-wobbly, splishy-splashy rides for persons of every age! Seuss Landing at Universal Orlando is a haven for kiddos and those of us who are kids at heart! (After all, what are adults but obsolete children?)

In our previous Seuss Landing installment, we talked about palling around with The Cat in the Hat and taking a spin on the Caro-Seuss-el. However, the fun doesn’t stop there!

Dr. Seuss published dozens and dozens of books, so there’s an abundance of colorful creatures and rhymes to be portrayed! One of the best ways to experience a bunch of Seuss’s stories all at once is to take a trip on the Trolley Train.

All aboard!

Take a Trolley Train Ride Around Seuss Landing!

“We’re all just the same, now, you snooty old smarties! And now we can go to your frankfurter parties.”

The Sneetches

Dr. Seuss’s classic story of bullying beach birds is brought to life during the High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride. (You can actually read through the entire Sneetches story, hung on the wall, as you go through the wait line!)

However, “The Sneetches” isn’t the only tall tale you’ll encounter once the ride begins. The Trolley Train takes you all around Seuss Landing at Universals Islands of Adventure so you can get a Swomee-Swan’s eye view of the uniquely cartoonish landscape below. (In practical terms, the Trolley Train is a Seussical version of Walt Disney’s PeopleMover.)

Soar high above the truffula trees as the narrator comes over the Trolley Train intercom to relay the sights and sounds of your journey in a perfect rhyme scheme. We must say, the poetic Trolley Train dialog is enough to give even Shakespeare a run for his money. It’s certainly more fun than Midsummer Night’s Dream and filled with just as many nonsense words!

In fact, there are actually two sets of tongue-twisting Trolley Train dialog to experience! After all, as we learned from The Cat in the Hat, the best Things come in pairs. One narrative continues the story of the Sneetches and is full of hilarious onomatopoeias (that is to say, sound words like meow, woof, and moo). The other voice-over is a laid-back ABCs of the park, which laments at W, “why does this ride have to end?”

You might be thinking the same thing, but luckily, you can always go again!

And at least one more ride is in order because there are actually two different tracks the Trolley Train can take, too! One path circles around Seuss Landing and goes high enough to reveal stellar views of Universal’s other themed areas. The other track goes through the Circus McGurkus Cafe, circling above the unsuspecting diners and around characters swinging from trapezes. Even Yertle’s fellow turtles have gotten in on the act!

Whichever track the Trolley Train takes you on, you’ll pass by Sylvester McMonkey McBean and his peculiar fix-it-up machine. If McBean offers to fix you up, we strongly recommend turning him down. He just wants to slap a star on you, and then you’ll have to deal with Sneetch drama.

Speaking of the Sneetches, you’ll see them, too! Luckily, by the end of the ride (on either track), these yellow beach birds are finally getting along and having a hotdog roast together. Let’s just hope they don’t start arguing over whether hotdogs are better plain or with mustard! Because let’s just admit it… mustard wins every time!

The Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous

“The Circus McGurkus! The World’s Greatest Show – On the face of the earth, or wherever you go!”

If I Ran the Circus

There are plenty of places to eat in Seuss Landing, but after riding the Trolley Train through the Big Tent, we know you’ll want to see what all of the hubbub down below was about.

At the Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous, you can chow down on delicious American dining staples while surrounded by the amazing imagination of Morris McGurk! Adorable elephants greet you at the front door of the café, kindly lifting back the flap of the Big Tent so you can come inside.

Take a seat and snack on some fried chicken, savory spaghetti, a bacon cheeseburger, or stretchy-stringy-cheesy pizza! (Sides include the Frenchiest of fries and super-duper Ceasar salads.) You can also choose from over 100 “bubbulous beverages,” including Coca-Cola products, fruit punch, apple juice, and even hot chocolate!

As you eat, be sure to admire Rolf the Walrus balancing on one whisker while atop five balls (two for tennis, three for golf). You might even see the Trolley Train whisk through overhead as you sip on your fruit punch.

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

“Why are they sad and glad and bad? I do not know. Go ask your dad.”

One Fish, Two Fish, etc.

No rhyme is more classic than One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, and now it’s been turned into a fantastic Seuss Landing ride full of ups, downs, splishes, and splashes!

Board your very own flying fish and prepare for take-off! Flying fish each seat two riders, so you can ride with your kiddo or a friend. Your aquatic steed will take you up into the air and around in circles, but the ups and downs are up to you! A rhyming song will play as you ride, instructing you to move up or down, depending on whether you are in a one fish, two fish, red fish, or blue fish vehicle. If you follow the directions, you can avoid being squirted by the non-flying fish in the fountain below!

However, on those hot Florida days, we wouldn’t blame you for ignoring the rhyme and taking a splash of cool water! (The fish certainly won’t mind if you do.)

This ride is gentle and interactive and a true joy for fans of the linguistic marvels of Dr. Seuss!

---

There’s so much to explore in Seuss Landing that just as the Cat in the Hat comes back, you’ll probably find yourself and the kiddos visiting Seuss Landing again and again. It’s like a never-ending scavenger hunt for adorable book characters!

Have you spotted a Yottle in a bottle? Let us know which “hidden” creatures and references you’ve found at Seuss Landing in the comments below, and be sure to check out our other Seussical installments!

Dear MouseEars TV readers, This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one of these links and make a purchase, we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Featured photo: ©2021 Universal Orlando. All Rights Reserved.