web analytics

New Rides Coming to Universal!

25 Jan By 2 Comments

Seeing as Charlotte and I just went to Universal a few months ago over thanksgiving and it was an AMAZING time, I wanted to let you in on the new changes.

BIG CHANGES!

New rides, new updates, and new shows!

2012 IS THE YEAR TO BE HERE!


Universal Orlando Resort to Offer More New Entertainment Experiences Across its Entire Destination than
During Any Other Year in its History

Universal Releases First-Ever Looks at All-New Experiences, Including Upcoming Despicable Me Attraction,
New Interactive Parade and Spectacular Nighttime Show

Orlando, Fla. (Jan. 25, 2012) – This year, Universal Orlando Resort will debut more adventure, excitement, laughter and
awe-inspiring moments than ever before – making 2012 an extraordinary year to be here.

There will be something for everyone and every family. From a new Blue Man Group show and newly re-created experience inside one of Universal Orlando’s most popular attractions to a stunning parade, spectacular nighttime show
and brand-new blockbuster attraction based on an incredibly popular film – Universal Orlando Resort is bringing guests
more new entertainment across our entire destination in 2012 than during any other year in our history.
The new experiences will begin debuting in February. Guests will discover the exhilarating entertainment of a new Blue
Man Group show; marvel at breathtaking new animation and effects in The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man;
dance and celebrate with their favorite animated characters during Universal’s Superstar Parade and relive memorable
moments from Universal Pictures most powerful and beloved films during the nighttime show Universal’s Cinematic
Spectacular – 100 Years of Movie Memories. And coming this summer – families will laugh together as they are
transformed into minions for an incredible adventure inside the new Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction.
Universal Orlando will also be marking the Universal Pictures Centennial Anniversary Celebration during 2012 with a
series of events to be announced throughout the year.

“We are about to offer our guests a historic range of incredible new entertainment experiences,” said Alice Norsworthy,Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Universal Orlando Resort. “This year will be filled with excitement and entertainment for the entire family.”

The new 2012 experiences at Universal Orlando Resort include:

Blue Man Group ~ Opening February 2012 at Universal CityWalk

Universal Orlando’s Blue Man Group show is taking their unique and captivating mash-up of high energy music, comedy,
audience participation and collective exhilaration to another level. Featuring a new show environment, new music, new
technology and new experiences, the show will allow audiences to join the Blue Men as they discover, engage and explore the world’s obsession with cutting-edge technology. Signature Blue Man Group moments combine with breathtakingly fun new pieces for an explosive evening of entertainment. New show elements include the curious Blue Men interacting with enormous “GiPads,” a funny and insightful look at contemporary communication vehicles, and a pulsating new finale with an original Blue Man Group music score that will have guests jumping to their feet. Look closely – you may even see the Blue Men take a spin on one of Universal Orlando’s most popular attractions.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ~ Experience March 2012 at Islands of Adventure

Universal Orlando is transforming what is already one of the most amazing attraction experiences ever created into what
will feel like an all-new adventure. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man will soon feature all-new, 4K digital highdefinition animation, new high tech 3-D glasses and upgrades to the set, audio and lighting systems. The re-animation of the ride film will include an entirely new level of detail for guests to discover, including a cameo by legendary comic book icon and Spider-Man co-creator, Stan Lee.

Universal’s Superstar Parade ~ Opening Spring 2012 at Universal Studios Florida
Some of today’s most beloved characters and stories will bring new adventure to the streets of Universal Studios during
Universal’s Superstar Parade – an all-new daily parade that features larger-than-life floats, state-of-the-art technology and hundreds of energetic street performers. Guests will sing and dance along with characters like the minions from Despicable Me, E.B. from the hit comedy, Hop, Nickelodeon’s Dora & Diego and SpongeBob SquarePants during the interactive experience. Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy performances and character meet and greets prior to the parade at
select locations throughout the day.

Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories ~ Opening Spring 2012 at Universal Studios Florida
Narrated by award-winning actor and recent Golden Globe – Cecil B. DeMille honoree, Morgan Freeman, Universal
Orlando’s brand-new nighttime show, Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular, will celebrate the most powerful and emotional
moments from Universal Pictures’ most iconic films – all on cutting-edge waterfall screens within the Universal Studios
lagoon and surrounded by colorful fountains and pyrotechnics. The experience will take guests on a journey through epic cinematic moments filled with heroes, horror, laughter, good vs. evil and triumph. The new show opens this spring, runs all summer and then on select nights through the end of the year.

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ~ Opening Summer 2012 at Universal Studios Florida
Universal Orlando’s newest attraction, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, will take guests on an unforgettable 3-D adventure with their favorite characters from the hit film – Gru, Margo, Edith, Agnes and the mischievous minions. The experience begins when guests enter Gru’s home, where they learn that they’re being recruited to become minions and undergo “minion training.” Things don’t go as planned, and guests find themselves on a wildly hysterical journey with Gru and his daughters. Once guests make it through training, they join an interactive, minion-inspired dance party where they can show off their best moves.

Minutes away from Universal Orlando, the popular Wet ‘n Wild water park will open its first interactive family
water play area this summer – allowing everyone in the family to splash and swim together. Amidst lush, tropical
landscaping, the new area will feature 15 water slides and more than 100 soakers, jets, waterfalls and water cannons
- making it the largest interactive water play experience in Florida.

Universal Orlando 3-night vacation packages are available starting from only $249 per adult, tax inclusive. Upgrade to an on-site hotel and receive complimentary Universal Express access to Skip The Regular Lines for FREE in both theme
parks. For more information about Universal Orlando Resort, visit www.universalorlando.com.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mother Daughter Trip; Day 2

3 Dec By 10 Comments

With the smell of sunscreen and treated water in the air, I most definitely knew we had arrived to the right place…Universal’s Islands of Adventure. While this was my daughters first time experiencing this park, I was at the grand opening many years ago when red carpets lined the walk ways and we rode the technologically advanced Spider-man over and over again. There was no doubt that the minute we entered the gates, she was in awe. A skip to her step, a twinkle to her eye, and something that I hadn’t seen in our previous day at “magical” Disney, which was a thirst for more.

Starting on the right going towards Dr. Seuss, we immediately hopped on the first ride, The Cat in the Hat, of which I was subjected to running around to do it again because it was “awesome”.

And thus our day began.

Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios are far from novices in the theme park world. With beloved characters familiar to all age groups, there wasn’t a face in the bunch (save for Dagwood and Blondie) that wasn’t a part of Charlotte’s in tune television and Internet education.


And while I could sit here and point out some “Do Not Miss” rides, but the truth is the entire park is a do not miss. Specifically the new section of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, in which you will have to pack your patience if you want a wand or a ride, and the Pteranodon Flyers, only available if you have a child with you.

There were characters everywhere. We ate lunch in Seuss Landing and pay attention to the sign that announces the character show. They read a book right where you eat and then come interact with the kids. It was right place, right time for us and Charlotte was enamored. The Grinch kept reappearing behind her during her lunch and she didn’t even know it half the time.

I got plenty of laughs.

And like all good vacationers, what would I be if I didn’t walk away without learning something new on this trip.

So here are my

Top 3 ways to make your trip to Universal a dream vacation

1) Valet Park

While Universal Studios and Universal IOA boasts free parking (which is more than any other area park) it’s quite a hike. It’s a hike in the morning with excited kids, it’s a hike in the evening with tired kids. This time we veered to the left and took valet at a price of $25 (and tip if you care to leave one, which we do). While $25 seems steep, considering Disney regular parking is $14 per day,  forking out that extra $10 was nothing. Valet put us right upon some escalators and once we were up, dumped us onto CityWalk near the theater. I was incredibly grateful 9 hours later when all we had to do was hand a ticket to the valet and wait for our car.

Best $25 you will spend the entire day, I guarantee it.

(CityWalk)

3) Express pass

Holy Moly. Universal offers an Express Pass that essentially allows you to ‘butt in line’. They only offer so many of them to guests each day and they come at a premium. That being said, I will NEVER travel to Universal again without one. Guaranteeing an express pass one time per ride, per ticket, w/ the exception of only 3 rides in the park, we were able to get actually ON the rides instead of just admiring the jeans of the person in front of us for 60-75 minutes per ride all day long. While you are budgeting for your vacation, budget this in.

We managed to ride almost every ride in the park, and there isn’t any other time you can state that.

It is the ONLY way to visit.

3) Food plan

Two years ago when I had been to Universal I didn’t partake in the food plan. With the three restaurants displaced throughout the park, I was guessing that when I was hungry I would have to race to another world to eat. I was wrong. At only $20 for an adult and $10 per child, you are able to eat all day long at any participating restaurant. If you want a dual park access for meals, the price only increased by $5. The available restaurants were aptly placed basically every other world, so you had one with in reasonable walking space. And surprisingly, the food was very good. VERY good. We visited Suess Landing and ate a pile of fried chicken, potatoes, corn, pizza and dessert. Separately the cost would have already been approx $17, so I sprung for the $30 for the meal plans. Later in the day, we ate again while visiting Jurassic Park , which consisted of chicken fingers, onion rings, cheeseburger, and two desserts.

Btw, the Big Dig restaurant also offers mac n cheese and PB&J, neither written on the wall of the menu but are there.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Charlotte was R-E-A-D-Y to check out the section of the park dedicated to Harry Potter. I expected it to be the busiest part of the park and boy, it did not disappoint. I kinda felt like I was in another country the minute I stepped through the gates. The walking areas were packed, the stores were packed, the lines in the street to get a Butterbeer were as long as the line for the rides.

People love Harry Potter.

We did a quick tour through there and decided to visit the rest of the park and then come back. Once we came back, we did a “family friendly” coaster “Flight of the Hippogriff” and were able to use our express pass (read: It was fantastic) and waited on our longest line of the day at the Forbidden Journey. I don’t want to give too much away, but I can tell you that my daughter is not afraid of heights, motion, or sound, but she IS afraid of “scary things” and was pretty scared when we got off. There are some jump out moments, large “Dementors”, drop down spiders, and more. You can prep your child all you want for the big heights, but beware that this ride may not be for every child even if they are tall enough to get on it.

This goes double for Jurassic Park River Adventure where a T Rex is waiting at the end. Lucky us got the front row, alone, and Charlotte thought she was going to be eaten.

She cried.

Ugg. Worst Mother Ever moment that day.

Mainly cause I couldn’t stop laughing.

( A little “dinosaur” living over in Jurassic Park)

Also, heed the warnings on motion sickness. Forbidden Journey leaves you no room to have a queasy stomach.

Tip: If you want a wand, while the store that sells them is really neat, it’s very very VERY tiny (and crammed full of people) and you can get your selection of wands on the last store on the way out of the park.

They had tables set up.

——–

After 9 hours, we drug our tired feet to get our car (Amen for that Valet) and very happily retired for the day. It was absolutely our most memorable day in the Central Florida area and I hope to be able to experiance both parks next time.

We left the day, hand in hand.

~Trisha

—–

media passes were provided for park entry..I still spent $300. lol

Filed Under: Family Travel Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,