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Universal Orlando Resort

 
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If you ever wanted to know what it would feel like to work behind the scenes in a movie, or what it would be like to be in a movie, a trip to Universal Studios Theme Parks is for you.

Even in the days of silent films, Universal Studios offered tours; over the years the public was allowed to walk through dressing rooms and performance sets, and sometimes even watch during the production of a movie. Little by little, activities were added: first a tram ride took guests through the studio's backlot, then stunt shows, performances and rides were created. The rides and shows are centered around some of the most popular movies to come out of Universal Studios, including Jurassic Park, Earthquake, Jaws, Back to the Future, Psycho and Shrek.

Today there are also hotels, multiscreen theaters, shops and restaurants in two different theme park locations in the US: Hollywood, CA, and Orlando, FL. There is also Universal Studios Japan.

This article is about Universal Orlando Resort. For information on California's theme park see Universal Hollywood Tour.

Universal Orlando Resort hosts two theme parks: Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. The parks are open from 9 am until sometime between 7 and 10 pm, depending on the season. Both sites have rides and attractions for the whole family. Steven Spielberg acted as creative consultant for Islands of Adventure, which bills itself as "the spot for serious thrill-seekers of all ages."

Located between the entrances to the two theme parks is Universal CityWalk, an entertainment strip with nightclubs, restaurants, comedy centers, shops, movie theaters and street performers.

Ticket prices for Universal Orlando Resort (as of August 1, 2006):

  • Two-day/two-park ticket (for all ages): $109.95 plus tax
  • One-day/one-park ticket: adults – $63.00 plus tax, children ages 3–9 – $52 plus tax
  • Year-pass for parks, plus free parking and discounts on food and merchandise: $179.95 plus tax
  • Power Annual Pass, including year's admission with some blackout dates: $119.95 plus tax
  • CityWalk Party Pass, including unlimited club-to-club access: $9.95 plus tax (CityWalk Party Pass is free with multi-day theme park admission)
  • CityWalk Party Pass plus a movie: $13.95 plus tax
  • Universal Meal Deal: eat at selected restaurants in the park all day long for one price; One-day/one-park adult ticket – $18.99 plus tax, child under 9 – $8.99 plus tax. One-day/two-park adult ticket – $22.99 plus tax, child under 9 – $10.99 plus tax
  • Multi-Park Tickets: 5-Park Orlando Flexticket with unlimited admission to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, SeaWorld, Wet 'n Wild and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, for up to 14 consecutive days: adult – $234.95 plus, child – $199.95 plus tax; Four-Park Orlando Flexticket with unlimited admission to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, SeaWorld and Wet 'n Wild for up to 14 consecutive days: adult – $189.95 plus tax, child – $155.95 plus tax
  • Special offers and discounts for Florida residents are available online
  • Universal Express PLUS allows entrance to rides and attractions through a special express entrance. Guests of Universal hotels can present their hotel room key for express entrance. Others can purchase the Universal Express PLUS card in advance online or buy it at the park.

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Wikipedia: Universal Orlando Resort
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Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Globe.JPG
Theme parks

Universal Studios Florida
Islands of Adventure
CityWalk Orlando
Wet 'n Wild Orlando

Resort hotels

Hard Rock Hotel
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Loews Royal Pacific Resort

Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Orlando Resort is a theme park resort in Orlando, Florida. It is a joint partnership between NBC Universal and the Blackstone Group. The resort consists of two theme parks (Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure), Universal CityWalk (a night-time entertainment destination), and three Loews Hotels. Universal Orlando Resort is the largest property owned by Universal Studios Theme Parks; it is also the second-largest resort in Greater Orlando, after the Walt Disney World Resort.

Contents

History

The resort began with the original Universal Studios Florida which opened on June 7, 1990. Expansion occurred in 1999, adding Islands of Adventure, Universal CityWalk, on-site hotels, and two multi-level parking structures. In addition, a direct exit was constructed off of I-4, since previously the only access was via Kirkman Road.

What was previously a single theme park became a gargantuan resort destination much larger than Universal Studios Hollywood, and designed to be a head-to-head rival to Walt Disney World Resort. The resort was originally named Universal Studios Escape, but the name was quickly changed to Universal Orlando Resort.

Location

Universal Orlando is located north of the International Drive resort area, on a parcel of land framed by Interstate 4 to the south, Kirkman Road to the east, Vineland Road to the north, and Turkey Lake Road to the west. The resort is directly accessible from I-4 via Exit 74B, which empties eastbound onto Universal Boulevard and westbound onto Hollywood Way.

Universal Orlando is served by LYNX buses (links) 21, 37, and 40.(Schedules)

Universal Studios Florida

Panoramic view of Universal Studios Florida's lagoon

Universal Studios Florida, opened On June 7, 1990, is a theme park that lets visitors "Ride the Movies." The themes of Universal Studio's are targeted at making guests feel like they are in a movie set with rides that are inspired by popular films. The park consists of six themed areas - Hollywood, Production Central, New York, San Francisco / Amity, World Expo and KidZone.

Universal's Islands of Adventure

Lighthouse at the entrance to Islands of Adventure

Islands of Adventure opened in May 1999. The park is currently composed of six distinct "islands", each having its own theme. Visitors start off in the Port of Entry and make their way through the various islands - Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, Jurassic Park, The Lost Continent, and Seuss Landing. A new island themed to the popular Harry Potter film and book series was announced in May 2007, with a scheduled opening in 2010.

Universal CityWalk

Universal CityWalk includes the 20 screen AMC Universal Cineplex, numerous restaurants, shops, and clubs. It is also home to Margraritaville, NBA City Cafe, NASCAR Cafe, Hard Rock Cafe and Hard Rock Live, and Emeril's. The clubs at CityWalk include Latin Quarter, The Groove, Pat O'Brians, Rising Star, Bob Marley's, Red Coconut, and Cigarz.

Halloween Horror Nights

Promotional poster for the 2008 edition, featuring the Bloody Mary character.

Halloween Horror Nights is one of the largest Halloween events in the U.S., presented annually at Universal Orlando Resort. From 1991-2001, the event was held at Universal Studios Florida. The Halloween Horror Nights was expanded to Islands of Adventure in 2002, but the event was moved back to Universal Studios Florida in 2006.

Resorts

The resort features three official on-site hotels: Loews Royal Pacific Hotel, the Hard Rock Hotel, and Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. All three hotels have been given the AAA Four Diamond rating and are located in close proximity to the Universal Orlando theme parks. The hotels offer guests free water taxi or shuttle bus service to the Universal Orlando theme parks. Another benefit is that the guest room key works as an "Express Pass", allowing the guest to bypass the Stand-by line at any attraction with the "Express Pass" option. Theme park guests who are not staying at the Universal official hotels may be able to purchase "Express Passes" at an additional cost.

Water park

In 2007, Universal began considering the Wet 'n Wild park in Orlando, which it purchased in 1998, a part of Universal Orlando Resort. It is located adjacent to Universal Orlando property, across Interstate 4 at International Drive and Universal Boulevard.

Gallery

External links

Coordinates: 28°28′28″N 81°27′46″W / 28.474316°N 81.462843°W / 28.474316; -81.462843


 
 

 

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