Florida Vacation Blog

Archive for the ‘Universal’ Category

Boy Genius fans beware.

Universal Orlando® Resort is preparing to close the Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast attraction at Universal Studios Florida,® effective April 1, 2011.

Universal will immediately begin work on an all-new theme park experience, however, the Jimmy Neutron ride will be re-opened for limited periods throughuot the spring and summer. The attraction is slated to close permanently on August 11.

Universal states the the replacement attraction will be based on an amazing concept and be a natural fit for Universal Orlando. However, additional details are not yet available.

The Themed Entertainment Association recently honored Universal Orlando Resort with four THEA Awards for the theme park’s new Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

The awards for Wizarding World, which opened to huge crowds in 2010, were announced during the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) convention held in Orlando.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was recognized for two awards. One was for outstanding achievement in a “new theme park land” and another was for “thematic integration of retail, food and beverage experiences.”

The Wizarding World’s new state-of-the-art ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, also received two awards. One was given for outstanding achievement for a “featured attraction” and the other for “technical achievement.”

Universal was praised for the overall magnificence of the new theme park area and for the level of detail involved in the creation of the Wizarding World.

For more information on discount Orlando family theme park vacations and discount Orlando accommodations such as Westgate Resorts, visit www.Westgatereservations.com or www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com.

Music is in the air. At least it will be starting Saturday night at Universal Orlando.

The Universal Orlando Summer Concert Series kicks off June 12 at Universal Studios Florida with featured musical guest, Train.  It’s the first in a series of Saturday night concerts slated throughout the summer season. Other performers scheduled include Pitbull, Earth, Wind & Fire, Rob Thomas, Pat Benetar and REO Speedwagon, as well as Counting Crows.

For details, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com. Or for more information on discount Universal theme park tickets and Orlando vacation packages, go to www.Orlandothemeparkvacations.com.

It’s almost time for another Velvet Sessions at Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando. The popular rock ‘n’ roll cocktail party is held the last Thursday of every month (excluding November and December).

This month’s featured artist is Everclear, best known for songs like “Everything to Everyone” and “Wonderful.” The Universal Orlando Resort hotel event begins at 6:30 pm on June 24, 2010.

Advance admission is available for $25 online and includes specialty cocktails, finger foods and the concert held in the Hard Rock Hotel’s lobby lounge and Velvet Bar. Parking is free.

Each Velvet Sessions event showcases a different type of beverage theme while past  performers have included Joan Jett, The Tubes, Eddie Mondy, The Romantics, The Fixx, Foreigner, ABC and others.

For more information, go to www.velvetsessions.com. For details on discount Orlando vacation packages and Universal Orlando theme park tickets, go to www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com.

Some of music’s biggest stars are coming to Orlando this summer. It’s all part of Universal Orlando’s exciting Summer Concert Series.

Best of all, it’s included with regular theme park admission to Universal Studios Florida. So catch a ride on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. Ride the Movies. Enjoy a full day of fun in the sun. Then kick back and soak up the sounds of your favorite bands, including:

June 12th - Train
June 19th - Pitbull
June 26th - Earth, Wind, and Fire
July 3rd - Pat Benatar and REO Speedwagon
July 10th - Rob Thomas
July 17th - Counting Crows

It’s all yours this summer and it’s only at Universal Orlando® Resort! For more details on Universal Orlando, go to www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com.

Goodbye April and Hello May! Just a few days away from May 5 and Cinco de Mayo celebrations around the globe.

If you’re in Orlando, you can catch the biggest Cinco de Mayo party in town at Universal Orlando CityWalk’s Latin Quarter from 5 pm til close. Enjoy free admission from 5-8 pm. There will be a $7 cover charge after 8 pm (must be 21 for admission after 8 pm).

The celebration includes one complimentary Dos Equis, Tecate or margarita (must be 21 or older). You can also enjoy a variety of drink and food specials.

For additional information, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com.

There will be music aplenty filling the delightful springtime air throughout Orlando this weekend. All three of Orlando’s major theme parks are offering special concert series performances.

At Disney’s Epcot, you can turn back the clock to the 1960s and 1970s during the Flower Power Concert Series. The series, which is part of the park’s annual International Flower and Garden Festival, takes place under the skies of the open-air American Gardens Theatre. This weekend’s performances - Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m. & 7:45 p.m. - feature Paul Revere and The Raiders.

At nearby Universal Studios Florida, the extended Mardi Gras celebration continues on Saturday with a fun filled Mardi Gras parade and concert at 8:30 featuring Aretha Franklin.

Meanwhile, at SeaWorld Orlando, Viva La Musica takes place Saturday afternoon with an appearance by musical guest Oscar D’Leon at 4 p.m.

The party goes on and on at Universal Studios Florida as the popular Mardi Gras celebration continues through mid-April. This week’s musical guest is Akon, the Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter and one of the music industry’s fastest-rising stars.

Akon’s special mix of hip-hop, R&B and rap includes a number of chart-topping hits like Lonely, I Wanna Love You, Don’t Matter and Dangerous. He’s the first artist to accomplish the feat of holding both the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice.

A frequent guest on TV’s American Idol, Akon brings his act to Universal’s Mardi Gras at 8:30 pm on March 6, 2010.

Go to www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com for information on Universal Studios, Mardi Gras and other Orlando area theme parks and attractions, as well as details on discount theme park tickets and Orlando vacation packages. Or visit www.WestgateReservations.com/sweepstakes.cfm for information on discount Orlando resort and hotel lodging.

Universal Orlando is promoting vacation packages featuring the soon-to-open Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction at Islands of Adventure. Deals are valid for travel beginning May 28, 2010, meaning the long awaited Harry Potter adventure should be open no later than late May.

The $200 million theme park expansion project is taking shape with Hogwarts Castle and Hogsmeade Village as the central attractions.

For more information on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com. For details on discount theme park tickets, discount Orlando, Florida vacation packages and more, visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com or www.westgatereservations.com/sweepstakes.cfm.

Get ready to celebrate. While the official Mardi Gras celebration kicks off in New Orleans, Mardi Gras Universal Studios style has already started in Orlando with a a long list of weekly concerts and parades plus fabulous food and plenty of beads.

The party really gets cranking tonight, Feb. 16, at Pat O’Brien’s within Universal CityWalk where the popular restaurant/club is hosting a Fat Tuesday celebration to kick off the Lenten season. From 4pm til close, you can enjoy a live party band, special drink discounts, New Orleans style food specials, stilt walkers, bead girls and plenty of other fun and entertainment.

Admission is free until 7 p.m.

After 7 p.m., admission is $8 per person or $20 for a VIP ticket offering private balcony access, light appetizers from 4-8 pm and free admission to select CityWalk clubs.

This week’s Mardi Gras concert features the music of Blondie and lead singer Deborah Harry. Ranging from disco and punk to new wave and hip hop, Blondie is best known for hits like Call Me, The Tide is High, One Way or Another, Heart of Glass and Rapture.

For additional information on Mardi Gras events at Universal Orlando or discount Orlando vacation packages and theme park tickets, visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com. Or to register for a free resort getaway sweepstakes, go to www.WestgateReservations.com/sweepstakes.cfm.