Disney Vacation » Universal

What can you do in Orlando with a three-day Orlando vacation package?

admin — Thu, 20 May 2010 17:56:51 +0000

Three days may not seem like a lot, but with the right itinerary, you can experience a tremendous amount of thrills and excitement in just three days. Orlando is home to numerous attractions of varying interests. From indoor skydiving, mini golf and go-karts to theme parks, water parks, themed dining and designer outlet stores, Orlando has it all. Here are a few sample itineraries that will give you an idea of how to spend three days in the area.

Three-day Disney
Walt Disney World Resort encompasses four major theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Epcot. With a three-day park-hopper pass you can spend your vacation going between three out of the four parks. Eat lunch at Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom then walk the trails at Animal Kingdom. Explore technological innovations and indulge in worldly cuisine at Epcot, then wind down at the firework show at Hollywood Studios. Mix it up a little and have a good time.

Disney and Universal
With an option like this you can spend two days park-hopping at the Disney theme parks and your other day with a one-day, two-park Universal pass that grants you admission to both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. A different spin on this package is to spend two days at Universal, getting admission to both parks, and one day at one Disney park. This option would be better suited for guests who want to spend less time at Disney of course. And you can spend the evening eating at a themed restaurant in CityWalk or doing some shopping and dining at Downtown Disney. You might even want to catch a show at Cirque du Soleil. Whatever you choose to do, it can be done… even in just three days.

SeaWorld and Disney
If you aren’t interested in the Universal parks but you’d rather see Shamu and Mickey, check out a package that includes one-day admission to SeaWorld and a two-day park-hopper pass allowing you to jump around the Disney parks. This means you will be able to see five parks in three days if you want to. How’s that for making good use of your time?!

Disney, Universal and SeaWorld
A package like this will provide you with a one-day ticket to a Disney Park as well as to a Universal park and to SeaWorld. Such an itinerary is perfect for guests who wish to see as much diversity as possible and get a little bit out of each theme park.

As you’ve probably noticed, it’s quite possible to fit a lot to do into three days’ worth of vacation time. And remember to consider where you stay too. You have the option of staying on theme park property or in a tourist district like International Drive—that is both close to the theme parks and offers a plethora of additional attractions, dining, shopping and entertainment options. And remember to factor transportation too. Many hotels provide shuttles to theme parks, there’s a trolley on International Drive, you can always take your own car, or you can rent a car or get a taxi. However you choose to travel, know that there are plenty of ways to transport yourself into the thrills of Orlando.

Universal Studios Orlando Changes Tickets

admin — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:41:01 +0000

Universal Studios Orlando

Universal Studios in Orlando has rolled out their new ticket-pricing this past Monday. It was created in an effort to take advantage of an expected increase in attendance this Spring, when the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens its gates for the first time in 2010.

The changes included adding new three and four day tickets which were not available before. The price for two day tickets increased but the one day ticket did not have its price changed. The one day ticket currently sells for $79. If you choose the three or four day ticket option, the per day park price drops significantly. With the three day ticket, your day at the park will cost you $42 and if you choose the four day ticket, each day at the park will cost you $34.

Visitors to Universal Studios Orlando will also have the option of going to all the parks on the same exact day. This upgrade is comparable to Walt Disney World’s Park Hopper option which allow park visitors to hop to all of the major Disney theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot Center) all in the same day. The main drawback with Park hopping at Disney World is that their theme parks all take to or 30 minutes to get to so hopping from park to park is quite a task. Those who choose to do so at Universal Studios will be able to visit the various Universal parks much more quickly.

Orlando Theme Parks Compete for Visitors

admin — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:41:38 +0000

Disney Castle

It seems that the two largest theme parks in Orlando, Florida are competing for attention more than usual this year. You can’t avoid the news lately. First we hear that Universal is coming out with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure. With billions of Harry Potter fans around the world, this new attraction is destined to be a big hit among park-goers. Opening next Spring, people all over the world are waiting in anticipation to be among the first to experience the Harry Potters films in person.

Next, we learn that Disney has purchased Marvel. Well, everyone knows that Universal Orlando has Super Hero Island at Islands of Adventure, which features Marvel characters. This section of the park contains rides and attractions with Spiderman, Hulk, and X-Men. So, the Disney purchase of Marvel is bound to affect Universal’s park in some way.

Then last month it was announced that Disney will be expanding and improving their Fantasyland, part of the Magic Kingdom theme park. This announcement has earned mass and expected appeal from little girls, because of the focus on Disney’s princesses. But little boys and adults alike are also looking forward to the new “land.” New rides and attractions, plus improvements to some existing ones promise to boost attendance of people who have “done Magic Kingdom” before and thought they wouldn’t be interested in going back for a long time. Well, Disney has given the world reasons to visit again- soon.

All of these changes do breed competition among the big theme parks of Central Florida, but this only means good things for tourism in the area. It poses a dilemma for people who do not live in the Orlando area, though. Some who travel here will be forced to choose between the parks, but since they’re opening the new attractions years apart from one another, it may be the best scenario for the Orlando area. Hopefully, people will rush to Universal when the Harry Potter park opens and then rush back to Orlando when Disney’s made its changes to Fantasyland. We Floridians say, “Keep ‘em coming!”

Orlando Vacation – Holidays at the Disney Parks

admin — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:47:59 +0000

Disney Holidays

It’s that time again. September signals the beginning of the holiday season for me and the Orlando vacation market. Of course, not all people include Halloween in with “the holidays,” but I do. And starting in September, Halloween decorations and events become available. Halloween through New Year’s Eve is part of the holiday season in my book, and there is so much to do in Central Florida during these four months. There is absolutely no reason for any family or individual, for that matter, to be bored for the rest of the year.

To kick off this season of plenty to do, are the Christian music events. Universal has Rock the Universe and Disney World has Night of Joy, both around the first half of September. Then all of the area’s major theme parks have special Halloween events. Universal has Halloween Horror Nights. Disney has Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, and Busch Gardens has Howl O’ Scream. Those are the major ones that get a lot of attention because they advertise on television, radio, and billboards. But there are hundreds of other Halloween events going on in the area, too. For example, zoos, museums, churches, and farmers all host their own Halloween or Harvest events. And of course, there is always the traditional Halloween night activity of trick-or-treating.

So ready or not, here the holidays come. This year, I am actually happy to see the Halloween decorations in stores, unlike some years. Some years, it just seems too soon, but for some reason, this year, I say “bring it on.” Perhaps it’s the kind of summer we had- hot and humid almost every day. I can’t wait to start feeling the cool air of fall and then winter. And I, for one, will not have a chance to be bored, because I plan to make the most of this wonderful, action-packed time in Central Florida.

Universal Studios Orlando – Harry Potter Theme Park

admin — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:55:23 +0000

Harry Potter Theme Park

Am I the only one who thinks it is surprising that Universal Studios Orlando is opening an entire theme park centered around Harry Potter? I can certainly understand a ride or even maybe a section of a theme park, but a whole park for it? They’re calling it a theme park within a theme park. I have to say I didn’t think it could draw that many people. First of all, you have a whole population of people who would not even consider going because of religious conflicts. I know plenty of families who would not allow their children to read the books or watch the movies.

Second, isn’t Harry Porter mainly for younger age children? Is a 9 to 16 year old target audience enough to support a whole park? Of course there are older kids, even adults who would be interested in going to a Harry Potter theme park (named “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter”), but I am surprised that there is a large enough market for it. And I do believe Universal did their market research. I’m sure they don’t just act on projects of this magnitude without feeling fairly confident that they will not only be able to make money, but continue doing if for years and years to come. They wouldn’t put this many millions of dollars into this, only to tear it down and build something else in a few years. Apparently, they think Harry Potter will be hot for a very long time. Boy J.K. Rowling must be richer than rich.

Well, in any event, the park is scheduled to open next summer. It’s part of Islands of Adventure. Maybe I’m totally clueless as to the size of the Harry Potter fanbase. I mean, I know it’s large, but I must be really missing something for me to be so surprised at the whole idea.