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Universal Studios Is Already Prepping For A Horror Show Halloween

June 30, 2009 at 12:37 PM | 0 Comments

Although summer has just begun, the theme park-loving people are already looking forward to the next major holiday. To get the blood racing, Universal Studios has announced a few new details about this year’s Halloween festivities, and like usual, it looks to put other park’s offerings to shame.

The theme this year, Halloween Horror Nights, will be based on slasher films, horror flicks, and other scary movies. The parks on each coast will have similar offerings, but the park in Orlando has announced a few more details than its sibling out west.

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Summer Concerts An Added Bonus At Universal Orlando

May 28, 2009 at 3:32 PM | 0 Comments

If waiting in a long line for your shot to ride the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is not your idea of a good time at Universal Studios Orlando, then you might want to consider some of their summertime entertainment. The Summer Concert Series kicks off on June 13 with a concert by Jordin Sparks, and admission is included in your daily park pass—no need to shell out any additional cash.

Things continue with performances by LL Cool J on June 20 and Natasha Bedingfield on June 27. Even The O’Jays cruise into town over the Independence Day holiday weekend to help celebrate and kickoff the fireworks displays.

Apparently park officials aren’t too familiar with a calendar, as the concert series ends without anything else planned for July and nothing at all for August. Well, we guess it’s better than nothing.

Related Stories:
·Universal Orlando Summer Concert Series [Official Site]
·Theme Parks Are Cookin' Up Some Goods For Summer '09 [Jaunted]
·Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of another Universal Orlando concert: divemasterking2000]

Universal Orlando's Newest Coaster Delayed Until 'Late Spring or Summer'

April 30, 2009 at 3:41 PM | 0 Comments

If you were planning to head to Universal Studios in Orlando soon, you may want to push your trip out a couple months. The Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit coaster has been delayed from its original launch date, and is now looking to thrill tourists starting in “late spring/early summer.” Um, isn't it already late spring? Anyways, at least they’ve finally revealed some details of the coaster.

Before riding this new steel beast you’ll pick your own soundtrack to listen to while you are trying to hang on for your life at up to 65 mph. Even fans of country will be able to listen to their favorite Toby Keith joint, as the song selection will encompass five different genres of music. At the end of your trip you can even purchase a video of your ride complete with the soundtrack you picked—sounds expensive.

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Theme Parks Are Cookin' Up Some Goods For Summer '09

March 20, 2009 at 11:31 AM | 0 Comments

If traveling to Germany isn’t within your summer vacation budget, then you might want to check out the roller coaster offerings stateside. Park officials are betting big time that you’ll be spending what’s left of your money on entertainment close to home. So, they’ll be trying to lure your hard earned cash with five big coasters all across the country, and we’ve got the scoop on what they have to offer.

Of course Florida is in the mix for the 2009 season. We’ve discussed how the Hollywood Rip, Ride Rockit will be racing into Universal Studios Florida this summer, but we don’t know when or how. Exact specifications on this thing are sketchy at best, and it seems like they’ve been building it forever. They’ll be music, color changing effects, and other fancy newfangled technology. However, unless this thing is the second coming of coasters, we’re thinking it could be the flop of 2009.

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We Wish You A Merry Grinchmas

December 5, 2008 at 1:30 PM | 0 Comments

The holiday celebration gets underway tomorrow at the Universal Orlando Resort. Mannheim Steamroller comes to Universal Studios with performances at 6 pm and 8 pm, and surprisingly, the concerts are included with your daily admission. Besides the Christmas decorations and music that you’ll find throughout the parks, there are some special events to catch, too:

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Universal Studios Preparing For Optimus Prime

November 4, 2008 at 10:30 AM | 0 Comments

Despite the continued economic worries, one theme park appears to be continuing business as usual. Universal Studios recently announced that their parks in Hollywood and Singapore would be getting a new ride based on the Transformers series.

The ride is still being planned and isn’t set to debut until 2011, but it will incorporate all of the latest bells and whistles--robotics, 3D and high-definition. Both director Michael Bay and producer Steven Spielberg have even signed on to advise in the ride’s production, so we can hope for a half-way decent experience.

No word yet on whether Megan Fox will make an appearance in full 3D.

Related Stories:
· Giant Robots Are Coming to Singapore, Hollywood [AP, via Google]
· Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: jquiz]

Theme Parks Travel: Eating with the King

October 10, 2008 at 9:45 AM | 0 Comments

Just when things got a little healthier at the nation's theme parks, Burger King announced that it plans to create its first Whopper Bar next spring at Universal Studios Orlando. The new concept located within CityWalk will be about half the size of a usual restaurant and will try its best to be trendy.

These restaurants will feature all the usual fast-food favorites as well as a more customizable approach to the traditional burger that they're calling the Whopper Topper area.

If things go well in Orlando, officials are planning to open several more burger bars in other high traffic locations--like your local airport.

Related Stories:
· BK to Debut Whopper Bar Next Year [NRN]
· Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: jurek d.]

The Best Halloween Theme Parks: Halloween Horror Nights

September 30, 2008 at 1:00 PM | 1 Comment

Since its inception, Universal Studios Orlando has been celebrating Halloween, and this year is no different, as Halloween Horror Nights: Reflections of Fear comes to the park.

While the frights at Knott's Berry Farm are certainly spooky, Universal Studios' holiday special is for people who want to be uncomfortably terrified during their trip: Bloody Mary and other recreated urban legends are the focus of this year's scare fest.

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Theme Parks Travel: Universal Studios' Newest Coaster

September 25, 2008 at 12:00 PM | 1 Comment

Earlier this year we were a little too wrapped up in The Simpsons Ride to dedicate any love to the newest attraction at Universal Studios Florida. We mentioned the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit briefly but now we've got more info on it.

Set to debut next year, the coaster will be the biggest in the Orlando area, standing more than 17 stories high, with cars that whip around turns and loops at more than 65 mph. This is definitely one to try before lunch.

If the coaster itself doesn't entertain you, there'll be advanced audio and visual effects both and off the ride, so there's certainly a good chance that something will catch your fancy. You can even pick your own music before you take off on your adventure. Artist renditions just don't cut it, so check out some shots of the construction work here.

Related Stories:
· Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit [Official Site]
· Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Universal Studios]

Theme Parks Travel: It'll Cost You!

August 7, 2008 at 10:15 AM | 0 Comments

This past weekend, Disney raised prices at both Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California. At the World, a one-day ticket will now set you back $75--almost $80 when you include the tax. (The price is up $4.) A similar ticket to the California park is now going for $69, but at least there's no tax.

Not to be outdone, Universal Studios Orlando matched the pricing in an update on Wednesday. Through a statement by Michael Lewellen, Universal VP for public relations, we learned that the price increase was due to the addition of new attractions like The Simpsons Ride, the new Harry Potter world, and the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit coaster coming in 2009. He also admitted that the increase might have had something to do with a jump in ticket prices at Disney.

As of now SeaWorld Orlando is holding steady right under $70 a day, but it's looking likely that they'll get in on the fun as well. If this is going to break the bank for your next theme park vacation, you may want to look for a ticket broker. Often they buy tickets in bulk and may have some of the previous tickets left for sale. Every little bit helps!

Related Stories:
· Universal Keeps Pace with Disney and Raises Ticket Price to $75 [Orlando Sentinel]
· The Blankety-Blanks at Disney Have Done It Again [Arthur Frommer]
· Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: graciepoo]

New York's Gone, Universal Studios Moves on

June 4, 2008 at 3:15 PM | 0 Comments

Universal Studios is still recovering from the massive fire that broke out on Sunday, and we noticed that a bunch of FAQs about the fire were posted today on the park's website.

Not much has changed since we last reported on the fire on Monday. The King Kong attraction and New York streets are gone. But the theme park is operating normally, and there aren't any ticket discounts. A press release from the park boldly tell us that "The show must go on."

We were just at Universal on May 21 and snapped this shot of the backlot as we headed down to take the studio tour. You can see the New York set from here. Universal says it will be rebuilt--along with a new attraction to replace King Kong.

Related Stories:
· Universal Studios Catches Fire, Loses Important Movie Stuff [Jaunted]
· Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]

Universal Studios Catches Fire, Loses Important Movie Stuff

June 2, 2008 at 8:45 AM | 0 Comments

One of the backlots at Universal Studios in Burbank caught fire early Sunday morning, destroying a lot of precious movie memorabilia and sets including the King Kong exhibit, the courthouse square of Back to the Future and the New York Street, along with 40,000 reels of movies.

The theme park initially said it would remain open Sunday, along with the backlot tour, but the fire department closed the park as well as CityWalk, the retail and entertainment complex attached to it. Everything is scheduled to reopen this morning at 10 am.

Despite the fire, the MTV Movie Awards were televised live from the Gibson Theater at Universal.

No cause has been given as of yet, though highly flammable sets helped fuel the fire. After the jump, a quick video of the now-gutted New York Street area of the backlot.

Update: Universal Studios just sent out a statement saying that the actual BTTF Courthouse was saved, as were about half the buildings on the square. The park also confirmed that the King Kong attraction and New York Street were both lost as reported.

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