Universal Orlando Resort , commonly known as Universal Orlando , formerly Universal Studios Escape , is an American amusement park and entertainment resort complex based in Orlando, Florida. The resort is operated by Universal Parks & amp; Resorts. It is wholly owned by NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast. Universal Orlando is the second largest resort in Greater Orlando, after the Walt Disney World resort, which includes 541 acres of land.
Universal Orlando consists of two theme parks (Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure), a water park (Volcano Bay), nightlife complex (Universal CityWalk Orlando), and six Loews Hotels (Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, and Universal's Aventura Hotel). All resort hotels offer early entry into the park, and the upscale hotel resorts offer free Express Express Pass indefinitely.
Universal Orlando is one of the most visited resorts in the world, currently with an annual attendance of 21 million by 2017. Universal Orlando is the flagship resort of Universal Park & ​​amp; The resort, mainly due to the competitive nature of the resort and Walt Disney World.
Video Universal Orlando
Histori
Universal Orlando opened in 1990 as a Universal Studios Florida theme park. Opened as a joint venture between Universal Entertainment and The Blackstone Group. The park competes directly with Disney MGM Studios (now called Disney's Hollywood Studios).
In 1994, executives began planning the expansion of the resort into a multi-day vacation destination. In late 1995, construction began in a new park, Islands of Adventure. The Islands of Adventure Preview Center opened in May 1997 replacing the Home Video Adventure Screen Test. During this time, several new attractions are being built and opened at Universal Studios Florida, including KidZone Woody Woodpecker, which opened in 1998, Men in Black: Alien Attack and Animal Actors On Location! (formerly Animal Planet Live).
On 28 May 1999, Islands of Adventure opened to the general public. It features six "island" themes, including Entrance Port, Seuss Landing, The Lost Continent, Jurassic Park, Toon Lagoon, and Marvel Super Hero Island. The park opened for mediocre presence, and several attractions closed shortly thereafter, including the Island Skipper Tour, due to lack of attendance.
Along with the new theme park, the resort also opens Universal Universal CityWalk version of Universal Studios Hollywood. CityWalk Orlando, but with different places and designs. Universal also opened its first hotel in the hotel in September 1999. Loews Portofino Bay Hotel (originally Portofino Bay Hotel, Loews Hotel) is operated and partly owned by Loews Hotel but also partly owned by Universal and The Blackstone Group. The two theme parks, CityWalk, and the hotel were branded as Universal Studios Escape, but the name was soon changed to Universal Orlando Resort. In December 2000, the Hard Rock Hotel opened as Orlando's 2nd hotel hotel. Apart from its name, the hotel is owned by Loews Hotels, such as Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and is not affiliated with Hard Rock International. In 2001, Loews Royal Pacific Resort opened. In the middle of all these openings, two parking garages were built and the popular water park Wet 'n Wild Orlando was acquired. In 2003, rumors began spinning that Harry Potter's themed attraction would come to Universal or one of Disney's parks. On May 31, 2007, Universal, in partnership with Warner Bros., officially announced the Harry Potter Magic World will be added to the Islands of Adventure park. More than three years later, on June 18, 2010, the seventh "island" in Universal's Islands of Adventure, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, was opened.
Shortly after the grand opening success of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade, the rumors started spinning once more, this time from the second Potter-themed area at Universal Studios Florida. It was soon announced that Universal would begin construction of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley, replacing Jaws: The Ride.
On July 8, 2014, Diagon Alley was officially opened to the public.
The Blackstone Group sold its stake in Universal Orlando in early 2011.
Maps Universal Orlando
Theme park and main area
Universal Studios Florida consists of area and themed attractions based on the film industry. Visitors get dining and themed shopping, special events throughout the year, and can even catch a film crew who is actually working on the backlot. The original theme park at the resort, Universal Studios Florida opened on June 7, 1990, as an amusement park that allows visitors "Ride Films." Universal Studios Orlando theme is targeted to make guests feel like they are in a movie set with rides, shows, and attractions inspired by popular movies, television and music production. The park consists of eight themed areas - Hollywood, Production Center, New York, San Francisco, Diagon Alley/London, World Expo, Springfield, and Kidzone Woody Woodpecker.
Universal's Islands of Adventure, opened in May 1999, is an amusement park consisting of seven different "islands" of various adventure themes. The visitors begin their journey in Port of Entry and explore the various islands - Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, Jurassic Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade, The Lost Continent, and Seuss Landing. The Harry Potter Magic World, based on the popular Harry Potter franchise , is the only island to be added after the park is opened; opened to the public on June 18, 2010.
Universal CityWalk Orlando opened in 1999, above the former parking lot and entrance, as part of the expansion that created Universal Orlando Resort. Guests arrive at the resort's park in one of two multi-storey parking structures, then travel through a covered moving sidewalk across Universal Boulevard to CityWalk. From there, guests can proceed to one of the theme parks, Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure. The Universal Store offers merchandise from both parks. CityWalk features shopping, nightclubs, dining venues, AMC Movie Theater and Blue Man Group performances. There are many nightclubs in CityWalk including Groove, Rising Star CityWalks (karaoke club with live band), Red Coconut Club, and Bob Marley-A Tribute to Freedom (both nightclubs and restaurants). Some important locations are The Cowfish, Hard Rock Cafe, Margaritaville Jimmy Buffett, Emeril, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company and Voodoo Donut. Casual dining locations include: Southwest Moe Grill, Burger King Whopper Bar, Panda Express, Pizza Oven Red Bread, and Fusion Bistro Sushi & amp; Sake Bar.
Wet 'n Wild was founded in 1977 by SeaWorld founder George Millay as one of the first major water parks. In 1998, Wet 'n Wild was acquired by Universal Parks & amp; Resorts, adding it to Universal Orlando. There are eighteen water slides and attractions in the water park. Popular attractions include The Storm , Bomb Bay , Disco H20 , Mach 5 and The Surge . Wet 'n Wild is located at the intersection of International Drive and Universal Boulevard, about half a mile south of Universal Orlando's parking garage. Wet 'n Wild officially closed on 31 December 2016 due to the opening of Volcano Bay, Universal Orlando 53 acre (21 hectares) at a water park near Cabana Bay Beach Resort which opened on May 25, 2017. It was announced on March 21, 2017 that the land once occupied by Wet 'n Wild will be transformed into Universal's seventh hotel. It was later discovered that Universal would divide the property into two hotels instead of one resort.
Resorts
The resort has five official hotels in place with a total of up to 5,600 rooms. These five hotels are located near Universal Orlando theme park. The hotel offers free water taxi or shuttle bus service to Universal Orlando theme park. The hotels are divided into three categories; main hotel, hotel of choice and hotel of major value. Universal's sixth hotel, Aventura Hotel, will open in August 2018.
Two more resorts will be built on land previously occupied by Wet 'n Wild Orlando and are expected to open in mid 2019. The hotels, which will have a total of 2,800 rooms on a wetland of 64 acre wetlands, will be shared by Universal Boulevard with one 2,050 resort rooms on one side and 750 other resort rooms across the street. The hotels will start taking reservations in early 2018. On April 5, 2018, the names of these hotels are announced as Surfside Inn and Suites, which will open in 2019, and Dockside Inn and Suites, which will open in 2020. Hotels 'the new area will be called Universal's Endless Summer Resort.
Events
Halloween Horror Nights
On certain nights in September to early November, Universal Studios Florida turns into an annual Halloween event, Halloween Horror Nights. Halloween Horror Nights, or HHN as it is more popular, is one of the biggest Halloween events in the US. From 1991-2001, the event was held at Universal Studios Florida. Halloween Horror Nights was transferred to the Islands of Adventure in 2002, and the 2004 event featured part of both parks, but the event was moved back to Universal Studios Florida in 2006. The event celebrates its twentieth anniversary in 2010, and celebrates 25th birthday in 2015. The show usually features "icons" that lead terror every night along with an average of nine haunted houses and various inevitable zoning zones. This is a separate ticket event.
Rock the Universe
Rock the Universe is an annual Christian rock music festival located at Universal Studios Florida. It started in 1998, and has been running ever since. Events usually occur in early September, and last for two days. Many Christian rock artists played throughout the second night's show. The resort offers special tickets, packages and church partnerships for that weekend. Select attractions also opened all night long.
Summer Concert Series
Summer Concert Series takes place every year, on selected Saturday nights, and features a variety of popular music acts that appear live on The Universal Music Plaza Stage in Universal Studios Florida Central Production; adjacent to the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster. The event is included with regular park reception, and occurs during normal park operating hours.
Grad Bash and Gradventure
Grad Bash and Gradventure are two separate events held in April and May in the park. Grad Bash is an upscale high school graduation event that can gather for an exclusive party all night at Universal Orlando and Islands of Adventure. The show features live performances by some of the most popular artists, dance parties with DJs, and a pre-party at The Universal Music Plaza Stage in the Central Production section of Universal Studios Florida. Gradventure is very similar but designed to graduate high school students. Both events are sponsored by Coca-Cola.
The Universal Vacation Parade displays Macy's
Macy's Holiday Parade brings some authentic balloons from Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to Orlando for a month-long month in December highlighting Christmas at Universal Studios Florida.
Mardi Gras
Generally from February to April, a series of parades and concerts inspired by the Fat Tuesday New Orleans party are held at Universal Studios Florida. The show features merchandises especially for celebrations and is usually held on Friday and Saturday evenings. Every evening show guests will hear some Louisiana bands performing blues, and Zydeco. The party after that happened in the French Quarter at Universal CityWalk. This includes a park entrance fee.
Harry Potter Celebration
The Harry Potter Celebration is an annual three-day weekend event held on the last weekend of January at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, celebrating the fandom of Harry Potter books written by JK Rowling and the film series based on books, in collaboration between Universal Park & ​​amp; Resorts, Warner Bros. Entertainment and Gramedia. The event, which was introduced on the weekend of January 24-26, 2014, features a Q & amp; Sessions, panels, special demonstrations, photo-ops, exhibitions from Pottermore, Gramedia, MinaLima corporate graphic designer and film and costume props brought from Warner Bros. Studio Tour London at Leavesden and the Harry Potter exhibition tour. During the show's debut in 2014, Diagon Alley's expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Florida was still under construction at the time, raising hopes among the celebration participants on what to expect from the new area of ​​the theme park, which was set to open the same year. Since the debut of the event, the actors of the films that have attended the celebration include: Matthew Lewis, James and Oliver Phelps, Evana Lynch, Murray Devon, Mark Williams, Michael Gambon, Robbie Coltrane, Rupert Grint, Bonnie Wright, Katie Leung, Tom Felton , Jason Isaacs, Warwick Davis, Stanislav Yanevski, and Natalia Tena
Other services
Universal Express Pass
Many attractions in Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure allow guests to take advantage of the Express Pass . This pass admits guests to a separate line for attractions, which are given priority status when it goes up. Express Pass is not a virtual queue service. Instead, passengers can enter the "Universal Express" path whenever they want. This pass is not included with the park entrance fee.
Universal Dining>
The Universal Meal Deal is a Meal Meal of tickets for park visitors. This allows visitors from one of the theme parks to eat all day from lunch through dinner at selected restaurants. These include Mel's Drive-In and Louie's Italian Restaurant at Universal Studios Florida and Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous, Comic Strip Cafe, and The Burger Digs in Universal Adventure Islands.
Food options are limited, and drinks are not included. Drinks can be purchased through Universal Souvenir Cups. For an additional fee, visitors can add park-to-park Garden Access access that allows them to eat in both parks.
Universal Meal Deal was replaced on November 3, 2013 with Universal Food Packages - Quick Service.
Blue Man Group
On November 9, 2006, Universal Orlando announced that Blue Man Group would come to the resort in a new theater, which in May 2007 was crowned Aquos Sharp Theater. Theater development began shortly after the announcement. The theater is contained in Sound Stage 18, occupied by Nickelodeon Studios from 1990-2005. The sound level is home to performances such as Slime Time Live , Figure It Out , and Double Dare 2000 . In 2005, the soundtrack was used for Where Evil Hides , a ghost house for Universal's Halloween Horror Nights: Tales of Terror event. The theater is located between Hard Rock Cafe and the main entrance to Universal Studios Florida.
The 1,000-seat theater has a 9.1 feet (9.1 m) Blue Man facade, and is accessible from both Universal CityWalk and Universal Studios theme parks. In preparation for the rezonation of the building to CityWalk, a road was built between Universal Studios theme park and Hard Rock Cafe at the resort that allowed guests to enter the theater without having to pay admission to the amusement park, whilst the Nickelodeon Studios entrance was once in its theme. The park is transformed into an entrance that is attended from the amusement park to the theater entrance.
The theater seating chart is organized into five different "zones". The "Poncho" zone consists of the first four lines of the theater. The name is charged because the ponchos are in every seat in the zone when the guests take their seats. This is because of the possibility of material leaving the stage. Another zone, Zone 1-4, is structured to give the best view of the show wherever you sit. The theater has 13 ADA seats all over to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Help for impaired hearing and vision is also available.
In October-November 2008, the path to Sharp Aquos Theater has been moved to the construction of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, a roller coaster that opened in mid-2009. Construction on the coaster also resulted in the replacement of The Boneyard by The Universal Music Plaza Stage and the Rockit entrance, and reconfigure queue Twister... Ride it Out.
Character feed
Universal Orlando features a large group of characters ranging from Woody Woodpecker to Spider-Man. Visitors have three ways to eat with characters. At Loews Royal Pacific Resort, guests can enjoy breakfast with Universal Characters on certain days as well. Throughout the day the characters have met and greeted at the park and made appearances at lunch at several amusement park restaurants. At dinner, on certain evenings, guests can enjoy dinner with Universal Characters at Trattoria del Porto, The Kitchen and the Islands Dining Room. The Marvel Super Heroes also appear in the Meet the Marvel Super Heroes attractions where characters ride motorcycles on the streets of Marvel Super Hero Island.
Transportation
Across Universal Orlando and beyond, there is an organized transportation system that transports guests between on-site hotels, Hotel Mitra Universal, theme parks and other area attractions. Mears Transport runs the system.
The Orlando LYNX metro system connects the resort to other places in the city.
Universal Transit
Universal Orlando's internal transport system is often nicknamed Universal Transit. The system consists of water taxis, buses, escalators, elevators, moving sidewalks, and lanes carrying guests between parking structures, hotels, CityWalk and amusement parks. Hotel guests on site can go to the amusement park and CityWalk by a water taxi that will take them directly to CityWalk or can use the sidewalk. The dock at CityWalk is located in the center of CityWalk and is accessible to visitors of the amusement park via a bridge connecting CityWalk to the amusement park. Along the lane, bicycles also transport guests at an additional cost.
For guests who prefer not to use water taxis or on foot, they will find shuttle transport also available at hotels in the hotel. It stops at five locations: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel & amp; Spa, Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Sapphire Falls Resort, and Universal Orlando theme parks. Cabana Bay Beach Resort provides special transport to the park. The resort also has two large parking structures, for day and night guests who need parking, connected by bridge to Citywalk and amusement parks.
Universal Super Star Shuttle
Universal Orlando area consists of several hotels and major airports all located within 20 minutes of the resort. Universal Star Shuttle Service is divided into two main routes. One provides transportation to all thirty Mitra Universal hotels while the latest route starts serving Orlando International Airport in 2016. Universal's Super Star Shuttle provides free transportation between Universal Orlando, SeaWorld and Aquatica. Airport services are available at an additional cost to hotel guests booking through Universal Parks & amp; Resorts Vacations. New airport routes are expected initially only offered for on-site hotel guests. The airport shuttle is run through Super Shuttle Transportation. The Seaworld/Aquatica Shuttle is run by ESCOT.
Gallery
See also
- Incident at Universal Orlando
- Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
References
External links
- Official Resort Site
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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