May 26, 2014 - On the Go in MCO

Universal Orlando Resort Announces

All-New Vacation Packages

Featuring The Wizarding World of

Harry Potter – Diagon Alley

New Vacation Package Available Now for Travel Beginning June 29 –

Giving Guests the Opportunity to Experience the Incredible New Land

Universal Orlando Resort is announcing an all-new exclusive vacation package giving guests the opportunity to enjoy this year’s most anticipated theme park experience: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. Travel for the vacation package begins June 29.

The new travel offer starts at $135 per adult, per night, tax inclusive for a four-night stay on-site at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort and includes multi-day Park-to-Park tickets to experience both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. As part of the vacation package, guests will enjoy access to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, plus exclusive benefits like Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and breakfast at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade and the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley. They will also receive a specially themed Welcome Parcel delivered to their doorstep.

Additional vacation package details can be found below.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Exclusive Vacation Package

The Wizarding World of

Harry Potter Exclusive Vacation Package

Summer Package

~ Starts at $155 per adult, per night, tax inclusive for travelJune 29 to Aug. 16

Fall Package

~ Starts at $135 per adult, per night, tax inclusive for travelAug. 17 to Oct. 2 and Nov. 30 to Dec. 18

– 4-night on-site hotel accommodations at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort – an all-new hotel inspired by the iconic beach resorts of the 1950s and 1960s

– 3-day Park-to-Park tickets

– One breakfast per person at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade and the all-new Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley

– Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour before the theme parks open

– Special themed Welcome Parcel

– Complimentary on-site transportation to both theme parks and Universal CityWalk

– Book by July 31

– Upgrade to one of three AAA Four-Diamond deluxe on-site hotels at Universal Orlando Resort to receive complimentary Universal Express Unlimited ride access to skip the regular lines at select attractions in both theme parks all day (a FREE benefit worth up to $89 per person, per day)

– Vacation package also available at Universal Partner Hotels

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida will double the size of the Harry Potter experience offered at Universal Orlando Resort – expanding it across both of Universal’s theme parks. Guests will pass through London and the iconic brick wall archway into Diagon Alley – a bustling, wizarding hub within a Muggle city. The new land will offer one-of-a-kind adventures where guests can:

Experience the next generation thrill ride – Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts – where guests are propelled into a pivotal scene from the final Harry Potter book and film
Stroll along the streets of Diagon Alley and stop inside well-known shops like Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, Magical Menagerie and Quality Quidditch Supplies
Experience the darker side of magic in Knockturn Alley
Witness the magical experience of a wand choosing a wizard at Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC
And more!

And, just like in the books and films, guests can ride the iconic Hogwarts Express to travel between King’s Cross Station in Universal Studios and Hogsmeade Station in Islands of Adventure. The scenic, breathtaking journey will transport guests through the British countryside as they encounter magical creatures and familiar Harry Potter characters.

In The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, which opened in 2010 at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, guests can experience Hogsmeade village and Hogwarts castle – which houses the groundbreaking Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction.

To book a vacation package, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com. For additional information about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com/HarryPotter.

I thought it was long overdue that I resurrect this fun series I started a couple years ago. Patriotism in the Parks is meant to focus on Americana in the Disney parks. You can check out my previous posts about Victory Gardens, the Hall of Flags and the Hall of Presidents. This time around I’ll be taking a look at the American Adventure in Epcot.

The American Adventure is a three part experience if you want to do it right. The five story building in Epcot’s World Showcase is built with forced perspective to make the colonial style building only appear to be three stories tall. Housed inside, the American Adventure attraction is the primary reason most people visit this pavilion. To me, it is a fantastic show, and one of my favorites, but if you don’t check out the other two attractions here, you are missing out!

The American Heritage Gallery is probably the part of the American Adventure that is most easily overlooked. It is situated along the right side of the lobby rotunda and has played host to revolving exhibits over the years. Currently, the exhibit is based around the Kinsey Collection, primarily consisting of African-American art and artifacts. You can read more about it in the press release here. I highly recommend taking at least a good 10 – 15 minutes to browse this beautiful gallery.

Voices Voices of Liberty is the second attraction located in the American Adventure. This for me, may be my favorite by a slight margin over the American Adventure attraction. These a capella singers take on primarily traditional Americana and colonial songs. Occasionally they will mix in some newer material, but for the most part their material is comprised of songs most of us are familiar with from school if you grew up in this country. At the holidays they change their set to cover mostly Christmas carols with a few other holiday songs interspersed. My favorite time to see them all year is the Fourth of July! Their military medley and rendition of Golden Dream from the American Adventure move me to tears each time.

The American Adventure attraction is about a 30 minute show featuring dozens of audio animatronics on stage taking guests through the history of this great nation. Ben Franklin and Mark Twain acts at hosts/narrators as the story of the founding of America progresses into the 18th, 19th, 20th and even 21st centuries. We learn about the Revolutionary War, Civil War, Westward expansion, World War II, up to today, and a lot in between. This is one of my favorite shows featuring audio animatronics and features some great music, as well as video and radio clips of famous events throughout America’s history. The attraction focuses on several snapshots in time to give a broad overview of how America became the country it is today.

Have you visited the American Adventure in Epcot? What is your favorite part of this pavilion?