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Universal Orlando Resort – 2014 Mardi Gras

Universal Orlando Resort Unveils 2014 Mardi Gras Celebration Details and Line-Up

This Year’s Mardi Gras Celebration Delivers More Excitement Than Ever Before With an Extended Concert Series Featuring Robin Thicke, Nelly, The Wanted and More

First things first, I absolutely adore Mardi Gras at the Universal Orlando Resort!!! It is by far one of my favorite things to attend in Orlando!!!

On select nights February 8 through May 31, the Universal Orlando Resort comes alive with a Mardi Gras celebration featuring 20 nights of AMAZING concerts from popular stars and New Orleans bands, great food that takes you to the heart of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, a parade full of fun floats and bead throwing, and a party atmosphere that is fun for the whole family! It is also one of my husband and date night!

The best part??? All of these are included in your admission to Universal Studios Florida!!!

There are so many great things to experience at Universal Studios Mardi Gras, but the concerts this year are AMAZING!!!!

This year’s powerhouse musical lineup features a diverse array of talent, from R&B superstar Robin Thicke, whose hit single “Blurred Lines” topped the Billboard chart for a near-record 12 weeks, to UK pop sensation The Wanted, who has sold nearly 10 million albums worldwide, to Latin idol Prince Royce, who reached number one on the U.S. Hot Latin Songs chart with “Corazón Sin Cara.” Also performing is rock band Daughtry, Grammy award-winning Hip Hop artist Nelly, and the classic rock group Foreigner, one of the best-selling bands of all time.

2014 Universal Orlando Resort Mardi Gras Talent Line-Up
Mardi Gras Event Dates	Headliners (performing in the Music Plaza)	New Orleans Bands (performing in the French Quarter)
February 8	Daughtry	Remedy Krewe
February 15	Barenaked Ladies	Soul Project
February 16	Thomas Rhett	Soul Project
February 22	Robin Thicke	Rockin Jake
March 1	Collective Soul	Big Al and The Heavyweights
March 8	Prince Royce	Daddy Mac Blues Band
March 14	Cody Simpson	Mississippi Rail Company
March 15	Foreigner	Mississippi Rail Company
March 21	TBD	The Big Easy Playboys
March 22	Gavin DeGraw	The Big Easy Playboys
March 28	TBD	Dirty Bourbon River Show
March 29	TBD	Dirty Bourbon River Show
April 5	Skillet	John Lisi and Delt Funk
April 12	Lynyrd Skynyrd	Beth McKee & The Sliders
April 19	Kool & the Gang	Gravy
May 3	Nelly	Chris O’Leary
May 10	The Wanted	T Bird & The Breaks
May 17	TBD	Grady Champion
May 24	TBD	Cha Wa
May 31	TBD	Naughty Professor

Guests can also catch colorful beads by the handful during this year’s parade, which will feature 12 vibrant floats, including three new additions celebrating Jules Verne’s novel, “Around the World in Eighty Days.” All of the exquisitely detailed Mardi Gras floats are engineered by Blaine Kern Artists, the same company that has been hand-crafting floats for the iconic New Orleans celebration since 1947.

In addition to all that, at Universal Studios Mardi Gras you can visit a vibrant French Quarter Courtyard for delicious and authentic Cajun cuisine, street performers, and bands pulled straight from Bourbon Street performing.

And when you are ready, you can keep the Mardi Gras party going at Universal CityWalk at their great bars and entertainment venues!!!

Florida residents have some pretty amazing special offer that they can take advantage of during Mardi Gras at the Universal Orlando Resort!

In addition to amazing deals on theme park Annual Passes, there are great deals on the three on-site hotels: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort, and a fourth on-site hotel, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, opening March 31, 2014.

2014 Universal Orlando Resort Mardi Gras Florida Resident Offers

Up to 3 months FREE on any Annual Pass

For a limited time, get up to 3 months free on any Annual Pass:

Power Pass – $174.99 (plus tax)
Preferred Pass – $244.99 (plus tax)
Premier Pass – $369.99 (plus tax)
Offer is also available on FlexPay, Universal Orlando’s monthly payment option
Must be purchased and activated by April 30, 2014 with a Coca-Cola UPC code or promo code on specially-marked cups at participating Wendy’s.
Visit UniversalOrlando.com for full details and to learn about the benefits of each annual pass

Florida Resident Getaway

2-night accommodations at a nearby Universal Partner Hotel
Florida Resident 2-day base ticket to both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour before the theme park opens
Complimentary scheduled transportation between hotel and Universal Orlando Resort
And more!
Starts at only $105 per adult, per night, tax inclusive
Upgrade to one of three deluxe on-site hotels at Universal Orlando Resort and stay in the heart of the party! Plus, receive complimentary Universal Express Unlimited ride access to skip the regular lines in both theme parks (a FREE benefit worth up to $89 per person, per day)

Guests can also take advantage of this current special offer:

SAVE & Play Vacation Package
*SAVE up to $500 with an On-Site Vacation Package**	Deluxe On-site Hotel Accommodations at one of three AAA Four Diamond Award on-site hotels Theme Park Admission Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour before the theme park opens Complimentary on-site transportation via water taxi or shuttle bus to both theme parks and Universal CityWalk Receive complimentary Universal Express Unlimited ride access to skip the regular lines in both theme parks (a FREE benefit worth up to $89 per person, per day) Book by March 31 and use promotion code UNIPLAY at time of purchase to save! Valid for travel January 1 – May 22, 2014

* Restrictions may apply. Visit http://www.universalorlando.com for additional vacation package details.

I know that I will be at Mardi Gras several nights, and I hope to see you there!!!

For more information about Mardi Gras at the Universal Orlando Resort, visit www.universalorlando.com/mardigras.

About Universal Orlando Resort
Vacation like you mean it at Universal Orlando Resort – where every heart-pounding, jaw-dropping, goose-bumping second counts. With two incredible theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, three magnificently themed on-site hotels and a nighttime entertainment complex, Universal Orlando is the only place where you can turn spending time with your family into spending timeas a family. Together, you can soar above Hogwarts with Harry Potter, swing above the streets with Spider-Man, become a Minion in the hilarious and heartwarming Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride, and join Optimus Prime in the fight to save mankind on the new mega-attraction, TRANSFORMERS: The Ride – 3D.
Universal Orlando Resort is part of NBCUniversal, a Comcast company. Follow Universal Orlando Resort on Facebook, Twitter, Instagramand YouTube.

Week In Review And News – January 3, 2014

With the start of a new year and with so much going on after the holidays, I thought it would be a great time to restart our Week in Review and play a little catch up on this week’s highlights and news from the Orlando and Central Florida Attractions and Venues!

Week in Review – December 30, 2013 to January 3, 2014

Walt Disney World Resort

The Disney Parks Blog announced a new contest where you can win a 5-day/4-night vacation for four to either the Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort.

We’ve just launched disney.com/resolutions where Disney celebrities are sharing how they plan to resolve to spend more time with family in 2014. A new video will be uploaded everyday in January.

On disney.com/resolutions, we are also awarding a vacation-a-day from December 31, 2013 through January 31, 2014! So enter every day for your chance to win because this is the year to spend more quality time with the people you love most. Good luck!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Open only to individuals, who are, as of Entry, legal residents of, and physically located within, the 50 U.S., D.C., Puerto Rico or Canada (excluding Quebec) and who are not Minors. Sweepstakes starts 12:01 AM (EST) on 12/31/13 and ends 11:59:59 PM (EST) on 1/31/14. Click here for Official Rules.

runDisney

With Walt Disney World Marathon weekend right around the corner, runDisney was everywhere when they released details about the Limited Edition runDisney 2014 New Balance shoes!

httpv://youtu.be/C8YXAZu9kCE

You can find out more about these shoes here.

Universal Orlando Resort

With construction on Diagon Alley ramping up, A Celebration of Harry Potter drawing close, Cabana Bay opening reservations being taken, and CityWalk undergoing a HUGE transformation, the Universal Orlando Resort is buzzing with energy!

Diagon Alley Construction on December 29, 2013. Week in Review — Diagon Alley Construction on December 29, 2013.

I don’t know about you, but I am so excited for everything that is coming to the Universal Orlando Resort!!!

SeaWorld Orlando

January is Passholder appreciation month at SeaWorld Orlando, and they are offering some great deals!

Bring a friend for FREE! SeaWorld® Orlando Pass Members receive a friend for free ticket*. Online registration is required. Valid for one single-day admission by January 31, 2014. Register Now.

Double Your Discount**

Save 20% on dining in all of our cafeteria-style restaurants

Save 20% on merchandise in our gift shops

*Pass Member must be present for guest to gain admittance. Free ticket offer valid for active SeaWorld Orlando 1-Year, 2-Year and FL Platinum Pass Members. Not valid for Fun Cards, Teacher’s Study Passes or Friends & Family Passes. Free ticket is non-transferable, not for resale and may be revoked for misuse.

**Offer only valid between Jan. 1-31, 2014. Must present active SeaWorld Orlando 1-Year, 2-Year, or FL Platinum Pass to receive savings. Not valid with any other discounts or offers. Not valid on All-Day Dining offers. Merchandise offer valid for in-park purchases only.

Amway Center

The Circus is coming to town!

Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus LEGENDS is coming to the Amway Center January 9-12, but Monday the circus train rolls into Orlando. Fantastic photo opportunities will be available as the Ringling Bros. pachyderm performers parade to the Amway Center.

The Ringling Bros.animal performers will unload at 8:00 p.m. and walk beginning at 8:30 p.m. Animals will unload at railroad tracks near 1035 W. Amelia, then travel east on Amelia, south on North Hughey Ave., then west on West South St. and enter the GEICO Garage behind Amway Center. (Note: route and time are subject to change without notice.)

Tickets are still available and start at $16. Ticketmaster service charges and facility fees not included. All seats are reserved. Tickets are available atwww.ringling.com or www.ticketmaster.com, at any Ticketmaster outlet, by calling 800-745-3000, or at the Amway Center box office (phone:407-440-7900). For group ticket sales and information, call 866-248-8740.

LEGOLAND Florida

If your house is anything like mine, you have watched the trailer for ‘The LEGO Movie’ four times daily and I was excited to see that they are going to be having a weekend of activities in February!

httpv://youtu.be/fZ_JOBCLF-I

February 8 & 9, 2014 Enjoy fun for all with activities to celebrate “The LEGO Movie”, the first-ever, full-length theatrical LEGO adventure featuring an all-star cast and set to open in theaters February 7. Guests will enjoy a special movie-themed building activity, movie-themed scavenger hunt in Miniland USA and meet and greet sessions with costume characters Emmet and Wyldstyle, who play leading roles in this epic movie.

Busch Gardens Tampa

January is also Passholder appreciation month at Busch Gardens Tampa!

Double the Fun – Bring a Friend for FREE

During January, Pass Members can bring a friend for free! Online registration required. Limit one free ticket per active Pass Member. Offer valid between January 1-31, 2014. Other Restrictions Apply. Log in now to register your friend’s ticket and learn more about this limited time offer.

Triple the Savings – 30% off merchandise, food, and beverages

All month long, Pass Members get 30% off merchandise, food and beverages when you visit the park! Offer valid between January 1-31, 2014. Other Restrictions Apply.

Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex

A Falcon 9 rocket is targeted to lift-off during a dramatic SpaceX launch scheduled for January 3, launch time is subject to change but the launch window of 5:05 p.m. to 7:17 p.m. EST. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex guests may view the launch from the Apollo/Saturn V Center, the closest possible public viewing area, or special areas at the Visitor Complex.

Launch viewing from the Apollo/Saturn V Center, located in Kennedy Space Center, includes live mission control commentary and is available for Visitor Complex guests for $20 plus the cost of admission. Admission to the Visitor Complex is $50 plus tax for adults and $40 plus tax for children 3-11. Bus boarding for the Apollo/Saturn V Center begins at 3:15 p.m.

Launch viewing, featuring live mission control commentary, also is available from Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and is included in regular admission.

Week in Review- Posts from On the Go in MCO

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Staycation

New Year’s Eve at the Walt Disney World Resort

Wordless Wednesday – Happy New Year

Merchandise Spotlight – Walt Disney World Resort

Thanks for joining us for this Week in Review, and if this is indication of how jam packed 2014 is going to be I am really excited!

Wordless Wednesday – Christmas in Orlando

Wordless Wednesday – December 25, 2013

We want to wish everyone celebrating today a very Merry Christmas!

We hope that you all have a day full of family, fun, and love!

Merry Christmas from Orlando!!!

Wordless Wednesday Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

Pick Six: Universal Orlando Naughty & Nice Holiday

I always enjoy the holiday events at Universal Orlando. The celebration takes place in both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure with a lot to see and do. This year I was able to take my nephew for his first time to take part in the festivities. Here are six highlights from that day and my previous visits over the past few of years.

1. Grinchmas – Islands of Adventure

Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas has always been one of my favorite Christmas stories so seeing it brought to life on stage is so fun! The music is great and the Grinch is always fantastic. There are even a few surprises thrown in! The show runs several times a day. There aren’t any bad seats, but in my experience I like sitting on the right side of the stage for a good view of one of those surprises I mentioned.

2. Suess Landing – Islands of Adventure

LittleTree

To get to Grinchmas, you must pass through Seuss Landing. This is the most decorated parts of the park with trees and garland everywhere! I love all the whimsical touches. There are even signs with lyrics to “Welcome Christmas.”

3. Macy’s Holiday Parade – Universal Studios

Santa

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been a must-watch for me every Thanksgiving morning for as long as I can remember. One year in college I was lucky enough to be able to visit New York and see it in person. I may not be able to visit New York each year, but I can get a little taste when some of the balloons and floats travel down for the parade here. It even features Santa Claus, who will light the Christmas tree set up in front of the Macy’s façade. How can you not smile while giant balloons float by? Some of them might even dance for you! One year I hope to be able to be one of the balloon handlers!

4. Giant Balloons – Universal Studios

Speaking of balloons, some of the larger ones from the New York parade are set up around the park. It’s fun going around and taking pictures with them. Garfield and The Cat in the Hat are my favorites!

5. Mannheim Steamroller Concerts – Universal Studios

Mannheim

Mannheim Steamroller performs on Saturday and Sunday nights during the holidays. I’ve always enjoyed their Christmas music so it’s a treat to hear them live, especially “Carol of the Bells.” The concert does take a lot from the Grinchmas show, providing almost a recap with actors from the show. So it can get a little repetitive if you had watched that show earlier in the day. The music is still great though!

6. Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Island of Adventure

Wreath

I’m putting this one last because not much changes here from a normal day that’s not during the holiday season. But I had to include it because the snow covered roofs and snowman seem so much more festive and fitting when there are wreaths on the doors! I’ve also heard the Frog Choir sing a few Christmas songs.

Have you been to Universal Orlando during their holiday celebration? What are you favorite things to see and do? It’s definitely become a tradition to go each year to take part in the festivities!

Wordless Wednesday – I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas

Wordless Wednesday – December 18, 2013

Pick Six: Universal Orlando CityWalk Announcements

While I am still putting together a lot of my final ideas for a larger post on icFlorida about yesterday’s Universal Orlando CityWalk Announcements (You can find the Press Release here), I wanted to take a moment to look at my initial reactions to what we were shown.

1. Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley

I had a lot of A-ha moments during The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley presentation! Originally I looked at how close the construction of Diagon Alley was to Universal Studios Florida, and I always wondered why it had to be so close to the existing park. And yesterday, when they spoke about how Diagon Alley was wedged into London everything clicked for me! And while I am positively giddy about riding on the Hogwarts Express, given the detail that is going into the streets of Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron (especially the ceiling) I want to camp out now! The current Wizarding World of Harry Potter is one of my most favorite places in any theme park, and I am beyond hopeful about Diagon Alley!

2. Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort is going to be everything that you wish a Walt Disney World ‘Value’ Resort would be! The resort will have 900 Rooms and 900 Family Suites at opening with a fun 60’s retro feel. Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort will also boast several large pools for each section of the resort, dining options, high-energy bowling alleys, and more at a manageable walking distance to the parks. I love fun resorts, and with the proximity to the park this ‘Value’ resort really has value.

3. The Cowfish / The Hot Dog Hall of Fame

The Cowfish and The Hot Dog Hall of Fame that will be coming to Universal CityWalk are fun and quirky! The Cowfish is a mix of sushi and burgers in a fun environment (there will be tablets in the Sushi Bar for people to surf as they sit under Pop Art), and the result is ‘Burgushi’ which include sushi rolls created using burger components and sandwiches created using sushi elements. The Hot Dog Hall of Fame boasts signature Hot Dogs from around the country and a Mustard Bar with custom mustards created from a partnership from the National Mustard Museum. If you love Hot Dogs, how can you not be excited about this restaurant coming to Universal Orlando CityWalk? Amid Bars and themed restaurants, I am looking forward to the fun options and atmosphere that these two locations will bring to the mix of CityWalk!

4. Starbucks / Menchies / Cold Stone Creamery

While I would have loved to see all original offerings at the Universal Orlando CityWalk announcement, I have to say that choosing to expand the Starbucks presence and adding Menchies and Cold Stone Creamery to CityWalk make more sense and go with the ‘best in class’ mind-set that is going into the renovation of Universal Orlando’s CityWalk. Starbucks moving downstairs and into a larger space that will be filled with seating (Yay!) and innovative touches is a win for everyone, because it is more accessible and adds another location to grab a quick breakfast at the parks which has always been an issue with my family. Menchies and Cold Stone Creamery are solid yogurt and ice cream places that are family favorites, which is important when you have a little (or big) kid who needs a treat after a long day in the theme parks!!!

5. Antojitos / The Red Oven / Bread Box / Pranzo

And now we come to the unique restaurants that are coming to Universal Orlando CityWalk! Antojitos is a going to be more of a culinary journey than passive restaurant experience. The themed facade of Anotjitos is where you start your trip to cantinas, street carts, and markets of Mexico for tapas-style dining with authentic Mexican food.The Red Oven is open now, and amid an modern Italian atmosphere you can find a huge variety of brick oven pizzas and salads. The Bread Box will feature hand made breads and sandwiches with fresh ingredients to capture the feel of the Deli of your childhood or movies! Pranzo will feature modern Italian foods and hand made pastas. The common thread between the variety of restaurants is that there will be a focus on using only fresh ingredients, that are hand-made, and sometimes even created as you watch. While I am a HUGE Mythos fan (aren’t we all though…Universal butter, bread that you can’t stop eating, and delicious dishes), I always find myself wanting more of a fresh feel to my meal. So beyond beautiful decor, I am excited to find these kinds of foods offered in a Theme Park Area.

6. Shopping!

I will admit that the shop-a-holic in me really wished there was more on this front, I am excited to see what the new Universal Studios Store will offer! The design will also boast more interactivity and fresh design elements. It is a great place to catch those souvenirs that you said you would go back to pick up that you might have forgotten.

With all these locations opening as the first phase of a Universal Orlando CityWalk revitalization by June of 2014, it makes me really excited to see what phase 2 is going to bring besides me spending more time there!

Universal CityWalk New Year’s Eve Celebration

Universal CityWalk Drops New Year’s Eve Celebration Details and Advanced Ticket Offers!

Celebration features access to six Universal CityWalk venues, unlimited gourmet cuisine,

six unique party zones and Orlando’s biggest dance floor

On December 31, 2013, guests can experience non-stop entertainment at Eve, Universal CityWalk’s new, incomparable New Year’s celebration.With unique party zones – each featuring their own entertainment and signature drinks, access to six different clubs with live music and unlimited gourmet cuisine,Eve will be the place to ring in the New Year.

Partygoers can celebrate all night on Orlando’s biggest dance floor – built just for this event – in front of the CityWalk Plaza Stage. Whenmidnight strikes, guests will kiss 2013 goodbye in style with a champagne toast, a pyrotechnics display and incredible special effects.

Tickets are on-sale now for Universal CityWalk New Year’s Eve Celebration advance pricing of $99.99 plus tax until December 21, 2013.

Admission to Universal CityWalk New Year’s Eve Celebration festivities include:

Unlimited gourmet cuisine, including filet mignon, jumbo shrimp, custom desserts, and more
Six unique outdoor party zones with entertainment and signature drinks
Orlando’s largest dance floor, featuring live music from DJ M-Squared on a 360˚ DJ platform
Admission to six Universal CityWalk venues, including: Bob Marley’s – A Tribute to Freedom, Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, Pat O’Brien’s, the groove, Rising Star and Red Coconut Club
Midnight champagne toast and pyrotechnics display

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.citywalk.com/Eve.

Make sure you also follow Universal Orlando Resort on Facebook and Twitter for information and special offers!

Universal Orlando Resort’s Holidays Celebration

‘TIS THE SEASON TO CREATE LASTING FAMILY MEMORIES AT

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT’S HOLIDAYS CELEBRATION

Heartwarming Holiday Traditions Return Dec. 7 with Grinchmas, Macy’s Holiday Parade^TM

and Electrifying Holiday Concerts by Mannheim Steamroller

ORLANDO, Fla. (Nov. 15, 2013) – It’s the most wonderful time of the year at Universal Orlando Resort. From Dec. 7 through Jan. 4, families can create lifelong memories during Universal Orlando’s Holidays celebration. Kids from one to 92 can come face-to-face with The Grinch at Grinchmas, watch larger-than-life balloons float through the streets during the Macy’s Holiday Parade^TM and hear Christmas music sensation, Mannheim Steamroller, perform beloved holiday classics with a modern twist.

At Universal’s Islands of Adventure, guests will smile from ear-to-ear during the heartwarming live show, “Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular,” featuring The Grinch and the Whos from Who-ville, accompanied by an original musical score by Mannheim Steamroller. Guests can meet the mean, green one himself and the Whos daily and, on select dates, enjoy a special breakfast with the characters.
At Universal Studios Florida, the Macy’s Holiday Parade will fill the streets with the same larger-than-life balloons seen in the famous New York City parade. Guests will be immersed in the spirit of the season with holiday characters, fantasy-filled floats and a tree-lighting ceremony with the big man himself, Santa Claus. This year, there is a brand new addition to the line-up of timeless holiday parade icons. Happy the Hippo, a recreation of a 1940s Macy’s Parade balloon, will make her debut in New York City this Thanksgiving before heading to Orlando to appear in the Macy’s Holiday Parade at Universal Studios Florida.

Following the parade, the acclaimed musical group Mannheim Steamroller will take to the Music Plaza stage in Universal Studios six nights this year to perform memorable holiday hits on Dec. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22.

All theme park holiday entertainment – including Mannheim Steamroller concerts – is included as part of park-to-park or multi-day admission to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. For a memorable getaway, guests can take advantage of the following vacation packages:

Make Your Season Bright with Incredible Offers from Universal Orlando

OFFER

DETAILS

Florida Resident 2-Park Preferred Annual Pass

**Available on FlexPay

2-Park Preferred Annual Pass for less than $12* per month
Admission to both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure
Free self-parking after first visit
No blockout dates

*Down payment and restrictions apply.

Florida Resident 2-Park Getaway

**Starting at $149+ per adult, per night, tax inclusive

2 night stay at one of three AAA Four Diamond Award deluxe on-site hotels at Universal Orlando Resort
Florida Resident 2-day base ticket to both theme parks
Universal Express Unlimited ride access to skip the regular lines in both theme parks – a FREE benefit worth up to $89 per person, per day
PLUS early park admission to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter before the rest of the general public

**Must be booked by Dec. 15, 2013 with travel occurring by Dec. 19, 2013.

New Year’s Eve at Universal CityWalk

On December 31, guests can experience the epic sophistication of EVE 2013, Orlando’s boldest New Year’s party at Universal CityWalk. This year’sall-new event features six unique entertainment zones, access to seven of CityWalk’s high-energy nightclubs, unlimited gourmet cuisine and amidnight champagne toast.

This is a separately ticketed event. More information on EVE 2013 will be available soon at www.UniversalOrlando.com/Hholidays.

Holiday Festivities at the Three Deluxe On-Site Hotels at Universal Orlando

The celebration continues at the three deluxe on-site hotels at Universal Orlando – Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort – all of which will glisten with holiday decorations. Hotel guests will be immersed in the spirit of the season with holiday buffets and dining events, tree-lighting ceremonies, visits from Santa, and holiday poolside “dive-in” movie presentations.

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel features the Gather Together Thanksgiving feast with Pilgrims and Indians on Thanksgiving Day, then kicks off the holiday season on Friday, November 29 with ‘Holiday Harbor Nights,’ a wine, food, music and tree lighting celebration on the Harbor Piazza. On select nights in December at Portofino, guests can enjoy Holiday in the Harbor featuring carolers, storytelling and visits with Santa. Hard Rock Hotel features special Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve buffets and Santa stops by The Kitchen restaurant every Friday in December. Loews Royal Pacific Resort offers holiday buffets for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, plus a special New Year’s Eve luau to ring in 2014.

About Universal Orlando Resort
Vacation like you mean it at Universal Orlando Resort – where every heart pounding, jaw-dropping, goose-bumping second counts. With two incredible theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, three magnificently themed on-site hotels and a nighttime entertainment complex, Universal Orlando is the only place where you can turn spending time with your family into spending time as a family. Together, you can soar above Hogwarts with Harry Potter, swing above the streets with Spider-Man, become a Minion in the hilarious and heartwarming Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride, and join Optimus Prime in the fight to save mankind on the new mega-attraction, TRANSFORMERS: The Ride – 3D.
Universal Orlando Resort is part of NBCUniversal, a Comcast company. Follow Universal Orlando Resort on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram andYouTube.

Universal Orlando Resort Vacation Package Offers!

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT GUESTS GET A THIRD NIGHT AND THIRD DAY FREE WITH EXCLUSIVE OFFERS

Universal Orlando Resort is introducing two new offers that give families more time together to enjoy the incredible thrills of Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Starting today, guests who buy a 2-day park ticket will get a third day FREE. And guests who purchase a two-night vacation package at a Universal Partner Hotel get the third night FREE, plus a third day FREE to enjoy the theme parks.

At Universal Orlando, families create one-of-a-kind memories – all while experiencing the unique entertainment at both theme parks. And with the additions of Springfield – hometown to America’s favorite animated family, The Simpsons – and the all-new TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D, where guests can join the epic battle between the Autobots and Decepticons, there has never been a more exciting time to visit Universal Orlando Resort.

Additional details about these exclusive offers can be found below.

Exclusive Ticket and Vacation Package Offers

OFFER

DETAILS

3^rd Day FREE Ticket Offer

**Starts at $125.99 per adult

2-day Base ticket to experience Universal Orlando’s theme parks – with the third day FREE

*Tickets are available for purchase Oct. 10, 2013 through May 9, 2014 and are valid for three days during a 14-day period which includes the first day of use. All ticket usage must be completed on or before May 22, 2014 when the ticket will expire in full.

3^rd Night FREE Vacation Package

**Starts at $229 per adult

Two nights of accommodations at a nearby Universal Partner Hotel – with the third night FREE
2-day Base ticket to experience Universal Orlando’s theme parks – with the third day FREE
Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour before the theme park opens
Access to live entertainment at Universal CityWalk
FREE scheduled transportation between Universal Orlando and hotel
And more!

**Vacation package is available for purchase from Oct. 10, 2013 through Dec. 15, 2013for travel beginning Nov. 1 through Dec. 22, 2013.

Additional vacation package options are also available online, enabling guests to stay in the heart of the excitement at one of Universal Orlando’s three on-site AAA Four Diamond hotels. On-site hotel guests can enjoy exclusive benefits such as free Universal Express access to skip the regular lines at participating rides and attractions and complimentary on-site transportation via water taxi or shuttle bus. And when guests book a three-night or more on-site vacation package for travel before Dec. 25, 2013, kids eat free at any one of Universal Orlando Resort’s three deluxe on-site hotels, and play free at Hollywood Drive-In Golf at Universal CityWalk.

For more information about Universal Orlando’s vacation packages and the theme parks, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com.

Follow Universal Orlando Resort on Facebook, Twitter,Instagram and YouTube.

Colorvision Amazing Pictures At The Universal Orlando Resort Expands

Colorvision Amazing Pictures At Universal Orlando Resort Adds Two Great Photo Experiences

Universal Orlando Guests Now Have Innovative Ways to Capture Timeless Park Memories

Recently I had the opportunity to visit the Colorvision International Inc. – Amazing Pictures (Colorvision) headquarters to learn about the expanding photo experience they are offering at the Universal Orlando Resort!

“Colorvision has been proud to partner with Universal Orlando Resort since 2009,” said Colorvision President Mark Simmons. “We are thrilled to unveil this one of a kind system, designed specifically with the guests of Universal Orlando Resort in mind. Colorvision has been providing high end digital products that memorialize the guest’s experience forever while generating superior results for our partners for the last 35 years, and the best is yet to come.”

When you visit the Universal Orlando Resort, you find tons of photo options to make your visit to Universal Orlando Resort memorable! You will find Colorvision providing roaming photographers, fun pictures that put you in scenes with some of your favorite characters, on-ride photos, their newest offering which lets you take a seat in the Simpsons living room, and more.

In addition to these photo experiences at Universal Orlando Resort, the Universal Photo Connect and Star Card have debuted that are perfect for Annual Passholders and for guests spending an extended amount of time at the resort.

The Universal Photo Connect is a way to keep the photos that you to take photos during your visit to the Universal Orlando Resort organized and in one place online so you can view and share them easily.

To participate in the Universal Photo Connect, you will need to get your picture taken by a Photo Connect photographer to receive a card and then you will need to visit Photo Connect locations in both the Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure parks to see your pictures and choose your options before you leave for the day. Both of the main stores are located just inside of the turnstiles are are clearly marked.

There are tons of products that can be ordered online and customized with your photos, and my favorite that we saw was their photo books which are reasonably priced and are created with the help of Colorvision International Inc. – Amazing Pictures (Colorvision) graphic designers.

For me the most exciting launch between Colorvision and Universal Orlando Resort is the Star Card!

Guests who purchase the Star Card get great photos accessible online and large format print of their favorite image, a lanyard, a personalized Photo Connect Card displaying their favorite image and a digital copy of all pictures taken in the parks.

After your visit to the Universal Orlando Resort, Star Card guests easily log into their accounts universalphotoconnect.com from home where they can share their pictures on social media, order prints, and photo CDs (with stock professional stock photos included) & products.

Here is a quick breakdown of the Star Card Program:

* The Star Card Package is $59.95 plus tax and can be bought at locations in both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

* The Star Card Package includes the following items:

Digital copies of all you in-park and ride photos for five days.
(1) 8×10 or 5×7 photo print per package.
Photo Connect lanyard.
Customized Photo Connect Card (with your favorite photos).
Photo CD of all your pictures (fulfilled online, shipping and handling fees apply).
Discounts up to 20 percent on prints, videos, and accessories sold at the Photo Connect Stores

* Prints can be added to your Star Card Package for $24.95 plus tax, and you can also get a prints only version of the Star Card which you can get more details at the locations in the parks. The prints are 4×6 and are only limited to the times you do the attraction, ride, in-park experience, or character photos.

* You can pre-purchase your Star Card Package and save $10! Here is the link to pre-order your package!

* The Star Card is ideal for Annual Passholders, because you can get a whole year of photos for $59.95 plus tax!

*Guests can also share photos via the Amazing Pictures Mobile App for Apple and Andriod!

The team at Colorvision are continuing to create new and easier ways for guests to use, share, and experience the Universal Orlando Resort, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next!

As part of this review I was provided a Star Card to use, and we have had a lot of fun taking photos and sharing our memories with family & friends.

Make sure to follow us Colorvision International Inc. – Amazing Pictures (Colorvision) on Twitter @CVCREATIVE and Facebook for great offers and up-to-date news!

Wordless Wednesday – Outside Hogwarts

Wordless Wednesday – October 2, 2013

This week’s Wordless Wednesday takes us to just outside of Hogwarts in Universal’s Island of Adventure at the Universal Orlando Resort. I could seriously spend all day in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter wandering the streets of Hogsmeade!!!

Family Day At Universal Studios Florida

Every so often our Universal Orlando Daredevil wants to take a break from taking on Universal Orlando Resort at a break-neck pace, so we decided to head to Universal Studios Florida to have a fun day in the park together!

Since we are always running through the parks, we decided to let Zoe make the decisions and that led us to a really fun and laid back day!

Zoe’s first stop was E.T. Adventure, which is one of our favorite attractions in the park, to take a walk through the woods before we took an adventurous bike ride. I seriously don’t know what it is about this ride that makes us so incredibly happy…but it does! I hope I never stop giggling at E.T. saying ‘Shelley’!

A good tip is that if you have riders who aren’t comfortable on the ‘bike seats’, you can talk to a Team Member to see if there is a ride vehicle with a bench available to ride.

After we saved The Green Planet, E.T.’s home world, we headed over to Fievel’s Playland to let Zoe run around for a bit!

While she was playing and riding the water slide, Dave and I used the time to take it easy for a minute and talk in the shade!

After 3 rides on the slide, Zoe decided it was time to keep our adventure going!

But we didn’t get the chance to make it too far, because she saw that SpongeBob was out at SpongeBob StorePants which made for some great pictures and fun as we found some cool details in the store! Zoe especially lost her mind when she found Gary!!!

Zoe then decided it was time to eat, so we headed over to Springfield to visit her absolute favorite part of Universal Studios Florida!

Zoe loves eating at Fast Food Boulevard, so while she and Dave enjoyed Krusty Burgers I decided to give the Bumblebee Man Taco Truck a try!

Simpsons Universal Orlando — Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck

I had the Carne Asada Tacos, and they were really good! You have your choice of tortilla (flour or corn) for the tacos and it comes with tortilla chips. The steak was perfectly cooked, the guacamole was surprisingly delicious, and the toppings were fresh! The only thing that I wish was different is that they don’t have any Annual Pass discounts. However, the tacos paired with a Flaming Moe made a perfect and light meal for a warm day! I apologize for the lack of picture, but I was starving and they were really tasty!

We decided to give Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl a spin, and while it wasn’t the best of decisions after lunch it was still a lot of fun! The signs along the queue are a lot of fun and getting your saucer into orbit just right to trigger the character voices around the attraction is a great plus!

It may sound weird, but Zoe loves answering the phone outside of the Kwik-E-Mart! She would stay here forever if we let her!

We finally were able to lure her away with promises of letting her play the carnival games outside of The Simpsons Ride. While the games look like your typical sketchy carnival games, the Team Members in this area are always there to make them super fun! The games aren’t too expensive or hard that you don’t have a good chance at winning a prize.

Another big plus of these games is that you can win actual Simpsons prizes, and Zoe wound up winning a little Lisa who is now by her side at all times!

Lisa and Zoe wanted to kick it up a little bit, so we took a spin on MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack. While it is a really fun attraction, the air conditioning was blasting which was a huge bonus on this super sunny day!

We knew our day was starting to wind down, so we walked along the construction and took a moment to play with the Universal ScreenPlay app! It was another nice break from rushing towards the exit.

For Zoe’s last treat of the day, she asked to climb the walls! She absolutely loves the climbing area located near The Mummy, and for $5 it is more than fairly priced for similar experiences outside of the park! Adults have to sign a waiver, kids wear a harness and helmet, and helpful Team Members are there for extra encouragement.

As Optimus ‘Primed’ us to the fact storms were starting to roll in, we decided to head home after a fun and relaxing day at Universal Studios Florida.

I hope that you enjoyed joining us on our Family day at Universal Studios Florida, what do your kids like to choose when they get to call the shots and choose the attractions?

Halloween Horror Nights 23 at Universal

Halloween Horror Nights

GAME OVER…

HORROR VIDEO GAME SERIES RESIDENT EVIL COMPLETES INTENSELY TERRIFYING LINEUP FOR

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO’S HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS 23

Nation’s Best Halloween Event to Feature Eight All-New Haunted Houses,
Outrageous Shows and Horrifying, New Street Experience

This fall, Universal Orlando Resort will transform reality into a surreal fight for survival as the critically-acclaimed survival horror video game series Resident Evil becomes a haunted house at Halloween Horror Nights 23.

This completes this year’s lineup for Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 23, which will feature some of the most outrageously terrifying, highly-recognizable names in entertainment and pop culture. In addition to Resident Evil, the event will also include haunted houses based on AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” Mexican urban legend La Llorona and critically acclaimed horror films “Evil Dead,” “An American Werewolf in London” and “The Cabin in the Woods.” Universal Orlando is also dedicating its entire Halloween Horror Nights street experience to “The Walking Dead” – making this the first time ever that all of the scare zones throughout the park will be themed after a hit television series.

For Resident Evil, Universal’s Entertainment team collaborated with the video game creators at Capcom to create a horrifyingly authentic haunted house based on some of the popular video games from the Resident Evil series. Guests will become desperate survivors inside the viral catastrophe, Raccoon City. As they journey through the city, they’ll encounter vicious characters from the games such as Lickers, bloodthirsty zombies, packs of Cerberuses and even Nemesis himself. Fans will be completely transported inside the video game realm – to the extent that one room in the haunted house will appear as if an action-packed fight scene is paused, as if the gamer has taken a quick break before returning to the horror of Raccoon City.

The Resident Evil franchise is now firmly established as a mainstay of contemporary culture with blockbuster live action movies, CG anime, manga, novels and numerous merchandising lines being produced alongside the videogame series. To date, the Resident Evil series of videogames has achieved global sales of more than 57 million units.

“It’s such a great delight to work with Universal on a haunted house based on the Resident Evil games,” said Yoshiaki Hirabayashi, Producer of Resident Evil 6. “The games have become synonymous with survival horror and we look forward to delivering a new way for consumers to experience the Resident Evil world we have created in the haunted house at Halloween Horror Nights.”

“Resident Evil is a perfect final addition to Halloween Horror Nights 23,” said Michael Aiello, Creative Director for Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights. “We were able to create incredibly elaborate sets that plant you right in the midst of Raccoon City’s apocalyptic nightmare, along with terrifying adversaries that will send them running.”

For a detailed listing of each experience featured at this year’s event, see below.

Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 23 will take place select nights from Sept. 20 to Nov. 2. Tickets and vacation packages are on sale now and can be purchased at Halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando. For details on special Florida resident offers, please see below. Due to the event’s popularity, tickets for weekend nights are expected to sell out and should be purchased well in advance.

Wordless Wednesday: Intergalactic Lunch

Wordless Wednesday: August 28, 2013

Springfield Revisited

DanaWalk: Springfield Revisited

I revisited Springfield to see the almost completed other side of the street, and I say almost completed because we were still waiting for Kang and Kodos’ Twirl ‘N’ Hurl ride to open when I was there.

Across from Kwik-E-Mart, Moe’s Tavern, and Krusty Burger you can now find Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck, Lard Lad Donuts, Duff Gardens, and plenty of Springfield’s finest to take a photo with.

Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck is probably my favorite because of the food truck craze that is going on right now. The tacos sound amazing and the next time I go to Springfield, I will either try the Chicken taco or the Carne Asada taco. Anything with guacamole is a must for me!

Lard Lad Donuts is next door. I love the Lard Lad statue, but I wish they would have made it more than just a walk-up window/cart. I was a tad underwhelmed by it.

Chief Wiggum is hanging out by Lard Lad Donuts, as usual, with his police car that he’s run into a fire hydrant. The fire hydrant is also a small water feature for kids to play in on a hot day. It was not working when I was there, but it was up and running the next day.

Next to the Chief, and before you get to Duff Gardens, is the statue of Jebediah Springfield. If you visit him, make sure to notice the real grass that surrounds him. I loved that they used real grass instead of the fake grass that resides over by Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. Some of you might not know, but I am a Kentucky girl and I miss my bluegrass and this was pretty close to it!

For all of you Simpson fans, the plaque on the back of the Jebediah statue reads, “A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man.

Duff Gardens is an open-air bar that serves up three different Duff beers, the Flaming Moe, Squishees, as well as fountain beverages and bottled water. They have a few small food items such as a fruit cup or nuts that you can purchase here as well.

Out in front of Duff’s are the Seven Duffs, which forgive me, I had to look up because I am not too familiar with the whole Simpsons series. I found out that their names are Tipsy, Queasy, Surly, Sleazy, Edgy, Dizzy, and Remorseful. They are a parody on Disney’s the Seven Dwarfs in that they are complete opposites.

On the side of Duff’s where the “brewery” is, is a Duff gift shop with Duffman hanging out right beside it for you to snap some photos with.

The whole place is colorful and fantastic, but I personally feel like the focus is on too much of the food aspect of the Simpsons. I realized this last trip to Springfield, that I want something more than just food, like a walk-through Simpson house. Would that not be cool?

One last thing I noticed…Barney is back! His beer stein is back to looking like he only has a drop of beer left in it and it’s great. Glad to have him back where he belongs in Moe’s.