NBC Sports Grill & Brew at Universal Orlando CityWalk.

In CityWalk, the NBC Sports Grill & Brew recently celebrated their grand opening and looked very impressive from the outside. I hope to try out some of their menu in the near future. There is also a merchandise kiosk outside the restaurant selling NBC Sports Grill & Brew merchandise.

NBC Sports Grill & Brew merchandise available outside of the restaurant.

After walking through CityWalk, I headed toward the outdoor guest relations queue at Universal Studios Florida. It was very busy, which was expected on a Saturday morning, and I waited about 20 minutes in the strong sun before I was able to explain my lack of a park pass to a team member. The employee was very helpful and like the parking attendant, used my photo ID to look up my account. He printed a new pass for me and I headed toward the entrance turnstiles.

The entrance to Universal Studios Florida.

The entrance to the Studios was very crowded. All the turnstiles were open including the center entrance gates and the lines were still long to enter the park. I decided to walk around to the Blue Man Group side entry to Universal Studios and avoid waiting in the crowd in the hot sun. As I arrived at the side entrance, it was locked. I didn’t pay attention to the time and just walked back to the main gate entry. I waited in the entry queue for about 15-20 minutes and finally walked into the park about 11:05. By this time, the side entry gate at Blue Man Group was open. I learned it didn’t open until 11:00 am and I should have waited just a few minutes more.

Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida.

The crowds in Universal Studios were moderate to busy with posted wait times of Despicable Me Minion Mayhem at 70 minutes, Shrek at 30 minutes, Rip Ride Rockit at 30 minutes, Transformers: The Ride at 45 minutes, The Simpsons Ride at 50 minutes, Men in Black at 25 minutes, and Escape from Gringotts at 60 minutes.

Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone at Universal Studios Florida.

I’m often asked if there are things for families with young children to do while at Universal Studios. In addition to the Character Party Zone, one area designed for young families is Woody Woodpecker KidZone.

Woody Woodpecker at Universal Studios Florida.

The KidZone has a lot of fun activities for young children including the popular family attraction E.T., the Animal Actors show, the Woody Woodpecker family roller coaster, Curious George Goes To Town interactive water play area and ball pit, Fievel’s Playland, and the classic A Day in the Park with Barney show and indoor playground. Kids can also meet and greet Sponge Bob and his friends inside SpongeBob StorePants.

Dora and Diego at Universal Studios Florida.

As I was walking around the KidZone, I saw superstars Diego and Dora, Curious George, and Woody Woodpecker meeting guests. In addition, Barney was meeting guests inside his playground.

Curious George at Universal Studios Florida.

Families who have younger children also ask me if there are any visible scary Halloween Horror Nights props in Universal Studios during the daytime. The answer is no. The scariest thing guests will encounter during the daytime may be images on t-shirts or other souvenirs. If a prop is scary, it is covered. Otherwise, the props that are visible are innocuous.

Merchandise available at Universal Studios Florida.

Those guests, like myself, who do not like scary things or don’t want their children exposed to scary or gruesome images can enjoy the studios during the daytime while the more daring guests can experience the thrills and scares of Halloween Horror Nights in the evening.

Street decoration for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios.

This visit I decided my lunch would be from the Frying Dutchman inside Fast Food Boulevard in Springfield. I ordered the Battered and Plattered fish that included three tasty pieces of fried fish, a generous portion of tater tots and one very small hush puppy. With a drink and annual pass discount, my lunch was $16.47. If you are looking for something besides a burger in Fast Food Boulevard, this fish meal is a good choice.

Battered and plattered fish at Universal Studios Florida.

Walking through Universal Studios, I relished the beautiful sunny day and made my way to the London section of the park. Diagon Alley was compelling as always and I stopped to listen to the very talented Celestina and the Banshees perform in Carkitt Market.

Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees at Universal Studios Florida.

I noticed that Shutterbuttons Photography Studio has been relocated next to Madame Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions and is open for business. The former Shutterbuttons building is now vacant.

Shutterbuttons at Universal Studios Florida.

Since my plans were to visit Islands of Adventure after I finished at Universal Studios, I decided to take the Hogwarts Express over to Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure. It’s been several months since I rode this magical train and I was excited to board via platform 9 3/4. The posted wait was 30 minutes and was an accurate reflection of my wait time.

Hogwarts Express Train at Islands of Adventure.

After disembarking at Hogsmeade Station, I absorbed the sights and sounds of the amazing Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This section of Islands of Adventure was busy with posted wait times for Dragon Challenge at 40 minutes and 30 minutes for both Flight of the Hippogriff and Forbidden Journey. Guests were queuing for the opportunity to purchase and taste the unique, delicious Butterbeer while other guests were partaking in the interactive wand experiences at the carefully detailed Hogsmeade storefronts.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure.

In Jurassic Park, I waited about 25 minutes to experience the incredible Raptor Encounter. This meet and greet has been a very popular addition to Islands of Adventure and it’s not to be missed. Standing in the queue, I could see and especially hear the Raptor as she roared and was coached by her handler to pose with the guests.

Raptor Encounter at Islands of Adventure.

The team members were very helpful and took photos of me standing with the 9 foot tall Velociraptor. After I told the Raptor she was pretty she started rubbing her face against mine! It was a hilarious yet slightly unnerving encounter and I’m glad I decided to meet her this visit.

Skull Island: Reign of Kong construction at Islands of Adventure.

Construction on the new Skull Island: Reign of Kong is progressing along well. I noticed the mural backdrop of the mountains is being painted and will undoubtedly enhance the visual landscape in that part of the park.

Skull Island: Reign of Kong construction at Islands of Adventure.

The remaining areas of Islands of Adventure were moderately busy with posted wait times of 35 minutes for Rip Saw Falls in Toon Lagoon, Spider-Man at 30 minutes and in Seuss Landing, Cat in the Hat at 15 minutes and the Trolley Train Ride at 30 minutes.

The Incredible Hulk Coaster under refurbishment at Islands of Adventure.

As part of its ongoing refurbishment, sections of The Incredible Hulk track have been removed and a large crane dominates the skyline, changing the view of the coaster from down below. It was surreal again this month walking through the front of Islands of Adventure and not hearing that roar. At least the colorful comic scenes along the construction walls are available for fans to observe and the Incredible Hulk sign on the fence lights up at night.

The Incredible Hulk Coaster under refurbishment at Islands of Adventure.

Even though my day started off on the wrong foot, the Universal Orlando Resort Team Members helped me get back on track. I spent a remarkable day at both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure parks and went home exhausted yet happy. I look forward to my next visit to Universal Orlando Resort.

The post Universal Orlando October 2015 trip report appeared first on Orlando Informer.

1. Columbus Day weekend is now a popular holiday to visit Orlando’s theme parks. Although Disney recently increased the cost of parking to $20 a day, increased the cost of an annual pass and regular admission prices are at an all-time high, crowd levels seem to be growing.

Also considering Columbus Day is not a holiday for local schools, the crowd levels this weekend at the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios compare to Spring Break level crowds.  Here is a sample of the wait times for popular attractions: 60 minutes for Pirates of the Caribbean, 80 minutes for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, 80 minutes for Tower of Terror and 120 minutes for Toy Story Midway Mania.

2. Construction is underway to expand the Magic Kingdom parking lot. As we passed through the parking toll booth, I was surprised just how far the construction has progressed since Disney demolished the former Richard Petty Driving Experience track. Acres of dirt are spread across the area that will soon be transformed into additional parking for Magic Kingdom guests.

3. During busy days at the Disney parks the fact you have a Fastpass+ time for an attraction does not mean the FP+ queue will be short. Throughout the weekend, the FP+ entrance for several attractions extended into the walkways. Cast Members stood in the walkway at the end of the line with a sign directing guests.

For example, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s FP+ queue had several switchbacks and extended to the entrance of Tom Sawyer Island raft ride. The People Mover, in addition to the regular switchbacks, extended their queue past Astro Orbiter. Toy Story Midway Mania (TSMM) was the worst with its line extending to the doors of the former Jack Sparrow Experience building. Many of the FP+ queues move quickly when this occurs. However, TSMM did not. Is Disney offering too many FP+ slots during busy times?

4. Walt Disney World construction inside the parks is ongoing and progressing. The Magic Kingdom hub and castle forecourt look very nice with the new turrets and landscaping but portions of the hub still remain under construction.

The Country Bear Jamboree building is being refurbished. Many attractions are permanently closed at DHS allegedly due to the future Star Wars land and the Toy Story area expansion. A large mural announcing the Star Wars Launch Bay opening December 2015 has been placed at the entrance to the closed Art of Animation building.

Near Rockin’ Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror a new special event area, Sunset Showcase, is being built and will begin hosting Club Disney in December 2015 where guests can dance with Mickey and friends. I also noticed construction walls along Sunset Boulevard in front of Sunset Ranch Market eating area.

And sadly, Mulch, Sweat & Shears band, after entertaining guests at Walt Disney World for eleven years, performed their last concert at DHS on Saturday, October 10, 2015.

5. The newly re-opened Watto’s Grotto is a Star Wars Tatooine-themed merchandise shop and can be found in the former AFI Showcase, near the old Backlot Tour exit area in DHS.

Merchandise includes Star Wars: The Force Awakens clothing, customized light sabers, toys, collectibles and much more. A variety of props throughout the store provide some great photo opportunities.

Along the outside wall of the Watto’s Grotto building are large murals depicting scenes that come to life if you have the Aurasma app on your smart device. An AT-47 Airspeeder from The Empire Strikes Back is another photo opportunity at the entrance to the store.

6. Magic Kingdom’s Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe changed their menu and no longer serves BBQ or hamburgers. Their new menu features fajitas, burritos, rice bowls, soup and snacks. Prices for main dishes range from $10-$14. You can enhance your meal with a selection of items from their Fixin’s Bar including salsa, cheese, sour cream, peppers, diced tomatoes and onions.

7. Pirates of the Caribbean in the Magic Kingdom has recently undergone an extended refurbishment and is open again. We noticed the enhancements to the attraction almost immediately after our boat left the loading ramp. Guests in the front two rows of the boat were splashed significantly after we plunged down the first hill. The special effects of both Davy Jones and Blackbeard’s images projected on the misty wall were working well. The cannon balls during the battle scene splashed much more than previous experiences on this attraction. The lighting and costumes of the animatronics were noticeably redone and made the scenes pop with color and detail as you floated by.

8. The first part of October in Orlando can be hot and feel just like June. Temperatures were in the upper 80’s to low 90’s during our visit this weekend. A heavy rain shower on Saturday afternoon sent everyone scrambling to the indoor attractions at the Magic Kingdom, thus making those queues even longer than usual.

9. During this month of the year, the holiday decorations at the Disney parks can be confusing. Fall and Halloween decorations can be found throughout the Magic Kingdom. I love the gardens at the entry to the park, Town Square with all its decorations and especially the orange Mickey pumpkin heads on the light posts.

Although it is only the first part of October, due to the millions of lights that must be strung on Cinderella’s Castle and along the Streets of America in DHS, they are already hanging lights in preparation for their November debut. It was recently announced by Disney that this would be the last year for The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. Viewing and absorbing the spectacle of millions of lights at the beginning of the holidays is a family tradition for us and many others. We will miss this holiday spectacular.

10. I maxed out my score on Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin! While my husband and son enjoy the thrills and excitement of Space Mountain, I always use my Fastpass+ reservation for the Buzz Lightyear attraction. I enjoy trying to hit the targets throughout the ride and for the first time reached 999,999. I would say it was 85% luck and 15% skill that helped me achieve this score.

We may have ridden fewer rides this visit to Walt Disney World due to the unexpected crowds, but we were able to enjoy attractions that our family likes the most, ensuring a magical time at the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I look forward to visiting again next month when hopefully the crowds will be lower and all the holiday decorations are on display.

Do you avoid or visit the Disney parks during very crowded days?

The post Ten things discovered during a weekend at Disney World appeared first on Orlando Informer.

Rain was predicted the day I went to Universal Studios Florida (USF). It was hot and muggy that day so when it did rain, it was a welcome relief. The convenient thing about USF is most attractions are indoors and allow guests the opportunity to escape the inclement weather or take a break from the heat.

The crowds at USF were moderate with posted wait times ranging from 50 minutes for Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, 45 minutes for Escape from Gringotts, 30 minutes for Men In Black and only 10 minutes for most of the remaining attractions.

Props for the highly anticipated 25th Anniversary Halloween Horror Nights were located throughout the park but nothing was visible that would frighten or repulse young or sensitive family members. Most of the visible props were things like abandoned vehicles and jack-o-lanterns in the trees.

I laughed when I saw some Sharknado merchandise in the Aftermath gift shop exiting Twister. Shirts, hats, mugs, plush toys and even a shark backpack were available for purchase by fans of the cult movie. After my visit to USF, the Twister merchandise shop was converted for Halloween Horror Nights.

Because the posted wait was only 10 minutes, I decided to ride Transformers: The Ride 3D. This was the first time I used the regular queue (I usually use the Single Rider or Express Pass queue).

I really liked the immersive theming and props including the impressive and mesmerizing AllSpark. Transformers: The Ride is my favorite non-Harry Potter attraction at Universal Orlando and saving the All-Spark from the Decepticons is a thrilling and compelling adventure.

E.T. is a classic attraction I enjoy at USF and was able to ride it after only waiting for 15 minutes in their unique, elaborately themed queue.

I also attended the Horror Makeup Show this visit. This comedic and informative show about the history and secrets of Horror Movie makeup is very amusing.

The cheesy lines, interacting with the audience (“This isn’t Disney. We don’t have to be nice to kids.”) and the surprise scare are excellent features of the show.

Also, don’t miss the detailed displays in the show lobby. I highly recommend guests see this often overlooked yet entertaining show.

For more photos from the Horror Makeup Show, click on the link to the OI Gallery.

For lunch, I went to Fast Food Boulevard in Springfield and ordered a Krusty Burger with fries and a soda. With the annual pass discount, it was $13.12.

The burger was very filling and the curly fries were alright. Fast Food Boulevard has many culinary options to choose from including pizza, salads, wraps, and chicken and waffle sandwiches, which will surely satisfy the entire family.

Since my last visit to USF, the Lucy exhibit permanently closed and the Betty Boop store moved to the Dark Room storefront on Hollywood Boulevard.

Disaster also permanently closed and will be replaced with a Fast and Furious attraction scheduled to be open in 2017.

The following weekend, I visited Islands of Adventure (IOA) without my family again. This day was very warm with only a slight chance of rain and the crowd levels were low to moderate.

Walking to the entrance of IOA, I immediately missed the resounding and iconic roar of the Incredible Hulk Coaster. Since my last visit, this awesome coaster was closed for extensive refurbishment and will open again in the summer of 2016. Currently the construction walls surrounding the attraction are decked out with classic comic artwork.

Also, the locker area next to the attraction has been converted to all day lockers in addition to cell phone charging lockers ($3 for two hours per cell phone locker).

It was exciting to see the progress at Skull Island since my last visit. Prominent signs stating “Skull Island, Reign of Kong, Summer 2016” have been added to the construction walls along the walkway between Thunder Falls restaurant and Toon Lagoon.

The massive and intimidating structures combined with the expectation that this attraction will be exceptional, increases my anticipation for its completion.

The posted wait times at IOA this day were reflective of the moderate crowds with 25 minutes for Spider-man, 45 minutes for Rip Saw Falls, Flight of the Hippogriff and Forbidden Journey 30 minutes. The remaining IOA attractions had posted wait times of less than 15 minutes. In Hogsmeade, I was even lucky enough to find a shaded bench to take a break which rarely occurs.

One advantage to visiting IOA on a day like this is the opportunity to ride attractions repeatedly. Taking in the antics of Thing One and Thing Two on the Cat in the Hat ride, getting soaked while swirling the rapids in Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges, or experiencing the thrilling movements of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey are fantastic one time, but even more so if done repeatedly.

CityWalk continues to expand and change, I noticed the NBC Sports Grill and Brew looked almost completed. The monitors inside the grill and brew were on and construction workers appeared to be putting finishing touches on the huge outside screens. In additional, the NBA City restaurant has permanently closed, although there is no official word what will replace it.

After my time spent at IOA, I decided to have a late lunch at Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar while I was in CityWalk. This visit was my first to the highly regarded addition to CityWalk and I was not disappointed. The menu featured a variety of choices including appetizers like Edamame and Parmesan Bacon Truffle Fries and entrees like sushi and half-pound burgers or unique combinations of both.

Also available were both alcoholic and alcohol-free milkshakes. Cowfish’s offerings would appeal to almost any palate. I ordered the Shroomin’ Swiss burger with fries and iced tea to drink. The burger was delicious and the fries could have been warmer. The service was excellent. With tax and tip, my meal was $22. I recommend Cowfish for guests vacationing at UOR.

Although I was alone, I spent a pleasurable two days at Universal Orlando Resort. As the autumn season begins, the weather starts to cool down and the crowd levels begin to drop at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. I look forward to visiting again next month and hope that you will be visiting Universal Orlando Resort soon.

Visit the OI gallery for more photos from my September trip report.

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The post September 2015 Universal Orlando Resort Trip Report appeared first on Orlando Informer.

If the Memory Maker package is purchased three days prior to your first day of usage, you can take advantage of a $30.00 discount. The regular price of the Memory Maker package is currently $199.00, so our cost was $169.00 for unlimited photos.

Being an obsessive organized person, I designed a spreadsheet listing the Disney characters at each park and where they were located. I prioritized the list by our favorite characters and planned what day we would visit each one. I also scheduled Fastpass+ meet and greets with popular characters to avoid long waits in line.

After the Memory Maker was activated and linked with our My Disney Experience (MDE) account, we visited all four Walt Disney World parks throughout the month and had our picture taken in just about any place we saw a photographer. The Disney photographer scanned one of our Magic Bands after each photo opportunity and the picture was linked to our MDE account by the end of that day.

July 3rd was the first day we began our son’s month-long birthday celebration at Walt Disney World and we selected the Magic Kingdom to start our adventures. Each of the character meet and greets we visited that day had a Disney photographer available to take the photos. The Cast Members were also willing to take photos using our camera and phones. We met nine characters on our first day and felt the day was very successful.

Several photographers had us hold our hands in front of us. When we viewed those photos online at the end of the day, there was a surprise character in our hands (what Disney calls Magic Shots). The Memory Maker package allows you to take unlimited photos with characters and the Magic Shots but also included are ride photos from the attractions like Space Mountain, Test Track, and Dinosaur. Included in the Memory Maker package is an awesome video featuring your family on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and the Tower of Terror attractions each time you ride them.

https://youtu.be/FgOmxWWsahY

It was thrilling to see our son’s smiles and happy reactions to each Disney character he met. One sweet memory from our first day was Cinderella. Our son was mesmerized with her. As he looked into her eyes and smiled at her, Cinderella said to me “I can tell he has magic in his heart from his smile.” Of course my heart melted. To top it all off, as we finished taking photos, our son surprisingly took Cinderella’s hand and twirled her around as if they were dancing. Luckily the Disney photographer took a quick picture of them dancing. It was truly a magical moment I will never forget.

July 4th was our second day at Walt Disney World and we spent it at Epcot. We were able to meet fourteen characters that day. Goofy is our son’s favorite Disney character and Goofy’s silliness had all of us laughing during his photo op.

Our next photo adventure to Walt Disney World that month was Animal Kingdom on July 11th. We were able to meet fourteen characters this day and obtained a ride photo from Dinosaur. All the characters except Brer Bear and Brer Rabbit had a Disney photographer available to take photos.

We went back to the Magic Kingdom on July 18th and due to inclement weather, we only took photos with three characters that day. Since most character meet and greets are outside, the weather can play a significant role in their availability. Going early in the morning before the summer afternoon showers begin is a good strategy. Talking Mickey Mouse was an amazing experience for all three of us and I highly recommend using a Fastpass+ reservation for this character meet and greet.

July 19th was spent at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We met eleven characters that day along with obtaining videos riding the Tower of Terror twice.

https://youtu.be/1ZFU2DZENKY

One tip we learned that day was to visit the Disney Junior characters during the Frozen Summer Fun parade. Young kids were at the parade and the lines were very short at the Disney Junior character meet and greets. While our son liked the Disney Junior characters, Buzz and Woody were so much fun they had him excited and laughing long after we left their photo shoot.

We had a wonderful time meeting the characters at Walt Disney World and taking photos with them. As local residents and annual passholders, we were able to do this in five days but spread it out over the month of July. If you are vacationing here in Orlando with limited time, you could still enjoy this feature commemorating your vacation.

We ended up with several videos, ride photos, character meet and greets that amounted to over 500 digital photos downloaded. At the typical price of $15-$20 per photo, you can see that our investment of $169.00 was well worth it for us. Plus, the quality of each photo was excellent and everyone in the family could be in the pictures.

The Facts:

• Character schedules can be found on the My Disney Experience (MDE) app, but are subject to change without notice, including inclement weather. Be sure to pick up a schedule (where park maps are located) or check the MDE app the day you are in the park.
• You can save money if you purchase the Memory Maker package at least three days prior to using it the first time.
• Disney photographers will scan your Magic Band or Memory Maker card after the photo is taken in order to upload them to your MDE account.
• Memory Maker photos expire 30 days after the initial download of photo(s).
• Photos are available to download for 45 days.
• For additional fees, you can purchase products (like mugs) featuring your favorite photos.
• Disney will also include extra promotional photos of the characters in your memory maker package if you want them.

My Tips:

• Purchase your Memory Maker package at least three days ahead of time so you can use the discount.
• Use the FP+ reservations for the most popular characters as much as you can.
• Prioritize which characters you want to meet and have a secondary list if you have time to visit them.
• Some characters can be found in multiple parks wearing different attire. Decide if you want one, all or just a few of them.
• Know the character’s schedule and be in line first thing in the morning or 15-20 minutes before they are scheduled to appear.
• Have your family wear coordinating shirts. They are aesthetically appealing when you view your photos later.
• Ask a Cast Member if you can sit in the front rows of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and the Tower of Terror. This placement is great for capturing the best photos and ride videos.

To view more photos from our month-long celebration, please visit the Orlando Informer Gallery.

The post The quest for character photos with Disney’s Memory Maker appeared first on Orlando Informer.

Walking through CityWalk, construction on the NBC Sports Bar and Grill continues and is expected to open sometime this fall. It is a prime location for USF guests and those needing to check the current scores and sports action and will be a popular venue.

Walking under the entrance arches to USF, I was excited to see the 25^th Anniversary banners and the Minions Movie promotion signage.

One of the appealing characteristics of UOR in the last few years is things are always changing and progressing. Not surprisingly, the Minion signage and anniversary banners have been removed since my visit.

At Universal Studios Florida, the crowds were heavy with posted wait times ranging from 25 minutes for Men in Black to 75 minutes for Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit’s entrance approach has changed. Guests entering the attraction must walk on the right-hand side of the pathway and exit the attraction on the left-hand side of the path. The paths are separated by short fencing barriers. This new path will ensure guests walk through the locker area to store any prohibited loose items first before passing through the ride queue metal detectors.

In the London Waterfront section of USF, I waited to take a picture of Kreacher peaking out #12 Grimwald Place but he never appeared. I asked a TM nearby and he explained that Kreacher was sick that day. I’m assuming that a mug of butterbeer improved his health because recent reports indicate he is again peaking out the window.

In Diagon Alley, we were luckily assigned to the sixth row of the ride vehicle on Escape from Gringotts. This row is our favorite especially during the first drop caused by the wicked Bellatrix Lestrange. Every time we ride this attraction, we like it even more than the time before. Plunging through the dark, spinning around and encountering not only trolls but Belliatrix Lestrange and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named attacking our vehicle, this attraction has become one of our favorites at UOR.

We were also entertained by the enchantingly talented Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees as they performed on the stage in Carkitt Market, singing and dancing to songs only Wizarding World of Harry Potter fans, and especially Molly Weasley, could fully appreciate. This stage show is not to be missed while exploring all that Diagon Alley has to offer its Muggle visitors.

Since my last visit to USF, the NBC media center is completed in the Garden of Allah Villas area. The distinct signage is not overpowering of the charming garden.

I was able to investigate the recently opened The Film Vault store located across from Transformers. For fans of classic films including Back to the Future, Jaws and the more recent Jurassic World among others, this store offers a variety of commemorative items including but not limited to photo frames, t-shirts, backpacks and smart phone covers.

Unique, higher priced items are also available at the Film Vault, including a Flux Capacitor for $668.00.

I decided to tour the Lucy A Tribute exhibit this visit to USF due to the OI podcast and other reports that this attraction would most likely be replaced by a Hello Kitty store in the near future. I’m extremely glad I did because UOR closed the exhibit three days later (more evidence UOR is constantly changing).

I took photos of all the displays commemorating Lucille Ball’s illustrious career in film and television.

I grew up watching I Love Lucy reruns and appreciate the outstanding contribution she made to sitcom television. I suppose the exhibit has diminished in its appeal to the general public. Hello Kitty is a very popular merchandise brand and hopefully the new store will be successful for UOR.

For more photos from my visit to the Lucy A Tribute exhibit, please visit the OI Gallery.

The following weekend my family and I visited Islands of Adventure (IOA). Walking from the parking garage, one of the first things I noticed from the week prior were the new safety signs found at escalators and moving sidewalks. Although smaller signs have always been posted at these locations, the newer, standing signs were much more noticeable for guests arriving at UOR.

The day was equally as hot as the week before and crowd levels seemed larger than our visit to USF.

The posted wait times for IOA attractions ranged from moderate to long with the family fun Cat in the Hat dark ride 20 minutes and the guaranteed-to-get-soaked water coaster Dudley Do-Right’s Rip Saw Falls 75 minutes.

The Confisco Grill building located in the port of entry was wrapped for refurbishment but the restaurant was open to park guests.

When we arrived at IOA, we headed directly to the Oh the Stories You’ll Hear show since our son, who has autism, was having a difficult morning. We thought the music could help improve his mood. Arriving at the show, I noticed new covered seating arranged near the stage. Covered seating is unquestionably needed on hot summer days in this area.

The Storyteller and the characters started the show and due to threatening skies, the show did not include the usual singing and dancing. However, the Storyteller did read a story to the guests and the characters were available for meet and greet photos.

One of the reasons we adore visiting IOA is the fact that the storyteller is always genuinely happy to see our son and makes an effort to welcome him. Her interaction with him made him smile and as a result, he was happy the rest of our visit to the park. For that simple but meaningful gesture by the Universal Team Member, we were truly appreciative.

The construction of Skull Island: Reign of Kong is another perfect example that UOR is constantly changing and progressing. As seen from Camp Jurassic, the detail, size and intimidating façade to the attraction is amazing.

While walking along the construction fence, the structure is even more imposing. I’m eager to see the progress next month and especially its completion next year.

Before leaving Islands of Adventure, I wanted to savor the sound of the Incredible Hulk Coaster as it roared overhead. UOR announced this attraction will be closing on September 8, 2015, and will reopen in the summer of 2016.

I’m excited that the Incredible Hulk Coaster will be updated but it will be surreal approaching Islands of Adventure from Citywalk without the exhilarating sound of the Hulk Coaster as it roars along the tracks.

We had a brilliant time at both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. I look forward to visiting again next month and happily anticipate sharing new updates and changes at Universal Orlando Resort.

When is your next visit to these phenomenal theme parks? Let us know in the comments.

The post Universal August 2015 Trip Report appeared first on Orlando Informer.

1. Reduce your wait time in lines with Express Passes. Utilizing the Express Passes significantly reduces the amount of time you wait to enjoy an attraction compared to waiting in the regular queue. If you stay on property at one of the three Universal Orlando Resort Deluxe resorts (Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, or Royal Pacific Resort), your express passes are included in your hotel room price. This savings can greatly impact the total cost of your vacation in addition to reducing the added stress of waiting in long lines with crowds of people in the heat of the day. If you don’t stay on property, you can purchase either a one-time use or an unlimited use Express Passes. Orlando Informer has excellent tips and information about the unlimited express passes here.

2. Use an Orlando Informer free touring plan developed and designed by experts who know Universal Orlando Resort. There are several touring plans to choose from designed to maximize your time and enhance your park experience, including one day, three day and the ability customize your own touring plans.

3. Be an early bird. Another advantage to staying at any Universal Orlando Resort, including Cabana Bay, is early admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. You can ride Forbidden Journey or Escape from Gringotts along with drinking a cold mug of Butterbeer before the parks open to regular guests. If you can’t stay on property, arrive at the park gates 45 minutes prior to opening. You’ll be able to complete a good number of attractions in the first few hours and avoid the major crowds and afternoon heat.

4. Purchase your park tickets in advance and avoid standing in the ticket window queues outside the park entrance. During the summer, you can stand in line for 45 minutes just to purchase tickets. Don’t spend your first vacation day waiting in an unnecessary line. Another option is purchase your tickets online using your smartphone while standing in front of the parks and print them at the kiosks near the entrance to the parks.

5. Be prepared for the weather. Summertime in Central Florida can be brutally hot and humid, with the heat index easily reaching 100 degrees or more. In addition, the heat, humidity and sea breezes from both of Florida’s coasts can create intense thunderstorms many afternoons. Plan your day accordingly. Dress in light-weight clothing. Although you may look awesome, it isn’t the best idea to wear your Hogwarts House Robes while touring Universal Orlando Resort in the summertime heat. For a quick cool off, take a break inside the Jurassic Park Discovery center or other indoor attraction like the Horror Makeup Show. During the downpours use a compact umbrella or wear a poncho.

Learn more about weather in Orlando.

6. Take care of your body. Wear sunscreen, even if it’s cloudy. It is extremely easy to burn in the intense Florida sun and there is nothing worse than spending the rest of your vacation in pain from sunburn. Drink a lot of water throughout the day. You can use any type of cup to get free water at every Coca-Cola Freestyle machine throughout the parks. Use a cooling towel for immediate relief from the heat. Start a walking program before you go on vacation because you can easily walk five to seven miles in a day at the theme parks. Rent a stroller for your younger children, even if they may not usually ride in one. They will last longer in the parks and hopefully the stroller can prevent behaviors related to fatigue or overheating.

7. Go back to your hotel during the hottest part of the day to swim, relax by the pool or take a nap in order to spend an awesome evening back at the parks and CityWalk. The parks have a different ambiance after the sun goes down. In addition, Universal Orlando’s resorts have amazing pools and you will want to enjoy them.

8. Make the most of the water rides at both parks. The humidity and heat can take a toll on a person. Wear water shoes or flip flops and plunge down the hill at Jurassic Park River Adventure or get drenched while spinning along the pathway in Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges to cool off. And don’t forget the thrilling and soaking experience on Rip Saw Falls! In Universal Studios Florida, head to Curious George’s water play area and stand under the buckets of water if you really want to get sopping wet. The heat of the day can help dry your clothes or you can always store extra clothes in the lockers near the entrance of either park.

9. Save some money on your hotel, meals and souvenirs by booking a vacation package. For example, The Harry Potter vacation package outlined on the Orlando Informer Travel page, includes staying on property, breakfast at the Three Broomsticks and Leaky Cauldron along with a Shutterbutton’s Photography Studio session. Not only will you be close to the parks, you get to enjoy breakfasts immersed in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and you can take home a unique souvenir.

10. Prepare yourself mentally. Embrace the fact you are visiting Universal Orlando Resort – one of the best vacation destinations in the world! While an often used cliché, attitude really is everything. Approach your upcoming vacation, not with dread of the unpleasant factors, but with the frame of mind that you will enjoy yourself in spite of those factors.

The summer can bring crowds and extreme weather to Universal Orlando Resort but the unique adventures and thrills far outweigh the unpleasant factors. Keep these tips in mind whenever you plan your vacation and I hope you have a wonderful time.

What other strategies do you employ when vacationing at Universal Orlando Resort during the summer months? Sound off in the comments below!

Continue your vacation planning by learning the Best day of the week to visit Universal Orlando.

Planning a vacation to Orlando?
Want to skip all the work and just price out a vacation to Universal Orlando? We’ll find the best deals for you – for free (seriously.) Learn more, or check out some of the current deals:

• – Halloween Horror Nights 25 Hotel & Ticket Vacation Packages
  – Wizarding World of Harry Potter Vacation Packages
  – 2-Park Getaway at Universal Orlando

The post 10 steps to enjoy your summer vacation at Universal appeared first on Orlando Informer.

Universal CityWalk

As CityWalk continues to expand its restaurant and food options, I noticed two new eateries opened since my last report, which provide guests with more quick-service options.

Bread Box, located on the upper level next to Menchie’s, offers CityWalk guests sandwiches, salads, soups, and beverages (including shakes), with pricing at $7.95 for a sandwich. The inside of Bread Box is modern with a unique decor that features a variety of brightly-colored lunchboxes adorning one wall and porch swings doubling as benches to sit and enjoy your meal. Outdoor seating is also available.

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The Hot Dog Hall of Fame, located across from Antojitos, offers hot dogs prepared in a variety of styles, including New York, Chicago, and Detroit. They also offer kids’ meals, beverages, side items, and beer. Prices range from $6.99 for regular-length hotdogs to $8.99 for a foot-long dog. All seating is outdoors, but guests can choose between stadium and covered table seating and watch baseball highlights on the enormous projection screen positioned above the restaurant.

I didn’t take this opportunity to try out the food at either location during this visit. However, OI contributor Dani did get a chance last week, and when you’re done with this post, you can read her reviews here.

Islands of Adventure

After entering Islands of Adventure, I noticed the crowd levels were surprisingly moderate for summer. Posted wait times were almost ideal, with Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff at 30 minutes; Jurassic Park River Adventure, 10 minutes; the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, 45 minutes; and Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls, 60 minutes (the longest posted wait time of the day).

It was an almost agonizingly hot day at IOA, and I took frequent breaks to rehydrate and get out of the sun.

For those guests with younger children, please note that, in Seuss Landing, the Cat in the Hat ride has new height restrictions posted as of early summer: there is a minimum height requirement of 36 inches, and those guests between 36 and 48 inches must be accompanied by a supervising companion. Hand-held infants are not permitted.

As part of the new features in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter expansion at Hogsmeade, there were many guests participating in the magical interactive wand experiences in front of several storefronts in Hogsmeade Village. Guests of all ages were enjoying this new addition.

Since my last visit, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley opened, including the Hogsmeade train station for the Hogwarts Express in IOA. The Hogwarts Express and Hogsmeade Station are both a sight to behold. Guests need to have park-to-park admission in order to ride this awesome, one-of-a-kind train to King’s Cross Station in the London area of Universal Studios Florida. There are ticket booths at the entrance of Hogsmeade Station as a convenience for those guests who may need to upgrade their passes.

Anticipating large crowds, the queue of Hogsmeade Station twists and turns on its way up to the loading platform. Guests can enjoy the view of the Dragon Challenge coaster while waiting on the loading platform or after they have disembarked from the train.

I was surprised to discover that a couple assigned to my train car only knew the Hogwarts Express took them to the other park, and that’s it. They were asking where they would come out at Universal Studios Florida and if there was something else to see related to Harry Potter at that end of the train ride. I explained how to get to Diagon Alley from King’s Cross Station. I later saw them in Diagon Alley, and they were very excited in this new, immersive addition to the Wizarding World (which I covered in yesterday’s USF trip report).

Walking through the Jurassic Park section of IOA, I observed the continued construction in the rumored King Kong area between Jurassic Park and Toon Lagoon. In fact, the large archway signage between these two islands is in the process of being dismantled and will be moved closer to Thunder Falls Terrace.

As guests explore Toon Lagoon, there is an opportunity for distinctive photos throughout the area. I’m a big fan of photos as a vital part of my vacation and consider them to be souvenirs longer-lasting than a t-shirt or hat. Universal Orlando offers a PhotoConnect card, which is a great way to make those memories.

Using your own camera or phone at Islands of Adventure with the comic “bubbles” in Toon Lagoon is another entertaining way to make memories. I’ve always liked walking through this section, seeing the captions, and taking pictures of my family under them. Serious or silly poses can be made under phrases like “I’m going to need a vacation from this vacation” and the ever-popular “Wish you were here” and “Thinking of you.” Other captions include “It must be Sunday… we’re in color!”; “Which do you think is my best side?”/“Inside”; and “Is this a great body or what?”/“Definitely or what.”

Next time you visit Toon Lagoon, don’t skip all the comic captions on both sides of the signage. And since IOA now has free wifi, you can post these photos to your Facebook or Instagram account for all your friends and family back home to see.

With the stunning and amazing expansion of the Wizarding World completed, Universal is already working on the next project. I look forward to the new rumored King Kong area and Universal Orlando Resort once again raising the bar for quality family theme park entertainment.

I hope you and your family can soon enjoy all that Islands of Adventure and Universal Orlando have to offer.

Reminder: See our reviews of Bread Box and Hot Dog Hall of Fame, or yesterday’s USF trip report covering Diagon Alley (and the Hogwarts Express).

Then you can read all of our trip reports in the OI Blog Archive, or you can compare your wand moves with other vacationing Muggles in the OI Community Forums.

Islands of Adventure trip report – photo gallery

Click any image to view it full-screen. When the full-screen image is open, click to the right or use the right arrow on your keyboard to advance through the gallery.

The post Islands of Adventure trip report – July 2014 (Hogsmeade Station, Kongstruction, fun in Toon Lagoon + a CityWalk update) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

The crowds were surprisingly moderate for summer, but the weather was very warm. As I entered the park, I picked up a Diagon Alley Grand Opening commemorative park map (still available, although the actual Grand Opening was July 8) and decided to tour the rest of USF before enjoying this new addition.

In Production Central, Despicable Me was shut down due to technical problems but reopened later with a posted wait time of 50 minutes. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit’s posted wait was 45 minutes. In the New York backlot, a candy shop opened in place of the psychic/henna tattoo parlor near the Blues Brothers Show stage.

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Revenge of the Mummy was only a 20-minute wait, and Transformers was 60 minutes. And over in World Expo, both MEN IN BLACK and the Simpson’s Ride were at just 10 minutes.

As I approached the London waterfront of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, imagine my surprise when the queue for the new Diagon Alley was non-existent and guests could enter immediately.

First, I enjoyed all the photo opportunities on the London waterfront, including the steps of No. 12 Grimmauld Place, Eros fountain, a red London phone booth (dial 62442 for a message), and the Knight Bus, with its shrunken head and Conductor.

After seeing Muggle London, I walked through the brick opening (with sound effects) and emerged into Diagon Alley. I must say, it took my breath away.

All I could think to myself was, “It’s real!” The cobbled streets, the crooked buildings, and the dragon on top of Gringotts bank – they were all in front of me. Diagon Alley was no longer an artist’s drawing or an image seen on television or the internet. It was real!

Diagon Alley is a true shopping Mecca for fans of the Harry Potter series. I explored every shop, including Quality Quidditch Supplies and Wheezley’s Wizard Wheezes joke shop. Ollivander’s, which only had a five-minute wait time for the wand experience, displayed an infinite number of wands.

I loved the magical dresses and other costumes featured in Madam Milikin’s Robes for all Occasions. And over on Horizont Alley, Magical Menagerie was a plush-toy lover’s delight, with unique animals to buy, including a variety of owls. Wiseacres was a beautifully decorated shop combined with the stationery store Scribbulus, which had a tremendous variety of items available, from t-shirts to quill pens and almost everything in between.

Knockturn Alley was fantastic. Cold, dark, and sinister-feeling, I walked along the alleyway and saw several interactive wand windows, a moving “wanted” poster, and even Team Members who were in character creeping along the path.

In the Borgin and Burkes store, in the dark recesses of Knockturn, I heard the canary inside the vanishing cabinet, perused the various dark wizard items for sale, and contemplated what I would see should the bogart escape its locked trunk (bogarts turn into what you fear the most).

Heading back to Diagon Alley, I enjoyed Butterbeer ice cream from Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlor and had dinner in the Leaky Cauldron (the lemon squash drink is deliciously refreshing). I even tried a bottle of Gilly Water with a Draught of Peace elixir from Eternelle’s Elixir of Refreshments; I enjoyed the very sweet-but-tasty potion.

I exchanged my Muggle money for Gringotts Bank Notes so I can keep them as souvenirs. These banks notes can be used throughout Universal Orlando Resort in the place of cash money. The goblin animatronic who guards this portion of the bank was astoundingly realistic and seemed to stare directly at me as I stood in line.

[youtube_video]c42KFvbKonQ[/youtube_video]

I was able to see first-hand the amazing puppetry show of the Three Brothers from The Tales of Beedle the Bard. I was also able to enjoy the very talented Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees as they performed various songs and danced on stage. (In case you didn’t know, Celestina Warbeck is Molly Weasley’s favorite singer.) Both performances are not to be missed when visiting Diagon Alley.

The dragon roaring and spewing fire every 10 to 15 minutes from the top of Gringotts Banks was extraordinary. I think it’s one of the best “landmarks” of Central Florida.

After seeing the wait time for Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts go past 220 minutes, I hoped the single rider line would re-open. It finally did, and I decided to ride this headliner attraction.

In choosing the single rider line, however, I missed a significant portion of the queue, including the main lobby, the vaults, walking through Bill Weasley’s office, and the elevator ride down to the bottom of the bank; as a single rider, I walked down a hallway, obtained my goggles (3D glasses), and then proceeded up three flights of stairs to board the ride. This process took about one hour, as the ride temporarily shut down a few times while I was in the queue.

Escape from Gringotts is one of those attractions in which I had to remind myself that it is not a rollercoaster. I liked the ride, which I felt was a toned-down combination of Revenge of the Mummy and Transformers. I did want it to last longer, though. There are thrilling moments, and the scenes are brilliant. I also loved the fact there was no way to predict which direction the vehicle would be traveling next. I highly recommend everyone try this attraction, but for thrill-seeking guests, don’t expect a coaster, because it isn’t intended to be one.

After my adventures in Diagon Alley, I walked over to King’s Cross Station in London and boarded the Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade. As a huge fan of the Harry Potter series, I was in awe. Again, what I’ve read and seen in the movies was real! The station was remarkable, and the Hogwarts Express train was striking.

I walked through the very long queue and boarded the train after only a ten-minute wait.

I sat in the cabin and was speechless the first time I saw the scenery pass by the window (which is really a screen) and the shadows cast on the opaque windows of the cabin door as Ron, Hermoine, and Harry walked by. After we arrived at Hogsmeade Station, I went back in line to return to King’s Cross Station in London and was again mesmerized by the different scenes passing by and the shadows on the cabin doors.

It’s been almost four years of planning and construction for Diagon Alley to open. It is thrilling for a Harry Potter fan like me to partake in this awesome expansion of the Wizarding World. Universal Orlando has performed a phenomenal task of bringing the world of Harry Potter to life for the second time, and they succeeded wildly.

I can’t wait to go back to Diagon Alley again and hope that you will soon experience this new section and all the entertainment available at Universal Studios Florida.

For those who may have missed it, here’s one more look at Dan’s walk-through of Diagon Alley from the grand opening day:

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We have even more to share! Dan has been working hard on getting many pages in the OI Universal Center updated now that we know the particulars about how Universal is handling crowds, Early Park Admission, etc. These pages are now fully updated:

• Universal vacation packages – an insider’s guide
• Ride wait times based on crowd levels
• Express Passes – complete insider’s guide
• Only guaranteed ways to beat the crowds at the Wizarding World
• How to ensure your trip to the Wizarding World is a success

Second round of updated pages:

• Rental & ride lockers at Universal
• Refillable cups, popcorn buckets & Coke Freestyle
• Early Park Admission to the Wizarding World (this is a must-read!)

By the end of this week, Dan will have new touring plans ready, too.

Finally, we are now accepting submissions for “real guest reviews” of the attractions inside Diagon Alley. You may have seen the mixed review of Escape from Gringotts – to learn more about what our readers are saying, click here.

I hope you enjoyed my tour of USF and Diagon Alley. If you’d like, you can read all of our trip reports in the OI Blog Archive, or you can engage in some pretty serious Diagon Alley vacation planing in the OI Community Forums.

Universal Studios Florida trip report – photo gallery

Click any image to view it full-screen. When the full-screen image is open, click to the right or use the right arrow on your keyboard to advance through the gallery.

The post A very special Universal Studios Florida trip report – July 2014 (Diagon Alley is here!) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

Islands of Adventure

In Seuss Landing, the Cat in the Hat vehicle is spinning again but only turns around approximately three different times during the ride. It is a gentler spin and nothing like past experiences on this attraction. For those guests like me, who prefer the old way, it doesn’t look promising that the spin will increase in intensity any time soon.

Also since my last report, the McElligot’s Pond refurbishment is now complete and open to the public.

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In the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, the construction walls surrounding the new Hogsmeade Station are down! The area looks great, with landscaping and pathways that draw your eye toward the train station. Since this isn’t open to the public yet, there are still barriers blocking guests from walking into the station.

For a huge Harry Potter fan like me, the fact that I will be riding the Hogwarts Express from London to Hogsmeade in the next few weeks is exhilarating!

I decided to go on a scavenger hunt in Hogsmeade and search for the newly-installed interactive wand medallions. In case you didn’t know, guests will be able to purchase interactive wands and cast spells at various locations in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley to make something “magical” happen.

In Hogsmeade, I found ten medallions in eight locations (two locations had two spells). I also found a ninth location but could not find the medallion that marks the spell.

You may be interested in knowing that the new interactive wands don’t work quite yet in Hogsmeade, so don’t feel to0 upset that you can’t buy one yet.

In Jurassic Park, a large section of land located between the Thunder Falls Terrace restaurant and the entry to Toon Lagoon is being cleared and rumored to be the new King Kong attraction. As a result, the T-Rex photo opportunity moved from this area to a new location next to the The Burger Digs restaurant. Unfortunately, the automatic Photo Connect feature of this photo op still remains at the old location.

The wait times at IOA were typical for early summer, with Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at 30 minutes; Jurassic Park River Adventure, 45 minutes; Dudley Do-Right’s Rip Saw Falls, 75 minutes; the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, 45 minutes; and the Incredible Hulk Coaster, 25 minutes.

It was a very hot, sunny day, and many guests were taking advantage of the water rides, which made maneuvering from one end of Toon Lagoon to the other difficult.

Universal Studios Florida

The following day, my family and I visited Universal Studios Florida. Since my last trip report, the Mardi Gras celebration has ended and, subsequently, the decorations have been removed.

Posted wait times at USF also seemed to be typical for early summer, with Despicable Me Minion Mayhem at 60 minutes; Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and Transformers: The Ride 3D, 45 minutes; and Revenge of the Mummy, 20 minutes. The temperature was very warm, with partly cloudy skies. It rained for about 25 minutes that afternoon, but not heavily.

The Starbucks located in the New York backlot is open after being refurbished, but now portions of the locker area of MEN IN BLACK are being refurbished. Another noticeable change was during the E.T. Adventure queue: Team Members were not entering names into the system to be spoken by E.T. at the end of the ride. All other aspects of the attraction seemed to be running normally, however.

Over at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, as you know, the tall construction fences have been removed, fully revealing the London facade. Since my last trip report, the Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon has also been mounted on top of Gringotts Wizarding Bank.

The best view of the dragon that the general public can access currently is either from the Animal Actors stadium or on Sunset Street, near Mel’s Diner. I have yet to see the dragon breathe fire in person, but I am looking forward to this unique and thrilling feature.

Now that the construction walls have been removed, walking up to the London waterfront is also a breathtaking experience for any park guest, even those who may not be Harry Potter fans.

Seeing the Knight Bus parked next to the Eros fountain in front of Wyndham’s is a sight to behold. And I absolutely love the animatronic Kreacher periodically peaking out the window of 12 Grimmauld Place and thoroughly enjoy the reaction of park guests who see him for the first time.

I have been re-reading the Harry Potter series and am comparing the descriptions by J.K. Rowling of London and Diagon Alley with photos I’ve taken. My favorite comparison so far has been from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, where Ms. Rowling writes about the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron from the London streets:

“The people hurrying by didn’t glance at it. Their eyes slid from the big bookshop on one side to the record shop on the other, as if they couldn’t see the Leaky Cauldron at all.”

This past week, Universal Orlando fans have been flooded with media outlets covering Diagon Alley, including The Tonight Show, The Today Show, E! Network, local media, and many others. Finally knowing that the opening date for Diagon Alley is July 8, 2014 helped ease the uncertainty of when I will actually get to see this highly-anticipated addition to Universal Orlando. Seeing the photos and videos from Diagon Alley made public during the recent media previews and Universal webcasts has not tapered my excitement, and my eagerness continues to grow knowing I will be exploring this new section of the park in less than a month.

I look forward to reporting my future Universal adventures to OI readers and hope you will soon enjoy the thrills and excitement of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley and all the other attractions at Universal Orlando Resort.

You can read all of our trip reports in the OI Blog Archive, or you can chat about Universal CityWalk with like-minded vacationers in the OI Community Forums.

Universal Orlando Resort trip report – photo gallery

Click any image to view it full-screen. When the full-screen image is open, click to the right or use the right arrow on your keyboard to advance through the gallery.

The post Universal Orlando trip report – June 2014 (Hogsmeade spell markers, Diagon Alley dragon, Kong-struction & more) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

I recently visited Universal CityWalk and took note of the construction progress in many areas of this entertainment hotspot.

The new additions to the area over the past several months have taken it to the next level. Guests, as well as Orlando residents, have whole new reasons to visit and explore – the recently-opened Antojitos Mexican restaurant, Cold Stone Creamery, and Brick Oven Grill are all receiving excellent reviews.

Since my trip report last month, several new venues have opened, along with the completion of the Universal Studios Store refurbishment. Dani covered Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt and the Universal Studios Store in detail in her recent report, so we’ll just lightly touch upon them here.

In the newly refurbished Universal Studios Store, the fascinating column video screens and the artfully arranged merchandise are a nice enhancement. Menchie’s has a wide variety of flavors that change frequently; I sampled key lime pie and watermelon, which were both tasty and refreshing. And the brightly-colored umbrella tables that are set up outside look like a fun place to sit back, eat your yogurt, and relax.

Next door to Menchie’s, the Bread Box signage is now hanging outside that venue. Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, located above Red Oven Pizza Bakery, is also showing signs of progress, including the structure for an elevator.

The Hot Dog Hall of Fame restaurant, meanwhile, located across from the popular Antojitos, will be opening very soon and features several stadium-style seats for guests to enjoy their meal in an entertaining, unique atmosphere.

VIVO Italian Kitchen review

Get ready, all you Italian food fans – VIVO Italian Kitchen is now open, and you’re going to love it. It opened on Monday, June 16, and I was lucky enough to enjoy dinner there this past weekend.

When I first walked into the restaurant, I was pleasantly surprised by how large the dining room is. The contemporary decor is lovely. There were many tables that were designed to accommodate large parties, in addition to more intimate areas, outdoor seating (with checkerboards built into the tabletops), and seating at the bar. Guests could also sit and observe the chefs working in the open kitchen, where they make fresh pasta daily.

The wine and cocktail menu looked very inviting. White, red, and sparkling wines were available by the glass and bottle. Several cocktails looked interesting, including the Blackberry Fizz and the Italian Margarita. Since I was alone, I decided to wait and order something off this menu the next time I visit with my husband, so he can drive me home.

But here’s a fun fact: Dan’s wife Rosie was the very first customer ever to sit at the VIVO bar and order a drink (last Monday, June 16).

For my meal, Christopher, my server, presented the dinner menu and skillfully explained the dishes, including the specials. The well-planned menu had choices for appetizers, including – but not limited to – calamari, antipasto, and hand-pulled mozzarella. Various soups, pizza, and salads were also available, along with many pasta dishes, including fettuccini carbonara, lasagna, and the pasta of the day.

Main dish items – like chicken, veal, eggplant parmesan, pork loin, and grilled rib-eye, to name a few – made choosing what to order for dinner a difficult decision. I eventually chose chicken parmesan with capellini pasta for my entree and decided to forgo an appetizer to save room for dessert.

Christopher took my order and immediately brought me some fresh, warm bread, which I thoroughly enjoyed after dipping it in olive oil. It was tasty, and I could have eaten the entire plate of bread but restrained myself so I would enjoy my dinner.

Not long afterwards, my chicken parmesan arrived. It was positioned on top of the capellini pasta in an eye-catching presentation. The breading on the chicken was perfect in that it was cooked flawlessly; it didn’t overpower the flavor of the chicken or the wonderful, fresh parmesan cheese melted on top. The marinara sauce allowed me to experience the flavor of the chicken to its fullest. The capellini pasta was a delicate, thin pasta that, again, enhanced the flavor of the entire dish.

To sum it up in one phrase: my dinner was delicious! The portion was more than enough for me, so I ended up taking some home.

Christopher next presented me with the dessert menu and expertly explained each choice. I ordered the Nonna (Grandmother Cake) for dessert and was very thankful I did. Presented in an eye-catching way, the dessert was a warm orange walnut cake served with sour cream gelato and orange filets.

The combination of flavors may sound odd, but it was delectable. It was not too heavy of a dessert, nor was it too large a portion after eating a very filling Italian dinner.

Because my husband was home with our son, I ordered him the lasagna to go. He said it was a delicious meal. The lasagna was not overloaded with meat, and the marinara sauce wasn’t over-bearing, allowing the flavors of the cheese, pasta, and seasonings to stand out.

I look forward to the next time I can enjoy this awesome restaurant, and I highly recommend that you make a point to have a meal at VIVO Italian Kitchen the next time you are in CityWalk.

VIVO Italian Kitchen
407-224-2253
Online reservations available via UniversalOrlando.com
View the menu: PDF File
Deluxe on-site guests receive priority seating

You can read all of our trip reports in the OI Blog Archive, or you can chat about Universal CityWalk with like-minded vacationers in the OI Community Forums.

The post Universal CityWalk trip report – June 2014 (VIVO Italian Kitchen review, Hot Dog Hall of Fame update, more construction) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

Until Saturday, May 10, that is – when, at 50-years-old, I stood at the starting line of my sixth runDisney race and my fifth 5K at the resort.

Participating in the Expedition Everest Challenge 5K obstacle course and scavenger hunt at Animal Kingdom was an awesome experience as well as being a big achievement for me personally.

In addition to the challenge of the race itself and the fact the start time was at 10:00pm, the weather was very uncooperative. It started raining soon after I arrived in the Animal Kingdom parking lot at 8:00pm, and the wind was blowing from the north. At 9:00 pm, runners were asked to proceed to their starting corrals, and it rained the entire time we waited for the race to start.

Each corral starts the race about five to seven minutes apart in order to stagger the 5,000+ runners, so everyone is not trying to run through Animal Kingdom at the same time. The temperature continued to drop, but thankfully the rain stopped when it was my corral’s time to start the race around 10:40pm. After that point, the cooler temperatures felt refreshing.

One of the unique characteristics of Expedition Everest Challenge 5K is the three obstacles along the course that participants can complete if they desire: hay bales, tires, and crawling under a wire mesh. I attempted the first two obstacles, but, since I’m no spring chicken and not in the best of shape, I knew I’d never get back up if I tried the last one.

The first mile of the course took us around the parking lot and into the park entrance. The second and third miles of the course wound through Animal Kingdom itself. Runners could have their photo taken with several Disney characters along the race course.

It was a surreal feeling, running in the dark after walking the pathways during the daytime. Even though the park had muted lighting, the landmarks of the Tree of Life and Everest were lit beautifully. Seeing Everest lit up in purple lights as I made my way into Asia was fabulous (and the photos below don’t do it justice).

After finishing the 5K portion of the race, participants were then provided with clues to the scavenger hunt around Animal Kingdom. This is a second unique feature of the Expedition Everest Challenge 5K. Each answer led to the next clue in a different location of the park. My friend Scott Parker and I thoroughly enjoyed this part of the race and helped each other with the clues, one example of which was completing a sentence that had missing letters (similar to Wheel of Fortune).

After solving all the clues along the course, we crossed the finish line and were awarded our medals.

The medal is awesome – it opens and reveals a compass inside. The total distance for the race and scavenger hunt combined was approximately five miles. Runners are timed at the 5K point and at the end of the scavenger hunt.

After completing the entire race, we joined the after-party, which lasted until the early hours of the morning. All race participants, as well as guests who didn’t run but had purchased tickets to the after-party, could ride Expedition Everest and Kali River Rapids and enjoy the attractions in Dinoland. In addition, there was a DJ and dance party in Dinoland, with additional Disney character photo opportunities for everyone.

Riding Everest at night was so awe-inspiring! The ride was very dark and climbing up the first hill, I could see the now-clear sky full of stars over the top of the mountain. It was truly remarkable!

After riding Expedition Everest twice and enjoying the dance party in Dinoland, I left Animal Kingdom around 2:00am. The Everest Challenge 5K race is one of Disney World’s smallest races in terms of the number of participants (estimated at 5,000 runners), but it became my favorite of all the 5Ks.

I plan to participate in future runDisney races (I would love to do the 5K offered during a Disney cruise), and I will also add other local races to stay physically active throughout the year. I am proud of my accomplishment of completing all the Walt Disney World 5Ks. I am also humbled by others who said I have inspired them to become active and even run in a Disney race themselves. And I sincerely appreciate all the support I’ve received from my family and friends along the way.

RunDisney offers a wide variety of unique events at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts, from children and family races to full marathons, attracting all levels of athletes. If you are interested in participating in any of the races at the two resorts, visit their site and sign up for email notices about the next race. Keep in mind that most races at Disney World sell out within a few hours of registration opening to the public.

And let’s end on an amusing fact: I wear a pedometer every day to track my steps. While we were enjoying our recent ‘staycation’ at Walt Disney World from Wednesday to Sunday, including the Everest Challenge race and visiting the theme parks daily, I walked a total of 89,443 steps (approximately 38 miles)!

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The post Disney’s Expedition Everest Challenge 5K: A personal transformation and an exhilarating time appeared first on Orlando Informer.

Universal CityWalk

Entering CityWalk from the parking deck, I noticed the construction progress at several locations, including Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt and the Bread Box, which are taking over the space formally occupied by Cigarz, TCBY, and Katie’s Candy Company. The space for Cowfish – the former upstairs Starbucks location – is coming along, as is the space below for Vivo Italian Kitchen. The Universal Studios Store is still under construction, and the construction walls take a significant portion of the walkway to Antojitos, which, by the way, is now open for both lunch and dinner. And, finally, the ever-popular Margaritaville’s Porch of Indecision is open after being expanded during the past few months.

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These new additions will add to the excellent choices already available in CityWalk.

Islands of Adventure

Entering the enticing atmosphere of IOA, where the roar of the Hulk Coaster can be heard almost far and wide, you don’t have to walk far before you see construction activity.

In Seuss Landing, new walls surround McElligot’s Pond for its refurbishment. As I walked past the Cat in the Hat ride, I checked with a Team Member for any updates, since the ride did not spin last month. I learned the ride is spinning now, but much less frequently. I felt something was missing last month when riding this whimsical attraction without the extra movement, so I am glad to hear it’s at least partially returned.

In the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, large stones similar to the ones at the entrance to Flight of the Hippogriff can be seen on either side of the fenced area near the new Hogsmeade Station. Readers who follow Orlando Informer’s Twitter may recognize these from IOA’s rumored King Kong construction site, as seen here:

High construction fences still consume most of the pedestrian walkway between the exit of Lost Continent and the entrance to Hogsmeade. Of course, you can see glimpses of buildings, trees, and the new train station above the fence. It’s exciting to think those walls will soon come down and reveal another adventure beckoning us.

Honeydukes has expanded into the former Zonko’s space since my visit last month. Although efforts were made to blend the new area in with the old by using complimentary paint colors and architecture, I feel the space seems more like an after-the-fact addition rather than an extension of the existing theme of Honeydukes. This new space does help alleviate the crowds at checkout, though, and it includes colorful displays of delicious candy and unique treats.

I also noticed the outside of the shop has not changed, with Zonko’s still painted on the building and gags displayed in the windows. I hope it stays this way, as homage to the former joke shop.

Although still an unofficial feature, I was very happy to discover that Universal’s free wifi in the parks has expanded since my last visit, and I was able to connect throughout Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida during my recent visits.

A fence is now erected near the Thunder Falls Terrace restaurant in Jurassic Park. As noted above, rumors say this construction area will be the new King Kong section of the park. The old Kong attraction in Universal Studios Florida (Kongfrontation) predates my move to Orlando, so this island will be entirely new for me. I look forward to what exciting adventures this addition will bring to the park.

As I was browsing the Islands of Adventure Trading Company in Port of Entry, I came across a very nice display of framed, signed, and numbered prints and artwork pertaining to the Harry Potter franchise. One particular print caught my eye – a map of Diagon Alley. Another item was a framed one-way ticket from London to ride the Hogwarts Express via Platform 9 3/4. A third framed item was the envelope, letter, and school supplies list Harry Potter received after being accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

All these prints, unframed, were available starting around $100 during the salute to Harry Potter weekend in January. Unfortunately, I became distracted and did not check the current prices of the framed versions.

The crowd levels this trip were pleasantly low. I was stunned that the posted wait time for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey‘s standby line was only 15 minutes. It was 35 minutes for the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, 30 minutes for Dudley Do-Right’s Rip Saw Falls, and only five minutes for Jurassic Park River Adventure. The mid-morning temperatures were warm in the 80s and very humid.

Universal Orlando continues to upgrade their parks for the enjoyment of their guests. Whether it’s the refurbishment of an attraction or the addition of a major component to their parks, exciting adventures await your family now and in the future. I look forward to my trip next month to Islands of Adventure, and I hope your family will be able to visit and enjoy this ever-changing park soon.

To plan your next visit to Islands of Adventure, see the full walk-through in the OI Universal Center. Or you can catch up on all our trip reports.

Want to know the latest of what’s happening with Diagon Alley, including details about the current Today Show sweepstakes to win a trip to the grand opening? Check out our complete guide to the new area. Or join the discussion anytime in the OI Forums.

Universal Studios Florida trip report – photo gallery

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The post Islands of Adventure trip report – May 2014 (Hogsmeade Station, King Kong construction + CityWalk update) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

As you know, I’m a huge Harry Potter fan. I obsessively follow Orlando Informer and others on Twitter and Facebook, along with the Orlando Informer Rumor Round-Up posts concerning updates about the construction of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. I’m up-to-date on the information available and have a good idea of what I will see when I visit USF this summer. But goodness gracious – reading about it and seeing it in person are two totally different things!

I was stunned at and completely in awe of how everything looks in person on the London waterfront side of the construction. The Knight Bus! The Eros Fountain! The lighted chandeliers inside Wyndham’s Theater! Even the lamp posts along the waterfront are amazing. I was speechless when I caught a glimpse of the Hogwarts Express moving slowly down the tracks from Hogsmeade. We are so close – so close to experiencing the biggest addition to any Orlando theme park since, well, the first Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened in 2010.

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You know how you are when you are expecting company for a big event (like a birthday party or the holidays), and you thoroughly clean your home for your guests? I get that feeling now as I walk around the park – I view the refurbishments during the past year as USF’s version of getting ready for the big party of millions of guests that will be visiting after Diagon Alley opens.

In the New York backlot, I noticed scrims in front of several buildings along Delancy Street. The S.F. Beer Company building refurbishment is completed, and now Starbucks is closed for refurbishment. I also noticed a bucket lift, slightly disguised by temporary foliage, parked in front of MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack, apparently for use in sprucing up the area.

One of the features I like about Universal Studios Florida is the fact that, if you aren’t a fan of a particular movie franchise (say, Harry Potter), there is always something else you and your family can enjoy in the park. The Simpsons‘ Springfield area is one really good example.

The carnival-type games are a fun place where guests can win prizes while showing off their prowess. Fast Food Boulevard is a Simpsons-style epicurean delight – chicken, burgers, pizza, donuts, tacos, and let’s not forget Duff Beer and a Flaming Mo are available for your dining pleasure.

And then there are the family rides, which are also very entertaining. My family and I rode Kang and Kodos’ Twirl ‘n Hurl this trip. My son was shrieking with pleasure as he guided our spaceship up into the air and as we twirled around and enjoyed the scenery. The three of us also rode The Simpson’s Ride, one of my favorite simulator rides at USF. Even the waiting areas for this attraction are entertaining – and I think, hands down, the best part of the ride is smelling baby powder when giant Maggie grabs your ride vehicle and tries to use it as a pacifier.

Another example of the diversity of offerings at USF is the Revenge of the Mummy coaster. I have a love-hate relationship with this attraction. I love the ingenious design of the ride, the excellent mood-setting queue, and the fabulous scenery and effects found throughout; it’s almost impossible to top the fire that spreads across the ceiling after the Mummy convinces you that your time is up. The hate part of my relationship stems from the fact I am not a big coaster fan, and this ride pushes the envelope for me. I have to gather up my courage to ride this attraction a couple of times each year.

Besides Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Mummy is my son’s favorite coaster, and he can ride it several times in a row. Since it was Mother’s Day, I rode Revenge of the Mummy with my family on this trip. I enjoyed it, but it will be a while before I go again.

The temperatures were a little warm for May, with highs in the low 90s, but the crowd levels were also low during the afternoon we visited. Posted wait times for Despicable Me Minion Mayhem were only 35 minutes; Transformers: The Ride 3D, just 15 minutes; and the other attractions were essentially walk-ons.

As any mother feels, it gives me great pleasure to see my son happy. Going to Universal Studios Florida on Mother’s Day gave me the opportunity to share in his happiness in addition to spending a delightful day at the park.

I can only dream about what I’ll be covering in my trip report next month – wouldn’t it be fabulous if I were able to share my first-hand experience of riding the Hogwarts Express? One can only hope.

To plan your next visit to Universal Studios Florida, see our full park walk-through in the OI Universal Center. Or you can catch up on all our trip reports.

UPDATE #1

We’re expecting the dragon to be placed on top of Gringotts Bank any day now. Here’s a video of where it will be and the mounting that’s been prepared for it (this video was shot from the Animal Actors on Location amphitheater).

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UPDATE #2

Earlier this morning, media outlets received an official invitation from Universal Orlando for a “VIP & media preview” event of Diagon Alley, June 17-20.

This is our biggest clue yet as to when Universal will hold the grand opening, which, given this information, we now believe will happen June 20 or June 21.

For the very latest news about this development, jump over to this topic in the OI Forums.

Universal Studios Florida trip report – photo gallery

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The post Universal Studios Florida trip report – May 2014 (Diagon Alley is almost complete, media invites sent out for a preview event, the joy of Springfield) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

After we checked into our condominium last Wednesday afternoon, we headed straight to Magic Kingdom. In our pre-planning, we scheduled our FastPass+ reservations for three outdoor rides. However, when we arrived at the park, it started to rain.

The rain didn’t stop us, but we had to make adjustments to our reservations. It was easy to reschedule them using the My Disney Experience (MDE) app while we ate our picnic dinner in a covered area. That evening, we enjoyed several indoor attractions, including Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, where I set a new personal record score of 875,500!

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On Friday, we once again had big plans to spend the entire day at Magic Kingdom enjoying outdoor attractions that we don’t usually get to experience, especially the new Festival of Fantasy parade. Unfortunately, Mother Nature still had other plans:  we arrived at the park mid-morning, and it started raining. The “rain, rain, rain came down, down, down” and lasted all day long. However, like most vacationers at Orlando’s theme parks, we were prepared – we put on our ponchos and kept going.

We rode several outdoor attractions until they were closed due to lightning. We took a break during the worst part of the storm and hopped on some indoor rides, as well. The outdoor attractions did reopen after the lightning subsided, but it continued to rain all afternoon. It is certainly a different experience when you ride Dumbo in the rain!

While in the New Fantasyland section of the park, we were excited to see Cast Members test-riding the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and it looked like so much fun. The grand opening of Walt Disney World’s newest attraction is set for May 28, 2014.

After we used our allotted three FastPass+ reservations, I went to a FP+ kiosk to book our fourth attraction. This new, recently-added feature worked well for us the day before at Hollywood Studios. However, on this day, a Cast Member tried to help me, but the My Disney Experience system was not cooperating. Since we couldn’t add a fourth reservation, the CM gave me a paper FastPass for up to five guests to use at any attraction in Magic Kingdom.

Because of the rain, the afternoon parade was canceled, but we discover later in the day that the park has a “Rainy Day Cavalcade,” wherein the characters ride in covered cars and double-decker buses along Main Street while catchy music about rain played over the speaker system. It was, without a doubt, cute and entertaining and also the first time we had seen this substitute parade.

By the end of the evening, our socks, shoes, and shorts were soaking wet, but our family had spent another magical day making memories at Magic Kingdom.

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On Sunday, Mother Nature finally provided us with a beautiful, sunny day, and we decided to go back to Magic Kingdom to see the Festival of Fantasy parade and enjoy other outdoor attractions we missed on Friday.

We arrived after lunch and soon realized it was going to be a busy day at the park. Wait times for the popular attractions were over an hour, with some reaching 90 minutes or more. Since Anna and Elsa from the movie Frozen recently moved to Princess Fairytale Hall from Epcot, the long wait to greet them has not changed – a posted wait time of 300 minutes(!) is not uncommon to see. The advantage to having Anna and Elsa at Magic Kingdom is that guests who plan ahead and are lucky enough to make FastPass+ reservations can meet with these popular characters without the unbelievable wait times.

Construction continues in the hub area near Cinderella Castle to make more room for the flow of park guests. The sections that are completed are lovely to see, but I am personally going to miss the covered pavilion in the rose garden; we always enjoyed having a snack there and getting away from the crowds.

The highlight of my day – in fact, one of the highlights of the entire “staycation” – was seeing the new Festival of Fantasy parade.

I stood in an excellent location near the FastPass+ reserved area, toward the front of Cinderella Castle, and was able to see the parade easily. The beautifully-decorated, fantastically-designed floats and costumes were a sight to behold. The detail on each float is unbelievable; small details like Merida’s bear brothers peaking out of the bagpipes and Dumbo perched to fly on the back of the circus float are hard to catch the first time you see them. I find something new every time I look at my photos.

The crowd was excited to see Anna and Elsa from Frozen featured in the parade, and I laughed when I saw the Mime from Rapunzel joyfully walking down the street.

The best and most outstanding float in the parade, though, was Maleficent as the fire-breathing dragon. I was absolutely enthralled with the design of the float and the costumes of the Cast Members. I loved the fact that the dragon breathed fire while majestically towering above park guests along the parade route.

Hands down, this parade is the best I’ve seen at Walt Disney World.

We spent the remainder of our day and early evening enjoying the beautiful weather, entertaining attractions, and great rides at Magic Kingdom. We sadly went back to the condominium to pack for our trip home on Monday morning. Although we were very tired at the end, and a lot of our time was spent in the rain, we had a wonderful “staycation” and look forward to our next visit to Walt Disney World.

To continue reading about Walt Disney World, view our WDW archive on the OI Blog. Or you can catch up on all our trip reports.

Magic Kingdom trip report – photo gallery

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Upon entering the park this visit, I noticed the FastPass+ kiosk lines were dramatically shorter than my visit in January. This is most likely because Annual Passholders and guests not staying at a Disney resort can now make FastPass+ reservations up to 30 days in advance. Also, unlike my last visit, the FP+ entry lines to the attractions were shorter for the popular rides. It seems the “kinks” of processing guests with MagicBands and FP+ reservations are starting to get worked out.

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Some of Animal Kingdom’s long-term changes are underway in the Camp Minnie-Mickey section of the park. This area was closed to guests a few months ago to start construction of the new Pandora: The World of Avatar, which is projected to open sometime in 2017. The Mickey and Minnie meet-and-greet is now at the Adventurers’ Outpost.

In addition, the awesome Lion King show, one of my favorite attractions in all of Walt Disney World, is temporarily on hiatus until a new pavilion is completed in the area behind Africa’s Tusker House Restaurant. Progress of this construction can be seen over a construction fence located in Africa.

The Animal Kingdom’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade, with its unique floats and upbeat music, is another favorite of mine. It’s hard to believe Disney will be ending this daily tradition in June, apparently because portions of the parade route will be obstructed by the construction of Avatar Land.

Because of the looming change, I made a point to see this unique and entertaining parade one last time.

In addition to moderate crowd levels, the wait times at the attractions were also refreshingly low given that is was the beginning of the busiest Spring Break week of the year (or Easter Break, whichever you prefer to call it).

Expedition Everest had a posted wait time of 35 minutes, Kilimanjaro Safaris was 30 minutes, and Kali River Rapids was only 30 minutes.

I ate lunch in Restaurantosaurus, and it was even easy for me and my friends to find two large tables next to one another to accommodate our large group.

Many Disney World guests overlook so much when visiting Animal Kingdom – they think that riding Expedition Everest, Dinosaur, Kali River Rapids, and Kilimanjaro Safaris is all the park has to offer. They couldn’t be more wrong. Here are my top five Animal Kingdom touring tips to help enhance your experience at this unique and wonderful park:

#5 – Walk the trails

The Maharajah Jungle Trek, Pangani Forest Exploration, and Rafiki’s Planet Watch are just a few. If it doesn’t say “stay out” or “Cast Members Only,” walk the trail. You’ll be thrilled to see the abundance of animals, including gorillas, tigers, bats, and exotic birds, up close along the way. You’ll also meet many of the Disney characters along the trails, too. I didn’t realize Pocahontas was on a trail and was pleasantly surprised to see her.

#4 – Pace (and enjoy!) yourself

Scatter the headliner attractions throughout the day so you can take your time and relax in between and really appreciate the beauty of each land. This is not a park to rush through.

#3 – Speak to the Cast Members in each area and ask questions

Many are originally from the lands represented and can provide amazing information about their part of the world. Cast Members are always willing to provide information and expound on what you may already know about different features in the park. I learned that one of the trees in the Africa section produces what is called a “sausage fruit” by locals, which is used to speed up the fermentation process in making African beer.

#2 – Make time for the shows and what Disney calls “atmosphere entertainment”

Don’t just see the awesome Finding Nemo show, but also be sure to observe the beautiful birds in Flights of Wonder. Dance in the street to the music of Africa with Burudika or the Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe. Enjoy the unique sounds of Chakranedi or DJ Anaan in Asia. Take part in the DinoLand Dance-a-Palooza. Have fun!

#1 – Eat at one of Animal Kingdom’s distinctive and delicious restaurants

Flame Tree Barbeque is one of my favorite quick-service restaurants. You can reserve Donald’s Dining Safari breakfast or lunch at Tusker House in Africa, or try the ever-popular and highly-rated Yak & Yeti Restaurant in Asia (reservations recommended). Or at the end of your adventurous day exploring Animal Kingdom, you can eat dinner at the Rainforest Café.

(As a side note: if you are on a special diet, be sure to visit the Gardens Kiosk on Discovery Island. It provides allergy-friendly snacks and comprehensive information about special dietary options available throughout Animal Kingdom.)

Honorable mention

Pick up an Animal Guide (where you find the park maps) or become a Wilderness Explorer to make sure you don’t miss anything.

Animal Kingdom is one of my favorite parks in Walt Disney World. I love its uniqueness and its ability to subtly teach while providing an entertaining day for everyone in the family.

I hope you will be able to visit Animal Kingdom soon and have a wild time at the park.

To continue reading about Walt Disney World, view our WDW archive on the OI Blog. If you enjoyed my top five countdown, then you’ll love all of our BIG 5 blog posts. Or you can catch up on all our trip reports.

Animal Kingdom trip report – photo gallery

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The post Disney’s Animal Kingdom trip report – April 2014 (FastPass+ progress, World of Avatar construction & best tips for touring) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

I enjoy sharing my IOA experiences each month with Orlando Informer readers. I am always anxious to see and photograph the ongoing progress with the construction of Hogsmeade Station for the new Hogwarts Express attraction in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade.

This trip, the walkway between Lost Continent and the Wizarding World was open again.

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In Hogsmeade, I was sad to see Zonko’s Joke Shop permanently closed (as of March 11). A wall has been built separating its former space from Honeydukes.

But our grief didn’t last long, because…

We were lucky enough to capture some great photos of the almost-complete Hogsmeade Station from the Dragon Challenge coaster. If you look closely, you can see walkways and additional buildings being constructed in that area, which aren’t visible from the guest side of the construction fence.

We were excited about the progress of Hogsmeade Station as seen through the photographs, but believe it or not, it wasn’t the best part of this trip to Islands of Adventure – we will get to that in a moment.

Are you concerned about potential crowd levels during your visit to Universal Orlando Resort? OI has an incredible crowd calendar to help plan your vacation. The crowd levels were moderate at the park on this beautiful spring day, and the posted wait times were great: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey was only 30 minutes; the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, just 25 minutes; the Incredible Hulk Coaster, 15 minutes; Jurassic Park River Adventure, 45 minutes; and Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls, only 30 minutes.

And these fantastic wait times still weren’t the best part.

Each month, I strive to convey how much fun guests can have when they visit IOA. My family took part in almost every attraction this visit:  we got soaked on Ripsaw Falls and Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges in Toon Lagoon, flew with Harry and Ron on the Forbidden Journey in WWoHP, and rode Storm Force Accelatron in Marvel Super Hero Island. We also hopped on the Cat in the Hat (which is not spinning, apparently due to an incident earlier this month) – and it’s at Seuss Landing where we had the most magical experience.

My son, who has autism and cannot speak, really enjoys live shows, especially those with music. We were able to see the Frog Choir and the Triwizard Spirit Rally in Hogsmeade, which are some of his favorites, but the Oh! The Stories You’ll Hear show in Seuss Landing will remain in our memories for some time to come.

My son, although 19, loves the Dr. Seuss books and the PBS series. He reads a Dr. Seuss book each night before he goes to bed. My son expresses his joy by flapping his hands and loudly making happy sounds. Needles to say, you can’t miss us in a crowd.

After “Oh! The Stories You’ll Hear” was over, our son had his picture taken with the Grinch, and then we were approached by a Team Member. He asked us if we would wait about five minutes, because the cast wanted to meet our son backstage. We were thrilled and honored our son was given this awesome opportunity.

Behind the stage, all of the characters met our son (and us). To say he was ecstatic would probably be an understatement. He laughed and smiled and giggled the entire time. He hugged each character. When we told the cast how much our son loves Dr. Seuss and that he was the Cat in the Hat last Halloween, they hugged him again – especially the Cat. We posed for a few photos with the cast and profusely thanked them.

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It was an experience our son and we will never forget. The kindness and generosity exhibited by the Team Members and the cast of the show were overwhelming.

Could we ask for a more fantastic day spent at Islands of Adventure? I don’t think so. Our entire day was delightful, but the opportunity to meet the cast of “Oh! The Stories You’ll Hear” was the best part of our trip to Islands of Adventure and will be our favorite memory from IOA.

I hope you, too, can soon experience a fantastic day at Islands of Adventure and create lasting memories of your own.

To plan your next visit to Islands of Adventure, see the full walk-through in the OI Universal Center. Or you can catch up on all our trip reports.

Universal Studios Florida trip report – photo gallery

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The post Islands of Adventure trip report – April 2014 (Hogsmeade Station looking good, Zonko’s looking sad & a heart-warming Seuss story) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

Universal parking garage and CityWalk changes

Given the recent Orlando theme park price increases, it isn’t that surprising that Universal Orlando has increased its parking rates. As I arrived at Universal’s parking deck, I noticed that cars and motorcycles are now $17.00 per day. Keep this in mind when budgeting for your upcoming Universal vacation.

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Upon entering CityWalk, I was excited to see that Starbucks and the new Cold Stone Creamery are now open for business. I took a peek inside both shops, and – wow – does that Starbucks coffee smell fabulous! The ice cream inside Cold Stone looked delicious, and I look forward to trying some soon, especially during the hot summer days.

If you’d like to see videos, Dan posted some not too long ago: Starbucks and Cold Stone.

Construction continues in CityWalk on Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar and VIVO Italian Kitchen, along with the remodeling of the Universal Studios Store.

I look forward to trying all the new delicious offerings soon. Rumor has it that they’ll both be open before the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley this summer.

Speaking of which…

Universal Studios Florida trip report

I’m guessing you’re a big Harry Potter fan, like me. One thrilling aspect of USF for Potter heads is the continued construction at Diagon Alley as it comes to completion in the next few months!

I was amazed at the changes since my visit last month. The walkway along the waterfront has widened significantly, from the King’s Cross Station side past the restrooms near Fear Factor Live. So far, five large trees have been planted along the construction walls, hopefully to help provide shade from the brutal summer sun.

The signage for most of the buildings has now been put up, including the Charring Cross Rd sign, which will enhance the feeling of being in London. So far, my favorite building facade is Wyndham’s Theatre – I just love the architecture and intricate details.

I also noticed that two concrete pillars down by the Grimmauld Place building have appeared since my last visit. As Dan has noted previously, they will form a gateway into the London waterfront from the north end, as seen in this limited-release concept art.

Universal always does a great job keeping their park looking clean, fresh, and well-maintained. I noticed the S.F. Beer Company building was still wrapped for refurbishment, but the food & beverage stand in front of it is still open for customers.

Did you know that you can wage a “war” against your family and friends at USF? If you’ve visited the Ball Factory behind the water play area of Curious George Goes to Town, you know what I’m talking about.

Just follow the red footprints along the front and left side of the water playground, and you won’t get wet. Enter the Ball Factory through the plastic wall (which helps keep the balls from leaving the area), and let the fun begin!

There are two levels to this playground, which adds a great element to this part of the park. Guests can shoot soft Nerf-like balls at one another through various means – launchers, vacuums, and by hand, to name a few. Although this section of the park can be a bit noisy, it also provides endless entertainment for guests of all ages.

The next time you’re at USF, check it out and let us know what you think.

Take a warm, sunny spring day in Central Florida, add in moderate crowd levels (with wait times for most attractions less than an hour), mix in some thrills and adventures, intersperse with unique food and refreshing drinks, and you’ve got the ingredients for an amazing day spent at USF. I was lucky enough to partake in this epic recipe, and hope you will soon!

By the way, the fun times of Mardi Gras are still going on at USF. During this year’s longer-than-usual celebration, you can enjoy the sights, sounds, and unique tastes of New Orleans, including the extremely entertaining parade, New Orleans bands in the French Quarter, and foods like jambalaya and red beans and rice. Each night of Mardi Gras, a well-known band performs live on-stage. Upcoming performances include Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kool & the Gang, and Nelly.

To plan your next visit to Universal Studios Florida, see our full park walk-through and a Complete guide to Mardi Gras 2014 in the OI Universal Center. Or you can catch up on all our trip reports.

Universal Studios Florida trip report – photo gallery

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The post Universal Studios Florida trip report – April 2014 (CityWalk & Diagon Alley construction, parking fee increase & inside Curious George Goes to Town) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

I experienced all of these elements and more this past weekend as I toured Epcot for our March trip report.

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Because we stayed at a Disney resort a couple of weeks ago, my family and I now have MagicBands connected to our Walt Disney World annual passes. I used the My Disney Experience website several days before our recent visit and reserved three attraction times for us. (Guests without MagicBands can make FastPass+ reservations after they arrive in the park at various kiosks throughout Future World.)

For me, the major flaw with Epcot’s new FastPass+ system is in its extreme limitations. Guests must choose one experience from Experience Group 1 and two experiences from Experience Group 2.

Our son’s three favorite attractions at Epcot are Maelstrom, Soarin’, and Test Track. As you can tell, we could only choose one of those rides as part of our FastPass+ reservation. As a result, I selected Maelstrom, Mission: SPACE, and Spaceship Earth as our choices.

How would this new tiered FastPass+ system work for you and your family?

Looking on the positive side, I liked the convenience of making our FastPass+ reservations before arriving at Epcot. By the time we typically arrive at the parks – around noon – most of the popular rides’ reservations are gone or are only available much later in the evening. I will definitely use FastPass+ prior to each visit from now on.

As of right now, the only guaranteed way for Annual Passholders to get a MagicBand is by staying on-site at a Disney World resort, although they should be available to all Passholders by the end of this month. (If you’re a Passholder, you should eventually receive a notification from Disney inviting you to pick your MagicBand.)

On a side note, make sure your email is accessible via your mobile device. When we reached Maelstrom at our FastPass+ time, the attraction was shut down temporarily. The My Disney Experience system sent me an email that notified me of the closure and which told us we wouldn’t have to make another reservation – we could just choose one of the attractions listed in the email at any time during the remainder of our day at Epcot. We could just walk up, scan our Bands, and enter the FastPass+ entrance. Our options included Maelstrom and the attractions from Experience Group 2.

Although the FastPass+ system may be limiting at Epcot, one must look at everything that Epcot offers and weigh the appeal of the entire park, and not just the popular rides. With its unique offerings of Innoventions, World Showcase, and popular seasonal festivals, Epcot offers so much more to do than just thrilling and fun rides.

This year’s International Flower and Garden Festival (March 5 through May 18) is one such aspect of the park’s unique offerings.

The Festival Center events, Designer’s Stage, and Greenhouse Stage provide tips and information from gardening experts and HGTV celebrity presenters. Vern Yip, one of my favorite designers, was the presenter during the weekend we visited.

The Flower Power Concert Series in the America Gardens Theatre features well-liked bands, and the Guess Who performed this weekend.

“Uniquely delightful! Absolutely beautiful! So creative!” These are the phrases that come to mind when viewing the stunning gardens and topiaries featured throughout Epcot during the festival.

My favorite new topiaries this year were the Soccer Goofy garden along the walkway from Future World to World Showcase and Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy found between Italy and Germany in World Showcase.

Many of the other gardens were not new this year, but were still exciting to see again.

Several gardens and topiaries focus on kids, and these were very popular. Mike and Sulley’s Monstrous Garden, Mater’s Parts, Plants and Play Garden, and the Backyard Play Garden incorporated playground equipment that kids could use to work off their excess energy. And Tinker Bell’s Butterfly House, a magical stop on the Flower and Garden Festival tour, should not be missed.

Who doesn’t like to eat delicious food or drink delightful beverages? The unique food and drink choices available throughout World Showcase are another popular feature of the International Flower and Garden Festival.

Hesitantly, I tried the “Piggylicious” Bacon Cupcake with maple frosting and pretzel crunch from the Smokehouse in the American Adventure. To put it bluntly, it tasted like a cupcake with bacon pieces in it! I wasn’t too impressed with the flavor, but it wasn’t gross, either. I think it would probably taste better after a meal of BBQ and a beer, but, by itself, it was just okay.

I also tried the Chilled Rose Blush Lemonade from the Buttercup Cottage in United Kingdom, a non-alcoholic drink combining lemonade and raspberry flavors.

It was very refreshing, and I definitely recommend it.

Have you seen the Disney movie Frozen? Or maybe the question should be: how many times have you seen the movie Frozen?

Anna and Elsa, the phenomenally popular stars of that film, are meeting and greeting guests throughout the day in the Prinsesse Pass building in Norway. However, the wait for this meet-and-greet can be up to four hours due to their immense popularity and the amount of time the characters spend with each guest.

At this time, there are no FastPass+ reservations available. If meeting Anna and Elsa is crucial to the success of your vacation, it is best to head there as soon as you arrive in the park – or just “let it go.”

Over in Morocco, the wonderfully themed new restaurant, Spice Road Table, is now open and provides outdoor seating along the lagoon. The menu lists “Moroccan small plates and specialty beverages featuring regional flavors from the Mediterranean.”

I’m looking forward to trying this new restaurant soon.

It was a busy weekend at Epcot, and the stand-by wait times for the rides were consistent with the crowd level: 80 minutes for Soarin’ and 60 minutes for Test Track. The other attractions had posted wait times of less than 30 minutes.

In spite of the somewhat limited FastPass+ system, the park provides an enjoyable vacation day for just about everyone in the family.

I had a good time during my visit to Epcot this month, and I hope that you, too, will experience first-hand all that this unique and beautiful park has to offer.

To continue reading about Walt Disney World, view our WDW archive on the OI Blog. Or you can catch up on all our trip reports.

Epcot trip report – photo gallery

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The post Epcot trip report – March 2014 (more FastPass+ benefits & problems, Flower & Garden Festival in full bloom) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

Universal CityWalk construction

Right away, I noticed that the construction walls have been removed from both Starbucks’ new location and the all-new Cold Stone Creamery. The new Starbucks has signage, and its outdoor seating is ready to be put into place any day now.

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Next door, Cold Stone has its signs up, too.

It appears both locations will be opening soon – I’d say by the end of March, for sure. Then construction can began on Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, perhaps the most exciting of CityWalk’s new venues, which will be located where the current Starbucks is right now (second floor, above Red Oven Pizza Bakery).

Islands of Adventure trip report

Starting with the biggest development at Islands of Adventure this month, the temporary walls surrounding the Hogsmeade Station construction zone in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade (WWoHP) have changed. They now extend inside Lost Continent, near the Mystic Fountain area, and block entry into the Wizarding World from that direction.

To help guests get to Hogsmeade with minimal inconvenience, a “detour” sign, along with a Team Member, are stationed near Fire Eaters Grill, instructing guests to proceed to the left and over the bypass bridge into Jurassic Park.

This path eventually brings guests near the Watering Hole in Jurassic Park. From there, they can proceed over the bridge into Hogsmeade, near the stage used for the Frog Choir & Triwizard Spirit Rally.

Unfortunately, a bottleneck occurs in this Hogsmeade entry area for several reasons.

There is a butterbeer cart line that extends onto the bridge and narrows the available walking space. I observed a blockage due to several large strollers trying to pass by each other in this section. Guests also stop on the bridge for excellent photo opportunities of Hogwarts Castle behind them, which, in turn, interrupts the flow of pedestrian traffic in and out of Hogsmeade.

Since this may be the only access into and out of the Wizarding World until the new Hogsmeade Station is complete, I suggest guests be patient and aware of this potential backup.

Once inside Hogsmeade, I made my way to the construction zone near the current Hogwarts Express replica. The construction walls are now placed under the entry arch, blocking access to Lost Continent completely.

Since the new construction is not visible over the walls, it was difficult to determine whether any progress has been made on Hogsmeade Station. And, unfortunately, we were unable to take photos from Dragon Challenge this trip.

While this construction encroachment may be annoying to many park guests, I’m thrilled that this activity signifies that the real Hogwarts Express traveling between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley is closer to becoming a reality!

Crossing back over the congested bridge to Jurassic Park, I observed that Jurassic Park River Adventure was closed for refurbishment (and will be through March 11). Temporary construction walls blocked the entry to the ride, and all visual access to the attraction and, even, the splash zone observation area was not accessible to park guests.

In Toon Lagoon, Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges and the surrounding area was open after being refurbished last month.

One attraction in Toon Lagoon that is fun for the whole family, which can be easily overlooked by IOA visitors, is Me Ship, The Olive. This interactive play area has three levels and provides entertainment for all ages.

An enclosed toddler play area is located inside on the first level of the attraction.

On the second level, guests can use the free water canons to shoot unsuspecting riders on Bilge Rat Barges below, which can be highly entertaining for everyone involved.

On the third level, guests can ring the ship’s bell and use their imagination as they steer the ship. Kids can slide down a tube from the third to the second level, and another tube slide can be used from the second down to the first level.

If your child needs to burn off some excess energy, you can have him or her climb back up to the third level and repeat this fun tube slide many times.

In addition, the spectacular views of Islands of Adventure from the top level of Me Ship, the Olive are not to be missed. Hogsmeade, Lost Continent, Seuss Landing, and Marvel Super Hero Island are all clearly visible and make great photo opportunities.

If guests aren’t able to maneuver the three flights of stairs, there is a small elevator available to take them to each level.

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Even though the crowds seemed to be very busy, especially in the Toon Lagoon area, on this warm afternoon, wait times for attractions were moderate. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey had a posted wait time of 30 minutes; Flight of the Hippogriff, 20 minutes; Dudley Do-Right’s Rip Saw Falls, 30 minutes; the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, 40 minutes; and the Incredible Hulk Coaster, 15 minutes.

I enjoyed my visit to Islands of Adventure this month. It was exciting to see the changes around Hogsmeade and what they will bring by mid-summer. I hope that, when you next visit Universal Orlando Resort, you make a point to explore Me Ship, the Olive and the many other unique and extraordinary attractions at Islands of Adventure!

To plan your next visit to Islands of Adventure, see the full walk-through in the OI Universal Center. Or you can catch up on all our trip reports.

By the way, this is the last “slow” week before Spring Break 2014 begins. To see our crowd predictions, visit our free 12-month Universal Orlando crowd calendar.

Islands of Adventure trip report – photo gallery

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The post Islands of Adventure trip report – March 2014 (Harry Potter construction woes, Me Ship the Olive + CityWalk’s new Starbucks & Cold Stone) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

Last Wednesday, Universal raised its prices uncharacteristically early, mostly to answer Disney’s rate hike from the weekend before. And while the price increase was instituted at the gates right away, Universal Orlando’s website was left at 2013 pricing for some inexplicable reason – until now.

As of today, here are the new online prices:

1-Day Single-Park – was $92.00, now $96.00
2-Day Single-Park – was $125.99, now $135.99
3-Day Single-Park – was $140.99, now $145.99
4-Day Single-Park – was $150.99, now $155.99
1-Day Park-to-Park – was $128.00, now $136.00
2-Day Park-to-Park – was $146.99, now $175.99
3-Day Park-to-Park – was $159.99, now $185.99
4-Day Park-to-Park – was $167.99, now $195.99

*Gate prices are the same for 1-day tickets, $20.00 more for multi-day tickets.

Most notably, a 2-day Park-to-Park online ticket, which is likely to be the most popular option for most guests this summer, saw a 20% increase. (Keep in mind that a Park-to-Park ticket will be required to ride the Hogwarts Express from USF’s Diagon Alley to IOA’s Hogsmeade.)

As of right now, annual pass pricing has not gone up, but that is expected to happen literally any day now. Curious about the FlexTicket? That option had an increase earlier this year, and it is not expected to go up again soon – although anything is possible.

Finally, guests should be made aware that some analysts are predicting that Universal (and Disney) will raise its prices again, right before Diagon Alley’s projected opening of June.

Universal Studios Florida trip report

I visited Universal Studios Florida (USF) this past weekend and spent an enjoyable day at the park. The weather was clear and sunny, with temperatures in the upper 70s – a beautiful day in Central Florida!

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Walking around the park this trip, I noticed some construction projects. The SF Beer Company building next to Disaster was wrapped for refurbishment.

And in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, I observed progress on the waterfront buildings. Each facade was being painted the day I visited, and this addition makes the waterfront buildings look even more impressive than they were last month.

Some of the lettering on King’s Cross Station has been removed, and most of the lettering for Wyndham’s is still missing.

Unfortunately, the “take a peek” telephone booths have been removed and the openings in the construction fence filled.

This change is disappointing to me, but I hope it means that work is starting on the outside of Diagon Alley at the ground level, including the Knight Bus interactive area.

Seeing the Diagon Alley frontage across the lake from the third-floor exit of The Simpsons Ride was breathtaking and emphasizes how massive this new section of USF truly is.

The Universal Mardi Gras celebration is going strong at USF, and Collective Soul was the band in concert that evening.

Luckily for us, the weather was very cooperative this visit, and we were able to take advantage of the photo ops with some of the stilt walkers as they mingled with guests prior to the parade. The vibrant, festive costumes look fantastic, and I especially like the costumes associated with the new “Around the World in 80 Days” floats.

My son loves seeing the parade performers and stilt walkers ambling throughout the park, and he happily poses for photos with them.

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Also this visit, I was able to see the recently revamped “Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue – Graveyard Mash-Up” show. For those curious, a music mash-up features two different tracks blended together, creating a new song.

The signage outside the theater still says Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue, but the map indicates both titles of the show, and their website Universal now refers to the program as Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Mash-Up.

This twenty-five-minute, entertaining show encompassed singing and dancing by talented actors vividly costumed as well-known monsters, including Frankenstein, Dracula, the Werewolf, Cleopatra, and Fantasia.

Beetlejuice served as the DJ of the show.

The monsters performed several mash-ups. Most of them are familiar to 1980s pop music fans, although short clips from “What Does the Fox Say” and “Royals” were played but quickly interrupted by Beetlejuice.

“Smooth Criminal”/”Sweet Dreams” was one combination; “Ballroom Blitz”/”Let’s Go Crazy” was another.

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Overall, I personally feel this version of the Beetlejuice show is more family-friendly than the previous one, which had more adult innuendos in the jokes and the songs.

Another first experience this trip for me was the Horror Makeup Show. I have never seen this before, and I ended up liking it a lot.

The lobby of the show has very interesting displays of how makeup has been used since movies began, including many popular films and television shows like Jaws, Jurassic Park, and The Munsters. There is also an entire section dedicated to Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights.

As guests walk into the theater, the stage is set up like a working movie makeup studio.

Actors using the names Alex Ross and Mark James are the hosts of the show and provide information about horror movie makeup in a humorous manner.

After showing clips of horror scenes from well-known movies, they selected a “volunteer” from the audience – a guest who was somewhat reluctant to be an assistant.

After bringing the volunteer onto the stage, they demonstrated a knife “cutting” through a person’s arm, complete with fake blood.

Next, Mark James talked about the history of horror movie makeup, including Lon Chaney and his secret techniques that he never revealed. John Chambers revolutionized makeup with latex in the original Planet of the Apes movie from 1968. Mechanical creature effects were pioneered in the 1980s, and the show hosts demonstrated on-stage how they work using models. Currently, most films use computer-generated imagery (CGI) and regular makeup combined.

Lastly, the volunteer was brought back up on stage to demonstrate an electronic vest connected via wires to a mechanical creature and to help “bring the creature to life.”

I won’t spoil the ending; just know that things don’t go as allegedly planned by the hosts.

Although there are a few loud, sudden noises and some gory scenes that may not be appropriate for young children, I really recommend this show for most park guests.

The crowds at USF this visit were moderate, with wait times for Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and Transformers: The Ride – 3D at 45 minutes, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and Men in Black at 30 minutes, The Simpsons Ride at 25 minutes, and Revenge of the Mummy at 20 minutes.

Early March is an excellent time to visit Orlando, generally, and Universal Studios Florida, specifically. Spring Break crowds have not reached their peak. The weather is usually very comfortable, with temperatures during the day reaching the 70s and 80s. And one of the park’s most popular events, Mardi Gras, is in full swing.

I hope that you will soon be able to enjoy the unique shows and experiences that USF has to offer.

To plan your next visit to Universal Studios Florida, see our full park walk-through and a Complete guide to Mardi Gras 2014 in the OI Universal Center. Or you can catch up on all our trip reports.

Universal Studios Florida trip report – photo gallery

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The post Universal Studios Florida trip report – March 2014 (price increases, Mardi Gras, Beetlejuice & Horror Makeup Show) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

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We had not visited DHS since the new FastPass+ system was implemented for all guests. Last month, we used the new system at Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, and I reported on our experience, including some helpful tips. Because we do not have MagicBands, we needed to make our FP+ reservations at a kiosk located in the park.

There are four such kiosks indicated on the DHS park map, located near the following attractions: Tower of Terror, the corner of Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards, Muppet Vision 3D, and Toy Story Midway Mania. There were also additional temporary locations positioned underneath the Sorcerer’s Hat and in the American Idol queue. While my husband was renewing our son’s DAS (Disability Access Service) card at Guest Relations, I went in search of a kiosk to reserve our FastPass+ selections.

The first kiosk location was at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard, next to the building with the Hollywood Junction sign on top. I thought the line was long here, so I decided to go to the kiosk next to Tower of Terror.

Surprisingly, that line extended to the courtyard of Rock ‘n Roller Coaster, and I waited approximately 15 minutes before I was able to make my choices.

It’s important to know that FastPass+ is different at Hollywood Studios than at either Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom.

At DHS, the rides and attractions are divided into what Disney calls “Experience Groups.” Guests are limited to one FP+ reservation from Experience Group 1 and two reservations from Experience Group 2. Consequently, it is not possible to make reservations for both Toy Story Mania and Rock ‘n Roller Coaster, because they are both in the first group. This limitation is problematic for many guests.

The other two attractions in Experience Group 1 are Fantasmic and the Beauty and the Beast show. Everything else is listed under Experience Group 2.

While I was in line to make our FastPass+ selections, it was around 11:00am. A Cast Member made an announcement that Rock ‘n Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, and Toy Story Mania did not have any reservations available for the remainder of the day. Guests started to leave the line not realizing that they should go ahead and make reservations for the other attractions, because they could check back later in case FP+ slots opened up for those three popular rides.

If you do not have MagicBands, the best strategy is to arrive early at the park and make your FP+ reservations immediately – just like arriving early was the best strategy for the old, paper FastPass system. I was able to reserve the Beauty and the Beast show, the Disney Junior show, and Star Tours.

Walking around the park, I noticed the Backlot Tour was closed for refurbishment and the Premier Theater was showing “Blank, A Vinylmation Love Story” throughout the day.

Merchandise related to the movie was available for sale, including t-shirts for $29.95 and iPhone cases for $34.95.

The Disney Junior Play ‘n Dine character meal at Hollywood & Vine Restaurant was recently updated to include Doc McStuffins and Sofia the First. Characters from the popular television channel meet and greet guests during the buffet breakfast and lunch. The Walt Disney World website description says:

“A few of your Disney Junior favorites are coming to Hollywood & Vine – don’t miss this chance to eat, play, and dance along with friends from Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First, Jake and the Never Land Pirates, and Handy Manny during this fun and interactive dining experience.” Reservations are recommended for this character meal, with prices falling in the range of $15.00 to $29.99 per adult for breakfast and $30.00 to $59.99 per adult for lunch.

The crowds were heavy due to the Presidents’ Day holiday weekend and the beginning of winter break for many schools across the United States. The posted wait times for the popular attractions at DHS reflected the heavy crowds: Tower of Terror was at 70 minutes; Star Tours, 60 minutes; Toy Story Mania, 115 minutes; Rock ‘n Roller Coaster varied from 70 minutes to 120 minutes; and even Muppet Vision 3D had a posted wait time of 30 minutes for most of the afternoon.

One of my family’s favorite shows at Walt Disney World – especially my son’s – is Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage.

Incorporating the lively music and festive costumes (especially Belle and Gaston’s) from the classic movie, the production features many talented actors singing and dancing, which everyone in the family can enjoy. The costumed characters of Mrs. Potts, Chip, Lumière, Cogsworth, and the Beast help bring the movie to life. When these characters first appear on stage, they always cause a stir – chatter, laughter, or gasps can be heard among the audience.

The production lasts about 25 minutes and keeps the audience engaged; even though almost everyone knows what happens next, the theater guests are silent in anticipation of Belle telling Beast she loves him and his subsequent transformation back into a prince.

The last number performed is Belle, in her signature yellow dress, dancing with the Prince to the award-winning song “Beauty and the Beast,” as sung by Angela Landsbury (as seen above). A “magical” touch to the performance is when Belle and the Prince present a rose to one lucky audience member at the end of the performance.

I highly recommend that this stage show be a part of your day at DHS.

Even with the heavy crowds, our family enjoyed our day at the park, and we look forward to future visits, especially during Star Wars Weekends, which begin May 16.

I hope that you will be able to visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios soon, as well.

To continue reading about Walt Disney World, view our WDW archive on the OI Blog. Or you can catch up on all our trip reports.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios trip report – photo gallery

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The post Disney’s Hollywood Studios trip report – February 2014 (more FastPass+ observations & problems, Beauty and the Beast) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

Universal CityWalk

Prior to entering IOA, I took a few photos of the changes taking place in CityWalk. Construction was progressing on the new Starbucks location. In addition, signs for the new Vivo Italian Kitchen are posted on the construction walls in the former Pastamore spot. Further along in CityWalk, the Universal Studios Store is under refurbishment, and a temporary store has been built in front of the old one.

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Antojitos is now open for business, and this Mexican restaurant’s frontage dominates the sky. It also appears that the area in front of Margaritaville is being worked on, with prominent signs directing guests where to enter the Porch.

Islands of Adventure

After entering IOA, I noticed the new Starbucks was open in Port of Entry. The architecture on the outside of the building blends in well with the area. Inside, the coffeehouse is tastefully decorated and the staff is very friendly. This Starbucks location inside IOA also provides free wifi.

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Rousing changes have taken place in Lost Continent, where the scenery near the entrance to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade is forever transformed. The midway games are permanently closed and fenced off for construction on the Hogsmeade Station for the Hogwarts Express. The visible alterations above the construction fence include a weather vane on top of the station and finished roofs. The structure closest to the wall now appears to be ready for brick and, as seen from the Dragon Challenge coaster, has framing for a walkway to its entrance. My husband was able to take a few photos of the new Hogsmeade Station from Dragon Challenge.

One photo that was a complete and extraordinary surprise to us was the Hogwarts Express train actually parked inside Hogsmeade Station. We were unaware of the fact that the train was in the station and were lucky enough to take a picture while zooming past it on the coaster.

Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls was open after experiencing seasonal maintenance last month. However, Bilge Rat Barges was closed for seasonal maintenance with a projected re-open date of February 14.

Crowds were moderate on this beautiful day at IOA. The posted wait times for most of the attractions were under 30 minutes, with 45 minutes posted for Forbidden Journey.

The water on the wet rides was very cold, requiring a poncho to help reduce the chance of getting soaked. Using our Photo Connect Star Card this visit, we were able to download some funny photos of my husband and son riding Ripsaw Falls wearing their ponchos.

Since my son thoroughly enjoys Dr. Suess books, videos, and TV shows, the Cat in the Hat ride in Seuss Landing is a favorite. This family-friendly dark ride takes guests through the classic book by Dr. Seuss. The queue of the ride, although indoors, is designed so that guests are outside Nick and Sally’s house, with the final stage of the queue being entered through the porch. Excerpts from the book are projected on the walls, and guests can see the children looking out the window on that “cold, cold, wet day.”

The ride vehicle, which is designed to look like a couch, spins and adds to the whimsical, wacky feel of the attraction as you see first-hand what antics the Cat, Thing One, and Thing Two get into with Sally and Nick, much to the chagrin of the neurotic fish. Flashing lights and spinning animatronics all enhance the ride experience. Even though I’ve ridden this many times, I notice new aspects of it each time. My favorite scene is in the bathroom, where toilet paper is strung everywhere while the Cat is taking a bubble bath and the fish is swirling around in the toilet.

Like the book, the ride ends with the children’s mother coming home after some clever and frantic cleaning is done by all the characters. Although there is a lot of spinning on this attraction, the Cat in the Hat is a must-do ride for just about anyone visiting IOA.

It was a wonderful day spent with my family at the park. I’m thrilled with the progress that is being made on Hogsmeade Station, and, yet, I’m becoming impatient for its completion. I look forward to the changes I may encounter on my next trip and hope that you, too, will soon be able to enjoy Islands of Adventure.

To plan your next visit to Islands of Adventure, see the full walk-through in the OI Universal Center. Or you can catch up on all our trip reports.

Islands of Adventure trip report – photo gallery

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The post Islands of Adventure trip report – February 2014 (Hogwarts Express inside Hogsmeade Station, Starbucks, Cat in the Hat + CityWalk updates) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

Due to it raining most of the day, my arrival was delayed at the park. I finally arrived around 4:30 pm and first noticed the Mardi Gras sign at the entrance and heard the New Orleans jazz playing in the courtyard.

As I entered USF, devoted Daughtry fans were already in line for a coveted spot near the stage of the Universal Music Plaza.

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I stopped by the Universal Studios Store to explore the Mardi Gras merchandise available for sale: vibrant strands of beads (three for $10.00); commemorative hurricane glasses and colorful mugs ($14.95); flashing, sparkling fedoras in five different colors ($12.95); limited-edition unique pins ($14.95); and a festive Mardi Gras t-shirt ($21.95) were just some of the items available.

My favorite souvenir was a delightful Minion Mania Mardi-Gras t-shirt for $21.95.

The French Quarter Courtyard was set up in the New York backlot across from Revenge of the Mummy.

The authentic-looking entryway had a wrought-iron scrollwork sign that would not be out of place in “Nawlins.” In addition, characters from the parade were out early for photo ops, trying to make the most of the unpleasant weather. (It’s worth noting that the wet ground prevented any of the stilt characters from making an appearance either before or during the parade.)

The enticing aroma of a wide variety of foods, including some Cajun specialties, was mouth-watering. Voodoo Chicken Tenders, andouille sausage, red beans and rice, jambalaya, gumbo, shrimp po boys, cheese steaks, bignets, mufalettas, and the ever-popular Twisted Taters could be purchased along the courtyard.

King Cake was on the menu but not available this night. A Team Member explained that King Cake should be available the remainder of Mardi Gras. Even BBQ turkey legs and pizza were available for those who wanted a more traditional theme park meal. Prices for most dishes ranged from $7.00 to $9.00. Also available were mixed drinks, beer, wine, and jello shots, along with the Mardi Gras signature drink, Voodoo Juice, in a souvenir glass (Full Throttle, Minute Maid orange, pineapple and cranberry juice, and rum). Most alcoholic beverages were $7.00 to $10.00. At the end of the courtyard, a stage was set for a band from New Orleans to perform live music, weather permitting.

After touring the French Quarter courtyard, I took a walk around USF.  Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue debuted its new show for the public on Saturday. Unfortunately, due to my late arrival time at the park, I was not able to attend the show. I will, however, cover it in my next trip report!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley construction zone continues to fascinate me. I noticed signage on a few of the buildings along the waterfront, including the words “Kings Cross” and “Leicester Square Station.” Although Orlando Informer reported on February 3 that the lettering for Wyndham’s Theater was up, and showcased it in this YouTube video, most of the letters have been removed now, with only two letters on the building on Saturday.

I’m very fond of the recently-added feature – a take-a-peek window disguised as a London phone booth – that allows guests to see what is on the other side of the construction fence. (Dan has a video of that, too, if you’d like to see more.)

In Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone, new midway-style games were up and operating for the younger guests. The float-rider check-in area at the Barney Courtyard was very busy.

The best part of the night was the fabulously festive Mardi Gras parade. Excitement began to grow as guests found an open space along the parade route. This year, the route starts and ends in front of the Horror Make-Up Show on Hollywood Boulevard. My son and husband joined me for the parade, and we decided to watch it twice, so we stood in front of the Make-Up Show. The reserved section for Annual Passholders to view the parade is located across the street at Mel’s Diner. This year’s theme for the parade is based on Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days. Ornately-costumed performers walked in between floats along the parade route.

As I noted above, due to the wet ground, none of the performers were on stilts – this should change anytime Mardi Gras falls during dryer conditions.

In all, there were 12 splendorous floats in the parade, which lasted about 25 minutes. Three new floats representing travel by air, land, and sea were scattered throughout the lineup, along with the very popular Gator, Preservation Hall, Voodoo, and King & Queen floats.

The float riders tried to satisfy parade watchers’ “need for beads” by tossing multicolored beads to the delight of the crowd, who were shouting and waving for more.

We were able to catch several beads. My son’s obvious delight and excitement watching the parade was a sight to behold. In fact, one very kind lady next to us began giving our son beads because, as she said, his sheer joy and excitement watching the parade touched her.

After the parade ended, we walked over to the Universal Music Plaza and listened to Daughtry perform a few songs to a large crowd of enthusiastic and supportive fans.

The portion of the concert we heard was great. I couldn’t help but think back to Daughtry’s days on American Idol and the surprise and disappointment I felt when he was sent home. It was nice to see his continued success and to be able to hear him in concert.

The crowds this trip were moderate, but they increased dramatically right before the Mardi Gras parade began at 7:15 pm. Posted wait times for the attractions were also moderate, with 40 minutes for Despicable Me (70 minutes later in the evening), 90 minutes for Transformers, 15 minutes for Revenge of the Mummy and MEN IN BLACK, and 10 minutes for The Simpsons Ride. Rip Ride Rockit was closed due to weather conditions for most of the day.

Mardi Gras is a great time to visit USF; it’s an enjoyable experience for the entire family. There are ample photo opportunities with the extravagantly costumed characters, and the weather is typically very cooperative this time of year.

I hope that you will be able to experience Universal Studios Florida soon.

To plan your Mardi Gras visit to Universal Orlando, see our complete guide to Mardi Gras 2014 in the OI Universal Center. Or you can catch up on all our trip reports.

Mardi Gras 2014 at Universal Studios Florida – photo gallery

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The post Universal Studios Florida trip report – February 2014 (Mardi Gras parade, Daughtry in concert, construction updates) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

A Celebration of Harry Potter – Day 3

On Sunday, January 26, the third and final day of the Harry Potter Celebration, I planned to attend as many panel discussions as possible, and knew I needed to get to the park as early as possible to make the first panel scheduled for 10:00am.

I arrived at the Islands of Adventure turnstiles around 8:30 and the park opened to guests at 9:00. I scurried to the panel discussion queue at the Toon Lagoon pavilion and was able to get in line fairly close to the front of the general admission queue. The first panel discussion was Bringing the Harry Potter films to the Theme Park – Set and Prop Design, and I was able to get a good seat close to the stage.

Alan Gilmore, Supervising Art Director, Bryn Court, Lead Sculptor for the Harry Potter films, and Eric Baker, Senior Prop Manager for Universal Creative, discussed the different props and sets used both in the movies and re-created for the theme parks. They explained that everything inside the Wizarding World parks must look like it does something or makes sense. They said Diagon Alley is actual size. Baker said, when observing guests at WWoHP, he noticed the guests’ attention to the details – they took photos of everything. Baker said they dedicated themselves to provide more details than ever in Diagon Alley. They stressed the fact that Hogsmeade was perfect, but in order to take it up a notch, the details created in Diagon Alley are not to be missed. They emphasized that guests need to look up, look down, and look everywhere because each person will see some new detail during every visit. I am so looking forward to seeing all this detail mentioned about Diagon Alley.

Several props from the Diagon Alley expansion were on display during this panel discussion, including the Vanishing Cabinet that will be in Borgin and Burkes in Knockturn Alley and a suit of Troll Armor. Also, James and Oliver Phelps made a surprise appearance to the delight of the audience, showing off a few props from the new Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes store.

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During the question and answer period, Bryn Court said that the biggest challenge with the sets for the movies was Dumbledore’s office. Eric Baker said that the Chinese Licorice Man, located in Honeydukes, was one of the most complicated props created for WWoHP. I really enjoyed this panel discussion and was captivated by some of the props presented on stage.

After the panel discussion ended, I immediately proceeded to get in line for the Dueling Demonstration and Wand Combat Masterclass with Paul Harris scheduled for 11:30. Since I was further back in line due to the fact it was 11:00, I was concerned about getting into the ampitheatre for the next session. I did make it inside, but I was in the upper level rather far from the stage.

Paul Harris was introduced via a video about the Warner Brothers Studio Tour London. The video showed many of the features of the London tour, including the great hall and wand lessons with Mr. Harris, similar to what was at the Expo but on a larger scale.

After the video finished, Harris appeared on stage and began throwing out items to random audience members near the stage. In addition, assistants gave out souvenir items to random audience members, even in the upper section of the stadium. Paul Harris was very personable with lots of energy. He first explained how he became the only Choreographer of Wand Combat in the world. Afterwards, he began teaching the entire audience the five attacking positions. The audience was very enthusiastic in learning the positions. Mr. Harris had several audience members come up on stage and proceeded to teach them the positions along with blocking.

Mark Williams, Arthur Weasley in the Harry Potter films, made a surprise guest appearance on stage to the delight of the crowd.

Williams was interviewed by Harris for a short time and explained that the wands he used in the early movies were made of wood and by the end of the series they were highly guarded by prop managers and kept in a locked box. Harris asked Williams if he still had his wand. Williams said that the first thing they learned in the Ministry was to never be unarmed. To the joy of the audience and with great flourish, Mark Williams pulled out his wand.

Williams and Harris, each with half of the trained audience members as their own army, proceeded to demonstrate a very entertaining and hilarious wand battle against one another on stage.

After the Wand Demonstration panel finished, I ate lunch and walked around the park to investigate wait times for the popular attractions. Jurassic Park River Adventure had a posted wait time of only 5 minutes (mostly because of chilly weather), Forbidden Journey had a posted wait time of 60 minutes, Flight of the Hippogriff had a posted wait time of 30 minutes and Dragon Challenge had a posted wait time of 10 minutes. The lines for the butterbeer carts were expectedly long.

Based on my previous experience with the queues for the panel discussions, I thought I would be safe if I were in line prior to 1:30pm to see the Graphic Design of the Harry Potter Films with MinaLima at 2:00.

When I arrived, the queue for the Toon Lagoon amplitheater extended past the restrooms into Super Hero Island. I got in line and asked if this was the queue for the 2:00 panel discussion. The person in front of me explained that the 2:00 panel discussion was already full and this was the queue for the 3:30 panel discussion, My Life on the Harry Potter Film Set: Talent Q&A’s, that I had missed on Saturday due to long lines. It was only 1:30 and the queue for the 3:30 show extended to Spider-Man.

After the 2:00 panel discussion began (I was not able to get in), our line moved forward and we eventually sat down in the queue. I did remark positively on Twitter that at least it wasn’t 95 degrees with all of us sitting in the sun.

The stars from the Harry Potter movies walked out around 3:00 and waved to all of us queuing. The crowd went wild, cheering and yelling for the actors who were part of the panel discussion.

We continued to wait in the queue, and, at approximately 3:25, I entered the pavilion and was seated in the upper level toward the very back of the pavilion.

Austin Romero hosted the panel discussion and introduced the Harry Potter Tribute video that was played on screen Friday night. The crowd was very enthusiastic and cheered at nearly every scene of the video. It was an electric atmosphere, especially since this was the final discussion panel of the weekend. To thunderous applause, Austin Romero then introduced Evana Lynch (Luna Lovegood), James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley), Devon Murry (Seamus Finnegan), and Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom).

Various predictable and also unique questions were asked by audience members, including, if they could “accio” anything right this minute, what would it be? Devon Murray said a toilet because he had to wee. Oliver Phelps said a wall to place between he and Devon. Evana Lynch was very endearing and definitely a fan-favorite. It was apparent that the fans were thrilled to see the actors and hear their responses. After the panel discussion ended, fans swarmed to the bottom of the stage and the actors signed autographs for about 15 minutes.

Being a part of the audience for this last panel discussion with the actors was a great way to end a splendid weekend.

I was able to take a few photos of fans who were very creative with their own costumes and others who were lucky enough to get Evana Lynch’s autograph. I enjoyed talking with many different fans from all over the United States throughout the weekend.

I felt that Universal was clear in their publications that general admission to the events was made on a first-come, first-served basis, and that there was no guarantee of admission. I remembered the news showing the long queues of enthusiastic fans when the Harry Potter books were published, and I realized that there were thousands of fans out there who were willing to wait for hours to get a book, let alone the possibility of seeing stars from the movies and other related Harry Potter memorabilia up close. If guests had the special VIP passes, it was an advantage over those with general admission because they were guaranteed admission to every event and could participate in a special reception on Saturday night. The authorized media had an even greater advantage over any attendees in that, not only were they guaranteed admission to every event, they were able to get up close and interact with the stars and other key persons throughout the weekend.

That being said, I think being part of the general admission guests let me experience the “magic” and camaraderie with other Harry Potter fans that I otherwise might have missed. I chatted in queues with very diverse groups of people, and yet we all had a common factor of simply being a fan of Harry Potter and his amazing story. I was very glad to be able to participate in the events this past weekend, and I knew that it would be difficult to get into some of them. In fact, I was surprised and very pleased at the number of sessions I was able to attend.

In conclusion, I’m excited that I was able to be part of the Harry Potter Celebration weekend. It was a fantastic celebration and a great lead up to the opening of Diagon Alley this summer. I hope that you were able to enjoy the Harry Potter Celebration, if not in person, at least through this trip report. I also hope to see you at the grand opening of Diagon Alley this summer!

Criticism of the event

The remainder of this post is written by Dan Hatfield and contributing fans.

We are very happy that Maureen enjoyed her time at Universal’s Harry Potter Celebration. Unfortunately, he positive experience was not unanimously shared, particularly with many guests who purchased the special vacation package and were expecting VIP treatment.

In order to provide you with the whole story, we would like to share two letters we received from VIP guest. Keep in mind these guests paid well over a thousand dollars for their full packages (in contrast to local Annual Passholders, who paid no additional cost at all).

From Sarah:

My girlfriend and I were given VIP tickets to the Harry Potter Celebration for Christmas. We booked a flight from Canada to Florida for a 10 day trip purely for this weekend. We were so excited for all the events and to meet the cast.

When we got there, everything took a quick turn for the worse. Friday night wasn’t so bad, although there weren’t any directions indicating were to go for the film tribute – so we wandered around for ages trying to figure out where exactly in Universal it was to be held. But when we finally arrived, there was reserved seating for the people with VIP passes, and the actual film tribute itself was very nice though.

Saturday was when things really started to go downhill. We arrived at the park around noon and immediately had to ask about four different people for directions to the Toon Lagoon amphitheater in order to see the cast Q&A. Once we finally got there, we walked up the stairs and showed our VIP passes, which were supposed to give us reserved seating for all events. No such thing existed. The first rows of seats at the very front of the amphitheatre (supposedly to be reserved for those with passes) were filled with people, most of whom we noticed at no VIP passes. We had to sit in the second-to-last row, at the very back of the Amphitheatre, even though we had paid a lavish amount of money for “reserved seating”.

With our VIP package, we were given a free complimentary breakfast for Saturday morning at 10:00am. However, my friend woke up with food poisoning, and we couldn’t make it to the breakfast. After she recovered, we visited the Three Broomsticks for lunch where we explained our situation to a woman working there, asking if we could use the pass for lunch, or even get breakfast for the next day. The woman, without apologizing, said that they couldn’t do anything about it, but that we’d have to speak to the “hotel” in order to reschedule breakfast for the following day.

At this point we simply wanted to leave, but figured we should kill time by shopping before the special private event at 7:30pm, which promised an intimate party with food and drinks, during which we’d be able to meet the actors and other guests. We were told that merely 200 people were given VIP passes. False. A couple of thousand other guests were there, herded like sheep to the Marvel area of the park in order for them to set up.

After walking across the park, we weren’t told exactly where to line up. We ended up speaking to a small family who were just as confused and disappointed as us, and we stood around aimlessly, completely unaware of what to do. We spoke to many other different people there who also received similar treatment throughout the day, and many said that everyone they spoke to about the special event had no clue as to what was happening.

At 7:30 the reception finally began. It consisted of long lines to get a small variety of food and drinks and not much else. There were performances of the Triwizard Spirit Rally and the Hogwarts Choir, which had already happened more than once that day. We asked multiple workers if there would be a chance to meet the actors, as previously described in the event package, or merely if they were going to show up. None of them knew for sure, except one security guard who said there would be a photo opportunity at the end of the Triwizard Spirit Rally. Elated, we headed over to the stage area, very excited that we’d finally get to meet the wonderful actors, some of them idols and role models from when we were just kids. But once again, we were very misled. The “photo opportunity” meant that the actors stood on the stage for about a minute, and we all got to take photos of them through the crowd. You can imagine my 5-foot girlfriend waving her camera over the heads of many, trying to catch a glimpse of the actors we’d been so excited to see since Christmas morning. But that was it. A private evening with the stars?  Nah. We paid thousands of dollars with the promise of meeting the actors and receiving special VIP treatment, all simply to see the actors from afar – we could have just saw that on YouTube – and get treated pretty much as though we were regular visitors to Universal.

Many people we talked to had the exact same complaints. Some had gone to Universal’s Harry Potter special event back in 2011, and they said it was so amazing that they came back this year, only to be incredibly disappointed.

Universal Orlando had extremely false information and advertising on their website. They treated VIP guests, who paid an arguably unaffordable amount of money, like trash, and left most people extremely sad and disappointed. My friend and I both felt extremely let down after being so eager to get to Florida for such a long time.

While some good things did happen (the shopping, the Pygmy Puff adoption ceremony, and the food, notably), VIP access to the Harry Potter Celebration was nothing but a huge rip off, and I truly believe people who paid as much money as we did for the special passes should get it all back. I cannot believe the way everyone was treated, and it will be a long, long time before we return to Universal.

From Brandi:

I have been a fan of Harry Potter from the beginning, since I was nine years old. I’ve never been able to make a trip like this because of either school or work and then the money. However, I was able to talk my mom into getting me and her a VIP package for Christmas, and she, being a HP fan as well, was all for it.

We had our packages bought in the first 20 minutes after they came on sale. $1700 for both of us. Five months later, I had the time off work and made a 15-hour drive to Orlando.

Friday’s film tribute was awesome. We finally got to see the cast in person, which was such an overwhelming feeling, since I’ve waited 13 YEARS for that moment. Saturday, we waited in line for two hours for the Q&A’s. At both, we had 3rd row seats, so that was fine too.

We left the park early Saturday and missed the master wand class to go get dressed up for the “Private Event”.

We came back to the park, the only two dressed up in dresses, and somebody said there was a line. So I got in line behind about 30 people. Then people started lining up on the other side of the street as well. Around 7:00pm, people completely crowded towards the front, which was a joke.

We got lead back to the Wizarding World and entered the event a little after 7:00pm. The four of us walked in and just stood there, like, “What the hell is this…?” They had the rides going and shops open and free drinks and desserts. I stood towards the front, and just leaned up against a light post… I was expecting something completely different than just the Wizarding World opened late with a few free drinks. Then I overheard one of the workers tell someone that the cast wasn’t officially scheduled to be there, so they may or may not show up.

I started crying. I was so upset, and the Hogwarts Conductor walked over and asked what was wrong. My mom explained to him that we were under the impression that we were going to meet the cast. He walked over to the same lady I overheard before, talked to her a few seconds, then came back over to us and told us to go to the stage near Hogwarts Castle.

We made our way over there, and it had already had a large crowd around it. We stood there a few minutes watching the Triwizard Spirit Rally. Then, finally, the cast came out on stage. They just stood there and waved for about 90 SECONDS, then disappeared. Apparently, they went to a patio area behind the three broomsticks.

We all moved over toward the back entrance to Three Broomsticks, but it had been blocked off by a black curtain and a security guard. I stood there, hoping ONE of them would at least try to make an effort. But they didn’t. Finally, we went and sat inside Three Broomsticks and watched them leave around the park. At this point, we just went ahead and left.

Universal described on their FAQ page that the event was going to be special and told us to make sure we brought a camera to capture their memories. It was so crowded and there was absolutely NOTHING special about it.

In my opinion, Universal gave us false hope, and if I knew I wasn’t meeting the cast, I wouldn’t have spent all the time, money, and emotional distress on this event.

We’ll learn what we can from Sarah and Brandi’s words, and, should Universal’s Harry Potter Celebration become an annual event as many are hoping, we’ll do our best to incorporate their experiences in our advice.

What are your thoughts about how Universal handled the Harry Potter Celebration? See what others are saying and share your own opinions in the comments.

As a final note, we do not wish to give the impression that this event was not successful. Indeed, I think it was successful for many guest, including OI contributor Maureen. The letters above provide us with a clear path as to how Universal can make it even better (by assuring greater access to package guests or, perhaps, making the entire event separately ticketed like Halloween Horror Nights), and all of our coverage this year will serve to make any future vacation planning advice that much stronger.

A Celebration of Harry Potter – videos

For those of our readers who would like to seen an extended look at the Harry Potter Celebration activities from Day 3, we’ve provided these YouTube videos of the various panel discussions:

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A Celebration of Harry Potter – photo gallery

Click any image to view it full-screen. When the full-screen image is open, click to the right or use the right arrow on your keyboard to advance through the gallery.

Day 3: Panel discussions

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The post My magical experience at A Celebration of Harry Potter: Day 3 (and two additional stories from guests critical of how Universal handled the event) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

With 10 being extremely obsessed with the Harry Potter franchise, I consider myself an 8. I started reading the Harry Potter books soon after the third book was published, and I became hooked immediately. I eagerly awaited the next four installments and usually purchased them on the first day of publication. I’ve watched each movie numerous times and joyfully attended a special premier of Deathly Hallows Part 2, the final movie in the series. When I learned that Universal Orlando was going to build a theme park related to the books and movies, I was elated – I was going to live just a few miles from Hogwarts! As you can tell from my trip reports here on Orlando Informer for the past year, I’m ecstatic about the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley section that will be open this summer.

Last year, when Universal announced the Harry Potter Celebration, I was seriously considering purchasing a vacation package for several hundred dollars so that I could enjoy the VIP perks. However, our family budget just couldn’t accommodate this cost (considering I didn’t need the hotel accommodations or admission tickets included in the package), so I decided to do what I could throughout the weekend as a general admission guest.

Thursday’s Diagon Alley webcast

As a precursor to the Harry Potter Celebration weekend, I was glued to the webcast presented by Universal on Thursday, January 23, 2014 at 10:30am in anticipation of learning anything new about Diagon Alley. Thanks to the two years of coverage already published on Orlando Informer, I didn’t actually learn any new facts about the expansion during the webcast, but I was beside myself with glee when I saw the interior of the Hogwarts Express, the set designed as a Gringotts’ vault, and the actors from the movies who were part of the webcast.

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I cannot wait to actually ride on the Hogwarts Express, experience the thrills of Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, and walk down the street of Diagon Alley!

A Celebration of Harry Potter – Day 1

On Friday, the Harry Potter Expo opened at 4:00pm in Universal Studios Florida (USF) at soundstage 33, located in the New York backlot of the park. I arrived at USF around 5:40pm and went to the Expo. Unfortunately, the line to the Expo for general admission guests was already closed due to the long wait. Guests with the special vacation package VIP passes were allowed to enter the Expo without any wait. A Team Member informed me that they closed the line around 4:45pm to general admission guests, less than an hour after the Expo opened. It was clear that it was going to be a busy, crowded weekend, and I needed to plan accordingly and get to the Harry Potter Celebration events early.

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I decided before the Harry Potter Tribute scheduled for 7:30 that evening to walk over to the Diagon Alley construction area to see what had changed since my visit in December. I was astounded and in awe by the difference in the appearance and feel of the buildings with the scaffolding removed. I was excited to see “peek” views built into the construction walls. These two “peek” sections look like British telephone booths and are located in front of Kings Cross Station and near the Grimwald Place buildings at each end of the construction wall.

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After a quick dinner at Mel’s diner, I made my way to the concert lawn next to Rip Ride Rockit to see the Harry Potter Tribute.

There were two large screens on each side of the concert stage and one gigantic screen at the back of the stage. The lawn was divided with barriers to accommodate the guests with special VIP passes. These guests were able to view the stage from the front and center of the lawn. The guests with press passes were sectioned off in the back center of the lawn. Those of us with general admission could view the event from the far left, far right, or very back of the lawn.

The general admission sections filled quickly and were actually filling up when I arrived at the park around 5:45 pm. The lawn was full and many guests were as far back as the Monster’s Cafe. Because of the numerous barriers outlining these sections, I would estimate the crowd numbers to be similar to the crowded first concert for Mannheim Steamroller last December.

A note about the event timing: For reasons we do not understand, Universal scheduled the kick off event at 7:30, yet they scheduled the park to close at 7:00. This angered a number of guests who showed up at the park between 7:00 and 7:30, and who were not able to get through the turnstiles because the park closed 30 minutes before the event started. Even though Universal’s park hours have been published for a while, it still makes little sense why they wouldn’t just keep their turnstiles open 30 extra minutes.

Continuing with Harry Potter Tribute kick off event, the host for the weekend, Austin Romero, took the stage at 7:30pm. After asking for cheers from each Hogwarts house, he introduced a video that looked back at the Harry Potter phenomenon. The video incorporated the outstanding music from the movies and highlighted the bestselling books, award winning movies, Pottermore website, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and the Greatest Fans with the Biggest Hearts. The finale ended with a caption “The Journey Continues” and then a photo of Diagon Alley from the movies. I admit I got choked up watching the video because of the memories it brought back. It was marvelous to see the actors grow up again before my eyes and relive the eight Harry Potter movies.

Thanks to Dan, here is a look at the introduction sequence:

[youtube_video]DJn-19rDzMw[/youtube_video]

The American publisher of the Harry Potter series, Scholastic, recently released the Harry Potter books with new covers, celebrating the 15th anniversary of the first book being released. Austin Romero introduced the illustrator for the new covers, Kazu Kibuishi, and talked with him about his involvement with the Harry Potter series.

Mr. Kilbuishi was at the Expo during various times throughout the weekend, providing autographs and photo opportunities for HP Celebration guests.

Afterwards, Austin Romero talked about facts known only to those who have joined Pottermore, an online interactive community designed by J.K. Rowling. He asked the audience who had been sorted into their house on Pottermore. A large majority of the audience responded. Romero explained that the Pottermore sorting ceremony was devised by J.K. Rowling, and it is the only official place to be sorted. This information was very interesting to me, and I decided to embrace the house that Pottermore had sorted me — Ravenclaw.

Romero enthusiastically introduced actors from the Harry Potter movies to the stage. It was an entertaining introduction of Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), James Phelps (Fred Weasley), Oliver Phelps (George Weasley), Evana Lynch (Luna Lovegood), Devon Murray (Seamus Finnegan), and Mark Williams (Arthur Weasley). Dan also got us a video of this sequence:

[youtube_video]I4TEkxpeJ_A[/youtube_video]

After clips from the movies featuring each actor, they were asked questions. My favorite scene was Neville Longbottom confronting Voldemort in the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. All the actors were very personable and entertaining throughout the cold evening, and the panel talked for almost an hour.

The Diagon Alley webcast (displayed toward the top of this page) was replayed for the Harry Potter Tribute audience.

Afterwards, two executives from Universal took the stage and discussed some of the new features of Diagon Alley, including new products at Weasleys’ Wizzard Wheezes, such as a Decoy Detonator, Umbridge on Unicycle (on display at the store), Nose-biting teacups, and Skiving Snackboxes, which will be available for purchase.

The Universal executives promised that Diagon Alley would exceed guests’ expectations. “On every street corner, there will be magic that you can participate in and observe.”

After a few more questions for the actors regarding their feelings about the new Diagon Alley, the Harry Potter Tribute ended. Most of the crowd lasted the entire ninety minutes, in spite of the cold conditions including wind chills in the upper 30’s.

I enjoyed the tribute, but I was hoping for more details about Diagon Alley. At that point, I reminded myself this weekend’s event was called a “Harry Potter Celebration”, not a “Diagon Alley” celebration. As a result, I altered my expectations for the rest of the weekend, and I was not disappointed!

A Celebration of Harry Potter – Day 2

On Saturday, I arrived at Islands of Adventure around 9:30am, thirty minutes after the gates opened. Dan had posted on Twitter that the guest admission line for the 10:00am panel discussion My Life on the Harry Potter Set, Talent Q&A at the Toon Lagoon amphitheater extended to the Hulk coaster.

Wow – line for the 10am cast member Q&A at the Toon Lagoon amphitheater extends to Hulk #HPCelebration @UniversalORL pic.twitter.com/FRUHCKU4M6 — Orlando Informer (@OrlandoInformer) January 25, 2014

Thinking I would not be admitted into this session, I rushed to Hogs Head inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (WWoHP) so that I could try the new, warm Butterbeer, only available during the mornings of the Harry Potter Celebration weekend.

I was the last person in Hogs Head to try warm butterbeer that morning. The Team Member from the Hogs Head bar told me I would be the last one served, but the bar ran out of the drink two people in front of me. Demonstrating the awesomeness of UO Team Members, the TM had someone go over to Three Broomsticks to get two cups of warm butterbeer for the last two customers in line. We were both very grateful. I’m not a big fan of sweet drinks, but the warm butterbeer was delicious, particularly on a cold morning.

I hope they will make it available on a permanent basis, especially during cold weather.

Throughout the weekend, the panel discussion admittance encompassed two separate queues. One queue was for those guests with special VIP passes (who were admitted first), and the other queue was for the general admission guests (who were admitted pending available space in the amphitheater). After each panel discussion ended, the theater was emptied and all guests had to go back to the end of the queue for the next panel discussion. This process became an important factor, as I had to prioritize which session I wanted to see because, as a general admission guest, there was no guarantee I could attend any session, let alone two sessions back to back.

Around 10:15am, I decided to get in line for the 11:30 panel discussion, Go Behind the Scenes of Pottermore from J.K. Rowling. Even though it was early, I was not the first in the general admission line, but I did made it into this session.

As a new member of Pottermore, I really enjoyed learning more about the way scenes and stories on the website are developed. Tom Hodgson, the Creative Director and proud Hufflepuff house member, presented a time-lapse video of an upcoming scene that demonstrated how a Pottermore scene is created from inception to final design. He noted that Pottermore encourages its members to use their imagination, just like the books, and that is why the artistry does not show full faces.

Hodgson then revealed seven facts related the Harry Potter series only found on Pottermore, including the fact that the next day was Gilderoy Lockhart’s birthday. (Gilderoy Lockhart is the Dark Arts Professor in The Chamber of Secrets who loses his memory toward the end of the book.) Three audio clips of J.K. Rowling talking about Gilderoy Lockhart and his past were then played for the audience. These clips were never played for the public before, and we were the first to hear them. They will be available on Pottermore soon.

Tom Hodgson was an entertaining and informative presenter, and I was glad I attended this panel discussion.

Knowing I wanted to take my time at the Harry Potter Celebration Expo at USF, and the fact that I would probably need to stand in the queue for a long time before getting into the Expo, I decided to skip the remaining panel discussions scheduled that afternoon and headed to USF. After a quick lunch at the Monster’s Cafe, I walked to Studio 33 in the New York backlot.

The line was fairly lengthy, and I stood in it for about an hour before entering the Expo. I was able to chat with other fans while in line. This was a fun experience of sharing our enthusiasm for Harry Potter and especially Universal’s part in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. Regarding warm butterbeer, I did a quick poll of everyone who had tried it and they really liked it too. Finally, just outside the entrance to the Harry Potter Expo was one of the Weasly’s Ford Anglia cars used in the movie Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

This display made a great photo opportunity for Harry Potter fans.

The marquee outside the Expo festively displayed “Welcome to a Celebration of Harry Potter Expo”. Just inside the entry, a large sign advertised Diagon Alley, Summer 2014 along with luggage and a bird cage, similar to what Harry had on the Hogwarts Express.

My excitement was growing as artist’s rendering of scenes from Diagon Alley were on display, including a map of this entire new addition to Universal Studios. As guests entered the Expo, oversized posters from each of the Harry Potter movies were placed high above. Almost immediately, a hush formed due to the intimate, nearly reverent feel of the Expo.

Subdued lighting and dark curtains surrounded the room while the fabulous one-of-a-kind music from the movies played in the background and helped set the mood. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin house banners hung from the ceiling in the center of the room. Enormous lighted signs, at least 15 feet tall and wide, were hung behind each booth. No matter where guests stood in the Expo, they could also hear the Sorting Hat deciding the house fate of anyone who wished to be sorted.

I immediately got in line for the photo opportunity on the huge, amazingly detailed Gringotts Vault set that was used during the webcast on Thursday. Being inside the vault, I felt I had received just a small glimpse of the astounding detail I would experience when Diagon Alley opens this summer.

The next area I encountered at the Expo was the Scholastic booth. As I mentioned earlier, Kazu Kibuishi was signing posters at scheduled times throughout the day. In addition, Scholastic’s 14×20 foot board, a Muggle Wall, invited all guests to write and “Tell Us What Harry Potter Means to You”.  I wrote “Hope for All”. I also received a free Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone poster from Scholastic and post cards with artwork by Kazu Kibuishi.

I also entered the raffle for a chance to win a Special Edition Harry Potter boxed set and exclusive framed lithograph signed by Kazu Kibuishi.

I walked over to the MinaLima booth next. Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima are the graphic designers that were responsible for any graphic prop used in the Harry Potter movies. Any movie prop that had writing on it was designed by MinaLima, including, but not limited to, The Mauraulder’s Map, the letter welcoming Harry to Hogwarts, any of the books the students used, the Quibbler newspaper, and all the products from Zonko’s and the upcoming Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes. Beautiful framed artwork highlighting the MinaLima Harry Potter artistry was on display throughout the booth. In addition, a glass case displayed some of the graphic props used in the films.

MinaLima has an online gallery www.theprintorium.com offering limited edition reproductions based on the original Harry Potter films’ artwork.

Pottermore from J.K. Rowling was my next stop. There were several laptops set up for guests to log onto or join Pottermore. In addition, Tom Hodgson, the Creative Director of Pottermore, was available for autographs and photos. The large wall sign highlighting Pottermore included the Weasley’s magical car, and it made a great backdrop for photos. In addition, a live artist was drawing creatures for the Pottermore website.

For $10.95, I purchased a booklet of 20 first-class Limited-Edition Forever stamps (pane of 20) featuring Harry Potter movie characters and scenes along with a Digital Color Postmark with the first day these unique stamps were issued at the United States Postal Service. If wanted, an exclusive postmark that commemorated the Harry Potter Celebration weekend was also added to the envelope while guests waited at the booth. One of the designers of the stamps provided autographs — I had him sign my envelope and book of stamps.

The photo op at the US Post office booth was a “wanted” poster saying “Have You Seen These Wizards” similar to the Sirius Black wanted poster from the movie and book Escape from Azkaban. Guests could use various props including house scarves, wands and glasses like Harry and Luna wore and stand in front of the sign. Their picture was taken and printed out on a postcard and also emailed to them. Guests could purchase a Harry Potter stamp and mail the postcard to a friend. I kept my postcard as a fun souvenir.

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London booth provided wand lessons for any guests who wanted to learn the basic wand steps as demonstrated in a video by Paul Harris and assisted by Universal Team Members. The booth had several glass cases containing actual props used in the Harry Potter films. Props included a Death Eater’s mask, Bellatrix Lestrange’s dagger, Harry Potter’s glasses, Godric Griffindor’s sword, and Hermoine Granger’s time turner necklace. All of these items were fundamental to the Harry Potter books and movies, and it was exciting see them up close.

Many more props, in addition to actual sets used during the filming of the Harry Potter movies, can be seen at the Warner Brothers Studio Tour in London.

In the center of the Expo, guests could purchase exclusive merchandise: a collector’s pin for $8.95, keychain for $14.95, t-shirt for $21.95, and signed and/or numbered Harry Potter Celebration commemorative prints from MinaLima priced at either $69.00 or $149.00 depending on the print features. I purchased a t-shirt for myself. Of course, now I wish I had also purchased the collectors pin and keychain as additional souvenirs.

Harry Potter the Exhibition, currently on tour in Edmonton, Canada, displayed several costumes worn in the movies by Harry, Ron, Hermoine and Dumbledore.

As a longtime fan of Harry Potter, I found these costumes to be absolutely fascinating:

In addition to the costumes, Harry Potter the Exhibition provided the Sorting Hat experience.

After waiting in a queue, guests sat on a stool and an actor positioned the sorting hat over the guest’s head. After the actor asked the guest questions, including if there was a preferred house, the Sorting Hat, using a voice just like the movies, announced several characteristics of the guest and excitedly pronounced into which house the guest was sorted. This sorting provided a great photo opportunity for all Harry Potter fans attending the Expo. I waited about 40 minutes until it was my turn to be sorted.

While I was waiting in line to be sorted, Oliver and James Phelps made a surprise appearance at the Pottermore booth for about 10 minutes, signing autographs and taking pictures with lucky guests who happened to be in the right place at the right time.

I left the expo after more than two hours of fantastic experiences. It was well worth the wait time. At this point I decided to walk around the rest of USF. Wait times for the attractions were moderate with 60 minutes for Despicable Me, 45 minutes for MEN IN BLACK and everything else less than 30 minutes. However, Transformers had a posted wait time of 110 minutes, which I learned later was due to technical issues with the attraction that day.

I ended my second day of the Harry Potter Celebration and was very pleased that I was able to spend so much time at the Expo. I did not feel rushed, nor did I feel like I needed more time. Although I did wait over an hour for each the panel discussion I attended earlier in the day and the Expo, I did not think it was unreasonable based on the popularity of Harry Potter. I equated it with waiting for Forbidden Journey on a fairly busy day – well worth it!

To read Maureen’s trip report covering day 3, followed by comments from guests who didn’t have such a magical experience, click here.

A Celebration of Harry Potter – videos

For those of our readers who would like to seen an extended look at the Harry Potter Celebration activities from Day 1 & Day 2, we’ve provided these YouTube videos of the complete kick off event, Expo, and Day 2 panel discussions:

[youtube_video]G8_l0JiQ2Io[/youtube_video]

[youtube_video]U8H2HnZd6HY[/youtube_video]

[youtube_video]w1gQQkhzczc[/youtube_video]

[youtube_video]FPPcY2hM8s4[/youtube_video]

A Celebration of Harry Potter – photo gallery

Click any image to view it full-screen. When the full-screen image is open, click to the right or use the right arrow on your keyboard to advance through the gallery.

Day 1: Diagon Alley & Harry Potter Tribute

Day 2: Panel discussion & Expo

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The post My magical experience at A Celebration of Harry Potter: Day 1 & Day 2 appeared first on Orlando Informer.

As we entered the parking lot at Magic Kingdom, the parking attendant gave us an information sheet explaining the new FastPass+ system and a list of the attractions available for FastPass+.

Terminology important to understanding this new process:

Park ticket is the plastic card that contains an RFID (radio-frequency identification) chip used to gain admittance to the Walt Disney World theme parks. If you have a paper ticket (some annual passes and non-expiration tickets may still be paper), you will need to visit a park ticket purchase window and replace it with the plastic card prior to entering any Walt Disney World park.

MagicBands are the colored soft bands with an RFID chip (usually worn on the wrist) provided to guests staying on-site at a Disney resort. The bands are used as a room key, park ticket, and can be linked to a credit card to pay for merchandise and food on Disney property. At this time, MagicBands are unavailable to guests or Passholders not staying on Disney property.

Legacy FastPass (aka paper FastPass) is the old system of a slip of paper printed at each attraction with a window of time to return and experience the attraction.

FastPass+ (simply pronounced “fast pass plus”) is the new “online” attraction reservation system replacing the legacy FastPasses. Attractions have a separate entrance for those using FastPass+. You must have a plastic park ticket or MagicBand in order to use the FastPass+ reservation system.

My Disney Experience is the new Disney website and mobile app available for devices including phones and tablets that use iOS and Android apps. If you do not have these particular devices, use the MyDisneyExperience.com website. (I was told by several Cast Members that apps are still being developed for Blackberry and Windows phones.) The website and app provide a multitude of information about Walt Disney World, including, but not limited to, current attraction wait times, restaurants, and parade and show times. Those guests without a MagicBand cannot use the MyDisneyExperience website or app at this time to make or change a FastPass+ reservation. Instead, they must use an in-park kiosk to do so. However, after they have made their FastPass+ reservation at a park kiosk, they can view their reserved FastPass+ times on the website or app as long as their park ticket is linked to the MyDisneyExperience website/app.

End of an era. By January 23, 2014, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom will no longer offer legacy FastPasses for guests. If you would like to avoid the regular queues at popular attractions, you must use the FastPass+ system.

Getting our first FastPass+ reservation

For those guests without a MagicBand, the procedure to make FastPass+ reservations is not complicated. However, it may take some time initially to learn.

Once you arrive in the park, go to a FastPass+ kiosk. Follow the kiosk touch screen instructions and scan your park ticket. If you want all or some of your family members to have the same FastPass+ reservations, choose the “Add another guest to your travel party” option to link your park tickets. Select the three attractions for which you would like to make reservations (or the system can choose them for you), and then select one option of return time windows that best meets your needs.

At Magic Kingdom, we “linked” all three of our park tickets (mine, my husband’s, and my son’s) according to the instructions on the touch screen. Next, we chose, as a group, our attractions including Thunder Mountain Railroad, Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain. The program then gave us four options (A, B, C and D) of return time windows. Each option listed different return time windows for all three attractions, and we chose the best option closest to our needs.

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You can easily make changes to the return times either at the next step on the screen or later during the day. In order to keep a “copy” of your reservation times, you need to write them down, have them emailed to you, or if your park ticket is linked to MyDisneyExperience (you can view them through the website or app) in the My Plans section.

When it is time for you to return to your selected attractions, go to the FastPass+ line, scan your park ticket, then proceed through the line. Your park ticket will need to be scanned again prior to boarding the ride at most attractions, so keep it handy.

Using our FastPass+

Our experience at Animal Kingdom was similar. Once we arrived in the park, the first FastPass+ kiosk, located on the Oasis path to Discovery Island, had a line of approximately 75 people. The kiosk near Disney Outfitters was just as long. My husband and son proceeded to Dinosaur due to the short posted wait time of 10 minutes and I went to the FastPass+ kiosk near Primeval Whirl to make our reservations.

The line at this kiosk was much shorter. A Disney Cast Member assisted me with our FastPass+ choices using a tablet, and I was able to reserve return time windows for Primeval Whirl, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Expedition Everest.

I didn’t like the return time for Expedition Everest because it was too late in the day. After we rode Primeval Whirl, I went to the FastPass+ kiosk near Expedition Everest. The Cast Member showed me an earlier return time window for Expedition Everest, so I changed our return time. Return time windows change because guests alter their reservations or decide to forgo an attraction.

Legacy FastPasses vs. FastPass+

Compared to the legacy FastPass lines prior to the new system, we experienced unusually long lines at most of the FastPass+ entrances at both parks. I’m not certain if the long FastPass+ return lines were due to the new system, the busy holiday weekend, or a combination of both factors. At one point, after a brief shut down of only 15 minutes, Expedition Everest’s FastPass+ return line had well over 100 people in it, and extended across the bridge toward the Finding Nemo show.

Top 10 tips for using FastPass+

1. If you already have a park ticket or annual pass, set up an account on the MyDisneyExperience website and download the app prior to visiting the parks.
2. Currently guests can only make FastPass+ reservations in one park per day. Keep this in mind before buying a park hopper ticket.
3. Currently guests can only make FastPass+ reservations for three experiences each day.
4. Know which three attractions are the priorities for you or your group (if you are linking your reservations) before you reach the kiosk. This saves time for everyone in line!
5. You cannot pick the FastPass+ return time window for each attraction separately; you are provided three attraction’s return time windows as one option. However, pick the option that comes closest to your desired schedule, because you can then change the individual attraction return time window in the next step of the process – or later in the day.
6. One perk of the new FastPass+ system is you make all three reservations at once. With the legacy FastPass system, you could not get multiple FastPasses with your park ticket at one time. For example, if you had a legacy FastPass for Space Mountain, you could not get your next legacy FastPass for Thunder Mountain Railroad until you reached the return time window of the Space Mountain legacy FastPass.
7. Unlike the legacy FastPass system, with FastPass+ you can change your mind after you make your reservation. Just go to a FastPass+ kiosk and make your changes. A Cast Member will be on hand to assist you if needed. You cannot make FastPass+ changes using the MyDisneyExperience website or app unless you have a MagicBand.
8. Guests usually are required to use their park ticket two times at each FastPass+ attraction: once at the beginning of the FastPass+ queue and again before boarding the ride.
9. If you arrive at a park early in the day, you may want to check the MyDisneyExperience website or app for the posted wait times of a preferred attraction. If the wait time is relatively short, go ahead and experience that attraction immediately, thus saving that FastPass+ choice for another attraction with a longer standby wait time.
10. MagicBand users are able to make their FastPass+ selections prior to their arrival at the park. Annual Passholders who have a MagicBand can use them until their annual pass expires. The advantage and convenience of these perks may be incentive for Annual Passholders to book at least one night at a Disney resort in order to receive a MagicBand, which they can then use until their annual pass expires.

Please keep in mind that Disney is still very much in the rollout/testing phase with FastPass+, therefore it is quite possible that some of the guidelines we based on tips on may change. You can check for the latest information on Disney’s official website.

In-park FastPass+ kiosk locations

For your convenience, below is a listing of FastPass+ kiosks for the two parks we visited (subject to change of course).

Magic Kingdom

• Main Street: Guest Relations
• Adventureland: Just over the bridge, next to Aloha Isle
• Adventureland/Frontierland: In the restroom shortcut
• Frontierland: Near the entrance to Splash Mountain
• Liberty Square: At Heritage House next to Hall of Presidents
• Fantasyland: Next to Mickey’s PhiharMagic
• Storybook Circus: Next to Pete’s Silly Sideshow
• Tomorrowland: Next to Stitch’s Great Escape

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• Oasis: Oasis path
• Discovery Island: Disney Outfitters store near Tree of Life.
• Discovery Island: My Magic+ Service center located in the Creature Comforts store near Pizzafari
• Dinoland U.S.A.: Next to Primeaval Whirl
• Asia: To the left of Expedition Everest
• Africa: Next to Kilimanjaro Safaris

Final thoughts on using FastPass+ for the first time

The FastPass+ reservation system seemed to go smoothly for us, but the FastPass+ queues were longer than previously experienced.  For those guests who are used to the legacy FastPass system, the new FastPass+ system may take a period of adjustment, especially learning how to best use the MyDisneyExperience website and app, and the in-park FastPass+ kiosks. However, I learned that it is not too complicated, and as I noted in my top 10 tips above, there are some key benefits to the new system.

To continue reading about Walt Disney World, view our WDW archive on the OI Blog. Or you can catch up on all our trip reports (we now publish monthly trip reports for Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, and one of the four Walt Disney World parks).

Walt Disney World trip report – photo gallery

Click any image to view it full-screen. When the full-screen image is open, click to the right or use the right arrow on your keyboard to advance through the gallery.

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The post Walt Disney World trip report – January 2014 (guide to using FastPass+, top 10 tips & more) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

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Entering USF, I noticed the Christmas decorations were still providing a festive atmosphere starting with the Macy’s Holiday Parade medallion and inflatable elf at the entrance. (The Macy’s Holiday Parade will be marching through USF through January 4, 2014 — learn more in the OI Universal Center.) Most of the ticketing kiosks were open and had long lines. All the entrance turnstiles were open and very busy, including the temporary turnstiles in the center.

Crowds throughout the morning and early afternoon at USF were heavy, but it seemed most guests were concentrated in Production Central.

Wait times in Production Central were very long: 145 minutes for the highly popular Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and 45 minutes for Shrek 4-D; the awesome Rip Ride Rockit coaster’s standby line was 120 minutes with the single rider line posted wait time of 90 minutes; and Transformers: The Ride 3D, one of my favorite USF attractions, had a posted standby line of 75 minutes before noon and 90 minutes in the afternoon.

In contrast to the long wait times in Production Central, posted wait times for the remainder of USF’s attractions were significantly lower with most attractions posting a wait time of 15 minutes or less.

As I walked around the park, Twister, Revenge of the Mummy, Disaster!, MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack all had posted wait times of only 10 minutes. In the Springfield section of USF, The Simpsons Ride had a posted wait time of 10 minutes also. In Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone, E.T. Adventure had a posted wait time of 15 minutes and Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster was 20 minutes. While the attraction wait times were low, the crowd levels in the streets of each section were heavy.

I noticed that most food and drink kiosks were busy at USF but lines were only a few people deep. In addition, I surprisingly didn’t have to wait in line to purchase lunch at Fast Food Boulevard in Springfield.

Since my last USF trip report, the concrete work in Springfield has been completed and the walkway near the Back to the Future train and DeLorean is open again.

The progress of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley is extraordinary.

Most of the brick has been painted along with additional detail on most of the buildings. I observed the new WWOHP-DA section from several vantage points, and it dominates this section of the park. So much of King’s Cross Station is completed and looks uncannily like the real thing.

After a fun time touring USF, I walked over to Islands of Adventure in the early afternoon. The ticket booths and entry turnstiles were busy as I entered the park even at this time of the day.

Heading into Seuss Landing, the posted wait times for the attractions ranged from 35 minutes for the High In The Sky Trolley Train Ride, 30 minutes for the Cat In The Hat to 10 minutes for One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. The very popular holiday Grinchmas production had eight different shows scheduled for the day, and Who’s were posing for photos with guests around Seuss Landing.

In the Lost Continent, Poseidon’s Fury had a posted wait time of 40 minutes which seemed to be reflective of the crowd level in this section of IOA. The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad Stunt Show had seven different shows scheduled.

The most popular and crowded section of IOA, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, also had the longest wait times for attractions. Although Dragon Challenge posted only a 15 minute wait time, Flight of the Hippogriff was 65 minutes and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey was 105 minutes. The streets and shops of the WWoHP were very crowded along with long lines for all butterbeer carts.

Also in WWoHP, construction continues on the Hogsmeade Station for the Hogwarts Express. We were able to take a few photos of the construction while riding Dragon Challenge, and we were thrilled with the progress that has been made with most of the exterior walls in place and painted.

Also, these new photos really give you a sense of how Hogsmeade Station is creating “near miss” experiences with Dragon Challenge’s coaster tracks.

In the Jurassic Park section of IOA, park guests were thoroughly enjoying the Jurassic Park River Adventure, which had a posted wait time of 25 minutes. I laughed to myself when I heard one guest trying to convince his family that they wouldn’t get wet on the ride. Even though they had watched the ride from the splash zone, they seemed to believe him.

As I entered Toon Lagoon, home to IOA’s other two water rides, ironically it began to rain. Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls had a posted wait time of 60 minutes. Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges, a fun attraction where guests are guaranteed to be soaked, posted a wait time of 10 minutes for the standby line.

In Marvel Super Hero Island, the thrilling attraction of The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man had a posted wait time of 75 minutes, Doctor Doom’s Fearfall was 30 minutes and the The Incredible Hulk Coaster had a 60 minutes posted wait time. The 4:00pm Marvel Super Heroes meet-and-greet production was delayed by about 15 minutes due to inclement weather. Many guests were lining the sidewalks waiting for the production to begin and to meet their favorite Super Hero.

Similar to USF, the IOA food and drink kiosks and counter-service restaurants throughout this park were busy but did not have long waits with the exception of WWoHP section.

The temperatures were in the upper 70’s with mostly cloudy skies. It rained steadily for about an hour in the afternoon, but the rain did not cause any attractions in IOA to close including all the coasters and outdoor attractions.

Both parks opened at 8:00am and USF closed at 10:00 pm while IOA closed at 11:00 pm. Being in the middle of the busiest time of year at Universal Orlando, it was not surprising to see the high posted wait times for the most popular attractions. Consequently, I would recommend purchasing an Express Pass for busy days like this one or stay on-site at a deluxe hotel to get unlimited Express Passes as part of your room package (learn more in the OI Universal Center). The lower wait times for some attractions and the shorter lines for food and drink were a pleasant surprise.

Even with the inclement weather, I spent an enjoyable day at both parks. I look forward to visiting USF and IOA again soon in 2014, which will be a phenomenal year for Universal Orlando Resort and its guests.

Update #1

As of last week, Universal has updated their in-park guidemap to reflect the addition of Springfield USA and the Simpsons Fast Food Blvd:

Just looked inside the @UniversalORL guidemap I picked up today – #SpringfieldUSA has been redrawn & updated pic.twitter.com/BPK2QvgPEC— Orlando Informer (@OrlandoInformer) December 27, 2013

Even better news, you can now find pages in the OI Universal Center covering all of Springfield USA, including a brand-new overview page, Fast Food Blvd, Moe’s Tavern, Duff Brewery, and Kang & Kodos Twirl ‘n’ Hurl.

Update #2

[wptouch target=”non-mobile”]My photo gallery with 62 new images can be found at the bottom of this page. [/wptouch]If you’d like to see even more, check out Orlando Informer’s new Flickr page. The December 26 photoset will help you see all the crowds, then check out the December 28 photoset for some spectacular nighttime images.

Pays to stay late – #ForbiddenJourney @UniversalORL is a walk-on pic.twitter.com/a0eDSfzJ1X— Orlando Informer (@OrlandoInformer) December 29, 2013

I hope you enjoyed this trip report. To learn more about the topics on this page, and to start planning your next trip, visit the OI Universal Center. Or you can catch up on all our trip reports.

Universal Orlando Resort – photo gallery

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The post Year-end Universal Orlando trip report (holiday crowds, Diagon Alley construction, and great new shots of Hogsmeade Station) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

Parking rotunda & CityWalk

As I entered the rotunda from the parking garage, I was fascinated by the huge, new American Express interactive screen, capturing everyone’s attention by projecting images of guests into different scenes. I have a photo below, then you can also see this brief video a guest posted on Google+.

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Entering CityWalk, I noticed the former Endangered Species area, rumored to be the new location for Starbucks, was still very much under construction. In addition, the former Latin Quarter has transformed into an impressively large frontage for a new restaurant, rumored to serve Spanish tapas.

Universal Orlando has a press conference scheduled for Thursday regarding CityWalk, in which they plan to announce up to five new venues set to open in 2014. Hopefully we will be provided more details about the rumored and known changes to the popular nightlife, shops, and restaurant areas of CityWalk. (Expect a full report in Friday’s Rumor Round-Up on Orlando Informer.)

Since my last trip report, Red Oven Pizza Bakery opened to the public, and with the positive reviews, I decided to try the new restaurant for dinner.

[youtube_video]Uwz1ryOZyUk[/youtube_video]

It was very good pizza — easily the best Universal has to offer at CityWalk and the parks. It’s also a good deal as far as theme park prices go: two hungry adults can get their fill of artisan, made-to-order pizza and two drinks for less than $20 (including tax, no tip necessary).

But take heed, the pizza only comes in the 12 inch size — no sales by the slice. While Red Oven happily offers takeaway boxes, do you really want to carry that around all day? Best to plan on eating all the pizza, or getting it on your way out of the parks.

Islands of Adventure

The holidays are in full swing at Orlando’s theme parks, and IOA is well known for its celebrations. Decorations adorn the buildings and shops, although they are subtle in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Even though it is fun to browse throughout the year, the Port of Entry Christmas Shoppe was enjoyable to explore this trip. Grinch related items can be purchased along with decorations and personalized ornaments for friends and family.

Entering Seuss Landing, I was struck by the overall change in appearance with the holiday decorations, including gaily decorated trees, festive garland, and whimsical bows found throughout this section of the park.

The Zax by-pass and the High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train ride are both open, after being closed for refurbishment last month.

I took a ride on the High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride this visit. After walking through the quirky queue, telling the story of the Sneetches, I boarded the train.

The rhyming narrator told the ABC’s of Seuss Landing while we rode along the tracks elevated above the park. The views of Seuss Landing and the rest of IOA are fantastic from this ride.

The other train track, which I did not experience this visit, goes through Circus McGurkus Café Stoo-pendous and tells the story of the Sneetches.

After completing the ride, guests exit through the mouth-watering Snookers and Snookers Sweet Candy Cookers shop — the best smelling ride exit in the park! Although this attraction lasted less than four minutes, it was very enjoyable, enabling guests to see aspects of Seuss Landing that were only visible from above. Even though the minimum height requirement for riders was increased this past summer from 36 inches to 40 inches, the High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride is an attraction most families will enjoy.

Getting back into the spirit of Grinchmas at Seuss Landing, this year’s Wholiday Spectacular show was wonderful. I was lucky enough to sit near the stage, on the right side of the theater. This is where guests can get the best view of Max the dog, which I learned in Orlando Informer’s 2013 guide to the holidays at Universal.

The very talented Narrator, the Whos, the Grinch, and Max the dog performed an outstanding, funny, and entertaining show. The Grinch and Who’s makeup was superb, and the stage set was done well. As always, the Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular is a “must do” this holiday season.

In between performances of the Wholiday Spectacular show, guests can meet and have their photograph taken with the Grinch in the All The Books You Can Read store. This Grinch is modeled after the movie version starring Jim Carrey, and he fully interacts with guests. (This is in contrast to the “classic” Grinch meet-and-greet character who fills the role the other 11 months of the year. Who characters in full makeup and costume were also walking around interacting with guests and posing for photos throughout Seuss Landing.

[youtube_video]gfgRXUpFrX4[/youtube_video]

Construction continues around IOA, including the Old Arctic Express area at Port of Entry and Hogsmeade Station.

The construction in Port of Entry, rumored to be a new Starbucks, seems to have been put on hold or moving very slowly; there has been no visible change since late summer.

On the other hand, the progress of Hogsmeade Station — near the main entrance to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter — is clearly visible above, with brick being laid on the outside of the station. It is with immense anticipation and some impatience that I await the opening of this one-of-a-kind Hogwarts Express train ride between Kings Cross Station and Hogsmeade Station.

In Jurassic Park, construction walls surround the Bone Chillin’ Beverages kiosk near the splash area of Jurassic Park River Adventure.

The refurbishment area in front of the entrance to Photo Funnies in Toon Lagoon, which we report last month, is completed and the walls are gone.

The crowd levels were moderate to low this visit to IOA with wait times for most attractions under 30 minutes. The weather was ideal with temperatures in the 80’s, a little warm even for Florida in the month of December.

IOA has so much to offer guests year round, but the holiday season is truly a special time to visit, especially with the Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular in Seuss Landing. I hope you can plan a trip to Islands of Adventure that includes a visit during the holiday season, designed to create some extraordinary memories for you and your family.

To plan your December visit to Universal Orlando, see the Complete 2013 guide to the holidays in the OI Universal Center. Or you can catch up on all our trip reports.

2013 holidays at Islands of Adventure – photo gallery

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The post Islands of Adventure trip report – December 2013 (Grinchmas, Wholiday Spectacular, Seuss Trolley + CityWalk updates) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

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Immediately setting the mood at the entrance of the park, a large Macy’s Holiday Parade medallion hangs from the archway along with one of the extraordinary holiday inflatable Red Elf with a gift. Garland, lights, and other festive holiday decorations can be found throughout the park including the shops and restaurants. In addition, several oversized inflatable characters including Grover, Horton, Curious George, Scooby Doo, Garfield, and the Cat in The Hat are strategically placed around the park and make excellent photo ops for park guests.

Another entertaining aspect of the holidays at USF is the Blues Brothers’ Christmas show.

Jake and Elwood performed their unique version of Christmas songs, creatively changing the words of a song like “Soul Man” to “Snow Man”. Jake and Elwood also decorated a small tree with items only the Blues Brothers and their fans could appreciate. Even their police car was decked out for the holidays with wreaths, garland and bows.

Construction progress at the Diagon Alley area astounds me every visit. Some of the brick on the outside of buildings in this expansive section of USF have been painted, and the fine details continue to emerge on the remaining buildings. I wish that USF would let us see what is happening behind the large London facade and inside the Gringott’s building — soon enough, I know.

The Hogwarts Express Train has begun testing along the tracks at a very slow speed. During my visit, one of the two trains remained parked along the tracks near Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue, and the other train was parked between USF and Islands of Adventure, closer to Hogsmeade Station.

If you’d like to see more photos of the Diagon Alley construction site, Dan uploaded about 50 to the OI Flickr page, in the December 5 photoset.

The entry area to Springfield was blocked due to concrete work on the main walkway. Guests are required to walk next to the Animal Actors Stadium entrance toward the Springfield restrooms in order to access Springfield from the Hollywood Boulevard side of the park.

Because of the construction walls in this area, it was not possible to take photos of the Back to the Future train or DeLorean from the Springfield area, but you can still find the Delorean on the Central Park side of the construction area. We’ve been told this construction will last about another month.

Some scheduling changes at USF include the Superstar Parade not scheduled again until December 25, due to the Macy’s Holiday Parade running at 5:00pm daily. However, you can still see your favorite Superstar characters at the Character Party Zone several times each day (check the in-park guidemap for times). The Cinematic Spectacular show is still scheduled to run every night at park closing except for December 11 & 12.

It was a beautiful day with temperatures reaching the mid-80’s, 10 degrees above normal. Crowd levels were moderate with posted wait times of 45 minutes for the popular family rides Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and E.T. Adventure. Transformers had a posted wait time of 30 minutes, while the remaining attractions were 15 minutes or less.

An attraction that we enjoy as a family at Universal Studios Florida is The Revenge of the Mummy. This thrilling indoor experience — part dark ride, part roller coaster — is very a fan favorite, and it incorporates elements and scenes from The Mummy movie franchise through the Tombs of Imhotep. The queue helps set the tone and theme of the attraction, with newly installed interactive experiences.

Entering the dimly lit tunnels, similar to the carved excavation pathways inside a pyramid, eerie and haunting music can be heard. After going through a maze of stone, Egyptian paintings, and support beams, guests arrive at the loading zone. Team Members will stay in character as they stare at guests for extended periods without talking. Guests sometimes scream when they turn around and a team member is standing within inches of them!

After boarding the mine car, the ride begins with an animatronic team member, Reggie, warning guests the curse is real and then the Mummy Imhotep appears suddenly out of a coffin. The ride vehicle enters a grand chamber with the Mummy’s image, asking you to join him or suffer the consequences. As the vehicle enters the next dark chamber, scarab beetles start attacking. The ride vehicle moves backwards, makes a 180 degree turn and launches into a coaster ride reaching over 40 mph. Guests zoom through the dark with projections of mummies and fire along the way. The vehicle stops suddenly with a team member thanking guests for riding. The Mummy surprises unsuspecting guests by taking over the ride again and sending the vehicle through one last thrilling coaster ride.

At the conclusion of the ride, guests feel they barely escaped the Mummy. Brendan Frasier, star of the movies, greets them at the ride’s finale. Be sure to note how important his coffee is. After exiting the ride, guests are directed through the gift shop, which offers many items related to The Mummy movie and Egyptian themed souvenirs to remind them of the fun they just had on the Revenge of the Mummy.

Although riding the Mummy is a great experience, the highlight of my visit this month to USF was enjoying the Macy’s Holiday Parade, followed by Mannheim Steamroller live in concert. As recommended by the holiday guide in the OI Universal Center, I stood in front of the Macy’s building in the New York backlot to watch a variety of extraordinary balloons and floats, entertaining costumed performers, and talented bands as they paraded down the street and past the enormous, beautifully decorated USF Christmas tree.

New this year is the adorable Happy the Hippo balloon, direct from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York (seen in the image directly above).

At the end of the parade, Santa arrived on his sleigh and stopped in front of the tree. Santa’s helpers, dancing Snowmen, and Rockettes in their red and white attire performed an entertaining number. With great fanfare and the help of park guests, Santa counted to three and the Christmas tree was lit as confetti sprayed into the air from the tops of nearby buildings.

After the parade finished, the Rockettes were available to pose for photos with park guests. It was a very merry experience for all!

If you’d like to get the full Macy’s Holiday Parade experience, check out this video Dan just published yesterday:

[youtube_video]OuZZS9dfCC4[/youtube_video]

Afterwards, I went to the Universal Music Plaza and heard some of my favorite Christmas music performed live by Mannheim Steamroller, directed by Chip Davis.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman, Deck the Halls, and Silent Night were just a few of my favorite songs performed. At the end of the hour-long concert, several of the Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular cast members sang songs from the marvelous musical now showing at Islands of Adventure (which I’ll be covering in tomorrow IOA trip report).

These wonderful experiences at USF have become a holiday tradition for our family. I hope you are able to visit USF soon and enjoy the holidays festivities along with all the thrills and fun that Universal Studios Florida has to offer!

To plan your December visit to Universal Orlando, see the Complete 2013 guide to the holidays in the OI Universal Center. Or you can catch up on all our trip reports.

2013 holidays at Universal Studios Florida – photo gallery

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The post Universal Studios Florida trip report – December 2013 (construction updates, The Mummy, Macy’s Holiday Parade & Mannheim Steamroller) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

Right away I noticed the approximately 65 foot tall decorated Christmas tree that greeted guests in front of the park’s entrance. Hundreds of oversized ornaments adorn the tree. Disney character cutouts and a holiday train “film strip” wrap around the bottom and provide excellent photo opportunities. After entering the park, I found holiday decorations everywhere, along with Christmas music playing over the sound system. My favorite holiday window display at DHS is the dancing Mouse Ear Christmas balls on Hollywood Boulevard.

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In the Magic of Disney Animation, a new meet-and-greet room for Minnie Mouse is now open between the Sorcerer Mickey and Wreck It Ralph greeting areas. There is no signage indicating where to meet Minnie other than the words “The Drawing Room” and a clock underneath. Ask a Cast Member for help if you are not able to find this room. The Incredibles round out the characters greeting guests in this building.

In the Magic of Disney Animation, I noticed several posters promoting future Disney movies including Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur and Inside Out.

Banners were also placed throughout the Animation courtyard promoting Disney’s newest movie, Frozen. In addition, Frozen merchandise was available for purchase including adorable plush toys, character dolls, and “cool” clothing.

Nearby, a new lounge at the Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant is now open. Guests are seated on a first-come, first-served basis outdoors at umbrella-covered tables or a small indoor seating area. The menu offers beer, wine, and specialty cocktails alongside delicious appetizers and delectable desserts. We didn’t get a chance to try it yet, but the new venue has received strong reviews — including this one OI contributor Dani published on her own site.

Mulch, Sweat & Shears was performing live on the stage set up in front of the Sorcerer’s Hat. I always find this talented band entertaining. In addition to the classic hits they typically play, they were performing a variety of Christmas songs this visit getting guests into the Holiday spirit.

Experiencing the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights is a holiday “must do” event that our family enjoys each year. Seeing over 5 million lights draped along the Streets of America buildings dancing in sync to some of our favorite holiday music is awe inspiring.

We spent most of our time at one end of the Streets of America and enjoyed the lights, music, and the reactions of the other park guests. We also found the purple cat and some of the 43 hidden Mickey’s in the millions of lights. If you have time, Santa Goofy has a meet and greet in this area for some excellent photo opportunities.

This year the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights runs from November 8 through January 5.

A sweet addition to the Osborne Lights is the $6.75 Lighted Holiday cupcake with a multi-colored flashing ice cube available for purchase. The cupcake is pumpkin flavored with cream cheese icing, red and green sprinkles and a Mickey Santa hat on top. We shared this large, delicious cupcake and kept the flashing cube as a souvenir.

An exciting new feature at Disney Hollywood Studios is the Glow with the Show ears available for $25.00. In DHS, the Mickey Mouse ears on these hats light up in sync to the music and lights at both Fantasmic! and The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights show.

Although some people have expressed that the hats can be distracting, I think the flashing hats added to the excitement and make one feel like they are a part of both shows. I enjoyed seeing them glow and blink multiple colors along with the music and lights.

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After enjoying the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights, my son wanted to ride Star Tours, a popular attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Star Tours – The Adventure Continues

This exhilarating motion simulator ride features an entertaining queue and 3D High Definition movie. As we entered the queue, we were prepared for our tour with a variety of announcements and large screens regarding gate changes, luggage restrictions and descriptions of the star speeder guests ride. C3PO also interacts with R2D2 in the queue and, in another section, various droids interact with the guests. The Droid that piloted the vehicle prior to the renovation of this ride in 2011 can be found in the scrap metal pile along the queue. We picked up our 3D glasses when we were assigned a vehicle and row. The humorous Star Tours safety information video played on the screen. After C3PO accidentally became the pilot of the ship, a Starspeeder 1000, our adventure began.

There are 54 different combinations of scenes guests can experience while riding Star Tours. For this trip, it was the first time we’ve experienced this particular combination, and we were very excited. The first scene after we escaped the Stormtroopers was on the planet Kashyyyk, the home planet to the Wookies. Storm troopers on speeder bikes attacked the Wookies riding Ornithopters as we raced through the planet’s forest. We helped destroy a few Stormtroopers and experienced some dramatic flying over the Wookies before heading back into space.

After Kashyyk, Yoda appeared on our screen and instructed us to deliver the rebel spy to the Rebel station and gave our R2 unit the rebel station coordinates. We reached light speed and landed in a construction area of the Death Star. We fought the Empire, blew up the Bounty Hunter, and, after reaching light speed again, finally arrived at the Rebel station. Rebels congratulated us on our victory and bringing the rebel spy back to safety. This attraction is an exciting ride simulator for everyone, even for those who may not be very familiar with the entire Star Wars saga.

FastPass+ at Disney Hollywood Studios

Since my DHS trip report back in June, FastPass+ has been implemented throughout DHS at most of the major attractions. Currently, if you have access to FastPass+ while visiting DHS (at this time for those guests staying on Disney property), through December (and maybe longer) the FastPass+ attractions are now categorized into two groups. When making your DHS FastPass+ reservations, you can select one attraction from group 1 and two additional attractions from group 2.

Group 1 (more popular): Toy Story Midway Mania, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith, Fantasmic!, Beauty and the Beast show.

Group 2 (less popular): The Great Movie Ride, Tower of Terror, Star Tours, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show, Muppet Vision 3D, Disney Jr. Live on Stage!

During our visit crowds were moderate and the temperatures were in the 70’s. The posted wait times for attractions reflected the crowds with 30 minutes for Tower of Terror and 60 minutes for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Tip: Star Tours had a posted wait time of only 10 minutes since most guests on this side of the park were viewing the Osborne Lights.

Our visit to DHS this month was entertaining, adventurous, and awe-inspiring. It was a great start for our family’s theme park Holiday traditions and I hope you will soon be able to experience the variety of entertainment options at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

To continue reading about Walt Disney World, view our WDW archive on the OI Blog. Or you can catch up on all our trip reports (we now publish monthly trip reports for Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, and one of the four Walt Disney World parks).

Disney’s Hollywood Studios trip report – photo gallery

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The post Disney’s Hollywood Studios trip report – November 2013 (holiday decorations, Osborne Dancing Lights, Star Tours & FastPass+) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

Before previewing ICE!, we were directed to the Emerald Plaza area of the resort. The beautifully decorated and magnificently lit 54-foot tall Christmas tree was a wonderful backdrop to the very entertaining Luminescence live stage show.

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During the thirty-minute Luminescence show, the band and singers performed various Christmas songs that put guests in the holiday spirit. Parts of the Luminescence show featured breathtaking aerial acrobatics in addition to the tree lights flashing in sync with the music. My favorite part of the show was Charlie, the drummer in the Sky. His drum set was positioned high above the stage, and he was harnessed and lifted up into the air to play.

Overall, this entertaining stage show helped set a festive, holiday mood and is something all your family members can enjoy.

After the Luminescence show, we were directed to Holiday Hall in the lower level of the convention center to experience ICE! featuring Frosty the Snowman. Transitioning through the ICE! entryway under the brightly lit marquee, we walked through the queue area, which had various screens playing from the story of Frosty the Snowman.

Further into the queue we were shown a short video explaining the event’s history. This is the 11th year of ICE! at the Gaylord Palms. The talented ICE! artisans are from Harbin, China and travel to Kissimmee to perform their magic on blocks of ice. Three types of ice were used in the exhibit: clear, white and colored. Three ice factories produce the 6,500 blocks of ice needed for each show. Each block of ice measures 10” x 21” x 42” and weighs about 350 pounds.

After the informative video, we entered as smaller groups into the coat area. We were provided coats to wear that are available in all sizes to accommodate small children to larger adults. The temperature of the exhibit area is 9 degrees Fahrenheit. Tip: Consider bringing your own gloves and hats, as they are not provided — and make sure you’re wearing socks and closed-toe shoes! (Hats, gloves, and socks are available for purchase in the gift shop area prior to entering the exhibit.)

After donning our coats, we had the opportunity to have our photo taken in front of a green screen that became a scene from Frosty the Snowman when printed. It makes a great souvenir, which guests can purchase after the ICE! exhibit (photo displayed at the bottom of the post).

At this point, we walked through the door to ICE! We were met with a blast of cold air along with the first of many impressive and beautiful sculptures depicting the story of Frosty the Snowman.

The audio from the movie coincided with the many scenes throughout the exhibit.

One scene where Frosty and the children march “through the streets of town, right to a traffic cop” includes four awesome ice slides that guests of all ages can enjoy. Another scene where Karen and Santa are kneeling after Frosty had melted in the greenhouse was very poignant. A lighting effect featured Karen remembering how happy she and Frosty were together, much like the beloved movie.

Although the final scene with Frosty and Santa heading off to the North Pole is the end of the movie, it’s not the end of ICE!

The next room, Frostbite Factory, had more wonderful ice carvings and explanations of how the ice sculptures were made, including a live demonstration by several ICE! artisans.

The final sculpture room depicted a larger-than-life Nativity scene in clear ice. It was incredibly beautiful, and the detail on each carving was stunning. Keep in mind these photos barely capture this awe-inspiriting room.

After returning our coats to the attendants, we picked up our Frosty the Snowman Scene souvenir photo taken earlier. It’s $25.00 for just the print, $35.00 for a print and a digital copy on a USB key.

In the gift shop area, I purchased a T-shirt depicting ICE! with Frosty the Snowman for $16.00. I also visited the other features of ICE! including rooms designated for meeting Santa and Gingy’s gingerbread decorating.

ICE! featuring Frosty the Snowman was a wonderful experience. Frosty the Snowman is such a beloved holiday classic, and for this brief time, I felt like I was immersed in the movie. It brought back memories of when I was a child and we watched the movie every December in our family room. I thoroughly enjoyed each larger-than-life scene and the amazing detail that the artisans were able to sculpt.

I recommend that you and your family make ICE! a part of your Central Florida holiday tradition — there is truly nothing like it anywhere else in Florida!

ICE! is open daily from November 23, 2013 through January 5, 2014. The exhibit starts at 10:00am and closing hours vary so check the calendar for specific dates. Coats are provided, hats and gloves are recommended, and long pants and closed-toe shoes are required.

General admission pricing is $29.99 for adults (ages 13+) , $28.99 for seniors (ages 55+), and $16.99 children (ages 4-12); kids ages 3 and under are free. Visit the official ICE! site to learn more: www.ChristmasAtGaylordPalms.com.

More tips for making the most out of your trip to ICE!

1. Buy your tickets in advance and try your best to figure out how to get a discount, as there are many available (especially in November and early December). Promos can be found on the ICE! page at GaylordHotels.com, on their Twitter account, and on their Facebook page.

2. Avoid the weekends. ICE! brings in a huge local crowd, and of course the local crowd tends to show up on weekends. To be able to experience this event with minimal waiting, try to go during the week — and as always, the earlier in the season you go, the better.

3. You gotta pay for parking. As of this posting it’s $18 for self parking and $24 for valet. The only way to get out of the on-site parking fee is to eat a full meal at one of Gaylord Palms’ full-service restaurants — or have someone drop you off.

4. Try to schedule your visit when you can enjoy all the complimentary entertainment in their main atrium. If you visit ICE! and stay for the Luminescence Christmas show and have time to stroll around the resort — making your visit a several-hour affair — then all of a sudden $100 for your family’s admission and $18 for parking doesn’t feel quite as bad. Keep in mind that the free entertainment does not run every day, so be sure to call 407-586-4423 to confirm the show schedule.

ICE! 2013 featuring Frosty the Snowman – photo gallery

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The post ICE! featuring Frosty the Snowman: A classic Christmas tale becomes Orlando’s most unique (and coldest!) holiday event appeared first on Orlando Informer.

Walking through the lively and entertaining CityWalk, I observed the ongoing construction for the new Starbucks location rumored to be replace the former Endangered Species store. For now, Starbucks continues to be fully operational on the second floor. Next, I saw the new Red Oven Pizza Bakery was having previews for select customers. The restaurant was expected to open Tuesday, but the opening has been delayed again (we’ve been told it was originally intended to open on November 1).

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Dan called Guest Services this morning to ask when Red Oven will open, and he was told “not today, possibly tomorrow, and certainly very, very soon.”

In the former Latin Quarter, the multi-story front of the new Mexican-themed restaurant under construction draws attention and dominates the area.

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Crossing through the turnstiles of Islands of Adventure into the Port of Entry, we left the real world behind and began our adventure. Immediately I noticed holiday decorations throughout the park and especially in the shops in this area.

Construction and refurbishment efforts are increasing throughout IOA, resulting in some temporary ride and venue closures. The Old Arctic Express area at Port of Entry is still under construction and now essentially confirmed to be a Starbucks by this Universal job posting.

In Seuss Landing, construction walls block the Zax By-Pass shortcut between the Green Eggs and Ham restaurant and the bridge to Lost Continent. Also in Seuss Landing, the High In the Sky Trolley Train Ride is closed for refurbishment through November 23, 2013. In Toon Lagoon, a refurbishment construction wall surrounds the entrance to Photo Funnies.

Despite these changes, by far the most anticipated construction area inside Islands of Adventure is at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Hogsmeade Station.

Dragon Challenge’s Chinese Fireball coaster was closed for refurbishment during our visit (and will be until November 22). However, you can still experience the thrills of riding the Hungarian Horntail. The construction of the Hogsmeade station for the new Hogwarts Express attraction is rapidly moving forward. We were able to capture a few photos of the new Hogsmeade Station as well as the Hogwarts Express train parked on the tracks nearby.

In the group of photos below, the first three were shot this past weekend. The fourth photo in the set was shot in June, allowing you to see the construction progress.

While I was amazed at the progress and how the building is really taking shape, I was most excited to see the second Hogwarts Express train on the tracks. Actually seeing the train cars on the track helps to make this highly anticipated attraction seem like more of a reality than just a fantastic idea.

In Jurassic Park, the new midway games are now open. The different games of skill have a distinctive Jurassic Park theme and include Hammond’s Hotshots, a basketball game; Jurassic Park Animal Control Training Zone, two target games; and Dinosaur Dash Up, a water gun game.

 [youtube_video]1JwvA_S_SoE[/youtube_video]

(The video above was posted on Orlando Informer’s Facebook page when Dan originally shot it — and the resulting comments made it apparent that some theme park fans like these carnival games, many are indifferent, but some are strongly opposed. Which are you?)

In Jurassic Park’s new set up, the Egg Nursery is a unique game that may appeal to younger guests. Kids use a net to “fish” a dinosaur egg out of water, and it is “x-rayed” by the team member. The guest wins a plush toy determined by the size of the dinosaur inside.

Posted wait times for the rides varied from 60 minutes for Flight of the Hippogriff, 30 minutes for Forbidden Journey and Spider-Man, and 15 minutes or less for most of the other attractions at Islands of Adventure. The weather was warm enough for riding the wet attractions in Jurassic Park and Toon Lagoon, and my husband and son rode Ripsaw Falls several times in a row. By the end of the day, my son was soaked from head to toe, but had a lot of fun in the process.

This trip I purchased a few “sweet” items for my family and my parents, who were visiting us from out of town. Sweet tooth fans who visit Islands of Adventure can find many shops throughout the park to satisfy their cravings. In the Port of Entry, Island Market Export shop sells cupcakes, cookies and other baked goods along with a wall of candy available for purchase by the pound. One of my favorite shops is in Seuss Landing at the Trolley Train Ride exit, Snookers and Snookers Sweet Candy Cookers. They sell delicious baked goods including seasonal cookies and cupcakes.

Another very popular and must-visit sweet shop is Honeydukes inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, where I purchased a Chocolate Frog, some Fudge Flies and Caramel Cobwebs as souvenirs for my parents.

If you miss Honeydukes during your tour around the park, don’t worry. Several WWoHP treats — including Chocolate Frogs — are also sold in the main Universal gift shops at the front of the parks and in CityWalk.

Our visit to Islands of Adventure was a great escape from our daily routines and responsibilities. I’m looking forward to my next visit to IOA during the upcoming holiday season so we can partake in the festive experiences and unique adventures that await park visitors!

News updates

If you’ve been tracking the Daily Updates on Orlando Informer, you may already know about these developments. But for those readers who might have missed them, here are a couple of news bits you’ll want to know about:

> Did I just mention that the holidays at Universal Orlando are coming up? Oh yes I did! If you are planning on visiting for Thanksgiving, anytime in December, or on New Year’s Eve (or if you just want to see what Universal is up to during the holidays), Orlando Informer has complete, up-to-date guests for these events. You can start on the main Holiday 2013 page, and you’ll find links to everything else from there.

> If instead you’re visiting next spring, and you want to be among the first to experience Universal’s new Cabana Bay Beach Resort, then here’s some good news: For a limited time the new family suites can be booked at rates starting as low as $104 per night (for a 7-night stay) to $134 per night (for a 3-night stay). This introductory offer is available for booking now through January 31 for stays from March 31 to June 14. To check specific dates, call 888-273-1311 or visit the online reservations page. (By the way, Dan has promised me he’ll have a Cabana Bay construction update posted in the next seven days!)

Visit the OI Universal Center table of contents for more details about all the topics discussed in this trip report. Or you can catch up on all our trip reports.

Universal Studios Florida trip report – photo gallery

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The post Islands of Adventure trip report – November 2013 (Jurassic Park midway games open, Hogsmeade Station construction & more photos of the Hogwarts Express) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

As I approached the entrance gates, I immediately noticed the absence of the Halloween Horror Nights décor. As a result, the entrance seemed bare. After entering the park, I noticed holiday decorations and some seasonal merchandise throughout USF. I expect there to be additional decorations in the coming weeks including the impressive Christmas tree near Macy’s.

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In the New York backlot, the building housing Finnegan’s Bar & Grille is refurbished and no longer wrapped. However, there is a small area outside the entrance to Rosie’s Irish Shop surrounded by a construction wall for refurbishment (but the shop is still open for business). The Fear Factor Live stunt show was still closed during this trip, but it reopens for regular show on Wednesday, November 13. In The Simpson’s Springfield area, Chief Wiggum’s patrol car is finally back in place after almost two months’ absence, albeit with a new paint job. The patrol car is now mostly white, rather than the traditional police car colors of black and white. A siren effect has also been added. This fun photo op even sprays water for those who can’t resist getting wet.

[youtube_video]qKACIyd4qI4[/youtube_video]

The construction progress continues to amaze me at the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley section of USF.

It appears that almost all the windows have glass now, including the extraordinary King’s Cross Station. Brick is going up on most of the frontage of the buildings along with additional carvings on the Wyndham’s Theater section. The detail visible, even at this stage of construction, is striking. This large addition to USF is impressive in photos, but absolutely amazing in person. I spend a lot of my time visiting USF just looking at the buildings and taking it all in.

[youtube_video]ye5oNNBcDvw[/youtube_video]

The most exciting aspect for me this trip to USF was seeing the Hogwarts Express train on the tracks. I first got a glimpse of the Hogwarts Express engine from the alley next to Rosie’s Irish Shop. Then, walking a few steps to the parade start area next to Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue, I was able to see the engine, coal car and one passenger car fairly well. I was able to capture some good photos of the engine with the zoom on my camera.

But even better, while riding Rip Ride Rockit my husband captured some pictures of the second Hogwarts Express train parked on the tracks close to Hogsmeade Station at Islands of Adventure. The placement of the Hogwarts Express trains on the tracks is exciting to me knowing that we are one step closer to riding the Hogwarts Express from London to Hogsmeade!

Another fun part of our USF visit was watching the Hop Character Street show at the Character Party Zone near Mel’s Drive-In. My son, who has severe autism, really enjoys live performances, especially performances involving music and acrobatics. The talented Hop drummers, outstanding pogo-stick performers, dancing “candy girls”, and catchy theme song — along with the costumed characters from the Hop movie — present a very entertaining show.

After the event, all the performers are available for meet and greets. They are always kind to my son, which we sincerely appreciate.

The crowds at USF were busier than I expected for the middle of November, but still no more than moderate. In the middle of the day, posted wait times were 60 minutes for both Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and Transformers the Ride 3D, and 30 minutes or less for most of the other park attractions.

As usual, Universal Studios Florida provided fun, thrills, and excitement for my family. These same adventures await your family, and I hope you can visit soon.

News updates

If you’ve been tracking the Daily Updates on Orlando Informer, you may already know about these developments. But for those readers who might have missed them, here are a couple of news bits you’ll want to know about:

> As mentioned above, Fear Factor Live is scheduled to return to regular operations on Wednesday. In other attraction news, Cinematic Spectacular will not be performed this Tuesday or next Tuesday (11/19). Third, Disaster! will be closed for a one-day refurb this Wednesday and Mummy will be closed for the same thing next Monday (11/18). All these details and more can always be found on OI’s Universal Snapshot page.

> Universal switched up their hours for the week of Thanksgiving, extending some of them earlier in the week and reducing some of them later in the week. In addition, Universal also switched tings up for the busy period at the end of December. If you are planning a visit during either of these times, be sure to see the new hours on OI’s free 12-month crowd calendar.

> Our friends at Universal have also published their park operating hours for March & April 2014. The new hours line up very well with OI’s Spring Break crowd predictions as well as the estimated dates for Mardi Gras. However, there is something peculiar about the new data that may be the best evidence yet we’ll see HOGWARTS EXPRESS technical rehearsals open to the public starting in March. To see the new numbers and an explanation of what looks odd, visit OI’s Universal crowd calendar.

> Finally, if you’re on Twitter, join in today’s #ThemeParkBattle…

#ThemeParkBattle – which queue is better? RT for E.T. Adventure FAV for Revenge of the Mummy pic.twitter.com/PSH5aMekvb— Orlando Informer (@OrlandoInformer) November 12, 2013

Visit the OI Universal Center table of contents for more details about all the topics discussed in this trip report. Or you can catch up on all our trip reports.

Universal Studios Florida trip report – photo gallery

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The post Universal Studios Florida trip report – November 2013 (Hogwarts Express in full view, holiday decorations & Chief Wiggum’s Patrol Car) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

I was delighted to see the Halloween and fall decorations throughout the park. Main Street and other areas featured pumpkins, scarecrows, and additional fall decorations that also creatively incorporated Disney elements. Both days that we were at the Magic Kingdom, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party was scheduled for that evening. We saw many guests walking around in remarkably imaginative costumes prior to the party, adding to the Halloween decor at the park and enhancing the fun atmosphere.

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Another aspect of this trip to Magic Kingdom was the new Fall Trolley Show performances, which featured different songs based on the season. The Trolley Show is always an enjoyable experience for our family and our son’s obvious enthusiasm and delight while watching the performance usually catches the attention of the cast members. They always make an effort to greet him and give him a high-5!

Walking the shops along Main Street, I noticed the new merchandise that recently arrived at Magic Kingdom including Halloween Vinylmations, Halloween ear hats, and reversible villain/hero ear hat covers. In addition, a new Disney collection by Vera Bradley was available for purchase along Main Street and included purses, duffle bags and backpacks in two different patterns.

One apparent observation during our trip was the continued construction throughout Magic Kingdom. The new bus terminal just outside the park entrance gates appears to be progressing (a ferryboat to Magic Kingdom provides the best view of this bust terminal revamping). The left side of the park entrance turnstiles is walled off for more installation of the new MyMagic+ scanners. In Fantasyland, the outside of the Pinocchio Village Haus counter-service restaurant is under refurbishment and surrounded by construction walls. Peter Pan’s Flight attraction is also under refurbishment and is expected to reopen around mid-November.

The highly anticipated Seven Dwarfs Mine Train seems to be coming along well and is expected to open sometime in 2014. The Disney Parks Blog recently reported that the mine cars have been placed on the track and “ran under its own gravity and completed its first drop out of the station”.

I was also able to experience the recently renovated Main Street Bakery featuring Starbucks. The renovation turned out well, and I found the stylish decor to be very pleasing to the eye. The menu lists several breakfast sandwiches along with a quick-service breakfast meal available for those on the Disney Dining Plan. On the back of the menu, in addition to smoothies and teas, various Starbucks signature drinks are available to tantalize guests’ taste buds and supply a caffeine fix.

Some other areas of construction that are now completed: The refurbished buildings in Liberty Square, the refurbished building near Tinker Bell’s Magical Nook, and the recently refurbished Jungle Cruise attraction in Adventureland. Princess Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland, which replaced Snow White’s Scary Adventures, also recently opened, and I was able to meet some of the featured princesses.

The detail both inside and outside of Princess Fairytale Hall is stunning, and it provides a splendid transition to meeting the princesses. While waiting to enter the meet-and-greet room, there are life-sized portraits of the Disney Princesses hanging along the hall. Other majestic elements include the large tapestries and stained glass windows. The high ceilings, intricate tile floors, and chandeliers invoke the feeling that you are inside a wing of Cinderella’s Castle. A featured focal point and photo opportunity is Cinderella’s glass slipper, delicately perched atop a satin pillow.

For a Disney Princess fan like me, it was a wonderful, immersive experience. I decided to meet Rapunzel and her guest princess, Snow White. In the center of the beautifully decorated meet-and-greet room was a table that displayed an open illustrated storybook of the story of Snow White, a subtle tribute to the attraction that was previously found in this location. In all honesty, even though I’m not a young person, I was very excited to meet both princesses and have my photo taken with them. Rapunzel commented on my backpack and said it probably was something good to carry things in. I replied, “Yes, especially frying pans.” She laughed and said she would be certain to pass that information on to Flynn Rider!

Another newly opened area in Fantasyland was Prince Eric’s Village Market. This themed kiosk is located across from Journey of the Little Mermaid and provides guests with healthier choices for snacks and drinks including fruit, hummus, Greek yogurt and juices. Prince Eric’s Market is not indicated on the park map at this time.

The crowd levels both days we visited the Magic Kingdom were moderate, with wait times for the headliner attractions less than 45 minutes and most of the other attractions’ posted wait times were 30 minutes or less. With the introduction of the new Disability Access Service (DAS) card on October 9, posted wait times now play a vital role in planning and executing our day at any Walt Disney World park. We also found it necessary to find creative activities to engage our son while waiting for his attraction return time. One of those activities this trip was purchasing and enjoying a Dole Whip float from Aloha Isle in Adventureland. This was a delicious, refreshing treat on a beautiful, warm day in Central Florida.

For my family, Magic Kingdom still provides that unique feeling of wonder, especially as we walk onto Main Street and see Cinderella’s castle in the distance. I hope that your next visit to this classic theme park will be a magical one for you and your family.

Updates

Since our visit earlier this month to Magic Kingdom, there have been two interesting updates I’d like to mention. First, the Disney Parks Blog reports, “We just got word from our friends in Walt Disney Imagineering that an Adventureland attraction will receive its first-ever holiday makeover this year. Beginning in early November, Jungle Cruise at both Disneyland park and Magic Kingdom Park will temporarily transform into ‘Jingle Cruise’ for the holiday season!”

Second, guests visiting the Mickey character at Magic Kingdom can now share a conversation with the mouse that started it all…

[youtube_video]8VVY-xw-zLE[/youtube_video]

To continue reading about Walt Disney World, view our WDW archive on the OI Blog. Or, if you’d like to catch up on all our trip reports, click here.

Magic Kingdom trip report – photo gallery

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The post Magic Kingdom trip report – October 2013 (Halloween decorations, construction updates, our first visit to Princess Fairytale Hall & talking Mickey!) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

As I walked through CityWalk on my way to Islands of Adventure, I noticed that the Endangered Species store is gutted, and rumors indicate that Starbucks will be moving into this space. I also observed that construction continues in the old quick-service portion of Pastamore restaurant. According to OI’s sources, this renovated area will be a new Universal restaurant concept, Red Oven Pizza Bakery, and the logo has a flame with a “R” in the center of it.

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Previously we had reported that the new balcony you can see in the photo above would be a second story for Red Oven. We’re now being told that, when Starbucks moves down to the first floor to take over the Endangered Species space, another new restaurant will be added to CityWalk in Starbucks’ old place, and that the new balcony you see here will be part of that restaurant. Of course, as usual, Universal hasn’t released any details about their CityWalk construction plans, and won’t likely do so until a few days before the new venues open.

Further down the way, a large crane was lowering beams onto structures rumored to be a new Mexican-themed restaurant at the former location of the Latin Quarter.

Moving into the park, work continues in Islands of Adventure’s Port of Entry at the previous Arctic Express (next to Cinnabon). It’s rumored this will be another Starbucks location for Universal.

With Cinnabon and Starbucks next to one another, this will be a good place to grab a quick breakfast early in the morning before exploring the park.

Progress also continues in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The structure of Hogsmeade Station can clearly be seen over the top of the construction walls between Lost Continent and the entrance to the WWoHP. Walking through the queue of Dragon’s Challenge, guests can get a glimpse of the construction.

If you are up to the challenge, the best view of the Hogsmeade Station construction occurs while riding the Dragon Challenge coasters. We didn’t take the ride this month, but we sure did last month and got some great shots. Here’s a look at Hogsmeade Station as seen this past weekend, followed by an aerial shot we got last month:

You can view September’s IOA trip report to see more.

In Jurassic Park, the new midway games appear to be in the final stages of construction and hopefully will open soon. Cleverly named signs are positioned on top of each gaming kiosk. I was able to get a good view of the kiosk from the back at the queue to Jurassic Park River Adventure. I’m looking forward to seeing this new feature in this section of the park and the prizes that guests can win.

Crowd levels were somewhat busy during the fall holiday weekend (Monday was Columbus Day for U.S. residents and Thanksgiving for Canadian residents), and ride wait times reflected this fact. Most of the major attractions including Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Jurassic Park River Adventure, and Rip Saw Falls had posted wait times of 30-45 minutes, and the Incredible Hulk Coaster had a posted wait time of 25 minutes. Lines at the butterbeer cart in the WWoHP were long, and I tweeted that if these guests had read OrlandoInformer.com they would know the line is shorter in the Hogs Head Pub. It really does pay to be informed!

If these guests had visited http://t.co/d3yNXPu0l7 @OrlandoInformer they would know line shorter in HogsHead. pic.twitter.com/3PTwPgo9O6— Autism At The Parks (@AutismAtThePark) October 13, 2013

If you’d like to learn more secrets to getting the most out of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, see this BIG 5 blog post.

One feature of Islands of Adventure that I enjoy, but that can easily be missed by guests, is the outdoor shows and meet-n-greets in Seuss Landing, WWoHP, and Marvel Super Hero Island. I was able to see part of the fun and whimsical Oh! The Stories You’ll Hear musical show this trip. Many guests easily overlook this entertaining family show due to its location in the corner of Seuss Landing, behind the Cat in the Hat ride.

After this show, guests can meet and greet popular Dr. Seuss characters including Thing One, Thing Two, the Grinch, the Cat in the Hat, and the Lorax.

Other outdoor shows that appeal to many guests but are not reflected in the park’s map schedule are the Triwizard Spirit Rally and Frog Choir in the WWoHP. The Spirit Rally, which was entertaining guests while I was in the WWoHP this trip, features students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons performing acrobatics on stage to music from the Harry Potter movies. The Frog Choir, representing each of the Hogwarts Houses, performs several songs on the same stage. It is fun seeing the Frog Choir students reveal personalities attributed to their respective house, especially the student from Slytherin. After these shows, photo opportunities are usually available for guests with each group of performers.

[youtube_video]_phr7VEwTx0[/youtube_video]

The third outdoor show and meet-n-greet I really enjoy is Spider-Man and the Marvel Super Heroes. These characters enter Marvel Super Hero Island to great fanfare and rockin’ music while riding flashy ATVs. Each character meets and greets guests in a specific location while the music continues to resound over the speakers. At the end of the meet and greet, guides blow whistles and the music changes and an announcer directs all the super heroes to return to their ATVs. In another showy and loud flourish, the Super Heroes drive away in their ATVs. It’s an exhilarating experience for everyone and something the entire family can enjoy.

After the busy times of summer and before the winter holidays begin, October is a great month to visit Islands of Adventure. The crowd levels are reduced along with the temperatures, making a visit to the park a truly enjoyable adventure. It was a fun day for me, and I hope that you will be able to visit IOA soon.

See ya next month!

Visit the OI Universal Center table of contents for more details about all the topics discussed in this trip report. Or, if you’d like to catch up on all our trip reports, click here.

Islands of Adventure trip report – photo gallery

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I experienced an unexpectedly higher crowd level as soon as I entered CityWalk, but I soon realized it was Columbus Day weekend for U.S. residents and Canadian Thanksgiving weekend for our friends to the north. (For some schools, principally those in the northeast, this is also popular time for Fall Break.) The turnstiles at USF were also very busy. The wait times for the most popular attractions in Production Central varied from 75 minutes for Despicable Me, to 45 minutes for Transformers and 30 minutes for Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.

Keep in mind that what feels “busy” to even us park veterans is often subjective to the season. For example, the wait times I just mentioned are actually a bit on the lower end if we were talking about the peak summer season.

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The entry area of the park looks awesome with the signs promoting Halloween Horror Nights 23, and the props located throughout the park make excellent photo opportunities during the day when things are not scary. Since my last trip to USF, a sign was installed at the temporarily closed Fear Factor promoting Bill & Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure, a popular feature of HHN 23. Several kiosks throughout the park had merchandise for sale related to Walking Dead, one of the HHN 23 haunted houses and the theme for this year’s HHN street experience.

The entertaining Superstar Parade time was scheduled earlier, at 2:00pm, because the park closed at 5:00pm for Halloween Horror Nights (vacation planners will also want to note that USF opens at 8:00am on HHN event dates, an hour earlier than usual). It’s always fun to see Minions, Sponge Bob, Hop, Dora and their friends perform along the parade route.

Across from Revenge of the Mummy attraction, the building that houses Finnegan’s Bar & Grill is still wrapped for refurbishment. Not to worry though, guests can get a good meal and a pint to wash it down even while the refurbishment continues.

In the Simpsons area of World Expo, the Simpsons couch gag photo op is now open, and it makes a great souvenir. Further down the street, Chief Wiggum is still missing his patrol car. I also happened to spot some Universal team members dancing in the streets of Springfield and entertaining park guests — apparently a new feature. They were very amusing, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them! Several guests joined in for a short time, adding to the fun experience.

Inside Fast Food Boulevard, LCD monitors in the queue now display the menus. The team members didn’t provide a hand-held menu like before, and I think I prefer the hand-held menus while waiting in line. I was pleased to see that the park map now reflects Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl being open. However, Duff Gardens, Lard Lad Donuts and Bumblebee Man’s Tacos are not listed on the map at this time.

I was delighted with the availability of free wifi throughout USF now. (Last week Dan let us know that park-wide free public wifi is now in testing at USF and should soon be added to IOA.) This was fun for me since I use an iPod Touch to ‘check in’ with the Foursquare app. And more importantly, I was able to reclaim my status as Mayor of Diagon Alley!

Speaking of Diagon Alley, the construction progress of this Harry Potter expansion continues to enthrall me. Bricks are now being laid on the buildings’ facade. I was excited to see a stone carving at the top of the center building. I was also amazed at the dome of Kings Cross Station — it is truly incredible.

Looking through the dome and also next to Kings Cross Station, I could see parts of the Hogwarts Express train tracks. In addition, in the alley between the Irish Imports shop and Louie’s Italian Restaurant, you can see the Hogwarts Express tracks. I hope the tracks remain visible once the attraction is complete; it would be fun to watch the train rush by on its way to Hogsmeade Station in Islands of Adventure.

Although I was pleased with the progress at Diagon Alley, the highlight of my day was riding Transformers: The Ride. I decided to use the single rider line since the posted wait time was 45 minutes. I waited about 30 minutes in this queue. Even though the queue is very entertaining, it can get quite loud and sometimes become overwhelming. In the future, I’ll keep this aspect in mind for my son with autism since he is sound-sensitive.

I was thrilled as I was assigned to the front row of the Evac vehicle. This perspective made a remarkable difference in my experience. Being in the front row, the other passengers almost disappeared from my view and allowed me to feel like I alone helped Evac, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee protect the Allspark!

If you’d like to learn more about this attraction, you can get details, read many real guest reviews, and write your own review on the Transformers page in the OI Universal Center.

As the hot and humid Florida summer wanes, October is a great time of the year to visit Orlando and Universal Studios Florida. I hope that you will soon experience the thrills and fun I had at Universal Studios Florida.

UPDATE: In case you missed OI’s Rumor Round-Up last Friday, there’s new artwork for Diagon Alley. You won’t find this anywhere in the park just yet, but it will surely be added soon.

Visit the OI Universal Center table of contents for more details about all the topics discussed in this trip report. Or, if you’d like to catch up on all our trip reports, click here.

Universal Studios Florida trip report – photo gallery

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In Port of Entry, construction walls surround where Arctic Express was located, next to Cinnabon. Rumors are the Arctic Express is being renovated into a Starbucks. It was difficult to see any details of the progress in this area due to the high construction walls, but Dan grabbed a peek just last Thursday, and to us it seems like this project is a lower priority for the park. No big deal really, since Croissant Moon Bakery just across the way serves coffee and pastries.

The more exciting projects of course is the ongoing construction of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogsmeade Station, which is evident from the Eighth Voyage of Sindbad Stunt Show, and visible above the construction fence near the Lost Continent midway games.

Only the top portions, or a small aspect of the Hogsmeade Station construction, can be seen from these locations. The best view of the new station construction continues to be from Dragon Challenge in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Luckily we were able to capture some photos of the entire Hogsmeade Station construction from different vantage points including multiple angles from Dragons Challenge.

From these photos, it appears a significant portion of the framing of Hogsmeade Station is complete along with the beginning stages of framing walls. You can also clearly see the tracks of the Hogwarts Express running between IOA and USF. And if you look closely toward Universal Studios on the photo’s horizon, you can see the Hogwarts Express train cars stored in a lot near Rip Ride Rockit.

As a huge Harry Potter fan, it is thrilling to see the progress of this new feature and the immersion experience it will offer fans of the books and movies.

In Jurassic Park, I noticed the Triceratops fossil rock outside the Discovery Center has added signage indicating the type of dinosaur fossil and the time period it could be found. Construction of the midway games near the queue to River Adventure has advanced significantly since my last trip. A tall camouflaged covered construction fence hides the games area from public view, but I was able to secure photos showing the structures of the game booths in place.

It appears that this area could be ready in the near future. Rumors indicate this is just the beginning of a new expanded Jurassic Park section of the park. This change of scenery and the opportunity for games and themed merchandise in Jurassic Park will definitely bring a new feel to this section of the park.

Another change I noticed: the additional snack/drink carts that are usually scattered around the park during the summer were no longer present. In addition, the lines to the food and drink carts still in place were relatively short, like the butterbeer carts in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I also observed the seasonal Green Eggs and Ham counter-service restaurant in Seuss Landing and Wimpy’s seasonal counter-service restaurant in Toon Lagoon were not open.

Throughout my visit to Islands of Adventure, it was obviously apparent that it is the beginning of the off-season with the relatively short wait times at most of the attractions. With 30 minutes posted for the standby line for the awesome Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, 15 minutes posted for the award-winning Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls, less than 15 minutes for the attractions in Seuss Landing and only 5 minutes for the attractions on Super Hero Island, this time of year is a great time to visit Islands of Adventure. These low wait times enable guests to repeatedly experience the thrills of the attractions along with spending more time just enjoying what the entire park has to offer.

In addition to Islands of Adventure, Universal Orlando continues to update existing areas and add new entertaining components to CityWalk. Still under construction is the now permanently closed Latin Quarter area, with rumors saying a Mexican themed restaurant will be put in its place. Construction walls are also up around the Pastamore Marketplace (the counter-service portion of the restaurant, not the table-service portion) where they continue to update and reconfigure the pedestrian area and walk-up service for this restaurant.

I hope you will soon get to experience Islands of Adventure and CityWalk and see the exciting new features and the updated, enhanced attractions.

Thanks for reading this trip report. Please leave your questions and comments below. When you’re done with this post, you can catch up on all our trip reports by clicking here.

Islands of Adventure trip report – photo gallery

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The post Islands of Adventure trip report – September 2013 (Starbucks, Hogsmeade Station, JP midway games & more) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

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Arriving at the park, the first change evident are the large Halloween Horror Nights 2013 signs along the front entrance of Universal Studios. This signage enhances the anticipation for guests who count down the days until HHN begins this Friday.

Throughout the park, this year’s The Walking Dead scare zones are coming to life with HHN props, décor, and kiosks. Some are covered, and yet all tantalize guests and increase the “creepiness” of the area even in the daytime.

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In addition to props throughout the park, Fear Factor Live is closed and will be at least until HHN ends (visit OI’s Universal Snapshot page for more ride closures). Midway game booths are now set up along the concert lawn side of the street across from Monster’s Café with Halloween themed prizes to win, including Minion Vampires and Mummies plush toys.

If you’re planning a visit to Halloween Horror Nights, be sure to check out the complete insider’s guide to HHN 2013 in the OI Universal Center. Dan also recently uploaded over 60 additional images of this year’s props to his HHN media page.

In addition to HHN items, there were several changes and construction noticeable throughout the park. The building that houses Finnegan’s Bar & Grill is wrapped for refurbishment, but the popular bar & grill is still open for business.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley construction continues to amaze me with its progress, and its size and scope. Most of the lagoon side buildings appear to have windows installed. The Hogwarts Express railway that stretches between UOR and IOA can be seen from the alleys next to Revenge of the Mummy and Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue, and while riding Rip Ride Rockit.

Also easily seen from Rip Ride Rockit are the train engines and cars that will be used for the Hogwarts Express. We were lucky enough to capture some photos from Rip Ride Rockit of the train cars and engines.

You can view even higher resolution versions of my Hogwarts Express image on OI’s Flickr page.

Seeing the actual train cars makes me excited that the opening in 2014 will soon arrive and that even more of the Harry Potter books and movies will come to life for muggles like me. See the Diagon Alley page in the OI Universal Center to learn more.

Over in the Simpson’s ride area, the ground has been painted with decorative colorful stars which accentuate the carnival feel of this fun backlot of the park. A new photo op across from the Simpson’s ride featuring the Simpson’s couch gag appears to be ready but was not open for guests. I was surprised to see that the Springfield area, including the Twirl ’n’ Hurl and Duff Gardens, is still absent from the Universal Studios park map nearly a month after its grand opening. Chief Wiggum’s patrol car near Duff Gardens was missing the day we visited, with barricades surrounding the area where his car was located. I joked with my husband that Jake and Elwood, the Blues Brothers, must have needed a new police car.

Also in Springfield, lines have been painted on the walkway enhancing the experience that you feel walking down the streets of Springfield. Finally, a new grassy area with park benches is in front of the Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck, inviting park guests to sit and enjoy their delicious tacos or people watch while taking a break.

This is a great time of the year to visit the theme parks because the crowds in the park are low and the wait times of the rides are greatly reduced. Only one side of the Universal Studios Florida entrance gate was open when we entered the park in the morning, a testament to the lower crowd levels. The longest posted wait time was 45 minutes for Transformers: The Ride 3D; the remaining attractions throughout USF had posted wait times of 30 minutes or less, including Despicable Me Minion Mayhem. Some rides like Rip Ride Rockit and Revenge of the Mummy had posted wait times of less than 15 minutes for the standby line most of the day. Be aware however, the September weather in Orlando can still be summer-like with highs reaching into the 90’s.

I have seen a lot of changes in the past year at USF, and I look forward to the next year of even greater and exciting transformations at this park. I hope that you are able to experience Universal Studios Florida soon!

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Universal Studios Florida trip – photo gallery

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Crossing the bridge over Discovery River onto Discovery Island, I stopped at the new Wilderness Explorers (WE) headquarters kiosk. In Disney’s Pixar movie “Up”, the character Russell was a Wilderness Explorer working to earn his final badge. This fun, educational and interesting experience welcomes guests of all ages to earn over thirty WE badges (stickers) throughout Animal Kingdom while learning about the various features of the park and covering topics including animal species, habitats and conservation. Each explorer is provided with a handbook including instructions about earning badges and where the badge stations, Troop Leaders and Badge Guides are located in the park. You can meet and greet Russell and Dug at one of the stations. There is no fee to participate in this badge earning exploration.

Another new finding on Discovery Island is the recently opened Gardens Kiosk. This kiosk sells allergy-friendly foods (including products from the very popular Babycakes NYC at Downtown Disney) and provides extensive information about special dietary options available throughout Animal Kingdom. The cast member was very knowledgeable and showed me the reference manual for every food item sold at Animal Kingdom, listing detailed information for guests with special dietary needs.

Also at Discovery Island, It’s Tough to be a Bug had a posted wait time of only 5 minutes. The new Mickey & Minnie meet-and-greet location at Adventurers Outpost had a posted wait time of 10 minutes and had FastPass+ signage.

Walking past Pizzafari restaurant in Discovery Island, I experienced another physical and visual transition to an out-of-the-way area, Camp Minnie-Mickey. Although Disney recently announced The Festival of the Lion King show is moving to another location within Animal Kingdom, this area was busy this visit. A new FastPass+ entrance to the Lion King show is located toward the restrooms at the Greeting Trails. Although Mickey and Minnie have moved to Adventurers Outpost, guests can still meet many popular characters along the Greeting Trails. On this day Donald Duck, Chip & Dale, Baloo & King Louie and Pocahontas were all available to meet and greet park guests under a canopy of large shade trees.

Heading toward Africa, construction walls were up along the bridge from Discovery Island to Africa and behind the Tusker House Restaurant.

The Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe performed an upbeat, fun show in Harambe Village entertaining and interacting with park guests. Delicious bakery items including the new colossal cinnamon roll and elephant ears were on display outside the Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery. Further up the walkway, Kilimanjaro Safaris had a posted wait time of 20 minutes. The Pangani Forest Exploration Trail invited guests to see gorillas, hippos and exotic birds while the Wildlife Express Train transported guests to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. Rafiki’s Planet Watch features Habitat Habit, Conservation Station and Affection Section, a petting yard for kids of all ages.

Have you heard Animal Kingdom’s new Bamboo man? We missed him this trip, but here’s the scoop and a video from Attractions Magazine:  “Bamboo is a ‘living statue’ type character made up of bamboo sticks and leaves. You may be able to spot Bamboo in the Africa section of the park near Tamu Tamu Refreshments. Don’t get Bamboo confused with its ‘cousin,’ DiVine. She can still be found meeting guests in the Oasis section of Animal Kingdom.”

[youtube_video]QJ8DHoCCn4I[/youtube_video]

Walking through the shaded pathway transitioning from Africa to Asia, Flights of Wonder welcomed guests of all ages to experience a variety of birds in an entertaining show. The exciting and soaking Kali River Rapids ride was popular on this hot day with a posted wait time of 80 minutes. (It took over 30 minutes for my family to proceed through the FastPass line.) The Anandapour Ice Cream Truck was also very busy on this sweltering afternoon. The intense and thrilling Expedition Everest had a posted wait time of 60 minutes. I noticed Expedition Everest’s FastPass line extended into the general guest walkway requiring a cast member to display a sign alerting Fastpass riders where to enter the line.

Crossing the bridge from Asia toward DinoLand U.S.A. I passed Finding Nemo-The Musical located at the Theater in the Wild with a new FastPass+ entrance. Passing under the enormous yellow dinosaur, I noticed a small construction area where the DinoLand photo prop car was previously located. The numerous carnival style Fossil Fun Games were being enjoyed by guests. Primeval Whirl had a posted wait time of 20 minutes and TriceraTop Spin had a posted wait time of 10 minutes. Across the walkway, Goofy and Pluto were meeting and greeting guests. The loud and dynamic DINOSAUR ride’s posted wait time was 50 minutes. This attraction has recently been refurbished; my family noticed some new lighting and well-done smoke special effects entering and exiting the pre-historic times, which added to the experience of the ride.

Rounding out the afternoon back on Discovery Island, I took a break out of the hot sun and shopped in Island Mercantile and Disney Outfitters.

Afterwards, my family and I stood near Pizzafari and enjoyed a front row view of Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade featuring unique floats, beloved characters, costumed dancers and amazing colorful puppetry as they strolled along to buoyant music.

I really enjoyed my visit to Animal Kingdom for this trip report, as I experienced some new adventures and enjoyed some old favorites. I realized I needed to transition back to reality, and I reluctantly left the lush, fabulous jungle of Animal Kingdom and headed back to my car. I hope your next visit to Animal Kingdom provides your family with lasting memories as it has mine through the years.

Thanks for reading this trip report. Feel free to leave your questions and comments below. And when you’re done with this post, you can catch up on all our trip reports by clicking right here.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom trip report – photo gallery

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The Wyndham Bonnet Creek property is beautifully landscaped and provides a tranquil, relaxing atmosphere that we greatly appreciated after spending long days at the theme parks. The resort complex has six multi-storied buildings surrounding a lake, and parking is free. Resort amenities include concierge services, five outdoor swimming pools, two lazy rivers with floats, waterslides, an activities center, outdoor amphitheater, WiFi internet service, miniature golf, shuffleboard, playground, sand volleyball court, two exercise equipment areas, and a recreation room with pool and ping pong tables. For those guests who like to grill outdoors, there were several grills along with picnic tables available at each resort building. Also available for the guests’ convenience was a Disney planning center staffed by Disney cast members. All these amenities were available at no additional cost.

We really enjoyed a relaxing walk along the wide pathway and sidewalks around the lake while enjoying the ducks, pristine landscaping and seeing many of the amenities available for guests to enjoy.

Resort activities are scheduled throughout the day and include but not limited to bingo, arts & crafts, face painting, creating ice cream sundaes, karaoke and bonfires.

The Wyndham Bonnet Creek resort provides shuttle service for $6.00 round trip per person to the four Walt Disney World theme parks and Downtown Disney several times a day. Taxis are also available and may be more convenient than the shuttle schedule.

If guests prefer not to prepare their own meals, there are three eateries and several bars located throughout the resort where guests can purchase a variety of meals from breakfast sandwiches, pizzas and other Italian dishes, salads, burgers, sandwiches, seafood and appetizers along with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Our last night at the resort we purchased burgers, fries and chicken fingers for dinner and they were very good.

I would recommend this Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort for those who like the convenience of staying near Walt Disney World coupled with the ability to prepare their own meals and have a home-like environment in which to relax after a long day at the parks. This resort is ideal for the vacationer who prefers to rest and relax on alternating days between visiting theme parks. It is also a good place to stay if there are four or more people in the family. We enjoyed our mini-vacation at Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort and hope to visit again in the future.

Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort – map & links

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View Larger Map

Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort
9560 Via Encinas
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Phone: 407-238-3500
Reservations: 800-251-8736

Official website: http://www.wyndhambonnetcreek.com

Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort – photo gallery

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Upon entering the park gates, I decided to spend more time in Port of Entry than usual, and I enjoyed browsing through the shops and seeing the unique merchandise and delicious food available for purchase.

This trip I strayed from my normal routine and explored IOA in a clockwise fashion instead of counter-clockwise. As I entered Marvel Super Hero Island first, I was immediately captivated by the sights and sounds of the Incredible Hulk Coaster, which had a posted wait time of 20 minutes.

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I walked through while Super Heroes were scattered throughout this section, meeting and greeting park guests and posing for photos. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, a thrilling attraction, had a posted wait time of 45 minutes for the standby line.

Moving past the carnival games between Marvel Super Hero Island and Toon Lagoon, I noticed a new plush character from the Despicable Me 2 movie that guests could win.

In Toon Lagoon the crowds were heavy, even though the posted wait time for the soaking Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges was only 10 minutes. Several park guests were enjoying the views from Me Ship, The Olive while Wimpy’s quick-service hamburger restaurant was open. The fun and very wet Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls had a typical crowded day wait time of 60 minutes for the standby line.

Leaving the wet and wacky Toon Lagoon section of IOA, I entered the gripping and fun Jurassic Park. Pteranodon Flyers was popular as usual with the young guests and Camp Jurassic was also busy. I took a break inside the Thunder Falls Terrace quick-service restaurant and enjoyed seeing the Jurassic Park River Adventure boats plunge outside the large windows of the restaurant. Jurassic Park River Adventure had a posted wait time of 20 minutes.

Camouflaged construction walls continue to cover the extended queue to River Adventure. Rumors indicate this construction is for the midway games that will be moved from their current location in the Lost Continent area and re-themed for Jurassic Park (ultimately making more room at the main WWoHP entrance for its expansion).

An interactive map of the Jurassic Park midway games location is included at the bottom of the post.

I stopped briefly to observe the dinosaurs inside the Jurassic Park Discovery Center. I also watched scientists outside the center engaging with park guests and showing them dinosaur embryos and encouraging them to hold the embryos.

I then crossed the bridge into my favorite section of IOA, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I could hear the Frog Choir performing as I walked through Hogsmeade. Flight of the Hippogriff, a fun but quick kid-coaster, had a posted wait time of 5 minutes. The awesome and exhilarating Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction had a posted wait time of only 30 minutes, which is very unusual on a summer afternoon. Inside Filch’s Emporium, team members were encouraging guests to pet the spiders and other realistic looking hand puppets.

The high-speed Dragon Challenge rollercoasters had a posted wait time of 10 minutes. I noticed the construction of the new Hogsmeade Station was visible in the Dragon Challenge queue and over the construction fence between the Wizarding World and the Lost Continent. Here’s a look around the expansion area:

In Lost Continent The Mystic Fountain was entertaining guests with its antics and engaging water show. Poseidon’s Fury attraction had a posted wait time of 45 minutes for the standby line. I walked along the pathway on the lagoon side of the Lost Continent near the superb Mythos restaurant and took in the enthralling views of the other side of the park across the lagoon.

Crossing into Seuss Landing, The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride had a posted wait time of 25 minutes for the standby line. This ride provides a unique view of Seuss Landing and the lagoon area of IOA. The family-fun One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish ride and the whirling The Cat in The Hat ride both had posted wait times of only 10 minutes. It had been raining and so the quirky and entertaining Oh The Stories You’ll Hear show scheduled at that time was canceled. Green Eggs and Ham quick-service restaurant, open seasonally, was not open this afternoon.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Islands of Adventure this trip, I noted that I prefer to travel around the park counter-clockwise. Seuss Landing is a good place to visit first as a “warm up” to the rest of the park. It is more thrilling to end a visit in Marvel Super Hero Island than Seuss Landing. However, no matter which direction you take, Islands of Adventure offers a fun-filled day with lots of memories to make and I hope that you can visit it soon!

On my way through CityWalk back to the parking deck, I took note of the construction area in front of Pastamore Marketplace. CityWalk is updating the pedestrian area and reconfiguring the walk-up service for this restaurant. Also under construction in CityWalk is Latin Quarter, which is totally closed. Rumors vary as to what will replace this section but some say a Mexican themed restaurant will be built.

Thanks for reading this trip report. Please leave your questions and comments below, and don’t forget to check out the map showing the Jurassic Park midway location.

When you’re done with this post, you can catch up on all our trip reports by clicking right here.

Jurassic Park midway – map

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View OI’s map of Universal’s Islands of Adventure in a larger map

Islands of Adventure trip report – photo gallery

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As I entered the park, I enjoyed the talented Studio Brass Band. They were performing television and movie theme songs. At the same time, Men In Black characters were greeting guests nearby and the band played music from that movie which enhanced the experience for everyone.

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In Production Central the always fun Shrek 4-D experience had a posted wait time of 15 minutes for the standby line. As I walked toward Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, an attraction not to be missed when visiting USF, I laughed when I noticed bananas hanging on the trees outside the queue. The posted wait time was 100 minutes but decreased to 85 minutes later that afternoon. The awesome Rip Ride Rockit’s posted wait time for the standby line was 60 minutes. It is always fun to watch those who have never ridden this coaster before exclaim their amazement after riding. The incredible and immersive Transformers: The Ride 3D had a posted wait time of 70 minutes for the standby line but is well worth the wait. Optimus Prime was meeting and greeting guests at the Transformer’s character greeting outside the Supply Vault gift shop.

In the New York backlot Twister had a posted wait time of 10 minutes. Heading toward Revenge of the Mummy, I noticed the covered bus/taxi stand across from Macy’s is no longer there — likely a modification to prepare for Halloween Horror Nights 2013.

Another noticeable change in this area is the building across from Revenge of the Mummy. It is now uncovered after being refurbished last month. Revenge of the Mummy had a posted wait time of only 20 minutes for the standby line and nearby, the Blue Brothers Show was entertaining a crowd of park guests with their antics and energetic music.

Heading into the San Francisco backlot, Beetlejuice’s Rock n Roll Graveyard Revue and Disaster! are fun experiences for the entire family. The construction for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley caused me to exclaim “Wow!” Compared to my last visit, construction had progressed with the fronts of the buildings going up and the structure beams becoming more concealed.

Steady sounds of construction were coming from the area even on a Saturday afternoon. It is exciting to see the pace of construction, and I’m hoping the rumored completion date of next summer is on track.

Speaking of “on track”, the following photos were recently posted on the WDWMagic forum. They appear to show the first of Universal’s real Hogwarts Express trains being delivered. We’re not taking any credit for the photos or making a statement of their legitimacy, but the images do make for some really awesome eye candy!

Continuing with our tour of USF, in World Expo Fear Factor Live is now closed to make way for HHN 2103’s Bill & Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure. MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack, a fun, interactive experience, had a standby line posted wait time of 45 minutes. Rounding the corner to the fun and audacious Simpsons Ride, I noticed a posted wait time of only 15 minutes for the standby line. In addition, a new street sign outside Kwik-E-Mart indicates the Fast Food Boulevard and Evergreen Terrace intersection.

The highlight of my USF visit was seeing the completed Springfield USA section of the park, whose final piece — Kang & Kodos Twirl ‘n’ Hurl — opened August 11.

Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl, an in-the-air ride that appeals to children of all ages, had a posted wait time of 25 minutes for the standby line. Standing in line for this ride was entertaining in itself. Tongue-in-cheek signs indicating that there is more line to stand in occur every so often and the announcer’s soothing voice and comical script were funny for adults and children alike. The covered section of the queue has powerful fans blowing air and screens with Simpsons episodes to help stay cool and pass the time while waiting to board the ride.

[youtube_video]BARrCO3ojkQ[/youtube_video]

In addition to giving young kids another attraction option at USF, this ride also provides some great views of The Simpsons waterfront and the rest of the park for adults.

Next to Kang & Kodos and also along the waterfront is Duff Gardens, the covered outdoor bar with a section dedicated to selling Duff related merchandise along with a life-sized Duff statue standing guard. The bar offers traditional counter seating as well as seating next to the lagoon, allowing guests to enjoy the scenery while partaking in their favorite beverage. The statue of Jebediah Springfield presented a very popular photo opportunity. Another popular photo opportunity is Chief Wiggum and his police car crashed into a fire hydrant (which sprays water — a popular feature with the younger crowd).

Also open for business in Springfield was the Lard Lad donut shop and Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck, both offering unique and tasty food items for park guests.

During this trip I also noticed new covered outdoor picnic tables for park guests outside of Fast Food Boulevard. This new feature is a welcome addition since table seating is reserved inside Fast Food Boulevard only for guests who have purchased something from that area. Also, Barney is back in his spot next to the bar inside Moe’s Tavern.

A new sign welcomes guests to Springfield at the northern entrance to this new area. Now that the construction walls have been taken down from both sides of the walkway, the pedestrian traffic flowed much better even though the crowds were heavy on this day.

Would you like to see more of Springfield USA and Kang & Kodos Twirl ‘n’ Hurl? While Orlando Informer is in the process of building individual pages for the most recently opened areas, you can see over a hundred high resolution images of the new stuff courtesy of OI’s Flickr page:

August 2 photoset – daytime shots of The Simpsons waterfront

August 5 photoset – nighttime shots of The Simpsons waterfront (toward the end of the set)

August 11 photoset – Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl, more nighttime shots

And two new videos: Kang & Kodos daytime (also displayed above) or Kang & Kodos nighttime

Moving on, in Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone the family-friendly E.T. attraction had a posted wait time of 15 minutes. The water playground at Curious George Goes to Town was very busy as guests young and old tried to cool off in the spraying water. Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster, a fun kid-sized coaster, had a posted wait time of 20 minutes.

In the Character Party Zone in the Hollywood backlot, SpongeBob and his gang were meeting guests after their scheduled performance. Café LaBamba was open and I was able to enjoy tasty chicken tacos for lunch. I noticed the super cool Hollywood Hills photo op across from the Horror Makeup Show is no longer there — again, likely a modification to prepare for Halloween Horror Nights 2013.

Before leaving the park I took a few minutes and browsed through the main Universal Studios store, looking at the merchandise and souvenirs for sale and adding to my mental wishlist of t-shirts and novelty items including a Lard Lad Donut pillow.

Overall, my visit to Universal Studios Florida was a fun and delightful experience. I really enjoyed seeing the new Springfield area finished and open for park guests to enjoy. Now that Transformers and Springfield are completed, the countdown clock is on for Diagon Alley with an opening date sometime next year — a date that can’t come soon enough for this Harry Potter fanatic!

During the past year, Universal Studios Florida continued to change each month and enhance their guest’s experience. I hope you get to visit this extraordinary park soon.

Thanks for reading this trip report. Please leave your questions and comments below! Or, if you’d like to catch up on all our trip reports, click here.

Universal Studios Florida trip – photo gallery

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The post Universal Studios Florida trip report – August 2013 (Springfield USA opens, prep for HHN & the first images of the real Hogwarts Express) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

Entering Epcot, construction continues in the turnstiles area. Those guests with RFID admission tickets and passes are directed to enter the park via the right-hand side turnstiles. Those guests with paper tickets are directed to enter through the turnstiles on the left-hand side.

Inside the turnstiles Goofy was greeting guests at the Leave a Legacy area.

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In Future World, Spaceship Earth had a posted wait time of just 10 minutes. This was an attraction I had not experienced in a long time, and I enjoyed the journey through the history of communication and the interactive guide to the future based on my personal preferences. The exit of the attraction feeds into Project Tomorrow, where guests can interact with large screens and play games based on the latest information about medicine, transportation, and energy efficiency.

In Future World East, I was able to catch part of the entertaining Jammitors, trash can drum performers. Walking by Ellen’s Energy Adventure, I headed to Mission: Space where the posted wait time was 5 minutes for the green intensity level and 30 minutes for the orange intensity level standby lines. The newly imagined Test Track’s posted wait times were single rider line 40 minutes and standby line 60 minutes. Since it was mid-afternoon, all the FastPasses for Test Track had been distributed for the day.

During this visit I decided to tour Innoventions East and West. In Innoventions East the entertaining yet informative attractions of Storm Struck, Habit Heroes, Test the Limits Lab and Vision House had little to no wait. Meanwhile, The Sum of All Thrills, a guest-designed thrill ride simulator, had a posted wait time of 30 minutes.

In Innoventions West several exhibit areas were empty and showed no indication of future exhibits. However, the impressive new THINK exhibit, Where’s the Fire, Video Playground, and The Great Piggy Bank Adventure were open and readily available for guest’s entertainment. The Disney Visa Card meet-and-greet area was also open with no wait.

If you’re not familiar with IBM’s THINK experience at Epcot, here’s a quick promo video:

[youtube_video]8eu6DHBQyGs[/youtube_video]

Epcot Character Spot is in its new location across from the Innoventions West building, and it has a FastPass+ entrance. The posted wait time for the standby line was 15 minutes.

Fountain View dining featuring Starbucks coffee is under construction, and the venue is indicated on the park map as opening soon. Next door, the Club Cool provides unique Coca-Cola merchandise along with drinks from around the world and was a very popular stop for guests on this hot afternoon.

Walking toward Future World West, I noticed Chip and Dale were greeting guests and posing for photos.

My next stop was The Seas with Nemo & Friends. This attraction was another I had not experienced in a while, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The entry area indicated the new FastPass+ system was in place. I walked through the queue at my own pace, and I stepped onto the ride without any wait. This clam ride, bringing guests through different aquarium scenes, incorporates animated characters from the Finding Nemo movie with real fish and marine life. In addition, seeing the impressive two-storied aquariums and the kid-friendly Turtle Talk with Crush are all must do’s when visiting Epcot. The Turtle Talk with Crush entry had new RFID kiosks but they were covered with tarps.

Inside the Land Pavilion, the escalators on one side were under construction, which seemed to inhibit the flow of guests between the entry level of the pavilion and the bottom level. Soarin’ had a posted wait time of 110 minutes for the standby line, and there were no FastPasses available by this time.

Living with the Land and the Circle of Life had little to no wait for guests. I took a break and had a snack at Sunshine Seasons, which offers a wide variety of café food and desserts.

I walked from The Land pavilion over to the Imagination! building, and Journey Into Imagination With Figment had a posted wait time of only 15 minutes. The entry to this attraction also had an entry for the new FastPass+ system.

I don’t remember experiencing this attraction in the last several years, and I enjoyed it. As I was leaving the interactive area of Journey into Imagination, a strong thunderstorm appeared, so I waited at the exit for it to pass.

During a lull in the storm, I walked a few steps to the Captain EO attraction. A cast member explained that the next showing of Captain EO was delayed until the storm passed due to the building’s function as a storm shelter — who knew? The storm lasted for 30 minutes, so I gave up waiting to see Captain EO and headed to meet my family, ending my tour of Future World.

While I was touring Future World, my husband and son toured World Showcase, took photos and made note of attraction updates and changes.

Entering World Showcase, construction walls surround the garden area in front of Showcase Plaza, between Duffy the Disney Bear and Promenade Refreshments. Disney Traders also had construction walls along with signs indicating they were open.

At the Mexico pavilion, The Gran Fiesta Tour attraction had no wait and is an enjoyable ride for the entire family. The attraction combines film footage of Mexican landmarks with the Three Caballeros and animatronic characters similar to It’s A Small World.

In Norway, the Maelstrom boat ride attraction had less than a 10 minute wait.

Heading toward China, the Jeweled Dragon Acrobats performed amazing acrobatic stunts near Reflections of China. While entertaining, some of the daring stunts were nerve racking for guests to watch.

Walking past the Outpost toward Germany, we noticed Snow White posing for photos and greeting guests.

Heading toward Italy, we passed the miniature trains that always attract guests in their journey around World Showcase. We were able to catch some of Sergio’s, the Italian mime/clown and juggler as he interacted with and entertained the crowd.

At The American Adventure construction on the new restrooms continues. Rumors say they should be completed this fall.

Strolling through Japan, one can’t help but notice the beautiful garden areas especially near Katsura Grill that are peaceful, shaded, and a nice getaway from the crowds.

Spice Road Table, the new restaurant and indoor/outdoor dining area along the World Showcase lagoon in Morocco, is currently under construction and scheduled to open by the end of this year.

Another new and tempting eating location is now open in France: the Artisan ice cream and sorbet shop, L’Artisan des Glaces. It’s located in the former location of the french bakery.

Crossing the bridge and passing the International Gateway into the United Kingdom, Mary Poppins and Alice in Wonderland were greeting guests.

Our final World Showcase country, Canada, featured an informative film, O Canada, hosted by Martin Short. Also found in Canada are the beautiful Victoria Gardens and the fabulous Le Cellier Steakhouse.

I enjoyed seeing some attractions I haven’t experienced in a long time in addition to the familiar attractions, rides and features of Epcot during this trip. This park has a lot to offer families, and I hope that you will be able to visit this unique Walt Disney World destination soon!

Oh, and a friendly reminder that the 18th Epcot International Food & Wine festival starts September 27, so it is time to start dieting

Thanks for reading this trip report. Please leave your questions and comments below. Or, if you’d like to catch up on all our trip reports, click here.

Epcot trip report – photo gallery

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[wptouch target=”non-mobile”]Quick note about the photos in this post: I accidentally left my good camera at home, so today’s images are sort of murky. That being said, remember you can click any image to view it full-screen. And don’t miss the complete photo gallery with 38 new full-screen images at the bottom of the post.
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At Port of Entry, I browsed the marketplaces and stopped by Island Market store to check out their delicious items for sale. Later that afternoon on my way out of the park, I purchased some vanilla fudge to take home.

Speaking of the shops at Islands of Adventure, here’s a great moment Dan captured yesterday…

Even shopping at @UniversalORL is extraordinary – just never know who you’re going to run into #tightsbuy1get1free pic.twitter.com/QVd7flx4VH — Orlando Informer (@OrlandoInformer) July 18, 2013

True, Spider-Man doesn’t usually make appearances inside the IOA shops, but we’ve seen him wander through a few times. Just one small way Universal keeps things exciting!

The quirky Seuss Landing is a great location for families. I noticed that Green Eggs and Ham quick-service restaurant was open for guests. The rousing Cat in the Hat ride and One Fish, Two Fish, Blue Fish ride both had posted wait times of 20 minutes for the standby lines. The fun High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride! minimum height restriction has changed from 36 inches to 40 inches since my last trip report. I observed several families in a short period of time measuring their children, then having to forgo the ride because the children did not meet the new height requirement.

Luckily this is the only Seuss Landing attraction requiring this high of a height restriction.

Crossing the bridge into Lost Continent, I passed Mythos restaurant and was reminded of the great food and service I experienced there during one of my previous visits. Poseidon’s Fury queue was enticing guests to tour the ancient temple ruins. The Mystic Fountain was entertaining park-goers as usual as other guests were heading to the Eighth Voyage of Sindbad Stunt Show.

Meanwhile, midway game barkers beckoned to guests to try their skills at various games to win coveted prizes. How much longer the midway games will be in this location is uncertain, since rumors indicate the games will be moving to Jurassic Park in the future — more on that in a moment.

Entering my favorite section of Islands of Adventure, I noticed the heavy crowds in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Based on the crowd level, I was surprised to see the wait times for the attractions were moderate. Dragon Challenge, a thrilling rollercoaster experience where guests can choose to ride the more intense Hungarian Horntail or the smoother and faster Chinese Fireball, only had a posted wait time of 10 minutes for the standby line.

A little further in, not many guests were taking advantage of the covered eating area behind the Three Broomsticks, but numerous guests were enjoying the entertaining musical performance of the Frog Choir. The awesome Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction’s posted wait time was only 45 minutes, and the enjoyable Flight of the Hippogriff mild coaster was just 15 minutes.

Unfortunately I was not able to take any photos of the Hogsmeade Station construction from Dragon Challenge this visit, but Dan snapped a photo yesterday from another angle:

Entering Jurassic Park, I took my usual break at The Watering Hole shaded picnic area. I also noticed many guests getting out of the heat by exploring the Jurassic Park Discovery Center.

Beyond the Discover Center I saw visible signs of construction prep for the Jurassic Park midway games. Markings on the ground, in the extended outdoor queue of River Adventure, were consistent with rumors that work will began here soon.

If what we’ve been hearing is correct, the move will bring the midway games from their current home in Lost Continent — near the front entrance of the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter — to this new spot in Jurassic Park. Although Universal hasn’t confirmed it, this seems perfectly logical since the Lost Continent midway games will likely need to be demolished as part of the Harry Potter / Hogwarts Express expansion.

For readers who are really interested is figuring out exactly where the new Jurassic Park midway games will be located, see our map at the bottom of the post.

Universal aficionados will note that the resort did something similar at Universal Studios Florida when Amity closed, first moving the Amity midway games to a spot near the lagoon, then over to Fear Factor, and finally closing them when the front of The Simpsons Ride was retrofitted to hold midway games.

UPDATE: Sometime between my visit last weekend and Dan’s visit yesterday, Universal put up construction walls for the Jurassic Park midway. Here are three photos Dan grabbed:

Continuing with the trip report, Jurassic Park River Adventure had a posted wait time of 40 minutes for the standby line. Kids in the splash zone enjoyed getting soaked just as much as the riders plummeting to a big splash at the end of the ride.

Toon Lagoon was very crowded on this hot July afternoon. The very popular Ripsaw Falls attraction had a posted wait time of 90 minutes in the standby line. There were many guests on the bridge observing the thrilling drop of the ride and hoping to cool off from the splash of the boats speeding down the large hill.

Also in Toon Lagoon, Wimpy’s seasonal quick-service restaurant was open and serving burgers, chicken fingers and chili dogs. Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges, a very fun and wet raft ride, had a posted wait time of only 10 minutes for the standby line. Betty Boop was meeting and greeting guests as usual outside her store.

Entering Marvel Super Hero Island, the crowds seemed to be more dispersed and Spider-Man’s posted wait time was 45 minutes for the standby line. It was fun to see Doctor Doom posing for photos with guests. Finally, the awesome Incredible Hulk roller coaster had a posted wait time of only 20 minutes.

It was a fun day at Islands of Adventure, even with the July heat and humidity. And despite a few high wait times, it is evident that we are on the tail end of the peak summer travel season.

Thanks for reading this trip report. Please leave your questions and comments below, and don’t forget to check out the map showing the Jurassic Park midway location.

When you’re done with this post, you can catch up on all our trip reports by right here.

Jurassic Park midway – map

Click any marker to display the attraction or venue name. To scroll or zoom, use the controls on the top-left of the map. You may also switch to different map views by using the buttons on the top-right of the map.

View OI’s map of Universal’s Islands of Adventure in a larger map

Islands of Adventure trip report – photo gallery

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After passing through the entry gates, I went to the Universal Studios Store. The remodeling looks complete, and I predominantly noticed the new floor. It turned out very nice and presents a modern feel to the store. Similar to the Islands of Adventure Port of Entry store, there is now an entire section at one end of the store dedicated to Harry Potter merchandise.

[wptouch target=”non-mobile”]Remember, you can click any image to view it full-screen. And don’t miss the complete photo gallery with 43 new images at the bottom of the post!
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Throughout the park I noticed the accessible ramps at all the sidewalks have recently been painted.

In Production Central, the very popular Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction had a posted wait time of 105 minutes, which is not uncommon during the summer. Shrek 4D’s standby line posted wait time was only 20 minutes. The intense Rip Ride Rockit had a posted wait time of 70 minutes for the standby line and the single rider line was 35 minutes.

Since my last trip report, and after much anticipation and excitement, Transformers: The Ride – 3D has officially opened. Surprisingly it had a posted wait time of just 60 minutes for the standby line this day. I decided to help protect the AllSpark and used the single rider line. My wait in this queue was around 20 minutes, and I felt like I didn’t miss anything during the queue experience.

Outside the attraction, a large shelter has been built to shade the queue for the standby line, helping to protect guests from the rain and strong sun.

The new immersive Transformers Character meet and greet area has been completed. In a very theatrical production, sirens sound, lights flash and the bunker door rolls up to reveal the Transformer character emerging for his meet and greet with humans.

This time I saw Bumblebee as he stood under the awning. A team member informed me that generally a character appears every 20 minutes (times for the Transformers characters still aren’t listed in Universal’s in-park guide map). Additionally, across from the character meet area is a new small building where guests purchase photos.

In the New York backlot, the unique cars from Fast and Furious 6 are no longer on display. The building next to Finnegan’s is completely wrapped and appears it will be refurbished soon. The posted wait time for the standby line at the thrilling Revenge of the Mummy ride was 30 minutes.

Walking into the San Francisco backlot area, I noticed that the Wharfside Cannery restrooms are now open after being closed for refurbishment the past few months. Part of the queue at the Disaster! attraction is behind construction drapes, allegedly being prepped for a gripping Halloween Horror Nights haunted house.

Walking toward the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley section, I was again impressed with the enormity of the buildings under construction. There is some progress on the buildings’ façades, but the construction seems to be at a point where it is difficult to determine progress of the structures’ details from the guests’ side of the fence. When looking for the Hogwarts Express train tracks from the Twister queue, it was difficult to see anything due to the flourishing wisteria growing on the fence.

Over in World Expo, the Fear Factor Live show — which was recently reclassified on Universal’s map from the San Fran backlot to the World Expo area — was starting while the posted wait time for MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack was 15 minutes.

I was able to take a photo of the cool MEN IN BLACK characters outside the attraction while they were meeting and greeting guests:

Walking over to the expanding Simpsons Springfield area, there was only a 20 minute posted wait time for The Simpsons Ride. Browsing through Kwik-E-Mart, I noticed some quirky Lard Lad mugs and t-shirts for sale.

Outside the store I was able to get a photo of the new and popular characters Sideshow Bob and Krusty the Clown as they greeted guests.

Along The Simpsons Springfield waterfront construction, Kang & Kodos Twirl ‘n’ Hurl was going through test runs without passengers. The park map indicates this ride will be “opening soon.” The impressive Duff Gardens building construction has progressed significantly since my last visit and looks almost ready to open. I ate lunch in the new and well-liked Fast Food Boulevard, and I chose a Chicken & Waffle Sandwich with a side order of tater tots from Cletus’ Chicken Shack. It was a tasty meal and the portion was large.

(Looking for Bumblebee Man’s Tacos? Since the truck showed up at Universal Studios Florida after I originally submitted this report, an update has been added to the bottom of the post.)

Heading to the enjoyable Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone, both the classic E.T. attraction and the exciting Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster had a posted wait time of only 10 minutes for the standby lines. On this very hot July afternoon many guests were taking advantage of the cooling water play area in Curious George Goes to Town.

Walking toward the Hollywood backlot I noticed the highly recommended Café La Bamba restaurant was open for lunch and will remain so though the end of the busy summer travel season. This restaurant is on my list of “must dos” in the near future!

Past the Horror Make-Up Show and along Hollywood Blvd, I saw several entertaining characters available for meet and greets including Scooby Do and Shaggy, Woody and Winnie Woodpecker, The Simpson, and Curious George and the Man in the Yellow Hat.

Marilyn Monroe was also riding down the street in her silver convertible waving to the guests as she passed by.

Even though it was hot and crowded, I enjoyed my day spent at the park. I hope you will have the opportunity soon to enjoy the thrills and fun times Universal Studios Florida has to offer!

QUICK UPDATE: After I wrote my trip report and submitted it, Bumblebee Man’s Taco truck showed up at Universal Studios Florida. We now have one more dining option to look forward to as part of The Simpsons Springfield expansion:

Bumblebee Man’s Tacos is expected to open with the rest of the Simpsons Springfield expansion hopefully by the end of July!

Thanks for reading this trip report. Please leave your questions and comments below! Or, if you’d like to catch up on all our trip reports, click here.

Universal Studios Florida trip – photo gallery

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After a nice dessert reception hosted by SeaWorld along the lake, guests headed to Sea Lion and Otter Theater for the Sea Lions Tonite show starring Clyde and Seamore. One of my favorite components of the Clyde and Seamore show is the Mime who warms up the crowd with funny interactions with guests as they enter the theater and find seats. Sea Lions Tonite took full advantage of the Mime’s popularity and featured him throughout the show. Besides the animals, he was certainly a crowd favorite. Clyde, Seamore and their trainers were great in their parodies of the attractions and shows at SeaWorld including Pets Ahoy, One Ocean, Blue Horizons and even riding Kraken. Two of the funniest Mime parts of Sea Lions Tonight occurred when he dressed in a red bird outfit during the parody of Blue Horizons and then in a ridiculous multicolored Shamu fin hat in the parody of One Ocean.

The finale with the trainers, Clyde, Seamore, otters and the enormous but lovable walrus dancing was loads of fun! Sea Lions Tonite is a funny, entertaining show for the entire family and should not be missed.

After Sea Lions Tonite, we walked to Shamu Stadium for the season’s first showing of Shamu Rocks! The stadium was almost at capacity by 8:30. If you plan on attending this show, arrive a minimum of 45 minutes early in order to get a good seat.

The rock music playing before the show helped set the lively, fun atmosphere and the stadium guests doing “the wave” added to the excitement. At 9:00 pm, the lights dimmed. For the next 25 minutes, various killer whales performed synchronized, amazing tricks and splashed guests while classic rock music resonated from the speakers. The dazzling lights, videos and colored water fountains enhanced this exhilarating show. During the Shamu Rocks show’s finale, fireworks were a new feature this year that awed the guests.

After the Shamu Rocks show and walking across the bridge from Shamu Stadium, I observed the beautiful views of the lighted fountains on the lake.

Next, SeaWorld invited us to explore the new attraction area Antarctica after dark. I was looking forward to seeing Antarctica at night and I was not disappointed. The blue and white accent lighting and mystical music truly enhanced this immersive section of the park and made it stand out from the remainder of SeaWorld. One of SeaWorld’s team members, Christopher, pointed out the rock formations of The Empire of the Penguins attraction were shaped like a mother and baby penguin. He also showed me the hidden Shamu in the rock formations across from the attraction.

The Party with Shamu and friends took place in the village square, near the exit. Sadly it finished before I reached that part of the park.

SeaWorld explained that the party begins every night one hour prior to the park closing with a DJ on stilts who fills the square with music that the whole family can dance to including popular line dancing songs and party favorites. With countless bubbles floating overhead and crazy lights illuminating the square, this celebration of summer is sure to provide non-stop fun for all ages. Dance music was playing for park guests when I left around 10:30 pm but there were no characters or DJs present. I hope to go back and experience the Party with Shamu and friends first-hand.

SeaWorld’s Summer Nights 2013 offered an fun, festive, and exhilarating experience. I’m very glad I was able to attend. I hope you will make it part of your plans to see SeaWorld’s Summer Nights soon!

The event runs June 22 through August 11 this year. More details about the event can be found in this blog post.

SeaWorld Summer Nights 2013 – photo gallery

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After arriving at the Transportation & Ticket Center, we took the Ferry Boat to Magic Kingdom. I could see the progress made with building the new Disney Vacation Club resort next to the Grand Floridian Hotel. There was also a lot of construction along the Seven Seas Lagoon in the Resort Bus area, reportedly an expansion of that bus area.

Walking into the park from the boat dock, we saw the Iron Man Monorail pass overhead. Entry turnstiles for the park are now divided between those with a paper ticket and the new RFID plastic card.

Along Main Street U.S.A., some of the store fronts are wrapped for construction. Starbucks, which is replacing the Main Street Bakery, was nearly complete and later had its grand opening on June 18th.

Walking into Adventureland, the building next to Aloha Isle is still wrapped and under construction. Tinker Bell’s Magical Nook, a meet and greet area with Tinker Bell and other Fairies, had a wait time of one hour.

The posted wait times for the standby line of attractions in Adventureland averaged around 30 minutes or less. I was able to see some of the entertaining Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial in its new location on a stage across from the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.

I also tried the new scavenger hunt, A Pirate’s Adventure. It was a fun interactive game that is designed to take participants around parts of Adventureland. I received a map and RFID card in order to interact with the various locations on my quest to find treasure. There are five different quests. My quest, The King’s Ransom, took about 10 minutes to complete. It was fun, especially when the cannons on top of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride fired during my quest. And the map makes a great souvenir.

Walking to Frontierland, I noticed the Golden Oak Outpost was open. I purchased dinner at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café and the BBQ sandwich had a good flavor.

The ever-popular Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain Railroad wait times were around one hour for the standby lines.

Walking into Liberty Square, I noticed there is construction next to the Liberty Square Riverboat. The building housing Sleepy Hallow Refreshments is also being refurbished. The walkway to Fantasyland from Columbia Harbor House is now a small tunnel due to the construction walls and covered walkway. However, there is an additional walkway now open between the Haunted Mansion area and the Tangled Tower into Fantasyland.

In Fantasyland, the Rapunzel rest area with the Tower from the movie Tangled is open. It is smartly decorated with numerous props from the movie. I went later that evening and saw the lit paper lanterns — it was a really nice effect.

The old restrooms near Peter Pan are closed and under construction. There is a new FastPass+ entrance at It’s A Small World, and the standby entrance has moved to the middle of the attraction front.

Note: the FastPass kiosks for the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Journey of the Little Mermaid are located in front of Mickey’s Philharmagic.

Behind Cinderella’s Castle and next to Sir Mickey’s is a new Princess Fairytale Hall under construction. Princess Fairytale Hall will be a meet and greet with select Disney Princesses and is scheduled to open later this year.

A hallmark of Walt Disney World, The Mad Tea Party, is open to guests after being refurbished with fresh paint, revamped queues and an area for a FastPass+ entrance. In front of the attraction, the topiaries of Alice, the Rabbit and the Mad Hatter make a great photo opportunity for guests.

In the New Fantasyland area, construction continues on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Disney recently announced that the last piece to the coaster’s track has been laid. The “sneak a peek” openings in the construction fences surrounding the attraction are a fun feature and enable all guests, no matter what their height, to see the progress of this highly anticipated attraction.

Enchanted Tales with Belle had a posted wait time of 50 minutes. Be Our Guest restaurant was open for dinner and therefore not open for public touring. The other attractions in Fantasyland had a wait time of less than 30 minutes.

The construction walls across from the entrance to Journey of the Little Mermaid have been moved back enabling strollers to park out of the walkway. You can see the progress and themed scenery tied to the Little Mermaid on this side of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train construction.

Although it was not indicated on the park map, the walkway between Ariel’s Grotto and Storybook Circus is now open and allows a much better flow of park guests through the New Fantasyland section.

In the Storybook Circus area, Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station was very popular on this hot afternoon. Both Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride and The Barnstormer coaster had posted wait times of 25 minutes for the standby lines.

At this point, I decided to ride the Walt Disney World Railroad around the park. This train ride is enjoyable and relaxing for the entire family. After disembarking from the train back in Storybook Circus, I walked past the Tomorrowland Speedway and met my husband and son at the Club 626 Character Dance Party. This DJ-lead event entertains the crowds with popular music along with Stitch, Chip, Dale, Goofy and Pluto dancing with the guests.

The unique and thrilling Space Mountain had a posted wait time of 55 minutes. After a cool smoothie from Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies and a relaxing ride on the People Mover, it was time for the Main Street Electrical Parade. My husband and son left the park and I found an open spot with a good view of the parade in front of the Main Street train station. The parade was very entertaining and classic Disney with many spectacular floats with glowing lights. I was glad I stayed to see this parade.

After the parade, I walked around the park to get some night photos of attractions and watched most of the Wishes Nighttime Spectacular fireworks from the New Fantasyland area. Disney certainly knows how to put on a fireworks show that entertains park guests.

Leaving the park was a unique experience for me. I left the park approximately one half hour after Wishes ended. Because of the crowd’s size, it took me about 45 minutes from the park’s turnstiles to reach the entrance to the Ferry Boat. It was very warm and muggy and it was a relief to board the Ferry Boat and feel the breeze off the Seven Seas Lagoon.

Even though leaving the park was not much fun, it did not diminish the wonderful day I spent at Magic Kingdom. As an ardent fan, Walt Disney World is exciting and magical each time I visit. I’m looking forward to the next time I can explore Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

Thanks for reading this trip report. Please leave your questions and comments below! Or, if you’d like to catch up on all our trip reports, click here.

Magic Kingdom trip report – photo gallery

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IOA’s Port of Entry is a great place to shop for various merchandise including souvenirs, holiday decorations and island-style clothing.  It also has a variety of foods available like candy, Cinnabon rolls, bakery items and even full-service dining at Confisco Grille.

I always enjoy walking through Seuss Landing, seeing the bright colors and whimsical décor featured throughout this section of the park. Popular attractions like The Cat in The Hat and One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish are very appealing to families with young children and the young at heart. You can get a great view of various sections of the park around the lagoon from the High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride, which had a posted wait time of 30 minutes for the standby line.

Transitioning over the bridge into the Lost Continent, I passed the Pearl Factory, the fabulous Mythos restaurant, the enthralling Poseidon’s Fury, and The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad Stunt Show. I spent some time observing the always entertaining Mystic Fountain and its interaction with park guests.

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Until this point in my visit, I didn’t see many changes from my last visit to IOA. However, I was looking forward to what I would find in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (WWOHP) and its current expansion. Before entering WWoHP I could see a small portion of the construction on the Hogsmeade Station over the high construction fence.

To our delight, riding Dragon Challenge enabled my husband to see the construction on the Hogsmeade Station from different perspectives even though it was only for a few seconds at a time. After riding each coaster a few times and strategically sitting in different seats, he noticed the Hungarian Horntail (blue) coaster offers a better aerial view of Hogsmeade Station and the Chinese Fireball (red) coaster passes in close proximity to the construction. It appears that construction of Hogsmeade Station is progressing with the most noticeable work occurring on the elevated platform of the station.

During our visit to Universal Studios Florida (USF) the day prior, there were brief but good views, while riding Rip Ride Rockit, of the Hogwarts Express elevated tracks leaving USF and heading to Hogsmeade Station in IOA.

In WWoHP Dragon Challenge had a posted wait time for the standby line of 25 minutes; Flight of the Hippogriff was 30 minutes and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey was 45 minutes for the standby lines. The enjoyable Triwizard Spirit Rally took place on the stage near Forbidden Journey while I was in WWoHP. I also noticed a cart selling Florean Fortescue ice cream outside the Owlery. Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and peanut butter flavored ice cream was available to purchase. The butterbeer cart at the main entrance of WWoHP was not crowded, but the one located near the exit to Jurassic Park was very busy.

Entering Jurassic Park I met my family at our usual spot for breaks: the picnic tables near the Watering Hole. This area is very shaded and somewhat off the beaten path. We enjoy our snacks, relax and rest our feet in this area every time we visit IOA. As we continued on our adventures through Jurassic Park, we noticed team members with dinosaur puppets greeting guests.

Past the Jurassic Park Discovery Center, we approached Jurassic Park River Adventure which had a posted wait time of 15 minutes for the standby line. River Adventure is now open after being refurbished last month. During the ride we noticed that the lighting in the jungle was more prominent. Fresh paint is evident throughout the entire attraction including the entrance gates to Jurassic Park, the signage along the ride, the buildings, props and even the dinosaurs.

The splash area outside the attraction was a popular spot for park guests as they watched the ride’s last drop and huge splash.

Leaving Jurassic Park, we entered Toon Lagoon. Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls initially had a posted wait time of 60 minutes but was reduced later to 30 minutes for the standby line. My husband and son got soaked on this ride. I stayed dry in the shade near the lockers and enjoyed people watching. Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges’ posted wait time was 10 minutes. As I strolled through Toon Lagoon, Betty Boop waved to me outside her shop where she was meeting and greeting guests.

Entering the thrilling and adventurous Marvel Super Hero Island, I noticed the posted wait time for the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man was only 20 minutes. The gripping Incredible Hulk Coaster captivated park guests as it launched and roared around its multiple loops. This incredible coaster had a posted wait time of merely 5 minutes for the standby line. As a result, riding it many times was an easy task for those who were strong enough to tolerate the intense G-forces.

As usual, I enjoyed our visit to Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort and look forward to my next visit soon.

NEW FEATURE! You can now read reviews of the individual attractions at Universal Orlando and share your own thoughts. This is brand new functionality, so OI hasn’t rolled it out across all pages yet. But it is live on the Transformers page, all the Simpsons Springfield pages, and these pages too:

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit | E.T. Adventure | Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges | Mythos restaurant | Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey | Horror Make-Up Show | MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack | The Blues Brothers Show | Revenge of The Mummy | Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

Thanks for reading this trip report. Please leave your questions and comments below! Or, if you’d like to catch up on all our trip reports, click here.

Islands of Adventure trip report – photo gallery

Click any image to view it full-screen. When the full-screen image is open, click to the right or use the right arrow on your keyboard to advance through the gallery.

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The post Islands of Adventure trip report – June 2013 (stunning images of the Hogsmeade train station under construction & more) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

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As I entered the park, the Studio Brass Band was performing entertaining music for park guests. The Universal Studios Store remodel appears to be almost complete. The remodel has significantly expanded the merchandise floor space. Instead of several different locations throughout the store, the cashiers are now located at one end.

In Production Central, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem had a posted standby line wait time of 60 minutes, 20 minutes for Shrek 4-D, and Rip Ride Rockit was 30 minutes. In front of the Super Silly Stuff gift shop are Despicable Me 2 photo kiosks, where guests can have a photo taken with a variety of characters from the Despicable Me movies for free. The photo is then sent to you via email. My family took one and the photo email was in my inbox when we returned home.

Knowing Transformers: The Ride has open for technical rehearsals, it was all I could do not to run to the attraction! New for me this visit, Optimus Prime was on top of the attraction entrance, giving an imposing and dramatic feel adding to the anticipation of the ride.

The street is painted, showing guests where to stand and take the best photo of Optimus Prime. A portable refreshment cart is now shrewdly located near the entrance.

The posted wait time for Transformers: The Ride was 45 minutes when we rode it. Later that afternoon, it had increased to 60 minutes after being closed several times due to technical issues. The NEST Team members were very animated and helped enhance the excitement of riding for the first time.

My short review: Transformers was similar to Spider-Man in regards to the ride vehicle, the 4D experience and the dramatic transition between scenes. However, the story-line, graphics and overall experience were amazing, and any fan of thrill rides or the Transformers movies should not miss this attraction. This ride was a great experience and met my long-awaited expectations.

Outside the Supply Vault gift shop, Transformers characters were greeting guests in a slightly different location than last month. Construction walls were across the street from the Transformers building, between the restrooms and Shrek 4-D gift shop.

This area is rumored to be an enclosed meet and greet for Transformers characters. It was also rumored to house an Energon station, the specialty drink associated with Transformers, but now the buzz is that Energon will not be introduced by the time of the Transformers grand opening on June 20. Stay tuned to Orlando Informer for updates on that.

Walking through the New York backlot of USF from Twister toward the Revenge of the Mummy, I noticed the cars used in the production of Fast and Furious 6 were still available for photo opportunities. The Revenge of the Mummy had a posted wait time of 10 minutes for the standby line. This attraction was a great place to spend time that afternoon when a fierce summer thunderstorm passed over Universal.

The restrooms between Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue and Disaster! are still closed and under construction in the San Francisco backlot of USF. The street has been painted to reflect the boundary of Salty’s Sketches Caricatures across from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley (WWOHP-DA) construction walls.

The construction continues at the massive WWOHP-DA area and appears to be moving along quickly. Visual details are tough to distinguish at this point, but more scaffolding is up on the lagoon side of the London buildings.

Free wifi is still available in this area. I checked in on the Foursquare app and became mayor of Diagon Alley! For an avid Harry Potter fan like me, it was a great moment.

Taking in the eye-catching view surrounding the lagoon, I walked to World Expo and the MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack attraction that had a posted wait time of 20 minutes for the standby line.

The official announcement of The Simpsons Springfield expansion occurred since my last visit to USF. I was looking forward to seeing the progress, and I was not disappointed. The construction along the lagoon is really taking shape. There is a structure in place for Duff Gardens that was not noticeable last month.

In addition, the Kang & Kodos Twirl ‘n Whirl attraction seems near completion. Current rumors say these whimsical attractions will be open by the end of June. Posted along the walkway construction walls are various Simpsons themed motifs and serve as great photo opportunities.

Here’s a video shot yesterday by Dan that gives you an overview of the construction work at Universal Studios Florida:

[youtube_video]iuxMaYdTYto[/youtube_video]

In a move that took nearly everyone by surprise, The Simpsons Fast Food Boulevard did indeed open on June 1. A variety of foods are now available from these indoor counter-service eateries including Lisa’s Teahouse of Horrors, Luigi’s, The Frying Dutchman, Cletus’ Chicken Shack, Krusty Burger, and Flaming Moe’s. Also in Fast Food Boulevard there are several large dining areas decorated with Simpsons murals signed by Matt Groening. The dining areas are also equipped with multiple TV’s showing scenes from the Simpson’s TV Show. Even the napkins are themed!

For those interested, Dan was busy with his video camera yesterday and also published this complete five minute walkthrough tour of Fast Food Blvd. Note that his video starts just inside the Krusty Burger exterior facade where the first themed seating area can be found:

[youtube_video]U0iGkZBNuQw[/youtube_video]

We purchased a Krusty Burger and a Flaming Moe (a specialty drink with dry ice and orange soda) along with one Lard Lad oversized donut. We enjoyed all of them. Moe’s Tavern is also open and connects to Fast Food Boulevard. You can purchase Duff Beer and other specialty drinks here, and you can sit at the bar or tables and enjoy your drinks, food and fun décor.

The restrooms next to Fast Food Boulevard and the Animal Actors Stadium are now open. Walking toward Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone, the classic attraction E.T. had a posted wait time of 15 minutes for the standby line. Another fun family attraction, Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster, had a posted wait time of 10 minutes.

In the Hollywood backlot we were able to watch the performances by the Despicable Me characters and Hop characters in the Character Party Zone. They are very entertaining for the entire family with character photo opportunities after each performance.

Later in the afternoon, we experienced a severe thunderstorm that lasted almost an hour. Because of the amount of rain that fell in such a short time, several streets and walkways were flooded with ankle deep water and became impassable in parts. I noticed that a weather alert statement is printed on the park map explaining the outdoor attractions will close for the safety of guests if necessary.

Nickelodeon’s Big Time Rush was scheduled for the Summer Concert Series that night. Many die-hard fans braved the weather to hear the popular group perform. Fans were already in line when we arrived around noon for the 8pm show.

I was excited to experience so many new things in addition to the already incredible attractions at Universal Studios Florida this trip. I hope you can experience the thrills and fun of USF soon.

NEW FEATURE! You can now read reviews of the individual attractions at Universal Orlando and share your own thoughts. This is brand new functionality, so OI hasn’t rolled it out across all pages yet. But it is live on the Transformers page, all the Simpsons Springfield pages, and these pages too:

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit | E.T. Adventure | Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges | Mythos restaurant | Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey | Horror Make-Up Show | MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack | The Blues Brothers Show | Revenge of The Mummy | Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

Thanks for reading this trip report. Please leave your questions and comments below! Or, if you’d like to catch up on all our trip reports, click here.

Universal Studios Florida trip – photo gallery

Click any image to view it full-screen. When the full-screen image is open, click to the right or use the right arrow on your keyboard to advance through the gallery.

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The post Universal Studios Florida trip report – June 2013 (Transformers first ride, The Simpsons Fast Food Blvd first taste, much more!) appeared first on Orlando Informer.

This new section of SeaWorld Orlando provides an immersive feeling for guests as they transition from SeaWorld to Antarctica and a station at the South Pole. As guests walk into the area, the landscape changes from lush green grass and fragrant flowers to a frozen barren land covered in ice and snow. A sign reads “Welcome to the Bottom of the World”.

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Another directional sign indicates the kilometers to various locations around the world, i.e. Paris 16,708 km. In the center of the area, guests see the actual South Pole. Throughout the Antarctica attraction area, guests see various penguin species’ footprints across the ground.

One feature built into the glacier landscape Expedition Café. Inside this rustic restaurant, guests find a variety of American, Italian or Asian foods honoring the three major signatories of the original Antarctic Treaty.

A hydroponic garden grows fresh herbs used by the chefs. After purchasing food and drink items from the Expedition Café, guests exit to a large outdoor eating area with covered picnic tables.

Another feature built into the glaciers of Antarctica is the Glacial Collections, a store with themed merchandise including but not limited to t-shirts, hats, souvenirs, kitchen accessories and plush toys. One item that will be very popular at Glacial Collections is the Create A Cup that Cares station. Guests can choose from a variety of penguin accessory parts (similar to Mr. Potato Head) to complete sections of their reusable drink cup.

$1.00 from each cup purchased will go to the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. In addition, the cup has an RFID chip that is personalized when purchased. Every time a guest refills the cup at Antarctica’s South Pole Chill, a personalized greeting is delivered thanking the guest for using the refillable cup and reducing their carbon footprint.

Also available for purchase is a non-customizable Cup That Cares that can be used at the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines in Antarctica. These machines have over 100 different beverage choices including the new Vanilla South Pole Chill.  The South Pole Chill was created specifically for Antarctica and is very refreshing, had the consistency of a typical soda and tasted like a vanilla Sprite.

Near the back of the Antarctica section is a large rock wall with the global family of penguins featuring the 18 species found in the southern hemisphere, giving guests the opportunity to “measure up” to life-size penguins and pose for great photos. The species found in Antarctica are located at the bottom of the display, a perfect height for little ones to get up close to. All 18 species of penguins are protected by international law and six species are endangered. Also SeaWorld educators will be located throughout the realm to engage with guests, teach about penguins and Antarctica, and answer questions. Interactive touch screens invite kids to learn about penguin colonies and how working together as a community is key for survival.

The headliner of Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin is a brand new, state-of-the-art ride that can be found on the right side of the new Antarctica section. Entering this attraction, guests will notice a change in temperature and atmosphere as they transition throughout the attraction. SeaWorld notes that guests go through an acclimation process to prepare for the freezing temperatures found in the penguin colony. At various stages during the adventure – and before the guests join the penguins in their world – SeaWorld designers lower both temperature and humidity, priming explorers to enter the penguin habitat.

In the first room of the attraction, video explaining component the story of a penguin named Puck plays for guests. Next, guests choose how much motion they want during the journey to see the penguins. The Wild Expedition has a ride height minimum of 42” (under 48” with adult supervision). Mild Expedition riders need to be able sit up on their own, meaning that even seated toddlers can enjoy the experience (no children on laps).

The vehicle, which is a trackless, mobile simulator, using advanced magnetic technology takes guests through Puck the penguin’s story. Here’s a look at the start of the attraction:

[youtube_video]AMihwBwgLb0[/youtube_video]

The journey ends at the live penguin interactive area of the attraction. It is 30 degrees in this area. A colony of nearly 250 penguins — gentoo, Adelie, king and rockhopper penguins — welcome guests in to their freezing world and immerse them in their snowy, rocky, icy home. This section is a breathtaking, unique and fabulous exhibit where guests can observe the penguins in an up-close and open area.

With temperatures at 30 degrees, it doesn’t take long to start feeling cold and get numb fingers. Tip: Do not ride Journey to Atlantis immediately prior to experiencing Antarctica. The combination of wet clothes and frigid temperatures would feel uncomfortable!

After guests have interacted with the penguins for as long as they can withstand the cold temperatures, they are directed to the next section of the attraction. This area is a much warmer, three-story glass viewing area where guests can see the penguins from below the surface of the water.

Although this attraction is not a thrill ride for guests who are seeking something like Kraken or Manta, Empire of the Penguin is definitely an experience the entire family can enjoy together.  It is totally unique to Orlando, with no other attraction like it in the theme park capital of the world.

SeaWorld has done an excellent job on the immersion factor of the new Antarctica section including the architecture of the area, the choice of food and drink, and even the merchandise available for purchase. It is thrilling to have the penguins as new residents in Orlando. Antarctica will definitely enhance guests’ vacation experience when they visit SeaWorld Orlando.

SeaWorld Passholders: There’s still time to reserve your front-of-the-line access to Antarctica — click here

Official attraction website: http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-orlando/Antarctica

Penguin and Antarctica fun facts – view/download (PDF file)

Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin at SeaWorld Orlando – photo gallery

Click any image to view it full-screen. When the full-screen image is open, click to the right or use the right arrow on your keyboard to advance through the gallery.

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The post SeaWorld’s Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin – an immersive & chilling attraction like no other in Orlando appeared first on Orlando Informer.