Universal Orlando

It’s no question that the story of Harry Potter has cast an enchantment spell on the theme-park and entertainment industry ever since The Wizarding World of Harry Potter first opened its doors to Hogwarts in 2010. Although one could argue that the franchise was already culturally significant prior to its theme-park era, I would state that one […]

Whether Universal Orlando is practically part of your DNA or you’re a new fan, it’s always a blast to learn more about a destination that brings such joy and excitement to so many. With tons of franchises at its fingertips and a unique approach to ride concepts, it’s fascinating to learn how the resort unfolded. […]

Since bringing JK Rowling’s Butterbeer to fruition for guests’ enjoyment, Universal Orlando Resort has taken the lead in incorporating beverages to captivate yet another one of your senses during your theme-park experience – both Universal Studios Florida  and Islands of Adventure are home to bold, nonalcoholic beverages that help make you feel like you’re part of the stories that […]

The number-one question Orlando locals likely receive (outside of, “Hey, do you know how to get discounted tickets to the parks?”) might be, “When is the best time to come to Universal Orlando?” It’s a heavy question. It’s a deep question. It’s… well, complicated, at best. And it might be the number-one question we locals […]

Universal Orlando Resort is constantly evolving its attractions, experiences, and, most importantly (arguably), its desserts. These aren’t your average desserts, either – Universal dreams up the wildest flavors and combinations of goodies to bring unique character to each of its lands and destinations. The best part? Hustling around theme parks all day is the perfect […]

From her humble beginnings of doing stand-up comedy, Ellen DeGeneres has established herself as a staple in entertainment via her former sitcom Ellen and current daytime talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show. During the latter’s third season, Ellen’s popularity became so immense that she filmed her show at Universal Orlando Resort. Given her fame and how […]

Under my more theme park-oriented hat, I’m often asked by Universal Orlando Resort guests if it’s worth visiting Universal Studios Hollywood, and my answer is yes, absolutely. Sure, there are some similarities, but there are plenty of reasons to make it worth visiting – to assume otherwise could cause you to miss out on what may […]

Transformers: The Ride – 3D is one of Universal’s most popular attractions, garnering enough fame over the past eight years to warrant its inclusion at three separate Universal locations across the globe (soon to be four, if we include the upcoming Universal Studios Beijing). And although Transformers’s queue story and ride experience are essentially the same […]

After years of speculation, Universal finally divulged over the weekend the exact layout of Universal Studios Beijing, its biggest theme park ever. On the one hand, the contents are what you’d expect, featuring such greatest hits as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Minion Land (the themed area that was designed for Universal Studios […]

We’ve all been there, and some of us even plan for it – you’ve finalized an itinerary for your vacation and, almost inevitably, you’ve wound up with a quiet night. No high-intensity, fast-paced theme-park adventures; no crowded shopping malls; no additional tour excursions anywhere. Just you, your family, and a night to relax by your […]

Everyone loves going to Universal Orlando Resort for vacation, and everyone loves saving money. Therefore, what could be better than doing both? I’m not great at math, but there are more than a few ways to save a little cash while visiting Universal, including not only staying at one of the many Universal hotels, but also […]

Food. It’s not only necessary for us to survive, but we as humans have turned sustenance into an art form. And then, in an obvious leap from there, we turned it into a sport. It started off simple: a hot dog- or pie-eating contest here, a milk-chugging challenge there. It took a strange turn at […]

It used to be par the course for Halloween Horror Nights to feature multiple live shows, but when Bill & Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure was cancelled after its 27th season in 2017, Universal allowed its entertainment roster to dip to just one entry. This year, however, the company is setting the production ship straight again […]

It’s the homecoming that we never thought we’d see: Rob Zombie is returning to Halloween Horror Nights, along with his signature creation, House of a 1,000 Corpses. We say “returning” because – well, it’s a long, wild story. You better sit back and strap yourself in. With Horror Nights really starting to take off at […]

Universal told us right from the very beginning of Halloween Horror Nights 2019’s announcement cycle that we would be getting a grand total of five scare zones. While this meant we knew that this year’s event would have the same number of themed areas as the past few years’, what remained unknown was what the […]

Prepare to dance with ghosts in the graveyard. Well, perhaps we should make that “run from” – Graveyard Games has just been revealed as the last original haunted house at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights. As the name might suggest, this latest haunt is a (gorier) riff on the classic children’s game, Ghost in the […]

While most of the crowds at Universal Orlando Resort are treating themselves to all of the sweets, fried foods, and large portions they can get their hands on, some vacationers still like to watch their calorie intake. Health-conscious individuals used to be left with minimal options, but, over the years, Universal has expanded its menus […]

By this point, we feel like we’ve been in the Forbidden Forest with Rubeus Hagrid for forever now – we’ve pored over the concept art, analyzed the importance of having the jolly half-giant as the protagonist of the ride, deconstructed its story, and, of course, toured its queue. Because of this long history, you might […]