5 secrets of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade first opened in 2010 to record-breaking crowds and brilliant fanfare, bringing with it a next-generation of theming and … Read more
Search Results for: special needs
6 top tips for making the most of Discovery Cove
Consistently considered the highest-rated park in Orlando, Discovery Cove is a hidden, tropical oasis within the hustle and bustle of the City Beautiful. Owned and … Read more
Lockers at Universal Orlando – a Complete, Up-to-Date Guide
Daily rate lockers At the front of each of Universal’s theme parks, you will find lockers available to rent for the entire day, which you … Read more
How many days to spend at Universal Orlando?
When first embarking on your vacation planning, one of the most important questions to answer – perhaps second only to when should I visit the … Read more
Review: Halloween Horror Nights 2018
The buildup to Halloween Horror Nights 2018 has easily been one of the most exciting in a considerable amount of time, with the various haunted-house … Read more
Why you should travel solo to Universal Orlando
Editor’s note: special thanks to OI reader – and superfan – Libby Thomas for submitting the following article to us. Love Universal Orlando Resort? Don’t have … Read more
6 lost attractions of San Francisco/Amity at Universal Studios Florida
We’ve already jumped in our trusty time machines and prowled the space-time continuum in order to experience all of the now-lost attractions at both Production … Read more
Universal now has the most expensive theme park in the world
Have you been following the progress of Universal Studios Beijing, the currently-under-construction theme park in China? We couldn’t blame you if you said no – … Read more
What to pack for your Universal Orlando vacation: free checklist & how to keep kids safe
You’ve planned the travel dates and made all the reservations for your Universal Orlando Resort vacation, and the kids are so excited, they can’t wait. … Read more
Universal Orlando Express Passes – Complete Insider’s Guide
What are Universal Express Passes? Universal Express Passes allow guests to skip the regular standby line – and use a special Express Pass line that … Read more
Saving Time and Money at Universal Orlando: Top 10 Tips, Tricks, and Secrets
You’ve reached our world-famous list of the top 10 easiest ways to save time and money when visiting Universal Orlando Resort! Utilize these tips both … Read more
Review: The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle
Last Christmas, Universal gave Harry Potter fans – and theme-park aficionados across the board – a very special gift in the form of a brand-new … Read more
Marvel Character Dinner coming to Universal Orlando
In October, the surprise announcement was made that the Superstar Character Breakfast would be retired the following month and would be replaced with a new, … Read more
Review: Halloween Horror Nights 2017
This year’s Halloween Horror Nights may have gotten off to an incredibly slow start in terms of its announcements – we’ve never gone so close … Read more
Halloween Horror Nights 2024 at Universal Orlando Resort – Complete Insider’s Guide
Halloween Horror Nights 2024 It’s never too early to start panicking for the nation’s premier Halloween event: Halloween Horror Nights 2024. On these pages, you … Read more
The Horrors of Blumhouse announced for Halloween Horror Nights 2017
This is one of the more interesting announcements Universal has made in relation to Halloween Horror Nights yet: a special Blumhouse mash-up haunted house is … Read more
How to Get Early Admission to Halloween Horror Nights 2024 at Universal Orlando
Halloween Horror Nights 2024 While we wait for 2024’s haunt, please enjoy the following information regarding 2023’s Halloween Horror Nights. Given the popularity of Halloween … Read more
Star Wars hyper-reality experience coming to Disney
There has been a recent trend in the themed industry to have theme parks couple the real-world experiences they offer with virtual-reality components – think … Read more
Internet Access at Universal Orlando – Complete Guide
In this day and age, theme-park guests of all types want to be online and ready to share photos, videos, and the thrills of their … Read more
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney World’s Hollywood Studios – overview and history
There are few theme-park projects anywhere in the world that can compare with the interest or, even, revolutionary nature of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The … Read more
SeaWorld unleashes Kraken Unleashed
Back in April, SeaWorld formally unveiled Kraken Unleashed, the virtual-reality upgrade to its popular, 17-year-old Kraken roller coaster. Today, the company invited media to try … Read more
FREE Universal Studios Florida & Islands of Adventure 1-Day Touring Plan
The purpose of this plan is to give you a framework for visiting the most popular attractions at Universal Studios Florida (USF) and Islands of … Read more
Universal CityWalk Orlando – restaurants
Universal CityWalk may have been Orlando’s nightspot capital since day one, but it’s only in the last three years that the dining/shopping/entertainment complex has undergone … Read more
The 13 must-read stories for March 2017
When covering Orlando and all of its many splendid attractions – including, of course, our particular focus, Universal Orlando Resort – it can be easy … Read more
REVEALED: Volcano Bay’s crazy food
Over the course of the past two years, Universal has been slowly but surely revealing every last facet of its brand-new “water theme park”: its … Read more
5 rumors we WISH came true at Universal Orlando
One of the most exciting features about Universal Orlando Resort is its current state of unprecedented construction and expansion. Ever since 2012, parent company Comcast … Read more
Town Center breathes new life into Disney Springs
This week, Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney) opened their newest district of their rebranded shopping and dining destination. The Town Center focuses on upscale shopping with … Read more
How Disney is trying to change the theme park industry
It seems as if the theme park industry is undergoing some kind of quiet, not-quite-behind-the-scenes revolution in how the park operators charge the public and, … Read more
Universal Orlando’s Dining Plans – complete guide & tips to save money
Welcome to the OI guide to Universal Orlando Resort’s Dining Plans, which includes a detailed overview of the three types of dining plans, along with … Read more
Harry Potter’s future at Universal
You are reading an article tagged as a rumor. Read our note from the editor to learn about rumors shared on Orlando Informer. Over the … Read more
Universal Attractions that NEVER should have closed, NEED to close, or MUST stay open!
It’s no secret that since The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade hit the drawing board there has been a dramatic change in the … Read more
Disney’s Season of the Force: Worth it or a waste?
Right from day one, when Disney first announced the new Season of the Force event back in August, there was something off between how Disneyland … Read more
Why Royal Pacific Resort offers the best value for your money
We all know that theme park prices are rising across the board. For most people who are vacationing on a budget, that fact necessitates a … Read more
Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville at Universal CityWalk Orlando – Full Menu, HD Photos, & Details
Skip to: Overview | Location | Hours | Theming | Menu | Guest reviews What is Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville? It’s always 5:00 somewhere at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville! Combining the flavors of Key West and the Caribbean, … Read more
Universal CityWalk Orlando
Skip to: Overview | Location | Parking | Dining | Things to do | Shopping | History | Tips What is Universal CityWalk Orlando? At … Read more
3 best (and most unusual) replacements for Toon Lagoon
Universal Studios Florida has, for the past four summers, been awash in a constant stream of construction projects that were designed to spruce up the … Read more
5 attractions Star Wars fans wish Disney would make a reality
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away a saga was born, changing the world of epic, blockbuster movies forever. In 2012 When … Read more
5 things Disney should learn from Universal
It all started with Disney. Were it not for Disneyland, theme parks as we know them would not be. For so many fans and guests, … Read more
How to fix Epcot
Note from the author: as promised/threatened on the latest episode of the Orlando Informer Podcast, here is the article originally published to commemorate Epcot’s 30th … Read more
Explore Port of Entry’s many secrets
It beckons. With rich earth tones, exotic plants and fabrics, whimsical architecture, and an enchanting melody, Port of Entry at Islands of Adventure is an … Read more
Diagon Alley revisited
When the world first heard the roar of the Gringotts dragon and gazed upon the stunning scenery of Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter – … Read more
5 best tips for selecting the perfect hotel
Every hotel is different. In fact, as a hotelier, I like to say that finding the right hotel for you is liking finding your spouse. … Read more
Top 8 ways to stay healthy during your vacation
Theme park vacations are tons of fun, but they can be spoiled in an instant once someone in your party gets the sniffles. Nothing ruins … Read more
11 tips to survive theme parks with large families
Sometimes the fantasy of a theme park vacation and the reality of it are worlds apart, especially when your family is larger than average. Dealing … Read more
E.T. is one of the Best Attractions at Universal Studios
Editor’s note: This article is being republished from our archives. Enjoy! The attraction building might look a bit plain from the outside, but I can … Read more
Visiting Universal’s Islands of Adventure with kids – a complete, up-to-date guide
A common misconception about Universal Orlando Resort is that the attractions at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure are designed mainly with teens and … Read more
Orlando for beginners: How to survive hurricane season
Hurricane season is upon us in the Sunshine State of Florida – six wonderful months of diligently watching the weather forecast to see if the … Read more
Rumor round-up for May 30, 2014: New details about Gringotts, limiting the Hogwarts Express, and the latest intel on wands, drinks & shops
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts: The good Just recently, the wonderful Bob Wadd posted some pics and video of his latest helicopter fly-by … Read more
Islands of Adventure trip report – March 2014 (Harry Potter construction woes, Me Ship the Olive + CityWalk’s new Starbucks & Cold Stone)
On Sunday, I visited Islands of Adventure (IOA) at Universal Orlando and spent a beautiful spring day walking around the park. But before I entered … Read more
Dick’s Last Resort now open in Lake Buena Vista: Eat, drink & laugh at a restaurant like no other
When you hear the name Dick’s Last Resort, your imagination is left to wander. If you are familiar with the brand, then you know you … Read more