Reader poll doubleheader: Disney guest service vs. Universal guest service & AVATAR vs. Harry Potter
After a few weeks off, our reader poll blog posts are back, and they’re returning with our biggest battle to date! Screw up your courage … Read more
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Rumor round-up for October 11, 2013: Tour through Hogsmeade Station, new Wizarding World artwork & Iron Man flies in Hong Kong
Let’s walk through Hogsmeade Station, shall we? Prolific rumor monger HateToFly is at it again over on the Orlando United boards, and this time, he’s … Read more
Halloween Horror Nights 2013: Frequently asked questions & our expert answers
We are starting a new series here on Orlando Informer. A few times each month we will pick a topic pertaining to Universal Orlando vacation … Read more
Trail’s End Restaurant at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort: An afternoon trek, a homestyle meal & superb service
I’ve been to Walt Disney World many times since my first visit in the mid 90’s. But somehow, in all those visits, the one place … Read more
Rumor round-up for October 4, 2013: World of Warcraft coming to Universal, new infrared tech coming to Disney, construction projects around Orlando
Welcome to Azeroth, the newest Island of Adventure? Ever hear of a little videogame series called Warcraft? It started as a real-time strategy game for … Read more
Arabian Nights “Royal Celebration” – a classic dinner show gets an enchanting makeover
The Arabian Nights dinner show is an Orlando original (well, technically a Kissimmee original). In fact, this classic show has been entertaining Central Florida visitors … Read more
Tasting our way around the world: Photo tour of the 2013 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
The 2013 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival kicked off this past weekend at Epcot, and a friend and I stopped by to check out … Read more
Halloween Horror Nights 2013: Veteran review, new approach to a touring plan & even more expert advice
So, what does it take to get the most out your Halloween Horror Night experience? Well, definitely plan on arriving early, around 5:30pm, to make … Read more
Rumor round-up for September 28, 2013: Pulling the plug on WWE Hall of Fame, NextGen & Avatar Land updates, SeaWorld show 20 million years in the making
Is Universal pulling the plug on the WWE Hall of Fame? Over the past few months, we’ve been reporting on the possibility of NBA City … Read more
Disability Access Service (DAS) to replace Guest Assistance Card (GAC) at Walt Disney World
Welcome to the newest edition of Special Needs Are Universal, featuring questions and answers to help those with disabilities plan their visit to Orlando’s theme … Read more
Halloween Horror Nights 2013: Reviews of the street experience and haunted houses
Haunt season officially kicked off this past Friday with the opening night of Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 23, and I was fortunate enough to … Read more
Epcot Food & Wine Festival starts Friday: Delicious details, scrumptious fun facts & full ‘Eat to the Beat’ band lineup
Disney guests can grab a Marketplace Discovery Passport and embark on a global tasting tour during the 18th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, starting … Read more
Rumor round-up for September 20, 2013: Advance scoop on HHN, New Fantasyland in Tokyo Disneyland, images of the Hogwarts Express & more
HHN 2013: The good, the bad & the ugly In case you hadn’t already heard, Universal had a technical rehearsal this past Wednesday that also … Read more
From the PlayStation 1 to Halloween Horror Nights 23: The evolution of Resident Evil
Tomorrow, Halloween Horror Nights 23 will be upon us, unleashing eight haunted houses, including Resident Evil: Escape from Raccoon City. To commemorate what will surely … Read more
Princess Fairytale Hall debuts at Magic Kingdom; Fountain View now serving Starbucks at Epcot
Princess Fairytale Hall debuts The fantasy world of Disney royalty becomes reality in the all-new Princess Fairytale Hall, where Magic Kingdom guests get to live … Read more
Islands of Adventure trip report – September 2013 (Starbucks, Hogsmeade Station, JP midway games & more)
My family and I recently visited Universal’s Islands of Adventure and spent a fun day at the park. I noticed several changes as construction continues … Read more
Special needs are Universal: Prepare for Halloween Horror Nights, important AAP & GAP news
Welcome to the newest edition of Special Needs Are Universal, featuring questions and answers to help those with disabilities plan their visit to Orlando’s theme … Read more
Reader poll: Your favorite time of the year to visit Universal Orlando Resort
Each season of the year offers unique and fun happenings at Universal Orlando Resort. In this week’s poll, let’s find out which one is your … Read more
Rumor round-up for September 13, 2013: No more Cars Land, Universal adds one new ride per year, Harry Potter movie & Hogwarts Express opening date
Goodbye, Cars Land – hello, something else? Theme Park Insider has something of a bombshell announcement this week: according to its inside sources at Walt … Read more
“I’m hungry and in the mood for…” Three of my favorite restaurants on I-Drive to suit your tastes
International Drive, the gateway to Universal Orlando and SeaWorld, often gets a bit of a bad rep for being one of the most touristy areas … Read more
Site news: Open call for new Orlando Informer blog contributors (Update: open call closed for now)
Update We are no longer accepting applications for new writers However, for reference purposes, this post will remain viewable on our site. If you sent … Read more
Unexpected Orlando: Break away from the parks and explore our city this fall
The fall season brings many changes to Orlando’s theme parks, and it is the stage for several beloved events such as Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights … Read more
Universal Dining Plan 2013: Details, real guest review & your chance to ask questions
Important update As of November 3, 2013, all the information in this blog post PLUS additional details about the park’s new dining plan can now … Read more
Rumor round-up for August 30, 2013: Hogwarts Express detailed, Universal’s third park revealed, Jurassic Park expansion plotted, HHN houses exposed!
You may have already seen the Hogwarts Express engine car Many pictures have been streaming in over the past few weeks of the Hogwarts Express … Read more
Orlando Informer Weekly Dispatch: August 11 – 24, 2013
OI Universal Center updates Greetings, vacation planners! Prepare to UPGRADE YOUR ADVENTURE to Universal Orlando with our Weekly Dispatch. This is a summary of all … Read more
Rumor round-up for August 22, 2013: Diagon Alley, HHN Reveal Week, D23 Expo park news, Disney’s Polynesian Village & more
Fleshing out Diagon Alley… a little Robert Niles, the editor-in-chief of Theme Park Insider, knows a thing or two about the upcoming Wizarding World of … Read more
Real guest reviews of Universal Orlando: 10 more incredible reviews submitted by our fans (and the Review & Win contest winners are announced!)
Recently Orlando Informer introduced a new site feature that allows our readers to share reviews of the attractions and restaurants inside Universal Orlando’s theme parks. … Read more
Reader poll: The best water park in Orlando
There are plenty of amazing theme parks in the Orlando area, but it is also home to many first-class water parks as well! In case … Read more
Rumor round-up for August 9, 2013: Replacing Lost Continent with Willy Wonka, Universal CityWalk developments exposed & more HHN goodies
What should replace Lost Continent? The answer may surprise you… Let’s update Islands of Adventure, shall we? With Universal Studios Florida getting a bevy of … Read more
Rumor round-up for August 3, 2013: Soarin’ gets randomized, Universal gets Silly & the Imagination pavilion and Jurassic Park get new construction possibilities
Randomly Soarin’ over the randomized world Just to follow up on our recent Soarin’ news: Screamscape has swooped in with a juicy new report regarding … Read more
The fall 2013 season is bursting with events at Walt Disney World: Food & Wine Festival, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Princess Fairytale Hall debut
Fall 2013 is a grand celebration at Walt Disney World, marked by festivals, special events and other nonstop fun leading up to the holidays. On … Read more
20th Century Fox announces new theme park in Asia, and what this means for Orlando
Just this week, word has broken that Fox will be creating its very first theme park, replete with “media-based, thrill, dark, children’s, and water” rides, … Read more
Rumor round-up for July 26, 2013: Closing Imagination at Epcot, expanding DHS for Cars Land & Star Wars, moving Osborne Lights, The Walking Dead rise
What’s replacing Epcot’s Imagination pavilion? Use your imagination A short, mysterious, but highly intriguing post by Epcot Explorer’s Encyclopedia on its Facebook page makes some … Read more
Designing Star Wars Land at Walt Disney World: What Disney’s Imagineers should learn from Universal Creative
Disney has been at this theme park thing for almost 60 years now, and obviously they picked up a trick or two about how to … Read more
Real guest reviews of Universal Orlando: Some of the best restaurant reviews submitted by our fans
Recently Orlando Informer introduced a new site feature that allows our readers to write reviews of the attractions and restaurants inside Universal Orlando’s theme parks. … Read more
Islands of Adventure trip report – July 2013 (Jurassic Park midway construction begins, summer crowds & more)
I recently visited Islands of Adventure (IOA) at Universal Orlando Resort, and I was curious about any visible changes I could find this trip. [wptouch … Read more
Tales from the Parrot Perch: An Interview with JD Spradlin of Radio Margaritaville
When you see someone who is doing what they are meant to do for a living, they just shine. That is definitely the case when … Read more
Real guest reviews of Universal Orlando: Some of the best IOA attraction reviews submitted by our fans
Recently Orlando Informer introduced a new site feature that allows our readers to write reviews of the attractions at Universal Orlando. Right now I want … Read more
Orlando Informer Weekly Dispatch: June 30 – July 6, 2013
OI Universal Center updates Greetings, vacation planners! Prepare to UPGRADE YOUR ADVENTURE to Universal Orlando with our Weekly Dispatch. This is a summary of all … Read more
Rumor round-up for July 6, 2013: Star Wars Land at DHS, King Kong returns to USF & The Simpsons Springfield update
A Star Wars blowout of epic proportions Last month, Theme Park Insider broke word that Disney was planning on installing a “Star Wars Land” inside … Read more
Special needs are Universal: I have serious concerns about dad, but he really wants to go to Walt Disney World “one last time with the grandkids”
Welcome to the next edition of our Special Needs Are Universal column, featuring questions and answers to help those with disabilities plan their day at … Read more
RRU Special Edition: Fascinating rumors emerge about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter under construction at Universal Studios Hollywood
Every once in a while rumors come along that are so exciting and so teaming with possibilities, we know that our readers will be just … Read more
Battle it out with the rookies at Orlando Paintball – Florida’s largest indoor/outdoor paintball facility
Orlando is full of fun and excitement, no question. And the excitement is always better when you’re smack in the middle of it. That’s exactly … Read more
Rumor round-up for June 28, 2013: HHN 23, KidZone makeover & the third Universal Orlando park
Editor’s note: We are happy to introduce Marc N. Kleinhenz, a longtime contributor to the Orlando Informer blog, as the new author of our rumor … Read more
Drinking, snacking & quick bites at Universal CityWalk
Whether it’s because you don’t want to miss out on enjoying Universal’s many attractions, or whether it’s because you want a break, whether it’s just … Read more
Rumor round-up for June 21, 2013: Building Cars Land at Hollywood Studios, closing Latin Quarter at CityWalk & reworking the Guest Assistance Cards
#Occupy Lights Motors Action! Unless you were living under a rock late last week, the news of Disney’s Hollywood Studios getting a huge makeover was … Read more
Rumor round-up for June 14, 2013: Universal Dining Plan, The Simpsons, The Lorax, The Smurfs & Space Mountain
Followers of Orlando Informer on Twitter got the scoop earlier this week on Universal announcing a brand new Universal Dining Plan, giving the obsessive-compulsive trip … Read more
Universal Studios Florida trip report – June 2013 (Transformers first ride, The Simpsons Fast Food Blvd first taste, much more!)
Anticipating the many changes and new experiences at Universal Studios Florida (USF) this month, I was looking forward to my visit and could hardly contain … Read more
Orlando Informer Weekly Dispatch: June 3 – 8, 2013
OI Universal Center updates Greetings, vacation planners! Prepare to UPGRADE YOUR ADVENTURE to Universal Orlando with our Weekly Dispatch. This is a summary of all … Read more
Rumor round-up for June 7, 2013: Interactive Megatron, Taco truck in Springfield, new Universal imagineers, Diagon Alley construction
Talking Transformers coming to Universal This past week #BattleWatch was in full gear as Transformers: The Ride 3D began its “technical rehearsals” and the staff … Read more