There are so many pressed-penny locations throughout Universal Orlando Resort that I’ve decided to help you spend your pennies wisely. Here are my picks for the top five – plus a few bonuses, too.

5. Marvel superheroes throughout Marvel Super Hero Island

With so many superheroes in the Marvel Universe, it comes as no surprise that there are lots of locations in Marvel Super Hero Island. I am pretty sure this land inside Islands of Adventure has the most machines in all of Universal, in fact. Heading to Marvel Boutique, the merchandise shop that The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man exits into, as well as the Marvel Alterniverse Store across the street will result in multiple opportunities to press those pennies.

Naturally, Marvel Boutique has two Spider-Man-themed machines, including designs featuring the baddies Venom and the Green Goblin. These are both a little rough to get to, though, as the store has a constant flow of guests pouring into it from the exit of the Spidey attraction.

(Pro-tip: if you are a big fan of the Avengers, then you’ll want to consider heading to Islands of Adventure Trading Company at the front of the park. There, you will find a location that produces a set of eight pennies, each one a different Avenger.)

4. Jaws/Amity Island

Quite simply, if you’ve been a fan of Universal Orlando for a long time, you have to make a stop at the pressed-penny machine located in San Francisco, across from Chez Alcatraz. You can find it facing the iconic Bruce the shark photo-op along the lagoon. This one is all about Jaws, with designs to choose from. Heck, even the machine itself is nautical-looking!

(Pro-tip: inside the San Francisco Candy Factory, you’ll find another opportunity to press pennies. This one currently has three designs: one for The Secret Life of Pets, one for Trolls, and one for Back to the Future. So, if you’re a retro Universal Orlando fan, be sure to head here, too! )

3. Retro attractions at Universal Legacy Store

Speaking of old Universal attractions, visiting the Universal Legacy Store in CityWalk is a must. This shop has everything fans of the original Universal Studios Florida will love; there is not only lots of merchandise, but the decor is also full of props, blueprints, models, and other cool items, too. And part of the retro celebration is the chance to press some pennies with the designs of four original rides: Back to the Future, Jaws, E.T. Adventure, and Kongfrontation.

2. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure Trading Company

To keep with the immersive theming of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, there are no pressed-penny spots in either Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley. However, over in Port of Entry, you’ll find the massive Islands of Adventure Trading Company, which has, in the Harry Potter merchandise section, a machine that features eight different designs. Any wizarding fan will love these!

1. Jurassic World/Velocicoaster grand opening

You can press pennies at two different locations inside Jurassic Park: one outside the merchandise shop near Jurassic Park River Adventure, and the other near the restrooms that are close by the splashdown portion of that attraction.

This second machine currently features two dinosaur designs, including a special one commemorating the grand opening of Jurassic World VelociCoaster. There’s no indication of how long this particular penny will be available, so if you’re heading to Islands of Adventure anytime soon, add this to your must-do list.

Honorable mention – Margaritaville

I’ve got to admit my own bias. I am a big Jimmy Buffett fan, and it is the Margaritaville at Universal Orlando that made me that way. (It was also the catalyst for making me an annual passholder.) So, the pressed-penny opportunity here at the Smuggler’s Hold gift shop is, naturally, a favorite of mine. There are eight Margaritaville designs that any Parrothead will love – one of which is a special Margaritaville Orlando deal.

Bonus honorable mention – CityWalk “I survived” collection

These next two locations deserve their own call-out. They are situated outside the Universal Cinemark, and they feature some of the best designs for park-goers (even though they’re not in the parks!). Each machine has four images total, the majority of which features multiple Universal attractions. There are even a few “I survived” ones, including for The Incredible Hulk Coaster, Jurassic Park River Adventure, and Jaws, which is (sadly) long gone.

The best of the rest – Islands of Adventure

During my time researching pressed pennies throughout Universal Orlando, I snapped photos of a lot of machines. I came across a whole bunch more at Islands of Adventure that are also worth including in this list, even though I do not consider them to be in the top five:

• Hulk, Daredevil, and Spider-Man with a 2003 stamp at Islands of Adventure’s Entrance Hunhow Plaza
• SpongeBob SquarePants characters at Islands of Adventure Trading Company
• Dr. Seuss characters with “Islands of Adventure” written in Seussian font at Mulberry Street Store
• Popeye characters (check out the puns on the sides of the machine!) at the Toon Extra store

Penny for your (final) thoughts

Be sure to read the full instructions before you press any pennies – there are three different kinds of machines, including a hand-crank one, a push-button one, and eight coin-collection ones.

Each machine accepts $1.00 bills, as well as credit cards. Be careful with your card, though! Many of these machines will automatically charge you $3.00 and spit out each of the three designs it houses. Also, please note that you don’t need to bring your own pennies – they’re supplied for you, and, for the most part, they are nice and shiny and new.

Finally, one last warning: please use caution, because you may end up like me and become a newly minted pressed-penny collector without even realizing it!

Do you have a favorite location to press your vacation pennies? Or is there a different collectible you hunt down at Universal Orlando? Share your stories with 125,000+ other theme-park fans in our Orlando Informer Community on Facebook.

And be sure to follow Orlando Informer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news and tips at Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, and other Orlando destinations.

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It seems that more and more adults are embracing their own passion for Disney, taking themselves to Magic Kingdom in their 30s, 40s, and onward. I wholeheartedly endorse this behavior and believe you should never lose the part of you that thrives on adventure and character dining. However, there are plenty of times when the grown-ups just want a chance to kick back and enjoy some adult entertainment at Disney World. With Pleasure Island long gone, many people think they have to leave property to have a good time as a legal adult nowadays – but they couldn’t be more wrong.

Here’s my personal list of the top five nightlife options that adults can still enjoy at Walt Disney World.

1. AMC Dine-In

As a kid, movie theaters were always a treat. I would have been thrilled with a bag of popcorn and a soda for my concessions – throw in a candy bar, and it was pretty much the best day of my life.

As a “big kid,” however, I’ve found that my tastes have upgraded (somewhat), and there is no better place to enjoy the perks of adult movie-going than AMC Dine-In at Disney Springs. Not only does the theater have assigned seating (what – I don’t have to get there two hours early just to get a good spot?), but the food is also miraculous. I’ve ordered three-course meals at their establishment while watching the latest blockbuster and enjoyed myself every single time. Grilled salmon, loaded tater tots, steak and rice bowls, and I can have wine delivered to my seat? Where has this place been all my life!

The lobby also features a full bar, so you can enjoy yourself even while you wait to be seated. Perfect for date night, group hangs, or even treating yourself to a lovely evening, I cannot recommend Dine-In enough. You deserve to do dinner and a movie like an adult.

2. The Edison

One of the most popular spots in Disney Springs since it opened in January 2018, The Edison is unique in that it requires a dress code, and a minimum age requirement, after 10:00 pm – any nighttime guest must be over 21, and there are absolutely no flip-flops or baseball hats allowed. Not only is the food to die for, but there is entertainment galore, from aerialists to stilt walkers.

The Edison is, we hope, reinventing adult entertainment for The Walt Disney Company, with their themed dancers, contortionists, and more. The entire restaurant is 1920s-themed, allowing you to embrace your imagination while still having the time of your life. The hand-crafted cocktails are so spectacular, you may have trouble ordering just one. So put on your flapper dress, doll, and pour yourself a bottle of hooch! This Industrial Gothic watering hole is the perfect place for you.

3. Disney’s BoardWalk

Two of my favorite places on the BoardWalk are 21 and over. First, there’s Jellyrolls, one of my absolute favorite bars in all of Orlando. It’s the perfect place for that casual Friday-night vibe, but with a twist! In this case, it’s the incredibly talented dueling pianists that grace the stage every night. Request your favorite tunes or let the musicians choose their own; either way, I promise you’ll have a great time. As a bonus, singing along is absolutely encouraged! (Don’t feel comfortable enough to join the public karaoke? Don’t worry – the bar can take care of that.)

After you’ve finished singing your heart out, don’t forget to put on those boogie shoes and head next door to the Atlantic Dance Hall. It’s one of the best night clubs in town, and everyone is there just to dance the night away. And, if you do your research, you may just be able to find one of the many groups who goes dancing on the regular and join up with them. Local teachers are known to take their adult students for a spin around the floor, and they just may be willing to teach you a thing or two, as well. In addition, they’re currently gearing up for their New Year’s Eve extravaganza, so you can hip and hop into 2019 like a pro!

4. The Basket

If you haven’t just wandered aimlessly around Disney Springs, you might have missed The Basket at Wine Bar George. Often open until as late as 2:00 am, this quick-service gem allows you to craft your own specialty picnic basket, complete with all your favorites. Build your own to-go feast, complete with cheese, bread, meat, desserts, and, even, incredible wine. The Basket has taken date night to a whole new level and allows you to set up a delicious meal wherever you like.

Want something a bit more romantic than just parking it in Disney Springs somewhere? The Basket is conveniently located right across from the boat docks that can ferry you (for free) to Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa or Old Key West Resort. So pack up your basket, grab your date, and try a new take on classy late-night dining.

5. House of Blues

And, finally, let’s bring it home with a classic.

I would be remiss if I didn’t include Disney World’s famous concert destination, House of Blues at Disney Springs. With its mouth-watering soul food and refreshing drinks, you can enjoy your favorite bands after a long day of park hopping and souvenir shopping. Check their show schedule to find out their concert lineup, and join them at the bar for their daily happy hour. All ages may be allowed in, but let’s be honest grown-ups… we all know this place is for you. So kick back and enjoy it, because this is a kind of nightlife magic you don’t get anywhere else in town.

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The magic doesn’t end when the parks close, and it shouldn’t have to end when you turn 21, either. At Walt Disney World Resort, they’re creating new ways for the adult clientele to enjoy themselves after hours, so take advantage of it. Whether the relaxing picnics are more your style, or you prefer to dance until your feet go numb, there’s something for everyone after nightfall at Disney – just remember to tell everyone all about your after-hours adventures in our OI Community.

And be sure to follow Orlando Informer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news and tips at Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, and other Orlando destinations.

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Across all this time, many may think they have the secrets to the Wizarding World all figured out, but there may be some things even the most experienced wizard and witch do not yet know. Here are our top five secrets of Harry’s wondrous world.

1. Wands work on magic

It may sound silly to those muggles out there, but it is true – the interactive wands that can be purchased from Ollivander’s Wand Shop (and, of course, other locations scattered throughout Universal) indeed work on magic, and, because of this, they are one of the best souvenirs you can buy from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. “Running on magic” means that their batteries will never die, as there are no batteries to run out in the wands – even those that were bought immediately upon their introduction (over four years ago at this point) will still work if they are brought back to either Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley.

Another fun fact: because they are magical in nature, interactive wands will be able to produce magic no matter what Hogsmeade you visit – yes, even if a wand were bought in Orlando, it’ll still work in Osaka. How amazing is that?

One other cool thing about the wands is that if, for whatever reason, they do stop working – say, a smaller witch or wizard isn’t as careful with it as she or he should’ve been – Ollivander’s will be happy to repair it for you (with magic, of course!). Ollivander guarantees his wands for life, after all, so no matter how many times yours may stop working, it’ll always be allowed to be repaired.

2. There are other places to buy Butterbeer

One of the best parts about visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is, of course, the Butterbeer! Due to its popularity, however, the delectable drink can prove to be difficult to obtain, especially during those busier times of the year – but this doesn’t mean it will have to be given up! There are some lesser-known locations that will usually have a much shorter line than the more obvious places.

In Hogsmeade, Butterbeer doesn’t only have be purchased at the outdoor carts – it can actually be bought from inside The Three Broomsticks or the attached Hog’s Head Pub. If it’s outside typical eating hours, buying it from the Broomsticks side might be the faster way to go, as there are many registers running at once; picking up your wizarding treat at the Hog’s Head, however, is always fun, as there is a lot more on tap here, such as Pumpkin Fizz or the alcoholic Dragon Scale.

Over in Diagon Alley, Butterbeer is similarly available inside The Leaky Cauldron – which will have the same benefits as buying it in The Three Broomsticks – but it can also be found at The Hopping Pot and The Fountain of Fair Fortune, which act as glorified drink carts. One little-known secret about The Fountain of Fair Fortune: Butterbeer ice cream can also be purchased here (since it’s located so close to Florean Foretescue’s Ice-Cream Parlor, the wizarding employees can run over and pick up the ice cream, if asked nicely).

3. Chocolate Frog cards can be traded

Everybody loves Chocolate Frogs – but be careful, as they only have one good jump in them!

While the chocolate is a good enough reason on its own to purchase one, another compelling motivation is the included trading cards. Currently, ten Chocolate Frog cards are available to guests: Albus Dumbledore, Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, Salazar Slytherin, Gilderoy Lockhart, Bertie Bott, Hengist of Woodcroft, Jocunda Sykes, and, most recently, Devlin Whitehorn. (Fun fact: although, in the movies, Harry Potter’s first-ever trading card is Dumbledore, in the books it’s Hengist, the founder of Hogsmeade.)

It’s (mostly) completely random which trading card is in which box, so it’s possible to get many duplicates before collecting all of them. Because of this, witches and wizards in Honeydukes (in Hogsmeade) and SugarPlum’s Sweet Shop (Diagon Alley) will happily trade out any duplicate Chocolate Frog cards for one of a guest’s choice – but just please keep in mind that there is only a limited amount of each card, so you might not be able to get the one you’re looking for. But, hey – it may also be possible that some guests would be willing to trade for other cards, as well, so there’s always that.

4. Unknown secrets of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

By far one of the most innovative attractions Universal has constructed (as proven by its existence in all three Wizarding Worlds around the globe), Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey has some secrets that even the most observant of witches and wizards might not have seen.

In the ride’s first scene, for example, Harry and Ron’s legs can be seen in shadow right before the first screen pops up. This is in reference to the guests’ magical flying bench keeping up with the two students as they sneak away from Professor Binns’s History of Magic lesson. Further on, after Hermione helps riders escape from the Forbidden Forest, the magical bench almost gets smashed by the Whomping Willow – in fact, it seems that one of the ride vehicles actually had that fate, as a broken one can be seen to the left of the massive tree’s trunk.

Finally, there is a callback to the beginning of the Forbidden Journey at its very end. Those that have experienced the attraction know that, very early on, Hagrid has lost a dragon and has asked Harry and Ron (and, by extension, the guests) to help him locate it. Near the end of the ride, as Harry is making his way back to Hogwarts’s Great Hall with your magical bench in tow, the missing dragon can be seen flying over the Black Lake and heading towards the castle, as well – a great way to round out the story!

5. Don’t forget to go window shopping

By far the most unique part of the Wizarding World is all the shop windows – this is where the immersive quality of the locations really shine, thanks in part to their featuring the graphic designs of MinaLima, who worked on all 10 Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts movies. There are some hidden secrets here that even the most dedicated of witches and wizards might not know about.

Diagon Alley

Diagon Alley boasts some of the most unique windows by far. Located near the entrance to Ollivander’s is a window that shows wands in their raw form, which includes different types of woods that have yet to be whittled down as well as vials containing samples of wand cores. While most guests could imagine what a unicorn hair or a phoenix tail feather looks like, not many know what a dragon heartstring should look like. Well, now they can!

There are also secret spell-casting locations hidden throughout the area: one on the main alley and one near the entrance to Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment, near the Gringott’s Money Exchange. These can be the trickiest to find – luckily, there are many wizards and witches wandering around Diagon Alley who would be more than happy to help out a fellow magic-user who is looking for those unmarked spots.

Diagon’s final great secret is actually located in Knockturn Alley, where visitors can find Markus Scarrs Indelible Tattoos, and they can peak through the windows to see what, exactly, wizarding tattoos look like. Look carefully – just as wizarding paintings and photographs like to move, so, too, do the tattoos.

Hogsmeade

Remember how Hagrid once told Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia that Harry’s name had been down to attend Hogwarts since his birth? It seems like – this one time, at least – Harry wasn’t really all that special. In fact, there exists a magic quill that records the birth of every wizard or witch with the potential to attend the school on a special roll of parchment, and it can be found in the window of Scrivenshaft’s Quill Shop in Hogsmeade Village. If watched for long enough, odds are the quill will start recording the name of a new wizarding baby that has been born into this world.

Another fun window-secret can be found in Spintwitches Sporting Needs, the Quidditch supply store. The window itself shows a Quidditch trunk with the quaffle and bludgers on display. Missing from the trunk, however, is the Golden Snitch – originally, there was a projection of the loose snitch flying around the shop, having gotten free of its bindings.

Bonus!

Okay, okay – just two last little tidbits, since we love these too much to let them go unmentioned.

One: using the Hogwarts Express to move between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure is the only way a guest can bring alcohol between the two parks. As food and drink are allowed on the train itself, it’s a great way around the liquor-license restrictions between the theme parks and CityWalk. And two: the Three Broomsticks in the Harry Potter films is actually based off of the Three Broomsticks that was designed for the Wizarding World; the theme-park land opened before the set was needed for the movies, so it had to be (fully) designed for the parks first!

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What are some of your favorite secrets of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter? Let us and tens of thousands of other Universal lovers know in our OI Community.

And be sure to follow Orlando Informer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news and tips at Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, and other Orlando destinations.

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If you’re fully steeped in the mythology of Harry Potter and can rattle off, say, the backstory of the Great Lake off the top of your head, you still aren’t prepared for everything that Universal’s Gringotts Wizarding Bank is going to throw at you.

Now how’s that for a reason to get excited?

#5 – Harry’s in the ride

For the past year, we’ve been wondering whether Harry actor Daniel Radcliffe would make an appearance in Escape from Gringotts, particularly given his reluctance to don his school robes again now that it’s been three years since the final film. And even though we received (unofficial) confirmation that he would, indeed, make his presence felt on the ride, there’s still been rumors floating about that we’d more hear Radcliffe than actually see him.

It’s time to put all those rumors to rest.

Universal’s concept art clearly shows Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger all in the ride, and, what’s more, actor Warwick Davis (who portrays Griphook in the films and, apparently, in Escape from Gringotts) definitively states that we’ll see material from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, starting right after the lot of them has plunged through the Thieves’ Downfall (more on this in just a bit). The moniker of “the Boy Who Lived” seems to be appropriate once again.

[youtube_video]17ySA77iRyI[/youtube_video]

This still, however, leaves open the distinct possibility that Harry won’t be seen more than just once or twice in the ride; it seems that Ron’s brother, Bill, will be the main character during your journey through Gringotts’s vaults.

#4 – Flirting with the dark side

Just as with Star Wars, the true fun of the Harry Potter mythos lies with its villains – and although it’s great news that guests will be able to see Harry himself on the ride, it’s the presence of Lord Voldemort that is truly the most compelling for any fan.

Voldemort, of course, is nowhere to be seen in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, which is no great surprise, given its placement (largely) within the first half of the Potter series (Sorcerer’s Stone to Goblet of Fire). Finally being able to come face-to-(nose-less)-face with the Dark Lord himself should be a great deal of fun, and it will undoubtedly make Escape from Gringotts’s finale (one of Universal’s historical weak spots) one of the best in the business.

And just to ensure that the attraction has the biggest punch possible (no pun intended), old Voldey will be bringing along a bunch of his friends – some of which are new to the sequence in question – including the deliciously evil Bellatrix Lastrange and the large, bumbling, but-still-deadly security trolls decked out in suits of armor.

These villains should make for a more exhilarating ride experience, much more so than Draco Malfoy or the Whomping Willow ever could (sorry, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey).

#3 – Magical interactivity

The audio-animatronic goblins that line Gringotts’s Grand Hall are more than just extremely impressive set dressing – they’re there to stare you down and, occasionally, talk to you.

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This is just one added layer of technology and interactivity that Universal is implementing to make the Wizarding World seem that much more magical. As the various goblins count their money and update their records, they look up and make eye contact with you, as if they’re living, breathing creatures. It may not seem overtly impressive, particularly when juxtaposed with multi-million dollar next-generation theme park rides, but it’s actually an incredibly deft touch and one of the most complete ways of bringing guests more fully into Harry’s wondrous world.

It’s the little details, after all, and Diagon Alley seems to be getting them in spades, putting all other theme park lands to shame.

#2 – A new window on the past

As mentioned previously, Escape from Gringotts is set during Deathly Hallows, Part 2, when Harry, Ron, and Hermione are attempting to breach Gringotts Bank’s security in order to sneak into Madame Lestrange’s vault and snatch away one of Lord Voldemort’s precious Horcruxes. This immediately raises the theming bar, as being able to step in right alongside Harry is infinitely more immersive and captivating than hitting up a greatest hits montage of the films – as Forbidden Journey essentially is – ever possibly could be, but Universal even one-ups this upgrade.

However, rather than just re-tell the story from the film/book, as most attractions’ grand ambition simply is, Universal Creative and Warner Bros. have literally opened a brand-new window on this well-trodden tale: guests will be just the other mine-car-track over, watching those scenes from the source material play out in the background as their own parallel story plays out in the foreground. Think of it like Back to the Future, Part II: Potter fans will be able to go back and see the scenes in-between the scenes, showing what the fabled trio was up to when the camera/author wasn’t looking.

Not only will this provide a must-do experience within the Harry Potter pantheon, it also once again pushes the envelope of what is possible within the theme park industry – and there’s no doubt whatsoever that this will be the start of a new trend that’ll last for the next few decades the world over.

#1 – The first new story in years

Yes, placing a Potter fanboy actually inside Harry’s story might be one of the most sure-fire ways to have a hit on your hands, but actually inventing new stories takes it to a whole new ball game.

The premise is simple: Muggles now have the opportunity to open their own accounts in the wizarding bank (never mind why), and that’s exactly what guests are doing, hopping on a mine car to jaunt down to their brand-new vaults. It just so happens, of course, that this is exactly when Harry, Ron, and Hermione go Horcrux hunting, and our worlds end up colliding.

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Having Muggles be involved is the first wrinkle in this new storytelling variation, but there’s a second, far bigger one. Somehow being tipped off to our heroes’ intrusion, Belllatrix and Voldemort make an appearance at the subterranean vaults – and they’re none too happy to see stinking, filthy Muggles suddenly there, let alone the likes of Harry and company. The only rational decision to make, of course, is to simply kill everyone and be done with it.

This isn’t just a simple retelling, then – it’s actually a parallel timeline, one that coexists with the source material’s and which weaves in and out of it, but one which is nonetheless distinctly different.

It’s hard to come by new Potter stories, placing Escape from Gringotts right alongside the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them film trilogy as the last refuge for fans ravenous for new adventures within the wizarding world.

Now that you’ve read what Potter-heads will love, see what non-Potter fans have to look forward to. Then, be sure to check out our recent breakdown of Diagon Alley’s other must-ride attraction, the Hogwarts Express.

Already seen those blog posts? Then learn more about the Harry Potter expansion by visiting our complete guide to Diagon Alley. And, finally, if you want to track the very latest developments, join your fellow vacation planners and Potter fans in the OI Forums.

[sws_author_bio user=”msunyata@yahoo.com” size=”105″ authorposts=”More OI posts by Marc” name_format=”About the author”] [/sws_author_bio]

The post THE BIG 5: Top five Escape from Gringotts features Potter fans have been waiting for appeared first on Orlando Informer.

Want to see how Escape from Gringotts will still be the must-ride attraction for everyone in your family on your next vacation? Read on…

#5 – The dragon

Epcot may have Spaceship Earth, and the first Wizarding World may have Hogwarts Castle, but Diagon Alley has a 60-foot dragon perched atop its icon, Gringotts Wizarding Bank. That’s a massive structure in and of itself, and it’s the first time that any theme park – here in America, at least – has attempted to add such a large theming detail, particularly as just a cherry on top.

It doesn’t matter that the dragon is an Ukrainian Ironbelly, or that it’s actually one of Gringotts’s best lines of defense against would-be thieves, or that it’s meant to (partially) simulate a key scene from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 – it will still inexorably draw you towards it and subconsciously plant the idea that you have to check out whatever ride it’s perched on top of. And the fact that it actually breathes real fire at regular intervals just seals the deal.

Call it the next generation of theme park icon design.

#4 – The queue will tell you (mostly) everything

Once the Ironbelly has drawn you inside, you might feel initially overwhelmed by the imposing 50-foot entry hall and all the magical creatures and devices contained within it, but that should only last for a second: much more than in almost any other attraction, Gringotts’s queue is going to walk you through exactly what you need to know in order to fully enjoy its ride – particularly because it is going to interact with its source material in an unprecedented way (more on that shortly).

Sure, the audio-animatronic goblins and their real-life security guard counterparts may not fully explain the finer details of, say, a Horcrux to you, but you never really needed to fully grasp the (quantum) mechanical workings of the AllSpark to enjoy Transformers: The Ride, either; once Escape from Gringotts concludes its four-minute experience, you’ll be ready to instantly hop back in line instead of scratching your head over why Bellatrix Lestrange was entrusted with a Horcrux in the first place.

#3 – Interactive storytelling

Here’s the way it usually goes: there’s a bestselling novel or, more typically, a blockbuster film, and one of the theme park operators uses this as a basis for a ride, either mining it for a “greatest hits” type experience (see Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey) or adding on brand-new elements around it (E.T. Adventure).

Not with Escape from Gringotts.

For the very first time, a full scene from the corresponding movie – in this case, Deathly Hallows, Part 2 – will be presented in its entirety, but guests will get to experience it from an entirely different perspective, as they’ll be sitting literally right next to Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger as they go about their mission. Think Back to the Future, Part II – a brand-new narrative thread will be inserted into the scene’s stitching, making for a much richer (and more rewarding!) overall tapestry.

While this may be particularly enticing for Potter fanboys and -girls, there’s also an exciting element for the average theme park goer, as well: there’s only one 10-minute sequence out of a 16-hour film series that prospective riders can familiarize themselves with in order to fully appreciate the ride experience. (Which is not to say that such a storytelling premise shouldn’t get anyone excited, regardless of her familiarity with its corresponding overarching narrative.)

Here’s a few snippets of the sequence in question, just to whet your appetite:

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#2 – It’s a family ride

Escape from Gringotts may seem to be a thrill ride of the highest caliber, given the presence of fire-breathing dragons, armor-suited trolls, and dark wizards, but Universal has actually bent over backwards in an effort to make this as much of a family ride as possible.

Learning their lesson from Forbidden Journey, which features four-person “flying benches” that whip riders about, Gringotts’s mine cars will seat 12 people – more than enough room to get the whole family to enjoy the ride together. And just to make sure that everyone can get on the ride, the height restriction is expected to be set at 42 inches – six inches shorter than Forbidden Journey or Revenge of the Mummy (but still two inches taller than such rides as the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man and Transformers).

Even more important, however, was the desire to make the ride itself as sedate as possible while still allowing its experience to be action-packed and daring. “We wanted the level of thrills that Forbidden Journey has, but maybe make it more visual than physical in some ways,” Thierry Coup, Senior Vice President of Universal Creative, has said. Don’t expect steep hills or too many sharp turns or sudden stops, like you might find on Mummy or Universal Orlando’s (outdoor) rollercoasters – but simulated freefalls, as in Spider-Man, and dragon fly-alongs are certainly on tap.

There aren’t too many rides at Universal Studios Florida that allow the whole family to hop on together, and certainly none as high a caliber – in terms of either its technology or its thrill-simulating experience – as Gringotts. This reason alone makes the ride extremely hard to pass up.

#1 – It’s a new type of ride experience

It may not surprise you that Universal is touting its newest flagship attraction as a “never-been-done-before” ride that is so new, it doesn’t even have a name yet; “a mind-blowing next-generation thrill ride” is the best the company can come up with. Or, to quote Coup once more, the “multi-sensory, multi-dimensional” ride is “going to blow your mind.”

The reality behind the hyperbole is that guests have already ridden similar attractions, such as the aforementioned Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man and Transformers: The Ride, but the marketing speak seems to be very much real when it comes to the marriage of physical sets and 3D projections – not to mention the latest technologies in depicting the presence of actors right alongside your ride vehicle. “The time you spend in each scene with the characters is greater than we’ve been able to achieve in any ride,” Coup has also said. “It’s really going to give you the sense of being there with your favorite characters.”

The very genesis of the theme park was to provide the guest with a barrage of sensations that he would never ordinarily be able to experience, and even the premise behind (modern-day) rollercoasters is to provide hitherto unreached goals of height or speed – all of which is to say that Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is not only the very latest step in this evolutionary course, it’s also, thus far, its greatest achievement.

How can you possibly pass that up?

Now it’s time for: top five Escape from Gringotts features Potter fans have been waiting for.

When you’re done, be sure to check out our recent breakdown of Diagon Alley’s other must-ride attraction, the Hogwarts Express. Then, learn more about the Harry Potter expansion by visiting our complete guide to Diagon Alley. Finally, if you want to track the very latest developments, join your fellow vacation planners and Potter fans in the OI Forums.

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The post THE BIG 5: Top five Escape from Gringotts features non-Potter fans will love appeared first on Orlando Informer.

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.

[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 full-screen images at the bottom of the post.
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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

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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Read what gets us the most excited about Universal’s first-ever budget hotel, and then tell us what you’re most looking forward to in the comments below.

#5 – Family suites

One half of Cabana Bay’s 1,800 rooms will be family suites, which are 430 square feet in size and which sleep up to six. Universal is very obviously attempting to compete against Disney’s recent Art of Animation Resort suites, since the amenities are comparable (though a bit smaller): two flat-screen TVs, a kitchenette area, sliding partition for privacy, and an “extra-large” bathroom that can fit three at a time. Prices range from $174 to $209 per night, which is cheaper than their Disney counterparts.

Having the ability to easily (and cheaply!) stay with one group is nice, and the rooms themselves look nothing but inviting. And since these family suites open up first (the standard rooms bow on July 1, alongside the hotel’s “grand opening”), we’ll have plenty of time to break them in before the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley debuts this summer.

#4 – The theme

Though, at first blush, the retro 1950s/’60s vibe doesn’t seem to be quite as intriguing as, say, Springfield USA, there’s no denying that Universal Creative’s designers have gone above and beyond the call of detailing duty. Utilizing a bold color palette and perhaps the most extensive application of a hotel theme yet, Cabana Bay is a sight to behold, from the rooms to the Bayliner Diner food court to, even, the Jack LaLanne Fitness Center (which is complimentary, unlike at the other on-site hotels).

Everything screams “hip and vintage,” as the company itself describes it, resulting in a property that truly looks nothing like anything else on either Universal’s or Disney’s lot. Don’t be surprised if this instantly tops the list of the most visually appealing and classically fun hotels anywhere in Orlando.

#3 – The extras

An enjoyable theme demands fun activities, and Cabana Bay has them in spades. In addition to the standard recreational offerings at the other on-site hotels, such as dive-in movies and a game room, Cabana will also feature volleyball, ping pong, bingo, and, most befitting the vibe, poolside hula hoop contests.

The true star here, though, is easily Galaxy Bowl, a 10-lane bowling alley that looks positively ‘60s but offers a modern array of food and drink, including beer, wine, and churros. Oh, there’s also going to be pool tables on hand, along with “music and video screens,” but of course.

The most impressive part of this lineup, aside from its sheer versatility – which Universal absolutely needs in order to accommodate the 5,000 to 7,000 guests it’ll have on-hand at any given time – is how it fully complements the family-road-trip-of-yore feel. We weren’t kidding when we said this might be the most extensive usage of theming in a resort ever seen.

#2 – Pool areas

Cabana Bay Beach Resort will offer two pools, making it the only property other than Portofino Bay Hotel – Universal Orlando’s flagship venue – to do so. Both are zero-entry and feature a sand beach, but the additional amenities differ quite a bit from there.

The pool in the North Courtyard, where most of the family suites are located, is 10,000 square feet and features not only a fully retro-looking water tower, but also a 100-foot waterslide that just so happens to run right through it. And while the South Courtyard’s pool may only be 6,000 square feet, it features Universal’s first-ever lazy river – more on that in just a moment.

And what pool area would be complete without a bar/snack counter? Up north, the Atomic Tonic will serve up exotic alcoholic concoctions, while the Hideaway Bar and Grill down south will feature – you guessed it – grilled offerings.

“Honorable mention” – the dark side of Cabana

We typically reserve our honorable mention entries for exactly that – an honorable mention – but this time we thought we’d turn the format on its head and address some of the drawbacks of Universal’s first value-/moderate-priced resort.

Although most of the deluxe hotels’ benefits will be extended to Cabana Bay guests – early park admission, the delivery of souvenirs right to your room, free transportation to Wet ‘n Wild and the SeaWorld parks – there are a number that, unfortunately, will be denied. Chief among these is the lack of complimentary unlimited Express Passes, which is Universal’s (expensive) skipping-the-regular-line option, but there are others that also must be taken into account: the inability to bring pets into the hotel, Cabana’s distance from the rest of Universal Orlando, and the lack of water taxi service to and from CityWalk. This means that if you want to get to the theme parks, you’ll need to wait for a shuttle or just walk.

And, finally, as if all this weren’t enough, there’s also the rumor of Universal somehow staggering Cabana Bay guests’ early park admission in an attempt to stem the flow of the several thousand more people into the Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter every morning. We really don’t see how this could actually be put into practice, but it’s worth mentioning, at the very least. (For more on all this, please see our recent blog post.)

#1 – Lazy river

The single biggest item we’re absurdly giddy over is the venerable lazy river, which already sounded like a lot of fun before Universal announced that it was going to be throwing a number of little twists into the formula. How does the addition of waterfalls that you’ll be passing under, water cannon that other guests will shoot at you, and a stronger-than-normal current to propel you along sound? Like the perfect end to a busy day at the parks, if you ask us (which you must’ve).

Taken with everything else that Cabana Bay Beach Resort has to offer, it makes for an undeniably attractive stop on your next vacation – even if you’re staying somewhere else.

Want to learn still more about Cabana Bay? Be sure to check out our overview of the new resort. Or you can read all of our BIG 5 blog posts.

UPDATE: Orlando Informer will be spending the night at Cabana Bay Beach Resort on March 31. Be sure to follow us on Twitter for live photo updates all evening!

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#5 – Bahama Breeze

If you are looking for a tropical getaway within your Orlando vacation, Bahama Breeze should be on your list! This Caribbean-themed spot gives you the opportunity to eat delicious entrees bound to take you straight to the islands. Along with the amazing variety of dishes, they offer a selection of cocktails that is sure to make your mouth water. Any time I visit, I order a different cocktail to pair with my dinner, and I have never been disappointed.

There are three locations around Orlando: one on International Drive, one near Disney, and another in Kissimmee. Visit their website to learn more.

#4 – Sea Dog Brew Pub

What could be better than great food, good beer, and the company of your favorite people, all together in one place?

Located near Walt Disney World, at Sea Dog Brew Pub you can enjoy fantastic Sea Dog handcrafted beer along with delicious pub food. When I visit, I usually pair my dinner with a beer sampler, which allows me to choose and taste four six-ounce pours of any of the beers on tap.

After you’re done with their incredible fried pickles, one of the best entrees to pair amazing beer with is a burger – luckily, Sea Dog offers a large variety of burgers for any craving! (My veggie source also gives the vegetarian burger two big thumbs up.) Although Sea Dog offers a great kids’ menu as well as a fun atmosphere, this stop caters better to couples or a group of friends out for a night of fun. Visit their website to learn more.

#3 – Bento Cafe

Located minutes from Universal Orlando on West Sand Lake Road, if you’re in the mood for authentic and delicious Asian food, Bento Cafe is the spot for you. It’s easily one of the best places to satisfy any Asian food craving, from its colorful sushi options to the flavorful bento boxes. For the uninitiated, “bento” means “boxed meal” in Japanese, and at Bento Cafe, it comes with rice, veggies, and your choice of protein and sauce – see the PDF menu online.

Although there are other offerings on the menu, I always choose a bento box when I visit, since the options are plentiful and the portion size is generous. As long as your kids have adventurous palates, your family will love visiting this spot. Learn more

#2 – Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar

Your desire for a colorful meal and a spirited environment for dinner is fulfilled at Rocco’s Tacos, also located minutes from Universal Orlando. Not only do they serve up delicious Mexican food at Rocco’s, but also some amazing margaritas and other specialty cocktails! My absolute favorite thing about this restaurant is their obvious attention to detail in both their food and drinks. From their guacamole made table-side to over 200 types of tequilas, they certainly have everything you could possibly want for a party night on the town.

Which reminds me: if you are visiting Rocco’s with your family, try to enjoy your dinner before 8:00pm. And, when you visit, try not to get too sidetracked by the amazing tequila bar right at the restaurant’s front door! Visit RoccosTacos.com to learn more.

#1 – 4 Rivers Smokehouse

This is, without a doubt, the best BBQ I’ve had in Central Florida. Heck, it might even be the best BBQ I’ve had, period! Aside from the amazing BBQ, this place has a lot to offer. From their side dishes that are to die for (ahem, get the corn bread) to the fresh-baked cupcakes at their bakery, you really can’t go wrong here.

From the moment you step in the door, you feel like a part of a huge family all gathered together to enjoy a great meal. 4 Rivers Smokehouse currently has five locations in Central Florida – and since none of the restaurants are located in the tourist corridor, visiting one of Orlando’s culinary traditions also helps you see a little more of the city. Learn more

Honorable mention – World of Beer

Although World of Beer does not serve food, it’s one of my favorite places to relax and enjoy some great company. My preferred location is near Rocco’s Tacos and many other restaurants on West Sand Lake Road – also known as Orlando’s Restaurant Row – so it’s also the perfect after-dinner drink spot.

“We partner with thousands of craft breweries and rotate over 10,000 beer items. At a given time, we have 500+ craft beers and – somewhere in the world – each of them is local.”

Like this idea but want something to eat, too? Grab a bite to go at the Chipotle or WhichWich next store – this World of Beer location allows you to bring that food in to enjoy with one of their delicious beers. Visit their website to learn more (trust me, the bar experience is far better than the website experience).

There you have it: five more fantastic spots to enjoy when you are visiting us in Orlando! If you want more ideas, see my previous post – Top five “hot spots” on I-Drive – or see all of our BIG 5 blog posts.

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And please note: for this countdown, I stuck with desserts that can be found in the two theme parks and CityWalk.

#5 – Chocolate trifle & ice cream at Three Broomsticks

The trifle is a traditional, layered dessert hailing from the UK. The chocolate trifle found at Three Broomsticks is layers of moist chocolate cake, chocolate mouse, and fresh strawberries. Each time I felt like I was having too much chocolate, a spoonful of fresh and sweet strawberries would change up the taste. And the serving size is just enough to get your sweet fix without feeling weighed down.

Three Broomsticks is also home to Florean Fortescue’s ice cream, which is available in vanilla, chocolate, and, my personal favorite, strawberry peanut butter. I am a peanut butter fanatic!

Soon we will be able to enjoy Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlor at Diagon Alley. I hope that the ice cream there is hand-scooped; the current variety is prepacked and frozen pretty solid. I suggest letting it sit to soften it up.

#4 – The “King” Carrot Cake at NASCAR Sports Grille

You don’t have to be a NASCAR fan – or even a sports fan – to appreciate the great food and generous portions at NASCAR Sports Grille. It is difficult to choose a dish from the impressive dessert menu (which consists of seven choices!), but the “King” Carrot Cake would have to be it.

The sweet sugar-and-spice cake is made fresh, in-house, and definitely with love. And at nearly a pound, it is massive! Nothing prepared me for how big it is.

This dessert is a homemade classic and is very comforting. Just make sure you have a few folks with which to share.

A very close second to the massive carrot cake is the Chocolate Tire Blowout. Not only is it a cute name, it is a chocolate lover’s bliss. Who doesn’t love molten lava cake? NASCAR Sports Grille serves theirs warm and melty with cold vanilla ice cream.

#3 – Chocolate Hurricane at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville

Get ready to be blown away! You will absolutely have to have a crew with you to defeat this bad boy.

A whole pint of vanilla ice cream is accompanied by brownies, Kit Kat and Heath bars, mini-cookies, sliced bananas, chopped macadamia nuts, and a crazy amount of whipped cream. Chocolate and caramel sauces are swirled at your table in a hypnotic spinning turn on a Lazy Susan. It is one of those “I can’t believe we’re doing this” epic desserts.

#2 – Fresh Apple Cobbler at Hard Rock Cafe

Who knew rock stars had such a sweet side? This Fresh Apple Cobbler is almost worthy of a standing ovation. The apples are crisp, tart, and surrounded by a luxurious, caramelized brown sugar filling. The crumble topping is buttery and not too crisp, and a few raisins add a subtle juicy sweetness.

Of course, what apple dessert would be complete without a scoop of creamy, sweet vanilla ice cream topped with caramel sauce? This comforting dessert is sure to make you feel warm and toasty inside.

I have also tried the Twisted Shakes at Hard Rock. There are four flavors of these adult-oriented, alcoholic milkshakes, and I’ve had two: the Twist & Shout Shake and the VooDoo Brew.

The Twist & Shout is a blend of Guinness Stout, Barcardi Oakheart spiced rum, dark crème de cacao, chocolate syrup, and vanilla ice cream. Supposedly, there is also salted caramel syrup, which I could not taste, and it is topped with whipped cream and bacon pieces. Overall, this shake tasted very watered-down and left me underwhelmed.

The VooDoo Brew has much stronger flavors, and I was very pleased. This fruity, creamy shake is made with vanilla ice cream, Smirnoff Blueberry vodka, Monin Desert Pear, and Shock Top Belgian white ale.

#1 – Chocolate Banana Gooey Cake at Mythos

Overlooking the beautiful Islands of Adventure lagoon, Mythos is an iconic theme park restaurant. It is beautiful inside and offers a panoramic view of the park.

When it’s time for dessert, the Chocolate Banana Gooey Cake takes the ever-popular chocolate molten lava cake to a new level.

The warm, flourless chocolate cake melts in your mouth. The fresh-sliced bananas are sinful when dipped in the gooey chocolate flowing over the plate. But the best part, for me, is the peanut butter ice cream (told you I am a peanut butter fanatic!) – both it and the caramel sauce heighten the indulgent flavors of this delectable dessert.

Honorable mention: Mini Dessert Shots

I am a big fan of this concept, as I love to end a meal with something sweet but am also trying to eat better and manage my weight. Luckily for me, these mini-desserts fit the bill perfectly.

There are four flavors from which to choose: crème brulee, Oreo, key lime, and raspberry cheesecake.

The raspberry cheesecake is my favorite of the four; the cheesecake would have been too plain without the raspberry topping, but, together, the layers are sweet and satisfying.

Being on vacation means doing all sorts of wonderful things you can’t normally do at home. So while you may think twice about ordering dessert when you’re out to eat back at home, don’t give it a second thought when you’re having a blast at Universal Orlando – there’s just way too many terrific treats to resist. Besides, you’re bound to burn off those calories with all those extra steps you’ll be taking as you walk throughout the parks.

If you enjoyed this article, you can check out all of the BIG 5 blog posts on Orlando Informer!

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#5 – Visit the water’s edge at CityWalk

Universal CityWalk, Orlando’s dining and entertainment capital, might seem like a place full of hustle and bustle and one dancing mirror lady. But when nighttime falls, grab your special someone and take a seat near the lagoon. Enjoy the glitter of the lights and the sounds of happiness as you make plans for your night of adventure!

Universal Orlando CityWalk at Dusk

Looking for a bit of privacy? The small stretch of walkway at the lagoon’s edge, starting at Jimmy Buffet’s Lone Palm Airport tiki bar, is usually the most deserted.

#4 – Stroll through the parks after sunset

Universal Orlando is full of magic, and once the sun begins to set and the lights turn on, it creates a whole new magical atmosphere. Taking a stroll throughout the parks, hand-in-hand, with the beautiful scenery and lighting is very romantic.

Universal’s Islands of Adventure after the sun sets.

If you’d like to add a little suspense and thrill to your evening stroll, trying taking a turn into Camp Jurassic inside Islands of Adventure. You’ll have to hold your loved one close as you brave the twisting paths, overgrown shrubs, huge rock piles, and dimly-lit tunnels, all while the wails and cackles of dinosaurs race around you. This is a true place for romance.

Camp Jurassic at Islands of Adventure.

#3 – Dinner & a movie

Is there a more classic night of romance – especially for a first date – than dinner and a movie? Probably not, so it’s a good thing you can easily do both at Universal Orlando.

AMC Universal Cineplex 20 at CityWalk.

And to make the offer even more enticing, check out the Meal & Movie deal offered at CityWalk’s AMC Universal Cineplex 20. This is one of Universal’s beat deals that many guests don’t even know about. Or, for those wanting to dance the night away with their special someone, check out the CityWalk Party Pass & Movie deal. More info about both can be found in the “Add-Ons” section of Universal’s online ticket store.

#2 – Lose yourself in the tropics at Royal Pacific Resort

There is always something romantic about a tropical setting, be it the sounds of bamboo swaying, light flickering off the water, or the warm breeze spilling over a lover’s embrace. If this sounds like the perfect place for you and you-know-who, make your way to Universal’s Royal Pacific Resort and enjoy the tropical scenery together. Start the evening off with a drink at Jake’s American Bar, then head over to Emeril’s Tchoup Tchoup for a romantic dinner (reservations highly recommended).

Inside Emeril’s Tchoup Chop at Royal Pacific Resort.

At the end of the evening, we encourage you to find your way down the Garden Walkway between Royal Pacific and CityWalk, where the glow of the lighthouse may just be the spark you need for that first kiss!

Want a classic Emeril’s meal without having to go to one of the on-site hotels? You’re in luck, because Emeril’s Orlando, located at Universal CityWalk, delivers a whole extra set of delicious offerings.

#1 – Explore the Italian Riviera at Portofino Bay Hotel

Portofino Bay Hotel has much to offer when it comes to romance! Take a stroll together around the gorgeous Harbor Piazza, where you can stop by the Gelateria for some sweet treats and coffee, or take a seat at one of the piazza tables and enjoy the beautiful views of the harbor together.

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at night.

But if you really want to impress the love of your life, stop by the on-site Mandara Spa for a couples massage.

To end your visit, wait until dusk, when the hotel celebrates Musica Della Notte, a unique blend of classic opera and romantic and festive music, along with “popera” favorites, performed live at the Harbor Piazza.

Honorable mention – love birds at Islands of Adventure

Before you leave the park, know that you and your partner aren’t the only two animals in love at Universal! See if you can spot these two love birds in the Port of Entry area at Islands of Adventure:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAB_kjiakxo

If you liked this article, you can see all of our BIG 5 blog posts, or start planning the rest of your Universal Orlando vacation completely for free in the OI Universal Center.

The post THE BIG 5: Top five best ways to find romance at Universal Orlando on Valentine’s Day appeared first on Orlando Informer.

But what you may not be as aware of regarding Diagon Alley — and what you won’t find reported on any other website — is how to best plan your visit to Universal Orlando next year, so you can have the best experience possible at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.

In today’s BIG 5 blog post, we begin the preliminary work of providing you the world-class vacation planning information and insight for USF’s new area, just as we’ve done for the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter, now officially called WWoHP – Hogsmeade.

Without further ado, here are our top five tips for planning your 2014 visit to Diagon Alley and Universal Orlando:

#5 – Buy a Park-to-Park ticket

While chatter seems to go back and forth as to what will be required to ride the Hogwarts Express — the real train that will transport guests between Universal Studios Florida (Diagon Alley) and Islands of Adventure (Hogsmeade) — Universal has been very clear: you’ll need a Park-to-Park ticket.

This was made crystal clear in the May 8, 2013 “invitation” email sent by Universal.

So do yourself and your family a favor and pay the premium for Park-to-Park tickets in advance. Sure, Universal will very likely provide a way for guests to upgrade their one-park tickets at the train stations. But with everything else that will be happening as you first visit Diagon Alley and the Hogwarts Express, do you really want to get in another line just to pay for a ticket upgrade?

One more tip: Traditionally all of Orlando’s theme parks raise their ticket prices in the spring; last year Universal did this on May 18. With Diagon Alley opening this summer, I see no reason for Universal to break from this tradition. In other words, if you want to save a little bit of money (around $5 to $10 per person), buy your tickets now before the price increase hits. And remember, the parks never announce these increases ahead of time. Instead, one day the prices will be at 2013 levels, and the next day they’ll be more.

#4 – Plan on at least three days

If you were to ask me what is the “ideal” number of days to visit Universal before Diagon Alley opens, I’d say three days. That’s one full day for each park, then a third day to visit your favorites again, spend some time by the pool, explore CityWalk, etc.

Once Diagon Alley opens, this “ideal” number will be the “required” number for anyone wanting to see all of Universal Orlando. For planning purposes, you’ll need to think of Universal as having three theme parks: the Wizarding World(s) of Harry Potter, the rest of Universal Studios Florida, and the rest of Islands of Adventure. And to experience everything, you’ll need one full day for each “park”.

Just to dispel any possible confusion, the Wizarding World(s) of Harry Potter are not their own theme park; they are part of Universal Studios Florida (Diagon Alley) and Islands of Adventure (Hogsmeade). You won’t need separate admission from your regular Universal Orlando park tickets. This point was a large source of frustration when the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened in June 2010, and Universal marketed it as a “theme park within a theme park”.

But getting back to our discussion, yes, please plan on three full days in the parks if you want to experience everything. Now, in what order should you visit the attractions at Universal during those three days? Defining that will be our primary objective in 2014, once Diagon Alley opens and we can get a better sense of crowd flow.

Another tip: Remember that Universal announced their largest expansion ever to Universal CityWalk. With eight new venues to be added during 2014, you might just want to add a fourth or fifth day to your Universal vacation, depending on what’s open when you visit and how much you like the idea of eating at some of the coolest concept restaurants in Central Florida. You can learn more about the CityWalk expansion in this blog post.

#3 – Express Passes aren’t going to help, early admission might not either

There are several reasons why, as we just explained, you are going to want three full days for your Universal Orlando vacation. One of the biggest is the fact that Universal Express Passes aren’t going to be much help for guests wanting to experience Diagon Alley. While Universal hasn’t quite confirmed this yet, the two major attractions coming online with Diagon Alley — the Hogwarts Express and Gringotts Bank coaster — are not expected to offer Express Pass access (at least not for several months, possibly years, after they open).

This is nothing new for just-opened attractions at Universal Orlando. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, the signature attraction at Hogsmeade, still doesn’t offer Express. Similarly, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and Despicable Me Minion Mayhem didn’t offer Express when they opened. It was only Transformers, in the list of recent major attractions to open, that offered Express from day one.

Well, at least on-site guests will have early admission so they can experience the area with minimal crowds, right? Unfortunately, I’m afraid that might be a wrong assumption too.

In conjunction with the opening of Diagon Alley, Universal will open the largest hotel currently under construction outside of China, the 1,800-room Cabana Bay Beach Resort. And while Cabana Bay guests will have to settle with not getting unlimited Express Pass access as an on-site benefit (the most lauded benefit of staying at one of Universal’s deluxe on-site hotels), all 3,000+ Cabana Bay guests will have access to Early Park Admission at Universal Orlando.

For planning purposes, this means that early admission should get you an extra morning hour inside Diagon Alley, but it won’t be just you and a few other families exploring the area — it’ll be you and up to 10,000 other on-site guests clamoring to make use of the extra time.

This brings us back to the previous point: Plan on at least three days for Universal Orlando trip once Diagon Alley opens.

#2 – Budget big

We recently asked our fans about their spending habits regarding theme park souvenirs. The overall results were nothing too surprising, but one common thread came out of the discussion that ensued: fans had the “typical” amount they spend on souvenirs, then they had a much larger number for the amount they spent during their first visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Don’t think this simple fact has escaped Universal’s notice. Indeed, the incredible developments happening at the resort now, including Diagon Alley, have at least partially been made possible because of the incredible amount of cash Universal has made selling wands, robes, and chocolate frogs.

Expect Universal to take “souvenirs” to the next level when the streets of Diagon Alley open next year. Among other rumored features, Diagon Alley will have interactive objects that will be triggered by RFID wands — think Potter meets Disney’s MagicBands — so purchasing a new wand will be a must for almost all fans. It’s also expected that guests in line for Gringotts Bank coaster will be able to exchange muggle money for bank certificates that can be used to purchase special merchandise after the ride. (How brilliant was it for Universal to set their E-ticket Diagon Alley attraction inside a bank!) Then we have Leaky Cauldron and Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour, where you know you’re going to want to try everything on the menus. These are just three examples of how Universal will take theme park spending to the next level at Diagon Alley.

Add to these the planning tips I’ve already offered — buying Park-to-Park tickets and planning on at least three days — and you can come to no other conclusion: Budget big for this trip.

#1 – Focus this vacation on Diagon Alley

Considering everything we’ve discussed so far, here is our biggest recommendation for anyone planning to visit Diagon Alley during its debut year: Focus your trip on Diagon Alley and Universal Orlando.

To do it right — and to have a positive experience — you’ll need to commit multiple days and a huge budget to this trip. Once you’re actually on-site, it is going to be an exhilarating vacation like none other (one that is likely to bring fans to tears, as has happened to so many the first time they visited the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter), but in several ways it is going to be a very taxing vacation. Crowds will be record-breaking, wallets will be empty, legs will be sore from standing in lines, and frustrations may boil high in the summer heat and humidity.

After you’ve had your sense of amazement and your tolerance for crowds pushed to their limits by Diagon Alley, the last thing you will want to do is bring the family to Disney World. This is in no way a slight against Disney. I’m making this recommendation because Disney will have their own record-breaking crowds and new attractions, including the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, which makes me struggle to suggest that you put yourself up to the challenge of conquering Diagon Alley and any part of Disney World during the same vacation.

(After next spring’s price increases, it will likely be over $100 per person plus tax to spend the day at Magic Kingdom — is your budget big enough to take that after your kids’ vaults are full of Diagon Alley merchandise?)

So break the mold of going to Disney and adding on a day or two at Universal and make this your Harry Potter trip. If you do indeed have extra money in your budget set aside for Disney, spend that on upgraded hotel accommodations, so you have a relaxing place to call home after your daily conquests in the Wizarding World.

Honorable mention – OI is your friend, 2014 guidebooks already outdated

We do one thing: offer our readers the world’s best Universal Orlando vacation planning resource. When we opened almost three years ago, Orlando Informer was the first website to focus primarily on Universal vacation planning, and we are still the only website to do so.

With over 500 “daily updates” to our vacation planning information in 2012, and over 500 more updates in 2013, we have proven that our free website is truly a one-stop-shop for Universal news and expert advice. (And those numbers don’t count the 1,000+ blog posts we’ve also published, almost half of which cover Universal too!)

As 2014 begins, we will stay fast in our commitment to ensuring your family has the best possible experience at Universal Orlando. Remember, there are some good guidebooks out there, but all of the 2014 editions are finalized at the end of 2013, well before Diagon Alley opens. This means, even with the most talented authorship, the books simply won’t be able to help you plan Universal Orlando right for 2014 once the Harry Potter expansion opens.

Stick with us — we’ll be here every step of the way to help!

Start vacation planning now:

• OI Universal Center table of contents
• Harry Potter expansion – Diagon Alley
• Free 12-month Universal Orlando crowd calendar

Stay informed:

• OI Weekly Dispatch enewsletter (summary of Universal news and our new blog posts)
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Google+

The opening of DIAGON ALLEY is going to be like going to the SUPER BOWL of theme parks: an extreme level of excitement and astonishment, with the crowds and concerns of such a major event to match.

Countdown to Diagon Alley

This post has now become the first installment of our new series Countdown to Diagon Alley, as we prep for Universal’s January 23 full reveal. While we wait for that date, check out these posts:

What if Diagon Alley sucks?

Compete telling of the Gringotts Bank ride experience

Four burning questions we still have about the new Wizarding World

New details on Diagon Alley – story, food, actors, previews & the name of the Gringotts Bank attraction

How Harry Potter is defining the next-generation theme park experience

After the webcast: Step-by-step guide to EVERYTHING we now know about Diagon Alley

After the webcast: Six incredible Diagon Alley secrets that weren’t mentioned in the webcast

And, of course, to start back at the very beginning and review everything we know about the Harry Potter expansion at Universal Orlando, visit the Diagon Alley page in the OI Universal Center.

The post Countdown to Diagon Alley: Top five vacation planning tips for visiting the Harry Potter expansion at Universal Orlando appeared first on Orlando Informer.

Although the prices of adult beverages at Orlando’s theme parks are often quite high, we find some very delicious drink deals at Universal CityWalk. In this week’s BIG 5 blog post, as we celebrate the current version of CityWalk before everything changes in 2014 (more on that at the end of the post), we count down our top five favorite drink deals. Keep in mind that these are not necessarily the least expensive deals, but rather, the ones we simply enjoy the most!

#5 – CityWalk’s refillable souvenir cup

There are several food & beverage kiosks, including one near Margaritaville, where you can get a number of mixed drinks in a CityWalk souvenir glass for $9.75 with refills for only $7.75. You can get a margarita, classic long island iced tea, rum punch, or electric blue lemonade in this souvenir cup, and all are offered at the discounted refill price.

I personally recommend trying the rum punch because it is very tasty and plenty strong. Most of these kiosks also offer snacks, including turkey legs, hot dogs, chips — you get the idea. In addition, CityWalk recently opened a craft beer kiosk close to Margaritaville too. While we can squabble over whether their selection really is “craft beer”, at only $6.25 a pour, we can agree that the price is right (for a theme park).

#4 – 32 oz beer at Cigarz

For the rest of this month you can visit Cigarz, located right by the CityWalk food court, and purchase a 32 oz draft beer starting at just $8.00. The beer goes up in price if you choose a seasonal or craft beer, but never goes over $10.00. I generally get the seasonal Sam Adams and usually pay between $9.00 and $9.50. This bar is a bit off the beaten trail of CityWalk, and can be filled with cigar smoke, but those who venture in will experience a true “local’s scene” and some of the best drink deals at CityWalk.

Sadly, it been all but confirmed by Universal Orlando that Cigarz will close at the end of 2013 (more at the bottom of the post). We are certain its replacement will offer a strong entertainment experience — but we can only hope that it will offer pricing that is just as good.

#3 – Loaded Landshark at Lone Palm Airport

Located across from Margaritaville is the Lone Palm Airport. The star of this tiki style bar is the Hemisphere Dancer – Jimmy Buffet’s very own seaplane! Another recently discovered star attraction at this bar is called the Loaded Landshark. The bartender will pop open a bottle of Landshark beer and top it off with a shot of Margaritaville’s lime flavored tequila. It is simply delicious and only $8.25 (great price for a beer and a shot at a theme park).

Sit back, relax, and enjoy your Loaded Landshark with a healthy dose of Jimmy Buffet beach music and the beautiful Floria sunshine.

By the way, if beer isn’t your still, our back up recommendation is the perfect margarita!

#2 – Margarita Flight at Margaritaville

Okay, so we’re fans of margaritas! That’s why our number two selection is the new flight at Margaritaville, featuring four different flavored margaritas: Who’s To Blame, Blueberry Pomegranate, Fin’s To The Left, and Last Mango in Paris. It’s the ideal option if you are having a hard time deciding which of the many specialty drinks to enjoy (or if you just want to imbibe more while looking like you’re actually a discerning drinker).

You can order one for $16.95, which is a great deal considering that margaritas on the menu run around $12.00 each. I can’t think of anything better to go with the tropical-getaway atmosphere of Margaritaville than four very delicious margaritas!

By the way, did you know that Margaritaville has a completely refreshed menu? If you missed OI contibutor Dani’s blog post about it last week, you can check it out right here.

#1 – Daiquiri in a souvenir cup & refill at Fat Tuesday

At Fat Tuesday, you will find a number of daiquiris that are so inviting, I’m longing for one as I write each of these words. In fact, the CityWalk venue serves up so many delicious flavors — and the option to mix up your own new innovation — that the icy happiness seems like it will never end. I personally recommend trying the Pina Colada, or, if you are feeling a little more adventurous, try out my favorite flavor pairing: the peach Bellini and Eye Candy.

But aside from the flavors, what makes Fat Tuesday my number one spot for a drink deal at CityWalk is the souvenir cup and refill: a 16 oz cup filled to the brim of your favorite daiquiri is just $10.00, and each refill afterwards is $6.00 (here are all the cup prices). You can also add an extra shot for just $1.00.

And the deal doesn’t end there, because the souvenir cup you buy at Fat Tuesday can be used for discount refills at the mini-Fat Tuesday near the CityWalk lagoon (pictured at the very top of this post), and it can be used for discount refills at any of the 50 Fat Tuesdays around the country.

If only Orlando was a little closer to New Orleans, so we could try the seasonal Cajun Eggnog flavor!

Honorable mention – Happy Hour Hurricane

Pat O’Brien’s features a fantastic deal on their signature drink, the Hurricane. During their happy hour, the delicious rum-based drink is only $8.00, compared to its normal pricing at $11.49. But plan accordingly, because the happy hour deal is only offered Monday through Thursday, from 4:00 to 7:00pm. In addition to the great price of the Hurricane, Pat O’Brien’s also offers some of their appetizers for only $5.00 during happy hour.

After a few Hurricanes, here’s a fun fact you can impress your date with: Did you know that the Hurricane is the only drink to have a style of glassware named after it? Yep, a Hurricane can only (officially) be serviced in a Hurricane glass.

No matter which one of these drink deals you choose to indulge in, I guarantee you will have a blast while visiting Universal CityWalk. And once you’re done with my list, there is more to explore — like the fan fueler at NASCAR Sports Grille or the selection of sake at Fusion Bistro Sushi & Sake Bar. Hey, I couldn’t include every drink special on this list, but if you insist, I’ll keep researching!

If you enjoyed this article, check out all of the BIG 5 blog posts on Orlando Informer, including the top five outdoor bars at Universal Orlando.

So what’s happening at CityWalk in 2014??

As of Wednesday, December 12, we don’t know for sure, but rumors say that several venues are closing soon, such as Cigarz and TCBY. At the same time, the resort is set to announce up to five new venues scheduled to open in the first half of 2014. There is a press event tomorrow, and we’ll have full coverage on our site in a special Thursday evening edition of our Rumor Round-Up.

[sws_author_bio user=”KaseyVandermark” size=”105″ authorposts=”More OI posts by Kasey” name_format=”About the author”] [/sws_author_bio]

The post THE BIG 5: Toast the end of CityWalk as we know it with our top five favorite drink deals appeared first on Orlando Informer.

#5 – Garden Walkways

If you’ve studied the Universal vacation planning information we feature on our site, you already know that the Garden Walkways connecting Universal’s on-site hotels to the parks are one of the resort’s best kept secrets. But daytime guests visiting Universal don’t always have a reason to turn off the paths leading straight to the parks. Well, now you have one!

Take a sharp right just before you walk through the USF gates, and you’ll find yourself on the Garden Walkway leading to Hard Rock Hotel. Once you’re on the walkway, basically every step offers a view worth capturing. For one of the best, continue a few paces forward and, on your right, you’ll find this bench…

[wptouch target=”non-mobile”]Remember, you can click any image to view it full-screen — and don’t miss the complete photo gallery at the bottom of the post.
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It’s a lovely scene if you shoot it as you see in the image above. Then for more, walk to the railing for a shot like this, then continue forward for a shot like this.

To be perfectly honest, I could write a whole post about the scenes along Universal’s Garden Walkway. So if you have time, take the path to Hard Rock Hotel and then onto Portofino Bay Hotel for some of the most beautiful spots you’ll find at any theme park resort. And if you’re looking for even more, you can do the exact same thing as you follow the Garden Walkway next to Margaritaville, which leads to Royal Pacific Resort. On that path you’ll be able to find views like this.

#4 – NASCAR Sports Grille

Our next stop brings us back to CityWalk. At NASCAR Sports Grille you’ll find what is perhaps the most under-utilized seating section at a Universal CityWalk restaurant offering one of the resort’s most magnificent views of Universal Studios Florida.

After gazing at the USF park entrance, turn to your left for scenic views of CityWalk with Islands of Adventure in the distance.

Now is a great time to switch your camera to video mode:

[youtube_video]h0BRXv66-9o[/youtube_video]

Please note that every spot featured on this list is completely open to all guests (admission required for the views inside the parks, of course). I visit these locations weekly — as seen on the new OI Flickr page — and after three years of doing so I have never been approached by anyone asking me to leave.

#3 – The Simpsons Ride

The award-winning Simpsons Ride, located inside Universal Studios Florida, will take you on a theme park adventure that could only happen to Homer and the family. When you’re done with the ride antics, it’s time to get out the camera for some serious photography.

Cross your fingers and hope that you’re directed to exit the attraction to your left (as you leave the ride room), where you’ll find yourself on a staircase. Down takes you back to Springfield; up brings you to a third-story perch with views like this:

Although the images you can capture of Springfield are gorgeous, with other USF attractions and backlots in the distance, The Simpsons Ride photo spot is most famous for offering the park’s best view of Diagon Alley under construction. These days the Diagon Alley view is slightly obstructed by new palm trees planted around Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl. Nevertheless, it is still worth a visit to get shots like this.

#2 – Me Ship Olive

Charge up your battery, put in a new memory card, and skip over to Islands of Adventure for our next spot. Into Toon Lagoon and past Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges you’ll discover one of the least traveled areas of the park: Me Ship Olive. This three-story children’s play area offers enough nooks and crannies to keep the kids busy while you climb to the top and find IOA’s best overall view.

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And this is one spot that keeps on giving!

Once you’re done exploring the very top of the ship, walk one floor down and use the free water canons to give Bilge-Rat Barge riders a little surprise…

Finally, before you leave the area, explore the walking paths below Me Ship Olive that run along the IOA lagoon’s edge. Here you’ll find many more subjects for photos as well as a break from the crowds.

#1 – Flight of the Hippogriff

Our number one spot goes to Flight of the Hippogriff, inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, because the attraction is often dismissed by guests who don’t see the hidden value of riding this “kiddie coaster”. If you have fallen into this line of thinking, then I have some great news you: Flight of the Hippogriff not only packs a lot more punch than you’re expecting, it also offers the best scenic views of Harry’s world at Islands of Adventure.

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Are POV ride videos not quite your thing? Then you can snap photos like this, this, and this.

Now you have a reason to be excited to use your Express Passes inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! (For the uninitiated, guests cannot use Express Passes on Forbidden Journey, and EPs are rarely ever needed on Dragon Challenge.)

Honorable mention – top floors of on-site or nearby hotels

If your visit to Universal Orlando includes accommodations at a hotel, and if your hotel selection is located on-site or nearby, do everything in your power to secure the highest floor possible facing the park. Then during your visit, each time you look out your window, you might be able to see something like this:

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. In the world of theme parks, we say a picture can sometimes be worth the price of admission.

I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of THE BIG 5. To start planning your Universal Orlando vacation using our free expert advice, visit the OI Universal Center. If you know all the basics and you’re ready to dig into the resorts news, rumors & secrets, check out all of our blog posts filed under Universal Orlando.

Otherwise, you can always view all of our BIG 5 posts.

Scenic views of Universal 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.

The post THE BIG 5: Top five spots to capture amazing “scenic views” of Universal Orlando appeared first on Orlando Informer.

#5 – Special events INCLUDED with park admission

A spectacular feature that SeaWorld has over the other major theme park resorts: special events are included with your daily park ticket!

SeaWorld offers different events throughout the changing seasons. In October guests can experience SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, where you can enjoy seasonal shows, trick-or-treating, taking pictures with sea creatures, and more. Get in the holiday spirit during the months of November and December as SeaWorld’s beloved Christmas Celebration comes to town. At this event there are many holiday shows and ride overlays to get you in a festive mood. You can check out The Polar Express Experience, in which guests take an adventurous journey to the North Pole and may even see Santa Clause. Winter Wonderland on Ice allows guests to sing to classic Christmas songs as they are entertained by world-class skaters. O Wondrous Night brings to life the Christmas Story in a way you have never experienced with live singing, acting, and animals. And let’s not forget the thousands of lights that illuminate almost the entire park!

There are also other events throughout the year, such as Just for Kids, where younger visitors can meet and be entertained by some of their favorite TV characters; Bands, Brew & BBQ, when guests get a chance to munch on southern cooking, sample a variety of beers, and see popular rock and country artists; and many more special events throughout the year!

SeaWorld Orlando offers some of the area’s best annual events, and each one is included with regular park admission.

#4 – Remarkable animal encounters

Unlike that animal theme park down the street, at SeaWorld guests are able to get very close to and interactive with a variety of animals at many locations around the park. You can see flamingos, penguins, dolphins, sting rays, sea lions, and killer whales. Animal lovers both young and old often cherish the opportunity to touch a dolphin or feed a sting ray.

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For those who desire even closer encounters, SeaWorld offers tours and experiences where guests can step into the environments of many of the park’s animals and interact with them. (Watch for a new blog post later this week on Orlando Informer about the Marine Mammal Keeper Experience.) If you are passionate about animals and want to have an even deeper love of them, no one offers better and closer interactions than SeaWorld!

#3 – State-of-the-art rides & one-of-a-kind attractions

Can you imagine what it feels like to glide through the water like a manta ray, experience the cold land of Antarctica, take a splash through Atlantis, or journey on a wild ride to the home of the polar bear? Well, thanks to the creative minds at SeaWorld, you can experience all these and more on their lineup of state-of-the-art rides and unique attractions.

SeaWorld has two thrilling high-speed rollercoasters (including Orlando’s most under-appreciated coaster, Kraken), a hybrid water/coaster ride, a wild simulator ride, a mini-land with kids rides, the all-new Antarctica attraction — in which the whole family can take an amazing journey to one of the coldest places on earth — and much more. In addition, many of SeaWorld’s attractions are themed to a particular animal or environment so that, from the minute you enter the queue, you feel as if you are part of the experience.

#2 – World-class shows

On a typical SeaWorld visit, guests can choose between four or five world-class shows to enjoy. Although all of the shows incorporate either the sea or animals, they are all different in their presentations. SeaWorld’s dolphin show Blue Horizons invites its visitors on an adventure to learn about these playful animals of the sea. Complete with an original soundtracks, graceful animals, and a talented cast, Blue Horizons always leaves my mind captivated and wanting more. A’Lure, The Call of the Ocean is a show that families with kids will especially enjoy because it is a fairytale under the sea. Filled with good and evil, this show features amazing costuming, special effects, and plenty of acrobatics.

If your goal is to see the star of SeaWorld, Shamu, look no further than One Ocean. With a combination of whales, fountains, and music, this is a must-do on any SeaWorld visit! And if you are looking for a place to cool off during a steamy summer day, save the money you would spend on a soda and take a seat in the splash zone — there’s no better way to be refreshed while being entertained.

As you see in the photo caption above, during special events like Summer Nights the amount of shows presented at SeaWorld often doubles, so that even frequent park visitors can enjoy new offerings while first-time guests can enjoy both the seasonal and regular entertainment.

#1 – Best theme park value

Although the price of a general one-day admission ticket to SeaWorld is set at $92 per person like many all of Orlando’s major theme parks, with a little planning you can pay a whole lot less than that. Weekday tickets are $50 per person for US residents through December 20. The Fun Card allows you to pay $92 for one day and get the rest of the year free.

If you feel that you will be a frequent guest of SeaWorld, an annual pass is the way to go. Starting at $149 per person, you can get unlimited admission for 365 consecutive days; free parking ($15 savings per visit); shopping, tour, and dining discounts; and many more incentives. Most of these ticket offers are available exclusively online and not at the gate, so check out SeaWorldOrlando.com for more information. And remember our first point at the top of the article: SeaWorld’s incredible annual events are included with general admission!

Honorable mention – you can actually relax at SeaWorld

Certainly SeaWorld, like all destinations across the globe, has its busier days and its slower days. Nevertheless, a typical visit to SeaWorld just seems to feel more relaxing. Whether it’s the meandering pathways, the beautiful landscaping, or the friendly staff, there is a comfort in the air and a slower pace on the trails at SeaWorld that is lost in the hectic thrill rides at Universal and the overcrowding at Disney.

I’m not suggesting you shouldn’t bother planning your visit to SeaWorld ahead of time, or that you won’t find long lines during peak travel times. But if you do plan appropriately, there is a peaceful side to SeaWorld that you’ll likely not experience at the other two theme park resorts.

I hope this top five list has made SeaWorld Orlando a priority on your next family adventure to Central Florida!

To learn more about SeaWorld, Aquatica, and Discovery Cover — including complete information about SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular underway right now — check out all the OI blog posts filed under SeaWorld.

Or you can view all of our BIG 5 posts.

Editor’s note: A few weeks back you may recall that Orlando Informer hosted an open call for new writers. One of the goals of this open call was to help us bring our readers more extensive coverage of SeaWorld. We are proud to have Shane among our group of new contributors who will be helping us cover SeaWorld, and we look forward to sharing his Orlando insights and experiences with you.

[sws_author_bio user=”ShaneClarke” size=”105″ authorposts=”More OI posts by Shane” name_format=”About the author”] [/sws_author_bio]

The post THE BIG 5: Top five reasons why SeaWorld should be part of your next Orlando vacation appeared first on Orlando Informer.

Here is a list of the best hot spots on I-Drive that my friends and I love to visit…

#5 – Brick House Tavern + Tap

First up is Brick House Tavern + Tap. Here you can get great food and drinks in a very relaxed, slightly upscale environment. Brick House offers one of the most unique means of drinking your beer at your table with the “Beer bong”, a whole yard of beer that comes directly to your table with its own tap on the end of it. All draft beers at Brick House are available in four different sizes; 16 ounces, 22 ounces, a half Beer Bong, and a whole Beer Bong.

Not only do they have a great selection of beer, but the venue also has a large selection of food to choose from! I personally recommend trying either the Yard Bird Sandwich or the Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich (can you tell I like chicken sandwiches?). Don’t forget to opt for the tater tots instead of fries — you will not regret it!

At Brick House, the drink options make it adult friendly and the atmosphere and large menu make it kid friendly, so sit back and relax in your couch/booth hybrid and enjoy your stay.

brickhousetavernandtap.com  |  Google Maps

#4 – Dave & Busters

Dave & Busters is the perfect place to allow yourself to feel like a kid again, but without having to forgo a fully stocked bar. You can enjoy a few drinks as you explore the latest interactive games in the Million Dollar Midway. They truly have something for every type of person, from the traditional game Skee-ball to the more high-tech games like Fruit Ninja.

Most people will tell you that this place is a little overpriced, but you just need to know when to go. Happy Hour specials at the Orlando location run Monday through Thursday from 4:30 to 7:00pm, and they include half price Cocktails and $2.50 domestic pints. They also have a late night Happy Hour Sundays through Thursday from 10:00pm to close.

Dave & Busters also offers food, and it has an Eat-Play-Win option, but I recommend only snacking here because there are many other places with better food nearby (like Brick House). But overall this place has a lot to offer friends looking for a good time or families with older kids searching for an electronic adventure.

daveandbusters.com  |  Google Maps

#3 – Hard Knocks

I couldn’t discuss I-Drive without mentioning the new Hard Knocks at Pointe Orlando — this is a laser tag experience that you will never forget! The venue features weapons adapted from military combat simulations, and with those weapons its patrons can set out on over 70 unique combat missions.

My last visit to Hard Knocks included a combat mission called Roulette. Each person was handed an electronic glo-stick and asked to turn them on simultaneously. Each team was represented by a color, and we had to race to find our teammates while taking out our enemies — immediately after turning on the glo-sticks in the “battlefield”.

For this activity I would not suggest bringing kids that are less than 10 years old; and if you can round up some of the gang, Hard Knocks is much more fun when experienced with a large group!

indoorwar.com  |  Google Maps

#2 – The Pub Orlando

Also located at Pointe Orlando — and perhaps a good place to make up with your friends after kicking their butts at Hard Knocks — this is a pub experience like no other on I-Drive. The Pub features a Pour Your Own Beer section, which allows guests to control what beer they are drinking and how much of that beer they would like.

If you are interested in some authentic British pub fare as well as some delicious American cuisine, you need to try this place out. I personally recommend their Fried Pickles, but be careful because they pack a bite! To be careful, pair the Fried Pickles with a Hoegaarden in my all-time favorite beer glass (hint: it takes me two hands to pick it up). In addition to appetizers, The Pub Orlando offers a full menu with a wide variety that will satisfy just about anyone’s appetite. And don’t forget to ask about Happy Hour specials, which run Monday through Friday, 3:00 to 7:00pm.

experiencethepub.com  |  Google Maps

#1 – Howl at the Moon

My number one pick offers some of the best fun you can have on I-Drive! Howl at the Moon is a dueling piano bar, and one of the reasons that I like this venue so much is that anyone can have fun here. Whether you want to sit back and relax while enjoying the show, or you want to sing and dance your heart out, you will quickly discover that Howl at the Moon is right for you.

Should you feel like buying a drink that will most certainly turn some heads, order one of the six flavors of Booze Buckets with your friends. This beverage is 86 whopping ounces, so remember that sharing is caring. As you enjoy your bucket, sing along to the dueling pianos and keep an eye on the mirror behind them. Guests can pay to get a message up there, and the staff will write the price and message on the board. If anyone wants a message on the mirror, they need to pay more than the last group did for their message. During my most recent night out there was an epic battle between some teachers and nurses that ended up costing them $110 to relay the newest message!

For the 21 and older crowd, Howl at the Moon is a must-visit party place on I-Drive.

howlatthemoon.com  |  Google Maps

Honorable mention – Sling Shot at Magical Midway

Get ready to impress your friends with the ultimate party in the sky. Located at Magical Midway, a small amusement park just down the street Wet ‘n Wild, you will find one of Orlando’s most extreme rides: the Sling Shot.
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“As the volcano starts to erupt you are catapulted out at a force of 3 to 5 G’s. You will experience total weightlessness as you are rocketing over 390 feet above the ground, surrounded by the scenic view of Orlando.”

If you’re up for a thrill, but you’re not quite ready to step up to the Sling Shot, Magical Midway’s Star Flyer swings are a second option that will still get you 230 feet in the air — and your special time enjoying the aerial view of Orlando won’t be interrupted by bloodcurdling shrieks.

magicalmidway.com  |  Google Maps

All in all I hope that this list helps you find something amazing to do for an evening on I-Drive. Let me know if you think anything else should have been on this list as an honorable mention!

See more stuff to do on International Drive

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In this BIG 5 post, we look at the top five prospects of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley that we are so excited for!

#5  – Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour, Leaky Cauldron & Ollivanders

The last time I visited the Wizarding World, my friend Lea noticed a very quiet little cart in the middle of the street. When we approached it, we were ecstatic to see that it was ice cream, but no ordinary Universal ice cream; it was from Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour. Mr. Fortescue is remembered fondly by Potter fans as being very kind to our leading man, giving Harry free ice cream every half hour when he would do his homework there. The team members were only testing out three different flavors when Lea and I were there (we tried the strawberry and peanut butter flavor, which was surprisingly not bad), but we knew this meant many more to come once this store (or cart, however they decide to do it) opens up in Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida.

The Leaky Cauldron is also a very exciting prospect, and is probably the main restaurant that has been mentioned in the little bit of official talk we have about this project. It would be quite exciting if this was still the way to enter Diagon Alley as it is in the books, and even more fun if there was an area for people to tap on the bricks with their wands to gain access (though hopefully this wouldn’t be the only way to get in, as it would get very congested.)

It has been mentioned that they are going to place a slightly larger version of Ollivander’s in Diagon Alley, where it is originally placed in the books. This raises the question: will they have different wands available for different characters, along with a new wave of generic wands for those chosen by Ollivander himself? They also have a similar situation with the Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes; will they be able to come up with different joke shop items to place here than the ones they have at Zonko’s? Will they go to lengths to get charming red-heads to work behind the counter?

#4 – Gringotts Bank ride

It will be a very sentimental moment for book-readers to enter one of the first magical places that Harry walked through before he went to Hogwarts.

The Gringotts ride will surely be the crown jewel of the London section of the Wizarding World. But the Gringotts Bank was basically made to be a ride, as Deathly Hallows Part 2 demonstrated quite thoroughly, so we already have pretty firm expectations of what the overall feel of the ride might be. What’s more interesting at this point is: how will the Gringotts Bank experience measure up to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, a ride that is easily one of the world’s best and most ambitious attractions? Universal Creative set the bar very high with Forbidden Journey, and while Gringotts is expected to be more kid-friendly, we wait with baited breath to see just how Universal will top their work on Forbidden Journey with another start-of-the-art attraction.

#3 – The Hogwarts Express

It’s always a thrill to enter the Wizarding World at Islands of Adventure and see the Hogwarts Express waiting for you, with the conductor out front and steam billowing in the sky. But it’s a bit of a disappointment that the train simply sits in the same spot day in and day out. Thanks to the new expansion, this is going to change. Universal Orlando is assembling a real Hogwarts Express: trains, tracks, and stations.

Everyone who’s read the Harry Potter novels remembers Harry’s famous line “I’ll take the lot!” and is hoping to do the same when the trolley comes ‘round their seat on the train. Now, it isn’t even slightly confirmed that the candy trolley is going to make an appearance, but the powers that be at Universal would surely be missing an opportunity if they didn’t send a cart around for people to buy chocolate frogs and the like on the train. It’s definitely an experience eating a chocolate frog in the streets of Hogsmeade, but it will be even more magical to do it as Harry did, on the Hogwarts Express.

The Hogwarts Express is practically a Godsend when you think of all the walking it will be saving you. You face quite a trip once you make the decision to go from Islands of Adventure to Universal Studios Florida, especially if you are stepping off the Hungarian Horntail and in the mood to shoot some aliens on MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack. Soon you’ll be able to sit, relax, and let the Hogwarts Express do the work for you — assuming you have a Park-to-Park admission ticket.

#2 – Knockturn Alley

The dark wizard area will be a compelling change from the Potter-themed areas already in the parks, as it grants Universal Creative its first opportunity to create a darker walkthrough world inspired by J.K. Rowling’s work. Knockturn Alley should also present some interesting merchandise for those who are more inclined to shy away from Harry and his friends. There are so many interesting call-backs to the movies and books throughout the Wizarding World, and the cabinet that Draco uses to go between Hogwarts and Knockturn Alley could be a great addition.

Looking at the image above, we believe that Knockturn Alley will be located in green area, with its entrance and exit highlighted in red. While the prospects for this portion of the new Wizarding World are thrilling to say the least, one must also wonder just how thousands upon thousands of guests will navigate through what appears to be such a small space.

#1 – Timeline change

This is, frankly, what I am most excited about. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Islands of Adventure has been perpetually stuck in the timeline of books 1 through 4. With the Weasleys’ shop, and the events that are sure to occur in the Gringotts Bank ride, the Diagon Alley expansion ups the ante and brings us into books 5 through 7. This will give the Diagon Alley section a much different feel than the original Wizarding World and Hogsmeade Village. Instead of the Frog Choir and Beauxbatons/Durmstrang Triwizard Spirit Rally, there could be impromptu Dumbledore’s Army meetings. There might be Undesirable Number One posters up featuring Harry’s face. Cat screeches could be heard periodically, making it known that Harry is somewhere in the area.

This also raises the question: will Universal finally acknowledge the plight that the Wizarding World had to deal with (he-who-shall-not-be-named) or will he continued to be ignored, save for a pin here or a t-shirt there?

Honorable mention – more merchandise possibilities

Speaking of pins and shirts, all of the above opens up opportunities for new merchandise, which is very exciting indeed. It would be great to bring home a Leaky Cauldron mug for the collection, or some sort of slip of paper stating that I do indeed have a great deal of galleons hidden away in Gringotts. If there is something you’d like to see at Diagon Alley, we’d love to hear about it in the comment section below.

Anyway you look at it, the Diagon Alley addition at Universal Orlando will be a dream-come-true for Harry Potter book readers and movie watchers alike!

If you enjoyed this post, continue learning more…

OI Blog: Top five features of the Diagon Alley concept art you have to look at again

OI Universal Center: Complete coverage of the Diagon Alley project (including images of the real Hogwarts Express)

View all of our BIG 5 posts

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This week’s list is the Top Five Reasons We Loved Disney’s Star Wars Weekends 2013 (or SSW 2013 for short).  A celebration of everything Star Wars, SSW takes place over the course of four weekends between May and June. The event started in 1997 and ran sporadically until becoming an annual event in 2003. Each year seems to be more popular than the last, yet 2013 was notable for another reason: it is the first year Disney was in full control of the Star Wars brand after purchasing it from George Lucas in late 2012 for $4 billion.

Without further ado, here’s what we enjoyed most about this year’s event…

#5 – Darth’s Mall

Each year Disney releases a whole bunch of new Star Wars related merchandise during SWW, and you can find it all at the cleverly named Darth’s Mall (a play off the name of the Star Wars character Darth Maul from Episode I).

A giant tent is set up behind Tower of Terror and inside you’ll find almost everything you could possibly want in terms of event merchandise as well as several photo ops, including one with a life size Han Solo in Carbonite and another with the Rancor monster from Return of the Jedi that is 17 feet long and weighs over 700 pounds!

Some of the unique merchandise you can buy include personalized Star Tours name tags (where your name is written in Aurebesh, the official written language of the Star Wars Universe), limited edition pins, t-shirts, coins, plushes and games. My favorite new items this year include a Thermal Detonator “hot potato” game, a Disney characters as Star Wars characters “mash up” play set focusing on the Sarlacc Pit from Return of the Jedi, and a pin which had a mournful looking Stormtrooper with the phrase “I had friends on that Death Star.”

Like all special event merchandise, lines can get quite long, and expect many of the more popular items to sell out fast. Several of the extremely limited edition items were already sold out on the first day of SWW.

#4 – Special photo ops

All throughout Hollywood Studios there are special characters you can have your picture taken with. Scattered throughout the park you’ll find photo opportunities with: Queen Amidala, Chewbacca, an Ewok, Ahsoka Tano, Asajjj Ventress, Captain Rex, Commander Cody, Anakin Skywalker, Kit Fisto, Shaak Ti, Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Jango Fett, Darth Maul, Darth Goofy, Jedi Mickey, Leia Minnie, and Stormtrooper Donald. Those are the characters that are set in place and you can queue in line for; others “roam” the park and have no set area and these include: Aurra Sing, Gamorrean Guards, Stormtroopers, Tusken Raiders, Zam Wessell, Clone Troopers, Jawas, and the Cantina Band.

But that’s not all! Over in Darth’s Mall you’ll find Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, R2D2 and C3PO as well as several Star Wars themed backgrounds to take your own pics in front of outside the tent.

#3 – Celebrity autographs

Many Star Wars celebrities are on hand throughout the SWW and most are available for an autograph. However, unlike the characters spread throughout the park, to get an autograph with a celebrity you need to obtain a special FastPass. These FastPasses are available at the front of the park. Unfortunately each guest is only allowed one FastPass per person, and the amount of total Fast Passes are very limited, so if there is a special person you’ve always wanted to meet you’ll have to line up early — and by early we mean 5:00am.

Celebrities scheduled to be a part of this year’s SWW include Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano), Ray Park (Darth Maul), Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett), Wawick Davis (Wicket W. Warrick the ewok), Tim Rose (Admiral Ackbar “It’s a Trap!”), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) and more. Unlike comic book conventions or sci-fi conventions, where these autographs would easily cost $20 or more each, all celebrity signings are included free with your park admission.

#2 – Star Wars Motorcade

Guests at theme parks love parades and one of the more unique offerings takes place during SWW as this motorcade includes special vehicles such as X-Wing fighter for Mickey and sports cars for the Star Wars celebriteis like Ray Park, but also has many characters as well as kids from the Jedi Training Academy.

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Also represented in the parade are the 501st Legion: Vader’s Fist, which is a fan-run community of people who dress in incredibly elaborate and movie accurate Star Wars costumes.

#1 – Hyperspace Hoopla

Hyperspace Hoopla takes place on a stage directly in front of the big Sorcerer’s Hat in the middle of the park and is a hilarious dance-off using the Star Wars characters. Many consider the end-of-day Hyperspace Hoopla to be the highlight of every Star Wars Weekend while others believe it to almost be sacrilegious in terms of how it uses Star Wars characters in such a goofy manner.

[youtube_video]3VQnFHorxYA[/youtube_video]

Considering that the Star Wars brand has been officially mocked by the television shows Family Guy (in a must see trilogy of specials) and Robot Chicken as well Disney itself making a Hot Wheels style car of “Mater Vader” that combines Cars’ Tow Mater with Darth Vader, I think it’s time for some people to lighten up.

Honorable mention – custom Star Wars figures

Last year D-Tech made their debut at Star Wars Weekends with a customizable action figure that allowed guests to be “frozen in carbonite” like Han Solo. This year D-Tech brought back Carbon Freeze Me but also debuted the ability for guests to also create their own Stormtrooper action figure. Through a process of using 3D facial scanning and printing,  D-Tech takes a digital picture of your face and uses that to create the “head” of the action figure. There are options for both men and women. The entire process only takes a couple minutes, but the figure will take 6-8 weeks to create and be shipped to your home. The final cost (including shipping) is about $120.

The custom Stormtrooper figure and the Carbon Freeze Me figure are exclusive to Star Wars Weekends and cannot be bought anywhere else.

That’s it for this edition of the BIG 5! We’ll see you again real soon.

Star Wars Weekends – 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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This week’s list is the top five features of the Springfield concept art you have to look one more time.

View/download the full resolution version of the concept art by clicking here.

Universal has gone and done it again! Even though we still haven’t picked our jaws up off the ground from them releasing the new concept art for Diagon Alley — see that SPECIAL EDITION of the BIG 5 —  they went and released even more concept art for the upcoming major expansion of the area by The Simpsons Ride. Done in the classic Simpsons cartoon style, this piece of artwork has quickly become one of my all-time favorite pieces of theme park art. There’s a lot of stuff here, including the statue of Jebediah Springfield, the incredible façade for the Android’s Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop, and even a new entrance arch for Krustyland which includes the phrase “the Krustiest Place on Earth”.

Let’s look at the five features that should make almost any theme park fan smile from ear to ear…

#5 – Kang & Kodus’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl

“Foolish earthlings, don’t you know that all rides must end in the gift shop!” – Kodos

While some believed Universal was bringing in a Ferris wheel for the Springfield area, this new concept art proves that the park is getting a Dumbo-like spinner for everyone to enjoy. Not only does this add another attraction that younger guests can ride in the park, but it seems in the art – and the attraction name itself – that this spinner will come with a twist: the flying saucers may rotate individually while going around the spinner. Think Storm Force Accelatron in Marvel Superhero Island mixed with One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish in Seuss Landing.

If you look closely at the “tentacles” of the ride, you’ll also see what looks like a whole bunch of lighting components. So look for this attraction, and several other areas of Springfield, to have a whole new wow factor at night, much like Hollywood Drive-In mini golf in CityWalk.

#4 – Duff Gardens

 “Duff Beer for me. Duff Beer for you. I’ll have a Duff. You’ll have one too.”

The lagoon area of USF just got a whole lot better with the addition of a new watering hole in Duff Gardens. Not only will guests have the perfect place to kick back and relax while enjoy the day (or Cinematic Spectacular nighttime show), but Universal also released the news that Duff Beer itself will be brewed exclusively for Orlando.

Back in 2007 when The Simpsons Movie was released, many 7-11 stores were converted to Kwik-E-Marts and carried exclusive Simpsons related food and beverages. But while you could finally get your hands on Buzz Cola, KrustyO’s cereal and even Squishees, one thing you couldn’t get was a Duff Beer. Look out Hog’s Head Ale, you have some competition coming in the 21-and-over signature drink competition.

#3 – Lard Lad Donuts

“Mmmmmmm, forbidden donut.” – Homer Simpson

Lard Lad donuts is the Springfield sweet shop where many a pink frosted donut with sprinkles will be sold.

Theme park fans love their baked treats. Whether it’s BabycakesNYC at Downtown Disney, Starring Rolls at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or the Croissant Moon Bakery at Islands of Adventure, you won’t be able to walk too far in any theme park without running into a bakery with that delicious aroma in the air drawing you in like the pied piper — Springfield will be no exception.

By the way, did you notice that the concept art is signed by the very creator himself, Matt Groening?

#2 – Krusty Burger and Fast Food Boulevard

“I personally am going to spit in every fiftieth burger!” – Krusty the Clown

For a long time many thought that only Krusty Burger would be coming to the Simpsons expansion area, and we were happy with that. Krusty Burger is a staple of the Simpsons and has hilariously been used over the past two decades with biting satire to take on the fast food industry in general and items like the McRib in specific.

The concept art shows us Krusty Burger in all its glory, but the news release by Universal lets us in that other restaurants from Springfield’s Fast Food Boulevard will be represented once you walk into the establishment.

Besides the never-before-seen-until-now Cletus Chicken Shack (replacing the original concept of Kentucky Fried Panda), walking into Krusty Burger will lead you to other eating options straight from The Simpsons universe including the Frying Dutchman and Luigi’s pizza. Universal mentions an eating concept tied to the character Bumblebee Man where you can eat a “Taco Fresho”, and you can expect this to be either a new stand between Duff Gardens and Lard Lad, or the taco food truck that has been at the parks sporadically over the past year themed to this new concept. One thing is for sure, you’ll be able to get a lot of different food options in Springfield, and with The Simpsons brand involved, we’re undoubtedly going to get some new entries for our Extreme Eats at Universal articles!

#1 – Moe’s Tavern

“Here’s to alcohol. The source of, and answer to, all of life’s problems.” – Homer Simpson

What Simpsons fan hasn’t dreamed about walking into Moe’s Tavern for the last twenty plus years! This is two generations’ version of Cheers! While the concept art shows us the iconic building (and even a “beeramid” if you look closely by the door), the mind races at what is behind that door.

Certainly we’ll be able to try out the Love Tester. Surely we’ll see a jar of pickled eggs. Guaranteed we are going to see a ton of sight gags throughout the entire establishment, along with the requisite prank calls, but will there be a “Flaming Moe”? While not everything is known about what is behind that front door, seeing Moe’s Tavern on this concept art is a dream come true for many a Simpsons fan.

Honorable mention – Duffman!

”Are you ready to get DUFFED?!”

Located near Duff Gardens is the iconic mascot of Duff Beer, Duffman! Now the official news release from Universal said that two new characters would be joining the regular Simpsons gang (Homer, Bart, Lisa, and Marge) as walk-around characters and revealed them to be Krusty the Clown and Sideshow Bob. However, The Simpsons TV show has many well known and loved characters to pull from its roster for photo-ops and autographs, and having extra characters around — like Comic Book Guy, Chief Wiggum, and Duffman — would be very beneficial to the area.

Even if Duffman turns into solely a photo-op like the Bruce the Shark from JAWS over in the San Francisco backlot, many Simpsons fans will be shouting  the Duffman catchphrase, “Oh yeah!”

That’s it for this edition of the BIG 5! We’ll see you again real soon.

Editor’s note: We invite you to continue learning about this project by visiting our Simpsons Springfield expansion page in the OI Universal Center.

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Yesterday Universal dropped a bombshell: the official announcement of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley expansion combined with brand new concept art. Even though many guests may have “known” that more Harry Potter was coming to Universal’s parks, it’s pretty exciting to get actual confirmation of Diagon Alley coming to Florida, and that it will be opening in 2014!

However, to those of us who have been following the Universal news beat for a while – including the demolishing of the JAWS attraction and the surrounding Amity area where all this is taking place – what’s more astonishing is the stunning concept art of the area that Universal released.

View/download the full resolution version of the concept art by clicking here.

Everything we had talked about, thought about, and even dreamed about is finally here in front of our eyes. Now let’s count down the five features of this concept art that you have to look at again! Remember, you can click any image to view it full-screen.

#5 – London waterfront

We now have visual confirmation of what we wrote about weeks ago in the Rumor Round-Up: the outside of Diagon Alley will have buildings “hiding” the Wizarding World behind it with representations of King’s Cross Station, Leicester Square Station, the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron, Wyndham’s Theatre, and Grimmauld Place.

Universal Studios Florida has clearly put a focus on their Lagoon area. Last year they debuted one of the best nighttime shows in Orlando, Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular. They are currently working on expanding The Simpsons area, which will have an attraction as well as an outdoor bar in the form of Duff Gardens. Once Diagon Alley opens the Universal lagoon area will be one of the most inspiring areas to walk around in any theme park. Whether you want to explore the London waterfront, get caught up in the hijinks of The Simpsons, enjoy fine dining at Lombard’s Seafood Grille, or just get away from the hustle and bustle of theme park touring in Central Park, walking around the Lagoon will be a journey in its own right.

#4 – Gringotts Bank attraction

Universal has described Diagon Alley’s marquee attraction as an innovative new ride based on Gringotts Bank.

We’ve been hearing for a long time that the massive structure that starting showing up in USF in late 2012 was the show building for a Gringotts Bank attraction. What’s not known is how much of this attraction is a coaster and how much of it is a dark ride, but this hybrid should set new levels of technical achievements that Universal is known for in rides such as Spider-Man and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. The only thing bigger than the show building outside is our expectations for how amazing the Gringotts Bank experience is going to be inside.

#3 – Gringotts Bank dragon

Perched high upon the entrance to Gringotts Bank, we discover a beautiful fire-breathing dragon. Like most theme park concept art (and even park maps), we’re surely seeing a little liberty taken with artistic license. Nonetheless, it’s been confirmed that the dragon feature is real and will likely be an elaborate audio animatronic set atop Gringotts dome (seen in the top-left of this tweeted image), drawing guests toward Diagon Alley’s “E-Ticket” attraction.

Unlike the Dragon in Forbidden Journey, whose “fire” is a combination of smoke and light, the dragon in Diagon Alley will have to breathe real fire for the effect to be pulled off — can’t wait to see how Universal does this!

#2 – Knight Bus parked at the waterfront

Back in 2010 Universal brought the Knight Bus over from England and used it for photo ops the week leading up the Wizarding World of Harry Potter grand opening. In fact, the night of the big opening ceremony, several of the Harry Potter movie stars (including the actors who play Fred & George Weasley, Draco Malfoy and Neville Longbottom) arrived to the event in the Knight Bus. The new Diagon Alley concept art shows us the Knight Bus once again parked in Orlando, sitting right outside the London Waterfront area.

If this is a permanent feature, it will become an instant destination for people looking for a great picture, not unlike the ones taken with the Jaws shark “Bruce” located nearby in the San Francisco backlot.

For those interested, the statue featured in the image is that of the Greek god Anteros, sometimes referred to as The Angel of Christian Charity and popularly mistaken as his brother, Eros (at least according to Wikipedia). It can be found in London’s Piccadilly Circus — learn more.

#1 – Hogwart’s Express traveling between Diagon Alley & Hogsmeade

It’s been talked about for a while, and we’ve seen pictures of the Hogwart’s Express track already in place, but this concept art shows us the iconic train making its pilgrimage from London to Hogwarts.

For the first time in the history of theme parks, there will be “lands” in two separate parks connected by an attraction. It’s one thing to be able to ride the monorail from EPCOT to the Transportation & Ticket Center and then another quick monorail to the Magic Kingdom, but here is an actual train that will take guests from Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida to Hogsmeade Village at Islands of Adventure.

We are at the precipice of theme park history and it is breathtaking.

Honorable mention – Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes

Eagle eye readers will see a small glimpse of one of our favorite stores from the Harry Potter universe, Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, run by Fred and George Weasley. Here is an image showing the store from the Harry Potter movies (top) and Universal’s Diagon Alley concept art (bottom):

Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes.

While it’s not known if this store will be a full retail experience or just a themed facade, the concept art shows us that we’ll all get to see the whimsical icon of the store in all it’s glory.

That’s it for this edition of the BIG 5! We’ll see you again real soon.

Editor’s note: Orlando Informer hosts the world’s largest single-page unofficial guide to the Harry Potter expansion at Universal. We invite you to continue learning about this amazing project by clicking here.

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This week’s list is the top five Extreme Eats at the Walt Disney World. We here at the BIG 5 are huge fans of extreme snacks in Orlando, and after putting together our list of the top Extreme Eats at Universal, it was time to head over to the Mouse House and check out what they have to offer. With four theme parks, two water parks, over 20 on-site resort hotels and the Downtown Disney area, we knew there would be some interesting choices, and we weren’t disappointed. On to the list!

#5 – The King Cupcake at Pop Century

Cupcakes are all the rage, and you can certainly find many of them throughout Walt Disney World. But none can compare to the unique King Cupcake found at Pop Century’s Everything Pop food court. Named after “the king” himself, Elvis Pressley, this cupcake has all the elements that Elvis liked to put in his legendary sandwiches. That’s right, you’re going to find peanut butter frosting, banana pudding filling, and candied bacon sprinkled on top. The cupcake itself is made out of chocolate cake and there is also chocolate drizzled over the top.

This is less a “snack” and more of a work of art. There is Michelangelo’s David, Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Monet’s Water Lilies and the King Cupcake, and not necessarily in that order. The chocolate base is wonderful. The peanut butter frosting is among the best I’ve ever tasted. The candied bacon is odd to wrap you’re head around at first but it is a perfect compliment to all the other flavors going on. I literally felt like Remy from Ratatouille eating this cupcake as there was a symphony going on in my mouth even after I finished it.

If there is one thing that can be improved, it is the very small dollop of banana pudding inside. Maybe it could use a little more banana pudding, and maybe the Sistine Chapel could use another fig leaf. Who knows and who cares because what we have is glorious!

#4 – The Triple Stack at Babycakes NYC

Everyone knows that the first rule of fight club is that you don’t talk about fight club, but one rule not everyone knows is to ask for the Triple Stack at Babycakes NYC in Downtown Disney.

The Cookie Sandwich at Babycakes NYC is already one of the best snacks on Disney property. It takes two of the bakery’s chocolate chip cookies and throws a generous helping of their signature frosting in the middle. Adventurous souls can ask for the Double Stack, which adds another cookie and a second layer of frosting to the sandwich but to truly experience an Extreme Eat you need to ask for a Triple Stack. Comprised of four chocolate chip cookies and three layers of frosting, this off-menu item is not just delicious, but is also dairy free, egg free, and gluten free along with the rest of Babycake NYC’s baked goods.

#3 – Turkey Leg Rice Krispies Treat at Goofy’s Candy Company

What is it about Disney and the turkey leg?! Not only are they all around the parks, but t-shirts, hats, magnets and even air-fresheners have been dedicated to this snack. Yes, air fresheners! I understand the appeal of a Dole Whip, but a turkey leg? I just don’t get it. So imagine my surprise when walking into Goofy’s Candy Company at Downtown Disney and seeing a turkey leg treat!

I was told by the cast members that the Turkey Leg Rice Krispies Treats originally were only going to be a seasonal item available during the holidays, but they were so popular that they stayed on to the menu.

#2 – Doh Bar at Cookes of Dublin

We here at the BIG 5 have been huge fans of Downtown Disney for years. We love shopping at the World of Disney, enjoy dinner and a movie at the AMC Fork & Screen, and love the food and atmosphere in the new Splitsville bowling alley. But it came to our attention this week that Downtown Disney contained not only a fried Snickers bar, but a fried Snickers bar encased in donut batter. We cried tears of joy the entire ride over.

Found at Cookes of Dublin, located directly next to popular eatery Raglan Road, the Doh Bar was everything we could have hoped for and more. Made fresh to order, the Doh Bar comes out warm on a stick and coated with powdered sugar. Picking it up gave us a feeling of excitement that can only be compared to picking up Thor’s hammer or pulling King Arthur’s sword out of the stone. Pure bliss. A destination snack worth going out of your way to try.

#1 – The Kitchen Sink at Beaches & Cream

Having already battled — and been bested by — one Kitchen Sink Cake at Hard Rock Hotel, I was wary to take on another. But the temptation of trying a dessert that includes eight scoops of ice cream, two cupcakes, four Oreo cookies, one candy bar, one brownie, and entire can of whipped cream became too much. And if you think that is a lot of ingredients for a sundae, well there’s even more stuff in it including toasted almonds, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, fudge topping, maraschino cherries!

Available exclusively at Beaches & Cream at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort, what sets The Kitchen Sink apart from everything else is not just the enormity of the dessert but all the flair that goes into the presentation. While we were at our table waiting for it to arrive, the lights in the restaurant dimmed and flashing lights started to go off. Our waitress talked about what was in The Kitchen Sink and the entire staff yelled “and one whole can of whipped cream” at the end. When the lights came back on, the monstrous sundae was in front of us in the fantastic bowl shaped exactly like a kitchen sink, with handles and faucet included.

At least five other guests came over to our table to take a picture of The Kitchen Sink. It was a pretty surreal experience, and I have to admit it looks impressive when it comes out. The menu says that The Kitchen Sink serves four people, but we finished it off with only three.

The brownie and cupcakes tossed on top were big hits and tasted great. The weird part is when you get to last quarter of the dessert, as by then everything left has melted together to become one big “ice cream soup”.

Honorable mention – Tie-Dye Cheesecake at Pop Century

At the BIG 5 we like all kinds of desserts, but our favorite after dinner snack is — hands down — a piece of cheesecake. We’ve sampled various versions around Disney property including marble cheesecake at Disney Hollywood Studio’s Backlot Express and tribal cheesecake at Downtown Disney’s Rainforest Café. However, when we walked into the, our jaws dropped to the floor.

The multi-colored Tie-Dye Cheesecake is a visual treat. It reminded me of when Heinz tried to put out purple and green colored ketchup back in the early 2000s. That is, something I’ve eaten a million times, done in a completely different and unique way. Instead of the usual graham cracker crust, the Tie-Dye cheesecake has a layer of red velvet cake that supports all the wildly colored cheesecake above. A major success in every way as the light cake mixes perfectly with the dense cheesecake.

That’s it for this edition of the BIG 5! We’ll see you again real soon.

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This week’s list is the Top Five Things at the Orlando International Airport (MCO). The airport code MCO refers to Orlando International’s former name, McCoy Air Force Base. For many people going to Central Florida’s theme parks, arriving at MCO is the first step in their vacation, and it’s one of the most unique experiences you can have — especially at an airport!

#5 – Stores representing all the major theme parks

Readers of the BIG 5 know we love shopping for theme park merchandise, and right in the middle of the airport you’ll find stores dedicated to all the major Orlando area parks including Disney, Universal, SeaWorld and the Kennedy Space Center. In fact, each of the parks have TWO stores to shop in, so no matter which airline you fly you’re going to easily find one of them. Disney has the “Disney Earport” and “The Magic of Disney,” and between the two of them you’re getting a scaled down version of the World of Disney store in Downtown Disney. You’ll find stuffed animals, pins, vinylmations, shirts, Chef Mickey’s kitchen line, and even items from Goofy’s Candy Company line of products. There are even several photo ops including one with Snow White and another with Sorcerer Mickey.

Both of Universal’s stores are separated into two sections, one for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter merchandise, and another for everything else. So on one side of the store you can buy your Gryffindor robes, your chocolate frogs and even your wands, while the other side has Despicable Me dolls, Spider-Man action figures, Thing 1 & Thing 2 shirts (from Dr. Seuss), candy with insects in them, and even a magnet for the old JAWS attraction. It’s like going through all the best gift shops in Universal and grabbing a little bit of everything. Universal also has several photo ops including one with Spider-Man and others using great Potter related artwork. My favorite includes a great reproduction of Hogsmeade Village and Hogwarts Castle as they appear in Islands of Adventure.

Don’t dismiss the shops for SeaWorld/Busch Gardens and the Kennedy Space Center. Besides having various merchandise from the parks, including the novelty “astronaut food” like freeze dried ice cream, you may discover some unique items if you look around. One of the SeaWorld/Busch Gardens stores has a giant giraffe on display while one of the Kennedy Space Center stores has a reproduction of the space suit worn by Eugene Cernan, the last man to step on the surface of the moon.

#4 – The monorail

At the BIG 5 we call the MCO monorail your first attraction in Florida. There’s just something cool about getting off an airplane and being able to board an actual monorail to take you to the main terminal. A people mover in an airport!

For many it brings up memories of going to Walt Disney World and passing through the  Ticket & Transportation Center.  For others it’s just a fun way to get around, because how many times do you get to use a monorail as your mode of travel? Elevators, escalators, and moving walkways — been there, done that. A monorail? It will always be special.

#3 – A great hotel inside the airport

Many airports have hotels near them, but very few have an actual hotel in them. Count MCO in the latter group, because it is home to one of Orlando’s best-rated hotels: the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport.

With 445 guest rooms, two restaurants, an outdoor pool and 24-hour gym, the Hyatt Regency MCO is one of the better places you can stay at while in Orlando. But what we like are the two glass covered elevators that face the airport atrium as you travel up the 10 floors. What a view!

As of post time Hyatt Regency MCO is rated 4.5 out of 5 on TripAdvisor with 513 Excellent reviews.

#2 – More shopping

If your flight is delayed or you just have some time on your hands, MCO has a fantastic selection of stores to wonder through. While many airports have a book store, how many are large enough to offer a wide selection of graphic novels? Not only can you find the entire collection of The Walking Dead at Stellar Books, but there’s also a generous amount of Marvel and DC graphic novels.

All the major retailers you’ll find at your average mall are here, including Lids, Oakley, Build-A-Bear and Brookstone. From Harley Davidson to Helly Kitty, there’s not much on your shopping list  that you won’t find in MCO.

Did we mention there is a store dedicated solely to hairbrushes? You read that right. AN ENTIRE STORE DEVOTED TO HAIRBRUSHES! If you are at the airport and you desperately need a hairbrush, Bayside Brush has you covered.

#1  – An official “King of Kong” arcade

Seeing this arcade was like seeing a mirage — I couldn’t believe my eyes. This couldn’t possibly exist! One of my all-time favorite movies is the documentary King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. The film followed Steve Wiebe as he attempted to break Billy Mitchell’s high score for the video game Donkey Kong. An amazing documentary, King of Kong also established Billy Mitchell as one of the greatest “villains” in movie history.

While relatively small, the King of Kong arcade has all the games you would expect to find in order to pass the time, including pinball, shoot-em-up, racing, and claw games. What makes this arcade stand out is the Donkey Kong theme throughout and the King of Kong gift shop.

Here you can buy trading cards of Billy Mitchell, Steve Wiebe, and video game referee Walter Day. There are t-shirts available with quotes Billy Mitchell used in the film such as, “Work is for people who can’t play video games.” You can even buy King of Kong branded hot sauce. For film buffs it may be worth flying to Orlando just to see this in person, as I’m still picking my jaw up off the floor.

Honorable Mention – pressed penny machine

People love pressed pennies. You can find them throughout Walt Disney World, Universal and all the major theme parks. You can find them at hotels, restaurants and even Orlando attractions such as Gatorland and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. We even did a BIG 5 on our Top Five Pressed Pennies at Universal. However, the first place you can get a pressed penny on your Florida vacation is at the SeaWorld/Busch Gardens store at MCO.

That’s it for this edition of the BIG 5! We’ll see you again real soon.

Oh, and if you’d like to learn more about Orlando International Airport, visit their official site. Wondering about transportation from MCO to your theme park destination? Visit the Shuttles, taxis & towncars: Transportation recommendations page in the OI Universal Center.

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This week’s list is the Top Five Queues at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.

#5 – E.T. Adventure

The last man standing, E.T. Adventure is the sole attraction still in the parks that was an opening-day attraction for Universal Studios Florida in 1990.  Despite a ride ending that seems conceived by Stephen Spielberg after eating some special alien-herb brownies, the E.T. attraction is beloved by many for several reasons, including its incredible queue replicating a large California forest.

The indoor forest is one of the most impressive queues at any theme park, with the perfect blend of darkness, forest “smells” and the sounds of nature throughout. While walking through the forest, guests learn that the police are after E.T., while Botanicus (from E.T.’s home planet “The Green Planet”) is trying to get E.T. home. This is also one of the very few attractions at Universal that has a “tie in” of sorts to Disney, as the famous Speak & Spell from Disney Hollywood Studio’s Toy Story Midway Mania is also in the E.T. queue spelling out “H-E-L-P E-T.”

See more photos of the E.T. Adventure queue

#4 – The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

Fans of the web head will love the queue of this attraction, as it allows guests to walk through the famous Daily Bugle, ripped straight from the Spider-Man universe.

You get to see several areas of what would be a working newspaper office, all while being informed of the current situation in the city leading up to your role in the attraction itself. One of the best parts of this queue is all the jokes throughout the building on signs including Midnight Deadline: You must turn in either: Your final story copy or Your resignation. It’s your choice” and a safety poster that reads “We want your heart and minds in the newspaper, not literally.”

The Spider-Man queue is also the only place at Universal Orlando where you have the opportunity for a photo in the middle of the queue. Follow the instructions of the team members inside the Bugle office and you can get shots like these:

See more photos and an HD video of the Spider-Man queue

#3 – The Simpsons Ride

A queue so good it makes you forget that its replacing a classic ride in Back to the Future. One of the things I love the most are the gigantic attraction posters that parody the ones you’ll see walking into the Magic Kingdom. One poster is for “Captain Dinosaur’s Pirate Rip-Off. A ride so old it should be extinct” is a clever jab at the Pirates of Caribbean attraction.

Besides the sight gags throughout, there are TV monitors along the queue playing a combination of clips from Simpsons episodes that dealt with theme parks and brand new animation made exclusively for this attraction. So you’ll get to see all the classic moments from when The Simpsons went to places like Duff Gardens, as well as hilarious new scenes such as Homer Simpson trying to sneak food into the parks. There is even a segment that explains the backstory on how BTTF became The Simpsons Ride, with Doc Brown signing over the rights of the Institute of Future Technology over to Krusty the Clown.

See more photos from The Simpsons Ride queue

#2 – Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

The 2012 entry into the Universal Studios family of attractions shows exactly how far Universal Creative has come in delivering a fantastic queue experience. It begins outside the ride, as guests are treated to a wonderful reproduction of Gru’s house. The outdoor queue has hilarious videos featuring the minions as they prepare the guest for the “job” of becoming a minion when they enter the ride. The indoor queue takes us inside Gru’s house, where we get to see full on reproductions of some of the insane decorations he had, such as the mounted Lion eating a dog eating a cat taxidermy and the chair built out of a rhinoceros.

From the start of the queue, to your final step into the Super Silly Store gift shop, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem provides absolutely everything a theme park attraction should shoot for. It’s family friendly, funny, thrilling, full of heart, and appeals equally to those who love the film and those who have never heard of it.

See more photos and an HD video of the Despicable Me queue

#1  – Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

The gold standard in queues. How many attractions in the history of theme parks have had a queue so immersive, so detailed, and so incredible that guests want to spend more time in it? So much that Universal has a Hogwarts tour-only line in which people go through the queue but not get on the attraction. (This option is explained in full in OI’s Complete guide to Forbidden Journey.) The Hogwarts castle queue is almost a destination in itself for fans of the Harry Potter stories as it brings to life so many memorable and iconic locations and items.

[youtube_video]9EIBg_iyWYg[/youtube_video]

Guests will pass by a statue of the Architect of Hogwarts, the Mirror of Erised, Dumbledore’s office, the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, the Sorting Hat, and so much more. Thanks to Universal’s “Musion” technology, guests are treated to seeing all new performances by the actors playing Dumbledore, Harry Potter, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley.  Not to be outdone, Universal Creative figured out a way to make the famous “moving portraits” look believable in the real world and used them to tell the entire backstory of the ride. To quote Stan Lee, “Face front true believers, this one truly has it all!”

 See the world’s largest collection of photos and videos explaining Forbidden Journey

Honorable Mention – MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack

A true gem in the parks, the queue for MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack perfectly combines the retro feel of a 1960s era World Fair and the Sci Fi world of today. Guests are “recruited” into the MIB program and walk through the MIB headquarters, seeing everything that made Will Smith’s jaw drop in the first MIB film.

You’ll overlook the main control area (with all the desks and the huge screen), see the weapons room, and even pass several of the famous characters from the film. Like the movies, the queue and attraction has a good sense of humor about itself, including some very well done retro-inspired posters outside the building.

See more photos and an HD video from the MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack queue

That’s it for this edition of the BIG 5! We’ll see you again real soon.

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The post THE BIG 5: Top five attraction queues at Universal Orlando appeared first on Orlando Informer.

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This week’s list is the Top Five Snack Options at Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras celebration. Mardi Gras is the French term for Fat Tuesday, the last day to enjoy eating rich, fatty foods before the ritual fasting that begins on Ash Wednesday. Longtime readers of THE BIG 5 and have seen us cover the top “Extreme Eats” at the Universal, or the Top Five Snacks of Halloween Horror Nights, know that our eyes lit up hearing the phrase rich, fatty foods. Here’s a look at the five best snack options you can ingest while waiting for beads to be thrown off your favorite Mardi Gras float

#5 – Beignets

When people think of Mardi Gras, they think of New Orleans — and nothing says N’awlins more than a beignet. A signature dessert of The Big Easy, and the official doughnut of Louisiana, a beignet is pretty simple: fried dough with a whole bunch of powdered sugar on top. They are traditionally served in orders of three. Universal takes it up a notch allowing the customer to have some chocolate sauce drizzled on top of the beignets. ($4.25)

Universal also offers funnel cake sticks, which can be considered an Americanized version of beignets. Also made out of fried dough, the sticks have a small coating of powdered sugar compared to the mound poured on a beignet, and can also have chocolate sauce drizzled on them. ($4.50)

#4 – Red Beans & Rice

Another traditional Mardi Gras dish is Red Beans and Rice. Universal does a good job with this piece of Creole culture having the Red Beans served in a pork-based stock over white rice. Tabasco sauce is available for those that want to add a little more heat to this staple of French Quarter cuisine. Served with a side of bread, this dish is filling and comes pretty cheaply in terms of theme park prices. ($5.00)

#3 – King Cake

Baked in a design that is meant to evoke the “coming of three wise men bearing gifts for the Christ child,” the King Cake is oversized and brightly colored. The perfect snack for the theme park guest who believes in the philosophy of Go Big or Go Home, a piece of King Cake would fit in perfectly with the “monster-sized” versions of food available at Universal’s Monsters Café. ($3.25)

#2 – Voodoo Juice

Available in a souvenir glass, this concoction made out of coconut rum, banana liqueur, Minute Maid orange juice and cranberry juices is good enough to make any guest feel bewitched for one night! ($11.00, souvenir cup can be refilled for $8.00)

#1 – Shrimp Gumbo

The staff at THE BIG 5 likes a good value, and the Shrimp Gumbo just may be one of the best bargains at Universal. A heaping bowl of food whose soup portion has a good amount of Cajun spice in it, but the rice on top has a pinch of salt that works as a perfect counter balance to the heat. A little Andouille sausage, a little bacon and several pieces of shrimp are mixed with vegetables to provide one heck of a meal, and don’t forget the bread. ($6.00)

Honorable mention – Fried Shrimp Po’ Boy

This simple and simply delicious sandwich is a trademark of New Orleans cooking, and throughout the town it can be found in the tiniest whole-in-the-wall food shacks and the finest restaurants. Strangely enough, then, that the Po’ Boy at Universal Mardi Gras can only be found at one food stand: right near the exit to the Shrek 4D gift shop. But don’t skip it — and if fried shrimp isn’t your thing, the same food stand sells a cheesesteak sandwich too.

As you can see, Universal has done an incredible job making their Mardi Gras celebration as authentic as possible with food selections taken straight out of New Orleans’ long standing traditions (and we haven’t even talked about the parade!). So whether you’re from the bayou or the Big Apple, you’re going to get a taste of why Mardi Gras is the party of the year!

That’s it for this edition of the BIG 5! If you plan on going to this event at Universal Studios Florida, you definitely want to check out the Complete insider’s guide to Universal Mardi Gras 2013 in the OI Universal Center. We’ll see ya again real soon.

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This week’s list is the Top Five reasons to go to Legoland Florida. Many theme park visitors coming to enjoy Disney or Universal also know about SeaWorld and Busch Gardens, but there’s another kid-friendly theme park located not too far away. That’s right — Legoland Florida is only a 45 minute drive from the attractions in Orlando, and here are the best reasons you should include it in your vacation plans…

#5 – Mini-land USA

There might be a teenager or adult out there that’s thinking “there’s nothing at Legoland for me.” Stop right there. Mini-land USA is one of the most unbelievable attractions at any theme park in Florida, and that includes the big boys.

Mini-land USA has small scale reproductions of America’s most recognizable cities and landmarks. You can see a LEGO version of Las Vegas, with stunning versions of the Luxor, Mirage and MGM hotels. There’s Washington DC with all the major monuments and recognizable buildings, like the White House (including the first family at the front). The skyscrapers and Times Square of New York City are here, as well as San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. Words can not describe the intricate detail that has been put into this area. It’s awe inspiring and has to be seen to be believed.

As a resident of Florida, I had a blast going around Mini-land USA and checking out the large area dedicated to my home state. The Kennedy Space Center, the Daytona speedway, Bok Tower, Key West, Downtown Tampa and even the antebellum mansions in the Panhandle are represented. I think this area may be my favorite part of any theme park, it’s that good.

And the topper? Now there’s a Star Wars area with one section dedicated to each individual Star Wars movie and another for the Clone Wars series. You want to see Tatooine, the ice planet Hoth, or Endor? It’s all here.

#4 – Apple Fries!

Universal Orlando’s butterbeer changed everything. From the minute that delicious drink was served to the first guests at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, getting food and drink at a theme park became less of a chore and more of an experience to look forward to. Disney gave us LeFou’s Brew and a new roasted Pork Shank when it opened Gaston’s Tavern in New Fantastyland. When Transformers: The Ride 3D opens at Universal Studios Florida in the coming months it will bring with it the Engeron drink, and the Simpsons expansion promises a fully realized Krusty Burger.

Legoland Florida has their own sweet treat that is exclusive to their park: Granny’s Apple Fries.

It’s Granny Smith apples, cut and cooked into a French fry shape, then dusted with cinnamon and sugar and served with a vanilla cream dipping sauce. I was skeptical at first, but was quickly going back for a second helping once I finished my first order! These little guys are very addicting, and because it’s based around a fruit we can all pretend it’s a healthy snack.

#3 – 4D Lego Movies

I’m a sucker for film-based rides in theme parks. Whether it’s Mickey’s Philharmagic at the Magic Kingdom, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem at Universal Studios Florida, or even the incredible IMAX movies at the Kennedy Space Center, there’s just something relaxing about being able to sit down in a dark, air conditioned room and watch a movie during a hectic visit to the parks. Throughout the day, at the Wells Fargo Fun Town Theater, Legoland Florida airs several 4D films.

We happened to catch a movie staring Clutch Powers, one of Lego’s signature characters who is very similar to Indiana Jones. Another film was set in a Lord Of The Rings-like period and based around an epic battle between our heroes and a skeleton army led by an evil wizard — basically every young boy’s dream world. I was surprised how well the story was told with almost zero dialogue.

#2 – All the details that create the Legoland world

One of my favorite things at both Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando are all the hidden details throughout their parks. It’s this immersive world-building that allows the guest to leave the “real world” at the front gate and step into something entirely fantastical.

Legoland Florida is filled with these building blocks of theming that add so much to the experience. It’s one thing to walk through Mini-land USA and see the gigantic reproductions of the Vegas hotels or Times Square, but it’s another to see posters for the LEGO version of the Blue Man Group or the Broadway play Wicked.

Near one of the restrooms there is a full size replica of a plumber holding a toilet who makes jokes as guests walk by. There is another Lego person set up as an artist painting a picture titled “Legoland at Night” that is just a canvas painted black. Legoland is full of these little touches and defining experiences. (And Downtown Disney fans will find an old friend on a park bench.)

#1 – The most bricktacular photo collectible in any theme park

Guests love to take pictures, but only Legoland has the option of getting your family picture printed directly onto Lego bricks! Using technology exclusive to the Florida theme park, a Legoland photographer can get your family’s picture taken in front of several different areas in the park. Then you can pick which picture you want recreated in brick form.  The collectable is purchased fully assembled and with another park exclusive, a Legoland Florida photographer mini-fig. After you get home the picture can be taken apart and reassembled to your heart’s content. This is definitely one of the most original pieces of merchandise I have come across in a theme park.

Another great option for guests who enjoy pictures is an Unlimited USB photo deal for $34.95. This gets you a USB drive that you can then load up with as many pictures as you want, including all five of the attractions that take your picture during the ride.

Honorable mention – dining options & pricing

The food selection is varied and quite enjoyable for a theme park setting, and they are very well priced. We thought the Fun Town Pizza and Pasta Buffet was a steal at $10.99 for adults and $6.99 for children. This included several types of pizza, pasta, bread sticks, and a full salad bar. You can’t go wrong here and it might be one of the best dining values on your Florida vacation.

That’s it for this edition of The Big 5. We’ll see you again soon!

Oh, by the way, if you like this post then you’ll really want to read OI Share: Lori shares her touring plan & insights with us after a fun-filled day at Legoland Florida.

Legoland Florida – 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. If several thumbnails are missing, try reloading this page in your browser.

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This week’s list is The Top Five items related to Universal Orlando found on eBay.

#5 – Vacation planning VHS tape

Many guests planning their first trip to Universal Orlando are often upset that they cannot order a free vacation planning DVD like the one offered by Walt Disney World. And while Universal does host a few videos on their website, this falls quite short of getting to watch something on your big screen TV with the family huddled together. Well, there is no reason to be upset now, because someone on eBay is selling a VHS tape produced by Universal in 2000 that can help you plan. Just keep in mind that a few of the attractions may have changed!

http://r.ebay.com/RehxdF

Don’t have a VHS player anymore? Walmart will convert it to DVD for you. Not sure if you want to use a decade old tape to plan your Universal vacation? Well we’ve got great news! The OI Universal Center is the world’s largest and most up-to-date Universal Orlando vacation planning resource.

#4 – CityWalk “Opening Team” pin

While I don’t collect pins or pressed pennies, I can see why people would. They are small, relatively inexpensive, and easy to collect. In the pin collecting world, the hardest ones to obtain are not the limited edition ones, but the ones given away, whether to employees or the media, such as this pin given to the team of people who helped open CityWalk back in 1999. The Big 5 on the top five reasons CityWalk is better than Downtown Disney is coming down the road, but this is an interesting pin marking the beginning of one of Universal Orlando’s biggest triumphs.

http://r.ebay.com/iO5Nb2

#3 – Marvel Super Hero Island Adventures comic book

I remember having this book back in the day, and seeing it on eBay caused me to immediately buy another one (look for a review in the near future.) What a better way to promote Marvel Super Hero Island than with an official Marvel comic book?! With stories focusing on Dr. Doom, The Hulk, and Spider-Man, the comic covers all three opening day rides (Storm Force came along a year later.) These comics are in abundance and can be found anywhere from $5 to $50 or more (for people who are apparently insane).

http://r.ebay.com/roUs2B

#2 – The Call-Chronicle-Examiner Lombard’s Menu

It’s not too often you see a themed menu, but this particular one for Lombard’s Seafood Grille uses a old time newspaper gimmick to get you into the story. Place yourself back in 1996, and the San Francisco area of Universal Studios Florida contained Earthquake: The Big One and Lombard’s, with this menu being another part of the theming to take you back to the era of 1906, when a 7.9 earthquake ripped through San Fran.

http://r.ebay.com/lewPDC

#1 – “The First Grinchmas” Key to the City of Whoville

Grinchmas at Seuss Landing has always been a favorite seasonal festivity of mine. What better way to celebrate with the Whos than to own a key to their city! Imagine the excitement on Christmas morning when you open the gates just as the Grinch returns with the Whoville toys. It can all be yours for a starting price of $24.95.

http://r.ebay.com/y3dpH5

[youtube_video]onxD7USSdq0[/youtube_video]

That’s it for this edition of the BIG 5! We’ll see you again real soon.

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This week’s list is The Top Five things you didn’t know you could do at Universal Orlando. These are things you may have missed or just plain might not know about, no matter how many times you’ve gone.

#5 – A second entrance to Universal Studios Florida

Did you know there is a second entrance into Universal Studios Florida? Follow the pathway from CityWalk to the Blue Man Group theater, and right under the Hollywood Rip, Ride & Rockit coaster you will see it. This entrance can be a time-saver, especially with how busy USF is these days. Keep in mind that this entrance may not open first thing in the morning.

If this entrance happens to be closed when you try to use it, you’re not totally out of luck in terms of getting to do something new. Did you know that there is a piece of the Berlin Wall behind Hard Rock Cafe? Should you be turned away from the USF side entrance, swing over to the back of Hard Rock and check it out.

#4 – Refill any souvenir mug for 99 cents, forever

While many guests are familiar with the red “classic” refillable souvenir mugs that are available throughout both parks, what most don’t know is that you can use any Universal themed souvenir mug to get the same 99 cent refill price on soda at virtually every food & beverage location. What this means is you can use your butterbeer, Homer Simpson, Transformers or any of the other themed mug to get a great deal on Coke products. And did we mention you can do this forever? That’s right, there is no expiration on this discount offer.

So hang onto those cups, because you can reuse them as many times — and for as many trips — as you want (until Universal changes the current policy).

#3 – Moaning Myrtle is in the bathrooms of the Wizarding World

While it may be a closer race now that Cars Land has opened at Disney California Adventure, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is still the gold standard for overall theming in a theme park. Walking into WWoHP is the closest you can come to literally being in the Harry Potter universe. The authenticity is so great that the people from the movies actually used a model of the Three Broomsticks restaurant in WWoHP for filming a scene in the restaurant for Deathly Hallows.

How deep is the level of theming? Well, go on inside the bathrooms in WWoHP and you will hear Moaning Myrtle talking to you. Moaning Myrtle can be seen in Chamber of Secrets and Goblet of Fire; she is a ghost that primarily “haunts” the bathrooms as that is where she was killed.

#2 – Check out the pay phone by The Simpsons Ride

Even though there are signs directing visitors to pick up the phone outside of The Simpsons Ride (next to the Kwik-E-Mart gift shop), almost no one does. Next time you stop by Universal Studios Florida, walk over to the phone and be sure to pick it up when it rings — on the other end will be a resident of Springfield!

#1 – Early check-in at the Universal’s on-site hotels

There is no better perk at any of the seemingly thousands of hotels in Orlando than the unlimited Express Pass access that’s included with a stay at one of Universal’s on-site hotels. Disney offers Extra Magic Hours, others offer free breakfast, and some will even offer free or reduced price tickets if you sit through a sales pitch. But for my money I’ll take the ability to skip lines, which you get automatically if you stay at Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, and Royal Pacific Resort.

What’s nice is that your unlimited Express Pass access is available on the day you check in and the day you check out. In addition, on-site guests currently receive Early Park Admission to both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, and this perk is available on the day you check in and check out too. So, if you are staying on-site at Universal, make the most of it by getting to your hotel early in the morning on your check-in day, get up to the front desk and get registered, then make you way to the parks with all your benefits intact. Your room may not be available until after 4:00pm, but who cares! By the way, the hotel will look after your luggage while you’re at the parks for the day — and you’ll get a text when your room is ready.

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That’s it for this edition of the BIG 5! If you’d like, check out the original Universal’s best kept secrets page in the OI Universal Center. Otherwise, we’ll see you again real soon.

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The post THE BIG 5: Five more things you didn’t know you could do at Universal Orlando appeared first on Orlando Informer.

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This week’s list is tough to describe. I wanted to call it the top five theme park related periodicals, but a little research clued me into the stunning fact that books don’t count as periodicals. I don’t think there are five good theme park related periodicals, so I had to combine them into a new magical category that includes magazines, books and who knows what else the BIG 5 crack staff would find. So allow me to introduce this week’s BIG 5: The Top Five Theme Park related books, magazines, or anything else that has a bunch of words and stuff.

As always, a rather large research team was given this mission with inexhaustible resources. Here are the results in descending order:

#5 WDWNT: The Magazine

http://www.wdwntthemagazine.com

This might be the number one spot for many people because it has the one trait none of the others in the BIG 5 have… IT’S COMPLETELY FREE. All you have to do is a quick download to your computer (or even better, your iPad) and you can read WDWNT: The Magazine. I recommend reading it in the apps Blio or MagCloud. I flip through the absurdly overpriced D23 magazine at Barnes & Noble and, even if it was free, don’t consider it anywhere near as fun for Walt Disney World fans to read as WDWNT: The Magazine.

Full color, with some amazing photos, WDWNT: The Magazine is For Disney Fans/By Disney Fans. The latest issue (#12, celebrating one year of the magazine) has some true highlights including a great pro/con look at the Disney Dining Plan and a full on transcript of The Timekeeper attraction. Something new also started in this issue, an original story based around the Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom game by Scott Smith. That’s some outside-the-box thinking, and I’m all in on that.

#4 DisneyWar: By James B Stewart

There are so many non-fiction books based on Disney, but the problem for me is that 90% of them are pure fluff. DisneyWar is a massive tome (clocking it at over 550 pages) that looks at almost all of the various assets of the Disney empire, with incredible behind the scenes stories.

I grew up with Michael Eisner as the guy I would see introducing the Disney Sunday Movie. As a kid living in New Hampshire at the time, years before the Internet and DVD, the Disney Sunday Movie was pretty much my only connection to Disney World. I looked forward to it, and especially the Eisner introductions, with the same passion I look forward to new episodes of The Walking Dead and Big Bang Theory today. To me Michael Eisner was the nicest person on Earth. I grew up, and learned more of what Michael Eisner was really like, both the good and the bad, but DisneyWar lays everything out on the table.

DisneyWar is an exhaustively researched book on the rise, and fall, of Michael Eisner as the head of Disney. A fascinating look at his fast track up through the Hollywood food chain, the fanfare of taking over Disney, and the inevitable downfall of a man who had seemed to lose touch once achieving absolute power. The book covers just about every part of the Disney empire you want to know about, feature animation, the theme parks, the movies… all with juicy details and jaw dropping information.

#3 The Epcot Explorer’s Encyclopedia by R.A. Pedersen

http://www.epcyclopedia.com

If you are a fan of EPCOT, and let’s face it, if you’re reading this you’re a fan of EPCOT, you need this book. Period. The Epcot Explorer’s Encyclopedia is your one stop shop for the entire history of one of the most unique theme parks ever made. Every single attraction (both old and new) get their own chapter with a full run down of how they came to be along with a complete description of what they are/were. The book goes scene by scene through Horizons. It goes through the various incarnations of the Imagination pavilion. Each country in the World Showcase gets its own chapter as well.

Equal parts heart and sarcasm, author RA Pedersen displays a clear love of Epcot along with a good sense of humor. There are no pictures, and despite it’s snarky nature at points this is a serious book for a serious Disney fan. This is the closest I have seen everything that is Jim Hill captured in a book, and I can’t give higher praise than that.

#2 Orlando Attractions Magazine

http://www.attractionsmagazine.com

Growing up, I loved getting the Disney Magazine, although it really wasn’t all that good. There’s just something I like about a good magazine and Orlando Attractions Magazine is one of my favorite theme park related items. I like it so much I always send up issues to friends and family that are preparing for a trip down to Florida.

Full color, with fantastic photos, Orlando Attractions Magazine covers everything. Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, Legoland, and all of the little attractions throughout Orlando (and surrounding area) that make this the vacation capital of the world. Like all good magazines it also includes the “little touches” like a letters page and caps off with some really fun theme park themed comic strips (“Bemusement Park” by John Green and Pat Lewis). Nothing gets me more excited about what’s going on in Orlando than when the new issue of the magazine is released. Hotel and restaurant reviews, interviews with people in the theme park industry, games, coverage of every major ride opening, to quote Stan Lee “THIS ONE TRULY HAS IT ALL!” If you live outside of Florida and are always looking for that “theme park fix,” subscribe to this magazine as fast as you can.

#1 The Unofficial Guide

http://touringplans.com/unofficial-guide

The Holy Grail of theme park books and so good I buy a copy every single year even though I’m not sure how much in it actually changes. The addition of Jim Hill’s “factoids” were a very nice touch, but the nuts and bolts of The Unofficial Guide is the insane amount of research put in to every aspect of a Disney vacation.

The Unofficial Guide gives you just about everything you could possibly want to know about all the hotels (both on and off property), restaurants, rides, transportation, and anything else under the sun in Orlando. There is no better planning tool available if you are planning a Disney trip. Maps, detailed charts, full on ride descriptions and reviews, if you can’t find what you are looking for in the Unofficial Guide, it doesn’t exist. One of the men behind The Unofficial Guide, Len Testa, is a cohost on the WDWToday podcast, and often gives fascinating information on how the data is collected for the book. The Unofficial Guide is the “Freakanomics” for the theme park fan community and should have a prominent place on your bookshelf.

That’s it for this edition of the BIG 5! We’ll see you again real soon. But before we go, can someone please get the http://firstworlddisneyproblems.tumblr.com a book deal?!!

[sws_author_bio user=”derekburgan” size=”105″ authorposts=”More OI posts by Derek” name_format=”About the author”] [/sws_author_bio]

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Today’s list for THE BIG 5 is the top five options at Universal Orlando Resort to quench your thirst. A rather large research team was given this mission with inexhaustible resources. Here are the results in descending order:

#5: HOG’S HEAD ALE

Available at the Hog’s Head at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

While butterbeer gets all the hype, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has another exclusive drink that is worth getting your hands on if you’re 21 years or older. Available only at the Hog’s Head (which is attached to the Three Broomsticks restaurant in Hogsmeade), Hog’s Head Ale closest equivalent would be a micro brewed beer and blows away the standard Budweiser/Miller Lite that most theme parks have as their beer choices. Also it’s not a bad deal if you get the souvenir mug (which is bigger than the butterbeer souvenir mug).

The atmosphere in the Hog’s Head is also worth checking out. With a gigantic animatronic hog’s head moving behind the bar, it’s straight out of reading a Potter book or being in one of the movies. The level of detail is second-to-none, and you’ll be shocked to see the amount of other beers on tap (Guinness and Stella Artois among the ten available — see the image below). And let’s not forget that it’s much cooler (both figuratively and literally if we consider how unbearably humid standing outside in Florida sunshine cane be) to order your butterbeer inside the Hog’s Head from a bartender than outside at one of the carts. Last but not least, the price of all these great drinks are downright reasonable when you consider it’s just about $3.00 to get a Coke in a theme park.

And most of all remember this: you’re drinking Hog’s Head Ale in the Hog’s Head in an insanely detailed recreation of Hogsmeade village. That alone has to be a notch higher than drinking a margarita in Jimmy Buffet’s Margarittaville.

#4: COKE FREESTYLE MACHINES

Available at Oasis Coolers in IOA’s Lost Continent and Richter’s Burgers in USF’s San Francisco area

Electricity. Television. The iPhone. Indoor plumbing. These inventions and many more pale in comparison to the Coke Freestyle machine, by far the best evidence yet of intelligent design. With over 100 options to choose from at the press of an on-screen button, the Coke Freestyle machine gives the user an opportunity to select Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero (my personal preference, with no ice), Powerade, Fanta, Minute Maid Lemonade, Dasani, Barq’s rootbeer, Pibb Xtra (the poor man’s Dr. Pepper), Vault Red Blitz, along with a whole bunch of flavor shots like vanilla, cherry, grape, strawberry and the like. The only drink this machine is missing is that blue stuff Aunt Beru was making in Star Wars: A New Hope.

#3: BUTTERBEER

Available at Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The Drink That Changed Orlando. What can be said about butterbeer? In a sea of massive hype jobs that ultimately are unfulfilling (I’m looking at you George Lucas, 3D TV, and the Segway) the Wizarding World of Harry Potter gave us everything we wanted and more. Butterbeer was ripped from the pages of JK Rowling’s universe and tasted just as good as we dreamed it would be. There are some out there, generally hardcore Disney fans with their blinders on, who try to dismiss butterbeer as just “cream soda.” No, I’ve had cream soda and I can’t stand it. I love butterbeer. Butterbeer is a magical creation, pun intended, whose combination of the butterbeer and the vanilla-like frothy head have people lining up 20 or more deep just to get one.

Can you imagine that? Waiting in line for a drink. And this isn’t like a line you’d see at a churo or popcorn cart. This is closer to a queue for an attraction. And it doesn’t matter, because butterbeer is that good. I was doubter. I thought people were insane to stand in line for anything outside of a ride at a theme park.

And then I had a Butterbeer. You’ll see me standing in line.

#2: DRAFT BEER AND REFILL

Available at AMC Loews Universal Cineplex 20 at CityWalk

Orlando is one of the best places in the United States to see movies. It’s so good that about once a quarter I drive up with my friend for the sold purpose to spend an entire weekend watching films. There’s a great IMAX theater at Pointe Orlando. At Downtown Disney the new Fork & Screen option is incredible, with the food being restaurant quality (and not theme park restaurant quality, Real World restaurant quality). And the AMC Lowes Universal Cineplex 20 has the best draught beer bargain in Orlando.

You read that right. The best deal on drauft beer in any theme park is at a movie theater. Not only can you buy a 20 oz draught at the concession stand, downstairs at the bar you can buy a 20 oz or a 32 oz draught. The 20 oz is $4.50 and get this, the 32 oz is only $5.00 with REFILLS AT $3.00!! That is not a typo. In fact it probably deserves two more exclamation points. With refills at that price it’s no problem to get enough beers to make even Ghost Rider 2 worth watching.

The beers on draught include Budweiser, Bud Light, Blue Moon, Amber Bock, Michelob Ultra and Yuengling. Downstairs you can also get mixed drinks, many with a movie tie-in theme.

Now that we’ve established the AMC Loews Universal Cineplex 20 at CityWalk as one of the best bargains in Orlando, let’s work on convincing them to go with an even longer name! Give a call to the theater at (407) 354-3374 and let them know that AMC Loews Universal Cineplex 20 at CityWalk is just too easy to say, we as customers demand something more challenging, something that doesn’t just roll off the lips so simply. Occupy Universal Blvd!

#1: FROZEN BUTTERBEER

Available at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Okay, go read everything I said about butterbeer and then wrap your head around the fact that frozen butterbeer is about 10% better than the cold version. The cold version is more authentic when it comes to what we see Ron, Harry, and Hermione getting in The Three Broomsticks, but the Frozen version is just out of this world. If you are traveling with a group, I would recommend getting both versions and taking a sip from both.

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