Search Results for: universal studios

See What’s New at Universal Studios Orlando This Summer

The sagging economy is bad news for popular U.S. theme parks, but there may be a silver lining for families who spend the summer months racking up frequent rider miles on scream-a-minute amusement park offerings. This year several major theme parks are unveiling amazing new attractions designed to keep thrill seekers on the edge of their seats. One of the rides making the biggest splashes on the summer scene is Universal Studios, Orlando’s new Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. The interactive coaster is being billed as the “most mind-blowing ride” in the park’s history. Daring guests board the coaster and immediately … Continue reading →

What’s the Difference Between Disney World and Universal Studios?

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A common question I hear from those taking the trip to Orlando to visit Walt Disney World is, “Should I see Universal as well?” It’s a good question and my answer would vary depending on who was asking me. First, it’s imperative to know that if you’ve never done Disney, you’re going to need at least four days to see all the parks. I would actually recommend at least five, but understandably, not everyone can spare that much time out of their schedules. With four theme parks, two water parks, a shopping village, and more, it’s hard to fit everything … Continue reading →

More Ways to Save at Theme Parks

Treating the family to a day at a theme park can put a huge strain on your household budget.  In some cases, paying for two adults and two children to enter, eat, drink and play some games at a reputable amusement park can total more than a month’s worth of groceries, utilities or gas. If you are pinching pennies, but still want to enjoy a fabulous summer day at a major theme park, consider taking advantage of these discounts: GROUP RATES Many theme parks around the country offer huge savings for guests visiting in groups, including companies, schools, religious organizations, … Continue reading →

Save on Theme Park Admission

Experiencing the thrills and chills of a major theme park isn’t cheap.  In fact, paying for a family of four to visit kid-friendly vacation destinations like Six Flags Great America or Universal Studios can really put a dent in your bank account.  Still, taking a spin on the latest and greatest amusement park rides is what makes summer so memorable. If you are an adrenaline junkie, but are short on cash, consider the following money-saving tips that will allow you to get your theme park fix this summer without going bankrupt: SIX FLAGS Coke Cans:  Coke can discounts are a … Continue reading →

Save on Theme Park Fun

Spring break must be right around the corner given the number of commercials I’ve seen for various theme parks. Traveling to major amusement parks doesn’t come cheap, especially if you are planning to visit with your entire family.  Admission, coupled with parking, meals, and souvenirs can easily cost you hundreds of dollars.  Fortunately, there are ways to save on wholesome theme park fun without breaking the bank. For starters, consider looking for package deals.  Places like Disney and Universal Studios often offer discount tickets to guests bundling airfare, hotel and park admission.  In other cases, using a reputable travel agent … Continue reading →

Disney Parks Raising Ticket Prices

It might really be time to take advantage of those cheaper flights to Orlando, because Disney World’s just raised its ticket costs. The Orlando Business Journal reports that over the first weekend of June, Disney World bumped its one-day, single-park ticket to $89, when previously it cost $85. This might have been in response to Disney World’s biggest competitor, Universal Studios Orlando, raising its one-day single-park ticket price to $88. I think not, because the prices on many types of park tickets are going up this summer. Four-, five- and seven-day tickets to Disney World now cost $256, $268, and … Continue reading →

Disney World to Build “Avatar” Park

News broke last month of a new theme park addition to Disney World. It comes in the form of a property that, upon first glance, one might almost mistake for a Disney/Pixar feature. It stars fuzzy blue cat-like people with big luminous eyes, and studies the interaction the denizens of this new world have with the humans who discover them. That previous sentence summary might almost pass as a Disney movie, but 2009’s “Avatar” was anything but. It was a darker story, one along the lines of “The Last of the Mohicans.” But it was a smash hit, so now … Continue reading →

Dream Cruise for Families

The cruise industry is hyped about the maiden voyage of Disney’s newest vessel. The massive ship can hold 4,000 passengers. It features 14 decks and more than 1,200 staterooms. The Disney Dream sails from Port Canaveral, Florida, to Nassau and Castaway Cay in the Bahamas on cruises of three to five nights. Currently, Disney’s website is showing cruise-only fares starting at $1,150 per person for a three-night cruise in an inside stateroom in March, and from $1,718 for a four-night cruise in April. Shore excursions are not included in the base price. However, they are what caught my eye as … Continue reading →

Halloween Travel: Diabolical Destinations

Tis the season for theme parks to transform into haunted horror shows that come alive with strobe lights, ultraviolet rays that dilate your eyes, and a cacophony of wicked wails and high-pitched screams. Halloween is a huge moneymaker for amusement parks across the country, so you can bet that places like Six Flags, Universal Studios, and Knott’s Berry Farm are pulling out all of their walking corpses to terrify guests. Maze-like corridors, mock graveyards and trick mirrors that make it appear as though you are about to be devoured by flesh-eating zombies are just some of the tricks that are … Continue reading →

End-of-Summer Fun in the Sunshine State

Florida’s pushing hard for you to spend your travel dollar in its neck of the woods. And who can really blame the state given the recent oil spill and the impending storms? Frankly, I find it hard to believe that the state is actively seeking out visitors, given that it is home to some of the largest and most popular tourist attractions on Earth. Some rodent named Mickey… ahem… Mouse. Still, in a previous blog I promised that I would spotlight some of the state’s non-over-commercialized hot spots, so here we go: MIAMI Not the Kardashian sisters’ Miami; rather, the … Continue reading →