Universal Orlando: The Ultimate Guide To The Ultimate Theme Park Adventure by Kelly Monaghan 2007 edition, © 2006 Trade Paperback, 256 pages ISBN: 1-887140-46-8 Price: $15.95

MOVE OVER, MICKEY!
Universal Orlando is here and
Orlando will never be the same!

Attention! This book is part of the
Orlando 3-Pak, three great guides to all
of Orlando, at an unbeatable price.

Universal Orlando in Orlando, Florida (where else?), is the hip, happening, cutting-edge theme park resort destination for the new millennium. This book is your completely unbiased unofficial guide to all the fun, all the thrills, all the secrets, all the best deals.

Universal Studios Florida. Live the movies (SM) at the original movie studio theme park. Home of . . .

Back To The Future…The Ride, the world’s best simulator thrill ride.
Men In Black, a larger-than-life-size, ride-through video arcade game.
Terminator 2, the world’s best 3-D thrill show.

Islands of Adventure. The theme park for the twenty-first century. Home of . . .

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, the new state-of-the-art in a totally new kind of thrill ride.
The Incredible Hulk and Dueling Dragons, the biggest, brawniest, scariest roller coasters in Orlando.
Jurassic Park, the theme park of the movie come to life. Watch out for the raptors!
Seuss Landing, the wacky world of Dr. Seuss, just for kids.
Plus the best restaurant in any theme park, anywhere in the world.

CityWalk. The hottest new restaurant and nightclub district in Orlando rocks with . . .

Hard Rock Café (the world’s largest) and Hard Rock Live!
Bob Marley’s – A Tribute To Freedom. Reggae roots rock.
Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, the place to go when the volcano blows.
Pat O’Brien’s. Home of the flaming hurricane and the original dueling pianos.
Plus gourmet dining, cool jazz and hot disco dancing.

Resort Hotels. The spectacular Portofino Bay and Hard Rock Hotels. Live large in luxury hotels just steps away from the theme parks.

Plus, Wet ’n Wild, the world’s original water park and still the best.

Now! Receive Universal Orlando
at a 20% discount -- $11.96 -- plus FREE shipping!
That's the lowest price on the Internet.

Order this book. and other Orlando guidebooks.
Check out the Table of Contents.
Read an excerpt from the book.
Continue browsing our books.

[ Home | Browse Our Books | Travel E-Zine | About Us | Links ]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Planning Your Escape

2. Universal Studios Florida

The Shooting Script: Your Day at Universal

The Front Lot

Hollywood

Expo Center

San Francisco/Amity

New York

Production Central

Extra Added Attraction

3. Islands of Adventure

Treasure Hunt: Your Day at Islands of Adventure

 

Port of Entryt

Seuss Landing

The Lost Continent

Jurassic Park

Toon Lagoon

Marvel Super Hero Island

4. CityWalk

Restaurants at CityWalk

Nightclubs at CityWalk

5. The Resort Hotels

Portofino Bay Hotel

Hard Rock Hotel

6.Wet 'n Wild

7. Staying Near the Parks

Index To Rides & Attractions

 

[ Order Form | Top of Page | Catalog Index ]

[ Home | Browse Our Books | Travel E-Zine | About Us | Links ]

Attention! This book is part of the
Orlando 3-Pak, three great guides to all
of Orlando, at an unbeatable price.

From Universal Orlando:
The Ultimate Guide To The Ultimate Theme Park Adventure

from Chapter One: Planning Your Escape:

Move over, Mickey! Universal Orlando is here and Orlando will never be the same.

 

First came the Mouse. Walt Disney World, that is, which opened near Orlando in 1971 as a new, improved version of California’s Disneyland. With the luxury of 43 square miles in which to expand, the new park quickly eclipsed its West Coast namesake. Three more theme parks followed the Magic Kingdom — Epcot, MGM-Disney Studios, and Animal Kingdom. For good measure, Disney threw in a couple of water parks, a slew of themed resorts, and a sprawling entertainment district.

 

In 1990, Universal Studios opened Universal Studios Florida. Like Disney World it was an outpost of a California original. It quickly became Orlando’s number-two attraction but it was just one theme park to Disney’s many and seemed doomed to perpetual also-ran status.

 

That all changed in 1999 when Universal Studios Florida almost literally exploded and, in the process, was renamed Universal Orlando. For the first time, Walt Disney World had competition worthy of the name and Orlando had its second multi-park, multi-resort, multi-activity, all-in-one, never-need-to-leave-the-property vacation destination. But Universal Orlando is no mere copycat operation. It represents a new departure in theme park and resort destinations that is very shrewdly positioned in the marketplace to capitalize on any decline of the Disney brand and is sure to capture the imagination of new generations of holiday-goers who are seeking a different kind of theme park experience as they enter the new millennium.

 

Just What Is ‘Universal Orlando?’

 

Universal Orlando bears a superficial resemblance to Disney World in that it is a multi-park, multi-resort vacation destination. But whereas Disney sprawls over a vast area, Universal Orlando is comfortably compact, allowing its guests to spend less time getting around and more time enjoying themselves. And while Disney World harkens back to an earlier time, Universal is very much of the moment, with an eye to the future.

 

There are two theme parks here. The original movie-studio-themed Universal Studios Florida is still going strong. It continues to add new thrills using the very latest in technology. Almost literally next door is Islands of Adventure, an attraction that takes the whole notion of “theme park” to the next level, with awesome new rides and fine dining.

 

CityWalk is an entertainment and restaurant complex that lies between the theme parks. This is very much an adult experience, although several restaurants will also appeal to the younger set. CityWalk recognizes the ethnic diversity of America in a way that is new to theme park entertainment. It also sets a new standard for luxury, with an ultra-gourmet restaurant. And CityWalk rocks. It boasts the world’s largest Hard Rock Café and Hard Rock Live, a performance space that hosts some of pop music’s biggest names.

 

The clearest signal that Universal intends to go mano-a-mano with the Mouse is the proliferation of themed, on-property resort hotels. Portofino Bay Hotel has set its sights on becoming Orlando’s first five-star hotel. This ultra-luxury property is a photographic reproduction of that favorite destination of the international jet set, Portofino, Italy. Here you can unwind in the splendor of high-tech suites and dine in a world-class restaurant before taking a private boat ride to the theme parks. More casual is the Hard Rock Hotel, which radiates a hip California sensibility and is just steps away from the front gate to Universal Studios Florida. The Royal Pacific Resort will roll the best features of the Pacific Rim into one gaudy package. Two additional properties are planned but they do not yet have names.

 

Just a stone’s throw away is Wet ’n Wild, a water park which Universal now owns. It has not been officially rolled into the “Universal Orlando” brand, but it is included in some ticket options and is well worth a visit. In addition to the hundreds of acres on which Universal Orlando sits, Universal owns more land nearby, fueling rumors of yet more future expansion.

 

Universal Orlando is a family destination. But, unlike some parks we could name, Universal seems to recognize that “families” come in all sorts of different packages. Parents with little ones will find this an almost ideal place for their kids. And yet families with teenagers will not have to worry about complaints that the rides are “dorky.” Best of all, adults who have yet to have kids, or who have grown kids, or who have left the kids at home, or who never plan to have kids at all can come to Universal Orlando without feeling that they’re in a kiddie park. And those snobbish sophisticates who think theme parks are beneath them may find themselves won over by the dazzling architecture, the luxurious accommodations, the gourmet food, and the high-class nighttime entertainment.

[ Order Form | Top of Page | Catalog Index ]

[ Home | Browse Our Books | Travel E-Zine | About Us | Links ]