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the movies at Universal Studios theme park in Orlando,
Florida. |
Getting
there from Miami
Universal Studios
is located approximately 286 miles north of
Miami Beach, FL. If you need transportation from Miami,
Fort Lauderdale or Pompano Beach, Miami Beach 411 can
arrange a 1-Day
Tour or Multi-Day
trip.
About
the park
Universal Studios Florida opened in May
1990 as Universal's first park after the original Universal
Studios in Hollywood, California. The Resort consists
of Universal's sister park, Islands
of Adventure, a nighttime entertainment complex called
CityWalk and three Loews hotels.
The
least crowded time to visit is from Labor Day to Thanksgiving
and from the week after President's Day (mid-February)
to the start of Spring Break (mid-March).
This Park offers a ride reservation system called Universal
Express. It is similar to Disney's FastPass,
except Universal allows you to get a book of Express passes
at the front gate, instead of collecting them in the park
one at a time. However, you are only allowed to schedule
one Express Pass at a time. You can get
another Pass after you have used your existing one or
after your magic hour is up.
Guests staying at one of the Universal Resorts get front-of-the-line
access to Islands of Adventure and Universal
Studios Florida.
NOTE: You can buy a Universal Express Plus
pass for $20, which is nearly as good as the front-of-the-line
access for guests staying at a Universal resort. This
means: no pre-determined ride times, and no need to pick
up additional passes for each attraction. With both, you
enter a special line for popular attractions.
Universal Studios Tickets: Adult: $88;
Child (3 - 9) $82
Hours: Depending on the time of year,
Universal's park hours can range between 8am and 1am.
Call Guest Services at (800) 447-0665 for park hours and
showtimes during your visit.
Parking: Cars, vans and motorcycles:
$15; RVs and trailers: $20
Address: 1000
Universal Studios Plaza, Orlando, FL 32819
Insider tips
- Sunscreen and walking shoes are a must.
- Be sure to check the weather before you go to the
park
- You must pass through a security checkpoint before
entering.
- ATM's are located outside the Main Gate next to
Guest Services.
- Measure your child's height so you know which rides
they can enjoy.
- Use Express Passes strategically.
- Ride the most popular attractions early in the day.
- If you don't want to pay theme park prices for food,
pack a cooler and leave it in you car, you can always
leave the park and come back if you get your hand
stamped.
Park layout
As you enter Universal Studios Florida
be sure to take a park map. This will let you know the
location of the attractions, park hours and what times
certain shows are presented.
The Park is divided into six “sections”
centered around a man-made lake. The sections are: Production
Central, New York, San Francisco/Amity,
World Expo, Kids Zone, and Hollywood.
Production
Central
Production Central is Home to Nickelodeon
the American Health Network, Production
Central contains state-of-the-art studios and
sound stages that visitors can tour for free. To find
out what's in production, visit the Studio Audience
Center located to the right of the main entrance
turnstiles to Universal Studios, or call (407) 224-6355.
Jimmy Neutron – On this ride
simulator, you are recruited by Jimmy Neutron and taken
on a wild ride through the Nicktoon Studios where you'll
encounter characters from "Hey Arnold", "The
Rugrats", "The Fairly OddParents", "SpongeBob
SquarePants" You must be over 40 inches tall to
ride and it is not recommended for pregnant women or
for people with heart or back problems. Universal
Express is accepted.
Shrek 4D Adventure – This theatre
show begins as you are ushered into a holding area where
you are greeted by Lord Farquaad for a six-minute video
and animatronics pre-show. Once you are settled in your
specially designed seats in the main auditorium, guests
don OgreVision glasses and are transported
on a wild adventure to the fairy tale realm of Duloc.
Sensory elements heighten the experience through seats
capable of both vertical and horizontal motion, air
propulsion and water sprays.
New York
The most famous section of the park is New
York. This area has been the backdrop to several
commercials, movies, TV shows and music videos.
Twister... Ride It Out – This
15 minute ride is based on the film "Twister"
staring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. The ride takes you
to the small Wakita, Oklahoma to experience the largest
indoor tornado ever created. Twister uses hundreds of
strobe lights that flash to help create the storm effects.
A weather tracking system monitors wind velocity, humidity
and barometric pressure so that the size and shape of
the twister can be adjusted to increase it's power and
realism.
Revenge of the Mummy – This steel
roller coaster has been dubbed a psychological thrill
ride. Water, heat, wind, sound, lighting and pitch black
darkness all combine to cause fear and excitement. Employing
the same technology used in magnetic levitation trains,
this ride marks a new evolution in roller coasters by
combining an electro-magnetic launch system with a linear
induction motor that propels your vehicle through a
third of a mile of curves, drops and powerful turns.
You must be over 48 inches tall to ride and it is not
recommended for pregnant women or for people with heart
or back problems. Universal Express is accepted.
San Francisco/Amity
Earthquake...
The Big One – The ride begins with a
short presentation on how special effects are created
in movies. After that, you board a subway car to experience
some of the special effects. The car stops and an earthquake
registering 8.3 on the Richter Scale begins, causing
a finale of explosions, flooding, and total destruction.
Jaws...The
Ride – On this water ride, visitors board
a small boat and venture into the waters were Jaws the
killer shark lives. Jaws repeatedly attacks the boat
during the ride, ending in a fiery climax.
Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue–
Set on a 1930's sound stage
Beetlejuice summons classic movie monsters to rock the
house classic Rock 'n' Roll music revue.
Fear Factor Live - Universal brings
the NBC gross-out stunt show to the Park and puts you
in the spotlight. Park guests compete against each other
performing extreme stunts designed to test the physical
and emotional limits of each contestant. Are you fearless
enough to drink a smoothie made of blended worms, crickets,
sauerkraut, sardines, octopus and fish; or swing high
in the air on a harness while tossing slimy squid to
a partner; or fishing with your bare hands through a
tank of live eels; or having a bucket of squirming,
slithering snakes dumped onto your head. Fear Factor
Live contestants will do this and more.
World Expo
Men In Black: Alien Attack - This
exciting ride shows just how far theme parks will go
to put you right in the action. The Men In Black headquarters
is recreated in the waiting areas. On the main attraction,
guests board six person vehicles and are given guns
to shoot at aliens that inhabit the streets of New York.
What is also unique is the ride has different endings
depending on your team's final score.
Back To The
Future... The Ride - Housed in the world's
tallest Omnimax theater. “Back to the Future...
The Ride” is the first thrill ride at to utilize
specially designed DeLoreans powered by state-of-the-art
motion-based technology. Guests become Doc Brown's time
traveling companions as they are led on a wild chase
through time from the Ice Age to the year 2015. You
must be over 40 inches tall to ride and it is not recommended
for pregnant women or for people with heart or back
problems. Universal Express is accepted.
Kids Zone
Designed just for kids of all ages, this section
is home to ET, Barney, Animal Planet, Fievel's Playland,
Curious George Playland. With a gondola ride, 2 live
shows, a giant water slide, a kid sized roller coaster,
and countless areas to get wet, this is one place kids
love to visit.
Hollywood
Terminator 2: 3-D Battle Across Time - Starring
Arnold Schwarzenegger and the cast from “Terminator
2: Judgment Day” this virtual reality adventure
combines live action stunts with the digital imaging
technology, projected on the world’s largest 3-D
screen.
Universal Horror Make-Up Show - See
how make-up artists create special effects from some
of Universal's most popular movies. Before the show
check out authentic props and set pieces used in the
film "Van Helsing".
Lucy:
A Tribute
- This interactive exhibit is dedicated to America's
funniest red head. Costumes, props and other memorabilia
from "I Love Lucy" movies, television shows
and commercials are on display, along with personal
home movies and classic TV clip. Trivia buffs can also
test their knowledge of Lucy and Desi history.
Restaurants
and dining
Universal Studios Florida restaurants include:
• Monster
Cafe
located in Production Central.
• Louie's Italian Restaurant located in New York.
• Lombard's Seafood Grille located in
New York.
• Richter 's Burger Company located in
New York.
• Chez Alcatraz located in New York.
• San Francisco Pastry Co. located in
New York.
• Midway Grill located in New York.
• Brody's Ice Cream Shoppe located in
New York.
• International Food and Film Festival
located in World Expo.
• Animal Crackers located in Kids Zone.
• Beverly Hills Boulangeriel located
in Hollywood.
• Cafe La Bamba located in Hollywood.
• Mel's Drive-In located in Hollywood.
• Schwab's Pharmacy located in Hollywood.
Hotels and resorts
Stay
within walking distance to both theme parks at one of
three Universal
Orlando on-site hotels:
Hard Rock, Royal
Pacific, Portofino.
Strollers
- Strollers are available for rent at the front
of the park for a charge of $10/day for a single and
$16 for a double.
Wheelchairs and Electric Convenience Vehicle
(ECV) - Rentals are available for a fee of
$10 for a wheelchair and $40 for the Electronic Convenience
Vehicles, with a refundable deposit of $50.
Universal Studios
driving directions
Universal Studios Florida is located
on the southeast side of Orlando, 10 minutes north of
Walt Disney World.
From Orlando International Airport:
Take 528
West
(the Bee-Line Expressway*) toward Tampa and area attractions.
Watch for signs to Interstate 4
East
(to Orlando). From Interstate 4 East, take Exit
#75A (30A) Universal Blvd.
Take a left onto Universal
Blvd.
and follow the signs to Universal Orlando.
Traveling from the Walt Disney World Resort Exit I-4
at
Exit #75A
(30A)
Universal
Blvd.
Take a left onto Universal
Blvd.
and follow the signs to Universal Orlando.
From Miami/Ft. Lauderdale/Florida
Turnpike North: Take Exit #259
(the
second of the Orlando exits) and follow the signs to
the
I-4 Tampa
exit. Exit I-4 at Exit #74B
(29B).
Take a right on Hollywood
Way
and follow the signs to Universal Orlando.
Traveling South
on the Florida Turnpike
(from the Wildwood/Ocala area): Take Exit #259
and follow the signs to the I-4
Tampa exit.
Exit I-4
at
Exit #74B
(29B).
Take a right on Hollywood
Way
and follow the signs to Universal Orlando.
From the Tampa: Exit
I-4 at
Exit #75A (30A) Universal Blvd. Take a left onto Universal
Blvd.
and follow the signs to Universal Orlando.
Universal
Studios Florida is located at 1000
Universal Studios Plaza, Orlando, FL 32819.
The phone number is (407) 363-8000
and the Lost & Found number is (407) 224-4244.
Use our Disney
World Google Map to find the exact location.
Orlando
weather
|
Fer. |
Cel. |
January |
62 |
17 |
March |
67 |
19 |
April |
72 |
22 |
May |
77 |
25 |
June |
81 |
27 |
July |
82 |
28 |
August |
82 |
28 |
September |
81 |
27 |
October |
75 |
24 |
November |
68 |
20 |
December |
62 |
17 |
Points
of interest
• Magic
Kingdom: 16.25 miles / 26.15 km
• Epcot:
14.95 miles / 24.10 km
• Disney-MGM
Studios: 14.0 miles / 22.55 km
• Animal
Kingdom: 16.30 miles / 26.25 km
• Blizzard
Beach: 15.10 miles / 24.30 km
• Typhoon
Lagoon: 12.10 miles / 19.50 km
• Downtown
Disney: 10.20 miles / 16.40 km
• Orlando
International Airport: 17.0 miles / 27.35 km
Contact Info:
Universal Studios Florida
1000 Universal Studios Plaza, Orlando, FL 32819
Phone: (407) 363-8000
Web:
www.universalstudios.com
Grand Opening: May
1990
Size: 444 acres
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