Seth Kubersky - Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando 2012

Trademarks, Etc.

This ebook mentions many attractions, fictional characters, product names, entities, and works that are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of their various creators and owners. They are used in this book solely for editorial purposes. Neither the author nor the publisher makes any commercial claim to their use.

About the Author

Seth Kubersky is an author, artist, and entertainment professional who has been based in Orlando for fourteen years. After graduating from the College of William and Mary in Virginia, Seth began his career at Universal Studios Florida, where he was a technician for the Ghostbusters, Terminator, and Barney shows, and an entertainment supervisor for Mardi Gras parades, Halloween haunted houses, and other special events. He has been interviewed as a theme park expert on Rudy Maxas satellite and broadcast radio shows. As an independent theater producer, he has worked on stages across Central Florida, from dinner shows and Fringe Festivals to the Shakespeare Center and Centroplex. His arts & entertainment opinion column Live Active Cultures appears in each issue of the Orlando Weekly alternative newspaper.

Kelly Monaghan has been covering the other Orlando for over fifteen years. In addition to this book, he is the author of Seaworld, Discovery Cove, & Aquatica: Orlandos Salute to the Seas. Over the years he has written other travel-oriented books about how to travel on the cheap and how to be a home-based travel agent. He offers a home study course for those who wish to expand their travel horizons with and profit from their own travel marketing business at www.HomeTravelAgency.com

Table of Contents

Introduction

Welcome to this chapter-long excerpt from Universal Orlando 2012: The Ultimate Guide To The Ultimate Theme Park Adventure. This ebook covers Islands of Adventure, one of the two theme parks at Universal Orlando Resort.

This ebook contains the complete chapter on Islands of Adventure and an abbreviated version of the Introduction (which you are readin now).

Just What Is Universal Orlando?

Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World are both multi-park, multi-resort vacation destinations. 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 (USF) is still going strong. It continues to add new thrills using the very latest in technology. Almost literally next door is Islands of Adventure (IOA), an attraction that takes the whole notion of theme park to the next level, with awesome rides and hyper-detailed environments; it is the subject of this ebook.

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 with a cross-cultural sampling of dining and entertainment. And CityWalk rocks, thanks to the worlds largest Hard Rock Cafe and Hard Rock Live, a performance space that hosts some of pop musics biggest names.

Universals trio of themed, on-property resort hotels likewise go toe-to-toe with Mickeys best lodgings. Portofino Bay Hotel has established itself among Orlandos premiere resort hotels. This ultra-luxury property is a photographic reproduction of that favorite destination of the international jet set, Portofino, Italy. 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 evokes the romance of far-off Bali, just minutes away from the theme parks by foot or boat. Land is reserved for up to two additional properties, but a ground-breaking has yet to materialize.

Across the interstate on an adjacent parcel sits Wet n Wild , a water park that 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. Rumors persist that Universal may relocate the park to vacant property it owns when the lease on its current location expires in the near future.

Universal Orlando is a family destination. But, unlike some parks, 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 lame.

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 theyre 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 wide array of nighttime entertainment.

When to Come

There are three major questions you must ask yourself when planning a visit to Universal Orlando: How crowded will it be? What will the weather be like? When will my schedule allow me to go? For most people, the third question will determine when they go, regardless of the answers to the other two. The dictates of business or the carved-in-stone school calendar will tend to dictate when you come to Orlando. For those who can be flexible, however, carefully picking the time of your visit will offer a number of benefits. And parents should bear in mind that school officials will often allow kids out of classes for a week if you ask nicely.

During slow periods, the crowds at Orlandos major theme parks are noticeably thinner than they are at the height of the summer or during the madness of Christmas week. On top of that, hotel rates are substantially lower and airfare deals abound. Likewise, Orlando in winter can seem positively balmy to those from the North, although its unlikely you will find the temperature conducive to swimming (except in heated pools). Spring and fall temperatures are close to ideal.

Lets take a look at these two variables: the tourist traffic and the weather. Then you can make a determination as to which dates will offer your ideal Orlando vacation.