Universal Orlando Rumor Register - Skull Island Project Underway?

Harry Potter: Diagon Alley may still be a few months away but Universal Orlando is not resting on its laurels when it comes to future projects.

Rumors have been flying for over a year now that the infamous hairy beast KONG would be making an appearance soon at the Florida property, given the popularity of the attraction at Universal Hollywood. Now those rumors look to be true and are moving from drawing board to reality. I am very excited about this prospect since Kongfrontation was my first attraction job at Universal Studios back in the day!!

The opening of the new Harry Potter expansion means that Universal will be looking to increase crowd flow to Islands of Adventure in the near future so IOA  is about to get what is rumored to be two new attractions: Skull Island (home of Kong), and a possible new flight coaster themed to the aviary area as seen in the Jurassic Park movie.

Skull Island is the first project on the board and should be rising from the storage area located behind Thunder Falls Terrace in Jurassic Park.  Look for an amazing Potterish expansion that will be an indoor/outdoor attraction with a highly detailed queue taking you through an ancient temple to the loading area where you will start your journey to meet the worlds most famous ape.

Skull Island and Kong as seen in King Kong

The flight coaster, to be located in the old Triceratops Encounter area, will be heavily themed and is rumored to contain some amazing animatronic effects that will simulate an aerial battle with Pterodactyls. Rumors at this stage point to a large aviary structure that may be a hybrid indoor/outdoor attraction. I should note that I am also hearing just as many rumors about a Jurrasic Park Jeep ride (which was one of the original projects for the park but was scrapped) but i just do not think that the size of the area would allow for a project of such magnitude.

Here is a view of the two new project areas:

Neither one of these announcements have been made official, and probably will not be until Diagon Alley opens, but here is what we have heard so far:

• Two weeks ago an internal memo was sent out at Universal Orlando requiring all items located in the storage lot behind Thunder Falls Terrace to be removed immediately so the area could be prepared for future use. 
• Trees in both areas have been marked for removal to allow for future construction. Orlando Theme Park News has some great photos of this.

White ribbons are trees to be saved

• Creative Team members have been seen in the area numerous times in the past two months.
• Balloon Markers have been seen in the area marking the different areas of elevation.

Once again these are just rumors, well Skull Island is more than rumor at this stage, and nothing is cast in stone until the powers that be at Universal make the announcement. Feel free to send us comments and let us know what you think about these two new rumored projects.

Enjoy!!

#kingkong #universalorlando #ioa

Galaxy Fun to Open Soon

Rainy day in the vacation capital of the world, stuck in the hotel with your children, no problem, load up the crew and head over to Galaxy Fun on International Drive!!

Tagging in at around 48,000 square feet Galaxy Fun indoor play park looks to be a great way to spend the day with energy packed kids weather it is rain or shine.  The Florida heat can be brutal at times and an air conditioned playground is a welcome oasis.

CEO Bruce Roudebush high above the action

CEO Bruce Roudebush is happy to provide us with some details:

 "There's over 100 different mazes, tunnels, tubes, things for them to crawl through, climb over, explore. … You name it," ... "They're going to come out sweating."

CGI of playground

He also has thought about the parents who will sit high above the action watching their little ones play and installed free Wi-Fi access throughout the entire complex. A small food menu will help curb hunger for those tykes burning up all that energy and the space will have numerous areas that can be rented for birthday parties, and other events.

Pricing will be $19.99 for unlimited play for children between the ages of 4 and 12, and $9.99 for ages between 1 and 3. Soft opening began earlier this week with a grand opening planned for March 14th.

(Photo courtesy of  Galaxy Fun and Orlando Sentinel)

Enjoy!

#galaxyfun #indoorplay #orlando

Disney Festival Of Fantasy Parade to Debut March 9th, 2014

Costumes..check. Highly detailed floats...check. A new parade with a "steampunk" look and feel...check!!

Disney announced yesterday that its highly anticipated "Festival of Fantasy" parade will debut March the 9th at the Magic Kingdom.  Over 2 years in the making the new procession marks a fresher, more cutting edge look for the Disney staple know by many as the 3:00 clock parade.

Amazing new floats are just the beginning of what is in store for the throngs of families that will line the streets in the Magic Kingdom. The costumes for the parade are some of the most detailed to date and will provide incredible photo opportunities for all who experience this new event.

I was able to listen to one of the new parade tracks last week and the music is simply going to be outstanding, adding to the gala feel that the entire parade will have.

So mark the date and plan on making a visit to the Magic Kingdom soon before the summer crowds arrive, because after all Everyone loves a parade!!

(Photos courtesy of Disney's Blog)

#disney #parade #wdw

Disney Increases ticket prices across the board.

The special Disney magic and pixie dust will be costing everyone a little more starting today with Disney increasing ticket prices for all categories at the resort complex in Florida. Tickets prices are increasing by $4.00 for a one day ticket, with annual passes jumping up as much as $25.00 per pass.

This is the first ticket price increase since Disney raised the price of admission to the Magic Kingdom last year making it more expensive than visiting its other three theme parks.

Details should be released today but look for:

• A single day ticket to increase by $4, which puts the Magic Kingdom at $99, and Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom at $94.

• Walt Disney World Annual Pass price increases take effect today, with a regular Annual Pass seeing an increase of $25, up from $609 to $634 + tax.

• The Premium Annual Pass which includes water park admission increases from $729 to $754. Florida Residents will see an increase also with: An Annual Pass increases from $464 to $485. A Florida Resident Premium Annual Pass from $584 to $605, and a Florida Resident Seasonal Pass goes form $309 to $319.

The prices still are an incredible value for all that you get to see and do while at the resort, when you consider the prices of movies, sporting events, and concerts.

Expect Universal Orlando and SeaWorld to follow with ticket price increases of their own soon.

Enjoy!

#disney #tickets #waltdisneyworld

Star Wars Weekends extended!!

The time for fun is approaching fast from a galaxy far, far, away....that's right,  it will soon be time for Star Wars Weekends at the Disney Studios in Orlando, Florida.

The Annual Star Wars Geekdom event will take place this year each weekend between May 16th and June 15th, making it the longest run ever in the history of the event.

The theme this year is Join the Rebel Alliance, and look for more guest appearances and special treats and surprises.  The long time favorite Hyperspace Hoopla will not be presented this year but instead look for a new high tech nighttime fireworks gala and laser show to close each evening. Fireworks are always outstanding at this park and I cannot wait to see the show set to music from the Star Wars films.

New merchandise and a longer parade that is rumored to be running twice a day this time should make the gathering more fun than an Ewok party!!

The weekends are a massive draw to the studios so prepare for some large crowds, but fun on a galactic sized level!!  The schedule is as follows:

The full schedule is:

• Weekend I: May 16 – 18, 2014
• Weekend II: May 23 – 25, 2014
• Weekend III: May 30 – June 1, 2014
• Weekend IV: June 6 – 8, 2014
• Weekend V: June 13 – 15, 2014

#starwars #disney #starwarsweekends #jointherebellion

Old Town Kissimmee gets some new attractions....

Old Town located of of Hwy 192 in  Kissimmee, Florida is a location that many people pass everyday.  The bright lights and carnival style attractions bring back memories of an era gone by, a time when big budget theme parks were scarce, and the family outing to the local fair/carnival created memories that lasted a lifetime.

Old Town at night

Old Town is not really a park but a unique shopping and entertainment district located at the doors to Walt Disney World.  The weekly classic car show is a favorite with locals, as well as visitors from abroad, and will allow you to see automobiles that most have only seen in movies. Corn dogs, popcorn, hamburgers and hot-dogs (along with many other items) help to fill the stomachs of those traveling back into this quaint little "town".

Classic Car Show every Saturday night is a huge hit

Last year saw the opening of a new permanent haunted attraction "Legends: A Haunting at Old Town". The premise behind Legends is simple, a  funeral home established by Archibald Ashdown in 1889 at Old Town had a thriving business burying the dead. The truth is however that not everyone Archibald buried was dead at the time, and now those souls haunt the building forever. The attraction is unique in that it has live actors, combined with animatronics and special effects in ways never used before. The one thing that really makes this attraction a nine on the scare scale is that the actors are not leashed, meaning they are free to roam, so no location in the house is safe from the dead.

Creepy

The attraction has been an instant hit, so Old Town has decided to expand its entertainments offerings once again by adding a new venue known as "The Great Magic Hall".  The project is still on the "do not discuss" list for now, but we have pulled some hints out of our magic hat as to what the experience entails.

The Great Magic Hall will be a series of rooms all interconnected and driven by a singular story line.  Guests will be escorted through 12 rooms where they will lay witness to some mind-blowing magic tricks that will be combined with special effects, actors, and other surprises. We are also told that the finale is something not to be missed and will leave you in awe. The attraction is operated by Theater Magic, which is the same crew that does shows at Universal and other area parks. More details will follow as they are released but look for a summer 2014 opening for this new project.

The pace at Old Town is slower, and more intimate than in the larger parks and can be a refreshing change for most guests, so if you get the chance check it out!!

Enjoy!!

Mardi Gras 2014 at Universal "Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez"!!

Let the good times roll!! or as the French say "Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez"!!

Music Plaza at night

Universal just released a new list of artists for the annual Mardi Gras celebration and the line up is going to be outstanding with something for basically everyone! The celebration takes place each year at Universal Studios Florida and is a massively popular experience, which is understandable as the Music Plaza area at the studios is one of the best outdoor concert venues ever built inside a theme park.

Line up as of 1/16/2014

Top name acts and new up and coming performers will fill the stage on select nights at the largest Mardi Gras celebration outside of New Orleans. The studios is decorated in festive purple, gold and green colors along with many other great photo op sets. This year will be the longest running Mardi Gras event Universal has ever hosted, and will provide the lead in for the opening of the new Harry Potter: Diagon Alley which is rumored to open in early June.

Mardi Gras nights bring the famous parade with floats galore (many of which come directly from New Orleans), more beads than you can carry, commemorative doubloons, and lots and lots of glitter and confetti. The smell of true New Orleans Mardi Gras food fills the air and drinks, including the signature Hurricane, flow like water.

King Gator Float

King Cake

Beauty of India float

 Mardi Gras nights can be packed, with the major artists nights reaching sell outs.  So be prepared to have some amazing experiences with a few thousand of your closest friends and celebrate this great event along with Universals top attractions and shows. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or help with planning your trip.

Enjoy!!

#mardigras #themeparkwhispers #universalorando