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Introducing Universal Orlando Resort

Universal's family of theme parks, hotels, and entertainment complexes has developed into a truly first rate destination with 2 amazing theme parks, Universal Studios ® and Universal's Islands of Adventure . The great dining and entertainment complex CityWalk ® round out Universal Orlando ResortSM, making it a premier destination of its own.
Getting there is now a lot easier. Universal Boulevard runs right into International Drive or you can approach from either direction on I-4. You'll leave your vehicle in a MASSIVE multi story parking lot (write down where you park!). Then a series of escalators and moving walkways deliver you to the entrance of CityWalk ® a night-time entertainment complex featuring some excellent themed restaurants, night clubs, bars, and unique shops. Once you've strolled through CityWalk ® , you can either bear left to Universal's Islands of Adventure or head to the right and aim straight for Universal Studios ® (You can easily walk between these 2 theme parks, which is unusual for Orlando)
Lockers are available and you can also rent strollers and wheelchairs if needed. Get to Universal as early as you can. You'll see more in the first couple of hours than you will all afternoon when the crowds reach their peak. (With certain Universal Orlando Resort Multi-Day Tickets extra early admission is included) Pick up a park map and entertainment schedule upon arrival - take a few moments to read it and plan your day to include some 'sit-down' shows (your feet will appreciate it!).

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Orlando's original Universal Park remains a very full and entertaining day of movie rides and TV trivia. Start your day as the gates open (early admission is available with some Universal Tickets) and head for the major rides at the back of the park before working your way back towards the main entrance.
Men in Black™ Alien Attack™ is very popular with kids who just love to shoot at aliens, though adults may get a little confused by the scoring system! Groups of adults should use the 'singles' line to try to avoid a wait. Feel what it's like to be bait on JAWS ® as the great white menace gives chase - your captain's 'performance' adds to the entertainment factor! Those on the left will get an exceedingly close up look at that famous dental work. Then grab your Richter scale for a subway trip into the middle of Earthquake ® - The Big One .
Some very bad weather is forecast to ruin your hair on TWISTER... Ride it Out ® (the flying cow is the highlight) and smaller fans of the planet's most popular purple dinosaur will be entranced by A Day In The Park With Barney™ . Fievel's Playland ® in Woody Woodpecker's KidZone SM are also great places for the little ones to let loose and for you to take a breather. Pedal across the sky with E.T. Adventure ® then head over to Animal Planet Live ® to see some amazing four legged feats while you rest yours a little more. TERMINATOR 2: 3-D BATTLE ACROSS TIME™ puts you on the front line of an amazing cyber war. For some multidimensional fun that the kids will also enjoy, check out Shrek 4-D™ . Showing several times a day in OgreVision, this film bridges the gap between the two feature films, and brings back all of your favorite characters.
There's more time travel action over at Back To The Future The Ride ® , where Doc Brown and a band of volunteers (you!) have to high tail it after the evil (and somewhat dim-witted) Biff. If you like really smart, animated boys who routinely save the world, then you'll love Universal's latest simulator ride - Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast™ . The capper for any day at Universal Studios® has to be their newest and scariest coaster Revenge of the MummySM The Ride . Trust us, you won't want to let your fear of the dark, bugs or evil undead creatures keep you from lining up for this one!

Universal Favourites

Our favourite Top 10 Rides at Universal are:

TERMINATOR 2: 3-D BATTLE ACROSS TIME - loud dramatic special effects are not for young kids
Back To The Future The Ride - still hard to beat. (3'4"height restriction)
JAWS - guaranteed to make the whole family jump.
Earthquake - The Big One- shaking all over. (Under 4' ride with an adult)
MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack - zapping aliens is popular with kids - wait for shorter lines.
E.T. Adventure - assure kids there's a happy ending (Small kids ride with an adult)
A Day in the Park with Barney - the big purple hit machine just keeps on rolling. Watch their faces!
Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride - even if you didn't like the movies, you'll love it.
Shrek 4-D - very well done, even the pre-show is funny.
TWISTER...Ride it Out - intense weather can scare small kids - front row gets wet!

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Billed as a theme park for the 21st century Universal's Islands of Adventure is a big hit! Younger children and adults will have a fine time and the great news for parents is that the park is very geared toward pre-teens and teens. It's a brilliant mix of myth, technology, fantasy and fiction centered around 5 very unique islands where the theming and special effects are outstanding.
Escape (by dropping 85 feet!) from an angry T Rex at the Jurassic Park River Adventure SM , a 'monster' of a water ride. Smaller or more squeamish riders might prefer a flyover of the Camp Jurassic® kids play area on Pteranodon Flyers® (adults must be accompanied by a child to ride). Come toe to toe with your fellow tourists on the Dueling Dragons ® rollercoaster high above the Lost Continent . There you'll also find Poseidon's Fury: Escape from the Lost City SM - a watery battle for the city of Atlantis and The Eighth Voyage Of Sinbad ® , a lavishly staged stunt extravaganza. Toon Lagoon ® (by far the wettest island!) is where you can splish around Popeye & Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges SM and splash down Dudley Do Right's Ripsaw Falls SM .
Over at Seuss Landing™ , the Cat In The Hat™ is definitely back - kids love the multi-colored Caro-Seuss-el™ and the squirt action on One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish™ . Here is also where you'll find the best place for parents to take a rest, while the kids entertain themselves in the If I Ran the Zoo™ interactive play area. Marvel Super Hero Island ® is home to the Incredible Hulk Coaster ® - a real shirt buster that literally blasts you into the first 'weightless' inverted loop! (For coasterholics there are separate lines for the front row seats!) Nearby Doctor Doom's Fearfall ® is a great place from which to view the park (before plunging 400' back to earth!) while the 3D special effects on The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman SM are so good they almost defy description!

Islands of Adventure Favourites

Our favourite Top 10 Rides at Islands of Adventure are:

Incredible Hulk Coaster - the not so jolly green giant! (4'6"height restriction) ...... The begining of this ride is an unforgetable experience and emulates the potion being injected into the Hulk before he turns green. Take a look at the short clip below which is only the begining part of the ride but should give you a idea of what lays ahead after you leave the "syringe" ...... and yep, our 2.4 children are in the very front row being injected out of the "syringe" ....... and Yep, it has been known for some people to come off the ride green!

* (sorry, the file is about 2.5Mb so may take a little time to load if you don't have an ADSL line but once you've got it you should be fine).

To stop the movie click anywhere on it with the right mouse button and remove the tick next to "Loop". It will then stop at the end and not repeat.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man - on the worldwide web. WOW! (3'4"height restriction)
Doctor Doom's Fearfall - adrenaline time! (4'4"height restriction)
Dueling Dragons - Near misses, tight loops (4'6"height restriction)
Poseidon's Fury: Escape from the Lost City - The watery 'tunnel' is very clever, as are all the effects.
The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad - well choreographed stunts, colorful costumes & corny jokes.
Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls - a soggy log flume/coaster combo (3'8'height restriction)
Popeye & Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges - they said it wasn't wet, they lied! (3'6" height restriction)
Jurassic Park River Adventure - take the plunge! (3'6" height restriction)
Jurassic Park Discovery Center - great interactivities for young minds.

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Following in the very successful footsteps of the original in California comes this eclectic collection of top notch eateries, themed bars and exciting nightlife - all within minutes of the International Drive Hotel Area.

Parking after 6pm in the main Universal parking garage is free and there is never an admission charge to CityWalk ® itself. Several of the nightclub venues though do charge a cover so you can choose just one or two or visit all of them with a CityWalk ® Party Pass. (Make sure you carry a picture ID - no piccie no drinkie!) Stir it up over a nice cool RumRunner at Bob Marley - A Tribute to Freedom SM , a recreation of the Rasta masta's house in Kingston. Eat to the beat over at the MOTOWN ® Café Orlando , filled with memorabilia from the glory days of soul. Race fans can get all revved up over the NASCAR Cafe - top off your fluids and grease! Sing for your supper over at Pat O'Briens™ , fresh from New Orleans, with its famous flaming fountains and dueling piano bar. Super Chef Emeril Lagasse offers a 5 star dining experience at the aptly named Emeril's™ Restaurant Orlando , or if you'd just prefer a 'Cheeseburger in Paradise' then park yourself over at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville ® . CityJazz SM is a very smooth, sophisticated showcase for some of the best live acts around while the Hard Rock Cafe ® Orlando and Hard Rock Live ® Orlando bring you great burgertainment and a slick concert venue with rocking acts like Sheryl Crow, Elton John and Robbie Williams.
Movie buffs have a choice of 20 screens at the Universal Cineplex (all stadium seating) and basketball fans can slam-dunk some surprisingly good fare at NBA City .
the groove SM is where you'll find all the latest dance music pounding away until 2am and just down the street is the Latin Quarter ® , testimony to the rapid crossover that's taken place as great latino rhythms hit America's mainstream.

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