Posted on Fri, Feb 19, 2010 @ 06:31 PM
Book your Harry Potter Vac
ation Package now for Universal Studios Orlando
Harry Potter should be accepting guests to his new theme-park home by the end of May.
Universal Orlando has starting selling Vacation Packages for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios...The deals are good for travel beginning May 28.
But May 28 is not being considered the grand-opening date for the $200-million-plus expansion of the Islands of Adventure theme park, Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said.
"It's to help people plan their vacations," he said Thursday. "It's a
day in which we know we'll be able to deliver everything we're offering them as far as vacation packages."
The resort expects Wizarding World to be in operation before that, but is sticking with its "to be revealed in spring 2010″ mantra. There could be soft-opening dates or previews, as is common with many new attractions.
"Obviously it's our goal to open the Wizarding World of Harry Potter as soon as it's ready," Schroder said.
Until Thursday's announcement, Potter fans were forced to play a guessing game on booking reservations.
Rhonda Poelma's 11-year-old daughter Savanna, a Harry Potter fan, convinced her to take a leap of faith on Wizarding World. After talking with a Universal representative on the phone, the Denver mother of two made reservations for early June.
And she lucked out.
"I was just taking a stab in the dark. I went with late spring, post-Memorial Day weekend," Poelma said. "We really wanted to get it in this season while it was still new."
Poelma visited Orlando seven years ago and went to Walt Disney World. This will be her family's first time at Universal, which they will follow with a cruise to the Bahamas.
Setting an opening time frame is an important step, said Ray Braun, a senior vice president at Economics Practice at AECOM, a Los Angeles-based consulting firm that does economic research for the theme-park industry.
"You build your marketing campaign around your big new attractions every year, so you have to build your marketing campaign. It has to be on the front of your brochure, and you have to deliver on that," he said.
"In this case, this is so big, this is like opening a whole new park," Braun said. "This is going to have an inpact on all of Universal's neighbors as well, in terms of the parks. There's going to be an uplift, and I'm sure all of the other parks want to have some knowledge about when that uplift is going to hit too."
At local AAA offices, Wizarding World posters distributed by Universal have created buzz - and questions. Now there's at least a bit more information to go on.
"Once they see the poster, they get all excited and ask about when it is opening," said Vanessa Jones, AAA senior motor club manager of metro Orlando.
"It's people of all ages - old and young," she said. "We're expecting it to be a good attraction for Central Florida and, of course, for Universal."
Wizarding World, which will be included in regular admission to Islands of Adventure, will feature rides, eateries, stores, merchandise and atmosphere based on J.K. Rowling's books and movies about a boy wizard. Universal's version of Hogwarts Castle will house a dark ride, still wrapped in mystery, called Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Hogsmeade Village will feature shops, including Ollivanders, where theme-park guests will be able to buy wands. Two current roller coasters at Islands will be rethemed to be Potteresque.
Universal's media release emphasizes that the "May 28 travel date was set to help consumers with vacation planning and does not represent the opening date for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort. Universal has announced that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will open in Spring 2010. Specific opening information will come as soon as it is available."
Still haven't booked your Harry Potter Vacation Package for Universal Studios yet?
Check out our website for all the latest deals on Universal Studios Vacation Packages at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com
Don't wait...they will go fast...
Posted on Wed, Oct 28, 2009 @ 06:31 AM
Open casting calls for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando
The following article courtesy of Orlando Attractions Magazine
If you're looking forward to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opening at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure theme park in 2010 and wish you could conjure up a way to be part of the magic, you will soon have your chance.
Thanks to a post on Orlando United, we've learned that Universal Orlando is holding open casting calls for atmosphere roles as part of the Wizarding World. They're looking for male and female actors who can speak with a British accent. More specifically, Universal is holding calls for male actors with strong improv and interaction skills who are able to portray an age range of mid-thiries to mid-forties. In addition, they're casting male and female actors who are youthful in appearance.
Casting is being held on Saturday, Nov. 14 and Sunday, Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. in the Universal Orlando Human Resources Lobby at 1000 Universal Studios Plaza, Orlando, FL 32819.
Full-time, part-time, and seasonal positions are available. All actors should prepare a one-minute monologue for audition and candidates must be available for callbacks on Monday, Nov. 16 and rehearsals beginning in January.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been announced to be opening in Spring 2010 so it's good news that Universal has finally begun its casting process.
Still haven't got tickets or your Universal Orlando Vacation Package yet? Then check out our website for all your Universal needs at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com
Posted on Sat, Sep 19, 2009 @ 06:59 AM
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Orlando
With Halloween Horror Nights just under a week away, Universal has released a teaser video of Saw...One of the many themes for this years Halloween Horror Nights 2009.
If you are looking for tickets & Vacation Packages to Universal Studios & Halloween Horror Nights, then check out our web site at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com for all your Universal's Halloween Horror Nights 2009 needs.
Posted on Mon, Jul 27, 2009 @ 08:31 AM
Vote For Your Favorite Scene at Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios
After watching Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince movie this past week, many people are looking forward to the next installment in the Harry Potter universe: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure.
Here's what we know about the main attraction in the new land, which will open early in 2010: It will take place inside Hogwarts Castle. You will board after queueing through the Great Hall. The ride vehicles will be four-person seats on Kuka robot arms, mounted from an overhead track. And there will be about 10 scenes in the ride.
But what do you want those 10 scenes to be? Let's vote!
Several potential scenes from the first three Harry Potter books have been selected. They are all scenes from inside Hogwarts Castle and do not include the Great Hall or the entry, which will be part of the queue. Nor do they include the common rooms, well, 'cause you're not supposed to be in common rooms outside your house. ;-) And they do not include any scenes that take place outside the castle, since that's where the ride will be set.
Pick the one you most want to see, from these options, then discuss in the comments.
Posted on Fri, Jun 26, 2009 @ 07:24 AM
Universal Studios & Halloween Horror Nights Confirm 3 Themes for 2009
Well just after I posted the dates for Halloween Horror Nights 2009 Universal Orlando announces and confirms 3 main theme for this years Hallowwen Horror Nights.
Saw The Movie Series will be the main theme as well as Childs Play icon CHUCKY and also from the Major Motion Picture to hit theaters this November will be The Wolfman.
While the graphic above is an official promo for this year's Halloween Horror Nights in California's Universal Studios theme park, it has been confirmed that the Saw film series will indeed be featured at the popular Halloween event in Orlando's Universal Studios park as well.
In a press release, details for the California version were released:
Saw characters, themes and live action recreations of the infamous "traps" from the entire SAW horror franchise will be featured in a "maze" experience, in multiple "scare zones" and aboard the parks signature "Terror Tram," where guests will be subjected to a deadly "game" that will echo a story element instantly recognizable to SAW's legion of fans.
No specific details were revealed (yet) about the Saw attraction that will also be included during Halloween Horror Nights 19 at Universal Orlando.
Halloween Horror Nights begins in Orlando on September 25.
If you still haven't gotten your Vacation Package to Universal Studios yet to see Halloween Horror Nights, then check out our website at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com. Hurry before it is too late...This event does sell out.
Posted on Wed, Jun 24, 2009 @ 07:51 AM
Universal Studios Orlando & Halloween Horror Nights 2009
Universal Orlando is telling the world that “it’s never too soon to start panicking” with the launch of their website for Halloween Horror Nights 2009.
While details are scarce at this point, they have released this year’s event dates as followed: Sept. 25, 26, Oct. 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30 & 31
Here is the description of Halloween Horror Nights 2009 from www.halloweenhorrornights.com:
Once again, your worst nightmares will soon be taking shape in the shadowy darkness of one of the country’s premier annual Halloween events—Universal Studios Orlando® Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights®.
On select nights in September and October, Universal Studios Orlando Florida® theme park is transformed into a nightmarish labyrinth of haunted houses, outrageous live shows, and electrifying scare zones while an army of mutants, monsters and maniacs roam the darkened studio streets.
Now in its 19th year, Universal's Halloween Horror Nights annually drawing hundreds of thousands of horror fans from around the globe to this one-of-a-kind event. In fact, Tony Timpone, Editor of Fangoria Magazine, said, “After visiting scream parks all across the U.S. for the last 20 years, I can easily say that Universal Studios Orlando is the best in the business… Halloween Horror Nights is the ultimate Halloween experience.”
This year promises to break new ground by being the most immersive horror experience ever. Every step, every turn takes you into a new realm of fear. In the houses or on the streets, there is nowhere safe and nowhere you can hide. It’s the greatest exhibition of pure terror ever unleashed anywhere, and you can experience it all, LIVE, only at Universal Studios Orlando Halloween Horror Nights.
Advance tickets for Halloween Horror Nights are now on sale for $69.99 plus tax, though we don’t recommend ever paying full price for Halloween Horror Nights tickets, as there are always numerous discounts to be found, especially for Florida residents.
Also on sale is the Frequent Fear pass, which grants access to Halloween Horror Nights for 13 nights of the event. It is available for $69.99 and is valid on September 25, 26, October 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 21, 22, 25, 28 and 29.
Guests can purchase Halloween Horror Nights 19 tickets at www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com or by calling 1-888-467-7677 (HORROR-7). Because of the event’s popularity, tickets for weekend nights, especially those closer to October 31, often sell out quickly.
We’ll keep you updated on all the latest information surrounding this year’s premiere scare-filled event.
Haven't got your Universal Vacation Package yet? Then check out our website at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com for all your Orlando Vacation Packages and tickets to Universal Studios Orlando!