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====Former Shops====
====Former Shops====
*Shaiken's Souvenirs (Earthquake: The Big One); closed in December 2007, and will be replaced by Disaster Studios! Gifts (Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You!).
*Shaiken's Souvenirs (Earthquake: The Big One); closed in December 2007, and was replaced by Disaster Studios! Gifts (Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You!).


====Character Appearances====
====Character Appearances====

Revision as of 03:55, 13 January 2008

Universal Studios Florida
File:Universal-studios-florida.gif
LocationOrlando, Florida, United States United States
OpenedJune 71990
OwnerNBC Universal, The Blackstone Group
Operating seasonYear-round
AreaUniversal Orlando Resort
Attractions
Total12
Roller coasters2
Water rides2
WebsiteUniversal Studios Florida Homepage

Universal Studios Florida is a theme park in Orlando, Florida, part of the Universal Orlando Resort. The park, which opened on June 7, 1990, lets visitors "Ride the Movies." It offers many shows and rides, along with countless other things for guests to see and do. Universal Studios Florida, its sister theme park Islands of Adventure, a nightclub/shopping venue CityWalk, and several on-site hotels combine to make a complete vacation destination. Despite its name, it has some non-Universal Studios character attractions, among them, The Simpsons (20th Century Fox), Jimmy Neutron (Nickelodeon), And The Men In Black (Sony Pictures).

In 2006, Universal Studios Florida hosted approximately 6 million guests, ranking #6 among all United States parks and #11 among all parks worldwide.[1]

The Areas of Universal Studios Florida

File:Universal entrance.JPG
The entrance to the theme park features a model of the famous Universal Studios globe.

Universal Studios Florida is separated into 6 several different areas--Production Central, New York, San Francisco/Amity, World Expo, Woody Woodpecker's Kidzone, and Hollywood.

Production Central

Production Central is where Hollywood meets Orlando, and the business of making movies meets the excitement of living them.

Current Attractions

Previous Attractions

Dining

  • Beverly Hills Boulangerie
  • Universal Studios Classic Monsters' Cafe

Shopping

  • Universal Studios Store
  • Studio Sweets
  • It's a Wrap!
  • NickStuff (Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast)
  • Shrek's Ye Olde Souvenir Shoppe (Shrek 4-D)

Former Shops

  • Hanna-Barbera's Store (The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera); closed in November 2002, and was replaced by NickStuff (Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast).
  • The Bates Motel Store (Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies); closed in February 2003, and was replaced by Shrek's Ye Olde Souvenir Shoppe (Shrek 4-D).
  • Nickelodeon Kiosk (Nickelodeon Studios); closed in Apirl 2005.

Character Apperances

  • Rockey and Bullwinkle characters (moved to Islands of Adventure)
  • Hanna-Barbera characters (discontinued)
  • Shrek Characters
  • NickToon Characters

New York

Universal Studios' New York street sets were constructed to create the perfect filming backdrop for any production set in the big city - from a 1920's alleyway to a modern Manhattan street of brownstone residences.

Current Attractions

Previous Attractions

Dining

Shopping

  • Aftermath (Twister...Ride It Out)
  • Sahara Traders (Revenge of the Mummy)
  • Rosie's Irish Shop

Former Shops

  • Paranormal Store (Ghostbusters Spooktacular); closed in January 1997, and was replaced by Aftermath (Twister...Ride It Out).
  • Safari Outfitters (Kongfrontation); closed in November 2002, and was replaced by Sahara Traders (Revenge of the Mummy).

Character Appearances

  • King Kong (discontinued)
  • The Ghostbusters (discontinued)
  • The Blues Brothers

San Francisco/Amity

Journey from the streets of San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf to the street festival in the town of Amity in less than the amount of time it takes you to cross the street.

Current Attractions

  • Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You!, a special-effects attraction, will open in January 2008.
  • Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue is a live show featuring some of Universal's classic monsters, including Frankenstein, Dracula, the Bride of Frankenstein, and Wolfman. Opened in 1994.
  • Jaws puts you aboard Captain Jake's Amity Boat Tours, where you'll journey around the island of Amity, hoping to avoid the menace known as JAWS. Opened on June 7, 1990.

Previous Attractions

  • An American Tail, a live stage show based on the animated film, Opened in 1991 and closed in 1994 to be replaced by Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue.
  • Earthquake: The Big One featured guests encountering an 8.3 scale earthquake while aboard a subway train in San Francisco. It opened on June 7, 1990 and closed in 2007 to be replaced by Disaster!.

Dining

  • Disaster Studios Eats (coming soon)
  • Lombard's Landing Seafood Grille
  • Nathan's Hotdogs

Shopping

  • San Francisco Candy Factory
  • Quint's Surf Shack (Jaws)
  • Disaster Studios! Gifts (Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You!)

Former Shops

  • Shaiken's Souvenirs (Earthquake: The Big One); closed in December 2007, and was replaced by Disaster Studios! Gifts (Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You!).

Character Appearances

  • Beetlejuice
  • Universal's Classic Monsters (discontinued)
  • Captain Jake and Chompy The Shark (discontinued)

World Expo

World Expo is a blend of the Futuristic and Retro, and is intended to be a recreation of a World's Fair.

Current Attractions

Previous Attractions

  • The Wild, Wild, Wild West Stunt Show, a live stunt show featuring wild west performers in death defying stunts, Opened in 1991 and closed in 2003 to be replaced by Fear Factor LIVE.
  • Back to the Future: The Ride, a high tech motion simulator ride inspired by Universal's Back to the Future film series, Opened on May 2, 1991 and closed in 2007 to be replaced by The Simpsons Ride.

Dining

  • Krusty Burger (coming soon)

Shopping

  • Fear Factor Gear (Fear Factor LIVE)
  • MIB Gear (Men In Black: Alien Attack)
  • Kwik-E-Mart (The Simpsons Ride)

Former Shops

  • Back to the Future...The Store (Back to the Future The Ride); closed in September 2007 and was replaced by Kwik-E-Mart (The Simpsons Ride).

Character Appearances

  • The Men In Black (discontinued)
  • Back to the Future Characters (discontinued)
  • The Simpsons Characters

Woody Woodpecker's KidZone

Woody Woodpecker's Kidzone is the park's children's area, and is hosted by Woody Woodpecker, Universal Studios' mascot.

Current Attractions

  • A Day in the Park with Barney is a live stage show featuring Barney and his friends.
  • Fievel's Playground, a children's playground.
  • Animal Actors On Location is a live stage show featuring trained animals. This is the third animal show to use this facility, after the Animal Actors Stage and Animal Planet Live.
  • Curious George Goes to Town is a play area featuring two large water troughs that dump thousands of gallons of water on its visitors every ten minutes.
  • Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster is a junior coaster aimed towards children and their parents.
  • E.T. Adventure is a dark ride based on the hit 1982 movie E.T..
  • Fievel's Water Slide is a children's designed water ride, connected to Fievel's Playland, but opened after the playland.

Previous Attractions

  • Bate's Motel Tour, which recreated the set of The Bates Motel from Psycho, Opened on June 7, 1990 and closed in 1998 to be replaced by Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster..
  • Bate's Mansion Tour, which recreated the set of The Bates Mansion from Psycho. Opened on June 7, 1990 and closed in 1998 to be replaced by Curious George Goes To Town.
  • Animal Actors Stage, a live stage show with Universal's most famous animal actors. Opened on June 7, 1990 and closed in 2001 to be replaced by Animal Planet LIVE.
  • Animal Planet LIVE, a live stage show inspired by the TV channel Animal Planet. Opened in 2001 and closed in 2006 to be replaced by Animal Actors On Location.

Dining

  • Kidzone Pizza Company

Shopping

  • E.T.'s Toy Closet (E.T. Adventure)
  • Universal Cartoon Store (Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster)

Character Appearances

  • Woody Woodpecker Characters
  • Scooby-Doo and Shaggy
  • Curious George Characters
  • An American Tail Characters
  • E.T. (discontinued)

Lagoon

Current Attractions

  • Universal 360 a Cinesphere Spectacular, a seasonal fireworks display that showcases hundreds of Universal films. All with the use of lasers, digital mapping technology, and fireworks.The show is aproximately 16 minutes long. Usually shown during summer, day after Christmas until New Years, and Spring Break.

Previous Attractions

  • Dynomite Nights Stunt Spectacular, a stunt show with pyrotechnics and live actors. Opened in 1990. Closed in 2000.

Hollywood

Hollywood allows guests to travel down Hollywood Boulevard and see some of its greatest monuments, such as Schwab's Pharmacy, Mel's Drive In, Five and Dime, and Brown Derby Hat Shop.

Current Attractions

  • Universal's Horror Make-Up Show is a live stage show that shows guests how horror film special effects are created. Features a preshow walkthrough of set pieces and props used in the movie Van Helsing. Opened on June 7, 1990.
  • Terminator 2: 3-D Battle Across Time is a live, 3D experience that combines a 3D film with an actual stage show based on the film Terminator 2. Opened in 1996, one of the very few Universal rides that Universal itself has said shall stay to test the test of time and voyage on throughout the years untill the park is closed.
  • Lucy: A Tribute, a walkthrough museum featuring the best of "America's favorite redhead." Opened on June 7, 1990.
  • The Vinyls, a cover band, holds daily shows in front of the Mel's Drive In restaurant. Opened in 1991.

Previous Attractions

  • Murder She Wrote Mystery Theatre, closed in 1996 and was replaced by Hercules and Xena: Wizards of the Screen, which itself closed in 2000.
  • How to Make a Mega Movie Deal, an interactive attraction which featured a game show theme set in Hollywood, closed in 1995.

Dining

  • Cafe La Bamba (operates seasonally)
  • Schwab's Pharmacy
  • Mel's Drive In

Shopping

  • Cyber Image (Terminator 2: 3-D Battle Across Time)
  • Theatre Magic

Former Shops

  • Hollywood Supplies (How To Make A Mega Movie Deal); closed in December 1994, and was replaced by Cyber Image (Terminator 2: 3-D Battle Across Time).

Character Appearances

  • Zorro Characters
  • The Terminator (discontinued)
  • 1920's Hollywood Characters (Examples include Charlie Chaplin and Groucho Marx) (discontinued)

Annual events

Universal Studios Florida features several seasonal events throughout its operating calendar. Some are included in the daily park admission, while others are separately-ticketed events.

  • Mardi Gras is a parade and concert series that takes place every Saturday from mid-February to mid-April.
  • Rock the Universe (September) is the park's Christian music festival, featuring two days of concerts with leading contemporary Christian artists. The next edition of the event is scheduled for September 5-6, 2008.
  • Halloween Horror Nights (September-October) turns the park into a giant haunted playground, including scare zones, numerous haunted houses and special themed shows.
  • Macy's Holiday Parade (December) brings some of the most authentic balloons from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to Orlando in a month-long event that highlights the Christmas celebrations at Universal Studios.

Universal Express Plus

Universal Studios Florida allow guests to utilize the "Universal Express Plus" Pass on selected attractions. This pass admits users to a separate line for the attraction, which is given priority status when boarding. Universal Express Plus is not a virtual queuing service, where users receive a specific time to return to the priority line. Instead, passholders may enter the Express Plus line whenever they wish.

Universal Express Plus is not included in park admission. There are a limited number of passes available each day and they are often sold out in advance. [2] The cost of the pass varies based on what parks are selected and even what day is selected, with higher prices charged on peak operating days during the year.

Purchasers of the Express Plus pass may use the shorter priority line once per enabled attraction. Guests of Universal's three on-site resorts—the Royal Pacific Resort, the Hard Rock Hotel and the Portofino Bay Hotel—may show their room keys for unlimited uses of the faster line for each ride. Also, guests who hold Universal Orlando's Premier Annual Pass receive the same unlimited privilege extended to hotel guests after 4pm.[3]


See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.themeit.com/attendance_report2006.pdf
  2. ^ Express Plus Passes http://www.universalorlando.com/tic_express.html
  3. ^ Premier Annual Passes http://www.universalorlando.com/annualpass/ap_prem.php.html
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