Travel Eye on Universal Studios (Florida, USA)

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Overview:

Universal Studios Escape in Orlando Florida is making a strong effort to compete with Disney World, and they are off to a good start. With the recent opening of Universal's new theme park called Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Escape now has two full-sized theme parks and a City Walk area, to compete with Disney's four theme parks, and Downtown Disney area. Universal also opened its luxurious Portofino Bay Hotel, the first of several new on-property hotels scheduled to open in the next few years. Universal's continued expansions are ensuring its status as a must-see attraction in the Orlando area.

Universal Studios Escape is a resort complex with two theme parks, a Citiwalk shopping, dining and entertainment area and three hotels. The two theme parks are the original Universal Studios Florida and the new Islands of Adventure. Universal Studios Florida is a movie theme park containing rides and attractions based on movies and television shows, as well as some behind the scenes looks at movie and television making techniques. The park is similar in nature to Disney's MGM studios.

Locality:

Universal Studios is located in east central Florida on the outskirts of Orlando.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Universal Studios

The ever growing Universal studios is full to the brim with re-created film sets, rides and attractions from some of the most famous motion pictures of old to present day. Popular attractions include: Shrek 4D, Terminator 2, Jaws, Back to the future, Wild West Show, Earthquake, Twister, Mummy Returns..etc, to name but a few. Once you've experienced the thrills and visual effects of the film industry, it's next door neighbour awaits (Islands of Adventure) with the physical thrills of turbulant rides and more traditional theme park attractions.

Islands of Adventure

Islands of Adventure is a new fantasy theme park, similar in layout to Disney's Magic Kingdom, but with some notable differences. The entire park is filled with completely new high-tech rides, attractions, restaurants and shops. It is super clean, very functional and filled with the latest technology. The park is divided into several themed areas including Marvel Super Hero Island and Jurassic Park. Two of the areas, Toon Lagoon and Seuss Landing, are particularly suited for younger visitors.

The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman ride is possibly the most modern high-tech ride in world. A moving vehicle combined with state-of-the-art 3D holographic technology transports the rider into a visual reality comic book adventure. It is well worth experiencing. There are also several state-of-the-art roller coasters, and plenty of water rides to cool you off. Put this all this together and you get, arguably, the best theme park in Orlando today.

Citiwalk

In addition to the two theme parks, Universal's new Citiwalk contains restaurants, nightclubs, specialty shops and a state-of-the-art movie theatre. Most of the restaurants are based on American pop culture like Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, the NASCAR café and the world's largest Hard Rock Cafe. For fine dining, try popular television chef Emeril Lagasse's restaurant, aptly named Emeril's Restaurant Orlando. The nightclubs are also themed like Pat O'Brien's Orlando, an exact replica of the famous New Orleans bar which was the birthplace of dueling pianos. The specialty shops include names like Fossil, Tabasco Country Store and naturally, the Universal Studios Store. The Universal Cineplex is a twenty-screen movie theatre featuring state-of-the-art sound and picture, and comfortable high-backed tilting chairs. There is no admission charge to Citiwalk, but many of the nightclubs charge a cover charge. You can purchase All-club passes with or without a movie admission.