With all of the movie making magic and special effects that Universal Studios has to offer, it can leave visitors wanting more in terms of big thrills. In 1999, Universal created a sister park, right next door called Islands of Adventure. This park offers all the coasters and thrill rides that Universal Studios is missing.

Islands of Adventure features five islands around a central lagoon. The first land is Super Hero Island, and it contains some major headline rides. The first is the Incredible Hulk coaster, which shoots riders from 0 to 40 MPH in 2 seconds, and features some major loops and zero-G moments. Next is The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman, which is a simulator ride that is better than any you’ve experienced before. Also in this land is Dr. Doom’s Fearfall, a tower ride which drops riders to the ground, braking moment before impact.

The next land you’ll encounter is Toon Lagoon. The best thing about this land is the elaborate theming, and the whimsical buildings. There are also two major water rides: a log flume and a river rafting ride.

For dinosaur lovers, you’ll love Jurassic Park land. The main ride here is the Jurassic Park Adventure, where dinosaurs chase you the entire way until you end up on a surprise 85 foot drop to the water below. There’s also a Jurassic Park playground and a dinosaur discovery area for kids.

Speaking of kids, they’ll love Seuss landing, which has several Seuss themed attractions, including a Cat in the Hat dark ride, a Caro-Seuss-el carousel, and an interactive play land for kids.

For more big thrills, head over to the Lost Continent. Here you’ll find the Dueling Dragons coasters, Fire and Ice, as well as the children’s coaster The Flying Unicorn. There are also two spectacular shows based on Sinbad and Poseidon, and a really uniue interactive fountain that’s not to be missed.

Coming in 2009, a new land will be added based on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Fans of the books and movies are eagerly awaiting this new land.

Taking young children to Universal Studios? While some of the rides here are a little too grown up for kids, there is still plenty to keep them busy.

If you have young kids, you’ll want to start your visit to Universal with a visit to Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone, a land designed just for little ones. Kids looking for thrills will want to head for Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster. This is a great beginner coaster for kids, with a minimum height requirement of 36″. Parents can ride too, so they can enjoy this gentle coaster with their kids. Read more »

In 2004, Universal Studios opened its first roller coaster. Revenge of the Mummy is based on the popular Mummy movie series, and is one of the most unique coasters ever invented.It took almost 25 years for Universal Studios to finally build a roller coaster, but when they finally decided to add one, they definately picked the right one. A traditional coaster would be way out of place with the park’s movie magic theme, so Universal went for a coaster based on the movies. Read more »

As a lifelong Simpsons lover, I was so excited to here that Universal Studios was opening a Simpsons themed ride in 2008. Read more »

Are you planning a vacation to Universal Orlando but nervous about leaving your pet behind? With all of the hotels available in the Orlando area, it’s no surprise that many of them are starting to cater to pet-lovers. Bringing your pet along can help calm your nerves, knowing your pet is being cared for, and can also give your pet the adventure of a lifetime.

Because of the huge demand for pet friendly hotels in Orlando, many of those that do allow pets don’t even charge any extra fees for guests who bring their pets along. Some may require a refundable cleaning deposit, and others may have weight limits for animals, but every year the rules become more flexible. Check the rules with each hotel before you book, and confirm one more time before you leave.

The following are some of the best hotels in Orlando for pets:

• Comfort Suites at 9350 Turkey Lake Rd, Orlando – This hotel is one of Orlando’s best when it comes to our furry friends. Both cats and dogs are welcome, and rooms are designed with pet safety in mind. The hotel features a pet playground and plenty of space to take your dog for a walk. Located only 2 miles from Universal, Comfort Suites is a great place for pet lovers.
• Buena Vista Suites at 8203 World Center Drive – This hotel is in the Disney area, so plan on a 20 minutes drive to Universal Studios each day. They welcome both cats and dogs, and feature two-room suites that are designed with pet safety in mind. There is no special spot designed for dogs to play, but guests are permitted to walk dogs on the tennis court or in the parking lot.
• The Sheraton Safari Hotel at 12205 S. Apopka Vineland Rd – With it’s cat and dog friendly policies, this hotel located near Downtown Disney is another great option if you’d like to bring your pet along on your vacation. Room service will accomodate any food orders for your pet that you require, and there’s plenty of walking trails to allow your pooch to stretch his legs.
• Quality Suites 7400 Canada Ave – This cat and dog friendly hotel is the closet hotel to Universal Studios for pet lovers. There’s plenty of space on the grounds for you to walk your pet, and rooms are designed to keep your pet safe.

Take advantage of these and other pet friendly Orlando hotels on your next trip to Universal or Disney!

Many people who have visited Orlando’s Universal Studios park in the past will be surprised at just how much the resort has evolved. There are now two major parks, three hotels, and the CityWalk Entertainment complex. Read more »

So you’ve checked out some of the hotel options near the park and you’re convinced that staying onsite is completely worth the cost. Now which of the three Universal Resort hotels do you choose? Read more »

Let’s face it. Theme park tickets are expensive. No matter which amusement park you choose, you’re going to shell out big bucks for your tickets. But let’s break it down. Disney and Universal tickets cost about $70 for a one day, one park ticket. On the average day, the park’s are open from 10 am to around 9 pm. That’s 11 hours of world class fun for $70, or just over $6 an hour. When you look at it that way, it’s not such a bad deal after all.

Read more »