Universal Studios Florida
| File:Universal-studios-florida.gif | |
| Location | Florida, USA |
|---|---|
| Opened | June 71990 |
| Owner | NBC Universal, The Blackstone Group |
| Operating season | Year-round |
| Website | Universal 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.
Like most major theme parks, Universal Studios Florida plays host to many special events throughout the year. These include: Macy's Holiday Parade from December to early January, Mardi Gras celebration from February to April and the very popular Halloween Horror Nights in the fall.
In 2006, Universal Studios Florida hosted approximately 6 million guests, ranking #6 among all United States parks and #11 among all parks worldwide.[1]
Attractions
The attractions at Universal Studios Florida are split into six different areas.
Hollywood
- Terminator 2 3-D: Battle Across Time
- Universal's Horror Make-Up Show
- Lucy - A Tribute
Production Central
New York
San Francisco/Amity
- Jaws
- Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue
- Earthquake-The Big One- And the Magic of Effects
- Fear Factor Live!
World Expo
- Men in Black: Alien Attack
- The Simpsons Ride (coming April 2008)
Woody Woodpecker's KidZone
- A Day in the Park with Barney
- Fievel's Playground
- Animal Actors On Location
- Curious George Goes to Town
- Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster
- E.T. Adventure
Lagoon
- Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular (summer only)
Soundstages
In addition to the attractions, Universal Studios Florida is home to six soundstages that are used for a variety of purposes. There were formerly seven soundstages, however, Stage 18, one of the former Nickelodeon Studios soundstages, was redesigned in 2007 as the Sharp Aquos Theatre, where the Blue Man Group has performed since June 2007. The soundstage and the core production facility were made a permanent part of Universal CityWalk.
Soundstage 21 has been used since June 2004 for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) which has produced its weekly television program, TNA iMPACT! from there, and has aired its pay-per-view events from this location since November 2004; it is referred to as the "iMPACT! Zone" for this reason.
The remaining soundstages are available for rent and during Halloween Horror Nights, typically two of the soundstages are used as haunted houses. Among the productions previously hosted in the Soundstages during the past are World Championship Wrestling, major scenes of the movie Parenthood, the TV series version of Superboy (where the series was filmed for its second to fourth seasons, from 1989-1992), roller derby show RollerJam!, numerous commercials, and the Florida Lottery's Flamingo Fortune game show. SeaQuest DSV was shot at USF from the show's second through final season. It also hosted Wheel of Fortune when it visited Orlando while on national tours. Episodes of Fear Factor were produced between 2004-2005 at various locations around the resort. An annual week long special of Ellen Degeneres's The Ellen DeGeneres Show is also shot at the Studios every spring. Universal Orlando-Ellen
During the 1990's when Nickelodeon's main home was at Universal Studios, the Soundstages were used to film almost all Nickelodeon's original live action programming including: Get the Picture, Legends of the Hidden Temple, Family Double Dare, All That and many others. While Stage 18 is now used as the Sharp Aquos Theatre for the Blue Man Group, Soundstage 19 and the core production facility are home to Sun Sports and FSN.
Former Attractions
- Back to the Future: The Ride, opened on May 2, 1991 and closed on March 30, 2007. The ride is to be replaced by The Simpsons Ride, and is scheduled to open in Spring 2008.
- Kongfrontation (based on the film King Kong (1976), opened in June 1990 and closed in September 2002, replaced by the Revenge of the Mummy attraction. The ride featured a queue which represented a New York City subway station. The ride itself took place in a Roosevelt Island Tramway cable car, where riders attempt to escape the wrath of Kong. The cable cars traveled above the streets of New York City and encountered the beast twice. It is the only attraction to feature a farewell sendoff for annual passholders at the resort to date.
- Murder, She Wrote Mystery Theatre (Replaced by Hercules and Xena (also closed))
- Ghostbusters Spooktacular (Replaced by Twister attraction) Opened in 1990 and closed in 1996
- The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera opened in June 1990 and closed in October 2002 (Replaced by Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast, the Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera ride was reborn in 2006 in The Park at MOA in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota under the name "Yogi's Big Rescue", and at various Paramount Parks) and is currently at Dollywood's 2007 KidsFest under the name "Yogi's Wild Ride".
- Nickelodeon Studios Tour, Opened in June 1990 and closed in early 2004 (Now occupied by Blue Man Group LIVE at the Sharp Aquos Theatre).
- Animal Actors Stage was revamped as Animal Planet Live, then revamped to "Animal Actors On Location!" once the Animal Planet contract was up.
- Alfred Hitchcock, The Art of Making Movies, opened in June 1990 and closed in January 2003 (Replaced by Shrek 4-D).
- The Wild, Wild, Wild West Stunt Show (Replaced by Fear Factor Live).
- Stage 54 — an exhibition of props from recent Universal films (Replaced by an interactive experience with Donkey, connected to Shrek 4-D).
- Hercules and Xena: Wizards of the Screen (space currently empty)
- Psycho home tour with video (area now part of KidZone)
- An American Tail Live Show (Replaced by Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue)
Dining
- Universal Studios Classic Monster Cafe
- Finnegan's Bar & Grill
- Louie's Italian Restaurant
- Lombard's Seafood Grille
- Richter's Burger Co.
- Midway Grill
- International Food and Film Festival
- Cafe La Bamba
- Mel's Drive-In
Universal Express Plus
Several attractions in Universal Studios Florida allow guests to utilize the "Universal Express Plus" Pass. This pass admits users to a separate, shorter line for the attraction. Unlike Disney's FastPass service, Universal Express Plus users do not have to reserve a time, and may enter the shorter line whenever they wish. However, passholders may use the Express Plus line only once per enabled attraction.
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.
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
- ^ http://www.themeit.com/attendance_report2006.pdf
- ^ Express Plus Passes http://www.universalorlando.com/tic_express.html
- ^ Premier Annual Passes http://www.universalorlando.com/annualpass/ap_prem.php.html