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Universal Studios Florida

Coordinates: 28°28′31″N 81°28′01″W / 28.4752°N 81.4670°W / 28.4752; -81.4670
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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 coasters3
WebsiteUniversal Studios Florida Homepage

Universal Studios Florida is an amusement park located in Orlando, Florida. Opened on June 7, 1990, the park's theme is the entertainment industry, in particular movies and television. Universal Studios Florida inspires its guests to "ride the movies," and it features numerous attractions and live shows. The park is one component of the larger Universal Orlando Resort.

Universal Studios Florida is also a working production studio. It has been used for several movies, television series, commercials, music videos and other events. It was also a production location for Nickelodeon from 1989 until 2005.

In 2007, Universal Studios Florida hosted approximately 6.2 million guests, ranking it the sixth-most visited park in the United States parks and #11 among all parks worldwide.[1]

Park history and design

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

Unlike its sister facility, Universal Studios Hollywood, which was a working film and television studio that became a tourist attraction and ultimately a theme park, Universal Studios Florida was designed as both a theme park and a studio from the start. It was also the first time that Universal Studios had constructed an amusement park "from the ground up."

A major component of the original park in Hollywood is its studio tour, which featured several special-effects exhibits and encounters built into the tour, such as an attack by the great white shark from the film "Jaws". For its Florida park, Universal Studios took the concepts of the Hollywood tour scenes and developed them into larger, stand-alone attractions. As an example, in Hollywood, the studio tour trams travel close to a shoreline and are "attacked" by Jaws before they travel to the next part of the tour. In Florida, guests enter the "Jaws" attraction and board a boat touring the fictitious Amity Harbor, where they encounter the shark, then exit back into the park at the conclusion of the attraction. Universal Studios Florida originally had a Studio Tour attraction that visited the production facilities, but that tour has since been discontinued.

Over the years, Universal Studios Florida has not limited itself to attractions based on its own vast film library. It has occasionally licensed popular characters from other rival studios, many of whom did not operate theme parks themselves. Some examples include the Ghostbusters and the Men in Black (from Sony's Columbia Pictures), Jimmy Neutron (from Viacom's Nickelodeon), the Simpsons (20th Century Fox), and Shrek (from Dreamworks Animation).

Park sections

File:Simpsons Ride Poster.jpg
The park's current guide map features an advertisement for The Simpsons Ride.

Universal Studios Florida is separated into seven different areas—Production Central, Hollywood, New York, San Francisco/Amity, World Expo, Woody Woodpecker's Kidzone and The Lagoon.

Production Central

Production Central serves as the park's main entrance. The section is a cluster of motion picture soundstages, each of which houses attractions inspired by today's most popular films and television shows or actual film & television filming.

Current Attractions

Previous Attractions

File:Murder she wrote 1996.jpg
Logo for Murder She Wrote: Mystery Theatre
  • The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera, a motion simulator ride with characters created by Hanna-Barbera including Yogi Bear and The Jetsons. Opened: June 1990. Closed: October 2002. Replaced By: Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast
  • Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies, a theatrical show on film-making that detailed, among other things, the secrets of the famous shower scene from Hitchcock's film Psycho. Opened: June 1990. Closed: January 2003. Replaced By: Shrek 4-D
  • Nickelodeon Studios took guests on a tour of Nickelodeon's production facilities. Opened: June 1990. Closed: April 2005. Replaced By: Blue Man Group Sharp Aquos Theatre.
  • Studio Tour visited the backlot production areas of the park. Opened: 1990. Closed: 1995.
  • Stage 54, an indoor exhibition of sets and props from recent Universal films. Opened: 1997. Closed: 2003. Replaced By: Meet Donkey.
  • Murder, She Wrote Mystery Theatre, A theatrical show which took guests through the post-production of the TV show. Opened: 1990. Closed: 1997. Replaced By: Hercules and Xena: Wizards of the Screen.
  • Hercules and Xena: Wizards of the Screen, Took guests through the special effects editing of the Hercules and Xena series. Opened: 1997. Closed: 2000.
  • The Boneyard, an outdoor multi-purpose exhibit space that can be used to showcase movie props or parade floats, or serve as a concert venue. Opened: 1990 Closed: 2008.
  • STARtoons, a live stage show featuring Fred Flintstone, George Jetson, Scooby Doo, Yogi Bear, and Boo-Boo. Opened:1992 Closed: 1996[2]
  • The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, a live stage show featuring Rocky, Bullwinkle, Natasha, Boris, And Dudley Doo-Right. Was Located in between Murder She Wrote: Mysterey Theatre and the Classic Monsters' Cafe Opened:1990 Closed:1992 Replaced By: STARtoons
  • MCA Recording Studio an interactive attraction attached to the Murder, She Wrote show. Opened: 1990 Closed: 1994

Future Attractions

  • Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit, a new roller coaster experience complete with a custom soundtrack and the ability to upload a video of your experience to your webpage or video-sharing site, scheduled to open in the spring of 2009. The description provided in the announcement suggests the attraction will be built in this section of the park, but as the project takes shape it may be annexed into a different section.

Dining

  • Beverly Hills Boulangerie
  • Universal Studios Classic Monsters' Cafe

Shopping

Former Shopping

Character Appearances

  • Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey
  • Shrek Villagers: King & Queen, Ugly Step-Mother and Daughters, Baker & Baker's Wife, Jack & Jill, Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel & Gretal, Goldilocks, Miss Muffet, Friar Tuck, Town Crier, Repunzel, Robin Hood
  • Nickelodeon characters
  • Hanna-Barbera characters

Hollywood

The entrance to the Hollywood area.

Along Hollywood Boulevard, guests will see recreations of some of its greatest monuments, such as Schwab's Drug Store and Mel's Drive-In. The real Schwab's Drug Store and Mel's Drive-In were located in Sherman, later known as West Hollywood and both on Sunset Boulevard, not Hollywood Boulevard.

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 pre-show walk-through of set pieces and props used in various horror movies. Originally featured an opening pre-show featuring an appearance by Lon Chaney, Sr.'s Phantom of the Opera. Pre-show currently houses a character appearance by Hellboy from Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Opened: 1990.
  • Lucy: A Tribute, a walk-through museum featuring the best of "America's favorite redhead." Opened: 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: 1996.

Previous Attractions

  • AT&T at the Movies, a series of interactive electronic games powered by AT&T. Opened: 1998 Closed: 2001
  • How to Make a Mega Movie Deal, a small exhibit about the movie industry. Opened: 1991 Closed: 1996. Replaced By: AT&T at the Movies

Dining

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

Shopping

Character Appearances

New York

This section of the park is aptly named. Within its boundaries can be found architectural styles and sets that resemble the New York of yesterday or today.

Current Attractions

Previous Attractions

  • Ghostbusters Spooktacular a live stage show based on the Ghostbusters film series. Opened: 1990 Closed: 1996 Replaced By: Twister...Ride it Out
  • Kongfrontation, a ride where guests encountered King Kong while on a cable car. Opened: June 1990 Closed: September 2002 Replaced By: Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride.
  • The Screen Test Home Video Adventure, an added-cost attraction where guests could be digitally inserted into famous movie scenes. Opened: 1991 Closed: 1996 Replaced By: Islands of Adventure Preview Center.
  • The Star Trek Adventure, a sub-section of the park's Screen Test Home Video Adventure, featuring a Star Trek theme. Opened: 1993 Closed: 1996.
  • StreetBusters, a live outdoor show featuring the Ghostbusters and Beetlejuice. It was advertised as a main attraction at the park's 1991 Fright Nights event. Opened: April 3, 1991 Closed: 1993
  • Extreme Ghostbusters: The Great Fright Way, an updated version of the StreetBusters show, with a slightly different plot and music. Opened: 1991 Closed: 2005
  • Islands of Adventure Preview Center, Gave guests a first look into Universal's neighboring park Islands of Adventure. Opened: 1997 Closed: 2001
  • The Marvel Show, an outdoor show that went on in front of and on the building to the left of the Ghostbuster's Firehouse and featured Spider-Man, Storm, Iron Man and Wolverine.[3] Opened: ???? Closed: ????

Dining

Shopping

Former Shopping

Character Appearances

  • The Blues Brothers
  • The Mummy characters
  • Street Breaks

San Francisco/Amity

The entrance to the "Jaws" attraction is a popular photo spot in the park.

This section has two distinct themes; that of a mature coastal city and of a seasonal tourist town in New England.

Current Attractions

  • Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue is a live show featuring some of Universal's classic monsters, including Frankenstein, Dracula, the Bride of Frankenstein, and Wolfman. Opened: 1992.
  • Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You!, puts you in the middle of a new Disaster movie made by fictional company Disaster Studios. Opened: January 2008
  • Fear Factor LIVE! is a live stunt show that puts real park guests into the action of the former NBC series, Fear Factor. Opened: 2005.
  • Jaws puts you aboard Captain Jake's Amity Boat Tours, where you'll journey around the island of Amity, hoping to avolid the menace known as JAWS. Opened: 1990.

Previous Attractions

Dining

  • Richter's Burgers
  • Lombard's Landing Seafood Grille
  • Nathan's Hotdogs

Shopping

Former Shopping

World Expo

World Expo takes its inspiration from the international expositions of the 20th century. It combines ultra-modern architecture as seen from the 1960s and today. Themeing in the area includes various flags of world countries and of Simpsons characters, and a small Coca Cola themed drink stall titled Roboasis.

Current Attractions

File:Simpsons Logo.jpg
Logo for The Simpsons Ride attraction

Previous Attractions

  • The Wild, Wild, Wild West Stunt Show, a live stunt show featuring wild west performers in death defying stunts. Opened: 1991 Closed: 2003 Replaced By: Fear Factor LIVE.
  • The Swamp Thing Set recreated the sets from Swamp Thing. Opened: 1990 Closed: 1994 Replaced By: Men in Black: Alien Attack
  • Back to the Future: The Ride, a high tech motion simulator ride inspired by Universal's Back to the Future film series. Opened: 1991 Closed: 2007 Replaced By: The Simpsons Ride

Dining

  • International Food and Film Festival

Shopping

Former Shops

Character Appearances

Woody Woodpecker's KidZone

Woody Woodpecker's Kidzone is the park's children's area, and is hosted by Woody Woodpecker, Universal Studios' mascot. The area was originally part of World Expo, but was divided into its own section with the opening of Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster in 1999.

Current Attractions

  • A Day in the Park with Barney is a live stage show featuring Barney and his friends. Opened: 1995.
  • Fievel's Playland, a children's playground [4] [5]. Opened: 1991.
  • Animal Actors On Location is a live stage show featuring trained animals. Opened: 2006.
  • 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, and a ball area where guests can shoot squishee balls out of cannons Opened: 1998
  • Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster is a junior coaster aimed toward children and their parents. Opened: 1999.
  • E.T. Adventure, a dark ride based on the 1982 hit film E.T. The Extra Terrestrial. Opened: 1990.
  • StarToons: Blast to the 80's, a live show featuring classic Universal cartoon characters performing to 1980's songs. It is the third version of the show to be held at the park, the previous two versions being StarToons, in the Production Central area, and StarToons Character Meet and Greet, also in the Woody Woodpecker's Kidzone area. Opened: 2008.

Previous Attractions

  • Bates Motel Set, which recreated the set of The Bates Motel from Psycho. Opened: 1990 Closed: 1999. Replaced By: Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster.
  • Bates Mansion Tour, which recreated the set of The Bates Mansion from Psycho. Opened: 1990 Closed: 1998 Replaced By: Curious George Goes to Town.
  • Animal Actors Stage, a live stage show with Universal's most famous animal actors. Opened: 1990 Closed: 2001 Replaced By: Animal Planet LIVE.
  • Animal Planet LIVE, a live stage show inspired by the TV channel Animal Planet. Opened: 2001 Closed: 2006 Replaced By: Animal Actors on Location.
  • StarToons Character Meet and Greet, a liove show where Universal cartoon characters would breifly sing and dance, followed by them posing for autographs and pictures. Opened: 1997 Closed: 2008.

Dining

  • Kidzone Pizza Company

Shopping

Characters

  • Woody Woodpecker
  • Barney, Baby Bop, and BJ
  • Curious George and the Man in the Big Yellow Hat
  • Alex the Lion and the Penguins from "Madagascar"
  • Scooby-Doo and Shaggy

The Lagoon

A large lake located in the middle of the park.

Current Attractions

File:Universal Orlando 360.jpg
  • Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular, a seasonal fireworks display that showcases scenes from various Universal films, featuring lasers, projectors and fireworks. The show is often shown during summer and other major holiday periods. Opened: 2006.

Previous Attractions

  • Dynamite Nights Stunt Spectacular, a stunt show with pyrotechnics and live actors. Opened: 1990 Closed: 2000 Replaced By: Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular.

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 (February-April) is a parade and concert series inspired by New Orleans' Fat Tuesday party.
  • 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. [6] 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.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "TEA/ERA Theme Park Attendance Report 2007" (PDF). www.themeit.com. 2008-03-14. Retrieved 2008-03-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Universal Studios now and through the years - WGNTV.com | WGN TV | Chicago's CW
  3. ^ The Evolution of Universal Orlando, Florida | Photo Gallery - 1993
  4. ^ Orlando Sentinel story
  5. ^ Wikimapia clickable map location
  6. ^ Express Plus Passes http://www.universalorlando.com/tic_express.html
  7. ^ Premier Annual Passes http://www.universalorlando.com/annualpass/ap_prem.php.html

28°28′31″N 81°28′01″W / 28.4752°N 81.4670°W / 28.4752; -81.4670

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