Universal Studios Theme Park

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  Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights are here!

  During September, October and Novemeber, Universal Studios will be transformed into a labyrinth of terrifying mazes, haunted houses and greusome live shows.

   Find advanced tickets and a scary video preview here

Universal Studios Theme Park, entrance at night A visit to a Universal Studios theme park is a must during you're stay in Orlando!

Since first opening in 1990, it has become a serious rival to the Disney parks.

Now it's the second biggest crowd-puller in Orlando after Disney! Universal Studios theme park's slogan is "Ride the Movides" - a great tag line for a park that will immerse you in many blockbuster movies of our time such as Shrek, Jaws, Revenge of the Mummy and Men In Black.

The rides and shows at Universal Studios parks are said to be more adult oriented than Disney's - there is definitely more to keep teens and adults entertained here than at some of the Disney parks. Nevertheless, there are plenty of great rides and shows based on characters that kids will love e.g. Barney, Woody Woodpecker, Shrek and Jimmy Neutron.

Universal Studios theme park is just one part of the Universal Orlando Resort, which comprises of:

Universal Studios theme park

Universal Island of Adventure theme park

Universal City Walk - a nightlife and entertainment district

Three 4* Official Resort Hotels, The Royal Pacific Hotel, the Hard Rock Hotel, and the Portofino Bay hotel.

Within Universal Studios you will find virtual reality rides and many exiting shows within distinctive themed areas:-

San Francisco:

Jaws

Fear Factor

Disaster

New York:

Revenge of the Mummy

Twister

Blue Brothers

Production Central:

Shrek -D

Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast

Hollywood:

Terminator 2 3-D

Universal Hollywood Make Up Show

World Expo:

Men in Black Alien Attack

The Simpsons Ride

Woody Woodpecker Kids Zone:

Curios George

ET Adventure

Fivel Goes West

Universal Studios Theme Park: Can we do it in a day?

A trip to Universal Studios and Island of Adventure can each easily take a day to cover depending on the season. Obviously, it's the waiting in line that can eat up your time at both parks. During busy periods (weekends, national holidays, June, July, August, school breaks) lines for shows at Universal Studios can be as long as 2 hours! And rides at IOA can be around 1.30 hours for the big rides and roller coasters. During less busy periods (weekdays, winter months, cloudy days, even rainy days!) lines can be more managable - perhaps 20mins for shows at Universal Studios and 10-20mins waits for rides at IOA.

When deciding how many parks you're going to visit and how many days you want to devote to seeing them, bear in mind that you will spend many hours walking around and standing in-line, you'll most likely be spending the majority of the day in the hot sun and the day will be packed with fun rides and shows, so you'll be happily tired (or should that be exhausted!) after one day, believe me!

We did Uinversal Studios one day, then Island of Adventure the next during the slower month of February. The day after doing both parks, we could hardly walk! Aching feet and tired leg muscles - ouch! We were absolutely exhausted - and that's not meant to be negative, we had an amazing time and loved every minute of it. I think if we were to go again we would do each park on alternate days with at least a day break in-between.

After a day at Universal Studios theme park, why not see what's going on after dark at Universal CityWalk?

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