A new poll has been added to the official Web site for Islands of Adventure’s upcoming “theme park within a theme park”, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This poll asks you to tell which Harry Potter item scares you the most. The choices are: The Whomping Willow A Hungarian Horntail An Acromantula A Dementor [...]

Let’s start our update with what’s most interesting to most people, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. You can compare the above photo with a part of the concept art below. It looks to be the entrance to the new “world”. I took this picture by the old entrance to Dueling Dragons. Just past that [...]

A design company out of California had posted (and has since removed) a compilation of images from apparent design work they created for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, slating to open at Universal Studios’ Islands of Adventure theme park in 2010. While I am personally not a big enough fan of Harry Potter to [...]

Volume 2, Issue 3 (April / May 2009) of Orlando Attractions Magazine is now available for preview and pre-Order. FEATURES: • COVER STORY: Idol Opportunity Visitors to Disney’s Hollywood Studios get into the act in the new American Idol Experience. • Unleash Your Inner Celebrity VIP tours offer a unique way to see Orlando’s theme [...]

From cruisenewsweekly.com: Royal Caribbean and Universal Orlando Resort, are joining forces to introduce the Way More Than a Cruise vacation package. The land and sea vacation packages combine a three- or four-night stay at Universal Orlando with a three- or four-night Bahamas cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Monarch of the Seas, or a seven-night Caribbean cruise [...]

Here are some observations from my visit to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure over the weekend. There’s a new sign, a new skateboard shop and a three new restaurants in CityWalk. See my other blog posts for more information on these. A look at the new permanent stage. It’s currently being used for Mardi [...]

Atlanta Braves Right Fielder and Golden Glove winner Jeff Francoeur spends some quality time with his wife, Catie, (above) and her brothers Sam, 14, and Lee, 19 (below) at Universal while in Orlando for spring training on March 9, 2009. Shown here on The Incredible Hulk roller coaster, the Atlanta native began his major league [...]

While I was riding The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ride at Universal’s Islands of Adventure over the weekend, the ride unfortunately stopped. We sat there for a while and the lights came on as we rode slowly through the rest of the ride. I had my iPhone with me so I snapped a couple of [...]

Guiding Light may be looking for you. The show will be filming at Universal later this month and they’re looking to hire actors and non-actors of all ages, types, ethnicities and genders to appear as extras and/or small speaking parts on the CBS soap opera. Guiding Light star Murray Bartlett (Cyrus) and casting director Rob [...]

From orlandosentinel.com: Universal Orlando will temporarily shut down its Fear Factor Live show and reduce hours at some other attractions across its two-park resort in further cost-cutting steps forced by the nation’s troubled economy. Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said Wednesday the 3 1/2 -year-old Fear Factor attraction in Universal Studios will close today. The resort [...]

Universal Orlando is promising to “make theme park history” with a Super Bowl commercial this Sunday featuring an “unprecedented offer” that is a “once in a lifetime opportunity”. A sneak peek at some scenes from the commercial show a kid dressed up in a homemade superhero costume running around a city full of business people. [...]

Volume 2, Issue 2 (February / March 2009) of Orlando Attractions Magazine is now available for pre-order! We’re expecting it back from the printer very soon, so orders should be mailed out this week. This new issue includes: • Solving Top Secret Missions with Kim Possible New adventure at Epcot turns guests into undercover agents. • Vehicular [...]

From orlandosentinel.com: Attention, fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals. You, too, Super Bowl freaks. And even you Al Roker devotees. All those factors will come together Saturday when Roker broadcasts live for NBC’s Today show from Universal Orlando. They’re looking for enthusiastic folks to be in the background, not unlike folks who crowd the plaza in [...]

Tom Felton, who plays the role of Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies, poses with a Ministry of Magic sign at Islands of Adventure. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter area of the park is set to open next year. Felton was visiting the park with his girlfriend Jade Gordon. Below, they take a [...]

Universal Orlando Resort is inviting Gator fans to continue their celebration this Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 as it hosts the Gators National Championship Celebration Day with special savings and entertainment throughout the day. Universal will become Gator Country as they congratulate the National Champion University of Florida Gator football team. The festivities will include: • [...]

Actor Dylan McDermott (The Practice, In the Line of Fire) visits the Grinch at Universal’s Islands of Adventure (above) and plays the drums at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (below) with daughters Collette (12) and Charlotte (3). McDermott was vacationing in Orlando during Thanksgiving weekend.

Volume 2, Issue 1 of Orlando Attractions Magazine is now available for pre-order! You can flip through and preview the entire issue here before you buy it. Features included in this fun new issue are: • Chill out in Orlando with ICE! Holiday fun at the Gaylord Palms Resort. • 21st Century Christmas How Disney [...]

At Islands of Adventure, The Grinch and The Whos from Whoville will sing their hearts out about the true meaning of Christmas in the park’s special holiday Grinchmas show – featuring music specially created by holiday music sensation Mannheim Steamroller. Just one park over, guests will line the streets of Universal Studios to see the [...]

As an annual passholder, I was invited by Universal to take part in a focus group yesterday. I can’t tell you what we discussed, but I can tell you it wasn’t anything really exciting. After the survey was over, I took a stroll around the park to take these pictures. Our focus group took place [...]

We previously speculated that the recently-announced addition of the Three Broomsticks restaurant to the under-construction Wizarding World of Harry Potter part of Islands of Adventure could be built inside the Enchanted Oak Tavern. Well, it’s painfully obvious that nothing will be going inside the Enchanted Oak Tavern as the entire building, giant face-adorned tree …