“There is more to paralyzing fear than a scream in the darkness or a cool breath on the back of the neck. Or the grip of the undead. Fear that truly consumes us comes from deep inside our souls, stirred by something we don’t always understand and rarely have the chance to confront. Until now.” [...]

Actor Brendan Fraser, star of films including The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, posed with a “step-mummy,” aka The Wicked Stepmother from Cinderella, at the Magic Kingdom today. UPDATE: A day later, Universal released this picture of Brendan with a Butterbeer mustache at Islands of Adventure. Brendan is no stranger to theme parks. He made [...]

Two days after Disney announced it’s raising its theme park ticket prices, Universal Orlando announced most of their ticket prices are also going up on Aug. 7, 2010. A one day, one park ticket is going from $79 to $82, the same as at Disney. (Click here for Disney’s new prices.) Annual ticket price increases [...]

There have been many television shows and even a few other TV game shows taped at Universal Orlando but arguably nothing with such a rich history as one of my favorite game shows of all time – Family Feud. I got the chance to experience the very first taping of the new season at the show’s new home this past Saturday. Here’s my report:

By Don Gworek It’s fun to compare signs and architecture in sister theme parks. I recently had a chance to visit the new Universal Studios in Singapore and thought I’d take a look at some of the similarities and differences. It’s sort of like recognizing old friends you see all the time, and some of [...]

Many of Orlando’s theme parks have announced their fireworks shows for July 4, 2010. It’s one of the busiest days of the year for the theme parks so be prepared to join a crowd. Magic Kingdom “Celebrate America Fireworks” will fill the sky at 9 p.m. July 4. (Guests who’d like to begin the celebratory [...]

The dates for this year’s Halloween Horror Nights have been announced. The annual horror event will be held 24 select nights starting Sept. 24, 2010. Halloween Horror Nights is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. Not much more information about the anniversary event has been announced. As usual, there will be new haunted houses, street [...]

We heard the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Islands of Adventure would be open all day for the first time, so we headed over around dinner time. This was the first night the new area was open to regular park guests. Before we get to the night shots, let’s look at some of the [...]

By Don Gworek What began with controversy 20 years ago is now one of Orlando’s top events each year, with attendance larger than many of the biggest convention groups. It started as just one day at the Magic Kingdom and has expanded to a multi-day event at multiple parks. It’s estimated that 150,000 people attended [...]

Guest Column by Don Gworek Universal Studios new theme park in Singapore was in soft opening when I visited in early May. It’s a compact park and easily dismissed as “small”. But really the park is ingeniously designed for light amounts of walking between attractions tucked behind the facades. Two areas are roofed to protect [...]

Some of the Harry Potter film stars began their sneak peek tour of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter by entering Hogsmeade. The group spent the day visiting many of the iconic locations made famous in the popular Harry Potter series.

Survey Says … Your family may be able to be a part of the audience for the next season of the Family Feud game show. Or better yet, you may even be able to compete. The show will be recorded at Universal Studios on select dates in July, August and September. You don’t need to [...]

The Summer Concert Series is returning to Universal Studios this June with more concerts and top-name musical talent than last year. Starting June 12 and running every Saturday night through July 17, guests can top off their day in the park with a concert by a multi-platinum selling artist. There’s even a double-header scheduled for [...]

To amusement park lovers, Orlando may be the mecca for dark attractions. In a recent survey of the Darkride and Funhouse Enthusiasts (DAFE) (Yes, there’s a club just for fans of indoor attractions), members chose Magic Kingdom as their “Favorite Dark Attraction Park”. Members were also asked for their favorite dark attractions in the Orlando [...]

Singer and actress Mariah Carey looks calm and confident in front of the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster at Universal Studios. Carey spent vacation time this week at both of Universal Orlando’s theme parks while her husband, actor and comedian Nick Cannon, filmed season five of the NBC television show, “America’s Got Talent” at [...]

It was an interesting weekend at Universal Orlando. The highlight was the filming of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Ellen was in Orlando to tape two episodes of her show, which will air on April 1 and 2, 2010. Above Ellen is shooting some T-shirts out to the crowd. On Saturday Ellen was spotted all around [...]

By Chris Ollendorf I have had the luck to be able to travel to many wonderful cities in America but one place I have not been to is New Orleans. I had no reason to go. I never really knew anybody who lived there until recently and now they always invite me to come during [...]

The Hogwarts Express has arrived at Hogsmeade Station as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter continues to develop at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. As guests enter Hogsmeade, they will be greeted by the iconic, smoke-billowing steam engine, made famous in the Harry Potter books and films for transporting students to a world of magic and [...]

Here’s an interesting e-mail that recently came across my inbox. Tomorrow night, March 4, Micro Championship Wrestling will invade Universal Studios for an “unbelievable night of absolutely insane action. From the world’s smallest wrestler, Demo, to the world’s largest midget, Meatball, the baddest little men and women on the planet will be in action.” Pro [...]

Editor’s Note: 2:30 p.m. Feb. 5, 2010 – We’ve just been notified that LeeAnn Rimes has canceled. The Zac Brown Band will perform in her place at 3 p.m. at SeaWorld tomorrow. It’s a musical weekend in Central Florida. You have your choice between three big name musical acts as three different theme parks kick [...]