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Universal Studios Florida

Theme Park At Universal Orlando Resort

By , About.com Guide

Universal Studios Florida

Universal Studios Florida offers very convincing 20th-century New York City streetscapes.

©Arthur Levine, 2008. Licensed to About.com.

Location

Universal Studios Florida is at the Universal Orlando resort in (duh!) Orlando, Florida

Phone

407-224-4233

Universal Orlando Ticket Info

Reduced price for children, ages 3 to 9. 2 and under are free.

Universal Orlando offers one- and two-park (with park hopping allowed) ticket options for one to seven days.
Save money and time. Get discounted Universal Orlando tickets in advance of your visit. Buy direct from Universal Orlando.

Will you be visiting additional parks? Consider purchasing the Orlando FlexTicket, which offers 14 days of unlimited visits to 5 parks including Aquatica, SeaWorld Orlando, and Wet 'n Wild as well as the Universal's two parks. It's a good deal (if you are able to make it to all of the parks at least once). A six-park package deal throws in Busch Gardens, along with bus transportation to the Tampa park. Buy direct from SeaWorld.

For additional fees (which are quite high), Universal Orlando offers guided V.I.P. tours (reservations recommended).

The resort also offers Express Plus passes, which grant quick access to most attractions. (Unlike Disney's Fastpass program, Universal does not offer complimentary line bypass tickets.) Prices vary for Express Plus according to the time of year.

Universal Studios Florida Hotels

In addition to convenience, guests staying at Universal's three hotels receive great perks including quick access to most park attractions by showing their room cards. Read more about Universal Orlando's Hotel Benefits.

More Universal Orlando Info

For more info about when to visit, directions, other parks, CityWalk, and a general profile of the Universal resort, go to About.com's Universal Orlando Overview.

Universal Studios Florida Highlights

Wild, in-your-face, movie-themed attractions including:

Holidays Events at Universal Studios Florida

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida

What's New at Universal Studios Florida

New for 2012
Despicable Me
An all-new motion simulator attraction based on the hit film, Despicable Me, is headed to Universal Studios Florida.

New for 2009
Universal's New Rip-Roaring Coaster- Read about the Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit coaster coming to Universal Studios Florida in spring 2009.

Universal Studios Florida Dining

There are a wide variety of options including everything from snacks and fast food to sit-down restaurants. Among the better choices:
  • Lombard's Landing- Very good food, full-service restaurant
  • Finnegan's Bar & Grill- Another full-service restaurant with decent Irish pub food
  • Mel's Drive-In- Straight out of American Graffiti
  • Universal Studios' Classic Monsters Cafe- Nice decor (if you like monsters) and decent buffet fare.

Official Web Site

Universal Orlando Online

Universal Studios Florida Overview

Caught in the rather long shadow cast by Walt Disney World, Universal Studios has always been something of a scrappy younger sibling. To make comparisons even more pronounced, the similarly themed Disney's Hollywood Studios opened at the Mouse House around the same time. But Universal Studios offers some tremendous attractions and has its own, unique rhythm to compel vacationers through its turnstiles. Like its sister park, Islands of Adventure, nearly every major attraction features loud, kinetic, frantic action. It's one over-the-top moment after another.

The wonderfully themed lands are divided into Production Central (the front of the park, which includes the sound stages), New York (a very convincing 20th-century streetscape--which inexplicably includes the Midwest-U.S.-themed Twister attraction), World Expo (the facade of the Men in Black attraction is actually modeled after a pavilion at the 1964 New York World's Fair), Woody Woodpecker's KidZone (home to E.T., Curious George, and--shudder!--Barney), San Francisco (where earthquakes take place every few minutes for your pleasure), and Amity (the faux Cape Cod home of the maniacal Jaws).

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