Universal Studios - Florida
Welcome to the Universal Studios - Florida page! Universal Studios opened in June, 1990...
and guests have been coming back ever since to "ride the movies".
Universal was designed as both a theme park and a working production studio. The location has been used for production on movies such as: 2 Fast 2 Furious, Jurassic Park III, and Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!
Today Universal is home to 8 themed areas that house rides and attractions that range from laid back to thrill rides. Let's take a look at those lands:
Production Central
As you enter the main gates and look around, you will see production type buildings. Shrek and Gru are the first characters you see as their rides greet you. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and Shrek 4-D are some of the most popular rides in the park and for good reason! Both laid back and family friendly, they are a great way to spend some time in the park.
Heading farther into Production Central, we find the thrill ride of the area: Rip, Ride Rockit. This coaster starts you off with a straight up climb before sending you through twists and turns. Don't forget to choose your song when you get situated! Also found in Production Central Transformers: The Ride 3-D. You'll get up close with Megatron, Sideswipe and other Decepticons as you partner up with Evac to help Optimus Prime and the Autobots to keep the AllSpark safe.
New York
The New York section of Universal Studios not only houses rides, but some fantastic dining options! Finnegan's is an Irish Bar and Grille while Louie's Italian Restaurant is where you are going to find some pasta, pizza and salads. Don't forget that for something a little lighter and faster, Starbucks and Ben & Jerry's are also found in this area of the park.
The two key rides in this area, include Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon. The queue is actually a lot of fun. You are entertained with skits from The Tonight Show. Watch Dan Radcliffe rap, see Jimmy Fallon interact with animals, and comedy. There is a lot of laughing in line, which helps with the wait. You are then escorted into The Tonight Show audience seating where you and the rest of his studio audience race through Times Square, visit The Statue of Liberty, hear the Ragtime Gals sing in the subway and...well, I don't want to give it all away!
Revenge of the Mummy is a thrill ride...a roller coaster in fact. As you enter the Museum of Antiquities, you wander in line among props and concept art from The Mummy movies. You get to see just how the movie was made and hear from the star of the movies, Brendan Fraser. (All the poor guy wants is a coffee...)
The ride starts you off pretty slowly, but with a warning from a now partially mummified member of the movie crew. He is telling you to Get out of here! (Obviously, you don't) Your cart is then sent through a series of twists, turns and drops. At one point, it may seem the ride is over, but Imothep reminds us all, "Death is only the beginning" and blasts you back off. The ride will come to an end and you find out whether poor Brendan got his coffee or not.
San Francisco
As you wander through the San Francisco area, you won't come across too many rides. Though, you can find fine dining as you walk along the remake of Fisherman's Wharf. Lombardi's is the fine dining restaurant of Universal Studios and you can indulge on seafood that is, "fresh from the docks". If fish isn't your cup of tea, Richter's Burgers Co. and Chez Alcatraz may have some lighter offerings that suit you better.
Fast & Furious-Supercharged: The queue starts in Dom's garage, where you will make your way past cars from the films. As you are learning more about the garage, a call comes in....Dom has won another race and will be celebrating tonight! But wait, it's been found out that the FBI are getting close to discovering their location. Phones off or else you will be tracked! You board the party busses and head off on an exciting chase!
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley
Guests actually do get confused when searching for Diagon Alley. They will be in the London section of Universal Studios and see Grimmauld Place, the Knight Bus and Kreacher, but they don't realize where they enter Diagon Alley. If you know the story of Harry Potter, then you know that Hagrid had to go out behind The Leaky Cauldron and tap the bricks. This opened the wall, and Harry Potter, up to the secret world.
As you come around the corner into Diagon Alley, you will be greeted with an English looking street and shopping area. The Weasley's Wizard Wheezes ...Ollivander's, Gringott's Bank! Need any quidditch gear? They are all waiting for you! (Watch the dragon at the top of Gringott's starting on the hour and about every 10 minutes after....she puts on a quick flame throwing show.)
As for attractions in Diagon Alley, there are two:
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringott's: Start out in the lobby of Gringott's Bank and make your way through the queue down to the vaults. You will take a simulated elevator ride "down" to the vaults where you will get your goggles and then head back up some stairs to board the cart. The ride will take you past a series of vaults where it seems you set of the alarm system. You will run into Belletrix LeStrange, Bill Weasley, a security troll, Naginini and Voldemort as you sail through the utter bowels of Gringott's. The dragon, a Ukrainian Ironbelly, comes to your rescue! As she climbs out of the bank with you on her back, Bill bids you farewell and reminds you that Gringott's is the safest place in the world.
Hogwart's Express (*Universal's Park to Park ticket is necessary for this ride as it takes you between Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure): Climb aboard the Hogwart's Express just like Harry and his school mates! If you leave from Diagon Alley, you will start off in London's King Cross Station. You will cross onto platform 9 3/4 and be greeted by Hedwig and Harry's luggage. The train may not be in the station, but it should be back within 10 minutes. The team members will assign your travel party a cabin on the train. When your journey gets underway, there will be scenes playing both out the window and at your door. You will see all sorts of different things, people and animals as you venture out to Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure). When you pull into Hogsmeade Station, you will be required to get off of the train.
World Expo
World Expo is home to the interactive attraction, Men in Black: Alien Attack. Based on the movie, Men in Black, starring Will Smith (Agent J) and Tommy Lee Jones , fans of the movie will recognize the outside of the attraction as the 1964 New York World's Fair.
When entering the attraction, you will notice the sign, taken from the World's Fair that asks: The Universe and You - Are We Alone? Well this is a question we are about to answer!
Once you enter, you will pass posters with aliens giving updates on the Fair. This is cut short and a wall opens up. It's time to take a staircase deep into Earth (Express Pass and Single guests go a different way).
The ride puts you and your group of trainees against another team as you head out onto the streets. Get your weapons ready! Take aim and shoot away! Keep in mind, if you hit the top of the other cart, you can make them spin. As you go through the ride you will come across more aliens, culminating with the huge bug! Aim up and press the red button...you can get up to 900,000 points here if you do this correctly!
Once you and your team have defeated the bug and see your final score, unfortunately, Agent J has to wipe everyone's memories. Maybe you'll make the team next time.
Springfield
Welcome to Springfield! Here you can visit all of your favorite locations from the long running hit show, The Simpsons. Shop in the Quick-E Mart, grab a drink at Flaming Moe's, or enjoy a meal from Krusty Burger, Luigi's Pizza or Cleatus' Chicken Shack. If you're in the mood for something more "grab and go", you get get a Giant Pink Donut or other bakery item from Lard Lad Donuts or pick up some tacos at the Bumblebee Taco Truck.
In addition to a series of midway games, this land is home to two attractions:
The Simpsons Ride: Walk through the head of Krusty the Clown as you enter the line's ride queue. You will see a series of posters advertising Krustyland attractions and tv monitors playing clips of the Krusty the Clown show.
As you wait for Krusty to tell you to proceed through the queue, more monitors line the walls and show residents of Springfield running through midway booths within the park. Krusty shows up to choose the next family to ride "Thrilltacular: Upsy-Downsy Spins-Aroundsy Teen-Operated Thrillride". Sideshow Bob, dressed as Scratchy, steps on Homer's foot, causing him to yell, "D'oh!" This draws attention to the family and they are then chosen by Krusty.
Now in a funhouse room, guests are reminded of safety procedures. Grampa and Maggie have been told that due to their age, they can not ride. When the family leaves them to head to the ride, Maggie crawls into a nuclear reactor system, which results in her growing larger.
Now in the vehicle, Jeremy appears on screen to remind riders that their safety is in high-qualified teens, like him. As the ride begins, Sideshow Bob shows up to wreak havoc on the ride and the guests. The ride goes on and you run into just about everyone you know from Springfield and then an enormous Baby Maggie. The family eventually gets out of the whole situation, and we see them again on their couch...
Kang & Kodos' Twirl 'n' Hurl:
Before the ride starts, a woman (who also voices The Simpsons Ride) tells to stay in your UFO spaceship until the ride stops completely. The woman also says that you will know when the ride has ended when it comes to a complete stop or you are eaten. Once the ride starts, Kang and Kodos say that you have been tricked by them and the only way to get off the ride is to "Attack" Springfield. Nelson, Homer, Bart, Willie, and Grandpa will interact with the riders when the riders pass their faces which also spin when they are passed. Also during the ride, Kang and Kodos interact with the riders as well. When the ride ends, Kang and Kodos say that they are the only ones who truly had fun. They also say that any fun the riders had should be forgotten immediately.
Woody Woodpecker's KidZone
Though Universal Orlando is known for its thrill rides, there is plenty for little ones to keep busy with too! In Woody Woodpecker's KidZone, they will find entertainment and rides (height limit being 42 inches), that will give kids a thrill!
E.T. Adventure: Based on Steven Spielberg's hit movie, its your turn to fly with E.T.! Experience re-enactments of scenes from the movie as you ride your bike and help E.T. escape from NASA and the police...just when you think you may be caught, your bike takes flight and you take E.T. back to his home planet.
Curious George Goes to Town: A play area housing two large water troughs which dump 500 gallons of water onto guests every few minutes and a ball area where guests can shoot soft foam balls out of cannons.
Fievel's Playland: A children's playland based on the movie, American Tail which includes a spider web to climb and a water slide.
Woody Woodpecker's Nutcase Coaster: A Woody Woodpecker family styled roller coaster.
Animal Actors on Location: A live action stage show which showcases animal actors showing off their talents. Show runs about 20 minutes, check the Universal App for showtimes.
Hollywood
Enter the land of glitz and glamour as you walk down Hollywood Boulevard, towards the palm trees of Rodeo Drive. In Hollywood, you can experience shows:
Universal's Horror Makeup Show: In this live stage show, guests will learn how effects in horror movies are created. Before entering the show, you will be treated to a pre-show walk-through of set pieces and props, from movies such as Universal Classic Monsters series and modern films.
The Bourne Stunt Spectacular: In this show, guests will enjoy a live stunt show based on the Jason Bourne movies.
Lagoon
Universal Orlando's Cinemagic Celebration: A nighttime lagoon show that features full panoramic water screens, including multi-layer water screens, pyrotechnics, projection mapping and more than 120 dancing fountains. This show brings thrilling and fun moments from Jurassic World, Harry Potter, Illumination (Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets, Sing), DreamWorks Animations and other blockbuster films.
