Orlando Theme Park Offers

Orlando Theme Parks Desperate to Attract Guests Following a Slow Summer

For the Orlando Theme Parks – summer 2016 is unexpectedly on the quieter side in terms of attendance. Defying convention, the level of visit stands at a surprising low this time. What should have been the busiest season, turns into a lazy and slow summer with the parks struggling to bring back their usual crowd. Not just Disney World or Universal Orlando Resort, it is happening with almost all the central Florida parks during 2016 so far.

May be it’s the high prices on theme park tickets or lack of other special vacation deals and offers that keep the crowd away. May be there are other global factors such as the low percentage of International travel, etc. that could have contributed to this unusual downturn.

However, the slowness is seen as a perfect opportunity for the budget-minded tourist, and guests holding off their Orlando theme park trips due to high prices, and lack of suitable offers. Truly, the parks are more desperate now. They are throwing the best offers, both in terms of prices and special fun and entertainment options to attract the crowd they always wanted to have.

Indeed we have some serious consumer-friendly opportunities to capitalize on before the end of this summer. Lifting the block out dates for annual pass-holders can boost the visit level by huge margins. And Universal Orlando is doing that with immediate effect. The Resort is lifting all summer block out dates for its lowest tier – Power passes. On the other hand, although not announced yet, Disney World pass holders also have all the good chances of getting relieve from their summer-time block out dates as well. Disney had already done this before when it surprises fans by lifting its block out restrictions during the spring break earlier.

Theme parks hate slow season and they will go against all odds to spice up situations. During such period, one can expect some surprising offers unlike the regular holiday deals. The Orlando theme parks have gone even further in this regard – giving away their most unique offerings to survive a lazy summer set-back. From heavy discounted ticket offers and special price cuts on stays – be it at the Universal Orlando Resort or Walt Disney World for that matter, it’s in fact a very tempting time to re-visit the world famous Florida attractions.

Summer Soak Party 2016

Summer Soak Party 2016

Moreover, if the advent of those newest ride attractions and shows aren’t sufficient enough to convince you, then the parks have opened up dozens of special time-bound events to attract guests such as the newly announced 2016 “Summer Soak Party” by SeaWorld Orlando. So it doesn’t matter whether the all new Kong attraction at the Islands of Adventure or the latest Epcot ride inspires you or not. It can be one of those special limited-time events that forms the most attractive reason for your next visit.

The changes to theme park dining experiences with fresh menus and discounted dining packages also plays important role in encouraging more visitors to the parks. The in-park dining deals this summer are quite an attraction for fans, such as the recently launched special deal by Universal Studios on Coca-Cola Freestyle mugs for the annual pass-holders or the recent developments on Disney World’s dining offers, including changes to popular menus, and coming up of new restaurants and more.

My Universal Photos Program

What’s New with My Universal Photos

The Universal Orlando’s photo program (Universal Photo Connect, until July 11, 2016) has always been a tough experience. Visitors opting for the service are often subjected to a difficult time collecting, viewing and sharing photos of their happiest moments at the Universal Orlando Parks. It’s sad that unlike the more advance Disney PhotoPass service, the Universal’s photo program is quite a lacklustre affair for the user.

With such bizarre features, including short expiration times, not so friendly online system, and unexpected pricing models to name a few, there is only one conclusion to this – terminate the Program… and so did the Resort. Thanks to Universal Orlando as it finds its own special version of PhotoPass Memory Maker with the all new My Universal Photos program now.

With My Universal Photos guests can have either of the two different photo capturing services. First, is the 1-day Photo Package that includes one day of unlimited digital downloads of your pictures taken during the park day, and also include a themed lanyard and discounts of other photo products in the parks. This special photo package is exclusively made available for online purchase only, and is offered at $69.99 if booked in advanced.

Universal Photos

universal-photos

The 3-Day Photo package, on the other hand will facilitate you with the best of all the photo capturing features, downloading and discount services for three consecutive days, including a 4×6 print and a 5×7 or 8×10 print photo for free, and additional discounts of photo prints in the parks. The three day Package comes to you at $89.99 if purchased in advance.

The special lanyard on either of the package includes a card that needs to be scanned every time a park-photographer takes a picture. It can be also scanned once you had done with an attraction that has on-ride photo options like the one at the Harry Potter ride or at the Amazing Adventures of Spiderman for that matter. Moreover, when it comes to most memorable photo locations the Resort offers plenty of those. Truly, whether it’s Universal Studios Florida or the Islands of Adventure section of the Resort, photo op locations galore for Universal Orlando fans.

Given its popularity and importance as a record breaking theme park in Orlando, the launch of My Universal Photos is definitely a competitive move on part of Universal. The new photo program is quite similar to that of Disney’s PhotoPass system now. It has scope to reach out for more by adding a better option for the annual pass-holders as well. And I hope like Disney, Universal will be having its own version of expanded Memory Maker option for the pass-holders in the recent future.

rivers of light - disney animal kingdom

Animal Kingdom’s New Rivers of Light Is Still to See Its Day of Light

The nights at Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Park are getting brighter with premium nighttime events and activities, but the sensational light show – Rivers of Light is yet to see its dawn. We have an ever-increasing number of Animal Kingdom lovers waiting to celebrate this specially -themed nighttime light show by Disney. Given the follow ups since the first announcement, the all new, one of a kind, exclusive nighttime spectacular is supposed to make theme park headlines about its grand opening by now. However, destiny suggests otherwise.

Today fans are more desperate to know the future of this yet to be launched nighttime attraction. Not that the imagineers are not serious about the project (ever since the first announcement is made) or in handling the preparations for its opening for that matter. But who knows the fate is already scripted. At present the launch of this attraction is confined to some unavoidable delays – might be some technical difficulties, or other internal issues, we don’t know what exactly the cause of this indefinite delay. As theme park lover it hurts to face such unfortunate situations in life. Truly, we have a favorite attraction being postponed until further notice, and sadly there is no new launch date announced as of yet.

When it comes to pending projects, Disney is the one with a long list of unfortunate attractions – future plans and expansions that had been announced with great anticipation only to be cancelled and lost later with nothing to be heard about it. They are history now and moreover, it’s seen that the poor attractions are being wiped out/vanished from the pages of the company’s website as well. Which is not the case with Rivers of Light though. Despite being elusive about its opening, it’s very much there, gracing the official Disney website page dedicated to it. Despite the fear, I hope Rivers of Light will come and definitely light up the skies of Animal Kingdom at night soon.

rivers of light - asian tiger

rivers of light – asian tiger

Rivers of Light is the highlight of the new 2016 summer offerings by Disney World Animal Kingdom. The company had revealed that Rivers of Light will be located at the Discovery River in the Asia section of the Park. The new nighttime show is based on an ancient lantern festival headed by two awe-inspiring storytellers. Beside the storytellers, there will be four animal spirits as well – an Asian Tiger, Tropical Turtle, Great Horned Owl and an African Elephant that keeps returning at different stages during the show to guide you on your journey through the Rivers of Light.