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SeaWorld Orlando Adds All-New Locations to Inside Look Weekends

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SeaWorld Orlando Inside Look 2019

 

At SeaWorld Orlando’s Inside Look, guests that visit on May 11, 12, 18 and 19 can go behind the scenes, hear and see firsthand what goes into providing world-class animal care from the people who do it every day.  This special event will feature 6 unique, entirely behind-the-scenes locations, 5 of which have never been accessible to guests– not even through our exclusive VIP tour programs or our incredible week-long SeaWorld Camps – before this event.  Guests are invited to visit all 6 locations, collecting stamps to earn an exclusive Expert Explorer’s Pin.  Inside Look tours are available at each location at various times throughout the day.

 

May Inside Look Special Presentations:

 

A Conversation with Jon Peterson, SeaWorld Orlando’s Senior Leader of Zoological and Curator of Rescue Operations (May 11-12)

 

Join SeaWorld’s Jon Peterson for an in-depth conversation about field-based rescue operations and the care of countless rescued animals.  Jon’s leadership expertise in animal care, transport and rescue is highly regarded worldwide in the animal rescue and rehabilitation community. To date, SeaWorld’s across the country have rescued a combined total of over 34,000 animals.

 

Collaborative White Shark Science, Presentation by Chris Fischer, OCEARCH Founding Chairman and Expedition Leader (May 18-19)

 

A recognized world leader in generating critical scientific data related to tracking (telemetry) and biological studies of keystone marine species such as great white sharks, OCEARCH shares real-time data through its OCEARCH Tracker, inspires current and future generations of explorers, scientists, and stewards of the ocean, and enables leading researchers and institutions to generate previously unattainable data.

 

OCEARCH captivates followers and has brought the conservation of important apex predators to the forefront. The global reach of OCEARCH and regional collaboration with researchers is changing the conversation about sharks for the better. Education initiatives by OCEARCH allow students to utilize tracking data to learn STEM skills while increasing awareness of the need for conservation of our oceanic resources. Chris will highlight key factors for their success, including a multi-disciplined data-driven approach, inclusion, collaboration and most importantly – the means to engage future generations of scientists.

 

May Inside Look Locations:

 

SeaWorld Rescue Center

This is your chance to dive deep into SeaWorld’s animal rescue, health and rehabilitation programs as you tour with our team of animal care specialists. This diverse group of specialists ensures our animal residents lead their healthiest lives and provides critical and temporary care for injured wildlife, including endangered manatees and sea turtles. Sneak a peek inside our specialty rescue vehicles, visit our veterinary hospital and meet the animal care specialists, technicians and veterinary staff at the heart of SeaWorld.

 

Dolphin Theater

Join our animal care specialists as they introduce you to the backstage area of Dolphin Theater and share their unique perspectives on working side-by-side with bottlenose dolphins every day. This Inside Look brings you poolside to habitats not seen from guest areas and you will learn how the dolphins are cared for beyond the show experience.

 

Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin

Venture beyond the ice and snow of SeaWorld’s penguin habitat and learn what goes into caring for these beloved birds who hail from some of the coldest environments in the world. Explore the penguin support areas and learn how we feed an entire colony of penguins, incubate eggs and, when necessary, care for and rear chicks. Then step out into the attraction and “chill-out” with our animal care specialists.

 

Shark Encounter

Get a topside view at Shark Encounter and unlock the mysteries of caring for the sharks and sawfish in SeaWorld’s 700,000-gallon shark habitat. Observe the moving walkway used to temporarily divide the exhibit for cleaning and understand how we feed our sharks. Experience SeaWorld’s sharks from a vantage very different from the guest view and hear directly from the dedicated people who care for these fascinating creatures.

 

Birds of Prey Rescue Center

Meet SeaWorld’s Ambassador Animal team and the majestic bald eagles and falcons in their care. Watch and learn how these fascinating birds interact and train with animal care specialists every day and hear extraordinary stories of care and connection from the experts about visits to schools, events and media outlets.

 

Shamu Stadium

Go behind the scenes at Shamu Stadium during this first-of-its-kind backstage opportunity. Meet and hear from the dedicated animal care specialists dedicated to the health and well-being of our killer whales and rescued pilot whales.

 

If you are planning a vacation to Orlando and are in need of discount SeaWorld tickets, call us toll free at 1-877-406-4836 today and save.

NBA Experience Will Open Next Summer at Disney Springs

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NBA Experience at Disney Springs

We’re excited to share that the NBA Experience will officially open Aug. 12, 2019! This all-new destination coming to Disney Springs® will invite your Guests to feel what it’s like to be a basketball superstar. This one-of-a-kind environment will be packed with 13 interactive elements and hands-on activities across 44,000 square feet and two floors.

In this new video, Walt Disney Imagineer Stan Dodd shares more insight into what you can expect at NBA Experience, plus hear what has NBA players excited for this all-new destination:

Click Here to Take a Look!

And here are some new details about NBA Experience we’re sharing for the first time:

  • When your Guests enter NBA Experience, they’ll feel like they’re walking through the players’ tunnel out onto the court at an NBA or WNBA arena.
  • A ticket to NBA Experience grants your Guests access to every activity in any order they choose, and they can return to stations multiple times to try and improve their performance or learn more about the game, the players and the teams they love.
  • In an activity that tests shooting skills, spots will light up on the court as your Guests move from one location to another attempting to sink as many shots as possible in 15 seconds.
  • In a slam dunk challenge, your Guests can change the height of a standard 10-foot-tall rim to as low as seven feet so they can perform their own superstar moves – captured by burst photography.
  • Your Guests can see how they stack up to some of the world’s best basketball players by measuring vertical leap, wingspan, and shooting and dribbling skills.
  • Various activities can be personalized with your Guest’s name and associated with their favorite NBA or WNBA teams, and their stats will be tracked just like a real pro game.
  • Real-time technology will aggregate stats of NBA and WNBA games and players for continuous updates, while leaderboards will show top NBA Experience performers throughout the day.

We’ll have more details on NBA Experience leading up to its grand opening, so stay tuned for updates.

If you are planning a vacation to Walt Disney World and need tickets, look at local ticket broker The Official Ticket Center for all of your discount Disney tickets and more.

Sesame Street at SeaWorld Orlando All Ready To Go

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Sesame Street at SeaWorld Orlando

Sesame Street at SeaWorld Orlando, which brings all of the fun, laughter and learning of Sesame Street to the Orlando park in a highly interactive and immersive way, officially opens today. The land features the iconic Sesame Street neighborhood including Abby Cadabby’s Garden, Big Bird’s Nest, Mr. Hooper’s Store and the famous 123 Stoop, as well as everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends.

Sesame Street’s Elmo, Abby Cadabby and Rosita kicked off the opening at a special preview event earlier this week. The debut of this highly-anticipated, six-acre world class attraction is the largest Sesame Street land inside of any of the SeaWorld parks and an exciting part of Sesame Street’s year-long 50th anniversary celebration.

“We are thrilled to officially welcome guests to walk down Sesame Street for the very first time in the theme park capital of the world,” said Mark Pauls, President of SeaWorld Orlando. “This highly-anticipated, immersive new land is the largest Sesame Street land inside of any of our SeaWorld parks. With over 30 new ways to play and an award-winning parade, this is a new land that guests of all ages will love, and we are excited to share it with the world.”

“Theme parks represent one of the most powerful ways for families to engage with and delight in the Sesame Street characters,” said Scott Chambers, Senior Vice President/General Manager, North America Media and Licensing, Sesame Workshop (the nonprofit educational organization behind the iconic brand). “Sesame Street at SeaWorld Orlando will enable us to establish deeper connections with even more families while helping the Workshop sustain its nonprofit and educational mission.”

Sesame Street at SeaWorld Orlando brings together fun and learning through several educational interactive experiences. Elmo’s Window invites guests to play, dance, and sing with everybody’s favorite furry red monster and his friends. In Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck Challenge, guests follow video instructions to whip up some delicious meals with Cookie Monster and Gonger.

In addition, Sesame Street at SeaWorld Orlando includes six colorful, themed rides: Abby’s Flower Tower, Cookie Drop!, Slimey’s Slider, Big Bird’s Twirl ‘n’ Whirl, Elmo’s Choo Choo Train and Super Grover’s Box Car Derby. Another favorite of the new land is the Rubber Duckie Water Works wet play area. Scheduled daily highlights in the neighborhood include Storytime with Big Bird at his nest and the award-winning Sesame Street Party Parade. This celebration features Elmo, Big Bird and all of their friends, colorful floats, and special surprises along the way.

No visit is complete without a bite to eat! Sesame Street at SeaWorld Orlando serves up fun favorites at Eats on the Street, where food trucks and a specialty drink stand offer guests a delicious variety of healthy choices and sweet treats.

Guests can take home a little bit of the street from Mr. Hooper’s Store, which features plush characters, apparel, collectible pins, and more available only at Sesame Street at SeaWorld. For even more fun, Elmo’s Interactive Light-Up Bubble Wand unlocks hidden surprises, special effects and exclusive content throughout the street. A visit to Photos with Elmo and Friends provides backstage access to Sesame Street friends with meet and greet opportunities.

SeaWorld has been Sesame Workshop’s exclusive theme park partner in the United States for almost 40 years.

If you are in the process of booking your SeaWorld vacation and are in need of discount tickets, please visit local authorized ticket agent, The Official Ticket Center for the best discounts on all SeaWorld tickets.

It’s Time to Celebrate Mardi Gras and Carnevale at Disney Springs!

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Feast of Carnevale

The end of February and beginning of March marks the time to get together with friends and celebrate Mardi Gras.

The end of February and beginning of March marks the time to get together with friends and celebrate Mardi Gras. While famously celebrated on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Disney Springs® is offering up its own spin on this favorite holiday complete with food and entertainment that will have your Guests “jazzed” to celebrate!

No celebration is complete without a pair of ears and Mardi Gras-inspired Minnie Mouse ears make for the perfect party accessory! They feature all the fun colors and patterns of Mardi Gras. Your Guests can find these ears in the newly renovated World of Disney store at Disney Springs Marketplace.

And for foodies, there’s no shortage of specialty and limited-time eats on the menu at favorite restaurants. Look no further than House of Blues Restaurant & Bar for classic New Orleans favorites such as Steak Po’Boy (made special for this event!), Jambalaya, Gumbo and Bourbon Bread Pudding. Your Guests can grab all of these dishes at the Smokehouse grab and go window now through March 5, 2019. In addition to delicious bites, there will be live music, drink specials and prizes March 1-5 in the House of Blues Courtyard. With no cover or reservations required, this is a celebration Guests won’t want to miss.

Over in The Landing, Carnevale is back at Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante! This annual festival began in Venice, Italy and commemorates the joyous gathering of family and friends to eat, drink, dance and celebrate life together. If booked by March 5, 2019, you’ll get a front-row seat to live entertainment including singers, stilt walkers, jugglers, mimes, face painters, folk dancers and more all while indulging in signature Italian cuisine. During this limited-time engagement, your Guests can enjoy the prix fixe “Feast of Carnevale” selections or order a la carte from the regular menu. Reservations are recommended and can be made online or by calling (407) 560-8466.

If you are planning a trip and are in need of discount Disney tickets, please contact local authorized ticket agent at www.officialticketcenter.com for current prices and discounts to the parks.

Building Batuu: New Details Released about 

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Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be the largest single-themed land expansion at both Disneyland park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios when they open this summer and fall, respectively. While the land is epic in size, every detail in the land has been designed to have an authentic Star Wars feel. We have previously shared teasers of our two anchor attractions – Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, where your Guests will find themselves in the middle of an epic battle between the Resistance and the First Order, and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, which allows your Guests and their flight crew to take the controls of the fastest ship in the galaxy on a special mission. We’ve also previously announced that Oga’s Cantina will be a great place for your Guests to grab a beverage, catch up on the latest gossip while R-3X, formerly the Starspeeder pilot on the original Star Tours, DJ’s a collection of new music.

Today we’d like to introduce a new series called “Building Batuu.” Batuu is the home of Black Spire Outpost, the location your Guests will visit when they arrive at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which has become a haven for the galaxy’s most colorful — and notorious — characters. Over the next several months, we will be sharing more details about this entire new land, the offerings and attractions and how your Guests can live their own Star Wars adventure in a galaxy far, far away.

Your Guests can dive deeper into Star Wars storytelling by engaging with the land through the Play Disney Parks app, if they desire a deeper level of immersion. But there is also plenty to see and do (and taste!) throughout Black Spire Outpost that we haven’t previously shared.

While we’re on the subject of taste, there will be several locations in the land to satisfy the appetites of most rogue adventurers:

Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo – Chef Strono “Cookie” Tuggs has traveled throughout the galaxy following his longtime gig as the chef at Maz Kanata’s castle on Takodana and brings exotic flavors and unusual dishes to his traveling diner “Tuggs’ Grub.”

Ronto Roasters – A recycled podracing engine fires up a spit of exotic meats, meticulously turned by a former smelter droid, 8D-J8. Guests can even sample some of the tasty Ronto fare.

Milk Stand – The place to go to get your farm-fresh blue milk or green milk, direct from Bubo Wamba Family Farms.

Kat Saka’s Kettle – One of the many street market stalls, this grain vendor sells the ever-popular Outpost Mix (blend of sweet, savory and spicy popcorn).

For those looking to purchase in-story Star Wars merchandise and rare finds from across the galaxy, look no further than our many different Outpost stores and market stalls.

Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities – For those in the know, Dok-Ondar is the Ithorian you seek for selling and buying rare and uniquely-valued items from across the galaxy and spanning all eras.

Savi’s Workshop – Handbuilt Lightsabers – Guests come to the workshop to meet with the Gatherers – a secretive group of people who have dedicated their lives to restoring balance in the galaxy by passing on their knowledge of Jedi lore and the Force. The workshop Master guides guests to customize and build their own unique lightsabers, and instructs them on the ways of the Jedi.

Droid Depot – Visitors to Mubo’s workshop can choose parts and construct their own individual astromech droids to accompany them on their journey, and then take them home with them.

First Order Cargo – A spaceport hangar bay serves as the temporary base and landing spot for the First Order. First Order officers have brought in crates of gear, uniforms and other supplies to win the hearts and minds of locals and visitors to Black Spire Outpost. 

Resistance Supply – Resistance members and local sympathizers oversee a makeshift stall that supplies Resistance uniforms, pins, badges, hats, helmets, jackets, maps, tools, training supplies, food rations and other items.

There are also several market stalls which sell a variety of merchandise such as:

  • Toydarian Toymaker (toys)
  • Creature Stall (interesting critters that you can take home with you)
  • Black Spire Outfitters (clothing)
  • The Jewels of Bith (accessories and other trinkets to treasure)

We look forward to sharing additional details about these and much more through our “Building Batuu” series, with some additional news coming later on some of the food and beverage offerings that will be served in Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo and how the Disney Cast Members’ costumes will play a big part in bringing the inhabitants of this outpost to life.

If you are planning a vacation and need Disney World tickets, please visit our website at www.officialticketcenter.com to book your adventure today.

Ron Jon Surf Shop to Open New Location at Disney Springs

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COCOA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 12, 2019) – Ron Jon Surf Shop is proud to announce plans for a new store that will open late 2019 at Disney Springs.  The 10,000-square-foot Ron Jon location will be situated in Town Center at Disney Springs, the shopping, dining and entertainment district at Walt Disney World Resort.

Ron Jon Surf Shop currently operates stores throughout Florida and in other locations along the eastern seaboard including Ocean City, Md., Orange Beach, Ala., two locations in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and its original location in Ship Bottom, N.J.  Ron Jon Surf Shop carries all of the beach essentials needed to have fun in the sun and features a wide assortment of surfwear, swimwear, sunglasses, hats, footwear and many other items perfectly suited for the casual beach lifestyle.

According to Debbie Harvey, president and COO of Ron Jon Surf Shop, the company selected Disney Springs as a location for its new store because of the shopping destination’s immense popularity with visitors as well as locals in the Orlando market, many of whom are familiar with the Ron Jon brand.

“We are thrilled to be planning a new Ron Jon store located at Disney Springs,” Harvey said.  “This is an extremely popular shopping destination for local residents and the millions of visitors coming to the Orlando area, and we feel it’s the perfect location for a new Ron Jon Surf Shop.”

About Ron Jon Surf Shop

Ron Jon Surf Shop was founded in 1959 on the New Jersey shore out of an appreciation for the sport of surfing.  Two years later, “The Original” Ron Jon Surf Shop opened in Long Beach Island, N.J.  The lifestyle-apparel and board-sports-equipment retailer has since opened stores in Cocoa Beach, Orlando, Fort Myers, Key West, Panama City Beach, Clearwater Beach, Fla., as well as in Ocean City, Md., Orange Beach, Ala. and Myrtle Beach, S.C.  The flagship store in Cocoa Beach is the world’s largest surf shop.  It operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

About Disney Springs

Disney Springs is a one-of-a-kind retail, dining and entertainment district located in the heart of the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. With its namesake springs, beautiful open-air promenades and lakefront setting, Disney Springs evokes the charm of Florida waterfront towns at the turn of the 20th century. It’s also home to a collection of more than 150 shops and restaurants, including top-name retail brands, specialty boutiques and dining experiences created by celebrity and award-winning chefs.  Located in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Disney Springs is open daily.

Initial Testing Underway for Disney Skyliner Gondolas – More Details Revealed!

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Disney Skyliner Gondolas rendering
Sharp-eyed visitors to Walt Disney World Resort this week may have spotted something new up in the sky while Disney Skyliner began its initial testing.

Scheduled to open this fall, Disney Skyliner will be a new, state-of-the-art gondola system that will conveniently connect Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot to four resort hotels – Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and the proposed Disney’s Riviera Resort, which is now accepting guest reservations for stays beginning December 2019. The official Resort opening date will be announced at a later time.

The Skyliner’s towers have been under construction for about a year, so to have a gondola up on its cables is an exciting milestone! Check out this video to hear more about the project from Jordan Matthews at Walt Disney Imagineering:

Several gondolas will be adorned with graphics based on Disney films, attractions and characters. So for example, you may jump into a gondola where from the ground it will look like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto or Chip & Dale are riding along with you. Several Disney animated films will be represented, including “Beauty & the Beast,” “Frozen,” “Lilo & Stitch,” “Moana,” “Peter Pan,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Zootopia.”

Here’s a sneak peek at what a few of these special gondolas will look like:

Disney Skyliner Gondolas rendering

The other themed gondolas that will be part of the system include:

  • “Coco”
  • Goofy, Pete, Horace Horsecollar and Clarabelle Cow
  • “Finding Dory”
  • The Haunted Mansion
  • “Monsters, Inc.”
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • “Ratatouille”

These gorgeous gondolas will be gliding across Walt Disney World before we know it. If you are looking for discount Disney World tickets, make sure to check out The Official Ticket Center for the best prices and specials.

 

Article written by by Jeremy Schoolfield, Managing Editor, Walt Disney World Resort Public Relations

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival 2018 Set To Go

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Are you a fan of delicious foods and tasty wines? Are you a fan of the Walt Disney World Resort? Well if you answered yes to both questions then Epcot is a must for you! Every year towards the end of August, Epcot puts on one heck of a festival that includes wines, gourmet tapas dishes and art from around the world. It’s called the International Food & Wine Festival and has been going on for years.

This is a festival for the connoisseurs and foodies who enjoy taking a tour of the world right in the comfort of Disney. For a few months out of the year Epcot puts on a party of parties all day long. For the price of a daily admission ticket you can enjoy the sights, sounds and flavours as you explore the different cuisines from around the world. Vineyards and breweries from around the globe are center stage during this once a year event.

Executive chefs from the Walt Disney World Resorts prepare regional dishes while pairing up wines and beers that make your experience one to savour! As you wander through the theme park you will encounter different cuisines at different locations. As an example if you are in France or Germany, you will be a guest of that country and served local dishes that represent their country all the while being able to sample their regional wines and beer.

The downside is that this isn’t free and can get quite costly. The best way to approach this is to stop at the very first food kiosk and get yourself a prepaid wristband and preload it with as much money as you see fit. I normally will put $50 on mine and that will get me to at least the America pavilion which is the halfway point on the World Showcase at the back of the park. By this time you are feeling pretty good and might want to just put another $50 onto your wristband again to finish strong!

This event is a event worth Uber-ing, staying on property like at the Boardwalk, Swan or Dolphin which are staggering distances from the back entrance of Epcot. If your partake in the fermented beverages you will not want to be driving believe me. This is a great event to share with friends and families and probably should not be a festival that you would want to bring your kids to as people at this event can get pretty happy to say the least but in a good way. Here is a link to their current 2018 menu so have a look and see what you think ~ Epcot Food & Wine Menu 2018 

If you plan on attending this event and need Epcot tickets or Disney World tickets please visit our website at www.officialticketcenter.com or by calling us toll free at 1-877-406-4836.

Disney to put the Kibosh on Pet Friendly Families

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It would seem that the policy that allowed families to bring their furry little family member to the Happiest Place on Earth is coming to an end. The rule I guess had been just a pilot program and was not in place as a permanent thing. Many families have a hard time leaving their pets at home or at a boarding shelter while traveling to Disney or anywhere else for that matter while on vacation.

Not only can it be scary for the pet but can be quite expensive for mom and dad. Sources say that come October 2018 that pet friendly program is coming to a screeching halt! When asked if the program would be extended the official answer was that they did not see that happening. Maybe if enough people call and voice their concern, they might change their minds, but that is probably not going to happen.

Disney is in the process of getting as much money as they can and if I’m a betting man this latest hatchet job is to make the owners put their animals up at their on property kennel Best Friends Pet Care. I have personally put my dogs up there and it was great. Downside is that it is very expensive as you would expect from Disney. However knowing that my family members are close and taken care of is a piece of mind situation that I was willing to pay at that time.

Disney has said though that if you check-in before October 15, 2018 you can still bring your pets and they can stay for the whole duration while visiting at the Walt Disney World Resort. This is going to be a huge issue and people have the right to be a little peeved. But hay, when Disney sees a way to make more money…look out! If you are in the market for minimizing you overall cost of your Disney vacation and need discount Disney tickets, check out a local ticket broker like “The Official Ticket Center” in Kissimmee.

Below is a screenshot of their new policy:

 

 

 

Summer fun with the family at Universal Orlando Resort

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Universal Studios Tickets

 

If you can remember all of those summer vacations with mom and dad when you were a kid and having the time of your life, you had a pretty cool childhood. The vacations of the past can be re-lived  and the memories can be passed down now to your kids at Universal Orlando Resort. Venturing off of the Disney plantation in Orlando, one can have a pretty kick butt, action packed vacation minus princesses and talking mice.

Universal has marketed itself as a vacation from the ordinary and for good reason! They have crafted a vacation destination for teens as well as adults but the little ones in the group have not been forgotten. This vacation destination has something for everyone and then some. Now with three parks to escape to, Universal has made their little slice of heaven a weeks plus long getaway!

The one great thing that I personally love about Universal Orlando is that they listen to what their guests want and their ability to offer ticket specials as they see fit. Currently they are 3 extra days free on select tickets and sold through licensed partners like The Official Ticket Center, a local ticket agency that has been in business for over 20 years. Universal Studios tickets and other seasonal specials like this are what can let a family of four take a much needed vacation at a pretty nice discount.

If there was a cherry on top of everything under their umbrella it would have to be their all new Volcano Bay water park. This in my opinion is the Disney water park killer. I have been to them all and Volcano Bay is by far my favourite. If you can’t afford that trip to Bali or Tahiti, this is the next best thing especially if you have a few of their signature drinks to get your mind into the game!