Pardon the Pixie Dust While Visiting Islands of Adventure

February 25, 2016 by oticketc

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As you may know by now, Universal Studios in Orlando has a sister park called Islands of Adventure. It sits about 100 yards away from Universal Studios and is the home of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. As you know, all theme parks need a little down time to get things fixed and a new coat of paint. This is exactly what’s happening at Islands of Adventure at the moment. Not to be alarmed, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is up and running! They would be out of their minds if they closed this down, but not to worry Harry Potter fans, all is well in the wizard world.

The biggest closure has to be the Hulk Roller Coaster. This was dismantled and removed for refurbishment and is set to be back terrifying travelers by the first part of spring. This was a huge letdown for me last weekend as this is my favorite ride in Islands of Adventure! I try to start my day on this adrenaline inducing ride as it will set my energy level for the remainder of the day. Dr. Doom’s was still dropping guests and The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man was whisking guests through the streets of New York in 3-D. Many guests were wandering around wondering what to do as Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls was out of commission as well as Popeye’s Bilge Rat Barges was down for the count too!

It would seem that all of the water rides were not operational either for repair reasons or for the fact that it was 50 degrees outside on the day I went. Dudley Do Right’s had a wall up around it, so I would guess that they were working on it rather than it being closed for the weather. The next sight on the way around the park was the walls surrounding the all new Skull Island: Reign of Kong attraction that is set to open in the summer of 2016. This will definitely be another star attraction to Universal’s arsenal and is sure to have travelers raving about it once it opens! The next big bummer of the day had to be Jurassic Park! It was running but no one was riding as it was freezing outside. Sure, there were a few not so smart souls who decided to ride this get soaked water ride and were not so happy afterwards trying to dry off in the 50 degree air with the rest of the day in front of them. Not me!

Then there was the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It looked like everyone in the park was there. Everywhere you looked, people were huddled together trying to stay warm like cattle, while Mug As you may know by now, Universal Studios in Orlando has a sister park called Islands of Adventure. It sits about 100 yards away from Universal Studios and is the home of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. As you know, all theme parks need a little down time to get things fixed and a new coat of paint. This is exactly what’s happening at Islands of Adventure at the moment. Not to be alarmed, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is up and running! They would be out of their minds if they closed this down, but not to worry Harry Potter fans, all is well in the wizard world.

Then there was the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It looked like everyone in the park was there. Everywhere you looked, people were huddled together trying to stay warm like cattle, while Muggles wandered around the streets drinking their Butterbeer and waving their wands at interactive activities. Inside the Three Broomsticks Inn and Pub, people were gathered at the bar ordering drinks while diners dined on warm dishes to warm themselves for the rest of the day to come. Most people were just taking shelter from the cold by the fire and others were busy taking photos to remember their adventures!

For the most part the rest of the park was still operational and Dr, Seuss’s was busy entertaining children as well as adults who wanted to take a ride with The Cat and the Hat. The park seemed to be busy, but I really don’t think people got their money’s worth on this day as many of the rides were either shut down for refurbishment or were to cold to ride at all. It was still a very beautiful adventure, but one that would have been better if the weather had been 25 degrees warmer.

On a good note, we did save quite a bit of money by purchasing our tickets through a discount tickets provider, “The Official Ticket Center” located over in Kissimmee and were able to buy discounted Disney tickets as well as discounted Universal Studios tickets. I recommend that you look them up if you are traveling to Orlando to visit the parks! Muggles wandered around the streets drinking their Butterbeer and waving their wands at interactive activities. Inside the Three Broomsticks Inn and Pub, people were gathered at the bar ordering drinks while diners dined on warm dishes to warm themselves for the rest of the day to come. Most people were just taking shelter from the cold by the fire and others were busy taking photos to remember their adventures!

The Ever Growing Universal Studios Orlando Resort

February 3, 2016 by oticketc

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Lately things look a little bigger at Orlando’s Universal Studios Resort! Just driving by on I-4 and looking over at the park, you can tell something big is going on. Probably the biggest thing one will notice are all of the skyscraper cranes up in the sky and the skeletal frames of a new Loews Resort going up. Universal Orlando Resort in in construction mode and by the looks of it, there is no slowing up anytime soon. In the past few years Universal Studios Orlando has managed to add multiple new attractions as well as purchasing around 500 new acres to build more on.

Islands of adventure is their sister park that site right next to Universal Studios and was the first of their theme parks to build the now famous Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Building on this idea Universal Studios was the next to get into the Harry Potter hugely popular market by building their own Diagon Alley. Both parks now are connected by the new Hogswort Express, a train that took Harry and his friends to wizarding school every year in the movies. This would be Universal version to Disney’s Monorail. Now that the dust has settled on these two fantastic additions, Universal is back at it with big ideas and big pockets to do it with.

The latest is a fan favourite that used to be at Universal Studios and was deeply missed when he left back in September of 2002. That ride was Kongfrontation and was at the Studios since June of 1990. The people at Universal saw a great opportunity to bring the big guy back when Peter Jackson remade the old black and white movie a few back to audience’s amazement. This was the catalyst to make a new version of Kongfrontation and rename it Skull Island: Reign of Kong. This new ride in Islands of Adventure will be ready to ride in the summer of 2016. This will be in the area next to Jurassic Park and the Toon Lagoon area next to Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls.

Probably the coolest thing that is to come will be their third park addition, Volcano Bay. This will be Universal’s new water park that will have the look and feel of being in the south Pacific on a island made from the explosion of a volcano. Complete with a spewing cinder cone and wave pool, this will redefine the waterpark experience of old! This project is set for a grand opening in the summer of 2017 and will reside south of Universal’s Cabana Bay Resort and just off of I-4. If you are planning a trip to anyone of these famous theme parks and need help finding discounts on Universal Studios tickets or Islands of Adventure tickets, please call our office toll free at 1-877-406-4836 today and speak with one of our vacation planners today.

What to expect at Universal Studios Orlando’s 2016 Mardi Gras Party

January 29, 2016 by oticketc

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Vacationing in February or April and looking to party, well look no further. Starting February 6 till April 16, Universal Studios Florida will play host to one of the biggest celebrations known to man, MARDI GRAS!!!!! Talk about a cultural wave coming right for Orlando. You can expect tons of fun and more entertainment than you might be able to handle.

First, we will kick things off and talk about the amazing musical line up that Universal Studios is bringing to town. They are starting out with Hunter Hayes, (who is known for his blues/country/rock style) will perform on Saturday February 6th. On Saturday February 13 you can expect to see one of the most iconic female singers of all time Diana Ross (rose to fame in the 1960s). Sunday February 14, a band who has been together for 27 years and released more than 14 million albums, Barenaked Ladies.

And there are many more such as Nate Ruess (Sat. Feb 20th), Fall Out Boy(Sat. Feb 27th), Kool & The Gang(Sat. Mar 5th), The Fray(Sat. Mar 12th), Adam Lambert(Sun. Mar 13th), Shawn Mendez(Sat. Mar 19th), 3 Doors Down(Sun. Mar 20th), Reo Speedwagon (Sat Mar 26th), T-Pain(Sat. Apr 2nd), Jessie J(Sat. Apr 9th), and finally Yandel (Sat. Apr 16). The concerts start at 8:30pm so don’t be little or you’ll lose your seat.

However, Universal Studios doesn’t just bring the bands to the party; they also bring new food options for the occasion, parades for your enjoyment and the most important part, BEADS!!!!!!! They bring out their own French Quarter Courtyard featuring authentic New Orleans cuisine like Spicy Jambalaya, Sausage, Gumbo and many more dishes. Universal is also bringing some of the Big Easy’s favorite musicians like Rockin’ Jake(Feb 6th), Mississippi Rail Company (Feb 13th&14th), Naughty Professor (Feb 20th), Cha Wa (Feb 27th), Beth Mckee & The Sliders (Mar 5th), Soul Project(Mar 13th), The Big Easy Playboys (Mar 19th&20th), Gravy(Mar 26th), Dirty Bourbon River Show (Apr 2nd), Daddy Mac Blues Band (Apr 9th) and last but not least Big Al and The Heavyweights (Apr 16th).

Then, go out to the streets and watch as the streets of Universal Studios fill with floats, stilt walkers, dancers and street performers who will be throwing handfuls of beads your way. No need to pay for souvenirs on this trip, you’ll have to many beads to put in your luggage to worry about souvenirs anyways. Hope you can be a part of this wonderful Universal Studios event, I know I can’t wait!

If you are planning to attend Universal’s Mardi Gras celebration and need to buy discount Universal Studios tickets or Islands of Adventure tickets, please call our office toll free at 1-877-406-4836 today!

How to Allocate Time Between Walt Disney World or Universal Studios Orlando

January 28, 2016 by oticketc

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The biggest issue when anyone goes on a vacation is how much time one can spent at any destination and have the most fun right? Well this has been a new issue with many travelers to the Orlando theme parks lately. Not to long ago Disney World was the destination of choice and there was only 1 other attraction keeping Disney from the theme park monopoly and that company’s name was SeaWorld. The travelers of the past would come down by the hundreds of thousands and spend at least a whole week exploring Walt’s theme parks. Some would take a day and go to SeaWorld while others would just stay the whole time over at Walt Disney World enjoying the parks and sitting by anyone of Walt’s resorts. Even though there was only 2 parks at that time, folks would still stay 3 or 4 days at Disney then head over to A1A on the east coast and stay there for a few days more.

Well time have changed and this is not the case anymore. With more and more people wanting something different while on their Florida vacation, many big companies threw their hats into the huge vacation circle and staked their claims. The increase in venues gave old travelers a reason to come back to their favourite vacation destination, while enticing new travelers to book their travels to Orlando as well. This was becoming a beacon to not only American families, but world wide. Orlando now was not just from the good ole USA, it was a world wide destination and nothing could stop it! When the news broke out about this new vacation destination, people started lining up to book their Florida vacation.

The biggest new injection to the scene had to be Universal Studios. It seemed that Disney and Universal were like McDonald’s and Burger King, where you find one you will find the other. That gave Orlando 3 big players and unfortunately started syphoning vacation days away from Walt Disney World. In the beginning, Disney had the mindset that they would have nothing to worry about and that was a big mistake and now Disney is having a very hard time selling their multi day tickets. This is due to the fact that Universal Studios Orlando built a 2nd park right next door and called it Islands of Adventure. With having so may things to choose from now, one needs to take this planning thing very serious.

Choosing the right tickets for your vacation now comes down to how many days you have to play and what parks do you want to visit. Pretty simple right? It can be and if you are trying to do this alone, it can feel overwhelming. Good thing there are people to call and talk to. If you need help and are ready to reach out for advice, call our office to free at 1-877-406-4836 today. You can save time and money on your Disney tickets, Universal studios tickets and even SeaWorld.

Is Universal Studios A Perfect Vacation for Harry Potter Fans

January 28, 2016 by oticketc

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So as a tourist, when you’re planning your vacations, you usually plan on visiting at least one theme park while your here. Well if that theme park might just happen to be Universal Studios Orlando & Island of Adventure because your a Harry Potter fan then your in for a treat. I’m sure most of you have heard of the famous Harry Potter films that prolonged a decade of enjoyment has now officially come to Orlando Florida.

While visiting Island of Adventure you will get enjoy the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogsmeade; which was the first expansion of the Wizarding World and was completed in 2010. While visiting, you will get to enjoy shops like Dervish and Banges where they have wizarding equipment including Omnioculars, The Monster Book of Monsters, Quidditch equipment, and much much more. Visit Ollivanders, Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. to have your very own wand choose you. Or stop at Honeydukes and pick up some Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Bean, exploding bonbons, Chocolate Frogs, and many more sweets. Lets not forget the amazing attractions that were also brought to the park like Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey were Harry Potter himself takes you on an adventure with your very own broomstick. You go through the castle and above it finding many creatures and magic in your path. Also, you have the famous Dragon Challenge where you get a taste of the Triwizard Tournament and facing one of two very frightening dragons. There are two paths to choose but remember then neither are the same. When visiting these magical parks you truly get lost within the imagination of the parks.

Now that you have explored Island of Adventure lets take a look at its sister park Universal Studios Orlando. At Universal Studios you get to experience its newest attraction Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, which is a multi-dimensional thrill ride that takes to the deepest darkest part of Gringotts bank. You will encounter malicious enemies such as Voldemort and Bellatrix as try to safely return to Diagon Alley. Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes a store where you can find magical jokes and items from the movies. You also have Magical Menagerie which features your furry, or scaly creatures that you can take home with you as a souvenir. Or if you’re impart with the Dark Arts you might want to check out Knockturn Alley which has the famous shop Borgin and Burkes that has all of the dark creepy thing you will ever need.

And I think that about sums it all up. I don’t want to give all the details that way you can let your imagination take flight. If you’re a Harry Potter fan then Universal Studios Orlando and Island of Adventure are the theme parks that your going to want to visit. If you will be needing discount Universal Studios tickets or discount Islands of Adventure tickets, please call our office at 1-877-406-4836 today!

Chasing the Big Discounts on Your Orlando Theme Park Tickets

January 4, 2016 by oticketc

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With every major theme park in Orlando at or above the $100 level, travelers are taking to discount websites and travel forums for the best discount available. You might get lucky here and there at the Official park pages, but their discounts pretty much are for when you buy their products in a package. Yes, it would be nice to stay on property with a all inclusive deal, but at the end of the day, there really is no discount after everything is broken down to their bare ellement. This is why the savvy traveler will dissect everything down and start from there.The best way to get the deepest discounts is to first look at the lodging.

Many people will look at sites like Trivago or Priceline for accommodations, but many are finding that staying with a Vacation Rental Home works out best for pricing and amenities. Why pay big money for a small resort room when you can have a fully furnished home with private pool, hot tub and many with game rooms? A local company who has been around for almost 20 years may be able to help on your next visit. Magical Memories is a full service vacation rental home agency in Kissimmee, Florida and is just minutes from all of central Florida’s world famous theme parks. With most of their homes within minutes from Disney, a smart traveler who wants the biggest bang for their buck might try this avenue on their next trip. This is especially affordable when traveling with family or friends who can share in the cost!

The next biggest cost would have to be the the park tickets to the attractions. This is probably the single most brain wracking thing a traveler has to think about for their vacation. With so many things to see and do while in Florida, one must take this chore very seriously. The biggest theme park in Orlando would have to be Walt Disney World. With four theme parks, two water parks and various other smaller attractions, Disney is the largest adventure one could take if that is the only thing on the itinerary. But we can’t stop there as there is the second largest destination, Universal Orlando Resort. With their two parks, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. One could also make this destination a one stop vacation if one doesn’t want to visit Disney. And lastly, we have SeaWorld Orlando. SeaWorld Orlando also owns Busch Gardens in Tampa as well as Discovery Cove in Orlando. So as you can see, if you want to see everything, you are going to need about a week to do these theme parks justice!

I can see the money just adding up with a week long vacation, so the next step is to find someone who can help out with the costs of these pesky little high priced theme park tickets. The first step is to find a reputable authorized ticket wholesaler. Now this is where it can get a little risky and especially if you do not know what you are doing. Normally you can search around online and visit a few chat forums and see who they recommend for discount theme park tickets. A few that have stood the test of time and are trust worthy site are www.intercot.com, www.dadsguidetowdw.com, www.getdowntodisness.com and www.wdwinfo.com. These are very informative sites that shed light on how to save time and money when booking your Disney vacation. The most important thing with these site is that they can give you a trust stamp of approval on everyone they work with and that goes a very long way! For discount Disney tickets and discount Universal Studios tickets, look at Kissimmee’s wholesaler, The Official Ticket Center. They are a authorized discount theme park ticket seller and are local.

Now that you know where to look for discounts, please take the time to plan accordingly and not buy more than you need for you vacation. Ask questions and most of all, pay attention to any hidden costs or if a company is not local. Most web sites are just that, a site and have no knowledge of local perks or are just a referral person! Call these people and see if you get a actual person. Ask if they sell the actual product. I have called a few places online to ask if they sell actual tickets for instance, only to be confronted by a recording and having to communicate by email or text. Watch out for companies like these or companies that only deal in vouchers. When you are able to speak with a company representative, you know they are legit and have skin in the game! It only takes one mistake to ruin a vacation, so trust in what other people have used and had good experiences with and shop local!

Orlando’s New Springfield Expansion Takes Simpsons Experience to the Next Level

August 13, 2013 by oticketc

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The New Simpsons Springfield USA Now Open

The Official Ticket Center ~ It seems Universal Studios Orlando is all set to hit new records every now and then. Achieving milestones one after another becomes a constant trend for the premier Theme Park today. After the much anticipated Transformers -The Ride 3D attraction with a whooping one million riders in just over a month since inception, it’s time again to win more laurels and visits with the new Springfield Area expansion program. While most of the new expansion features were already launched for the public, the Park is confident of bringing a new joy to generations of Simpsons’ fans.

For Universal guests and visitors the Simpsons Experience is not just the same old adventure-ride any more, it’s all about exploring the entire world of the Simpsons in real-time. For the first time ever, fans visiting this area will be able to live and breathe Springfield like the characters themselves. Thanks to Universal Orlando for bringing to life the experiences of America’s most favorite animated family show.

The new “Springfield USA” welcomes you to the bright and colorful city and the hometown of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson. Once inside, there lays a whole new world of iconic landmarks from the famous Simpsons Episodes; all ready to greet you like never before. Imagine walking in the streets of a dream town only seen on television until today. Imagine the sight of the statue of Jebediah Springfield as you approach the dream town, or having a seat at Moe’s Tavern or enjoying a Krusty Burger or go nuts for donuts at Lard Lad, everything you encounter at the new Springfield will take your Simpsons experience to the next level.

The Simpsons Springfield Expansion is on the verge of completion and almost all of the features already opened to the public with the exception of the two upcoming attractions namely – Kang & Kodos’ and Twirl ‘n’ Hurl. It was just a couple of months earlier, as part of the expansion program we saw the opening of The Simpsons Fast Food Boulevard that comprises of the Cletus’ Chicken Shack, Krusty Burger, Moe’s Tavern, Frying Dutchman, and Luigi’s Pizza. And later it was The Simpsons waterfront area that comes alive with the home to Lard Lad Donuts, Duff Gardens, Bumblebee Man’s Tacos and more.

Moreover, despite a couple of features still to open, the response to the new Springfield Expansions is tremendous. And it is good to know that the new Area is already being praised of as a win- win initiative by many. Truly, the Simpsons command’s the most lofted position in the list of Universal attractions now. A must visit themed-area that combines the best of America’s most ground-breaking and innovative entertainment franchise.

For discount Orlando theme park tickets and passes, including Universal Studios tickets and Sea World tickets you can call us toll free today at 1-877-406-4836

Countdown for Universal Orlando’s Transformers Ride Is About to Begin

May 1, 2013 by oticketc

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Transformers Universal Studios Orlando

The greatest Intergalactic Battle Ride fantasy is joining the list of amazing ride attractions at Universal Studios Orlando soon. Come summer 2013 the Universal resort in Florida will have its newest and most thrilling action-packed ride ever. The blockbuster attraction Transformers: The Ride-3D is slated for a summertime opening and according to the Park officials everything is on track for the grand opening. The much anticipated attraction ride is based on the famous Transformers Brand and is expected to boost the level of adventure rides to newer heights.

It’s time for guests to prepare for the greatest battle ride experience now, where larger- than -life characters – the likes of Autobots and the Decepticons will put you right in the middle of a never ending battle of good and evil. Universal Studios Orlando fans will come face to face with Megatron for the first time and join Optimus Prime and the Autobots in the epic fight to save the World. However, the exact date for the opening still remains undisclosed. While the world awaits Universal’s official announcement for the opening, guests at the Park are already enjoying the sights of some of the famous characters from the movie outside the newly erected Transformers building. Two of the leading characters – Optimus Prime and Bumblebee are making their appearances, meeting and greeting guests at irregular intervals. Moreover, after entertaining visitors for months now, the two famous characters have a new rival in the form of Megatron of late.

The Transformers: The Ride-3D at the Orlando Park is the third of its kind that Universal is opening after it proves to be a big hit in the other Universal parks in Singapore and Hollywood. The thrilling battle ride is same in all the three parks, but Universal Studios Orlando being the latest one in adding the same enjoys the advantage of improvising the ride with superior technologies which others don’t. Park officials believed that the Orlando version will offer a more rich experience than the predecessors. With the use of high-definition 3D integration and 45 feet tall screens, including life-like HD CGI media and more, it is expected to bring the non-stop actions of the films to life.

It’s good to know that Universal is doing well in keeping the excitement alive for the upcoming Ride. The buzz had been around since March when the famous Transformers characters were rolled out for entertainment one after another. Also the Transformers gift shop- the Supply Vault which is officially opened up, welcoming guests for weeks now. With everything is on place and construction walls removed from the high-tech industrial looking Transformers building, fans will be excited to hear that much awaited official opening date for sure.

Lynard Skynard Live at Universal Studios Orlando

March 3, 2011 by oticketc

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If you are looking for something to do this Saturday night, and you love Rock-n- Roll, then look no further. This Saturday night at Universal Studios Orlando, Mardi Gras will be in full swing and end the night with a performance from non other than Lynard Skynard. Get your discount Universal Studios tickets now thu www.officialticketcenter.com today and save BIG. Call us toll free at 1-877-406-4836.

Universal Studios Orlando Kicks Off Biggest, Best Mardi Gras Celebration Outside Of New Orleans 2011

January 24, 2011 by oticketc

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Top-Name National Music Talent, Authentic Mardi Gras Parade and Cuisine Straight from The Big Easy Make for the Ultimate Street Party Beginning Feb. 12

Universal Studios ~ Orlando, Fla. (January 13, 2011) – It is the biggest, best, party in the country – and Universal Orlando Resort brings it straight from New Orleans to you this February 12 through April 23. Continue reading →