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Universal Orlando earned a company record $92 million in profit last year, more than twice what it made the previous year, the parent company reported Friday.

In advance of its fourth-quarter 2007 earnings report, which is to be filed next month with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Universal City Development Partners also announced that combined total attendance for its Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure theme parks was up 3 percent in 2007.

The company reported that Universal’s per-capita spending by visitors was up 6 percent last year compared with 2006. In addition to the theme parks, Universal Orlando operates the CityWalk entertainment district and is the site for three resort hotels.

For the previous year, 2006, the company had reported profit of about $42 million, combined paid attendance of 10.5 million and a total turnstile count of 11.2 million.

A 3 percent gate boost for 2007 would make it the first year since 2004 that the parks had an annual attendance increase.

In November, Universal reported that summer crowds in the third quarter were strong enough to overcome slight attendance declines that the parks had sustained during the first half of the year. That pushed Universal’s annual attendance, through the first nine months, 2 percent ahead of the 2006 pace. So Universal apparently posted an attendance gain in the fourth quarter, too, to achieve a final, 3 percent annual increase.

Universal Studios has been known to operate a number of theme parks based on the movies it has produced over the years. In an attempt to further boost up its customers, Universal Studios has decided to build a new ride based on The Simpsons, which will be constructed in Orlando, Florida.

Universal Studios has chosen The Simpsons as an added attraction mainly because of its immense popularity and sturdy reputation over the past eighteen years, not to mention its award-winning prominence. "What we want to do is bring the Simpsons experience to our guests. They’re going to get to experience the Simpsons like they’ve never experienced the Simpsons before. They know and love them from the TV show, but they’ll actually be able to be a part of their world and have fun with them," Jennifer Sauer, Universal’s attraction designer, said.

According to officials, The Simpsons site is still currently in the design phase and conceptualizing stages although they assure that park guests will get the chance to enjoy an adventure-ride with Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, and will also be featuring the voices of the original Simpsons cast. The Simpsons site will be assembled on the Back to the Future site, a ride that was closed down at the end of March.

Universal Studios is just one of the companies that has taken advantage of the fame and popularity of The Simpsons. In line with its approaching movie, the popular convenience store chain 7-11 has previously proposed to transform eleven of their 4,700 stores into Kwik-E-Mart imitations, which would sell and promote Simpsons products like Buzz Cola, Squishee cups and Krusty’o cereals among others.

http://www.universalorlando.com/usf_attr_simpsons.html

3 new childrens rides open at SeaWorld Orlando. SeaWorld have added three more rides to Shamu’s Happy Harbor.

The park has delivered a competitive message to its rivals, Disney and Universal stating that SeaWorld has the best kids attractions! Yesterday the three new experiences for kids opened their gates. They are as follows:

The Sea Carosel, The Flying Fiddler drop ride and the Ocean Commotion rocking boat ride. Shamu’s Happy Harbor has grown since 2005 and now incorporates a kids rollercoaster and the teacups to name just two!! This is coupled with the company going back to its roots, being a family theme park not just parents and teens. Everyone can come and have fun.

At the Kennedy Space center however more gentile rides are not to be found as the new Shuttle Experience ride blasts off!!

This new ride simulates a real shuttle launch in the most authentic way yet. The "Crew" experience the sensation of 3G’s – through various trickery including the seat pressure changing as well as subtle seat movements. At the moment the fastest thrill ride in the area is Mission: Space in Epcot which has passengers experiencing 1.5G’s….

The NASA ride will surely create a following as the passengers are "blasted into space" they hear, feel and see things as if they are travelling into space. The rocket boosters jettison and the main engine cuts off where there is decelerration from 3G’s to zero gravity as the ship glides in to the black abyss. What an awe inspiring sight. The ride finished with the revealing of the Earth through "open cargo doors" above as if the Shuttle is upside down orbiting the earth which moves overhead.

What a fantastic 5 minute ride, I would love to try it!

See what Central Florida has to offer!!! Own your own home here and become an explorer of all the area has to see and do! Contact Us today!

Zagat Walt Disney World Insiders Guide was published on April 25th and is the latest amongst the crowd of Disney guidebooks.

It may be the first to base ratings on the opinions of thousands of frequent customers. Zagat polled customers about everything, hotels, rides, restaurants etc!
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The survey polled 4,841 people by computer between Nov. 16th and Dec 3rd 2006. The average person surveyed had been to Disney World 36 times and 58% had annual or season passes.

Even though Disney World did not participate it is believed officials aren’t displeased.

Here are more findings:

However Expedition Everest at Disneys Animal Kingdom (See out previous blog post with photo’s) received the highest average rating by adults and the Wishes Spectacular fireworks show at Magic Kingdom got the highest from the Kids.
I in fact went to Epcot last weekend and found it amazing, the test track would be one of my favorites. Soarin’ is great, but only lasts 5 minutes, hardly worth the 70 minute wait (this is in the off season) however it is spectacular.

Epcot is also known for is ‘11 countries’ which you can visit, these include, Morocco, America (which happened to be the biggest..of course!), Norway, Germany.. etc.. but of course GREAT BRITAIN!

The Great Britain area was very cute, it combined typical town homes you would find in London with the kind of cute chocolate box Cotsworlds town. (if you have been to Stow-on-the Wold you will know what I mean.. or even Winchester in Hampshire!) There are a couple of pubs, a fish and chip shop and a few quaint country stores. Very authentic.

All in all Disney represents as always a fun day out!

We all know that when the state of Florida comes to mind one of the first thoughts if Disney, SeaWorld and Universal Studios amongst others. Two Words: THEME PARKS.

However there is more to Florida, from the horse ranching country in the North, The Ocala National Forest, the rolling hills of Clermont and lakes of Lake and Polk County, the bright lights of Jacksonville and Miami, and the fishing city’s of Port Charlotte to the everglades and Keys in the south.

Florida is so much more that it first seems. Disney does own 27,000 acres of Central Florida, but the state is over 65,000 square miles! The margest cultural and metro area in the state is cosmopolitan Miami, the largest city by land area in the USA is located in Florida, Jacksonville spreading over 885 square miles. Also the St. John’s river that runs through Jacksonville is one of few rivers in the world that flows south to north. Lets not forget the Kennedy Space Center on the east coast.