Tag Archives: Harry Potter

Universal’s Islands of Adventure wins best theme-park award

Universal’s Islands of Adventure wins Theme Park Insider – best theme park award

Orlando theme parks fared very well in this year’s Theme Park Insider Awards, scoring victories in three of the four categories.

For the second consecutive year, Universal’s Islands of Adventure won best theme park.

Star Tours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios was named best new attraction.

Epcot’s Bistro de Paris earned the best theme park restaurant for the second year in a row.

The Theme Park Insider Awards are based on average reader ratings on www.themeparkinsider.com over the past 12 months.

No doubt Wizarding World of Harry Potter contributed to IOA getting top reviews.

Busch Gardens in Tampa was a runner-up for best theme park. Cheetah Hunt, the new coaster at Busch Gardens, fell just short of the best new attraction prize.

In the restaurant category, multiple winner Mythos at Islands of Adventure, and Epcot’s Via Napoli were runners-up.

Universal’s Portofino Bay and Disney World’s Beach Club Resort were voted runners-up in the hotel division by the website’s readers.

Yet another reason we love Orlando!

Enjoy!

Bill Cowie

The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Opens Today

Today, June 18th 2010, Universal Orlando officially opens the doors for their latest theme park feature – The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

This new section of Universal’s Islands of Adventure is all about immersing visitors into the “Harry Potter” universe. All of the landmarks,  characters and strange food items are around in cool shops and park employees are dressed as members of the wizarding community to enhance the effect.

Queues are likely to be long in the summer so watch out for sunburn and dehydration.

Find out more on Universals Orlando’s site:  http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter

Harry Potter Coming To Orlando!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal.

Harry Potter’s World of Wizardy in coming to Universal in 2010!

Some early information can be found here and at the Universal link below.

http://www.harrypotterspage.com/images/photogallery/displayimage.php?album=137&pos=9

http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/

You can request email updates of how the attraction is coming along.

Universal Studio’s Posts Record 3rd Quarter Profit

Universal Studios in Orlando Florida had a bumper summer with an attendance level topping 3.1 million visitors! A 12% Increase over Sumer 2006 and the first summer increase since 2004.

Similarly Walt Disney World posted year on year increases! Similarly SeaWorld are expecting to post record numbers.

Universal are not only posting bumper numbers but the visitors are also spending more! They believe that the increase is due to the publicity of the blue man group as well as the coming Simpsons ride and the long anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter in just over a year!

The figures are great for the tourist industry as a whole in the Orlando area.

Universal Studios Orlando, Florida gets new “Simpsons” attraction

Visitors to Universal Studios will see a change to their lineup, the once classic ride "Back to the Future" was closed at the end of 2006 in California and in March in Florida, to make way for a new ride which has now been announced…

The Simpsons have come to Orlando! Well.. they will do it is estimated that a re-fit of the BTTF ride to make it in to the Simpsons will cost around $30 million.

There is rumoured to even be costumed characters in the parks! Interestingly there is even more rumours about J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter being brought to Universal in the near future.. however only time will tell.