Dr. Lili Nasseri - Freelance Travel and Health Writer

Ride the Movies in Orlando Maritime Traveller Times & Transcript, Moncton N.B. Published: Saturday Jan 5, 2008 Page: G5 Universal Orlando Resorts is a secluded oasis halfway between Walt Disney World and downtown Orlando. Though Disney World is geared at young children and the young at heart, Universal Orlando Resorts is decidedly for adults and older kids, especially those who love pop culture. The resort area consists of two theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, as well as City Walk which is an enormous dining, shopping and nightclub complex. There are also has three themed hotels within walking distance of all the attractions. An added advantage of staying at any of these three hotels is that your room key doubles as an express pass. That means you virtually never wait in line! You just show your card and walk up, ahead of everyone else, to the very front of the line. Definitely a perk worth splurging on considering waits can be an hour long or more on some rides. You can also purchase an express pass, without staying at one of the hotels, but this one only allows you to skip the lines once per ride. The first park, Universal Studios Florida is composed of six neighborhoods that sprawl across an impressive 444 acres of land. Entering the park you step onto the Plaza of the Stars, a road which takes you across movie sets in Production Central and into New York City where you can live through Twister and Revenge of the Mummy. From there, you travel to San Francisco where you can board a boat and experience Jaws. I recommend doing this ride at night, as it is especially scary when you don't see the shark approaching till the last minute. The next stop is World Expo where you can fight off aliens in Men in Black. There is a score at the end showing how many you were able to kill, so keep focused and try to get a side seat where you have a better angle. At last there is the Woody Woodpecker's KidZone with the forever popular E.T. Adventure where you get to bike across the starry night and bring E.T. home, just like in the movie. As the name implies, this is the only neighborhood with rides suitable for children. It is definitely not as big as Disney, but the rides and shows found here, more than make up for it. Children who love Barney get to meet the fluffy purple character after a live sing along show. There is also a free small waterpark for cooling off in the hot afternoon at Curious George Goes to Town. The final neighborhood is Hollywood which brings you right back to the Plaza of the Stars and to the front gates. If rides are not your thing, there are a multitude of shows playing throughout the day. Most of the favorites are: Fear Factor Live, Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue and Shrek 4-D. You can even sign up to be a contestant on Fear Factor. Make sure to save your spot early though, as they go quickly. My favorite theme park is the snazzier and newer Islands of Adventure. Here the rides are faster, wetter and overall more thrilling. You can join Spiderman on his Amazing Adventures, get soaked to the bone trying to help Dudley rescue Nell in a plume ride and meet some raptors and T-Rex in Jurassic Park River Adventure. If all that weren't enough, the park will be opening a much anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter in 2009. So this New Year, head South, get some sun, throw in some thrills, and best of all, take the opportunity to experience some your favorite movies, first hand. One last piece of advice, buy your tickets ahead of time. For a good deal, check out the parks official website, www.univacations.com or head to your local CAA. It'll not only save you money, but keep you from waiting in long lines in the heat, when you could be having fun inside the park.

Ride the Movies in Orlando

Maritime Traveller
Times & Transcript, Moncton N.B.
Published: Saturday Jan 5, 2008
Page: G5

Universal Orlando Resorts is a secluded oasis halfway between Walt Disney World and downtown Orlando.

Though Disney World is geared at young children and the young at heart, Universal Orlando Resorts is decidedly for adults and older kids, especially those who love pop culture.

The resort area consists of two theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, as well as City Walk which is an enormous dining, shopping and nightclub complex.

There are also has three themed hotels within walking distance of all the attractions. An added advantage of staying at any of these three hotels is that your room key doubles as an express pass. That means you virtually never wait in line! You just show your card and walk up, ahead of everyone else, to the very front of the line. Definitely a perk worth splurging on considering waits can be an hour long or more on some rides. You can also purchase an express pass, without staying at one of the hotels, but this one only allows you to skip the lines once per ride.

The first park, Universal Studios Florida is composed of six neighborhoods that sprawl across an impressive 444 acres of land. Entering the park you step onto the Plaza of the Stars, a road which takes you across movie sets in Production Central and into New York City where you can live through Twister and Revenge of the Mummy. From there, you travel to San Francisco where you can board a boat and experience Jaws. I recommend doing this ride at night, as it is especially scary when you don't see the shark approaching till the last minute.

The next stop is World Expo where you can fight off aliens in Men in Black. There is a score at the end showing how many you were able to kill, so keep focused and try to get a side seat where you have a better angle.

At last there is the Woody Woodpecker's KidZone with the forever popular E.T. Adventure where you get to bike across the starry night and bring E.T. home, just like in the movie. As the name implies, this is the only neighborhood with rides suitable for children. It is definitely not as big as Disney, but the rides and shows found here, more than make up for it. Children who love Barney get to meet the fluffy purple character after a live sing along show. There is also a free small waterpark for cooling off in the hot afternoon at Curious George Goes to Town.

The final neighborhood is Hollywood which brings you right back to the Plaza of the Stars and to the front gates.

If rides are not your thing, there are a multitude of shows playing throughout the day. Most of the favorites are: Fear Factor Live, Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue and Shrek 4-D. You can even sign up to be a contestant on Fear Factor. Make sure to save your spot early though, as they go quickly.

My favorite theme park is the snazzier and newer Islands of Adventure. Here the rides are faster, wetter and overall more thrilling. You can join Spiderman on his Amazing Adventures, get soaked to the bone trying to help Dudley rescue Nell in a plume ride and meet some raptors and T-Rex in Jurassic Park River Adventure. If all that weren't enough, the park will be opening a much anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter in 2009.

So this New Year, head South, get some sun, throw in some thrills, and best of all, take the opportunity to experience some your favorite movies, first hand. One last piece of advice, buy your tickets ahead of time. For a good deal, check out the parks official website, www.univacations.com or head to your local CAA. It'll not only save you money, but keep you from waiting in long lines in the heat, when you could be having fun inside the park.