Universal Orlando USA Specials

Universal 1-Day or 2-Day Pass with Shuttle Transportation

Take a day away from the Disney World Parks to visit both Universal Orlando Resort theme parks – Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure where you can experience both lands of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™!

Book a 1-Day or 2-Day Pass to Universal Orlando USA with shuttle transportation included in the ticket. This special ticket is only available with select companies, including Destinations in Florida.

Get a Free Day to Play For a limited time, buy a 2-Day Pass and get your 3rd day FREE! This special discount ends on April 12.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ Exclusive Vacation Package

If you are a Harry Potter fan, you will want to book The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ Exclusive Vacation Package. This exclusive package includes breakfast at Three Broomsticks and breakfast at Leaky Cauldron.

This package also has Early Park Admission, complimentary resort transportation, and even an exclusive photo opportunity with Shutterbutton’s™ Photography Studio. This discount package is perfect for any Harry Potter family!

Limited Time Offer!

For Bookings now through August 22, receive free ± Universal’s SuperStar Shuttle roundtrip transportation from Orlando International Airport– a savings of $35††per person (ages 3 and above) – when booking a 4-night or longer vacation package at Universal Orlando’s newest resort, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort.

Request a Price Online

Room Tour at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is the flagship resort at Walt Disney World. It’s decor reflects the style, the elegance and the splendor of the Victorian era. Here’s a room tour of a standard room in the Sago Cay building.

Sago Cay is considered an Outer Building since it’s detached from the main lobby building. The standard room sleeps up to 5 adults in several available bed / room configurations.  The rooms at Disney’s Grand Floridian are recently refurbished and feature hardwood entry and bath area and freshly carpeted sleeping areas. The bathroom features a tub and toilet behind a door leaving double sinks still accessible.

There is also a large closet with plush robes and a small desk and sitting area. Remember to look around for hidden Mickey’s because you will find a couple in the Grand Floridian rooms!

In addition to the beautiful rooms, this lavish bayside hotel offers monorail access to Disney’s Magic Kingdom park, other resorts and the Ticket and Transportation Center. You can also catch a boat to Magic Kingdom or other area resorts. When it’s time to relax, play at the beach pool or bask on the white-sand beach. Visit the spa for a massage or facial or rent a boat to tour the adjacent lake. In the evenings, catch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the comfort of your resort! Don’t forget to dine at any one of the gorgeous restaurants at Disney’s Grand Floridian, too!

“Frozen”-themed Gingerbread Display and Shop Now Open

A Gingerbread ice castle themed after Disney’s “Frozen” is now open for guest viewing at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. It is adorned with sugar snowflakes, gingerbread shingles and chocolate-coated trees, and Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff and Sven are decorated with sugar, chocolate and candy. In all, 423 pounds of chocolate and 311 pounds of honey went into the creation. While you can’t eat the house, there’s a special blue raspberry cake “Frozen” gelato, plus gingerbread and sugar cookies, snowflake ornaments, linzer and the popular chocolate-peppermint cookies all available for purchase. Or you can take home a build-your-own Olaf snowman kit! There’s even a gluten free Gingerbread Boy from Erin McKenna’s Bakery!

Olaf is enjoying some summer fun with a huge sugar sandcastle, and there’s even a cake inspired by Frozen Fever! Plus, Elsa’s snowgies are popping up throughout the sweet scene!

And don’t forget to search for the 15 hidden Olafs! How many can you see in this video of the gingerbread display?

This display is located on the 4th floor at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Disney’s Contemporary is just one of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels to display an artistic and delicious creation. Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa also have magnificent creations for all guests to admire. They all offer gingerbread and other treats for sale too.

Have you ever purchased a gingerbread treat from these Disney displays? How was it?

SKYPLEX World Record Setting Attractions Coming to I-Drive

Orlando’s tourist corridor on International Drive will get some distinctively vertical additions to its skyline by 2018 with the development of SKYPLEX!

SKYPLEX will feature the area’s largest indoor theme park complete with upscale arcading, simulators, bars, and a host of rides and games, as well as additional opportunities for attractions, interactive venues, restaurants and retail. SKYPLEX also will include a 350-room hotel and 2400-car parking garage with a valet parking option. The Skyscraper observation deck will offer views 535 feet from the ground and will be accessible by the region’s tallest glass elevators.

The biggest thrills at SKYPLEX will come from it’s world record setting attractions, including The Skyscraper “polercoaster” and the 450-foot drop ride, SkyFall!

Developers David and Joshua Wallack announced this week that The Skyscraper at SKYPLEX™ will now include a 524-foot vertical lift coming 24 feet under the ground and up to its ultimate height of 501 feet. This will be the fourth world record planned for the Skyscraper “polercoaster” including the world’s tallest roller coaster, world’s tallest inversion, and the world’s steepest drop. The Skyscraper “polercoaster” is the anchor attraction at SKYPLEX™.

The Wallacks also announced that SKYPLEX’s surf park SkySurf will contain the world’s largest man-made surfing wave pool, bringing six overall world records to the entertainment complex including the previously announced SkyFall, the world’s tallest drop ride, and four for The Skyscraper.

SKYPLEX will comprise approximately 1.5 million square feet located on 14 prime acres in the Orlando attraction’s corridor. It will also include SkyFly free fall zip line, simulators and a host of rides and games, as well as additional opportunities for attractions, interactive venues, upscale restaurants, bars and retail. SKYPLEX will have a 2400 space parking garage and valet option.

Are you brave enough to take on these world record setting attractions?

Each year, thousands of newlyweds choose Orlando for their honeymoon. While often thought of as a family destination because of the local theme parks, there are many wonderfully romantic things to do while on your honeymoon in Orlando.

• Dinner at Capa: Capa is a Spanish steakhouse located on the top floor of the Four Seasons Orlando. Not only is it one of the most romantic spots to dine, if you eat there later in the evening, you are able to view both the Magic Kingdom and Epcot’s firework shows. They offer a full bar and various entrees with the lamb rack being my favorite. Capa is open from 6pm-10pm each night. Reservations are strongly suggested but not required.

• Get a Massage: While there are many spas and salons to choose from when looking to schedule a massage, my favorite is Woodhouse Day Spa located in Dr. Phillips, near Universal. They have a variety of packages both individual and for couples at a reasonable price. You can have couples massages, facials, manicures, and pedicures while enjoying the quiet atmosphere. I highly recommend taking a break from the thrill rides to spend one day relaxing together.

• Rent a Swan Boat on Lake Eola: While this may sound a bit childish, Lake Eola is a beautiful lake located in downtown Orlando. Beside Relax Grill, there is a boat dock with Swan boats. Prices begin at $15 for a half an hour. My favorite thing about these boats is that the backdrop to your romantic evening on the lake is the skyline of Downtown Orlando. For a more romantic effect, go around sunset. There are many restaurants and shops surrounding the lake where you can spend the day shopping and eating.

• Spend a Friday or Saturday night at Bosendorfer Lounge: There are no other places in Orlando that are more romantic and sexy than Bosendorfer Lounge. Enjoy evening cocktails and live jazz music. With comfortable chairs and couches and a darkened room with wood and red upholstery, it is one of the most romantic date places in Orlando.

• See a Show: There are so many great shows to see in the Orlando area. If you are into Broadway productions or concerts, you can take in a show at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts located in Downtown Orlando. They have concerts as well as constantly running Broadway shows. You can also see the Blue Man Group, which is the classic high energy show that will not only excite but entertain as well. Blue Man Group is located in CityWalk in Universal Studios Florida. Finally, Cirque du Soleil is a great show where you watch acrobats perform to music. It is located at Disney Springs.

If you are honeymooning in Orlando, don’t forget to come out of the theme parks to enjoy some lesser known romantic adventures in the city.  Kristi Gregory lives in Orlando with her husband and two boys.  Who better to plan a trip to Universal than a local who visits Universal multiple times a week?  Her clients enjoy insider tips, personalized itinerary planning, and attention to every detail of your trip.  Call Kristi at (859) 229-4840  or email to start planning your next vacation. 

Orlando Crayola Experience Family Fun

One of the newest attractions in Orlando is the Crayola Experience at the Florida Mall.  This amazing attraction is filled with fun for the whole family.  There are over 25 activities to draw, color, paint and so much more.

From Crayola Experience Web Site:

Crayola Experience is a family attraction that only Crayola can create, designed to be a full day of hands-on creative play and colorful fun! It’s where every child’s creation is wonderfully unique – just like them!

Discover the magic of color with 25 hands-on attractions.  More than 70,000 square feet of wonderful, whimsical adventures await your family at this one-of-a-kind attraction located in Orlando, Florida.

In a single day, you and your child can do everything from starring in your own coloring page to animating your creations on a huge digital projection.
You will see how crayons are made in a live theatre show starring our animated crayon friends, Scarlet & Turk, and our resident Crayonologist – or you can personalize an authentic crayon label to create your own Crayola crayon.
Check out our attractions tab for a complete list of all our unique experiences.

The Crayola Experience will be open year round.  Specializing in colorful birthday parties, group outings, educational field trips and special events.

Agent Review of Castaway Cay Island

Our agent, Regina Cwiklinski, shares her experience of Castaway Cay Island.  This is just one of the stops during a Disney Cruise Bahamas and Caribbean Cruise. 

I did my first Disney cruise on March 2014.  I had heard so much about Castaway Cay and how amazing it was and I thought, “it’s a little island, how much can there be to do?”

Wow! I stepped of the Disney Magic Cruise Ship and onto Castaway Cay and instantly understood all the hype!  You are greeted by these guys who instantly set the mood for your day—fun and laughter!

The beach was amazing—a fun family section with a water slide, tubes, snorkeling gear and all the adventure.  There is even an adult’s only section when you just want some peace and quiet.  Other fun activities include biking around the island, Castaway Cay’s 5k run/walk, and hiking. I took advantage of the hiking and fell in love with all the beautiful flowers and plants.

Your lunch is included as well—a delicious Caribbean feast with fish, ribs, burgers, fresh fruit, salads and dessert. There is a bar for kid beverages and adult beverages.

If you have not had a chance to try out Disney Cruise Line and take advantage of all the fun on Castaway Cay I highly recommend contacting your travel agent today to find out how you can experience this hidden gem for yourself. 

Written by Regina Cwiklinski Travel Planner for Destinations to Explore.

Imagine meeting the world’s largest Ape on the streets of New York City and barely escaping with your life.  This was the scene for Universal Studios Florida’s Kongfrontation ride.  The ride opened on June 7th, 1990 and closed on September 8th, 2002.  

The special effects made you feel like you were right there amongst all the screaming and turmoil when King Kong attacked New York City.  News reports are seen on monitors just as you are about to leave, about Kong escaping and wreaking havoc on the streets of New York City.  You then see overturned cars, broken fire hydrants, derailed elevated trains and exploding power transformers.  You feel like you just barely escaped Kong’s wrath.  

After narrowly escaping the attack, you crossed over the river and just when you think everything is okay, **BAAM**, you are face to face with Kong himself.  As the tram approaches Kong, he tries to grab, and lift you, and then drops it after he was fired upon by police helicopters.  After escaping Kong for the second time, you will see yourself on the TV monitors in the trams, and you can watch yourselves on the ride as part of the breaking news report.  You arrive safely on Roosevelt Island, but Kong was not defeated.  Will he return?  Is Kong on his way back to Universal?  Watch the news and find out.

Written by JoAnne Traczek:  I am a retired Veteran who is enjoying helping people travel all over the world!  I enjoy planning all your travel needs, no matter what you need or where you go.  I have seen a great part of the world and love to share my knowledge with people who enjoy traveling.  Contact me when you want to see the world.  I will help you, one destination at a time.  You can reach me at joanne@destinationsinflorida.com.

Loews Sapphire Falls Resort is Universal Orlando® Resort’s new island jewel. The Caribbean-inspired Loews Sapphire Falls Resort will transport guests to a paradise where blue waterfalls cascade across lush grounds and the invitation to cool relaxation is everywhere. Reminiscent of a leisurely estate in the heart of the tropics, every comfort has been built into this brand new jewel.

Guests enjoy exclusive theme park benefits including:

Book now to be among the first to enjoy this incredible new property at Universal Orlando Resort!

Call 877-918-8941 or Click Here to Request a Quote

 

†Requires theme park admission. Early Park Admission begins one (1) hour prior to regular scheduled park opening to one (1) Universal Orlando theme park as determined by Universal Orlando. Valid at select attractions at each park. Universal Orlando Resort reserves the right to open alternative attractions in the event that a technical problem arises or an attraction opening is delayed. Additional restrictions may apply.

Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa situated on the North Side of Oahu; Hawaii is a premier Disney Destination for every type of traveler. If you want the romance of the islands, then come on in. You want a Disney themed Family Trip; you’ve hit it. You want it all, Aulani can accommodate you.

Aulani is unlike any other Disney Resort or Disney Spa. It’s situated out in the Pacific Ocean for starters, on a Disney made lagoon, with the most incredible pool and spa areas. They have taken the legendary Disney Service, Attention to Detail and Beauty and paired it with Hawaiian Heritage. Aulani does not ever let you forget that you are at a Disney Resort In Hawaii. Hang with Uncle at the firepit as he tells you the tales passed down over generations of Hawaiians or see how many Menehune you can find throughout the resort.

Clearly being on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean means that you’ll find water, lots of it. Aulani doesn’t disappoint. If the beach and lagoon aren’t for you, head over to the lazy river and float throughout the interior of the resort. Want more thrills? Head up the volcano to the water slides. Want to learn to snorkel but are afraid? Head over into “Rainbow Reef: Disney made snorkeling Lagoon and learn with the safety of lifeguards watching over you. Plus this Rainbow Reef Pool houses ever native species known to Hawaii, and a few surprise Hidden treasures. Bring your underwater camera, you won’t regret it!

From the Pools, adventure trails,  the beach with their activities, the spa, Aunty’s Beach House Kid’s Club, the restaurants, shaved ice, incredible sunsets, movies on the lawn, and so much more, there really isn’t one way to enjoy Aulani.

When Daniel isn’t sharing Planning Tips about Aulani, other Disney Vacations and more, he can be found planning Vacations. Contact him today!