There are exciting new things happening every day at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida! Join us every week to read about what’s new “Around the Universe.” This week’s Universal Orlando Resort News update features: new theme park ticket discounts, new merchandise locations, live events and much more!
What’s New This Week?
Universal Orlando Theme Parks
New! Buy Two, Get third Day Free Offer: Universal Orlando Resort announced the return of the resort’s popular 3rd Day Free Offer for U.S. and Canada residents – giving them a third day FREE with the purchase of a 2-day park ticket. This offer gives visitors even more time to enjoy the trip of a lifetime to Universal Orlando’s two theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Offer valid for purchase through June 7, 2015 and is valid for 14 days from the first use – must be used in full by June 20, 2015. Current price of a 2-day, park-to-park ticket is $175.99 per adult, plus tax. Blockout dates apply Dec. 26, 2014 – Jan. 3, 2015. To book, contact Becca at 757-532-1438 or email her at Becca@Destinationsinflorida.com.
New! Buy Two, Get Third Day Free Offer with Vacation Package: Visitors can make it a special vacation by adding a stay at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort with a discounted vacation package starting at $425 per adult, tax inclusive. Package also includes: 2-Day, Park-to-Park with 3rd Day Free ticket offer, 3-nights stay at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour before the theme park opens. Special vacation package rates are also available at Universal Orlando’s additional resort hotels Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and select Universal Partner Hotels. To book, contact Becca at 757-532-1438 or email her at Becca@Destinationsinflorida.com.
New! Film Vault Store at Universal Studios: Now there’s a new way to enjoy your favorite movie classics at the all-new store at Universal Studios Florida, Film Vault. Located across from the entrance of TRANSFORMERS: The Ride – 3D, Film Vault is the perfect place to purchase classic memorabilia from your favorite movies like E.T. Extra Terrestrial, JAWS, Ghostbusters, Back to the Future and many more. Choose from merchandise like t-shirts, plush toys, mugs and jackets to complete your perfect movie collection.
New! Park Plaza Holiday Shop Opens: Universal’s newest merchandise shop features a Christmas or Holiday theme. The store is called Park Plaza Holiday Shop and is now open and offers an assortment of themed decor featuring franchises and characters found at Universal Orlando such as Despicable Me, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Simpsons, Betty Boop, and others. The store is located across from Transformers, near Gramercy Park.
New! Universal Corporate Executive Chef Offers Unique Halloween Recipe: Chef Steve Jayson put together a recipe for making Asian-inspired “Bat” Wings that are delicious to eat—and sure to be a big hit at your Halloween party. Check-out this video where he shows you how you can make our Bat Wings at home. You can also get the full recipe here.
New! Select Nights of Halloween Horror Nights Extended: Get your tickets with one extra hour of scares for 10/12, 10/16, 10/19, 10/22, 10/30, and 10/31.
New! Steve Harvey Live Tapings in November: For the first time ever, the Steve Harvey Show is going on the road! They will set up shop at Universal Orlando Resort to tape 5 adventure-packed, fun filled shows and you can be there! Want to be in the audience for these tapings? Will you be in Orlando on November 4th, November 5th and November 6th? Visit Steve Harvey web site.
Reminder! Halloween Horror Nights Announces The Compound: Universal Orlando Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights 24 has introduced a new social media experience that gives fans the opportunity to join The Compound and win prizes on each event night. To enter, fans must join The Compound, gather their Recon Squad of friends and RSVP for a Recon Mission on a select event night. On the night of their choosing, fans must execute a number of in-park photo challenges on Twitter or Instagram to complete their mission. Fans who submit the photo of their Recon Squad at Halloween Horror Nights will be entered for a chance to win one of the Halloween Horror Nights nightly giveaways, including Halloween Horror Nights 24 gear. In addition to the giveaways, fans that join The Compound will have the opportunity to enter for a chance to win a variety of prizes, including: Tickets to the event on a night of their choosing, the opportunity to transform into a scareactor for a night, the chance to win seats to an exclusive movie screening, 10-disc or 15-disc box sets of “Halloween” and more!
Reminder! New Theme Park Ticket Offer for Active Duty and Retired Members of the Military: Eligible service members can purchase a 1-Day Park-to-Park Ticket and get 2 days FREE. That is three days enjoying both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida for the price of one. This special military offer is valid for purchase by active duty, reservist military and retired military service members, Department of Defense employees and/or spouses with valid military photo ID. Eligible service members may purchase up to 6 tickets with this offer. This offer is available for purchase now through November 30, 2014, and tickets must be used in full by December 14, 2014. Tickets are activated at either Universal Orlando theme park, with the eligible service member required to be present with a valid military photo ID to activate the ticket. Admission is valid for up to 14 days from first use. In addition, active duty and retired military personnel can make it a special vacation or long weekend by adding a stay at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort with a discounted vacation package.
Reminder! One Direction Free Concert November 17 2014 and One Direction Vacation Packages: One Direction is going to be at Universal Orlando Resort on Monday, November 17 2014 for a special performance for NBC’s TODAY! FREE public viewing will be available throughout Universal CityWalk and no admission is required to attend! You read that correctly, One Direction free concert! Now, if you really want to dial up your visit to see 1D, head into Universal Studios Florida (admission required) and hitch a ride on a specially themed “Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit” roller coaster featuring music from One Direction. Then, hang around for a special One Direction version of the ”Universal Cinematic Spectacular” nighttime show. Oh, and to top it all off, the swanky new Cabana Bay Beach Resort hotel will also feature One Direction theming – including specially recorded wake-up calls from the Niall, Zayn, Liam, Harry, and Louis themselves. More info. To book, contact Becca at 757-532-1438 or email her at Becca@Destinationsinflorida.com.
Universal Orlando Resort Hotels
New! Halloween-themed “Velvet Sessions” event featuring Molly Hatchet Oct 30, 2014: Velvet Bar hosts the city’s only rock ‘n’ roll cocktail party on the last Thursday of the month. Admission is $50 on-line for this special event and includes specialty drinks and finger foods from 6:30 pm until show time, live music and cash bars from show time onward, and valet parking**. After the show, our guests can hang out in Velvet Bar.
Reminder! The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ Exclusive Vacation Package Dates Extended: Experience all the magic and excitement with this exclusive vacation package including admission to both Universal Orlando® theme parks, hotel accommodations, Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ one hour before the theme parks open, breakfast at the Three Broomsticks™ and the new Leaky Cauldron™, receive an Owl Post Welcome Gift and more! Purchase now through December 10, 2014 with select travel through December 18, 2014. Prices starting from $109 per adult, per night, tax inclusive.
Universal CityWalk
New! Judas Priest to Play Hard Rock Live Oct 29: Judas Priest with special guest Steel Panther will perform at Hard Rock Live at Universal CityWalk on Oct 29 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $124.50 for lower balcony, $74.50 upper balcony and $49.50 general admission. Doors open at 6:30pm. More info: 407-351-LIVE (5483).
New! Classic Albums Live – The Beatles ‘Help’ to Play Hard Rock Live Nov 7: Classic Albums Live is a concert series based in Toronto, Ontario, in which musicians perform a classic rock album in its entirety. The performers are a group of studio musicians and vocalists that perform the albums LIVE using the instrumentation used on the original recording…cut for cut…note for note. The Beatles ‘Help’ will be performed at Hard Rock Live at Universal CityWalk on Nov 7 at 8:00pm. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 day of show. $15 in advance and $20 day of show for general admission standing perimeter. Doors open at 7:00pm. More info: 407-351-LIVE (5483).
New! The Fresh Beat Band to Play Hard Rock Live Nov 8: The Fresh Beat Band, Nickelodeon’s preschool music group and stars of the Emmy Award-winning TV series of the same name, head back on the road for a brand-new nationwide concert tour Nov. 5–Feb. 15. The Fresh Beat Band will perform at Hard Rock Live at Universal CityWalk on Nov 8 at 6:30pm. Tickets are $59 First 2 Rows and Balcony Tables, $49 reserved upper balcony, $27.50 Reserved main floor and upper balcony. Meet and Greet packages also available. Doors open at 5:30pm. More info: 407-351-LIVE (5483).
Reminder! NASCAR Sports Grille to Close Nov 1: On September 27, 2014, Universal posted an update on its Facebook Page indicating that NASCAR Sports Grille will permanently close November 1. It will remain open for lunch or dinner until Nov 1. No replacement has been announced yet.
Closures and Refurbishments
Universal’s Islands of Adventure
- The Mystic Fountain: closed for seasonal maintenance 10/15 – 10/17
Universal Studios
- Fear Factor Live: Closed for seasonal maintenance
Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular®: No shows currently scheduled. Check back following Halloween Horror Nights (event runs through November 1, 2014).
Jason Mayhew
My name is Jason Mayhew, and I am the owner of OFF On The Go. When not traveling with the website, I own my own marketing and PR company, J Mayhew Marketing. I have the best job where I get to travel the world and showcase the most amazing and unique experiences!
