Universal Studio Vacation

Exploring Universal Studios Florida

Everything in this motion picture theme park is designed to take visitors into the magical world of movie-making. Built with the help of Steven Spielberg as a creative consultant, the park opened in 1990 and its home to several state-of-the-art rides, shows and attractions - all based on popular films and television shows. Even the streets, shops and restaurants are reminiscent of Hollywood sets and the life-size reconstructions of New York and San Francisco are unbelievable realistic. The park is divided into six main sections - Production Central, New York, Hollywood, Woody Woodpecker's Kid Zone, World Expo and San Francisco/Amity.

Front Lot - The entrance to Universal Studios is known as Front Lot because it has been created to resemble the front lot of a working Hollywood film studio from the 1940's. Just inside the park, the palm-lined Plaza of the Stars has several shops, but do not linger here on arrival. Instead, you should immediately head off to the main attractions before the lines reach their peak.

Production Central - Production Central is where Hollywood meets Orlando, and the business of making movies meets the excitement of living them. Two of Universal's most popular rides are located here. Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast is a simulated adventure ride, which hurls you through space with the help of special effects, computer animations and programmable motion-based seats. Shrek 4-D, one of the newer attractions, is a fun-packed ride that features a 13-minute 3-D movie. The motion-simulated effects and special "OgreVision" glasses enable you to see, hear and almost feel the action right in your seat.

New York - Universal's reproduction of the Big Apple is uncannily realistic and captures the all the details very effectively. The area is home to more than 60 life-size facades, some of which replicate actual buildings in the city of New York. New York is also host to the virtual reality ride, Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride. Based on the phenomenally successful film, The Mummy, and its sequel, the ride combines extremely advanced special effects to take guests on a terrifying journey into the dark world of ancient Egypt. The other ride at New York is Twister...Ride It Out, based on the movie Twister. Away from the rides, guests can also head down Delancey Street to take in The Blues Brothers, a 20-minute live music stage show, where Jake and Elwood perform a medley of their biggest hits.

Hollywood - Two of the most attractive sets at Universal Studios are the streets of Hollywood Boulevard and Rodeo Drive. The glitz and glamour of the movie-making capital of the world has been re-created here. The magic of Hollywood is recognizable by the landmark buildings and star-covered sidewalks. The widely recognized Hollywood Walk of Fame has been faithfully reproduced. The top attraction in Hollywood is Terminator 2: 3-D. Designed with the help of James Cameron, the director of the Terminator movies. This exciting ride uses the latest in 3-D film technology and robotics, along with explosive live stunts and giant screens, to catapult the audience into a battle with futuristic cyborgs. Lucy - A Tribute acknowledges the talent of Lucille Ball, the queen of comedy. The museum showcases clips, props, and other memorabilia from the comedian's hit TV show, I Love Lucy. The den of Lucy's Beverly Hills home and the set of her show have been meticulously replicated. Another fascinating exhibit at Hollywood is the Universal Horror Make-Up Show. The attraction offers a behind-the-scenes look at how movies use makeup to create scary monsters and creepy effects.

Woody Woodpecker's Kid Zone - As the name suggest, this area caters specifically to preschoolers and younger children. Woody Woodpecker's KidZone is home to some of the most popular stars in children's entertainment, along with a variety of rides, shows and attractions that appeal to all ages. Rides, shows and attractions here have been designed to provide loads of fun with a minimum amount of scare factor. ET Adventure is an enchanting, if rather tame, ride. Riders board flying bicycles and embark on a mission to save ET's home planet. A Day in the Park with Barney appeals only to very young children. A musical show set in a magical park featuring the lovable T-Rex Barney. Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster is a gentle and child friendly introduction to the world of roller coasters. Curious George Goes to Town is a colorful playground with lots of water for kids to splash around in, as well as a ball area where they can play with hundreds of foam balls. Fievel's Playground features a playground as seen through the eyes of a mouse.

Wold Expo - World Expo has two major attractions; Men in Black - Alien Attack and Back to the Future...The Ride. Based on the Men in Black films, Men in Black - Alien Attack, is an addictive ride in which visitors join Agent J in a simulator, battling aliens who have escaped after their shuttle crashed on Earth. Each person has their own laser weapons and smoke bombs, and can earn bonus points by hitting certain aliens. At the end of the ride, Agent J rates the passengers on their scores. Locate nearby, Back to the Future...The Ride is one of Orlando's most intense rides. The car's movements are synchronized to the action on a gigantic wraparound screen, making it seem as though you really are plunging over a flow of molten lava and flying right into the mouth of a giant dinosaur.

San Francisco/Amity - Most of this area is based on San Francisco, notably the city's Fisherman's Wharf district. San Francisco's main draw is the amazing special effects ride, Earthquake - The Big One. The ride has a slow start with an educational show but things start picking up as you board a subway train for a short ride. Suddenly, an earthquake, measuring 8.3 on the Richter scale, hits the train station, and you are trapped as a propane truck bursts into flames, a runaway train comes hurtling at you and the station floods. Amity, the other half of this corner of Universal Studios, is named after the fictional village in New England that was the setting for Jaws. The Jaws ride begins as a serene cruise around the bay, but soon the deadly dorsal fin appears, and then a 32-ft long mechanical great white shark is tearing through the water toward your boat.