New Horror Nights Scare Zone a Sneak Peek?

There is only one week of Halloween Horror Nights left. The popular Halloween attraction is in its 19th year of production over at Universal Studios Orlando and it keeps drawing a massive amount of fans every year. Weekend dates sell out quickly since horror fanatics wait all year for this awesome event. This year’s “Ripped from the Silver Screen” event brought back classic horror icons like Chucky, Wolfman, Dracula, The Phantom of the Opera, Jigsaw and more. With great scare zones, haunted houses and the always fun Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure show which pokes fun at the year’s craziest pop culture moments, you’re guaranteed to have an awesome time.

This year’s scare zones featured WW2 zombie soldiers, circus freaks, wandering horror movie icons, contaminated people and the classic chainsaw guys. While the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit wasn’t open for rides when we checked out it, The Simpsons and Revenge of the Mummy were two of the attractions that were open for the night. But we just heard something quite strange from the Orlando theme parks world. Apparently, Halloween Horror Nights just created a brand new scare zone a week before its final days!

Back towards the New York section of Universal Studios, a dark alleyway has been converted into a scare zone. The details are scarce, but the Universal camp posted an ominous message on their Facebook page talking about spooky shadows and creatures of the night. Universal Studios is doing this as a test for fans lucky enough to get a peek at what’s to come for next year’s 20th anniversary event. At times Halloween Horror Nights has been held in Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, but the recent years have seen it at Universal Studios only. As for next year’s theme we’re already hearing wedding bells…could a “’Till Death Do Us Part” theme be in the minds of the Halloween Horror Nights creators? If you went to the event this year make sure you fill out the survey Universal Studios sends you to give your feedback on the event. We’re already psyched for the 20th year of this awesome event in 2010!

Our Night at Halloween Horror Nights

Halloween fans wait for this Universal Studios Orlando event every year. While plenty of Orlando theme parks have Halloween events only one can claim they have the Golden Ticket award and that’s Halloween Horror Nights. Well here at DWTickets.com, we finally got to check it out for ourselves and had a great time.

This year’s theme, Ripped from the Silver Screen, was evident as soon as you approached the Universal Studios Orlando gates. There was a giant screen playing clips from the best horror movies ever made. This year’s main character, The Usher, was also beckoning visitors to come in and experience the great scare zones and haunted houses the even had to offer. Scare zone wise, we loved the idea of the zombie soldiers. Considering all of the zombie madness going on right now with books like The Zombie Survival Guide and movies like Zombieland it’s always cool to see a “real” interpretation of the legendary creatures. It was great to see them carrying rifles in full soldier regalia as they ran after unsuspecting guests.

House wise, SAW had a crazy line for a reason. The people at Universal really took the time to incorporate scenes from the movies and even include TV monitors throughout the house. No matter where you went, Jigsaw was always talking to you and watching as the people around you were tortured. Frankenstein was frightening as well with plenty of scare actors in mechanical-like masks jumping out at every corner. Chucky’s house was completely disorienting as soon as you walked in! There was a whirling tunnel that would make those with even the strongest stomachs dizzy. But our favorite house wasn’t necessarily the scariest; it was the one that paid tribute to some of the greatest horror movie classics!

Silver Screams featured The Phantom of the Opera, The Strangers, My Bloody Valentine and our personal favorite Shaun of the Dead. To walk through a haunted house while Queen played through the speakers just like the famous final scene in Shaun of the Dead was one of the most memorable moments of Halloween Horror Nights 19. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure was also a great improvement from last year’s show, which focused too heavily on politics. There’s one more week left to check out Halloween Horror Nights, so make sure you get your tickets and head on over!

What’s New at Universal Orlando

The theme parks in Central Florida are always trying to re-invent themselves for their guests, offering new attractions, shows, restaurants and yearly celebrations to encourage guests to come back year after year – and to give them something to look forward to! Universal Orlando is no different – over the past year, and in the upcoming year, Universal has several new experiences that have either already opened or are on the horizon for every guest at the Universal Orlando Resort.

Perhaps the most anticipated and newest attraction to open at Universal is The Simpsons RIDE. Having just opened at Universal Studios Florida, guests follow their beloved characters from the hit TV show as they visit Krustyland, a low-budget theme park made by none other than Krusty the Clown! Join Homer, Marge and the gang as you travel through Krustyland for the ride of a lifetime, crashing through Krustyland’s attractions, stunt shows and rides. All of this takes place in vehicles that are before a large IMAX theater screen, as each vehicle creates the simulation of motion, speed and flight for a ride experience like none other!

Another unique experience at Universal is just outside the theme parks’ gates at CityWalk. Here, you can see Blue Man Group, a worldwide phenomenon that opened at Universal Orlando in June of 2007. Thought it may be reaching its one-year anniversary, this show is still making waves in Central Florida, as it combines a unique blend of music, comedy and theatrics that has brought a brand new entertainment option to the entire Orlando area for locals and tourists alike. If you go, plan on seeing a one-hour, 45-minute live stage show that brings an eclectic mix of live music, percussion instruments and humor that amazes and engages its audience with new and unique creativity never seen before. Whether you are seeing it for the first time or are a repeat guest, Blue Man Group should definitely be on your Universal Orlando itinerary!

Speaking of CityWalk, Universal’s newest restaurant is now open right here in this entertainment district. The Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant & Market is fun for the entire family, with mouth-watering entrees of what else – shrimp – along with other menu selections like seafood, steaks, sandwiches and desserts. And before you can say “Run, Forrest, Run!,” be sure to check out all of the memorabilia throughout the restaurant from the famous Oscar-winning film, “Forrest Gump.”

If you are looking for another new dining adventure at Universal, be sure to also check out Islands of Adventure’s all-new character breakfast. Join a host of animated characters each Thursday through Sunday morning from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Confisco Grille for the most important – and fun – meal of the day! Reservations are required for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (call 407-224-4012), and meal prices are $15.95 for adults and $9.95 for children.

Finally, if you are a wrestling fan, you won’t want to miss Total Nonstop Action Wrestling live at Universal Studios. Universal Studios day guests can be a part of the Spike TV show’s tapings and Pay Per View events for free at Universal Studios’ Soundstage 21 at the park. Tapings are held on select dates (the current schedule goes through May 27, 2008), and all seats are first-come, first served. Even non-Universal guests can enjoy these tapings for free – simply proceed to the SHARP Aquos Theatre at CityWalk, head to the right and follow the signs for the taping. For the most up-to-date information on the show, call 407-224-6000.

If any of the above shows or attractions interest you, all you have to do is one thing – come visit the Universal Orlando Resort today! And for an inexpensive way to see everything at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, including Blue Man Group, you have come to the right place. DWtickets.com is your No. 1 online source for discounted theme park tickets, so be sure to click here to save your family precious money on your next vacation. And, while you are here, check out our discounted ticket options for the other top attractions in Central Florida, including Disney, Sea World and local dinner shows, among others. We hope to see you real soon!

What’s New at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios (formerly known as Disney-MGM Studios) has more than just a new name in 2008. This park, which transports guests right into the movies with an array of attractions and shows, has a new daily afternoon parade and a few new attractions that are either already entertaining guests or will be in the coming months! To experience all of them for yourself, however, you have to have tickets to get into the theme park, and we have just the way for you to do it! DWTickets.com is your one-stop shop for discounted tickets to the Walt Disney World Resort and all of the other top attractions in Central Florida, from local dinner shows to Universal Orlando and all of the Sea World parks, including Sea World’s brand new water park, Aquatica! For tickets to everything above, simply click here to get started by perusing our discounted theme park tickets to Walt Disney World!

As we mentioned earlier, Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a brand new afternoon parade that has already debuted at the park, and this performance is more of a mobile stage show than a traditional parade that guests may be used to. The Block Party Bash originated in 2005 in Disney’s California Adventure Park, but moved over to Walt Disney World in mid-March, replacing the former Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade. This new daily spectacle combines almost 30 Disney Pixar characters, incredible floats, trampoline units, aerial acrobatics and upbeat music for a parade experience like no other! Disney’s Block Party Bash also doubles as an interactive street party, with choreographed performance stops along the route where dancers, acrobats, jumping stilts, electric scooters and your favorite Disney Pixar characters from films like “Toy Story,” “The Incredibles” and “Monsters, Inc.” mesmerize the crowd. If your vacation plans include a stop at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, don’t miss this mid-afternoon parade that is sure to knock your socks off!

In addition to the Block Party Bash, Disney’s Hollywood Studios also has a few attractions that have recently been added and a couple more that are on the way! The High School Musical Pep Rally, a stage show that takes place in front of Mickey’s sorcerer hat, transports guests into the halls and onto the basketball court of East Side High School. In addition to performances from all of your favorite songs from the popular Disney Channel movies, you can learn new dance moves and cheer along with your favorite characters at this one-of-a-kind pep rally! Another new show at the Studios is Playhouse Disney - Live on Stage! This live musical has recently changed casts and now features a 20-minute performance with characters from the Disney Channel shows “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” “Handy Manny” and “Little Einsteins.”

Even more fun is on the way to Disney’s Hollwood Studios in 2008! Projected to open in May 2008, Toy Story Mania will be similar to the Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at the Magic Kingdom Park, except more high-tech. Billed as a “4-D” ride, guests will put on 3-D glasses that will instantly shrink you to toy size, and then you will wind your way through a midway to play games and see characters from the “Toy Story” films! Each guest will be armed with a toy cannon to play all of these games, and each target that you hit will be worth a certain amount of points, while some special targets will bring you even more fun surprises!

Finally, Disney’s Hollywood Studios has partnered with Simon Fuller’s 19 Entertainment and FreMantleMedia for the opening of an “American Idol” attraction that is slated to open in late 2008. Guests who enter the park and register will be able to audition in front of a producer. From there, the best performers will then perform in front of a panel of judges and a live audience of park guests, with the winners (whoever receives the most amount of votes) from each show advancing on to that evening’s Grand Finale performance. The winner of this daily event is then given a pass to use at a future American Idol audition to bypass the lines and sing immediately in front of producers of the show at one of these regional competitions. While this does not ensure that the winners will then advance to sing in front of the show’s actual judges, it does eliminate the waiting process! Since “American Idol” is only open to participants from 16-28 years old, daily winners who are not in that age group can transfer their pass to a friend of family member, or in the case of someone under the age of 16, they can save their pass for a future competition.

To experience all of these shows, parades and attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, be sure to go ahead and purchase your advance, discounted theme park tickets right here at DWTickets.com!

Orlando Theme Park Vacations for Couples

Orlando vacations used to equal Walt Disney World and Mickey Mouse that is so not the case anymore. Orlando is a the theme park Mecca of the world, and you can get discount Orlando attraction tickets right now that will make your Orlando vacation more memorable than ever.

Orlando vacations aren’t just about Disney World anymore
Although you can have a great time at the Walt Disney World Resort as a couple, there are other Orlando attractions that don’t envelop you in walking, talking birth control. There will almost always be kids around, but you can shape your Orlando theme park vacation around your needs and leave the little ones to their parents.

Universal Orlando Resort caters to adults while staying young at heart
The Universal Orlando Resort has two separate theme parks: Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure. Both parks offer unique ride experiences, great entertainment and superb couple memories.

• Universal Studios Orlando is the place on your Orlando vacation where you can “Ride the Movies.” Here you will walk into your favorite films and stroll around in live action movie and TV sets.
• Islands of Adventure has themed lands like Seuss Landing and the Lost Continent that bring your imagination to life and the rides follow along.

Orlando’s Worlds of Discovery offer furry and flippered fun
SeaWorld and Discovery Cove both have interactive animal experiences that are fun for all ages and cozy for couples.

• Discovery Cove is your best choice if you actually want to relax on your Orlando vacation. Swim with tropical fish, hand feed exotic birds, work on your tan on a white sandy beach, eat a gourmet lunch, and – oh yeah – swim with a dolphin or two. Sound like your idea of vacation? Then get your Discovery Cove tickets today!
• SeaWorld also has its share of fun for two. There are great shows to share, a couple crazy coasters, and of course, those cute and cuddly animals to play with. Great honeymoon photos abound at Sea World, and cheap SeaWorld tickets can be found right here!

And this just barely scratches the surface of Orlando vacation fun for couples. Orlando is a major theme park vacation destination, and the Orlando attractions have something for everyone to enjoy.

Orlando Attraction Coasting for Kids

Roller coasters for the little ones and the cheap Orlando attraction tickets to ride them

We recently told you about all the great roller coasters at your favorite Orlando attractions. Some are pretty wild and definitely not appropriate for the young ones. So here is the scoop on where you can take the kids for some wild rides of their own.

As always, the first stop on your journey has to be at DWTickets.com, where you can get all of your cheap Orlando attraction tickets in one place. Then we’re off on a kiddie coaster cruise:

SeaWorld Orlando

• The Shamu Express in Shamu’s Happy Harbor is a fantastic first coaster experience!
  Must be at least 38” to ride.

Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa Bay

• Cheetah Chase can be hunted down in the heart of Timbuktu. Features 5 stories of family coaster coolness. Riders must be 46” or taller and at least 6 years old.

Big and little kids are crazy for these mini-coasters, and big kids are crazy for the cheap Sea World tickets and bargain Busch Gardens tickets at DWTickets.com!

Disney’s Magic Kingdom

• The Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm is in Mickey’s Toontown® Fair.
  Tiny crop-dusters have to be at least 35” tall.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• The Primeval Whirl® in Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama spins into prehistory.
  Little tikes over 48” tall will think this swirling spinner is swell.
  
  The only thing you need to enjoy these terrific tiny thrillers is a ticket, and you will get a giant thrill over the cheap Disney tickets you will find right here at DWTickets.com!

Universal’s Islands of Adventure

• The illusive Flying Unicorn can be found in The Lost Continent.
  Little ones must be at least 36” tall to ride, and anyone under 48” needs to bring along a grown up.

Universal Studios Orlando

• Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster takes a wild ride through Woody’s very own nut factory in Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone®.

You and your kids will go nuts over these two kid-errific coasters at the Universal Orlando Resort. You will also be nuts about the discount Universal tickets at DWTickets.com. Get yours today and start those kids on some coaster craziness!

Celebrating Your Love in Orlando

Ok so its likely that thoughts of Mickey Mouse and Shamu swarm your mind when you ponder an Orlando vacation but Central Florida has its share of romantic escapes too. If you’re looking for a way to rekindle that old flame this Valentine’s Day, DWTickets.com has what you need: discount tickets to whichever theme park may be your heart’s desire.

A day spent at Discovery Cove is just the thing to spark the romance in any relationship. The bottlenose dolphins at this hidden oasis are excellent at helping you propose marriage, and with three Valentine’s Day packages available through February 29, they will delightfully swim over to drop off your notes of adoration and special gifts too.

The Valentine Honey Package includes a personalized love message on a keepsake buoy, a souvenir photo with frame and decadent chocolate treats. The Valentine Sweetheart Package adds in a personal beach cabana fronting Dolphin Lagoon and a champagne toast for two.

The Valentine Romance Package pulls out all the stops. It combines the Honey and Sweetheart Packages and enhances them with a dozen red roses and a keepsake DVD to look back on your amazing day! All special occasion package costs are in addition to Discovery Cove admission, which you can find discounted right here at your one-stop ticket shop, DWTickets.com!

If the beach isn’t your thing, Cypress Gardens invites you to express your love at the Bows and Arrows Valentine Festival the weekend of February 14-17. Couples celebrating here can renew their wedding vows in a special ceremony while shrouded in the beauty of the park’s Topiary Gardens. A special package includes the renewal ceremony, a commemorative certificate and a souvenir photograph to remind you of your love and this extraordinary day. After you retake that plunge, enjoy a magical ride around the park on a horse-drawn carriage or a dreamy stroll through the exquisite botanical gardens with nothing on your mind but each other. Later, enjoy an amorous dinner and champagne toast on the patio at Aunt Julie’s.

Kids need love too, so on the less romantic side, the young ones can stop by the Valentine Headquarters and create a unique – if not so lovey-dovey – one-of-a-kind Cypress Gardens Valentine.

It doesn’t matter what theme park you choose for your heartfelt celebration, you will love the cheap theme park tickets available at DWTickets.com.