Ring in the New Year at Universal Studios

We’ve kept you in the know about all the New Year’s Eve festivities over at Walt Disney World, and now it’s Universal Studios Orlando's turn. Though Walt Disney World might have some of the best fireworks shows and parades on December 31st for a memorable, family-friendly way to ring in the New Year, Universal Studios is where the party’s at. You can bid a particularly fond farewell to 2008 and rock in 2009 at Universal CityWalk with the "Takin’ the Party to the Streets" celebration on December 31st, from 8pm to 2 am.

In this wild, end-of-the-year celebration, it’s all about the music and food in a raucous street party that will say hello to 2009 with a bang. Live performances from the Doobie Brothers and other bands will keep the streets of CityWalk grooving all night long, along with music in every club, all-you-can-eat gourmet food, and more.

On December 31st, be sure to bounce around to all the clubs and restaurants at CityWalk -- the special one-night-only party ticket includes all-night admission to them all. Live entertainment will be featured at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom, the groove, Latin Quarter, Pat O’Brien’s, Red Coconut Club, and CityWalk’s Rising Star. In addition to hot music, you’ll also be able to find Chef-attended food stations featuring cuisine from each CityWalk venue. There’ll be Jammin’ Jambalaya, Paella, Cheeseburgers in Paradise, and Jumbo Shrimp, just to name a few. Partiers will also be able to find delicious dishes at Chef Carving Stations and Buffets, offering everything from Roasted Applewood Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon Tips to Skewered Fruits with Chocolate Fondue.

Then, just before midnight, party hats will go on and noisemakers will be passed around to usher in the New Year. The countdown will end in merriment and a midnight champagne toast for all.

If you do have the family in tow, the "Takin’ the Party to the Streets" celebration at CityWalk probably isn’t an option for celebrating the New Year – guests must be at least 21 years old to party. Don’t be discouraged, though – you can always ring in 2009 at Universal Studios theme park. The park will be open late on December 31st from 8 am to 1 am (Islands of Adventure will be open from 8 am to 10 pm).

At Universal, you can enjoy all your favorite rides late until the evening, and don’t miss the final showing of Universal 360 – A Cinesphere Spectacular at the end of the night. Through unique “Cinesphere” technology, this show recreates the sights and sounds of some of Hollywood’s biggest films projected onto the huge spheres in the Universal Studios lagoon, along with one of the largest laser and pyrotechnics displays in Florida. For folks staying at the resort, there are also New Year’s Eve party packages at the Hard Rock Hotel and the Loews Royal Pacific Resort.

So this New Year’s Eve, don’t stay home watching the countdown on TV. Start 2009 in style with the celebrations at Universal Studios and CityWalk. Save on discount Universal Studios tickets at DWTickets.com, and you’ll be on your way to some incredible New Year’s festivities.

The Universal Orlando Resort is Celebrating America

At the Universal Orlando Resort, there is always a celebration going on, and this year’s Fourth of July extravaganza promises to be one of the best ever. This Independence Day, there is something to celebrate all across the Universal Orlando Resort: a new lagoon show at Universal Studios Florida, extended hours at Universal’s Islands of Adventure and live entertainment along with summertime treats at Universal CityWalk.

Universal Studios Florida Blasts Off With New Lagoon Extravaganza
Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular is the latest and greatest “high-tech lagoon show” at Universal Studios Florida. The outdoor show goes off over the central lagoon at Universal Studios Florida and is projected on 360-degree “cinespheres” that are four stories tall.

For this year’s Fourth of July celebration, the Cinesphere Spectacular will include an exclusive finale filled with patriotic themes and a fabulous fireworks presentation that is sure to wow and awe the crowds. The Universal 360 show begins at 10 p.m., and a Universal ticket is required for admission to Universal Studios Florida.

Universal’s Islands of Adventure is Open Late to Celebrate
If you want to celebrate your independence with some wild rides, then head over to Universal’s Islands of Adventure to experience some of the most innovative and thrilling rides in Orlando. This year Islands of Adventure is staying open late – until 11 p.m. – to celebrate the Fourth of July in style. A Universal ticket is needed to get in to Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park.

Universal CityWalk Marks the Fourth of July with American Fare
If you don’t have a Universal ticket but still want to celebrate the Fourth of July at the Universal Orlando Resort, Universal CityWalk is the party place to be. All of the clubs and restaurants at CityWalk will be open for the big Fourth of July bash, and there will be live music and street entertainment throughout CityWalk. For some spicy summer food favs, grab a bite at the All-American Barbecue Celebration at Universal CityWalk anytime from 5-9 p.m. on July 4.

Universal Orlando Resort Fourth of July Fireworks Changes
In the past, guests without a Universal ticket could watch Universal’s Fourth of July fireworks display from Universal CityWalk or Islands of Adventure. Due to new attraction construction going on this year, the Fourth of July fireworks will only be visible from inside Universal Studios Florida, and a Universal ticket is required for admission.

Valentines Day at a Universal Resort and CityWalk

If you would like an alternative to spending Valentines Day at one of the two Universal theme parks the Universal Orlando Resort still has plenty of options for you and your loved one, from an exciting show at CityWalk to plenty of romantic options at the three resorts there on property. Or, you could always spend a day in the parks and then end your day with a bang with one of these options. If that is the plan, you can count on DWTickets.com to help with your Valentine’s Day expenses. We are your No. 1 online source for discounted tickets to all of the top attractions in Central Florida, so click here to peruse through these special discounted offers and get your Valentine’s Day planning underway!

As we mentioned earlier, the three first-class hotels at the Universal Orlando Resort are a great way to begin and end your Valentine’s Day this year. In addition to the plethora of amenities available, guests at these three resorts also get select privileges to both of the Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure parks, including a UNIVERSAL EXPRESS ride access pass, special activities and recreation, and many other perks for your park-hopping adventures.

The Royal Pacific Hotel is the largest of the three resort hotels, with 1,000 rooms, and is also the most affordable option of the three. This resort is a tropical paradise, with tropical landscaping, elaborate waterfalls and the orchid court with flowers in bloom all year long that will instantly transport any guest to an island in the South Seas. With a sandy lagoon-style pool to lay by in the afternoon and many fine dining establishments to visit at night (including Emeril’s Tchoup Chop, his second restaurant on property, featuring cuisine with Asian and Polynesian influences), you won’t even have to step foot off of the property to fully enjoy Valentine’s Day this year.

The second resort at Universal, the Hard Rock Hotel, prides itself on being the “coolest hotel on earth.” A California mission-style facade will greet the guests upon arrival, and a palm-lined swimming pool immerses visitors in not only water, but sound as well with their underwater music feature. With rock-n-roll memorabilia located throughout and a monthly rock-n-roll party with live bands, you truly can feel like a rock star at this resort. With 650 rooms, it is the smallest of the three accommodations, but it is by no means lacking in the entertainment department. If you happen to be staying here on Valentine’s Day, the Palm Restaurant at the Hard Rock Hotel is the most recommended sit-down restaurant, with a legendary menu of American fare, Italian cuisine, prime cuts of beef and jumbo lobster. For reservations for the Palm Restaurant, call 407-503-7256.

The third and final resort on property, the Portofino Bay Hotel, is at the head of the class for the Universal Orlando resorts and is by far the most romantic of all of the Universal Orlando hotels. It, like the other two resorts, has won numerous awards, including the AAA Four Diamond Award, Travel + Leisure Top-500 Hotels, and it is listed by Conde Nast as one of the "World’s Best Places to Stay." With its 750 guest rooms, an average room size of 463 square feet and three distinct pools (including a beach pool with children’s play area, an elegant villa pool with cabanas and a hillside pool), it outshines its competition. At the Portofino Bay Hotel, one can experience la dolce vita – the sweet life – as the picturesque hotel is located along a bay, creating the charm of a sunny seaside village of Portofino, Italy. It is even complete with intricate details such as cobblestone streets and outdoor cafes. Rooms offer stylish and spacious accommodations with Italian furnishings and VIP service all stay long, and dining here is heads and shoulders above the competition as well, with Mama Della’s Ristorante, Bice Ristorante and Trattoria del Porto all offering the finest in Italian cuisine.

If you happen to venture out of your hotel on Valentine’s Day, CityWalk offers a plethora of choices for a special Valentine’s Day. You can experience all of the clubs and bars at this entertainment hub, go see a movie at the AMC Universal Cineplex – or do both! For just $11.99, you can purchase a CityWalk Party Pass, which gives you unlimited one-night access to many of the clubs, bars and restaurants located around CityWalk (of note: this is included with your multi-theme park admission). Or, for $15.40, enjoy the CityWalk Party Pass and a Movie, which allows you the same access as above, with an additional pass to see a movie at the AMC Universal Cineplex, a 20-screen movie theater complex located in the heart of CityWalk. Among the clubs you will encounter at CityWalk are the Red Coconut Club, the newest venture that sits atop CityWalk, the groove – a dance club with a different theme each night – or Pat O’Brien’s, a re-creation of New Orleans’ favorite watering hole.

CityWalk also has another option that is still relatively new to the Orlando entertainment scene. Blue Man Group now occupies the Sharp AQUOS Theater at CityWalk, located between Hard Rock Café and the main entrance to Universal Studios, providing a small and intimate atmosphere for every single seat in house. Blue Man Group combines a unique blend of music, comedy and theatrics in a one-hour, 45-minute live stage show that amazes and engages its audience with new and unique creativity never seen before. Tickets for this show range from $59-$69 per person, with children’s tickets ranging from $49-$59. However, at DW Tickets, you can purchase discounted Blue Man Group tickets – simply call 1-877-219-9328 to place your order!

From all of us here at DWTickets.com, we would like to wish you a very happy Valentine’s Day!