Harry Potter Details To Be Revealed in Webcast

Ever since The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was announced as the newest addition to Universal Islands of Adventure, Harry Potter fans have been going crazy scouring the net for every detail they could possibly find about what the new island would have in store for them.
As we previously reported, there will be two coasters and a dark ride as a part of the Wizarding World but extensive details have yet to be revealed.

Dueling Dragons is being converted to a Potter-themed ride as is the Flying Unicorn. The backdrop to this island will be Hogwarts Castle and a number of restaurants and shops will be open. There is supposed to be a main attraction inside the castle that will feature brand new “robocoaster” ride system where guests ride in a vehicle controlled by a robotic arm. Other attractions will include Hogsmeade Village and merchandise like chocolate frogs and butterbeer. Fans can expect to see replicas of movie props and locations including the recently revealed Hagrid’s Hut. While the project isn’t scheduled to open until 2010, September will prove to be a very special month for Potter fans who can’t stand to wait any longer for details on what is sure to be a huge hit for Universal Islands of Adventure.

Orlando newspapers and bloggers have been receiving invitations to a special webcast that will broadcast live from Islands of Adventure and feature sneak peeks into what is already completed on this $200 million project. This is going to be a press only event but we’re sure the details will begin to emerge on the internet as soon as it’s over.

Universal is waiting until its main rival, the Disney company, finishes with its big D23 Expo before doing the webcast which is supposed to feature special appearances by people related to the Harry Potter world. What can we expect from the podcast? Considering this will be the first official feature on the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure, we believe full names of attractions and locations will be revealed as well as actual location images and previews for what’s to come for the park’s opening next year. DWTickets.com will have the full report on the new details coming soon.

Party it Up Island Style at CityWalk!

CityWalk is a great way to take a breather from Orlando theme parks without leaving them entirely. After all, both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are just a short walk away, and with all of the clubs and restaurants around you, there is plenty of action going on and tons of ways to have a blast. One of the great things about CityWalk is that you can get a little taste of the island life without having to make the drive out to the coast from Central Florida.

This week marks Jamaican Independence Day, and CityWalk plans to celebrate in full force! Bob Marley: A Tribute to Freedom will be hosting the celebration. This restaurant is modeled after Marley’s home and garden in Kingston, Jamaica. It is a tribute to his music and his message of peace and freedom for the world. Marley fans will also find artifacts from his musical career and personal belongings of the “Reggae King.” The restaurant features a full service bar including Red Stripe beer and features food like Jamaican patties. As a special event for the festival, the restaurant will be throwing a party with live reggae music from Chain Reaction, food and drink specials, DJ’s, vendors and street performers.

If your island style is more Key West than Kingston, check out Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. Sip on the best margaritas in town as you chow down on your “Cheeseburger in Paradise” and listen to Buffet’s classic songs. There is live music in the laid-back Key West style and happy hour specials at this great CityWalk location. There is a great shop available that features margarita mix, leisurewear and Jimmy Buffet’s music. It’s a great place for Parrotheads and hungry guests alike.

If you’re looking for Latin island flavor, check out the Latin Quarter to eat and dance the night away. The Latin Quarter is influenced by over 21 Latin American countries and the décor is influenced by Aztec and Mayan architecture. This dining establishment features foods from South and Central America as well as the Latin countries in the Caribbean. Thursday nights is Ladies’ Night with Rumba 100.3 FM and the Latin Quarter also features Reggaeton and Freestyle dance parties from 10PM - 2AM.

You can always head back to the theme parks thanks to CityWalk’s great location, but there is plenty of cultural nightlife for you to explore at CityWalk. Make sure you stop by!

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Begins Testing

Now that Manta is open and soaring high over at SeaWorld, it’s time for roller coasters aficionados to turn their attention to the other big attraction opening this summer, the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit (HRRR or “Rockit” for short). To the eye, this new coaster at Universal Studios might not seem as innovative as Manta, but it actually packs a wallop as big as its name with fun technological elements and never-before-attempted roller coaster maneuvers.

We’ve discussed in previous blogs how the HRRR will feature six special maneuvers, three of which have never been attempted with a coaster before. There’s the 17-story high vertical lift, a non-inverted loop (the world’s first), a spiraling negative gravity move, and much more, including a 95 degree angled swoop over the crowd as they wait in line for their turn.

Now, even more details are coming out about the Rockit’s unique design. Particularly important to the coaster is its ultra-maneuverable X-CAR passenger car, which allows the Rockit to have the moves of many different styles of coaster. Each will feature only a lap-bar restraint, which will leave the upper body less restricted, allowing for extra thrills during those crazy loops and drops.

In addition, the trains will reportedly never stop at the loading station thanks to a groundbreaking new loading area design. We’re not sure how it works, but plans dictate that the Rockit will dispatch a train roughly every 23 seconds.

And though plenty has been said about the technological elements of the Rockit, most probably aren’t appreciating how tech-equipped this ride really is. The HRRR has six on-board cameras and eight high speed special effects cameras for capturing each rider’s experience. Needless to say, that goes way beyond the one camera that most rides flash at you when you’re donning your goofiest expression of terror. With 54 special effects shots, guests will not only be able to see their ride in full, but they’ll even be able to produce their own unique ride video and buy a DVD of it, download it at home or onto their phone, and send it to their friends.

Moreover, the Rockit will feature a 55-watt on-board speaker system that will blast out one of 30 songs from 5 genres; the song choices will include both classic and contemporary artists.

Though the Rockit was originally set to open in spring of this year, the opening was delayed to summer due to what we hear were some difficulties constructing that sky-high lift. Since then, however, the ride’s been coming along swimmingly; all pieces of the track are in place, the trains have been placed on it, and they’ve already begun testing of the ride.

We’ve even heard whispers that the HRRR will be debuted on July 4, meaning that it will coincide with the park’s Independence Day celebrations and the last day of the Summer Concert Series (check out our blog on that here). If that’s true, then the 4th of July is sure to be filled with good times all around at Universal.

In the meantime, if you do happen to see the ride being tested out while you visit Universal and are surprised at how slow things are running, don’t fear – the ride’s speed will pick up significantly once it’s out of testing phase!

Crowds are sure to gather for the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit when it opens, so you’ll want to save time by getting your Universal Studios tickets well in advance from DWTickets.com. We’ll see you in line for this exciting new coaster!

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Prepares to Rock Universal

Roller coasters enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios Orlando, the newest attraction to be added to the park since The Simpsons Ride. And though they’ll have to wait a little while longer – the coaster’s opening has been delayed until this summer with the earliest opening likely in June – we’ve got a few extra juicy details on the Rip Ride Rockit to tide everyone over until then.

We’ve already mentioned on this blog that the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit (HRRR) will be one of the most technologically advanced coasters in Orlando, with the ability to choose the ride’s soundtrack before boarding, watch your experience on video after riding, and even edit and send that video to friends. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this exciting new coaster, which will feature plenty of moves and maneuvers that are sure to get your heart pumping.

First, the HRRR, once completed, will be the tallest, largest, and fastest X-CAR style roller coaster in the world. Having an X-CAR vehicle – which is more maneuverable than other coaster vehicles and uses innovative, less restrictive restraints – makes the HRRR capable of moves other coasters aren’t. It also allows for more vehicles on the track, ensuring a whirl of non-stop movement.

Some of that movement takes place during six special maneuvers on the HRRR, three of which have never been built before. Those include the Double Take, the world’s first non-inverted loop; the Treble-Clef, where the track bends to form the shape of the musical symbol by the same name, and the Jump Cut, a spiraling negative-gravity move. Other fun maneuvers to look forward to on the Rockit include a 17-story high vertical lift, a drop into an underground chasm, and an inclined loop with a 150-degree banking turn. Riders will also get to soar 33 feet above the ground at a 95 degree angle over the crowd as they wait in the ride’s queue.

Here’s a fun fact – the HRRR features 3,800 feet of steel track, and believe it or not, work first began on it not in the US, but in Munich, Germany last summer. More than 60 sections of track and 200 columns were completed overseas, then packaged into 120 containers and loaded onto ships for transport to the US. They arrived in Savannah, Georgia and then made the trip by road to Orlando, where they were placed in a holding area so the build-out could begin.

Now, it’s just a matter of waiting while the track is completed, and almost all of it is in place. In the meantime, we suggest planning your Universal Studios vacation as a way to pass the time and get excited for the park’s newest and most exhilarating roller coaster yet. Start by looking at the discount Universal Studios tickets on DWTickets.com to begin preparing for your first ride on the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.

Universal Studios Harry Potter Update

We love the attractions at Universal Studios Orlando – some of the classic rides and shows like JAWS and Terminator 2: 3-D have a special place in our heart. But as much as these classics thrill us time after time, there’s nothing like the excitement of looking forward to a future attraction. One such addition that fans are particularly looking forward to is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a new area being built within Universal's Islands of Adventure that will create the world’s first fully immersive Harry Potter themed environment.

Based on the bestselling books by J.K. Rowling and the blockbuster hits by Warner Bros., construction first broke ground on the Wizarding World back in May 2007. The 20-acre area is being constructed in a portion of what used to be the Lost Continent and another area that was previously unused. Currently, the Wizarding World is expected to open in 2010.

When completed, the Wizarding World will allow guests to visit some of the most iconic locations found in the books and films, including the village of Hogsmeade, the mysterious Forbidden Forest, and even Hogwarts castle itself. Concepts from the film will be transformed into theme park experiences, with immersive rides and interactive attractions. Shops and restaurants will also allow guests to sample fare from the wizarding world’s best-known establishments, like The Leaky Cauldron in London and Hogsmeade’s The Three Broomsticks. And one state-of-the-art attraction in particular will bring the magic, characters, and stories of the books to life in a big, exciting way.

“Over the years we’ve received thousands of letters from fans around the world wishing they could visit Hogwarts and the wonderful locations described in each of J.K. Rowling’s beloved stories,” said Barry Meyer, chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Entertainment. “Working with Universal Orlando Resort, we are confident that we’ll be able to provide Harry Potter fans with an incredible experience that upholds the richness of J.K. Rowling’s books and delivers on the authentic detail portrayed in our films.”

"The plans I've seen look incredibly exciting, and I don't think fans of the books or films will be disappointed," added J.K. Rowling.

Academy Award-winning production designer Stuart Craig, who worked to bring the world of Harry Potter to life in all of the feature films, is leading the creative design team for the Wizarding World, a surefire bet that the attraction will stay true to the look and feel of the films.

As this “theme park within a theme park” develops, every ounce of secrecy is being used to prevent fans from getting a glimpse of the Wizarding World before it’s completed. Word has it that Universal Studios is even bringing roller coaster tracks in after the park closes to keep guests from seeing them. Much of construction is taking place behind fences in a big building, guarding the Wizarding World’s secrets from prying eyes.

Nonetheless, reports have swirled that actors from the films have been brought in to shoot sequences and provide voice-overs for some of the future rides and attractions. Rumor also has it that Hogwarts Castle will be massive, possibly over 200 feet (making it taller than Cinderella’s Castle at Magic Kingdom). And sources say that a Whomping Willow or Shrieking Shack experience is in the works.

Until 2010, it looks like we’ll have to wait to find out everything the Wizarding World will offer. However, if you get frustrated, it helps to remember the Ministry of Magic proclamations posted around the under-construction Wizarding World area, which read, “Magic at Work: Your Patience is Requested.” And in the meantime, you can always enjoy the rest of the park with discount Universal Studios tickets from DWTickets.com.

Beat the Winter with Indoor Shows

Winters are pretty interesting here in Orlando – one week, temperatures run a pleasant 70 degrees, and the next week, it’s time to break out the turtlenecks and parkas! But until the season starts heating up more regularly in the coming months, Orlando theme parks have plenty of attractions to keep you warm, with indoor shows that are both an entertaining and comfortable way to spend an afternoon.

First up on the list of our favorites is definitely A’Lure, The Call of the Ocean, the newest show at SeaWorld Orlando. Performing daily at the Nautilus Theater, this theatrical production combines mesmerizing under-the-sea visuals with Cirque du Soleil-style acrobatics and athleticism.

Set to a musical score recorded by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, A’Lure’s dynamic 30-minute production takes guests on a journey through the ocean’s depths and mysteries. With a dozen Chinese acrobats and vibrant animated images, it tells the mythical story of the Sea Sirens, who have lured entranced fishermen into the water for centuries. The show takes place on a massive stage with an oversized projection screen serving as an ever-changing backdrop while gravity-defying aerial tumblers, scaling pole climbers, lyrical dancers, and unicycle champions dazzle on stage.

Over at the Hollywood area of Universal Studios Orlando, another great indoor show is a tried and true classic, Terminator 2: 3D Battle Across Time. Throw on your 3D glasses and settle into a comfortable theater seat while you watch Sarah and John Connor travel into the future to destroy SkyNet. But it won’t be easy – the T-1000 is back to kill John, though luckily, the T-800 (Arnold) is there to help stop him too. With on-screen special effects, 3D cinematography that seems to hover right before your face, and live-action stunts, the Terminator 2: 3D is a beloved Universal Studios favorite.

And at Walt Disney World, there’s no shortage of indoor shows among the five parks. However, one recent addition that’s particularly fun is Finding Nemo – The Musical at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Adapted from the popular and funny Disney-Pixar film into a 30-minute Broadway-style musical, Finding Nemo is fun for all ages. Inside the Theater in the Wild at the DinoLand USA area, the musical features Marlin, his curious son Nemo, and their friend Dory performing new musical numbers inspired by lines from the movie, including “Just Keep Swimming.” Even if you’re not big into musicals, this one is a sight to see with innovative lighting, special effects, and theatrical puppets, some as big as cars.

So next time the temperatures drop, grab a sweater and head on over to one of these Orlando theme parks. You’ll be snuggly and warm while you enjoy a show, and when the fun’s over, you can skip right on to another fun indoor attraction. Look to DWTickets.com for your discount Orlando theme park tickets, and before you know it, you’ll be escaping the winter cold in style.

Enjoy Italian Music and Romance at Loews Portofino Hotel

The Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and the Loews Royal Pacific Resort, both situated in the heart of Universal Studios Orlando, offer their guests plenty of awesome perks, including pools, dining, shopping, fast lines at Universal and Islands of Adventure, and more. What many don’t realize, however, is that each hotel offers their own attractions and events separate from the park throughout the year.

One such attraction that is a must-see for any guest of the Loews Portofino Hotel is “Musica Della Notte” (Music of the Night). Each night, guests can experience a true taste of Italy with this musical celebration. The fun begins at sunset when the strolling musicians of the Mama Della’s and Thirsty Fish restaurants perform from the balconies overlooking the Harbor Piazza. Musica della Notte showcases a blend of classic opera, romantic and festive music, and pop-opera favorites. One of four different themes pervades the show each night: Broadway Favorites, Viva Italia, Romanza, and Tenors Night.

With the Romanza themed show, you can expect to hear popular love songs with an Italian flavor, including songs made famous by Bocelli and Sinatra. On Tenors Night, the musicians perform classic tenor arias and Bocelli favorites. And during the Viva Italia show, you’ll hear spirited Italian songs that include Neapolitan favorites. The show’s themes operate on a fixed schedule, so you can call the concierge to find out which one will be performed that evening.

Since the show takes place around or shortly after sunset each night, weather permitting, the time of the performance fluctuates based on the time of the year. Currently, Musica Della Notte is being performed at 6:30, but anyone wanting to know when the show will be can call the hotel’s front desk.

The Portofino Hotel is expertly modeled after the Portofino village of Italy, and the Harbor Piazza, in which Musica Della Notte is performed, resembles a town square. Complete with cobblestone streets and outdoor cafés, it’s the perfect setting for the operatic show. Guests can even see Vespas and sports cars parked in the piazza along with faux fishing boats anchored in the harbor. The ambiance is romantic, charming, and classic Italian.

For a truly incredible experience, dine at Mama Della’s and request a table on the piazza when the Musica Della Notte starts. You’ll get a great view, enjoy classic Italian cuisine, and be able to see and hear the show comfortably. And best yet, with Campo Portofino, couples can enjoy a solo night of romance on the Piazza by dropping their kids off at this supervised children’s activity center (for ages 4 through 14 only). Parents won’t have to feel guilty about leaving little ones behind because they’ll have plenty to keep them entertained; Campo Portofino has play mats, an arts and crafts table, storybook corner, computer desks, a movie room, and more.

So next time you stay at Loews Portofino Hotel, be sure you explore the resort, which offers plenty of opportunities for excitement and romance. You’ll love Musica della Notte and the Italian charm of this one-of-a-kind resort.

Spectcular shows at the Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Studios Florida is chockfull of spectacular shows. You can sing along with Beetlejuice and his monstrous friends at the frighteningly fun Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue. You test your bravery at the interactive Fear Factor Live. You will be entertained and amazed with all the adorable actors in the Animal Actors on Location. And do not forget the little ones who can spend A Day in the Park with Barney! Yes, Universal prides themselves on bringing the guest the very best in live entertainment and that trend continues with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling!

Emanating from behind the nail-biting Twister ride, Universal Studios Florida brings you Total Nonstop Action from right out of the world renowned Impact Zone. TNA promises an unique experience from their larger than life characters to their revolutionary (and exclusive!) six sided ring. Their famed X-division takes wrestling to the next level with innovative matches such as "The Six Sides of Steel" "Elevation X" and "The Hard Ten." Sometimes guests will even participate like in the notorious "Fans Revenge Lumberjack Match." With the TNA brain trust thinking up new cutting edge matches all the time, every show promises to be an one of a kind event.

These aren't just any performers as the roster includes all the hottest new names in sports entertainment. Top talent such as The Phenomenal AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and Black Machismo Jay Lethal. It also boasts wrestling legends like the Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle, Team 3D, and "The Icon" Sting. So, if you're coming to see to cheer an old fan favorite from your past, you just might see a new one for the future.

The best part of this extraordinary show is that it's taped for TV! Every Thursday night at 9 pm EST n Spike TV, TNA Impact is broadcast. So, on top of seeing wrestling stars of the past and future participating in matches you won't find anywhere else you have a chance to be on national television. They also give away prizes during the show and chances to have your picture taken with your favorite TNA superstar. The shows are taped on March 10th, 11th, 24th and 25th with more dates announced soon! On occasion they'll even tape Pay Per Views in the Impact Zone. This not only gives you a chance to be on TV but, DVD. Now, what's the cost of this amazing show? It's included in your regular Universal Studios Florida ticket which you can purchase right here at DWTickets.com