New Harry Potter ride youtube video from Universal Studios

For you Harry Potter fans, here’s a new youtube video of the line going into the Harry Potter and the forbidden Journey ride. Yes, they are letting in regular guest for the soft opening finally.

But only a few at a time, and only for a few hours each time. They are trying to get the bugs out of everything and see how things work with crowds in there. Some places you can already see are going to be packed.

The main ride however is getting rave reviews, so that’s a good sign. Check out the video above of Harry Potter and the forbidden Journey ride line. It’s long but if your a big fan you’ll love seeing everything.

They should be letting more and more people in until they finally open it up fully on June 18th. You can try to luck out and hang around there before the 18th to see if you can get in for one of the soft openings.

Universal Studios Harry Potter land grand opening June 18th!

Harry Potter world

Well we finally have an official opening date of the eagerly awaited Harry Potter land at Universal Studios. The head honcho’s at Universal has said the grand opened will be June 18!

Now, noticed I said that’s the “grand opening”. That is when they really make it official, hold the press conference and all that good stuff. But I already said they are selling vacation packages with Harry Potter land included for May 28 or so.

That’s because they always have a soft opening for any new ride or attraction. A soft opening means they open the attraction, or in this case the gates to Harry Potter land. Not all the shops or rides may be open during the soft opening.
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Popeye and Bluto Bilge Rat Barges water ride at Universal Studios

Here’s another youtube video I made. This one is of Popeye’s and Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges water ride at Island of Adventure in Universal Studios. From the video it does not look like you will get very wet, but that is wrong!

Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges is the third water ride located in Universal’s Islands of Adventure Park. This whitewater rafting ride is based on the Popeye cartoons. The Bilge-Rat Barges opened in 1999 and it still is one of the country’s most popular themed versions of this staple attraction. It has fantastic thrills and spills and you DO get wet!

Riders get in a big circular raft and go down a river being soaked by waterfalls. As you go along the ride you are hit with water from top to bottom. Don’t be surprised if you’re completely soaked when it’s all over! This experience really offers bang-for-your-buck.
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Storm Force Accelatron ride at Universal Studios video

I’ve been going hog wild with my new camcorder! 😉 So far I’ve taken 11 youtube videos of the theme parks around Orlando. This one is the Storm Force Accelatron ride at Islands of Adventure in Universal Studios. It’s got a weak story to it, like most do.

Somehow it’s suppose to be about the sexy super hero Storm fighting Magneto, the villain. Since Storm controls the weather I guess the whirling ride is suppose to be like your in a storm she made, get it?

Located next to and behind The Hulk roller coaster, it’s never very full because it’s one of the tamer rides at Universal Studios. In fact many overlook this ride and just give it a passing glance. However it is fun for little kids and grown-ups who don’t like the extreme thrill rides.

You do have to be at least 48 inches tall to ride this. It last maybe 2 minutes or so. It’s a good ride for everyone in the family, a little break from the more extreme rides. As for just what it does, well,,, that’s what the video is for! Go click on it and watch the Storm Force Accelatron ride youtube video. :)

Youtube video of The Incredible Hulk roller coaster at Universal Studios

I’ve been going hog wild with my new camcorder at the theme parks! I really love taking videos of all the rides and attractions at Disney, Universal Studios and the other parks.

This one is a youtube video of The Incredible Hulk roller coaster at Universal Studios Island of Adventure. I’ve been on it dozens of times, but I still get a rush when it shoots you up from the start at 60 miles an hour, then puts you in a curving corkscrew!

I took the video from several different angles and viewpoints. From an overall view of the whole ride to close-ups of different curves and tricks. I highly recommend it if you love roller coasters. Enjoy this video of The Incredible Hulk roller coaster at Universal Studios!

Mardi Gras parade at Universal Studios 2010 youtube video

Well everyone, I took a cool video of the Mardi Gras parade at Universal Studios Orlando this past weekend. In fact it’s my very first video with my new camcorder. I think it came out well, although night videos with a standard camcorder is not that great.

But I got all the floats and dancers, plus all the music and people yelling! I can see I need to zoom in a bit more on big objects like the floats to see the details. But again, being at night did not help.

Also I got to Universal Studios during the day when it was warm and just had on my T shirt. By the time the Mardi Gras parade started at 8:00 PM it was cold! So I was shivering like crazy, I really tested out the ant-shake device in the camera, lol!

It seems to work good since you can’t see too much shake. The microphone works pretty good too. I will go back during the day and take videos of all the Mardi Gras characters they have walking around during the daytime. Anyway I hope you enjoy this Mardi Gras parade youtube video I made at Universal Studios!

Universal Harry Potter vacations packages May 28th

Universal offering harry potter vacation packages May 28th!

Harry Potter fans have been keeping a close eye on when Universal Studios will open up the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter land. They have been tight-lipped about telling when it will open. But now we have a much closer open date!

That’s because Universal Studios has been starting to offer new vacation packages tied in to the Harry Potter attraction. The new deals are good starting May 28th. So, if they give vacation packages upselling how you will see the Harry Potter attraction, then it’s clear it will be open at least by May 28th!

But they always have a “soft” opening before that, so they can work the bugs out of the new rides and so on. They want to be sure everything is working good before they invite guest to stay and see the Harry Potter attraction.
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Curious George play area for little kids at Universal Studios

Curious George play area at Universal Studios for little kids

Universal Studios is well known for their extreme rides that are suitable for teens. But they also have some spots made just for the little kids and toddlers. Inside Universal Orlando, which is the “old” park, is a place called Curious George play area. It’s suitable for toddlers and kids up to around 10 years or or so.

Curious George play area at Universal Orlando is made to look like that misfit monkey Curious George has let out all the animals from the zoo! There are buildings you can go in and let the kids push buttons, levers and handles that spray and shoot water at different things.
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Universal Studios Mardi Gras Parade 2010

Universal Studios Mardi Gras 2010

Universal Studios Mardi Gras parade

Well it’s almost time for Universal Studios Mardi Gras! Each year Universal Studios in Orlando holds it’s own cool version of Mardi Gras from New Orleans. With parades, it’s own French Quarter area, New Orleans food, music and shows; Universal Studios Mardi Gras is always a big hit. The Mardi Gras parade floats are very colorful and just like the ones in New Orleans.

The dates for Universal Studios Mardi Gras events are Saturday Nights: February 6 – April 17, 2010 PLUS Sunday, February 14 and Friday, April 9. The Mardi Gras parade times are : February 6 – March 20, April 17: 8:00 pm March 27 – April 10: 9:00 pm

The French Quarter area at Universal features plenty of Authentic Cajun & Creole Cuisine from New Orleans. Dance to blues musicians and bands straight from New Orleans. Performance Times: February 6 – March 20, April 17 – 5:00 pm, 6:15 pm, 7:15 pm March 27 – April 10 – 5:00 pm, 6:15 pm, 8:00 pm.
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Universal Studios Portofino Bay Hotel

Universal Studios Portofino Bay hotel

Universal Studio’s Portofino Bay hotel

Most people know that Disney has lots of hotels of their own. But Universal Studios also have a few very nice hotels on their property too. One of the nicest ones is Universal Studio’s Portofino Bay hotel.

Universal’s Portofino Bay Hotel is inspired by the charm of the seaside village of Portofino, Italy. If you want to stay very close to Universal Studios, this is the place for you. The hotel offers exceptional services, first class amenities and 42,000 square feet of meeting and function space.

Nightly entertainment includes Italian singers from a balcony overlooking the main courtyard. You are transported to a realm of class, style, and atmosphere from the moment you step into the hotel. The restaurants are amazing and the location is wonderful. It makes every guest feel like a king because they always make sure that your room is clean and you get the best service possible.
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Crowds light at Disney, Universal Studios from now till Easter

Light crowds at the Orlando theme parks

Empty water ride boat at Universal Studios

Well it’s the new year, 2010! The holidays are gone, and it’s now the middle of the winter here in the USA. Of course down here in Florida it’s still toasty warm, maybe a bit cool. It’s also one of the most perfect times to take that Disney Orlando vacation you’ve been waiting for! A lot of people have the misconception that winter is when it’s crowded in Florida.

Everyone knows the snowbirds come down here for the winter. That’s true, but most of them are older folks who don’t really care for the theme parks. The kids are back in school, so most in USA don’t feel they should take an Orlando vacation in the winter. Same is true for our Canada neighbors.

Even the tourist from the UK, which makes up a lot of the theme park crowds, wait until summer to visit Disney. That leaves from now until Easter with the theme parks light on crowds. The weather is nice, around the 60’s or 70’s during the day. The bugs are gone, and it does not rain hardly at all during the winter months.

That means it’s a perfect time to see Disney, Universal Studios and Sea World here in Orlando. If your an older couple with no kids, single, childless couple or home school your kids you don’t have to worry about taking the kids out of school. Prices for everything are also lower than in the summer. It really is much lighter now than the summer tourist crowds.

So if you can, head down here to Orlando and enjoy the theme parks without having to fight the crowds, summer heat, rain, bugs and higher prices. Pay for your theme park tickets online and be all set when you get here!

Blue Man Group at Universal Studios show

Blue man group at Universal Studios show

If you want to take in a very different and funny show on your Orlando vacation, you can’t go wrong with The Blue Man Group show, located at Universal Studios. It’s a separate show from the theme park, and is fun for the whole family. Part musical, part mime, part theater it’s all fun!

Blue Man Group’s show is often described as “hysterically funny”, “wildly inventive” and “visually stunning”. Their unique form of entertainment combines multimedia theatrics, music and comedy, which creates a unique party atmosphere suitable for people of all ages. This creative organization produces concerts featuring music, theatrical shows and multimedia.

All the productions are centered on a trio of anonymous mute performers wearing black clothing and blue grease paint over latex bald caps. Blue Man Group performances features a variety of themes including science and technology, information overload and information pollution, rooftops, the outsider, innocence and naïve imitation of cultural norms. This show is the best choice for anyone who appreciates great actors, social satire, and fantastic music.
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