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We’ve now received more details about the plans at Universal Orlando this year and it certainly looks like there will be more adventure, excitement, laughter and awe-inspiring moments than ever before – making 2012 an extraordinary year to be here in Central Florida.

There will be something for everyone and every family.  From a new Blue Man Group show and newly re-created experience inside one of Universal Orlando’s most popular attractions to a stunning parade, spectacular nighttime show and brand-new blockbuster attraction based on an incredibly popular film – Universal Orlando Resort is bringing guests more new entertainment across our entire destination in 2012 than during any other year in our history.

The new experiences will begin debuting in February.  Guests will discover the exhilarating entertainment of a new Blue Man Group show; marvel at breathtaking new animation and effects in The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man; dance and celebrate with their favorite animated characters during Universal’s Superstar Parade and relive memorable moments from Universal Pictures most powerful and beloved films during the nighttime show Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular – 100 Years of Movie Memories. And coming this summer – families will laugh together as they are transformed into minions for an incredible adventure inside the new Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction.

Universal Orlando will also be marking the Universal Pictures Centennial Anniversary Celebration during 2012 with a series of events to be announced throughout the year.

“We are about to offer our guests a historic range of incredible new entertainment experiences,” said Alice Norsworthy, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Universal Orlando Resort.  “This year will be filled with excitement and entertainment for the entire family.”

The new 2012 experiences at Universal Orlando include:

Blue Man Group ~ Opening February 2012 at Universal CityWalk

Universal Orlando’s Blue Man Group show is taking their unique and captivating mash-up of high energy music, comedy, audience participation and collective exhilaration to another level. Featuring a new show environment, new music, new technology and new experiences, the show will allow audiences to join the Blue Men as they discover, engage and explore the world’s obsession with cutting-edge technology.  Signature Blue Man Group moments combine with breathtakingly fun new pieces for an explosive evening of entertainment.  New show elements include the curious Blue Men interacting with enormous “GiPads,” a funny and insightful look at contemporary communication vehicles, and a pulsating new finale with an original Blue Man Group music score that will have guests jumping to their feet. Look closely – you may even see the Blue Men take a spin on one of Universal Orlando’s most popular attractions.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ~ Experience March 2012 at Islands of Adventure

Universal Orlando is transforming what is already one of the most amazing attraction experiences ever created into what will feel like an all-new adventure.  The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man will soon feature all-new, 4K digital high-definition animation, new high tech 3-D glasses and upgrades to the set, audio and lighting systems.  The re-animation of the ride film will include an entirely new level of detail for guests to discover, including a cameo by legendary comic book icon and Spider-Man co-creator, Stan Lee.

Universal’s Superstar Parade ~ Opening Spring 2012 at Universal Studios Florida

Some of today’s most beloved characters and stories will bring new adventure to the streets of Universal Studios during Universal’s Superstar Parade – an all-new daily parade that features larger-than-life floats, state-of-the-art technology and hundreds of energetic street performers.  Guests will sing and dance along with characters like the minions from Despicable Me, E.B. from the hit comedy, Hop, Nickelodeon’s Dora & Diego and SpongeBob SquarePants during the interactive experience. Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy performances and character meet and greets prior to the parade at select locations throughout the day.

Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories ~ Opening Spring 2012 at Universal Studios Florida

Narrated by award-winning actor and recent Golden Globe – Cecil B. DeMille honoree, Morgan Freeman, Universal Orlando’s brand-new nighttime show, Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular, will celebrate the most powerful and emotional moments from Universal Pictures’ most iconic films – all on cutting-edge waterfall screens within the Universal Studios lagoon and surrounded by colorful fountains and pyrotechnics. The experience will take guests on a journey through epic cinematic moments filled with heroes, horror, laughter, good vs. evil and triumph. The new show opens this spring, runs all summer and then on select nights through the end of the year.

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ~ Opening Summer 2012 at Universal Studios Florida

Universal Orlando’s newest attraction, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, will take guests on an unforgettable 3-D adventure with their favorite characters from the hit film – Gru, Margo, Edith, Agnes and the mischievous minions. The experience begins when guests enter Gru’s home, where they learn that they’re being recruited to become minions and undergo “minion training.”  Things don’t go as planned, and guests find themselves on a wildly hysterical journey with Gru and his daughters.  Once guests make it through training, they join an interactive, minion-inspired dance party where they can show off their best moves.

Universal’s Creative team is working closely with Chris Meledandri’s Illumination Entertainment to bring this all-new adventure to life in the most authentic way possible.  In fact, the beloved characters in the attraction will be voiced by the film’s original cast: Steve Carell (Gru), Miranda Cosgrove (Margo), Dana Gaier (Edith) and Elsie Fisher (Agnes).  The ride’s experience is being developed by the same creative team that brought you the award-winning film, Despicable Me. The motion-picture event Despicable Me 2 arrives in theaters on July 3, 2013.

Other New Experiences Opening this Year

• Hollywood Drive-In Golf, a unique 36-hole miniature golf experience inspired by the classic drive-in movie era, will open in February at Universal CityWalk.
• A great, new immersive retail entertainment experience that will become home to SpongeBob SquarePants and other characters from the number one kids animated TV series, Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants.  It will open inside Universal Studios this year.
• Minutes away from Universal Orlando, the popular Wet ‘n Wild water park will open its first interactive family water play area this summer – allowing everyone in the family to splash and swim together.  Amidst lush, tropical landscaping, the new area will feature 15 water slides and more than 100 soakers, jets, waterfalls and water cannons – making it the largest interactive water play experience in Florida.

Today, Universal Orlando Resort revealed details about a wide range of all-new exciting guest experiences that will open across the destination this year.

The new experiences will begin debuting in February and include:

• A new Blue Man Group show – opening in February
• HD enhancements and more to The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man – experience in March
• Universal’s Superstar Parade – a new interactive parade experience featuring characters like the minions from Despicable Me, E.B. from the hit animated film, “Hop,” Nickelodeon’s Dora & Diego and SpongeBob SquarePants that is opening in Spring
• Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular – a new nighttime show that will celebrate the most powerful and emotional moments from Universal Pictures’ most iconic films – all projected on cutting-edge waterfall screens – and opening this Spring
• The highly-anticipated 3-D attraction, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, which is opening this summer.

We’ll be bringing you more details in the coming days about each new attraction and event as more is known. Meanwhile, here’s some video:

Universal Orlando announced today that it’s Mardi Gras 2012 celebration will feature one of its most powerful and diverse musical line-ups ever. With a combined total of more than 350 million albums sold, guests will be able to rock out this spring to 14 of the biggest names in music during an authentic and family-friendly version of the famed New Orleans street party.

On Saturdays and select nights starting February 11 through April 14, Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras celebration combines unparalleled theme park entertainment with an elaborate Mardi Gras parade, dozens of colorfully costumed performers, authentic New Orleans bands, delicious Cajun cuisine and live concerts by some of today’s most popular artists.

On Feb. 18, pop superstar and Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson will take the Music Plaza Stage to perform major hits from her recent album, “Stronger;” Hot Chelle Rae will please crowds with their hit “Tonight, Tonight” during their performance on March 23; and singer-songwriter and Grammy Award nominee B.o.B, known for his multiple top singles “Nothin’ on You,” “Airplanes” and “Magic,” will perform on March 24. Additional performances include Billboard magazine’s “Female Entertainer of the Century” and disco diva Diana Ross; Boyz II Men, the most successful R&B group of all time with more than 60 million albums sold worldwide; teen sensation Big Time Rush; 2012 Grammy nominee for “Best New Artist” J. Cole; and four-time Billboard Latin Music Award winner Prince Royce. For the complete line-up, see below.

Before enjoying the live concerts, guests can experience all the fun and excitement of The Big Easy as Universal Studios Florida is transformed into a family-friendly version of New Orleans’ famed Mardi Gras event. Guests can dance along with street performers and collect beads by the handful as colorful floats wind down the street of Universal Studios during the Mardi Gras parade. This year’s parade will take guests on a journey through the earth’s different ecosystems with elaborately themed floats including: bayous and swamps, rainforest, coral reefs, the deep blue sea and Polar Regions. Every year, the parade’s hand-crafted floats are built by Blaine Kern Artists – the same company that designs the floats for the Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans.

The heart of Mardi Gras is Universal Studios’ French Quarter Courtyard, where guests can groove to the soulful sounds of authentic New Orleans bands every night before the headliner concert. Since 2006, more than 20 bands have traveled straight from The Big Easy to Universal Orlando to perform Blues, Jazz and Zydeco music for partygoers – adding to the authenticity of Universal’s Mardi Gras celebration. The French Quarter also features delicious Cajun cuisine, including jambalaya, gumbo, beignets and much more.

As reported in our blog of 2nd December 2011, today sees the closing of JAWS! at Universal Studios Orlando so there’s really not much time left if you want to take a ride for one last time.

JAWS! has been a popular ride among guests since its opening on 7 June 1990 and it’s going to be sad to see it go. All good things must come to an end though as we have to make room for the new.

The  attraction was originally inspired by a scene on the long-running Universal Studios Backlot Tour in which the Studio Tour tram passed through several sets from the filmand was then attacked by the shark known as JAWS while driving by an Amity Harbour shore line. The original ride was designed by MCA/Universal Planning and Development, in association with Ride and Show Engineering, which designed the original tour scene and Steven Spielberg, who directed the first film in the series, also served as a creative consultant for the ride.

Following the opening of Jaws in 1990, it experienced extensive and persistent breakdowns as a result of the massive special effects involved. This also happened at fellow original rides like Kongfrontation and Earthquake: The Big One and while Universal was able to eventually contain the technical bugs in the Kong and Earthquake rides at “utmost consistency”, the effects in the Jaws ride constantly refused to work at all, resulting in the ride having to be evacuated almost daily.

Universal temporarily shut down the ride in August 1990, and sued Ride and Show Engineering for failing to properly design the ride. Throughout 1991 and early 1992, Universal attempted to refurbish the effects of the ride for a re-opening, but with no result. Some reports leaked that the high-tech electronics used in the sharks was damaged due to inadequate waterproofing. Eventually, Universal then collaborated with Totally Fun Company (who designed many of the park’s original attractions) to create a new version of almost the entire ride. Some of the changes which resulted in the re-design of the ride include the replacement of two major ride scenes; the first one being in which JAWS bit onto the tour boat and turned it by 90-degrees (which was replaced with the Gas dock explosion scenes) and the second being the finale (which was loosely based on the first Jaws movie  in which the skipper shot a grenade into the shark’s mouth, causing him to explode underwater, resulting in gushing blood (which was replaced by the current finale in which JAWS is electrocuted after biting onto a high-voltage barrage which was loosely based on the ending for Jaws 2).

The ride was then officially re-opened by Roy Scheider, Lorraine Gray and Steven Spielberg in Spring of 1993.

Following the hurricanes that struck Central Florida in 2004, Universal was forced to temporarily close the ride due to the rising cost of petroleum, which is used to fuel the numerous pyrotechnical effects throughout the attraction as well as the tour boats. The ride finally reopened in December 2005, but was listed as “seasonal” and only open on busier days. This lasted until February 2007 when the ride was finally opened full time again after numerous guest complaints. During the 2005 closure, several renovations were made to the ride. The attraction was further refurbished in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 but on December 2, 2011, Universal Orlando Resort announced that the JAWS! attraction and the Amity Area will close permanently on January 2, 2012 to “make room for an exciting, NEW, experience. ”

Warner Bros. Entertainment and Universal Parks and Resorts today announced a partnership to bring The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – the enormously popular themed entertainment environment which debuted in Orlando in June 2010 – to Universal Studios Hollywood.

The two companies also announced their plans to significantly expand The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood will be as impressive as what has been created in Orlando – and is expected to transform tourism in Los Angeles for decades to come. It will be a fully immersive environment for the entire family that brings the stories of Harry Potter to life and is faithful to the visual landscape of the films, including a majestic Hogwarts castle to serve as the centerpiece of the themed environment. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood will be created with the same commitment to authenticity and the same level of talent and resources as its Orlando counterpart.

“I am delighted that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been so popular with fans since the opening in Orlando last year and I am sure that the teams at Universal and Warner Bros. will bring their expertise and attention to detail to Hollywood to make this new experience equally as exciting,” said J.K. Rowling.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort opened in June 2010 and immediately captured global attention. It is a spectacularly themed land that includes Hogwarts castle, Hogsmeade and multiple themed attractions. Specific details of its expansion will be announced over time.

“The announcement of our partnership with Universal to bring The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Hollywood and expand what already exists in Orlando is probably the best holiday gift we could give to the legions of Harry Potter fans worldwide,” said Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. “Everyone involved with these projects is committed to continuing the enchantment of J.K. Rowling’s masterful books as they were brought to life on screen in our eight films and dedicated to extending the magic of the experience for generations of fans to come.”

“This is an incredible moment for Universal Studios and the millions of guests who visit our theme parks,” said Ron Meyer, President & COO, Universal Studios. “The Harry Potter stories are some of the most powerful of our time and we are honored to expand our Orlando experience and bring The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Hollywood, forever changing family tourism in Los Angeles.”

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is an entirely new level of themed entertainment that brings the stories of Harry Potter to life in incredible ways,” said Tom Williams, Chairman and CEO, Universal Parks and Resorts. “We are thrilled to be able to share this experience with our guests in Hollywood. And we are thrilled to take what has been created in Orlando to even greater levels.”

All good things must come to an end and one of the major attractions at Universal Orlando is now having it’s swan song.

JAWS! is closing.

The final ride will be on 2nd January 2012 when the JAWS! ride and the Amity area will close.

The folks at Universal Orlando made the announcement this morning and they have been at pains to lessen the pain for fans of the ride. The statement said:

We are closing JAWS! and the Amity area to make room for an exciting, new attraction experience. JAWS! has been an amazing attraction and an important part of our history. But we must always work to provide new, innovative, entertainment experiences for our guests. We know that JAWS! holds a special place in the hearts of our guests and we have put a great deal of thought and care into this decision. We can’t wait to share details of our plans – in due time. Meanwhile, our guests should take this opportunity to enjoy their last rides on JAWS!.

The official close date for JAWS! and the Amity area is January 2, 2012 at 9 p.m.

Personally, I believe it’s time had come. It’s been a stalwart of the Universal Orlando park since 1990 but the 1975 film that it was based on isn’t really remembered all that well by today’s generations. In fact, many folks below the age of 25 admit they’ve never even seen the movie.

It’s always kind of sad when something has to come to an end but I believe it’s the right decision. The ride has been a wonderful feature of the park with it’s 32 foot, three ton shark (made of steel, fiberglass, latex skin and urethane teeth) moving through the water at realistic speeds of 20 feet per second, but it’s now time for the new. We must look forward and not back and to the new.

If you want to ride JAWS! one more time, you’ve still got time… might even be the perfect reason to visit Orlando!

Universal Orlando  Holidays event kicks off this weekend with holiday entertainment the whole family will enjoy. At Grinchmas at Islands of Adventure, the popular Dr. Seuss book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is brought to life in the heartwarming live stage show, “Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular,” starring The Grinch and the Whos from Whoville.

At Universal Studios Florida, the Macy’s Holiday Parade will fill the streets every evening with some of the same iconic elements seen winding through New York City each year at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The beloved parade features colorful holiday characters, fantasy-filled floats and dozens of larger-than-life balloons. Mannheim Steamroller, the masters of Christmas music with more than 40 million albums sold worldwide, returns to the Music Plaza stage in Universal Studios six times this year to play their memorable holiday hits for guests, performing on December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18.

Also at Universal Studios, guests can enjoy special holiday-themed versions of their favorite shows, including The Blues Brothers Show and A Day in the Park with Barney, as well as nightly a capella holiday music in the nearby Holiday Village, which is filled with hand-blown glass ornaments, hot chocolate, a cookie decorating location and more.

This special holiday entertainment – including the Mannheim Steamroller concerts – is included as part of regular admission to Universal Orlando’s theme parks. To maximize the fun, guests can experience all holiday-themed activities at both theme parks with any annual pass, two-park or multi-day admission to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure (*Note: Power Annual Pass is blocked out December 26, 2011 – January 1, 2012).

The Holidays fanfare runs Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011 through Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012

Halloween Horror Nights is Universal Orlando’s annual Halloween party, and it is one of the most popular events in Orlando. The event runs for 25 nights leading up to Halloween and is home to eight haunted houses, inescapable scarezones, hundreds of frightening “scareactors” and live shows.

The haunted houses are usually temporary structures set up specifically for the event (although, in the past, certain attractions have been converted into haunted houses for the event). Each of the houses is themed differently and as you walk through the attraction, any number of things or people are likely to jump out or happen to you. Don’t worry though, they never touch you, but they come pretty darned close!

In addition to the haunted houses, Universal has several ‘scare zones’ around the park. These are usually dimly lit areas with a variety of special effects such as dry ice, strobe lights, fog and again  any number of creatures chasing you down the street or lunging at you from behind corners wielding chainsaws. It’s not for the faint hearted but it’s THE place to be on Halloween.

Here’s a description of each house:

Nevermore: The Madness of Poe – The madness of Edgar Allen Poe’s greatest works has come to life. Step into the mind of the iconic writer, where every turn of the page takes you closer to the brink of insanity.

The Forsaken – Four ships began Columbus’s fateful voyage, only three became legend. Condemned to a watery grave, the mutinous and cursed crew of that 4th ship has returned with a vengeance. For within the walls of a Spanish fort, a maelstrom has brought from the depths….death itself.

Winter’s Night: The Haunting of Hawthorn Cemetery – As snow falls on this normally serene gothic cemetery, the deceased souls that occupy its confines have their sights set upon you, insuring that the chill you feel up your spine is more than just the cold of night.

H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: Holidays of Horror – Join creature feature host, H.R. Bloodengutz, in his final televised broadcast as he presents a SCARE-athon of holiday-based horror that is guaranteed to cleave you screaming for more.

The Thing – Paranoia spreads like an epidemic among a group of researchers in an isolated Antarctic outpost as they are infected, one by one, by a horrifying creature from another planet. In a place where there is nothing, they found something.

Saws N’ Steam: Into the Machine – Spinning blades and massive, crushing pistons await you around every corner as you are forced deeper into the bowels of a mechanical nightmare. Give yourself to “The Machine.”

The In-Between – An ominous portal reveals a 3rd dimension where all is not what it seems: a realm where our world and another collide. Surrounded by fiendish creatures, your eyes will deceive you with every step through this phantasm of terror.

Nightingales: Blood Prey – Within every war, the Nightingales have appeared. Able to transform themselves to fit any setting, these savage banshees feed on the weak and the helpless. Patrolling WWI era trenches, you discover that you are more than just at war…you’re being hunted.

Lots more photo’s on Facebook.com/FloridaLeisure – click the link.

And, we feature the first three houses on this Behind the Screams RIP Tour… enjoy!

Members of legendary hard rock band Guns N’ Roses DJ Ashba and Frank Ferrer showed an “appetite for destruction” with flesh-rotting scareactors in the Acid Assault scarezone at Halloween Horror Nights 21 tonight. Guns N’ Roses kicks off the US-leg of their first tour in five years on Friday in Orlando. The group burst onto the music scene in the mid-‘80s with the highest-selling debut album of all time – Appetite for Destruction – which has sold more than 28 million copies worldwide to date and features iconic hits “Welcome To The Jungle,” “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “Paradise City.” Named “the country’s best Halloween event” for four years in a row, Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights brings to life guests’ most intense nightmares and runs now through October 31.

Cool Picture Time : The Dogweed and Deathcap storefront in Hogsmeade at Universal Orlando Resort’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is home to many exotic plants and flowers, including the potted Mandrake. Shown within the shop window, the Mandrake shrieks and squirms as guests pass by. It is inspired by J.K. Rowling’s compelling stories and characters in the Harry Potter series of books.