Universal Orlando Raises Ticket Prices For Single Day, Park-To-Park Tickets

Photo courtesy Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Orlando Resort confirmed reports Thursday that the amusement park would be raising its single-day ticket prices.

According to WFTV.com, officials from the theme park acknowledged that the cost of single-day passes jumped from $102 to $105 on Wednesday. As for the park-to-park ticket prices, they also increased, climbing from $147 to $155.

Annual passes will remain at $215.

Officials from Universal released a statement to FoxNews.com, saying, “We set our prices to reflect the value of the experience we provide our guests. And we provide the greatest value where our guests tell us it matters most – with our popular multi-day tickets and vacation packages. Guests who use multi-day tickets or packages can save as much as $40 off our single day ticket price.”

Universal Studios raised its single-day ticket prices to $102 in early 2015, around the same time Walt Disney World also increased the cost of its passes, according to FoxNews.com. Tickets for Disney's Magic Kingdom are currently $105.

Source: www.travelpulse.com, DONALD WOOD 

Harry Potter Celebration Coming To Universal Orlando In 2016

Photo by Barry Kaufman

In January 2016, Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. Consumer Products will host "A Celebration of Harry Potter" that will include Q&A Sessions, interactive panels, demonstrations and more.

The three-day event will begin on Jan. 29 and run through Jan. 31 at Universal Orlando, and the event is scheduled to give fans the opportunity to interact with the cast and crew of the beloved film and book franchise.

At the event will be stars from the movie “Harry Potter” like Rupert Grint, Bonnie Wright, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch and Katie Leung. The actors will be participating in Q&A sessions, special panels and demonstrations.

In addition to the actors, fans will be able to interact with head prop maker for the Harry Potter film franchise Pierre Bohanna, Wand Combat choreographer Paul Harris and designers Eduardo Lima and Miraphora Mina.

Guests will also be granted access to the Harry Potter Expo where they will be able to enjoy the Sorting Hat experience, an interactive mini tour from Warner Bros. Studio Tour London and more.

For fans of the movies and the books, they can also visit "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade" at Universal’s Islands of Adventure and "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley" at Universal Studios Florida.

Access to "A Celebration of Harry Potter" will be included in the purchase of a regular ticket or an annual pass, and the event will be first-come, first-served, so arrive early. The events will take place at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida theme parks.

For travel agents who book the exclusive event vacation package, their clients will have access to special benefits and reserved sections for the panels and demonstrations. For more information, check out Universal’s official travel agent website.

By DONALD WOOD , 

Volcano Bay To Become Third Park At Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Orlando Resort has announced a project of remarkable vision: to bring to life an entirely new water theme park experience. Called Volcano Bay at Universal Orlando Resort, it will join Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure and become the resort's third incredibly immersive park.

Universal's Volcano Bay will be a place for the entire family. It will be a whole new generation of experience that re-imagines what it means to be a water park.

Imagine a place that offers radically innovative, thrilling attractions, peaceful moments of relaxation and an inspired guest experience that will forever change the perception of water theme parks. It will be set in a highly themed, completely immersive environment inspired by postcard-perfect tropical islands. And it will be the kind of special place that only the Universal team – the same team that has changed the face of Universal Orlando Resort in recent years - can envision and create.

Universal's Volcano Bay will be located within Universal Orlando Resort, just south of the Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Work is already underway and more details will be released in the future.

Universal's Volcano Bay is the next in a series of boldly creative experiences that have opened and will continue to open at Universal Orlando. It began with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade in 2010 and quickly moved to Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, Springfield, hometown to America's favorite animated family, The Simpsons, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, eight new venues at Universal CityWalk, the breathtaking Cabana Bay Beach Resort and more. It will include Skull Island: Reign of Kong and Loews Sapphire Falls Resort in 2016.

And then – in 2017 – will come Universal's Volcano Bay.