Neat, noisy and new at Universal Orlando Resort
By Janet Groene
South Florida Parenting
So you think you know Universal Orlando Resort? Spider-Man and Shrek sightings, Dr. Seuss rides that little ones love and the screaming Dueling Dragons and Incredible Hulk coasters that 'tweens and teens can't get enough of. Yes, that's all there. But people buy annual passes for good reason: Universal Orlando Resort's two theme parks, three hotels and CityWalk change constantly.
Check out what's new
Mardi Gras is celebrated every Saturday night through mid-March at Universal Studios. Floats parade the streets, beads are flung with abandon and Dixieland music rings to the skies. Get a special ticket for the party, which starts at 5 p.m.
New this spring is Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, starring such grapplers as Samoa Joe and A.J. Styles. Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk brings his Grand Jam to town this spring with thrilling skateboarding, freestyle BMX and Moto‑X. The Universal resorts web site has dates and details.
The 'blues' hit town
A new, 1,000-seat theater is being built to welcome the Blue Man Group to Orlando. Opening night is June 8 when the music, comedy and theatrical fireworks unfold. The show is family-friendly, and tickets are already on sale. To see a schedule of the big-name rock stars playing the 3,000-seat Hard Rock Live theater during your visit, go to hardrock.com/live2/
One event you might want to be aware of is the annual grad bash weekend. The season's largest grad bash takes place at both Universal Studios and Universal's Islands of Adventure April 20 and 21. High school seniors ride rides, groove to karaoke, see hot music acts and watch street performers from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. This might be a time to stay away unless you're going as part of the grad night fun.
CityWalk
New since last summer at the CityWalk complex of shops and restaurants is the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, a restaurant based on the movie Forrest Gump. (There's one at Bayside in Miami, too.)
Also new at CityWalk, just as in the rest of the resort, including hotels, is a ban on trans-fats in food. Meals come with a choice of fruit, and throughout the parks there are also choices of healthier beverages such as designer waters and pure fruit juices.
New at the hotels
The Hard Rock Hotel has had a massive makeover. Rooms now have 32-inch flat-screen TVs, MP3 docking stations that connect to the in-room stereo system, and a new color scheme. On the club level, where guests get free breakfast and many other perks, rooms have DVD players. All three Universal Loew's hotels have spacious suites for families and allow pets.
Kids Suites at Portofino Bay Hotel are the most tempting for a clan seeking affordable digs with a choice of twin or bunk beds in the children's rooms.
Portofino Bay is also home to the family-friendly Mamma Della's Ristorante and Mandara Spa, which is open to guests at all three Universal hotels.
The Royal Pacific has the splash-a-minute water park with a lagoon and "marooned" airplane. An exotic Bali look pervades this hotel, which has a kiddy section in the Islands Dining Room with pint-size tables and chairs and different entertainment each evening.
Universal's price list is lengthy, so shop carefully for one-day, multiday and multipark tickets (including admission to CityWalk clubs). See the web site for Florida resident specials and for last-minute deals available only for Internet purchase. Guests at Universal hotels get line-jumping privileges, which can also be purchased with certain tickets. VIP tours with a personal escort are also available starting at $100 per person. For a longer stay in Orlando, look into the Flex Ticket, which allows entry to all major theme parks except Walt Disney World.