About OrlandoInformer.com

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Universal Orlando Experts. Central Florida Enthusiasts!

OrlandoInformer.com is the world’s largest subscription service covering the world’s most exciting entertainment destination: Universal Orlando Resort. Our online guide to Universal offers an unparalleled level of information and media about Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, the Loews on-site hotels, and more. In addition, we are very proud to have created the definitive travel guide to Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter — the most ambitious and thrilling theme park experience to be built in the last decade! With over 160,000 pageviews each month, and with a subscriber satisfaction rate above 99 percent since our inception, OrlandoInformer.com has taken its place as the premier independent vacation planning resource for guests visiting Universal Orlando.

Along with our online guide to Universal, we also blog about Disney World, SeaWorld, and many other tourist destinations and local activities around Central Florida. Our team of writers collectively hold a vast storehouse of Orlando experience, insight, and passion. Whether it is breaking news about the latest ride to open, or the inside scoop on a new way to save money at a favorite attraction, our goal is to provide accurate and timely information to you — and to do it in a dynamic, engaging online environment.

OrlandoInformer.com is a Visitus Media LLC website, owned and edited by Dan Hatfield.

More about Dan Hatfield

Dan is an Orlando destination specialist, former Universal Orlando Resort team member, student at UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, and founder of Visitus Media LLC. Originally from St. Paul, MN, Dan now lives in Celebration, FL with his wife Rosie and their new daughter Noa.

Dan has had a lifelong passion for Orlando and theme parks — places where a family can “escape” and enjoy once-in-a-lifetime experiences together. With the dream of turning this passion into a new career, Dan and his wife relocated from the Midwest to Orlando in 2009. Initially he went looking for opportunities at the theme parks (along with pursuing a degree in Hospitality Management). By 2010 he had become the top Sales Counselor at Universal’s Guest Contact Center, and as a result he was invited by Universal’s Leadership to participate in several training projects. While his experience working with Universal’s Leadership was invaluable, as it created the basis for OrlandoInformer.com’s subscription service, Dan knew that he wanted the opportunity do so something else — something that would allow him to spend time at the parks with his family, explore all of Orlando, and capitalize on his interest in website development, while at the same time allow him to continue offering incredible one-on-one service to guests visiting the area. So at the beginning of 2011 he left Universal, founded Visitus Media LLC, and began work on this site.

It has been a long road with several twists and turns, but with the unwavering support of the growing OI community, Dan was able to turn his dream job into a reality in less than a year. Moving forward, he has a grand vision for this site and its unique services, and it’s exciting to know the ride has just begun!

Connect with Dan on LinkedIn.

Active OI contributors

We are honored to have these select authors contribute their work to our site.

Julie

Julie is an Orlando enthusiast who travels to Central Florida as often as she can to enjoy the theme parks, restaurants, and regional attractions. She was recently featured on the Visit Kissimmee website as a i.see Kissimmee guest blogger. Now she brings her experiences and enthusiasm to our site. You can also follow Julie on Twitter.

OI posts by Julie

Emily

Emily is a New Jersey high-school student interested in science, tennis, track and field, Harry Potter, and art. She plans on attending college in California with the hope of becoming a marine biologist or paleontologist. Emily has been visiting Orlando since she as two, and she is also a big Disney classic fan (especially Peter Pan).

OI posts by Emily

Kystal

Krystal Hamel is a Florida native who resides near the beaches of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. She has a love for photography, traveling (especially to Orlando), and meeting new people. she is a freelance photographer and works as an inventory assistant for Charles Albert Inc.

OI posts by Krystal

Derek

Derek Burgan is a longtime theme park fan based in Port St. Lucie, FL. There is not a theme park related book he won't read, podcast he won't listen to, or DVD he won't watch. He regularly travels to what he considers his second home, Orlando, while his girlfriend wishes he had the same passion for Hawaii. Contact Derek on Twitter or Facebook.

OI posts by Derek

Bill

Bill recently relocated to the area from Pennsylvania, just to be closer to all of the Orlando attractions. Covering Walt Disney World, he is the go-to-guy for information on the resort.

OI posts by Bill

Ashley

Ashley Nichols is the writer of Theme Park Foodie, a blog that highlights dining and cuisine opportunities at theme parks throughout the United States with a focus on Central Florida. TPF, an UrbanSpoon featured blog, features content on Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Busch Gardens and more! Join the theme park food conversation on Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and Facebook.

OI posts by Ashley

Marc

Marc N. Kleinhenz is the author of It Is Known: An Analysis of Thrones, Vol. I, which is a collection of his articles – featuring the likes of James Poniewozik from Time magazine – on HBO's Game of Thrones. Oh, he also writes for Gamasutra, IGN, and 16 other sites.

OI posts by Marc

Lisa

Lisa is a native to Orlando. Her first job in high school was at the Magic Kingdom when that was the only Disney World theme park. In college, Lisa worked at SeaWorld. Her first professional job was in the sales department at Church Street Station in downtown Orlando. Nowadays she arranges student travel into the Central Florida area. And of course she still enjoys going to the parks with her family!

OI posts by Lisa

JT

JT is an Orlando local, relocated from southern FL. He loves going to Universal Orlando Resort, Walt Disney World, other attractions in the Orlando area, and does so regularly. JT is also proud to serve as the OI Forum moderator.

OI posts by JT

Josh

Josh Mercer is the webmaster of Parkpedia, a website debuting soon that is dedicated to preserving and presenting the details, design, and history of theme parks. He is a lifelong theme park fan and constantly researches and visits the Orlando theme parks.

OI posts by Josh

James

James is a 23 year old gap year student from the UK. He enjoys Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain. He'll also be spending the next 12 months working in one of Orlando's theme parks and is well placed to give advice for international visitors.

OI posts by James

If you are interested in contributing your own work, please click here.

Copyright & disclaimer

© Visitus Media LLC 2011 – 2012. Unless you have received prior written authorization from us, you may not copy, redistribute, publish, sell, or otherwise make the original contents of this website available to third parties.

Our site is not endorsed by, authorized by, or affiliated with Universal Orlando Resort or any theme park. The policies and procedures of other businesses may change at any time without notice. Therefore Visitus Media LLC makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of any content contained herein.

To view our full Terms of Use and other legal information, please click here.