OrlandoInformer.com is the world’s leading independent resource for guests visiting the world’s most exciting entertainment destination: Universal Orlando Resort.
The OI Universal Center, home to our next-generation ENCYCLOPEDIA of Universal Orlando vacation planning information, contains over 200 pages covering Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, CityWalk, and Universal’s on-site hotels. In addition, we offer our readers six extraordinary advantages over traditional guidebooks and other websites:
- Nearly same-day updates to our insider information as changes take place in the parks
- Immersive multimedia, including over 10,000 full-screen photos and hours of HD video
- Intense, first-hand coverage of annual events with advice written based on this year’s activities
- Comprehensive analysis of all construction projects and anticipated resort developments
- Live, in-park photo updates broadcast from Universal Orlando each and every week
- Direct access to Dan Hatfield for fast, professional answers to all OI Forum member questions
Thousands of families have used our service to plan the perfect vacation and gain complete confidence in their knowledge of the parks. As we now celebrate our biggest and busiest year ever, we are very proud to take our place as the premier resource for guests visiting Universal Orlando Resort.
Along with our online guide to Universal, we also produce the OI Blog. This section of our site provides even more coverage of Universal Orlando as well as Disney World, SeaWorld, and the many other amazing destinations and unique activities around Central Florida. Our team of contributing writers collectively hold a vast storehouse of theme park experience, insight, and passion. Whether it is breaking news about the latest attraction to open, or the inside scoop on a new way to save money at a favorite event, our goal is to provide accurate and entertaining content for our readers — and to do so in a dynamic, engaging online environment. With over 500 articles published to date and more added every week, the OI Blog has become a treasure of entertainment and a keystone of vacation planning for guests traveling all over Central Florida.
We strive daily to produce one-of-a-kind content that sets us apart from other websites, while at the same time provide a level of service to guests planning Universal Orlando vacations that is truly remarkable. Our team invites you to join over 125,000 unique monthly visitors — generating more than 400,000 monthly pageviews — and check out everything we have to offer at OrlandoInformer.com, or jump in the conversation on any of these social networks:
Google+ | Facebook | Twitter | Foursquare | YouTube | Pinterest
Like our logo? You should see how it looks on official Orlando Informer merchandise.
OrlandoInformer.com is a Visitus Media LLC website, owned and edited by Dan Hatfield. Contact us
Orlando Informer testimonials
Here are just a few things our readers have said about our Universal Orlando vacation planning information:
“I just came back from a family trip to Orlando during Christmas time and I really wanted to thank the OI team for all the amazing tips I found in this website. I never waited any more than 20min in line for anything, even though the parks were quite crowded! We even managed to do the Forbidden Journey twice in less than 40min. Thanks so much for helping us have the best possible experience in Universal parks. Your website is absolutely awesome!!” – OI subscriber BethaniaAm
“Your site made things come to life and very easy to understand and navigate. Love the videos and pictures! I REALLY love that you answer questions and leave other peoples questions posted. Love that there is a real person to help!” – OI subscriber Kim
“When I plan our annual trip to WDW, I pour over sites … there are so many dedicated to the planning of a ‘magical’ vacation … when we decided to incorporate time at Universal, I searched the internet for info on rides, attendance, tips, etc … I came up totally empty — until I found Orlandoinformer.com. I was thrilled to find calendars, live clips and photos from actual visits, giving me the ability to decide when to go and how best to navigate the parks. Kudos to all of you who took the time to put this info out there!” – OI subscriber Tammie
“As an obsessive planner, the OI Universal Center was exactly what I needed.” – OI subscriber Easi9
“I firmly believe that our trip would not even have been half as enjoyable if not for your incredible site. It allowed us to maximize our time, see everything we wanted to do, and still have time for mid-day rests and sit-down meals.” – OI subscriber MamaSowers
“A year ago I got Cable TV hooked up after a 12 yr hiatus. Went from 3 channels to 400. I was like a kid in a candy store. Being new to the OI and having this much information at my fingertips is right up there with that!” – OI subscriber April
“I read ‘the’ guidebook for USF and IOA, but it doesn’t compare to your resourcefulness. This site has been INVALUABLE!!!” – OI subscriber JenG
Recent site milestones
May 13, 2013
Today we are excited to announce that OrlandoInformer.com passed four million total pageviews. The popularity of our site continues to increase as indicated by the length of time it has taken to pass each pageview milestone:
- Zero to one million: 14 months
- One to two million: 6 months
- Two to three million: 4 months
- three to four million: 3 months
We are so thankful for everyone who has used our site to plan a better Central Florida vacation. And in particular, we are tremendously grateful to each and every one of our subscribers — without your support, we could not exist.
April 30, 2013
This month our site will recorded more than 400,000 pageviews by over 125,000 unique visitors, making April 2013 our site’s busiest month ever! Thank you to everyone who has helped make us an essential planning tool for guests visiting Universal Orlando.
April 10, 2013
The OI Universal Center, home to the world’s largest and most up-to-date resource for Universal Orlando vacation planning, is now completely free for everyone to access — no subscription required. Learn much more
February 18, 2013
Today our Facebook page reached 10,000 likes. It is truly remarkable to watch our community grow, and we promise to continue providing the best coverage of Universal Orlando with daily news and weekly live, in-park photo updates. (By the way, did you know that yesterday we uploaded our 4,000th photo to Facebook?)
December 31, 2012
In December we passed 7,000 fans on Facebook and sent out our 10,000 tweet on Twitter. As the year ends, we are extremely proud to have published a grand total of 291 pages; 947 posts (includes blog posts and OI Answers); 15,689 images; and 676 daily updates in the OI Universal Center.
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 Ocoee, FL (on the edge of Orlando) with his wife Rosie and their daughter Noa.
Dan has had a lifelong passion for Orlando and theme parks — places where a family can “escape” to enjoy once-in-a-lifetime adventures 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.
OI contributors
We are honored to have these select authors contribute their work to our site.
If you are interested in contributing your own work, please click here.
Copyright & disclaimer
© Visitus Media LLC 2011 – 2013. 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.
We are the world's leading independent resource for guests visiting the world's most exciting entertainment destination: Universal Orlando Resort. With more than 500 free pages & blog posts covering the resort, viewed over 400,000 times each month, we are proud to help thousands of families plan the perfect vacation to Universal's theme parks.
Dan is a former Universal Orlando team member, student at UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, and the OI guy who works full-time to bring you the very best Universal vacation planning information. Originally from St. Paul, MN, Dan now lives in Ocoee, FL (on the edge of Orlando) with his wife Rosie, their daughter Noa, and a new baby on the way!