OI Universal Center update history

As we have promised OI subscribers, our pages are updated within 48 hours of any major announcements by Universal. What’s more, we are constantly adding new information about Universal as we recognize changes in the parks or become aware of new developments.

This page presents a chronicle of the specific updates we have made to the OI Universal Center and other updates that relate to Universal. Our members can use this page to keep up to speed with what’s new!

5/18 – Congratulations, Lori, you just won a $50 Universal Orlando gift card for helping us kick start the conversation in the new OI Forum! If that’s you, check your email inbox for a note from me. If that isn’t you, don’t worry because we’ll be giving away another $50 Universal Orlando gift card to one of our subscribers next Friday. Learn more

5/18 – The OI Command Center is moving! You can learn more about this news by clicking here.

5/16 – Various ticket outlets in the UK have confirmed dates for Halloween Horror Nights 2012 (and are selling tickets for the event). Visit our HHN 2012 page to see the dates and learn more. You can also view the dates on our Universal crowd calendar.

5/16 – A few weeks ago Universal increased the parking fees at their on-site hotels. It is now $17 per night for self-parking and $24 per night for valet. Visit our On-site hotels at Universal Orlando page to learn more. By the way, there is still no official date for the launch of the new PHOTO Express Passes for on-site guests.

5/15 – One of the most common misconceptions about Universal Orlando is that there’s nothing for young kids to do at the parks. We here at the OI Universal Center are ready to put that misconception to rest, and help your family plan the perfect trip, with two brand-new pages: Visiting Universal Studios Florida with kids and Visiting Islands of Adventure with kids.

We are excited to provide our subscribers with the most complete, up-to-date Universal travel information for families vacationing with young children.

5/14 – Universal moved their park closing times for USF from 8:30pm to 9:00pm for several dates in May — so now the park closes every day at 9:00pm (for Cinematic Spectacular) until the end of the summer. Check out our crowd calendar to learn more.

5/14 – Uploaded five new photos to our Universal CityWalk Promenade construction photo gallery, including shots of the first standing structure in the new area.

5/14 – So many updates to Despicable Me at Universal Studios! We’ve got our first-ever look at the queue video for the attraction, our first peak inside Super Silly Stuff (the Despicable Me gift shop), and a new Despicable Me teaser site for annual passholders. To learn about all of these developments, check out our Despicable Me Minion Mayhem page.

5/13 – On May 24, 2011, OrlandoInformer.com made it’s first sale. Now that the one-year anniversary of our first sale is coming around, I’ve gotten quite a few questions about subscription renewals. The answer is most positively yes, we do offer discounted rates for renewals — click here to get all the info you need. And thank you so much for coming back to our site to plan another incredible vacation to Universal Orlando!

5/12 – This morning I expanded the Universal Orlando section of our forum to bring better organization to our growing collection of vacation planning conversations. Check it out and leave feedback on this thread. Thanks!

5/12 – Update our Ultimate Universal Studios Florida 1 day touring plan page and our OI Priority List: Universal Studios Florida page to include Universal’s Superstar Parade.

5/12 – Our Universal’s Superstar Parade page is now completely updated with info on the additional meet-and-greet opportunities with the parade’s characters and the best spot to watch the parade!

5/11 – Congratulations Melissa (nickname hedwiglee), you just won a $50 Universal Orlando gift card for helping us kick start the conversation in the new OI Forum! If that’s you, check your email inbox for a note from me. If that isn’t you, don’t worry because we’ll be giving away another $50 Universal Orlando gift card to one of our subscribers next Friday. Learn more

5/11 – Yesterday evening Universal announced three more acts for the 2012 Summer Concert Series: Josh Turner on June 23, Al Green on June 30, and Lupe Fiasco on July 7. The band for last remaining date, July 14, remains unannounced at this time.

5/10 – Just completed phase one of the update to our Superstar Parade page. It now features 62 full-screen images and a new HD video. Soon I will be adding even more information, and I’ll answer the question: “Where the best place to watch the parade?” Stay tuned!

5/10 – Updated our Maps, Rider’s Guide & vacation brochure for Universal page with Universal’s new in-park map. The Universal Studios section is now larger than the Islands of Adventure section (Can you believe it?) to accommodate information about the Superstar Parade and Cinematic Spectacular.

5/10 – All the construction walls are gone from around the Despicable Me building! That’s got to be a good sign that things are moving full steam ahead, and perhaps we’ll see our newest Universal attraction open soon (I’m thinking early June). Visit our Despicable Me page to see the first photos of the new outdoor queue space and learn more.

5/10 – Yesterday I discovered that the construction walls around Amity at Universal Studios have been moved further inland. In addition, the old construction walls have been replaced by new, better looking walls. I’m thinking that work on HP 2.0 has to be kicking into high gear soon, which means that we should be getting an official announcement soon! In the meantime, check out our new video and photos.

5/9 – We’ve got another new page in the OI Universal Center: MIB Alien Attack: How to max out your score at 999,999. Big thanks to the OI Forum moderator JT for his help with putting this one together!

5/9 – Universal has stated that the Cinematic Spectacular lagoon show will not run on 5/11, 5/18, 6/2, 9/6 – 9/8, 11/10 – 11/11 and 11/15. Did you notice that HHN nights aren’t blocked out??

5/8 – The day is finally here: Universal’s Superstar Parade and Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular officially debut! If you are going to be in the parks today and would like to share your “grand opening” photos with our readers, just let us know.

Our Cinematic Spectacular page is already totally jammed with all the info you need to know. However, because the Superstar Parade experience has not been in full, all-day operation yet (there’s much more to it than just the parade), our information is limited at this time. But trust me, by the end of this week our Superstar Parade page will be completely overflowing with every detail you need to know to plan the perfect USF trip!

5/8 – Added two new photos to our Cinematic Spectacular page showing the barges with the water curtain walls collapsed. Gives the USF lagoon a much cleaner look during the day when the barges are not in use.

5/7 – ON-SITE: The Lorax backdrop has been switched to Snow White & The Huntsman in the Hollywood area of Universal Studios [pic]: 4sq.com/KE9SUQ

5/7 – ON-SITE: The water curtain walls on Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular barges collapse. Today was the first time I’ve seen that: pic.twitter.com/uWI840Q5

5/7 – ON-SITE: A new 100-year anniversary banner is up at the Universal Studios gates (@ Universal Studios Florida w/ 9 others) [pic]: 4sq.com/Jk5H4t

5/7 – The OI Universal Center has a new page: Universal Orlando attraction wait times based on crowd levels. Check it out and please leave your feedback at the bottom of the new page!

5/7 – This is a big week for Universal and for OrlandoInformer.com. Universal, as you likely know, will be officially debuting the Superstar Parade and the Cinematic Spectacular tomorrow. (They are having another preview of both shows today, too.) For our site, we have a new OI Forum giveaway, some awesome new blog posts from our contributors to publish, and we will be adding a few brand new pages to the OI Universal Center. Thanks for being a part of all the fun!

5/7 – To show our appreciation to our subscribers for helping us kick start the OI Forum, and to encourage new subscribers to get involved on our forum, we have started a new giveaway! If you are a member of our vacation planning community and you want to win a $50 Universal Orlando gift card, click here to learn how simple it is to get yourself entered.

5/6 – Are you in Orlando today or tomorrow? Universal Orlando has confirmed that both of their new entertainment experiences, the Superstar Parade and the Cinematic Spectacular, will be running Sunday and Monday. Then on Tuesday, May 8 the shows will officially debut.

5/4 – We’ve completely updated our logo, graphics, and the top portion of our site. We hope you find this new design cleaner and a little more fun! Let us know what you think of the changes by leaving a comment in the OI Forum.

5/3 – Updated our New summer 2012 in-park dining experiences at Universal Studios page with many new photos and additional viewing location information. Our site definitely has the most comprehensive material about these new experiences available anywhere!

5/3 – A couple of days ago I found out that OI subscriber JenG rented cabana #4 at Royal Pacific Resort for her upcoming trip. But in my Royal Pacific pool area photo gallery I didn’t have any pics of cabana #4. So yesterday I stopped by the hotel and shot a few. Check out the photos, or see where cabana #4 is.

5/3 – Added 16 new photos to our Despicable Me Minion Mayhem page, including our first shots of Gru’s house fully revealed and new posters on the building exterior. This project really seems to be moving at quick pace now — hopefully we won’t have to wait too far into “summer 2012″ to get our chance to experience Universal’s newest attraction!

5/3 – Added six new photos to our Universal CityWalk Promenade construction photo gallery.

5/3 – Updated the on-site hotel character dining schedule on our dining & lounge pages for Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock Hotel, and Portofino Bay Hotel.

5/1 – The May edition of Universal’s ePASSPORT email newsletter for Preferred/Premium Passholders just arrived in my inbox. No breaking news, but some fun discounts for passholders. Click here to view it. I also thought it would be useful to have this link on our Universal ride refurb page, so I just added it.

5/1 – It is the beginning of a new month, and that means our Universal crowd calendar has been fully updated with the latest info and park operating hours. In addition, we have added March 2013 and April 2013 to the calendar.

A note about changes to park operating hours

Please be advised that Universal Orlando does not have a mechanism for alerting the media of changes to its published operating hours. (Indeed, I think we might be the only website that tracks their hours.) This means, when they change hours, the only way for us to know is either to spot it ourselves or to have it brought to our attention by someone in our community.

While we do our very best to provide accurate park times, we strongly encourage you to contact Universal directly a week before you travel to confirm the operating hours of Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. You can reach Universal Guest Services directly by dialing 407-224-4233 and choosing option 2 when prompted. It’s also a good idea to double-check park hours the day before you arrive.

5/1 – Eighth Voyage of Sindbad Stunt Show at Islands of Adventure is closed for seasonal maintenance today through the end of the week. It is scheduled to reopen May 6.

5/1 – Yesterday Universal announced new in-park dining experiences available at Universal Studios Florida during summer 2012. We’ve got all the information you need, including menus, locations, and how to book the experiences online, as part of our new page: Summer 2012 in-park dining experiences at USF

5/1 – Site milestones: In April the OI Universal Center maintained a subscriber satisfaction rate above 99 percent for the ninth consecutive month (since the inception of our subscription service). In addition, we broke our record again for busiest month, with more than 160,000 pageviews by over 40,000 unique visitors. Thank you so much to all of our subscribers and fans! Learn more

4/30 – Today Universal announced a vacation package add-on that features a meal at Lombard’s Seafood Grille and special seating for their Cinematic Spectacular nighttime lagoon show. I called that a few weeks ago

4/30 – First-time visitors to Universal Orlando who are staying at a hotel on International Drive will be interested in this new OI Universal Center page: Walking from International Drive to Universal Orlando

4/30 – We are very proud to present our next official OI Universal Orlando touring plan: Universal Studios Florida & Islands of Adventure 1 day touring plan. Please use the comment area at the bottom of the plan page to ask questions and provide feedback!

4/27 – Added a new OI fun fact to our page for The Simpsons Ride: In homage to the Back To The Future Ride, which The Simpsons Ride replaced, Comic Book Guy is wearing Marty’s futuristic jacket from Back to the Future Part II.

4/27 – Just finished some improvements to our site’s mobile experience. Remember, you can easily access our encyclopedia of Universal Orlando information, including our new Ultimate touring plans, from any smartphone browser — just type in http://www.orlandoinformer.com and let the fun begin!

4/26 – Our Universal Cinematic Spectacular page is now fully updated and includes HD video, 40 full-screen photos, and info on the best viewing spot for the show. Our Ultimate Universal Studios Florida 1 day touring plan and OI Priority List: Universal Studios Florida pages have also been updated.

4/25 – Added nine new photos to our Despicable Me Minion Mayhem construction photo gallery, including the first images with signs for the attraction and gift shop.

4/25 – Added six new photos to our Universal CityWalk Promenade construction photo gallery.

4/25 – OI contributors, I’ve launched a new incentive program that will enable you to earn even more money for helping with our site. To learn more, click here. Not a OI contributor? Learn more about becoming one.

4/25 – The activity in the OI Forum is really picking up — so many fun and helpful conversations. Thank you to everyone who is participating! Just wanted to let you know that I added two short “how to” threads for those interested: Changing your display name and Uploading an avatar. By the way, if you didn’t notice yet, we also introduced forum ranks and a host of new forum smileys.

4/24 – Added the price to charge your cell phone at IOA’s WossaMotta U to our Internet access at Universal Orlando page — $10 for 30 minutes.

4/24 – Congratulations, Richard, you are this week’s winner of a $50 Universal Orlando gift card! Thanks to everyone who has been participating in our forum. We’ll have our final winner next Tuesday! Learn more

4/23 – We now have full menus posted for Lombard’s Seafood Grille and Finnegan’s Bar & Grille at Universal Studios Florida! (Remember, we also added full menus for Confisco Grille and Mythos at Islands of Adventure about a week ago.)

4/23 – I just finished a pretty big reorganization project affecting our Wizarding World of Harry Potter information. Here’s what I did:

• The World Famous OI WWoHP touring plan was moved from our WWoHP insider’s guide to our growing Universal touring plans section.
• The OI WWoHP touring plan for low crowds was its own page in our WWoHP insider’s guide. Now it appears at the bottom of the World Famous OI WWoHP touring plan.
• Our extended review of Three Broomsticks & Hogs Head is now located in our WWoHP insider’s guide, and it has a new name: Three Broomsticks & Hogs Head: Drink in the details. You can still find a summary of Three Broomsticks in our IOA dining section.
• Our WWoHP insider’s guide has one more new page titled Dragon Challenge: Secrets of the queue. The information on this page used to appear in a different section, but it now has its own page so our subscribers don’t miss it!

4/23 – The seasons, they are a’changin’. We have archived our Mardi Gras 2012 and Ellen DeGeneres 2012 pages, and we have set up the initial page for Mardi Gras 2013. Speaking of special events, be sure to check out our page for Universal’s Summer Concert Series 2012 — the next big annual event at the parks.

4/23 – Universal has begun technical rehearsals for their Cinematic Spectacular lagoon show. There isn’t a published schedule for the rehearsals. However, if you are visiting between now and May 8, the official debut date, be sure to ask team members if the show is performing — because you don’t want to miss it! Visit our Cinematic Spectacular page to learn more.

4/21 – This morning our forum software underwent a major upgrade. You will notice that the area looks somewhat different. However, from what I’ve been able to test so far, most of the functionality is the same. The only issue I’ve discovered is that some URLs pasted into posts are now broken. I’m trying to find a solution for those URLs. If you run into other bugs, please add a reply to this thread. Thank you for your help! Visit the OI Forum

4/20 – We are proud to present our Ultimate Universal Studios Florida 1 day touring plan. Check it out and please use the comment section at the bottom of the page to leave us feedback. Thanks!

4/20 – Added the “first-look” video Universal released yesterday to our Cinematic Spectacular page.

4/20 – “Universal Orlando VIP tickets for July – do I pay standard or peak price?” View our answer

4/19 – Added a new Universal Studios Florida video showing the finished lagoon barges, the new Bruce the Shark area, and construction progress in Amity. Check it out

4/19 – Uploaded six new photos to our construction photo gallery for Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.

4/19 – Uploaded 10 new photos to our construction photo gallery for the new Universal CityWalk Promenade, including the first photos of Phase 2.

4/19 – Have you been having trouble finding the Express Pass pricing calendar in Universal’s new online ticket store? You’re not alone. So I’ve added instructions at the top of our Complete guide to Universal Express Passes.

4/19 – “Bluephoria Lounge at Universal’s Blue Man Group?” It’s part of the VIP experience. Click here to learn more.

4/18 – “Does Aquatica have a rain day policy? Passholder discounts for Blue Man Group?” I’ve got all the information you need right here.

4/17 – “Universal just announced a $99 deal for Florida resident tickets – is it worth it?” Yes, it is a good deal, as long as you understand the requirements.

4/17 – Congratulations, Kelly (username Cleo79), you are this week’s winner of a $50 Universal Orlando gift card! Thanks to everyone who has been participating in our forum. We’ll have another winner next Tuesday! Learn more

4/16 – Got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that, after four intense days of bookkeeping, I finally got all my paperwork organized and taxes filed! (Yeah for me!) The bad news is that, because of this back-of-house work, I haven’t posted any real site updates for a few days — my apologies. Right now I’m going to get out of the house for a bit (I’ve earned it!). Tomorrow the updates will begin again. Thanks for your support and understanding

4/13 – “Royal Pacific Resort – any place to get breakfast prior to Early Park Admission at WWoHP?” There certainly is. To view your options, click here.

4/13 – Transcribed the full menus for Confisco Grille and Mythos onto their dedicated pages. Soon I will be adding the menus for Lombard’s and Finnegan’s!

A note about menus: Over the next few weeks I hope to transcribe the full menus for all the restaurants inside Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. In the meantime, please know that we have menu images in the photo galleries on each page. Regarding the full-service restaurants at Universal CityWalk, each of those has a link to a PDF menu for easy viewing.

4/12 – Added five new photos of the breakfast serviced at Royal Pacific’s Orchid Court Lounge to our Royal Pacific Resort: Dining & lounges page.

4/12 – “Universal Orlando – can I upgrade from a single park admission ticket to a park-to-park ticket?” Shouldn’t be a problem. See our full answer for the details.

4/12 – Uploaded five new photos to our Universal CityWalk Promenade page. Still waiting on an official statement from Universal about this new area.

4/12 – Uploaded three new photos to our Cinematic Spectacular page, along with a little bit of new insight into the show.

4/12 – Here’s a new blog post that I think you’ll enjoy: Universal vs. Disney: What the two parks could learn from each other

4/12 – Universal recently added vaccination requirements for using their kennel services at the parks. We’ve updated our Parking & transportation page accordingly.

4/12 – Universal fans will like this OI Share post we just published on our blog: Audrea and Becky do Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras in style

4/11 – “Staying on-site at Universal Orlando – can we visit Hard Rock’s pool and use their laundry facilities?” Yes, you absolutely can! Learn all about it

4/11 – “What ride wait times can I expect at Universal Orlando if I have an Express Pass?” View our answer

4/10 – “Walking distance from Universal’s Royal Pacific Resort to the other on-site hotel pools?” Here’s all the info you need

4/10 – Nickelodeon is sponsoring a contest for you to get a chance to meet the cast of Victorious and see their performance at Universal’s 2012 Summer Concert Series — and stay on-site at Hard Rock Hotel. Not bad. To enter, click here.

4/10 – Universal vacation planners, you may be interested in checking out this new OI Blog post: Going solo to Mythos is just as good

4/10 – “Best ticket option for visiting Universal Orlando, Discovery Cove worth it, Kennedy Space Center tickets?” View our answer

4/10 – Each Tuesday for the next few weeks we’re giving away a $50 Universal gift card to one lucky subscriber who is helping us jump start the conversation in our new forum. Good news, Cassy, you are this week’s winner — check your email! Subscribers, learn more about the OI Forum giveaway by clicking here.

4/10 – Universal published their July and August park operating hours. Nothing unexpected. We’ve gone ahead and added the official hours to our Universal crowd calendar.

4/10 – Today Universal gave us a somewhat strange partial reveal of the Summer Concert Series line-up. Visit our 2012 Summer Concert Series page to learn more!

4/10 – Small update to the crowd level predictions for the week of April 22 on our Universal crowd calendar. Check it out

4/10 – Thanks to our tremendous subscribers and fans, we set another new record for busiest day on the site yesterday: 7,141 pageviews by 2,153 unique visitors. Seems like practically every other day we are breaking this record. We truly appreciate your support of our site and enthusiasm for our work! See more site milestones

4/9 – Added 13 new images to the construction photo gallery on our Despicable Me Minion Mayhem page, including images of the new gift shop exterior and some artwork by the Despicable Me kids!

4/9 – Added images of the new on-site guest PHOTO Express Pass kiosks from Portofino Bay Hotel to this OI Blog post.

4/9 – Universal Preferred/Premier Passholders get to enjoy Early Park Admission now through the end of April. View the OI Blog post to learn more.

4/9 – I decided to add Universal’s Grad Bash and Gradventure events dates to the crowd calendar. It makes the strange opening and closing times over the next few weeks make a little more sense. However, please note that these graduation events are not open to the general public. On all event nights the general public will be ushered out of the parks at 6:00pm.

4/8 – This is a two part update. First, with the announced debut of Universal’s Superstar Parade and Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular on May 8, I have bumped up our crowd level predictions for that week. You can view the new predictions on our crowd calendar. Second, I just wrote a pretty long answer with some interesting thoughts for this question: “How busy will USF be for the May 8 debut of Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular, show time?” To view my answer, click here. Enjoy!

4/8 – Any guest who is planning their full-service meals throughout Universal Orlando Resort will quickly realize that there is no central reservation number. So, we have done all the hard work for you and put together one page with all the phone numbers and links to online reservations that you’ll need! Check it out: Dining reservations at Universal Orlando

4/8 – I have been working very hard to update our Touring Plans section and bring you official OI plans for Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. Originally I was attempting to set up the pages as wikis, so we could all edit the plans and perfect them together. However, that proved to be too cumbersome. So now I have remapped the touring plans section of the OI Universal Center and added the rough draft of the first plan: Ultimate Islands of Adventure 1 day touring plan

I encourage you to review what I’ve posted and please leave feedback. Comments at the bottom of the touring plan page have been enabled so you can easily do so. As I receive feedback I will update the plan. Also, very shortly I will be posting our Ultimate Universal Studios Florida 1 day touring plan.

Thank you so much for your help!

4/7 – The OI Universal Center has a new page: Halloween Horror Nights 2012 – admission guide. There isn’t any official 2012 details on the page yet, as Universal is likely months away from releasing specifics about their HHN 2012 ticket options and prices. But the page does have everything from 2011, and looking through 2011′s info will give you a good idea of what to expect if you are new to the event.

4/6 – It’s Friday, and if you don’t have another reason to celebrate, here’s one: Yesterday OrlandoInformer.com recorded its 1,000,000th pageview! Big numbers, happy subscribers, and so much Universal vacation planning info — what more could I ask for?

4/5 – The OI Universal Center has a new page: Rock The Universe 2012

4/5 – Save $5 off tickets to Harbor Nights Primavera at Portofino Bay (April 27) by logging onto http://ticketf.ly/HNp12t and entering the promo code EB5OFF. Learn more

4/5 – Don, one of our subscribers, just got back from a fantastic trip to Universal Orlando. In fact, he and his family agree that it was “the greatest vacation” they have had so far! To read Don’s story, which he shared with us, click here. To learn about sharing your own story, click here.

4/4 – Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel made TripAdvisor’s list of the Top 25 Large Hotels & Resorts for Families in the U.S. It was #25, but at least it was one there! View the OI Blog post to see the full list.

4/4 – I just realized that last week we quietly set another site record: busiest week ever. Over the seven day period we recorded 39,412 pageviews by 10,994 unique visitors. Thank you to our subscribers and fans! See more milestones

4/4 – The OI Universal Center has another new page: Internet access at Universal Orlando Resort

4/4 – I’m playing around with the idea of starting a live talk show (online) where subscribers and fans can call in and ask Universal Orlando questions. What do you think? Would you be interested? Reply to this OI Forum topic with your comments.

4/3 – Thanks to USF Addicts, we just learned the Jimmy Buffett’s music video for the song Fruitcakes was filmed throughout Universal Studios Florida back in 1994. It is really amusing to watch, so we added it to the video gallery on our Universal Studios Florida title page.

4/3 – Our Meal Deal page has been updated with tons of information including full menus and lots of photos. It is now the world’s most complete reference on the topic. In fact, when I worked at Universal, I didn’t even know all this information! Aren’t you glad you’re a subscriber? To check it out, click here.

4/3 – The OI Universal Center has a new page (although there isn’t much information on it yet): Universal CityWalk Promenade

4/3 – Universal has announced that the new USF lagoon show and daytime parade will debut on May 8! The following pages have been updated accordingly: Universal attraction refurbs, openings & closings, Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular, and Universal’s Superstar Parade.

Still no word on an official opening date for Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.

4/3 – Added a photo of the new, larger Hulk merchandise stand to our Marvel Super Hero Island title page.

4/3 – “Transportation from the airport to Universal’s Portofino Bay Hotel?” View our recommendations

4/3 – I’m sure some of you have noticed that I’ve been spending a lot of time at the Universal parks lately. I’ve been working on a number of research projects, including #refillresearch, so I haven’t been at my computer as much as I’d like. Well, that changes today. I’ve got a ton of information to upload, and I’m getting started with it all right now.

Stay tuned for some exciting new OI Blog posts and all-new pages in the OI Universal Center!

4/3 – We began a giveaway last week to help jump start the conversation in the OI Forum. Each Tuesday for the next few weeks we’re giving away a $50 Universal gift card, and all our subscribers have to do is participate in our forum to enter. Well, Leigh (username Lpull), you are this week’s winner! Please check your email inbox for a message from Dan Hatfield. OI subscribers, to learn more about the OI Forum giveaway, click here.

4/3 – New OI Blog post: Spring Break 2012 crowds inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

4/1 – “Best tickets to purchase for the most exclusive experience at the Wizarding World?” View our answer

4/1 – OI subscribers, help me welcome Josh — username JT — as the first moderator of the new OI Forum. Click here

4/1 – Universal has yet again changed their hours for April. There are now 10 dates this month when Universal Studios Florida is scheduled to close at 8:30pm. I think this is very strange — I can’t remember the last time one of Universal’s parks closed on the half hour. My only guess is that it must be tied to rehearsals for the new Cinematic Spectacular lagoon show and/or Universal’s Superstar Parade.

In addition to the operating hour changes, I also lowered this week’s crowd estimate from Very busy to Busy. I know that overall this upcoming week is going to be extremely busy for the International Drive area because of the International Plastics Convention at the OCCC. However, based on what I saw at the parks yesterday and what I’ve been hearing from subscribers, I just don’t see enough crowds to justify a Very busy prediction anymore. Keep in mind that Islands of Adventure is still opening at 8:00am for the next two weeks (7:00am for Early Park Admission folks). View our crowd calendar

March 2012

3/31 – Our souvenir Hogs Head mug made it through another run in the dishwasher! See the Facebook pic

3/31 – It looks like we’ve got our first semi-official band for the 2012 USF Summer Concert Series: ZZ Top on June 16. Visit our Summer Concert Series page to learn more.

3/30 – “How much should I tip during my visit to Universal Orlando?” View our guidelines

3/30 – “Which of Universal Orlando’s roller coasters are tween friendly?” In my honest opinion, I think they all are. Click here to read my full answer and share your thoughts.

3/30 – With one day left, March has easily been our site’s busiest month. We’ve recorded more than 150,000 pageviews by over 40,000 unique visitors, and we have had a nearly 70 percent increase in subscriber sign ups compared to February. Most importantly, we held our subscriber satisfaction rate above 99 percent for the eighth consecutive month (since the inception of our subscription service). Thank you so, so much to all of our fans and subscribers!

3/30 – Although there is virtually no information available at this time, we’ve added Universal’s new CityWalk Promenade to our Attractions refurb, openings & closings page.

3/29 – Universal uploaded their first teaser trailer for HHN 2012 yesterday, and now you can see it on our Halloween Horror Nights 2012 page!

3/29 – Lots of our subscribers have been asking if Spider-Man is getting longer lines than it did before the refurb. So, I’ve gone ahead and addressed the question on our Spider-Man page! I also updated the wait time info on our Islands of Adventure Priority List.

3/29 – Added six new photos of the construction progress on Gru’s house to our Despicable Me Minion Mayhem page.

3/29 – Uploaded an all-new HD video of Amity area at Universal Studios Florida. The video shows the completed demolition work next to the lagoon, Bruce the shark’s new home by Che’z Alcatraz, and the new Amity walk-thru without Bruce. To view the video, Click here.

3/28 – “Which tower do you recommend at Universal’s Royal Pacific Resort?” You can see all the info you’ll need by clicking here.

3/28 – Universal is holding a sweepstakes to give away five vacations to their resort. The sweepstakes runs from March 27 through June 3. To learn more and get your family entered, click here.

3/28 – Thanks to our incredible fans and subscribers, we set a new record yesterday for busiest day on the site: 6,796 pageviews by 2,011 unique visitors. Thank you!

3/27 – “Dive-in movie and Wantilan Luau times at Universal’s Royal Pacific Resort?” Click here to view the most up-to-date information available.

3/27 – The OI Universal Center continues to grow this this brand new page: A definitive guide to refillable cups and popcorn buckets at Universal Orlando

3/27 – OI subscribers, help us jump start the conversation on the new OI Forum and you could win cha-ching! Click here to learn more.

3/26 – Universal Orlando’s on-site hotels invite you to brunch on Easter Sunday. View the blog post

3/26 – Added the Magic Kingdom vs. Islands of Adventure side by side map I made a few weeks ago to our Islands of Adventure title page. Great way to get an understanding of how big IOA is if you’ve never been there. To view the map, click here.

3/26 – The TV show Extra was filming segments at Universal today. I’m not sure when they will air, but here is a little of the action at CityWalk: http://www.twitvid.com/PFDNQ

3/26 – “Which days to visit Universal Orlando the week of Memorial Day, and Aquatica vs. Wet ‘n Wild?” Great questions, and hopefully I’ve provided a great answer! Click here to view it

3/25 – Took another look at the dates around Memorial Day for 2012 (May 28), and the first two weeks in June, and I bumped up the crowd predictions on our Universal Orlando crowd calendar.

3/25 – Added 29 new photos do our Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls page. Also added 23 new photos to our Incredible Hulk page.

3/24 – ON-SITE: FourSquare check-ins with photos from our visit today –

Hard Rock Hotel’s new PHOTO Express Pass machines we reported about early last week [pic]: 4sq.com/H0nkkW

Another pic of the command center (@ Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Magic) [pic]:4sq.com/GXxmYw

Can you see Gringott’s Bank yet? (@ Little Amity) [pic]: 4sq.com/GXT8rn

Found someone else who thinks Universal’s popcorn buckets are a good deal! (@ Despicable Me Minion Mayhem) [pic]: 4sq.com/GXjdKT

Another shot of the rafter construction (@ Universal CityWalk w/ 9 others) [pic]:4sq.com/GP5swS

3/24 – “Worth getting a Universal Orlando Preferred Annual Pass for the discounts?” If you park at Universal enough, and buy enough food and merchandise, it might be. View our full answer

3/24 – Add 23 new photos of the deluxe room and 18 new photos of the concierge club lounge to our Portofino Bay Hotel: Rooms page. The new pictures are in the photo galleries at the bottom of the page.

3/23 – OI subscribers, view a special message from Dan Hatfield by clicking here.

3/21 – The price of refills for Universal’s refillable souvenir cups increased from 79 cents to 89 cents. To learn more, click here.

3/21 – “The Golf Universal program at Universal Orlando Resort – do you have up-to-date information?” We do now!

3/21 – I discovered yesterday that “in about a month” Universal will start requiring on-site guests to have their photos printed on their unlimited Express Passes. This policy change has not been officially announced yet, so I do not have many details. However, I have updated the information on our Complete guide to Universal Express Pass access with what we do know so far. As soon as all the details are available, you can bet that I’ll be updating all my info again!

3/21 – Added a new HD video to our Royal Pacific: Distance from the parks page: The Islands of Adventure lighthouse at night.

3/21 – Added a new HD video of the live piano music to our Pat O’Brien’s page.

3/20 – Islands of Adventure is now opening at 8:00am for the general public (7:00am for Early Park Admission) for the entire first two weeks of April. This is a major change to Universal’s Spring Break 2012 park operating hours. We have updated our Universal crowd calendar accordingly!

3/20 – Updated all the pricing and information on our FlexTicket page.

3/19 – We just completed a fairly large overhaul of the OI Universal Center table of contents as we reorganized some of our vacation planning information. Along with the overhaul, we updated our New subscriber page. If you signed up recently, we strongly recommend that you check out the New subscriber page one more time. Thanks!

3/19 – Added 63 new photos to our Toon Lagoon page.

3/19 – “Are Universal Orlando’s unlimited Express Passes still available for purchase in the park?” They were as of yesterday. View our complete answer

3/19 – Added an HD video and seven new photos to our Universal Cinematic Spectacular page. The big change here is that the “command center” for the show, located on the back of the Richter’s Burger Co. building, is now complete.

3/19 – Added four new photos of the construction progress to our Despicable Me Minion Mayhem page. Work continues to move very slowly, at least on the exterior of the building.

3/19 – Added an HD video and 15 new photos of the Project 722 / Amity construction to our ride refurb page. Click here to check out the new media.

3/19 – Added an HD video of a live dinosaur to the title page for our Jurassic Park section!!

3/17 – “Can we tour the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in one night when it is busy?” Maybe, but it could be risky. View our full answer

3/17 – Just uploaded a 40-picture photo gallery of the Spring Break 2012 crowds at Islands of Adventure to our Facebook page. Click here to check it out.

3/16 – “What time does Three Broomsticks open for lunch, and how early should we get in line?” View our answer

3/16 – Just uploaded a quick video of the Wizarding World Spring Break crowds from our visit earlier today: youtu.be/Fs0_3LSpLRc

3/16 – ON-SITE: The 360 video screen at Universal CityWalk has been replaced by Coke signage: pic.twitter.com/WMXX7fvv

3/15 – Yesterday OrlandoInformer.com and the OI Universal Center broke two site records: We had the most readers online at the same time – 171 at 12:56pm EST – and we broke our most-pageviews-in-one-hour record with 508 pages viewed from 4:00pm to 5:00pm EST. Thank you so much to all our fans!

3/15 – We’ve added a page for Pat O’Brien’s in our CityWalk. Gotta love those Hurricanes!

3/14 – ON-SITE: Think we’ve found another Universal fan! (@ Hollywood Drive-In Golf) [pic]: 4sq.com/wgV8Mz

3/14 – ON-SITE: Little bit of construction near the lagoon (@ Universal CityWalk w/ 2 others) [pic]: 4sq.com/w22TFo

3/14 – Starting on June 19 Spider-Man will be included in Early Park Admission in replacement of Caro-suess-el. That’s great news for Spring Break and early summer travelers! We’ve updated our Early Park Admission page accordingly. You can also see this OI Blog post for a little more info.

3/14 – “How far in advance are Universal Orlando show schedules published?” About two weeks — click here to learn more.

3/14 – “Universal Orlando dining reservations: One page with all the phone numbers? Reservations needed when its slow?” I can help you with both of those questions! Click here

3/13 – We added three more restaurant pages to the OI Universal Center:

Emeril’s Orlando in CityWalk
Pastamore Ristorante & Market in CityWalk
Classic Monsters Cafe in Universal Studios Florida

3/13 – Finally retired our Amity, JAWS, and Midway Grill pages. If you miss them, you can say hi in the OI Universal Center ARCHIVE.

3/13 – “Harry Potter breakfast at Three Broomsticks — what is the best time to go?” Ideally you’d reserve the latest seating possible. View our full answer

3/13 – We just got done completely updating our Secrets to getting UNLIMITED Express Pass access for what you’re already paying page. Take a look!

3/13 – Watch these movies before you “ride the movies” at Universal Orlando. This was a great post on the OI Blog — so good in fact, we made it a part of the OI Universal Center!

3/12 – When you’re looking at all those ticket options on UniversalOrlando.com, doesn’t it get a little confusing to try to compare the prices? We’ve done our best to make easy for you by creating a page dedicated to comparing Universal’s admission ticket and annual pass prices. Check it out

3/9 – Added three subscriber-submitted Universal Orlando touring plans to our library: Big family; one day at Islands of Adventure, June 9 — Family trip for four nights, May 11 – 15 — Two parents, two kids (13 & 10); three days, May 2 – 4

3/9 – Received some new information about how Amex cardholders have the opportunity to ride the Mardi Gras floats if they use their card to purchase multi-day admission tickets from Universal. Added the information to our Mardi Gras 2012 page.

3/9 – Universal’s Royal Pacific Resort has introduced Sunday Brunch at the Wantilan, a new family event and feast. It is scheduled to be available between March 11 and June 24. View the OI Blog post

3/9 – Uploaded four new full-screen photos to our Despicable Me Minion Mayhem construction gallery. Visit our Despicable Me page to check ‘em out.

3/8 – Uploaded five new full-screen photos of the Project 722 / Amity construction area. View the photos

3/8 – “Do you know why Universal’s Islands of Adventure is opening at 8:00am when it usually opens at 9:00am?” I have some ideas. Click here to view them.

3/8 – Universal has shortened its park operating hours for many dates in March at both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. We’ve updated the hours on our Universal crowd calendar accordingly.

Should you find a discrepancy on our calendar, we’d really appreciate it if you could send us a quick email by clicking here. Thank you!

3/8 – The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man re-opens today after receiving its HD upgrade! We have updated all affected pages, including our Ride refurb page, our OI Priority List for Islands of Adventure, and our Spidey page. If you ride it, let us know what you think of the upgraded action via Facebook or Twitter.

3/7 – “Standard rooms at Royal Pacific – do they have a small refrigerator and/or microwave?” Kind of. View our full answer

3/7 – We are proud to introduce yet another new page in the OI Universal Center: Best day of the week to visit Universal Orlando

3/6 – One of our members brought an issue with our mobile site to my attention yesterday (blog posts were displaying in a funny way on some phones). The issue has now been fixed! Please feel free to contact me with any other website bugs. By the way, I also added an Email icon to our mobile site menu — it’s at the bottom — so you can easily contact me with questions.

3/5 – Spring Break is right around the corner! After looking again at all the data (and thanks to the feedback from a few of our members), we have revised the estimated crowd levels for the first two weeks in April. The first week, April 1 through 7, has been bumped up from busy to very busy. The second week, April 8 through 14, has been bumped up from moderate to busy. Click her to view the calendar

3/5 – We are very proud to offer our subscribers a brand new page in the OI Universal Center: A complete guide to Early Park Admission at the Wizarding World.

This page includes absolutely everything you need to know about Early Park Admission, including what it is, how to get it, what pitfalls to avoid, and how to use it to its maximum effectiveness. This new page is another example of our commitment to bringing you accurate, up-to-date information you cannot find anywhere else!

3/5 – Universal has changed their Early Park Admission Seuss Landing attraction from Cat in the Hat to Caro-seuss-el. My pages are being updated accordingly! (The other Early Park Admission attractions are WWoHP’s Forbidden Journey, Flight of the Hippogriff, and Dragon Challenge — and Ollivander’s Wand Shop, but for some reason Universal still doesn’t classify Ollivander’s as an attraction.)

3/4 – Thanks to an intrepid fan of ours on Facebook, it was brought to our attention that Universal recently adjusted some of their park operating hours in April and May. We previously noted that many times throughout those two months the parks were closing unseasonably early — at 6:00pm. To compensate for the lost time, Universal has now moved up the opening time on some of the dates to 8:00am. This means Early Park Admission folks are getting in from 7:00am to 8:00am.

Please visit our Universal crowd calendar to check out the new times. And as always, please contact Universal directly to verify park hours a day or two before your trip.

3/4 – “Help with Universal Orlando itinerary for Spring Break?” That’s what we’re here for! Check out our advice

3/4 – Another great Universal blog post: Top five drink options at Universal Orlando

3/3 – If you are planning a trip to Universal, you don’t want to miss this post: Watch these movies before you “ride the movies” at Universal Orlando

3/3 – New on the OI Blog: IMPACT WRESTLING live at Universal: Great entertainment (and it’s free!). View the post

3/2 – A lot of our members ask about Internet access at Universal Orlando. This OI Answers post has lots of info. Plus, I just uploaded three pictures of the shop that offers Internet access (via their computers or wi-fi) in Islands of Adventure.

3/2 – “How do we pick up tickets for Early Park Admission at a Universal Partner Hotel?” View our answer

3/1 – It seems that the opening of Universal CityWalk’s Hollywood Drive-In Golf, which was supposed to happen yesterday on February 29, actually happened today on March 1. Nevertheless, the new attraction is open now for sure, and they are planning a grand opening event for March 5. Visit our Hollywood Drive-In Golf page to learn more.

3/1 – OI contributor Derek just published a great article that will be of particular interest to our subscribers: Guide to vegetarian dining at Universal Orlando Resort

3/1 – Universal has announced the Spider-Man will re-open on March 8. Visit our Spidey page to learn more.

3/1 – It seems certain now that the The Ellen Show will not be returning to Universal Orlando this year to film their Spring Break shows. It’s very disappointing. Perhaps next year! You can visit our Ellen 2012 page to learn more, and to see media from the 2011 event.

February 2012

2/29 – Added 25 new full-screen images and a new HD video to our Doctor Doom’s Fearfall page.

2/29 – Added five new construction photos to our Despicable Me Minion Mayhem page. Unfortunately, not much has changed since the last time we visited.

2/29 – It is official — OI is the premier Universal Orlando resource. In the month of February our site recorded 120,000 pageviews by more than 35,000 unique visitors. In addition, we signed up our 3,200th member, uploaded our 10,000th image, and published our 500th post. Thank you to each and every one of our readers for helping us achieve our dream in less than a year!

2/28 – Today is the one-year anniversary of OrlandoInformer.com! Thank you to all of our members and subscribers who have allowed me to turn my hobby into a business, and who give me the opportunity daily to do what I love — help families have the vacation of a lifetime at Universal Orlando Resort (and throughout the rest of Central Florida)!

We’re already giving away a $228 Universal gift card to celebrate our February 28 anniversary. But, because today is our actual birthday — and we want to celebrate big time — we’ve just expanded the number of prizes and the number of ways to enter. Learn more

2/27 – We fixed a small error with the park hours listed on our Universal crowd calendar. For June 17 through June 22 we showed Islands of Adventure closing at 8:00pm when the park is actually scheduled to close at 10:00pm. The error has been corrected.

2/26 – OrlandoInformer.com was invited to tour Hollywood Drive-In Golf today, before its opening to the public. We have now updated our page dedicated to this new Universal CityWalk venue with an HD video, 60 full-screen images, and lots of new information you won’t fine anywhere else (at least you won’t fine it yet). Click here

2/26 – Hollywood Drive-In Golf now has its own website and Facebook page. While Universal still has not announced an opening date (or any Grand Opening events), Hollywood Drive-In Golf has confirmed that the courses will open “no later than 2/29″ here on their Facebook page. Visit our Hollywood Drive-In Golf page for all the latest information!

2/25 – “Parking rates at Universal Orlando’s on-site hotels – how to avoid?” There really isn’t any easy way to get around these. For a full explanation, click here.

2/25 – “Going to Universal Orlando but staying off-site without express passes or VIP in August?” You may not need them. View our answer to see why.

2/24 – “At Universal Orlando, which is generally quicker: the single rider or the express pass line?” Great question! My answer is the Express Pass line. Click here to learn why.

2/23 – Golf Universal Orlando adds two new partner courses for on-site hotel guests: Grand Cypress Golf Club and Windermere Country Club. View the OI Blog post

2/23 – We are very proud to announce our new partnership with Castles & Dreams Travel. Whether you are just visiting Universal Orlando, or whether you would like to explore all of the world-class destinations around Central Florida (including Disney World and SeaWorld), the experienced team at Castles & Dreams Travel is prepared to offer you exceptional travel planning assistance. Best of all, their services are FREE to their clients.

Visit our Castles & Dreams Travel page to learn more about this outstanding team.

2/23 – One of our members reported the following to us this morning:

I just booked our trip to Universal. In speaking with the Universal agent, I was told that the Castle only tour has been shunted to VIP ticket holders only.  ;-(

This is the first I’ve heard of a VIP ticket requirement for the tour-only line — and frankly, it makes no sense to me. However, having the tour-only line through Hogwarts Castle close at any time makes no sense to me, so I’m not completely surprised. We will just have to see how this one developments.

Visit this page to learn more about tour-only line closure issue.

2/22 – “Drop off rest of party and then park car to save time getting to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter?” I’d recommend keeping everyone together. View my complete answer

2/21 – We just got this message from one of our readers:

I called the Warner Bros studios today and was connected with the Ellen show, and I asked her if the show would be returning to Orlando this spring and she stated that they would not be. The number I called was Warner Bros main line at 1-818-954-6000 and asked for The Ellen Show. Maybe I was told incorrectly, which I hope, because I’d love to see Ellen back in Orlando this spring!

Visit our Ellen Show 2012 page to learn more.

2/21 – New blog post from OI contributor Emily: A closer look at the differences between Universal’s Orlando’s on-site hotels

2/21 – “Toll roads coming out of MCO (Orlando Int’l Airport) — all electronic so I can’t pay cash?” Not quite. View our answer

2/12 – “Should I really avoid the Disney park hosting Extra Magic Hours when it is busy?” Yes, you should. Extra Magic Hours are not quite as useful as they may seem. Learn more

2/20 – “Valet laundry service at Universal Orlando’s on-site hotels?” Yep, they’ve got that. Here’s more info

2/20 – “Is there wifi at Universal Orlando’s on-site hotels and at the theme parks?” Click here to learn everything you need to know.

2/20 – Yesterday OrlandoInformer.com again broke our single-day site records with over 5,200 pageviews by over 1,700 unique visitors. Thank you, OI fans! And don’t forget to help us celebrate our one-year anniversary by entering our $228 Universal Orlando gift card giveaway (learn more). For our fans who have been around awhile, we just added a new way to enter: follow us on Pinterest — http://www.pinterest.com/orlandoinformer. Thanks again!!

2/18 -‎ “In one day, can two people visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Islands of Adventure, and Universal Studios when it is busy?” It depends. Click here our full answer.

2/18 – Universal Guest Services is told one of our readers that The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man is expected to re-open in “early” March. For more information, visit our Attraction refurbishment page.

2/17 – “Does Universal still film productions at the theme parks?” Not as much as they used to. Click here to view more info with a short photo gallery.

2/17 – Added 12 new photos to our summary page for Ollivander’s Wand Shop, including five photos from inside the shop.

2/17 – Just uploaded 18 new full-screen photos to our Hollywood Drive-In Golf page (our construction gallery now has 95 in total). It looks like Universal might actually get the two courses finished this month, although they still haven’t announced an opening date.

2/17 – There have finally been some changes to the exterior of the Despicable Me building at Universal Studios! To see what’s new, check out the five new photos I posted on our Despicable Me Minion Mayhem page.

2/16 – “Picking up park tickets at a Universal Orlando on-site hotel (Royal Pacific)?” View our answer

2/16 – We are currently looking for new contributors to write for our blog. If you have a passion for visiting the Orlando area, and you’ve got some great stories you’d like to share, we want to hear from you. Best of all, WE WILL PAY YOU for your contributions. To learn more, click here.

2/15 – ON-SITE: New 100-year anniversary decorations on the lamp posts (@ Universal Studios Florida) [pic]: 4sq.com/y7Eih8

2/14 – ON-SITE: Italian flags have been added to the harbor (@ Harbor Piazza at Portofino Bay Hotel) [pic]: 4sq.com/yKpSVr

2/14 – ON-SITE: The Deluxe room comes with a baby! (@ Loews Portofino Bay Hotel w/ 2 others) [pic]: 4sq.com/zoAoej

2/14 – “How are the crowds at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter when it’s raining?” View our answer

2/13 – New OI Blog post: Top 5 best vegan / vegetarian choices at Universal Orlando

2/13 – I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news. Last Friday Universal stopped selling the Fried Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich at USF. It wasn’t replaced by anything — it’s just off the menu. Now you’ll have to choose between Fried Oreos and a Funnel Cake (I think that choice is obvious). You can see our small Facebook photo gallery of the Fried Peanut Butter & Jelly by clicking here.

2/13 – Yesterday, for the third time this year, OrlandoInformer.com set new one-day record for site visits and new subscriber sign-ups. I am very proud to have the opportunity to help so many families make their experiences in Orlando and at Universal Orlando Resort a success! Thank you so much, and as always, please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or feedback. YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!

2/12 – Last night was the first night of this year’s Mardi Gras celebration at Universal Studios, and of course we were there! Now I’m happy to say that our Mardi Gras 2012 page has been completely updated with over 80 full-screen photos, over 7 minutes of HD video, and new information about the best place to watch the Mardi Gras parade.

2/10 – A new contest begins! We are celebrating our site’s one-year anniversary by giving away our biggest prize yet. Since our anniversary is on February 28, the grand prize is a $228 Universal Orlando gift card! Holy smokes! We are also giving away complimentary access to the OI Universal Center each week. Click here to learn more.

2/10 – Congratulations to Catherine G (OI Forum name pygmypuff) for winning our $100 Universal Orlando gift card giveaway! In addition, 10 more people have won complimentary access to the OI Universal Center – check your email inbox later today. If you didn’t win, stay tuned, because we are about to launch our biggest contest ever!!

2/9 – The OI Universal Center has a brand new page: Insider’s guide to Universal Orlando vacation packages. This comprehensive guide will give you the “insider” knowledge to know whether buying a Universal vacation package is the best decision given your situation and budget. I should know — I wrote the Universal Orlando vacation package training manual!

2/9 – “Universal Orlando online survey and the Online Advisory Board?” Yes, we’ve got all the info you need! View our answer

2/8 – “Wheelchair rental for Universal’s on-site hotels and throughout the parks?” View our answer

2/7 – Check out our new OI Blog post: Top 5 most romantic things to do at Universal Orlando

2/6 – Updated the exterior shots of the building on our Hard Rock Cafe page (it has a brand new paint job).

2/6 – “When to get to Universal’s Islands of Adventure on a busy day if you’re staying at a Universal hotel?” View our answer

2/6 – Added a new HD video to our Child Swap at Universal Orlando page. The new video shows the entire Forbidden Journey loading/unloading area and Child Swap room. To view it, visit the page and scroll down to the bottom.

2/5 – On February 2, when we were at Universal Studios Florida, I shot about a dozen photos of the Amity area under construction. If you are interested, I just added them to the bottom of our Attractions refurbishment, openings & closing page.

2/4 – ON-SITE: New tables and chairs outside Thirsty Fish (@ The Thirsty Fish) [pic]: 4sq.com/zONHfl

2/3 – Added a new HD video and 18 full-screen photos of the barges for Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular. I think this is going to be an incredible end-of-the-night show at Universal Studios Florida!

2/3 – Added a new item to our famous list of the Top 12 easiest ways to save time & money at Universal Orlando. To see what it is, go to the page and scroll down to number 11! (OI aficionados will note that number 11 already existed before the new item was added — this is correct. The old number 11 is actually number 12 now.)

2/3 – Added four new full-screen photos to our construction gallery for Despicable Me. Check out our Despicable Me Minion Mayhem page to see the new photos and learn about Universal Studios’ newest attraction.

2/3 – Added 23 new full-screen photos to our Hollywood Drive-In Golf page. The new area at Universal CityWalk is supposed to open this month! Check out the photos and see if you think they’ll be ready in two or three weeks.

2/3 – Added a new HD video — Marvel Superheros arrive in style — to the bottom of our Characters at Universal Orlando page.

2/2 –  Universal’s Mardi Gras 2012 line-up now complete with 3/17 addition of Sugar Ray. See everything you need to know on our Mardi Gras 2012 page.

2/2 – The OI Universal Center has a new page: The Ellen DeGeneres Show 2012. Please note that Universal has not confirmed that Ellen is returning to CityWalk this year for her Spring Break shows, but we feel pretty confident that she will be back. Visit the page to learn why.

2/1 – Universal has published their 2012 vacation brochure. It is an impressive 40-page document — definitely worth taking a look at for anyone planning a trip. Visit the bottom of our Universal Orlando maps, Rider’s Guide & vacation brochure page to view and download it.

2/1 – We have a new subscriber-submitted touring plan for you to check out: Group of 10 thrill seekers (4 adults, 3 teens, 3 preteens); one day, February 16

2/1 – It’s the beginning of a new month, and our Universal crowd calendar has been updated (removed January 2012, added February 2013).

January 2012

1/31 – The OI Universal Center has two brand-new pages: Universal’s Superstar Parade and Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Magic. Both of these new events at Universal Studios Florida are set to debut this spring, but exact opening dates have not been announced. Visit the new pages to learn more!

1/31 – Did you know that our site is ready for easy viewing on any mobile device? (Check it out right now by typing in http://www.orlandoinformer.com into your mobile web browser.) Now you can make sure you are caught up on latest Universal Orlando Resort news as your are walking from your car, through CityWalk, to the parks!

1/30 – I’m happy to announce that we’ve finally archived our 2011 pages for Universal’s holiday events and New Years Eve. The Center now has two new pages: Holidays 2012 and New Years Eve 2012. Of course, those pages really don’t have any new information, since it will be several months before Universal announces specific details about their end-of-the-year celebrations.

1/30 – The official Mardi Gras 2012 parade route is now available. Click here to view it.

1/30 – “Islands of Adventure: Should we still go 45 minutes before the park opens on slow and moderate days?” Yes. Click here to see why.

1/30 – Universal has launched their sign-up page for passholders who want to ride a float in the Mardi Gras parades and throw beads. Click here to learn more.

1/29 – Universal has finally made the official announcement: The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man will be closed from February 8 through March for its HD upgrade. Visit our Spider-Man page to learn more.

1/27 – Before leaving for the weekend, it was important for me to update a few of my pages given all the great info Universal announced on Wednesday. So, the biggest update happened to our Universal Orlando attraction refurbishments, opening & closings page, with lots of new details covering Despicable Me, Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular, Universal’s Superstar Parade, Blue Man Group, Hollywood Drive-In Golf, and Spider-Man.

1/27 – It has been more than two years since I’ve caught a nasty cold. Well, I guess my number was up this week, because I was sacked by a terrible cold, and I have pretty much been out of commission for five days. If I had a regular job, I would have just used up all my PTO for this year! Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I’ve almost got this bug kicked, and starting next week I’ll be back at it with tons and tons of updates and new content. (I’d start this weekend if I didn’t already have plans to bring my wife to the Zac Brown Band concert in Tampa tomorrow — she’s a big fan.) Thank you for your patience while I reset and reboot. It is going to be one crazy spring and summer for us fans of Universal Orlando!

1/25 – Universal has a new YouTube channel — username UniversalOrlando. But they are still uploading to their old YouTube channel — username UniversalPR. Just thought I’d let you know!

1/25 – One of our readers reported yesterday that the tour-only line through Hogwarts was wide open. This is another complete flip by Universal, who just the day before told Behind The Thrills that the line was closed for good. This continues to be a developing story. Visit our Very best way to experience Forbidden Journey for more information.

1/25 – 2012 is the “year to be here” at Universal Orlando Resort. Today’s event included announcements about a new Blue Man Group show, upgrades to Spider-Man, a new “Superstar” parade, a brand-new lagoon show, and more. View the OI Blog post

1/24 – Unfortunately my household seems to have caught a bug. My wife, daughter, and I are all feeling under the weather. I’m afraid there won’t be any new updates today. However, I’m hoping to be back at it tomorrow for Universal’s media-only webcast event. If you don’t know about this event, click here. Thanks for your support!

1/22 – Our friends at Behind the Thrills were told today at Universal that the tour-only line through Hogwarts Castle has been closed for good. This is the exact opposite of what we were told by Universal Guest Services a week ago. Not good news. See this page for more information. Or, consider contacting Universal using their online guest contact form if you want to voice your opinion directly with the resort. (If you do, let us know what they say!)

1/21 – Yesterday we again set a record for new subscribers! I am so pleased to be able to open up our encyclopedia of Universal Orlando vacation planning information to these new members of our community. 2012 is really going to be a fantastic year for us, and it is your support that is making it all possible. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to help you make your visit to Universal the best vacation of your life! If you are not already a subscriber to the OI Universal Center, click here to learn more.

1/20 – We received word from one of our readers that Spider-Man will be closed for the HD upgrade from February 8 through early March. For more information, visit our Attraction refurbishments, openings & closings page.

1/20 – Universal just confirmed that the dates for this year’s Rock The Universe event are September 7 and 8, as we predicted.

1/20 – The OI Universal Center has a brand new page: Universal Orlando attraction refurbishments, openings & closing

1/18 – Mardi Gras update: Goo Goo Dolls have been added to the TO BE ANNOUNCED slot for March 3. Jill Scott, who was scheduled to perform on March 17, has been scratched. Universal now lists TO BE ANNOUNCED for that date. View our Mardi Gras 2012 page to learn more.

1/18 – New OI Blog post: Universal Orlando publishes their spring hours, and they reveal a few surprises

1/18 – Universal Orlando has published their park hours for April, May, and June, and I have updated our crowd calendar. Please note the following: The newly published hours revealed that one or both of Universal’s theme parks will be closing unusually early, at 6:00pm, 18 times throughout April and May. If you happen to be visiting the parks during one of these days, you could potentially have three or four hours cut from your touring time. Before you finalize your plans, please confirm the park operating hours directly with Universal by calling Guest Services at 407-224-4233.

1/17 – “How far in advance can I purchase Blue Man Group tickets at Universal Orlando?” View our answer

1/16 – Brought the OI Priority List for Universal Studios Florida up-to-date (removed JAWS and bumped up MEN IN BLACK over Disaster!).

1/16 – Our Design your Universal Orlando touring plan page has been updated to reflect the new information recently added to our WWoHP insider’s guide (see the 1/15 and 1/14 updates).

1/15 – “Can I experience Mardi Gras at Universal Studios Florida without the parade?” View our answer

1/15 – Big changes today! The World Famous OI WWoHP Touring Plan has been fully updated to account for recent changes at the park. And, just as important, we have added an all-new page to our WWoHP insider’s guide: How to ensure your trip to the Wizarding World is a success!

1/14 – Added a new section to our Very best way to experience Forbidden Journey page: Finding the beginning of the queue when it is crazy busy – map & video. You can find the new section toward the bottom of the page.

1/13 – I have finished updating our Very best way to experience Forbidden Journey page to reflect the (periodic) closing of the Forbidden Journey tour-only line.

1/13 – I have updated book 1 and book 2 of my Ultimate unofficial guide to Forbidden Journey to reflect the (periodic) closing of the tour-only line through Hogwarts. I also added a second video to the “navigating Hogwarts Castle entrance” section in book 2.

1/13 – “What are the best options for local dining if staying at Universal Orlando?” View our answer

1/13 – Universal Orlando: A look back at 2011 and a glance forward at 2012. Click here to view this new OI Blog post.

1/12 – Our Mardi Gras 2012 page is now fully updated with everything you need to know including the concert schedule and answers to these questions: Is Mardi Gras appropriate for young kids? Where is the best place to watch the parade? How to I sign up to ride the floats and throw beads? And much more!

1/12 – “Is the tour through Hogwarts Castle as part of Forbidden Journey really closed now?” View our answer

1/12 – ON-SITE: Have you seen the new style of merchandise kiosks here? (@ Universal CityWalk w/ 5 others) [pic]: 4sq.com/xsoeeC

1/12 – ON-SITE: Classic movie posters now cover the construction walls in Amity (@ Universal Studios Florida w/ 10 others) [pic]: 4sq.com/zIDBKS

1/11 – See our analysis of the WWoHP holiday crowds and how Universal’s new rules have changed the game in my new OI Blog post.

1/10 – “Tips for making sure kids don’t get lost while touring the parks at Universal Orlando?” View our answer

1/10 – OI Share: Cara and family visit Universal Orlando over New Years — and find it surprisingly relaxed! View their story or learn about sharing your own story.

1/10 – “How big are the rental lockers at Universal Orlando?” View our answer

1/9 – “Child Swap on Forbidden Journey at Universal’s Islands of Adventure?” View our answer

1/8 – After seeing how crazy WWoHP was last weekend, I had to choice but to bump up my Universal Orlando crowd calendar predictions for next weekend, which is also a holiday weekend. Stay tuned this week for a full report on the huge WWoHP crowds and what you can do to avoid them.

1/7 – “Can I get the benefits of a Universal Orlando Partner Hotel without booking through Universal?” View our answer

1/6 – “Universal Studios Florida vs. Islands of Adventure with young kids?” View our answer

1/5 – Published an OI Blog post covering all the recent news at Universal Studios Florida including the closing of JAWS and Amity, Potterland 2.0 rumors, introduction of Seuss’s The Lorax, and more. View the post

1/5 – ‎”Universal Express Passes or Early Park Admission for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter?” View our answer

1/5 – We have a new giveaway: Win a $100 Universal Orlando gift card or complimentary access to the OI Universal Center. Click here to learn more. PS. Only one of the two winners from last month’s contest has replied to our notification email. If you entered last month’s contest, you might want to double-check your email!

1/4 – Updated the in-park map displayed on our Universal maps & vacation brochure page with the newest version. No more JAWS or Amity.

1/3 – Added a link to view the entertainment schedule (character dining, Wantilan Luau) on the Dining pages for Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock Hotel, and Portofino Bay Hotel. You can click here to go directly to the schedule.

1/3 – Based on what I saw yesterday and today, I updated our one-and-only Universal Orlando crowd calendar for this week. I also added January 2013 to the bottom of the calendar.

1/3 – Visited Universal Orlando this morning to see the crowds at WWoHP (watch our YouTube video of the mob scene in front of Forbidden Journey) and to see what has happened to Amity and JAWS (watch our YouTube video of the gates now blocking off the area). Full updates on these events and more coming soon.

1/2 – Just wanted everyone to know we’re back from our trip overseas and ready to start working on lots of new stuff for OrlandoInformer.com! PS. I’m sure everyone knows by now, but just in case, today is the final day that JAWS and the Amity area will be open at Universal Studios Florida:

December 2011

12/29 – “Help with Jan 1 – 2, 2012 Universal Orlando itinerary, including Macy’s Holiday Parade?” View our answer

12/29 – “Annual passes to Universal Orlando – Power Pass or Preferred Pass?” View our answer

12/25 – Merry Christmas! This is just a quick note to let you know our $100 Universal Orlando gift card giveaway has ended. If you entered, be sure to check your email a little later today… I’ll be contacting the winners shortly.

12/22 – HUGE update: I’ve just spent many hours completely updating our information to reflect the new Forbidden Journey outdoor queue system. Forbidden Journey: Ultimate unofficial guide – Book 1 has been almost completely rewritten and includes new photos and a new video. Likewise, Book 2 now includes new information and a new video. Book 3 and Book 4 got refreshed too.

In addition, The very best way to experience Forbidden Journey has been fully updated to reflect the new outdoor queue system.

If you are planning on visiting Universal over the next two weeks, and Hogwarts Castle is your destination, you will definitely want to review these pages!

Small housekeeping note: our page that was originally set up to document the new Forbidden Journey outdoor queue system has been removed since all the information is now incorporated into our guides.

12/20 – The Center has a brand new page: How to use the OI Universal Center. This page provides an orientation for new OI subscribers, explaining the best way to use our Universal Orlando vacation planning resource in 8 steps. Since this page is new, all subscribers should check it out!

12/19 – “Upgrade to Universal Orlando VIP tickets for the last week in December?” View our answer

12/19 – Visiting Universal over the next two weeks? Check out our tips in the new section “Traveling to Universal Orlando during peak periods” on our Design your touring plans page.

12/19 – Universal has added in-park stroller rentals to their online ticket sales site. Double strollers are $23.46 and single strollers are $14.08. To view the sales page, click here. These are basically the same prices that are in the park (see a pic of the park prices). When you purchase online in advance, you will need to pick up a voucher at the electronic will call kiosks (see a pic of the kiosk in front of IOA).

12/16 – Added the Universal Orlando Rider’s Guide for Rider Safety & Guests with Disabilities PDF file to our Universal Orlando maps page.

12/16 – Added six new photos to our Universal CityWalk Hollywood Drive-In Golf construction post.

12/15 – OI Answers: “What restaurants are open in Islands of Adventure for WWoHP Early Park Admission?” View our answer

12/15 – ON-SITE: You know it’s slow when access to the construction bridge is closed. (@ The Lost Continent) [pic]: 4sq.com/sCfxdq

12/15 – The OI Universal Center has a brand new section: touring plans submitted by our subscribers. As you may already know, I encourage our subscribers to email me their touring plans so I can review them and offer advice (learn more). With the permission of the subscribers, I will now publish these plans and my feedback online. I’ve posted two plans already, with more to come. Check out the plans

12/14 – OI Answers: “Is there a benefit to staying at a Universal Orlando on-site hotel at the end of February?” View our answer

12/14 – OI Answers: “Do I need a stroller at Universal Orlando?” View our answer

12/13 – Now that it has been over a month since the introduction of the new Forbidden Journey outdoor queue system, I feel confident that Universal has settled on exactly how they want the new system to run. I intend to fully update all my pages so our information and advice reflects the new outdoor queue system (most importantly, our WWoHP Touring Plan, The very best way to experience Forbidden Journey, and our Ultimate guide to Forbidden Journey). This should be done by December 18.

12/13 – OI Answers: “During the last week of Dec 2011 will Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure reach capacity?” View our answer

12/13 – Universal reminds us there are only two days left for annual passholders to get the discount on CityWalk NYE tickets: http://ow.ly/7XIOj

12/12 – General parking after 6:00pm is now $5.00. Updated our transportation page.

12/12 – New page added to the Center: Summer Concert Series 2012. View it

12/12 – Added a new strategy (see number 4) to our list of the only guaranteed ways to beat the crowds at WWoHP.

12/12 – We are happy to announce that our Universal Orlando crowd calendar now forecasts a full year ahead. We have also added additional information to the calendar legend. Finally, our calendar now includes estimated dates for future annual events, such as Halloween Horror Nights.

12/12 – Added a little polish and some useful links to all the sub-section title pages in the OI Universal Center, such as USF’s San Francisco / Amity and IOA’s Seuss Landing.

12/12 – Updated our Men In Black page with an announcement regarding the new MIB movie to be released May 25, 2011. Also included the official MIB 3 trailer at the bottom of the page.

12/10 – Received a passholder mailer from Universal yesterday announcing (again) the closure of JAWS. Added images of the mailer to our post in the OI Blog.

12/9 – Universal Orlando has released their park operating hours for February and March of next year. Updated our Universal crowd calendar with this information, and also made a few slight crowd level adjustments to Spring Break 2012.

12/7 – ON-SITE: This is the fourth new display I’ve spotted in IOA (@ Marvel Superhero Island) [pic]: 4sq.com/rYT6Dy

12/7 – ON-SITE: Several more tables have been added to the outdoor seating area behind Three Broomsticks in the Wizarding World, and now they’re arranged in rows [pic]: 4sq.com/thZmfx

12/7 – Noticed just a few holiday decorations inside the Wizarding World (4sq.com/w3LImP). On my Top WWoHP misconceptions page, corrected the one about seasonal decorations.

12/7 – Universal officially announces that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be expanded in a joint conference that brought the official announcement of a Harry Potter park in Hollywood. However, no specific details about the Orlando expansion or the Hollywood park were given. View the OI Blog post

12/6 – The extended review of Ollivander’s Wand Shop has now become–Ollivander’s: What is it, how long is the wait, and is it worth it? View the new page in the WWoHP insider’s guide. Please note that you can still view summary information about Ollivander’s on the original page.

12/6 – Lots of parking updates: Preferred parking is now $20. Also answered the questions, If I’m just going to CityWalk do I have to pay for parking? and If I just need to stop at Universal for a few minutes do I still have to pay for parking? Also added two new photos. You can see it all on our Parking & Universal’s transportation hub page.

12/6 – Added more detailed information about the opening times for USF’s KidZone attractions to our Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone page.

12/5 – Added new pictures and an HD video from last night’s concert to our Mannheim Steamroller live at USF page.

12/5 – Completely updated our Ollivander’s Wand Shop page now that it has a new outdoor queue area.

12/5 – Replaced the photos of the Dragon Challenge dueling coasters with photos of non-dueling coasters on our Dragon Challenge page.

12/5 – Added information about the Super Star Shuttle service (which brings guests from Universal’s on-site hotels to SeaWorld, Aquatica, and Wet ‘n Wild) to the pages for Royal Pacific, Hard Rock, and Portofino Bay.

12/5 – Added new holiday decoration photos for Portofino Bay Hotel and Hard Rock Hotel to our Holidays at Universal’s on-site hotels page.

12/5 – ON-SITE: “Kids can cook too” available on select nights at Hard Rock Hotel: http://4sq.com/tdl4y6

12/5 – Where’s the best place to watch the Macy’s Holiday Parade? Added the answer and a map of the parade route to the Macy’s Holiday Parade 2011 page.

12/4 – Added all new video and photos to our Macy’s Holiday Parade 2011 page.

12/4 – Added all new video and photos to our Grinchmas 2011 page.

12/4 – Universal has increased their general valet parking fee to $30 for over two hours. Visit our page covering Parking & Universal’s transportation hub for more info.

12/4 – It now seems very unlikely that Universal will ever close Spider-Man down during normal operating hours for the renovation that was announced back in May. Updated our Spider-Man page.

12/4 – New page added to the Center: OI Universal Orlando Center update history. You are viewing it right now!

12/2 – Universal Studios Florida’s JAWS and Amity area to close permanently on January 2, 2012. OI Priority List for USF also updated.

12/2 – New: Holiday in the Harbor at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel added to our Holidays 2011 page.

12/2 – Santa meet and greet at Hard Rock Hotel added to our Holidays 2011 page.

12/1 – Recently announced Royal Pacific New Years Eve Wantilan Luau added to our New Years Eve 2011 page. Also added new information New Years Eve buffets to that page.

November 2011

11/30 – New page added to the Center: 20 ideas for free or inexpensive entertainment around Orlando. View it

11/29 – New page added to the Center: Characters at Universal Orlando. View it

11/28 – How do I become a balloon handler? added to our Macy’s Holiday Parade page.

11/28 – Universal Orlando’s annual passholder mailer available for viewing on the OI Blog.

11/28 – ON-SITE: New Coke Freestyle machines in Lost Continent! (@ The Mystic Fountain) [pic]: http://4sq.com/tRzRi7

11/28 – Universal Orlando Premier & Preferred annual passholders get Early Park Admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in January 2012. View the OI Blog post

11/25 – We are giving away two $100 Universal Orlando gift cards — and now there are even more chances to win! Learn more

11/22 – New page added to the Center: Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. at Universal CityWalk Orlando. View it

11/22 – Update: Hollywood Drive-In Golf at Universal CityWalk – construction updates & photo gallery. View the OI Blog post

11/21 – OI Share: Alyssa experiences a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Universal for the Harry Potter Home Entertainment Celebration. View the OI Blog post

11/19 – New page added to the Center: Latin Quarter at Universal CityWalk Orlando. View it

11/19 – New page added to the Center: NBA City at Universal CityWalk Orlando. View it

11/19 – New page added to the Center: Hard Rock Cafe at Universal Orlando. View it

11/19 – New page added to the Center: NASCAR Sports Grille. View it

11/19 – New page added to the Center: Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Cafe and Lone Palm tiki bar. View it

11/18 – Our Universal Orlandocrowd calendar with park hours and special events has been updated through July 2012! View it

11/16 – Mardi Gras 2012 page update: Universal officially announces preliminary info for Mardi Gras 2012 includes dates and first band, Kelly Clarkson.

11/16 – Added the Christmas Day Champagne Buffet for Royal Pacific to our Holidays 2011 page.

11/16 – Added the photos from the Nov 2011 Aloha Friday event held last weekend to our Royal Pacific Resort page.

11/15 – New page added to the Center: Midway Grill at Universal Studios Florida. View it

11/15 – New page added to the Center: Blondie’s: Home of the Dagwood at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. View it

11/15 – Universal announces bands of New Years Eve at CityWalk, Smash Mouth and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Our New Years Eve 2011 page has been fully updated.

11/12 – Added new photos to our Grinchmas 2011 page.

11/10 – Wizarding World of Harry Potter trip report – November 2011 (includes over 40 full-screen images). View the OI Blog post

11/10 – New page added to the Center: Me Ship Olive at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. View it

11/9 – OI Share: John spends two amazing days at Universal Orlando and brings us along for the ride! View the OI Blog post

11/9 – ON-SITE: New large screen display near the FJ overflow queue (@ Jurassic Park w/ 2 others) [pic]: http://4sq.com/tUvCzK

11/8 – Updated this page based on the new queue system: Very best way to experience Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. View it

11/8 – New page added to the Center: New Forbidden Journey queue system. View it

11/6 – Revised this week on our Universal Orlando crowd calendar based on what I heard today at the park.

11/4 – Added a new page to the Center: Let us assist you with your Universal Orlando touring plans! View it

11/4 – Added a new section to the Center: The Neighborhood. View it

11/4 – Added a new tip, number 11, to this page: Saving time and money at Universal Orlando: Top 11 tips, tricks and secrets. View it

11/4 – Universal Studios Florida trip report – November 2011. View the OI Blog post

11/3 – Follow our new Foursquare list 2011 Holidays at Universal Orlando.

11/3 – Our Universal Orlando events page has been completely updated now that Halloween Horror Nights has ended.

11/3 – New page added to the OI Center: Mardi Gras at USF 2012. View it

11/2 – Universal Orlando adds 2 months free for Florida Residents purchasing new annual passes. View the OI Blog post

11/1 – ON-SITE: Got my Universal Orlando birthday button! (@ Universal Studios Guest Services) [pic]: http://4sq.com/vHTTwM

This chronicle only goes back to the beginning of November, 2011. Thanks for visiting this page!

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My wife Rosie with a minion at Universal Studios Florida.