WDW Daily News

Let the good times roll at Universal Orlando Resort’s 2016 Mardi Gras celebration. On select nights Feb. 6 through April 16, guests can top off their day in the theme parks with a family-friendly version of the famed “N’awlins” celebration at Universal Studios Florida – featuring delicious Cajun cuisine, a dazzling parade and 14 nights of exhilarating concerts from some of the biggest names in music.

This year’s star-studded concert lineup features a diverse array of talent with something for everyone to enjoy. Headliners include rock band Fall Out Boy, teen pop sensation Shawn Mendes, GRAMMY-nominated recording artist Adam Lambert, country singer-songwriter Hunter Hayes and legendary entertainer Diana Ross. For the complete line-up, see below.

This year’s Mardi Gras parade features 12 vibrant floats, including four new additions that celebrate different cultures and festivals from around the world – Venetian Carnival, Oktoberfest, 4th of July and Rio de Janeiro Carnival. All of the exquisitely detailed Mardi Gras floats are engineered by Blaine Kern Artists, the same company that has been hand-crafting floats for the iconic New Orleans celebration since 1947. Plus, guests can visit Universal Studios Florida’s very own French Quarter Courtyard to enjoy authentic Cajun cuisine and see performances by bands pulled straight from Bourbon Street.

The excitement of Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras celebration is included with admission to Universal Studios Florida. Guests can take advantage of a vacation package including the all-new Cabana Bay Beach Resort starting from $149 per adult, per night, tax inclusive. The package includes 3-night on-site hotel accommodations, a 2-day Park-to-Park ticket, Early Park Admission and more. For more information on this vacation package and Mardi Gras, visitwww.universalorlando.com/mardigras.

2016 MARDI GRAS TALENT LINE-UP
February 6- Hunter Hayes
February 13- Diana Ross
February 14- Barenaked Ladies
February 20- Nate Ruess
February 27- Fall Out Boy
March 5- Kool & the Gang
March 12- The Fray
March 13- Adam Lambert
March 19- Shawn Mendes
March 20- 3 Doors Down
March 26- REO Speedwagon
April 2- T-Pain
April 9- Jessie J
April 16- Yandel

Running daily through Jan. 2, families can create unforgettable memories as they experience one-of-a-kind holiday traditions at Universal Orlando Resort. All park guests will have the opportunity to:
•Marvel at the iconic larger-than-life balloons seen in the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City during the Macy’s Holiday Parade at Universal Studios Florida. This year, enjoy two all-new balloons exclusive to Universal Orlando’s parade, Turkey Balloonicle, a towering balloon with a self-powered vehicle, and Holiday Lights Balloon, as they dazzle guests while floating through the air.
•Rejoice with holiday cheer as Grinchmas comes to life throughout Seuss Landing at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Experiences include a heartwarming live show, “Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular,” featuring the Whos from Who-ville. Guests will also have the opportunity to dine with the Grinch and Friends during a delicious breakfast within Seuss Landing.
•Sing along to holiday classics with performances by the masters of modern Christmas music—Mannheim Steamroller—at the Music Plaza Stage in Universal Studios Florida. Performance nights are Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20.

The celebration continues at Universal Orlando’s four on-site hotels, where guests will relish in the spirit of the season with holiday buffets and dining events, tree-lighting ceremonies, special music performances, Hanukkah candle lightings, visits from Santa Claus, holiday poolside “dive-in” movies and family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Eve at Universal CityWalk
It’s never too early to plan how you’ll ring in the New Year. At Universal’s CityWalk, guests can experience a dynamic New Year’s Eve celebration which includes non-stop entertainment, unique party zones—each with their own entertainment and signature drinks—along with access to six different clubs with live music, unlimited gourmet cuisine, and Orlando’s largest dance floor. Information about Eve event tickets will be released at a later date.

For more information on the Holidays at Universal Orlando, ticket offers and vacation packages, visitwww.UniversalOrlando.com/holidays.

Riding a wave of record attendance and new attractions, Universal Studios Hollywood has nearly doubled the price of its top annual pass – and added blackout dates.

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Harry Potter film stars Rupert Grint, Bonnie Wright, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch and Katie Leung will appear at “A Celebration of Harry Potter” – a special event hosted by Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. Consumer Products. Creative talent also set to appear includes Pierre Bohanna, head prop maker for the Harry Potter film franchise, Paul Harris, the world’s only Wand Combat choreographer, and designers Eduardo Lima and Miraphora Mina of MinaLima, who established the visual graphic style of the Harry Potter films.

“A Celebration of Harry Potter” will take place from January 29 – 31, 2016 at Universal Orlando, allowing fans to celebrate all of Harry’s adventures, from the beloved books to the feature films and more. Guests will enjoy three days of incredible experiences, including Q&A sessions with Harry Potter film talent, special panels and demonstrations with creative talent, and access to the Harry Potter Expo – where fans can enjoy the Sorting Hat experience, an interactive mini tour from Warner Bros. Studio Tour London and more.

Guests can also experience Harry Potter’s world for themselves by visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal’s Islands of Adventure and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. Vacation Package guests and those with a park-to-park ticket will also be able to board the iconic Hogwarts Express and enjoy a unique journey as they travel between King’s Cross Station and Hogsmeade Station.

Access to “A Celebration of Harry Potter” is included with regular theme park admission or with an annual pass, with admission to certain activities being granted on a first-come, first-served basis. While most of the activities for “A Celebration of Harry Potter” will be open to all Universal Orlando park guests and will take place at both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida theme parks, guests who purchase the exclusive event vacation package will enjoy certain special benefits and reserved sections for the panels and demonstrations.

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The host of America’s No. 1 late-night talk show will soon get his very own theme park attraction at Universal Orlando Resort.

In 2017, Jimmy Fallon – host of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and one of today’s funniest comedians – will be the star of a brand-new hilarious ride experience at Universal Studios Florida called, “Race through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon.” Guests will enjoy the full “Tonight Show” experience as they’re transported to Studio 6B to race against Jimmy in a crazy adventure that only he could imagine.

Jimmy and his creative team are working closely with Universal to develop the ride’s storyline and bring his vision to life. The experience will seamlessly blend the playful and irreverent world of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” with the incredible technology and imaginative storytelling for which Universal Orlando is known.

The adventure will begin as guests step right into Studio 6B, where Jimmy will challenge them and their fellow audience members to a white-knuckle race. Guests will twist, turn and laugh as they speed through the streets – and skies – of The Big Apple – encountering everything from iconic landmarks to the deepest subway tunnels – and anything else that comes to Jimmy’s mind.

Race through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon will open in 2017 at Universal Studios Florida and join the incredible lineup of experiences at Universal Orlando Resort. It will replace Twister…Ride It Out, which will close on November 2 to make way for the new experience.

The nation’s insatiable appetite for AMC’s “The Walking Dead” will continue to terrify Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort when the most intense moments from season 5 of the critically-acclaimed, Emmy Award®-winning television series take a bite out of “Halloween Horror Nights,” beginning Friday, September 18, 2015.

Attempts to evade the terror of the undead and the inhumane brutality of mankind will be the underlying theme of these mazes as guests navigate authentic three-dimensional recreations of one of television’s most talked about shows, “The Walking Dead.”

Following in the footsteps of “The Walking Dead” cast, guests will begin their journey at the Terminus safe-haven compound, where an unspeakable hunger has consumed the demented souls of those dwelling within. As the chaos ensues, guests will encounter even greater atrocities as they stumble upon dismembered “W” walkers, witness the horror of victims besieged by the living dead, and step onto the loading dock of the Del Arno Food warehouse to face hordes of “W” walkers.

“I couldn’t be more delighted to continue and expand ‘The Walking Dead’ universe with Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando than by having fans experience some of the most harrowing and suspenseful moments of our show,” said Greg Nicotero, executive producer and special effects makeup supervisor for “The Walking Dead.” “‘Halloween Horror Nights’ is the gold standard to which all other Halloween-themed events try to emulate, so to bring authentic walkers to this event, alongside other horror greats, is the ultimate thrill.”

“We love giving fans of ‘The Walking Dead’ as many ways as possible to experience the series, so we’re thrilled to be collaborating once again with the teams at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando on these mazes that really bring the intensity of the show to life,” said Theresa Beyer, senior vice president of promotion, activation and partnerships for AMC. “We’re excited to have fans come face to face with some of the most memorable and shocking scenes of season 5.”

This year, when Universal Studios Hollywood introduces the all-original “The Walking Dead: Wolves Not Far,” it will come to life as the biggest, longest, most gruesome maze ever built at the West Coast destination of “Halloween Horror Nights.” This all-new experience will feature twice as many, never-before-seen walkers and will be situated within an entirely new theme park location.

“Just like the fans who wait anxiously for the next episode or season return of ‘The Walking Dead,’ this phenom of a show has become a ‘Halloween Horror Nights’ tradition and our guests look forward to a new ‘Walking Dead’ maze each year,” said John Murdy, Creative Director at Universal Studios Hollywood and Executive Producer of “Halloween Horror Nights.” “We’re fortunate to have the expertise of the show’s creative team working collaboratively with us to create an authentic living representation of the series, and for fans, our maze experience is the next best thing to living in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse.”

At Universal Orlando Resort, “The Walking Dead: The Living and the Dead” will feature hordes of walkers and eerily recreate the scenes, settings and terror that guests have seen on their TV screens. The twisted minds of Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights team are using first-ever tactics to bring the horror of season 5 to life in this year’s maze – even placing guests in the iconic flooded food bank scene where they’ll be surrounded by hundreds of gallons of water as flesh-hungry walkers attack.

“We’ve been fortunate to recreate many horrific moments over the past few years, and as the series raises its own bar every season, so have we with our environments, said Michael Aiello, Director of Creative Development for Universal Orlando’s Entertainment team. “Faithfully representing season 5 has brought with it all-new elements, and we will literally place our guests in the lead role as they escape hordes of walkers.” Universal’s “Halloween Horror Nights” is the ultimate in extreme Halloween events. For more than 20 years, guests from around the world have visited “Halloween Horror Nights” in Orlando and Hollywood to become victims of their own horror movie. Multiple movie-quality haunted houses are constructed throughout the event, inspired by iconic slasher films, hit horror movies and television series or hauntingly real original stories. Numerous scare zones also infiltrate “Halloween Horror Nights,” designed to provoke an unrelenting sense of fear and terrorize guests as they navigate the darkness from one frightening maze to another.

Additional details about Universal’s “Halloween Horror Nights” will be revealed soon. For more information about “Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood or Universal Orlando Resort, visit www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.

To learn more about the all-new “The Walking Dead” maze at “Halloween Horror Nights,” click here.

Universal Orlando Resort and Loews Hotels & Resorts are excited to announce an expansion of Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Four-hundred new rooms will be added to the retro-themed hotel due to its tremendous success and positive guest response since opening in March 2014.

Opening in 2017, the expansion will consist of two additional towers that will be located at the south end of the property, adjacent to the Continental and Americana guest towers.

In addition to the remarkable amenities and on-site benefits, select rooms in the new towers will offer spectacular views of Universal’s Volcano Bay – the resort’s third incredibly immersive park that will forever change the perception of water theme parks when it opens in 2017.

The retro-inspired Cabana Bay is a destination within itself – featuring a stunning design with bold colors and sweeping vistas that transport guests back to a time of relaxation and endless family fun. Cabana Bay guests can experience remarkable amenities, including two zero-entry pools, a waterslide, a lazy river, a 10-lane bowling alley and more. With 900 existing standard guest rooms and 900 existing family suites, guests can choose between two incredible room options. The family suite is a unique room option that sleeps up to six people and includes two queen size beds, a full-size pull-out sofa, a kitchenette area, a sliding partition for privacy, two flat-screen TVs and a compartmentalized bathroom with preparation spaces for three people at once.

Cabana Bay guests also get exclusive benefits only available to on-site hotel guests at Universal Orlando, including Early Park Admission one hour before the theme parks open and complimentary transportation to and from Universal Orlando’s two incredible theme parks and Universal CityWalk.

Additional information will be available in the future. To learn more or to make a reservation, call 1-888-273-1311 or visit www.universalorlando.com. Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort is co-owned and operated by Loews Hotels & Resorts in a joint venture with NBC Universal.

One of the most successful film franchises of all time will soon become one of Universal Studios Florida’s most action-packed ride experiences. Universal Orlando Resort announced today that Fast & Furious: Supercharged will join its incredible lineup of attractions in 2017 – continuing the unprecedented growth of the destination.

Guests will experience a high-octane journey that fuses an original storyline and incredible ride technology with everything that fans love about the films—popular characters, exhilarating environments, nonstop action and, of course, high-speed cars.

Led by film stars Vin Diesel (Dom Toretto), Dwayne Johnson (Hobbs), Michelle Rodriguez (Letty) and Tyrese Gibson (Roman), guests will feel like part of the “Fast family” as they embark on a thrilling new Fast & Furious adventure. They will be immersed in the underground racing world made famous in the films, explore the headquarters of Toretto and his team and even get to check out some of the supercharged cars they’ve seen on the big screen. Then, guests will board specially designed vehicles and take off on an adrenaline-pumping ride with their favorite stars from the films.

Fast & Furious is Universal Pictures’ highest-grossing film franchise of all time. Since the release of the first film in 2001, the Fast & Furious series has become a cultural phenomenon. Together, all seven installments have grossed nearly $3.9 billion at the worldwide box office. The most recent film, Furious 7, was released in April and became the fifth-highest-grossing film of all time, with more than $1.5 billion in global box office. In addition, Universal Studios Hollywood introduced its own Fast & Furious—Supercharged this summer, which serves as the grand finale to its world famous Studio Tour.

Fast & Furious: Supercharged will replace Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue and Disaster: A Major Motion Picture Starring You! at Universal Studios Florida. Disaster will close on September 8, 2015 and Beetlejuice will close later this year to make way for the new attraction.

More details about Universal Orlando’s Fast & Furious attraction will be released in the future. Stay tuned to www.universalorlando.com for more information.

Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. will host the third annual “A Celebration of Harry Potter,” a special gathering of Harry Potter fans from around the globe. The three-day weekend event will take place January 29 – 31, 2016 and will feature an array of experiences.

All general admission park guests will have the opportunity to:

·         Attend Q&A sessions with Harry Potter film talent (complete talent lineup will be announced at a later date)

·         Experience and participate in the interactive and unique exhibits at the “A Celebration of Harry Potter” Expo, featuring Harry Potter brand partners such as Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, Pottermore, Scholastic, MinaLima, and Harry Potter: The Exhibition

·         Enjoy special panels and demonstrations regarding various aspects of the Harry Potter stories

Additionally, guests will be able to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal’s Islands of Adventure and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. Plus, ride the Hogwarts Express between the two lands with a park-to-park ticket.

Special vacation packages, including annual passholder packages, will go on sale at noon EST on August 19. On-site hotel packages start at $235 per adult per night and include exclusive benefits such as special guest access to the “A Celebration of Harry Potter” Expo, admission to a private evening reception in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and special guest access to panels and demonstrations. Packages also include three-night hotel accommodations, three-day park-to-park tickets to both Universal Studios Florida & Universal’s Islands of Adventure, a special welcome parcel and more. For complete package details, visit www.universalorlando.com/celebration.

The Universal theme park chain was the last thing Comcast was interested in when it bought NBCUniversal four years ago. Endless upkeep? Endless spending on new rides? Endless anxiety about public safety?

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