Written by Tanya Balcerski

Written by William Balcerski

Written by David "Indy" Graham

So let's head into the parks now. We started out at Islands of Adventures for the morning. Heading to the turnstiles they had queues set up for us to wind through to get to them. There was no finger scan that most of us came to know and it was there I was given my paper ticket for the Team Member preview for the day to go park to park. Once in the park, other than for the stores, there weren't any markings on the ground to show entering and exiting as I had expected.

With so few people there it was a no-brainer we headed straight to Hagrid's to start the day. If you don't have the Universal App, you will need to install it as every ride we went to required us to use it. I was able to get a return time within the hour which was the longest time I had to wait to ride. Once it was my turn to ride it I was able to walk right onto the ride. Before you load on the ride, and all other rides, there is someone there with hand sanitizer which you are required to use before loading. The rides were staggering people every other row as previously stated would happen. With so few people in the park today for the Team Member preview most rides were close to walk on after setting up the virtual queue or within 30 minutes.

After a lap around the different lands (plenty of pictures and short videos of the day already loaded to the UDN Facebook page if you haven't seen them), we headed back to the Hogwarts Express to head to the Studios park to finish the day out. For the Hogwarts load they had people staggered at the load areas with some closer to the gate and others further back and each party gets their own cabin; that's right no sharing with another party. I think when exiting and heading down the stairs was really the only time I didn't see the 6 ft social distancing fully being done. Once in Studios and Diagon Alley it was surprising to see it so empty. We opted to eat at Leaky Cauldon, and even though this is a quick order they seat you at one of the tables now spread out and you will have to use the mobile ordering app to place your order. We had someone assigned to our table like a server who brought out our food. Unless they change the process you will have to pay full price through the app and then after you finish if you have a discount like an Universal Orlando Annual Pass or Team Member discount, then they will take the person to the register to have the discount applied and you will get that back as a refund, currently. Additionally, when you purchase things right now in the stores you will not have to enter you pin info on the key pad and everything is ran as credit.

As for characters in the park, there were definitely plenty of them out however as I stated on some of the photos/videos I posted, most were behind a railing or up on a little stage and they had the 6-foot markings on the ground to keep you away from them. They also had additional markings on the ground for those waiting their turn in line for a photo opportunity. As for the Superstar Parade, they had a float coming out with different characters to entertain the people. I have to say I saw more characters today out at the Team Member preview than I probably saw on a normal day from when I had worked for Universal.

What to expect when arriving at Disney Springs  by Victoria Johnson

First, along with myself and everyone at UDN, we hope you and your loved ones are safe during this crazy 2020. Hopefully this will soon be a memory of a year and we can get back to normal. But what will that normal be is now the question-and especially for theme parks? Like many all we can do is speculate at this point but in the beginning of nothing else there are changes coming until humanity can get a handle on Covid-19. 

Let's start by taking a look at what we do know so far for the theme parks. In China the theme park chain Fantawild has opened about 24 of its parks back in April. Belgium can start opening parks as of June 8th and in Germany parks can start opening on May 4th. Taiwan parks are open but with only 50% of normal capacity. However that seems to be common across most international parks. Along with the number of guest allowed into the park, other changes include loading attractions every other seat, temperature checks to enter, face mask, additional hand sanitizer locations and new cleaning processes between rides and in general. None of the big players like Universal or Disney have opened internationally but Shanghai Disneyland back in April 22nd had some cast members onsite testing out social distancing for the attractions in addition to parades and even castle shows. Currently there is no news if any if the international Universal parks have started any testing that has been reported. So why is this important information? Currently the international theme parks are the testing grounds for what works and what doesn't work. Now let's take a look at Central Florida parks.

One of the smartest things I think Orange County did when they came up with the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force was to have such a diverse group from small business owners all the way up to theme park representatives. This past week the group released what they considered with Phase 1 as Florida's Stay Home order just ended. One thing the group did was break down the different business from including the theme parks. Parks like Fun Spot and Gatorland being smaller would have just slightly different guidelines than Universal, Disney and SeaWorld. While Disney and SeaWorld during this haven't really said much, we have been fortunate to hear what Universal has been doing. Much like the things mentioned for the international parks Universal also indicated that planning was underway for virtual lines on rides as well as online food ordering according to Universal Orlando Resort CEO John Sprouls. 

As someone who has worked both in my past for Disney and until December 2019 I called Universal Orlando my home for over 5 years before going to work for the county, I can tell you theme parks are one of the cleanest places prior to this. Additionally, knowing the dedication their leadership has to keep their employees and guest safe I can only imagine how spotless these parks will be when they reopen. During my time at Universal I was lucky enough to actually work with a member of the Sprouls family (and still consider them a good friend) as well as meet John Sprouls and his lovely wife. Not only will I say is he a great leader for Universal, but personally an outstanding person whom I have the utmost confidence in to lead Universal through this and can't wait to visit the parks again. The man has truly earned his favorite cookies from me after this, Oreos. 

In closing there are still a lot of unknowns- like how this will affect attendance for events like Mickey's Not So Scary or Halloween Horror Nights which is the top Halloween event in the United States. Will this change how scare actors can interact with guest or even how they funnel people through houses? Looking further down the road could this change the design layout of the recently delayed Universal’s Epic Universe as we move to a post Covid-19 world. Only time will tell on these questions as well as how theme parks will recover. I do actually think John Sprouls recently said it best when it comes to how theme parks reopen, “If they don't feel safe, they won't attend” and to me no truer words have ever been spoken.

So what do you think? Please let us know in the comments below and as always thank you for being a part of the Universal Disney Nutz family.

With the theme parks currently closed to help against the spread of Corvid-19, a lot of people are looking for creative ways to get their theme park fix. I've seen a lot of videos showing up online where people are either creating mock versions of their favorite ride and photo ops. So let's take a look at a few other ways to get your Disney fix in this article.

As you guessed we are going to start with the obvious one first, and that's the Disney+ streaming app. With a large selection of your favorite movies and shorts there is plenty of Disney to fill a day here. The best part is Disney has even stepped it up and has released movies early (like Frozen 2) during this time for the family to enjoy. I would personally recommend watching The Imagineering Story to really get a look into what really goes into the creation of the parks.

Looking for something away from the Disney+ app? Then how about taking a look at a page I came across that has everything from games, videos, coloring pages and more is https://lol.disney.com/games. This blog actually took a little longer than planned as even I got caught up in the coloring book pages as you can either print them out or just do them online as I did. However if you are looking for something a little more thought provoking then take a look at the training course on Khan Academy, https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/hass-storytelling/imagineering-in-a-box, where you can learn what it takes to be an Imagineer where even our own staff is currently going through this course as well.

By now, with all of these activities I'm sure you and the family are starting to get a little hungry.  Well Universal Disney Nutz has you covered there too, or I should say Disney really does. Check out https://allears.net/walt-disney-world/wdw-dining/recipes-from-around-the-world/ for that favorite recipe. On this list not only will you just find the parks but also the hotels, events and recipes from the Disney Cruise Line. Sadly, no Dole Whip on there; however, just like doing a Google search for Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter Butterbeer, you will find many links on suggestions how to make that Dole Whip.

Well, I hope these quick few ideas helps while we all wait for this Corvid-19 to pass to where we can get back into our favorite theme parks to take in the sights, smells and taste of what we all miss. On the plus side if you are following the facts and not hype you will see China getting close to opening their parks back up after about 8 weeks and Japan has had their Disneytown (think Disney Springs) partially opened since March 9th with rumors of the park set to also open hopefully soon. So till then, let us know how you are getting your theme park fix in the comments for everyone else to enjoy. And as always, THANK YOU for being a park of the Universal Disney Nutz family.

​There were 3 lines. When I checked in at the entrance I was told to go to the left of the line. I never asked the difference in all the lines. 
The meal was pre-ordered on the website. It is QS so you can order when you get there or you can order through the website and just pay when you check in. After you pay you are given a receipt and told to take a seat at any empty table.  I chose the dining room to the left. 

There are 2 dining areas during lunch.  I walked in to The Ballroom to the left and the chandeliers were gorgeous. The painted ceiling was breathtaking. The windows in the back had snow falling outside with mountains in the background. The golden yellow lighting added to the ambiance of the dining experience.

Overall experience was good- a little pricey but it is Disney. I would go back just for the cupcake. I liked the dining room to the left but had I known about the dining room to the right I would have eaten in there- the Rose Gallery.  In the evenings there is a third room available - The West Wing.
Beginners curve. First time there so now I know what to do and how to do it. 
Now to make reservations for supper. This will break the bank.  It’s a character supper so I will have to save for this one. 

Tired of the big theme parks and the crowds? Looking for something a little slower in pace to do when in Orlando? How about a half day attraction/theme park that was here 22 years before Disney even opened and even gives you a glimpse into Florida's past?

Located about 20 minutes away from the Walt Disney Resort you will find Gatorland, famously known for the gator mouth entrance. Located on 110 acres in south Orlando, Gatorland opened in 1949 by Owen Godwin on former cattle land and is still privately owned by his family. Back in 1949 the main roads heading south through central Florida were Highway 27 or US 441 which both opened in 1926. The common main roads most people use now in Florida didn't exist back then and there was no toll road ring around Orlando.

To better understand the roads back then, Interstate 95 didn't open until 1956 and Interstate 75 and Interstate 4 both opened in 1957 making 441 the 2nd most traveled highway in Florida. Based on this alone, when Owen Godwin and his wife, Pearl, opened his roadside attraction to give people passing by an up-close look at alligators it was something different for a lot of people. Looking over the history of Gatorland and some fun facts for someone that was born in Orlando, there were things on there I didn't even know about the place. I was surprised to learn that the breeding marsh area of the park was used for filming the 1984 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. For anyone who also has stayed at or visited Gaylord Palms to see ICE during the holidays, you might have even see the gators there from Gatorland .  In 2015 they opened Gator Spot at Fun Spot America on International Drive close to Universal. 

As for things to do at Gatorland, over the years they have put a lot of money into growing the place and have a variety of things to see and do. I even had a part in the  Gatorland Express that was put in back in 2001 at the park. Looking for something a little more thrilling, how about zip lining across a pool of alligators that in 2012 was voted Best Zip Line in USA by AOL Travel as well as in 2016; they even installed a single zip line and attraction that was designed for the wheelchair accessible guest. Other attractions and exhibits include the Stompin' Gator Off-Road Adventure, the famous alligator wrestling, a children’s playground and splash park, parrots, raccoons, bobcats, Nile crocs, a swamp walk, and home to the largest Central Florida rookery for thousands of aquatic nesting birds and so much more.

I truly can say if you really want to see a lot of true Florida then you can't pass up a visit to Gatorland as well as it won't break the bank like the bigger parks with adult single day at only $29.99+tax. For more information please visit them at www.gatorland.com. So are you going to add Gatorland to places to visit? Let us know in the comments below or other suggestions on things you would like to see UDN do a blog on. And as always, thank you for being a part of the Universal Disney Nutz family.

​It was a beautiful day to go to the parks.
It was cool. It was overcast to keep the sun at bay. So we are off ....


​Today we parked at Hollywood Studios and walked to Epcot. It is a nice walk along the canal. The walkway is behind the bus station and winds around behind the Boardwalk Resort and next to The Swan and The Dolphin resorts. The Boardwalk is great to walk around, with shopping options, a bakery and a few restaurants.

Then you wind your way around to the International Gateway. This is the back entrance and comes out next to the bridge in between United Kingdom and France. Walked around a bit and found myself in the Epcot Experience. Watched the video telling us all about the updates Epcot is going through. New shows, new rides, new experiences. Afterwards I took the long way around to make my 12:15pm reservation at Nine Dragons at the China pavilion.

​LUNCH TIME.
I arrived 10 minutes before my reservation and they seated me instantly. Only a few people were there at the time. The interior looks to be a big restaurant with lots of tables, but ther seemed to be only 4 other parties there.
The decor was nice. The lights were pretty and the wood carvings were intricately detailed.
The waitress came over and took my order. I looked at the menu before hand and pretty much knew what I wanted when I arrived.

​I ordered Vegetable Spring Rolls and Grandma’s Pork Belly. The order came out really fast; I don’t think I waited more than 7 minutes. It wasn’t crowded so I think that may have had something to do with it.

The Spring Rolls
Crispy on the outside and a little squishy on the inside. Not a lot of filling at all. The dipping sauce was Sweet Chili Aioli. It was sweet and tangy with some flakes of hot pepper. The sauce was yummy.
​

Grandma’s Pork Belly was served with steamed white rice, red-braised with a stewed egg and broccoli. There were also 3 pieces of potato.
The beef was amazing. Sliced a little on the thinner side. I was expecting a bit thicker. The beef was not as stringy as expected and the fat rind was perfect. Was a good fat / beef ratio. The potatoes were a bit overkill as there was rice. Two starches in one meal. They could do without the potato.

The egg was brown because it had been soaking in the broth. I was expecting it to be salty, wet, beefy. It was just an egg. No beef taste at all. The broccoli was cooked to my liking.

Overall the meal was fast and good. I do not know if I would order the vegetable spring rolls again. I think I would order something different. A bit mushy on the inside for me.
The Pork Belly I would definitely order again. I would order something else to try something different but if I couldn't make up my mind the pork belly would definitely be ordered again!

There has been a lot of talk lately about the COVID-19 other wise known as the "Coronavirus." More recently, as it relates to theme parks around the world and here in Central Florida. Everyone is on high alert as Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong’s theme parks have all closed as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the virus.

Now, here in Central Florida, our theme parks are being called into question, with a couple of Walt Disney World workers being sent home with the flu. On the surface, it's pretty scary stuff, if you think about it. Confined areas, tons of people, (In 2018, Magic Kingdom had over 20 million visitors alone), riding the same rides, and we all don't have the same hygiene standards. I get it. Moreover, It doesn't help that the media is “fear mongering” this down our throats everyday.

With anything, there is "Perception" and there is “Reality.” but, before you cancel your trip to Central Florida, let's do some math, shall we?. According to the World Census Bureau, there are roughly 7.7 billion people that inherit the earth. Currently, according to Worldometers.info, The current "Outbreak" is at 85,705 confirmed cases with 2,933 deaths (majority of them elderly or people with low immune systems) reported and 39,783 people that have recovered from the virus. If we crunch the numbers, that percentage is so small, that it cannot be quantifiable mathematically. (Note: That is confirmed cases. I acknowledge that there are many more unconfirmed cases out there).

But, let's bring it closer to home - America. According to the U.S. Census board, there are approximately 327.2 million people in the United States. Of those millions of people, there are 15 confirmed cases of this virus. If we do the math, that means there is 0.000000045 percent of the U.S. population that have confirmed cases of the virus. (not even in the zip code of 1 percent). Another perspective: According to the lotto.net website, the odds of winning the Florida Lotto is 1 in 22,957,480. (yes, that says 22 million) that calculates out to 0.0000000043 odds that you will get 6 out of 6 numbers and win the jackpot. By rate of comparison, (and rounding up) That means you only have a 0.0000000002 percent greater chance of catching this virus (in the U.S.) over winning the Florida lottery. Let this sink in. We are talking not even in the Stratosphere of 1 percent.

Now, welcome to Central Florida - where we have sunshine, Mickey, and Harry Potter. Oh, and no confirmed or reported cases at all. I understand that it's easy to watch the news and social media and fear the worst; But, as previously stated, there is perspective, and then there is reality. By all means, take precautions to protect yourself and your family. But do not buy into this media scare. because that is all it is. Come to Central Florida, Enjoy the theme parks. Make memories. Rest easy knowing that you are safe to do so. If it makes you feel any better, bring some hand sanitizer with you.

Stay woke people.

William

Back in January changes started to happen at Universal's Citywalk with the closure of  the Fresh Produce and Island Clothing CO stores. The Island Clothing Co. was a quick short cut for many going to Universal's Studio park as it connected with Quiet Flight Surf Shop.  It's now being reported that P!Q (pronounced “pick”) and the Fossil shop have closed for good at Citywalk as well. So what does this possibly mean and why are they closing a lot of stores there? The simplest answer is they were all 3rd party companies and Universal over the years has slowly been putting in company owned locations. As a business, why only take a portion of the profits when you can get 100% of them. Chances are in time you will only see a few that are not owned by Universal there. The ones I don't see going any where are Blue Man Group (for now), Hard Rock Cafe and Hard Rock Live, Cinemark. The ones I do see eventually leaving are Margaritaville as the Margaritaville Resort Orlando opened this past year and would only make sense to be there. As for Bubba Gump, it opened in 2006 so I'm not sure when their lease is up but I wouldn't be surprised if it closes down in the near future (I'll explain a little later) and then everything going up to the little food court area where Burger King, Panda Express and Moe's are located.
















​
​Now, let's take a look at the possible rumors, however remember until Universal officially makes an announcement, things are subject to change.

If you look at the places that did close or are rumored to within the next few years you will notice they either are grouped together and could be made into a larger location or they connect and possible have shared kitchens. Starting with the recently closed stores, documents are already being filed to combine them to make a larger location. (I'm really surprised they didn't look to move Cinnabon to it's own free standing location or expand Auntie Anne's and combine them as they are both owned by the same company). Additionally, I'm really not sure how Quiet Flight Surf Shop wasn't closed down to give that additional space but I wouldn't be surprised to see it go in the near future. The largest rumor is for that space to become a mega Universal store and closing the other location. Other rumors have mentioned an escape room. Universal even filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on November 9th 2018, seven Universal City Studios LLC applications referencing “Universal’s Great Movie Escape.” The last current rumor is a Nintendo store, however if plans to make it interactive are true then I think The Groove would be a better location. Besides, I'm surprised that place is still there as it's one of the last original locations from when Citywalk opened in 1999. Opening a store in Citywalk can serve two purposes -as it will help create hype for the Nintendo land going into Epic Universe but also Universal can gauge based on what the store offers what everyone's interests are for marketing.

Have you ever done one of the firework dining plans or wanted too? There is a wide range of options based on what you are looking for from ones offering drinks, food or just desserts but all included that special viewing area. They are truly unique ways to experience an end to the day at the park. However, what if I told you there was a way to experience one without even entering a park and you're able to see all of Central Florida's nighttime pyrotechnics from just one location as well as an amazing view of Orlando at it's actually at Universal Resort.

​So let's talk about Bar 17 Bistro. If you are not familiar with it, this is actually the bar located on the roof of Universal’s Aventura Hotel. Universal bills it as a "drink with a view" but it's really so much more with it's offerings of urban international flavors and more, along with a full bar. Open daily from about 4pm to Midnight Sunday through Wednesday, and 4pm to 2am on Thursday through Saturday with a DJ on Friday and Saturday from 8pm to midnight. It really is an amazing place. The best part is, according to the drink menu, that they have Happy Hour 10 pm – Close: Draft Beer & House Wine - $6 which for a theme park is about a $3 discount on beer alone. But what about that food I mentioned earlier? They offer a wide range of options on the menu from appetizers to proteins (steaks/seafood) however their signature option there is the Bao Bun. These are steamed Chinese bread rolls filled with 4 different options to enjoy.  

As for the view from up there? Like it was stated earlier this is on the 17th floor roof at Universal's Aventura Hotel so on a clear day or night you can see for miles. If you look to the south you will be able to see SeaWorld's nightly show and of course to the north side is both Islands of Adventure with Hogwarts Castle and right next door is Universal Studios that has the Cinematic Celebration on select nights. Yet if you look to the west you will not only see the fireworks form the Magic Kingdom but also Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. And not to be left out looking east you will see Downtown Orlando. 

Well there you have it an unofficial fireworks dining package without stepping foot into any theme park. I know for some they want to be up close and personal for these shows but for others looking for a night out and a way to completely skip those crowds leaving the park at the end of the night then this might be the perfect option for you. And if you're looking to make a weekend get away, the rates at Universal's Aventura are moderately priced. I would suggest looking for one of the skyline rooms and maybe asking for a room looking to the West (you can watch the Disney fireworks from your room) or north and view Universal at night.  Our staff at Universal Disney Nutz can help you find the perfect room.  Just send us an email at castlevacationsbyudn@gmail.com and our certified travel advisors with Castle Vacations can assist you!

Let us know what you think and again thank you for being a part of Universal Disney Nutz.

Now before you start to think Universal is getting ready to increase it's pyrotechnics at night, I'm sorry to say that's not the case. It's not because they can't afford it, or they lack the creativity to come up with ideas for a great show either. Now I know some of you might be thinking- what's he talking about I've seen fireworks at Universal? in fact you might be thinking they do them for the Cinematic Celebration; however those are only classified as pyrotechnics due to the height Universal fires them into the air.

So then why doesn't Universal have fireworks like Disney parks? Well, at it's current location (as we are hopeful that Epic Universe might have them) the quickest answer is to look at Universal Orlando on Google maps and the surrounding area. If you look closely you will see there is a high school (Dr. Phillips) directly behind Islands of Adventure, as well as houses and apartments within walking distance to the resort. Because of this, Universal is restricted on a lot of things they can do because of Orlando's residential zoning laws. Universal actually tracks the noise levels around the park, especially during Halloween Horror Nights, as they can be fined by Orange County/Orlando for violations- which can add up to a few thousands quickly. Universal has even had a noise pollution phone number for the residents to call; Universal will send someone to the closest park location to that complaint to measure the volume and then report and adjust it as needed.


Just to give even more insight into how much of a concern noise from the park is- even before Universal Orlando opened on June 7, 1990 there were already concerns from the neighboring residents regarding noise levels. To help (even then) with the concerns, Universal hired a noise consultant company as well as requested to have the maximum noise level increased from the 60 decibels for short periods of time each day. The current level at that time was 60 decibels, which is comparable to the level that most people watch their TV at. Universal's request was to be allowed to go above maximum noise levels for only 2 1/2 minutes every half hour or 5 minutes per hour. 


Just think- that was before the park even opened in 1990; the concerns were there and changes were being requested. Looking at the current Noise Related Ordinances for commercial areas in Orlando from 7AM-10PM it's 70 dBA/75 dBC and from 10PM-7AM it's 65 dBA/70 dBC. So what does that mean really to most people? The A-weighted level (dBA) is the most common single number measure of loudness. The C-weighting network is used mainly as a measure of the broadband sound pressure level as well as for recording. Occasionally an (L C - L A) level is used to describe the relative contribution of low-frequency noise to a spectrum.

So what do you think? Are you happy with the current pyro that they have or do you wish they could have larger fireworks like Disney? I also included the article link from back in 1988 below that talked more about the noise concerns when building just the original park.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1988-09-26-0070170123-story.html

,Get your wallets ready, it’s about time for the annual theme parks to increase the price.

Just as anyone in Central Florida knows that around 5pm in the summer you can count on an afternoon thunderstorm to hit the same is true in February you can count on the local theme parks here raise their ticket prices. And much like many of you, I cringe to think just how much more it’s going to cost me to go to our favor parks; however a very interesting article was written by Brady MacDonald in the Orange County Register out in California asking the question is Disneyland under-priced?

https://www.ocregister.com/2020/01/10/think-disneyland-ticket-prices-are-high-heres-why-the-theme-park-is-underpriced/

I know the article was written with Disneyland in mind however this same break down can be applied to the parks here in Orlando just as easy. When I use to take escalated calls as a supervisor at one of the local theme parks regarding the pricing increases each year, the same breakdown Brady used was very common to be heard over the phone with guest often. Yes, I understand for an average family of 4, even if it’s only an increase of about $10 per person on a multi-day ticket that’s still $40 which takes away from food or merchandise or other travel costs. However, based on actual value for what you are getting, then is it the price increase really that is just too much or is it still under-priced as the article stated?

I decided to apply that to the the Central Florida parks to get an idea locally on what it broke down to per hour like Brady did for Disneyland. For this I only stuck with the valued 1 day 1 park tickets for this example. Just to give people an idea of how much ticket pricing has changed over the years for Disney World I found this great link from Allears. 

https://allears.net/walt-disney-world/wdw-planning/wdw-ticket-increase-guide

I started with Universal Orlando with a 1 park $119 value day with the park opened on average about 11 hours which breaks down to about $10.82 per hour. For Sea World Orlando the average pricing was a little different as they had an online discount for a 1 day ticket as well as their weekday and weekend hours varied. So if you were to buy a ticket at the gate it would run $105.99 for the day. If you went on a weekday which seems to be open about 8 hours it came to $13.25, or for the weekend about $10.60 per hour. If you opted to purchase the promo online ticket in advance that same ticket would run you $85.99 which comes to $10.75 for a weekday or $8.60 on the weekend as they are open about 10 hours. 

Surprisingly the value ticket for the house the mouse built for a value day ran about $109.00 for a 1 day ticket across the board with each park open for about 12 hours, so that was about $9.08 per hour.  Just for fun I decided to look to see what the ticket prices were for the Superbowl this today. The Superbowl on average is just under 4 hours but I went ahead and based it on 6 hours cause after all it's the Superbowl and no one is just going to walk in at kick off and leave right after. After many searches the lowest priced ticket I could find in the upper bowl (Sec 320, Row 28) was going for $5,411.00 + Fees. That broke down to about $901.83 per hour for this event. I'll pause as you do the math to figure out how many theme park per hours it would take to even come to that. 



So what do you think based on a per hour breakdown? Are theme parks still over-priced or under-priced based on the value you get for the day? Let us know in the comments below what you think and why.

Today my day started off at Hollywood Studios.  Groot stayed home today so I was flying solo.  A Fast Pass* was had for "For The First Time In Forever:  A Frozen Sing Along Celebration".  If you are a big Frozen fan like me, you do not want to miss this show!  Check the MyDisneyExperience app for Fast Pass availability and times.  In fact any of the main attractions that you absolutely don't want to miss, obtain your Fast Passes first and then plan the remainder of your day around those times.  Fast Passes are hard to come by and the more popular the attraction the harder they are to get.

After the show, I made my way to the Skyliner to go to Epcot.

Festival of the Arts started on Friday, January 17th at Epcot/World Showcase.  If you have never been, it is definitely a not miss opportunity.  Enjoy delicious food, beautiful art, amazing shows-such as the Disney on Broadway concert series, featured artists, and other hidden "gems".  You never know who you might run into in the parks during the Festival of the Arts- Paige O'Hara (the original voice of Belle in Beauty and the Beast), your favorite Disney Broadway stars and more!

There is so much to see and do during the festivals at Epcot.  This trip was dedicated to finding little hidden paintings on the buildings in the different countries, like the one you see above.  Characters are painted on the buildings only during the Festival of the Arts.  Some are hard to locate and will take some investigating, but others are visible the minute you walk into the country plaza, or even walk right by them without even noticing.  This is a great game for families or a bunch of friends.  You can create your own "stakes" and make it a scavenger hunt of sorts.  

I couldn't stay for as long as I wanted as it started to rain and I had to head out.  I did, however, make it all the way around the showcase.  I started at France and worked to the right, ducking into a few stores along the way to step out of the rain.

The next time you are at Epcot's World Showcase during the Festival of the Arts (which runs from January 17th-February 24th) see what "surprises" you find on the buildings and share them with us here or on our Facebook Group page, Universal_Disney_Nutz.  We would love to see what you spy out there!

Next week will bring back Tasty Tuesday, with some of the foods from the Festival.  I'm thinking lunch, dessert (which those who know me is my favorite part of the festival), and a non-alcoholic specialty drink. Tune in next time to see what I snack on!

If you haven't yet taken the time to review Part 1 on how we would layout our park please visit our prior post. So just as a quick refresher for everyone else, our park layout was a mix of what Universal is rumored to have for Epic Universe but with the connecting Hub and Spoke layout of the Magic Kingdom. Now let's talk rides.

When it comes to the rides for each land the number that are in the lands are less important at times as long as the ones that are there the people connect with. That's not to say I would want 1 or 2 rides for each land yet this design has worked. For Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando it only has the Escape from Gringott's attraction unless you want to count the Hogwarts Express as more of an attraction and less of a themed transportation system between the 2 parks. And at Disney for Galaxy's Edge it only has 2 rides within it with Smugglers Run and the recently opened Rise of the Resistance; however if we jump over to the Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland, then you have 7 attractions located there. A quick look at just the 2 different lands at Disney you can clearly see how rides have evolved from simple quick story dark rides that you travel through to now where attractions are putting you in the middle of the action and even letting you decide the outcome of the ride.

So let's assume for my park we have 6 lands to play with and all roughly equal and good in size. Each land would have at least 1 E-ticket attraction (coaster or test track) as the main-themed anchor to that land. This would also help to spread out the crowds in the park based on the experience they were looking for. Now, I'm not fully against completely screen-based attractions, to be clear, but me and them don't see eye to eye with my motion sickness; however, they do have a place in story telling attractions when it's not possible to have the actors from your IP to be there day in and out within your attraction 365 a year, so prerecorded scenes only make sense. Personally, Escape from Gringotts and Reign of Kong were 2 of my favorite rides at Universal as I feel they did a great mix of ride and screens. Yet, with that said, if you told me I only could ride 1 attraction at Universal I would take Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure without a second thought. For me that is a well blended attraction that shows you can build a story telling ride and not completely kill it with screen after screen. And when Disney opens Tron in a little over a year at the Magic Kingdom, or even Guardians of the Galaxy, both I think will be another step in story-telling thrill rides. And considering that we live in Florida, knowing the outside section of Tron is under a roof means they can run it ran or shine. 

For that reason I would have a lot of covered sections for my outdoor attractions so they could be run as much as possible when inclement weather usually shuts down a lot of rides here. As for the balancing out the other rides in the different lands, I think having a mix of at least one flat ride (think Dumbo style or a spinning teacups) and a dark ride (Haunted Mansion or Pirates of Caribbean) or 4D (Toy Story Mania or Shrek) or even 1 or 2 water rides (Splash Mountain or Jurassic Park River Adventure) could balance out each land. This would provide each land with something for every generation and something for people of different size and heights, giving families a reason to spend more time in each land instead of running to another area so the kids can ride something or off to the next thrill ride like at a Six Flags or Cedar Point (which I love my coasters). You then add in the specialty themed restaurants with exclusive food and drinks and of course your IP merchandise and it's a win-win for the theme parks as well as a one of a kind experience at every turn. 

So would this be a park you would want to visit or do you think it's completely off on what you would want in your park? Let us know in the comments your thoughts or improvements you would make.

Recently the UDN staff was talking about all the new rides that are coming to the Central Florida theme parks this year as well as in the near future and how we can't wait until they open so we can experience them. This got me thinking with new theme parks like Dream Island (Russia), Genting Theme Park at Genting Highlands Resort (formerly 20th Century Fox World in Malaysia), The London Resort project as well as Universal building Beijing and Epic Universe, how would I build my dream park if I could. 

First let's take a quick look at the two giants when most people think theme parks locally. When you think about the Magic Kingdom and Universal they market to different age groups really. Sure one could argue that they offer a little something for everyone, however let's take a look a little deeper. A lot of people go back to the Magic Kingdom as it's a nostalgic trip for them, as well as they have more rides for the younger generation (in addition, to someone of a larger build they have more that can be ridden based on their ride designs). Universal knows that Disney has the younger kids on lock down for now and they even had a commercial a while back called "kids grow up" and poked fun at Disney and how they out grow them for more thrilling rides. It's a fact that Universal does have more teen and adult driven rides. This is apparent just by looking at the height requirements in their ride portfolio. Both parks know how to brand market themselves and do it quite well for who they are targeting. As time goes on with new lands and hopefully parks, we will see that those lines start to overlap more on attractions and branding. 

As for park layouts, it is without saying that Walt Disney had a great design with what is referred to as the Hub and Spoke model that Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom use. You have the Main Street/Entrance that lead out to the different lands and then they connect to each other through themed portals to the others lands. For any great park, having each land themed to set up the illusion and experience that you are really there- with the goal being to leave you in awe and possibly touch you emotionally each time you visit them. (As a side note to this I witnessed this many times when I worked for Universal as I saw many Harry Potter fans cry when they entered Diagon Alley). Universal set the standard when they opened The Wizarding World at Islands of Adventures and again with Diagon Alley where you are immersed completely in them and away from the outside world. These lands complete the experience by offering everything from not only amazing ride experiences but themed food, exclusive drinks and exclusive shops to complete the story. Disney in return to this new standard built Avatar, Toy Story and Star Wars lands based on now what people want and expect from theme parks. Come 2023, assuming everything Universal is rumored to do with Epic Universe, they will take that idea and move it to the next level with a free Main Street entrance (think Citywalk 2.0) area and then each land will have it's own turnstile entrance making each land an exclusive and immersive experience. Based on the concept art Universal has previously released each land currently looks to only have one way in and out, making it unique as Universal could sell discounted tickets to just a themed land and have tier pricing based on how many lands you want to visit.

Now with those ideas I think a well blended park would have a little of both Universal and Disney in them for the perfect family experience. Taking the rumored layout for Epic Universe with the immersive lands I would still find a way to use the same Hub and Spoke model as used with the Magic Kingdoms connecting the different lands, but would figure out a well hidden themed turnstile area between the lands. I believe this would help with possible crowd control issues at the more popular lands as well as provide the option to still sell individual lands (making the assumption that Universal does this). And much like Universal does in each Harry Potter land with the Hogwarts Express, have places to upsell the guest with a multi-land experience. For land ideas I think it's important as Universal and Disney have proven picking the right IP for a land is important to not only get the people in the park but to keep them coming back. Not to say with the right attractions in a land, it won't keep the people from wanting to visit. Space Mountain is a great E-ticket ride at Disney, but when Disney opened Tomorrowland within no time the land was outdated. For this reason Disney slowly moved to more of a sci-fi feel for the land so they weren't having to try to update it every couple years.

This hopefully gets you thinking about what your theme park would look like and what possible layout idea you would go with. Would you want a Hub and Spoke, or more like Epcot or Universal Studios, and have a lake in the middle to go around that could also double for a night time show. Stay tuned for part 2 when we talk about thoughts on ride selection for each land.

​Share your thoughts with us and comment below!