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Universal Orlando GrowsAnd So Does The Guidebook That Covers ItWhen the question is “What’s new at Universal Orlando?” the go-to guy is travel writer Kelly Monaghan, who has been covering the Orlando tourism scene for over fifteen years and is the author of the only guidebook devoted exclusively to the Universal Orlando Resort® complex. “No theme park succeeds by standing still,” Monaghan notes, “and since Universal made its name by being on the cutting edge of theme park design and ride technology, it always strives to be one step ahead.” This year, Universal has brought the international phenomenon of the Blue Man Group from the outer fringes of New York’s avant garde theater scene to family-friendly Orlando. “The genius of this show is that it will please both the post-modernist intellectual with its sly inside jokes about art and culture and the five-year-old kid who just enjoys the wacky, far out humor,” says Monaghan. Also new this year is the HydroAction Ski Show that packs a lot of aquatic derring-do into the tight confines of the Great Inland Sea at Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park. Over at CityWalk, NASCAR Grill has undergone a major architectural revamp and emerged as a trendy sports bar called NASCAR Sports Grille. The three resort hotels are nearing the end of a complete program of redecoration, which will feature flat-screen TVs in every room, and the Royal Pacific Resort has added popular Kids’ Suites to its mix of accommodations. All of this is documented in Universal Orlando 2008: The Ultimate Guide To The Ultimate Theme Park Adventure ($15.95, The Intrepid Traveler), the seventh edition of Monaghan’s popular guide to the Resort. The guide has also been expanded for this new edition. “I’ve responded to reader requests by adding photos of the parks and resorts and a new chapter called Universal Dining At A Glance, which will help visitors sort through the over 80 dining options available to them, everything from world-class restaurants to a movie theater that serves ice cream sundaes,” Monaghan says. In recent years, Universal Orlando has grown from a single theme park to a mega-complex of two parks, three luxurious resort hotels, and a nightclub and entertainment district, all linked together by motor launches plying artificial waterways. If that sounds a bit like Walt Disney World, just a short drive away, it’s no accident. Monaghan points to a number of elements that set Universal Orlando apart and position it to compete for the attention of Orlando-bound tourists. “Universal tends to be a more adult experience than Disney,” Monaghan notes. “Now sometimes that means the difference between a 12-year-old sensibility and a 15-year-old sensibility; the roller coasters and the scary thrill rides based on Marvel Comics are examples of this. But attractions like the horror make-up show at Universal Studios and the new Blue Man Group show have an edgy, adult sense of humor that is definitely not aimed at little kids. In fact, many Universal attractions have an intensity level that Disney has historically shied away from. “That’s not to suggest that Universal has turned its back on the kiddies,” Monaghan says. “Just the opposite. They’ve created special sections in both parks aimed squarely at the needs and interests of small children. Best of all, by concentrating the kiddie attractions in a few specific places, they spare Mom and Dad from traipsing for miles to hit all the kiddie rides.” Universal is far more compact than Disney World and its smaller size works to its advantage in ways that management has been quick to capitalize upon. “Universal lets its resort guests go to the head of the line at virtually every ride in the parks all day long,” says Monaghan. “It’s unlikely Disney will be able to match this perk anytime soon. It’s just too big.” Monaghan’s guidebook offers in-depth reviews of every attraction in both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida — without giving away the endings — rating them all and providing one-phrase “Kelly says” summaries. (Of the Incredible Hulk roller coaster he says, simply, “Aaaargh!”) He also provides tips and little known secrets, such as how to eat at Mythos, the gourmet restaurant in Islands of Adventure, without paying theme park admission. For each park, Monaghan offers two suggested itineraries, one for adults and one for families with children, sharing his best strategies for staying one step ahead of the crowds. Separate chapters on the resort hotels and the CityWalk nightclub district provide reviews of all the restaurants and clubs along with shopping advice and tips on how to get the best rates at the pricey hotels. Monaghan and his publisher offer regular updates to Universal Orlando and other Orlando area guidebooks on the web site, www.TheOtherOrlando.com. • • • • • To request a review copy of Universal Orlando, to arrange an interview with Kelly Monaghan, or for any additional information, please contact Alexis Elder at The Intrepid Traveler at 203-469-0214 • alexis@intrepidtraveler.com • fax 203-469-0430 Visit our Press Room at www.intrepidtraveler.com/media Universal Orlando 2008: ISBN13: 978-1-887140-74-4 Universal Orlando is available in bookstores nationwide, from online bookstores, by calling 203-469-0214 or by visiting www.TheOtherOrlando.com
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