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Quick; what’s the first theme park that comes to mind when you think about going to Orlando, Florida? Chances are that you probably thought of Disney World. It’s true that the Disney parks are a really great reason to head to Orlando but that’s hardly the only theme park there for you to enjoy. In fact, many people who have spent time seeking out entertainment in the area will testify to the fact that they prefer the entertainment over at Universal Studios Orlando. The resorts associated with Universal Studios aren’t quite as big as those affiliated with Disney but they come a close second in size and popularity. If you haven’t had a chance to go any further than Disney World when you’ve been in Orlando, you might want to start thinking about booking another trip to see what you missed out on.

Universal Studios Florida is a theme park in Orlando which is affiliated with the Universal Studios Resorts (which have multiple locations throughout the world). It is also associated with the actual Universal Studios television and movie studio where real movies are being created today. The theme park is designed around the idea that you can be the star of Hollywood movies. The rides and entertainment that you will find here are all centered on the action that goes on behind the scenes at a movie studio. And this place has the ability to create all of those great special effects that you see on film so you can bet that the rides and shows here are filled with amazing effects designed to make you say “wow!”

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The most popular rides and attractions at Universal Studios Florida tend to be the ones that are affiliated with some of the most popular modern movies and television shows. Of course, they’re also the ones that have the best special effects or which offer the most thrills to the people on the ride. For example, Men in Black: Alien Attack is an interactive thrill based on the Men in Black movie. You ride on this rollercoaster-like ride but you don’t just sit there and enjoy the fun. You’re giving a laser beam to zap the aliens that are popping up all around. It’s almost like you’re playing a video game except that instead of it being in front of you on a screen, you’re right in the middle of it. As if that’s not fun enough for most people, it offers the benefit of having multiple endings to the story that it tells. In other words, you can get back in line after the first time that you ride the Men in Black thrill ride and you’ll experience something totally different the next time around.

Another popular thrill ride at Universal Studios Florida is based on the movie Twister. As you might have guessed, this is a ride where you’re in the middle of a giant tornado. The twisting and turning takes place on a rollercoaster ride while you’re surrounding by special effects that make it seem as though you’re really caught in the storm. In addition to the fin of the ride, there’s something else that’s neat about this ride. It’s set in urban New York in an area that’s filled with different alleyways. As a participant in the movie, you’re able to wander through these alleys and really feel like you’re in New York. This movie-set feature of the theme park is what makes Universal Studios Florida stand out in comparison with other theme parks throughout the nation.

People who really want to challenge their adventurous side have a number of other thrill rides in the park to choose from. There’s Revenge of the Mummy, a rollercoaster ride that plunges into darkness and is filled with all of the horrifying special effects you would expect to find around the corner in the dark. There’s also Disaster. This one isn’t based on any specific movie but implements the special effects of many different movies that relate to disaster including replicating a frightening 8.0 Richter Scale earthquake. It’s a ride that will make you think twice about living somewhere like Florida where there are natural disasters to worry yourself about!

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Of course, not everyone is of an age where they want to be terrified by thrill rides. There are also a lot of other opportunities to enjoy rides that aren’t so scary. Or rides that are scary in a different way. For example, the JAWS ride isn’t a rollercoaster but rather a boat where you can leisurely ride the water with that little bit of fear that comes from knowing that a terrifying shark is in there with you somewhere. There is also an entire section of the park called Woody Woodpecker’s kidzone where there are numerous different rides for the younger folks in your family.

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In addition to the rides that you’ll find at Universal Studios Florida, you’ll find movies. That doesn’t seem so surprising since you are, after all, on a movie set. But these movies are spiced up a little to keep you interested in watching them despite the fact that you are in a place filled with other entertainment. For example, there’s a version of Shrek that you can enjoy which isn’t just the normal Shrek. It’s a 4D version of the movie. In addition to all of the special effects that you’d get from a 3D version of Shrek, you also sit inside of a seat that allows you to “feel” some of what is happening in the movie. If Shrek isn’t your thing, you might find yourself interested by the 3D version of Terminator 2.

And of course, you also have the opportunity to go behind the scenes of Universal Studios Florida to get a sense of what it’s like working at a real movie studio. This part isn’t so much thrilling as it is just plain interesting. You’ll learn some tricks about how animation and special effects work. At the Universal Horror Make-Up Show you can get some insight into how movie studios use make-up to make normal people look like terrifying monsters. At Animal Actors on Location you can see how people interact with animals in the movies. Fear Factor Live gives visitors a chance to participate in the kind of gross-out fun that you’ve seen on the television show of the same name.

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If you’re booking a trip to Universal Studios Florida any time soon, you’ll want to know that they’re about to open a brand new ride this spring. The new ride is The Simpsons Ride. The ride is designed around the idea that the whole Simpsons family is spending their vacation at the low-budget theme park known as Krustyland. You’re right there along with them checking out this land of miserable fun. There’s no date published yet as to specifically when this ride is going to open but it’ll be ready for summer if that’s when you’re thinking about booking a Florida vacation.

Universal Studios Florida is part of the Universal Orlando Resort. In addition to this theme park, the resort is also home to a second theme park called Universal’s Islands of Adventure and a water park aptly named Wet ‘n Wild. There is also an entertainment/shopping/dining center affiliated with the resort called Universal City Walk.

Of course there are also hotels within the resort area so that you don’t have to struggle to find accommodations to enjoy all of these Orlando activities. You could easily spend an entire Florida vacation enjoying all that Universal Studios has brought to the Orlando area. If you happen to live in Florida then there’s no excuse to miss out on this entertainment destination because Universal Studios regularly offers discounts to the state’s residents.

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