Universal Studios Orlando - Harry Potter launch date announced!

At long last, the much anticipated launch date of 'The Wizarding World of Harry Potter' has been announced at the 18th June 2010. Below is the official press release we have received:

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 25, 2010) – One of the most widely anticipated theme park entertainment experiences ever created – The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort – is set for a public grand opening on June 18.

Today, Universal Orlando Resort also revealed details about what is expected to be one the most exciting theme park experiences ever created: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. It will be one of three themed attractions within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, including Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is the heart of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This all new adventure combines a powerful storyline with spectacular new technology so effectively that guests will be completely immersed in the experience.

And as they live their adventure, guests will feel things no one has ever felt inside a theme park attraction, move in ways no one has ever moved, experience film like no one else ever has, explore vast sets punctuated by amazing special effects – and have an adventure only possible in Harry Potter’s world.

The new attraction lies deep within Hogwarts castle, a majestic structure that towers over The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - the only place in the world where the wonder, excitement and adventure of the Harry Potter books and films comes to life.

The Adventure

Imagine…
…meeting Harry, Ron and Hermione as if they were in person
…soaring over Hogwarts castle with Harry
…being swept into a Quidditch match
…feeling the chilling effect of a Dementor
…exploring your favourite places inside Hogwarts castle
…living adventures you’ve only been able to imagine – until now.

HARRY POTTER AND THE FORBIDDEN JOURNEY

The Story

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey draws you into the excitement and chaos of Harry's life. As you venture through Hogwarts castle, you meet Harry, Ron and Hermione who convince you to skip a planned lecture and follow them. Upon taking their advice, you travel by Floo powder, and begin the adventure as you soar over Hogwarts, narrowly escape a dragon attack, have a close encounter with the Whomping Willow, get pulled into a Quidditch match and more.

“Guests will experience firsthand a completely new adventure featuring the iconic characters, amazing creatures and recognizable locations they’ve only read in the books or seen in the films,” said Thierry Coup, creative director for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

The Location

The Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey experience starts as soon as you walk through the gates of Hogwarts. Within the towering Hogwarts castle, you explore a truly magical place. You journey through iconic locations taken from the films and take in the extraordinary detail of each scene. They include:

· Dumbledore’s office: Here, you meet the Headmaster as he welcomes you to Hogwarts

· Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom: Where you first meet Harry, Ron and Hermione

· Gryffindor common room: You meet three additional characters who prepare you for your journey

· Room of Requirement: Here, with hundreds of floating candles above, you take your seat on an enchanted bench and begin the Forbidden Journey

· Other locations: In addition, guests will pass through the Dungeon passageway and hallways of Hogwarts where they will have the chance to see hundreds of wizard portraits from the films, including several magical talking portraits created exclusively for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, including the four founders of Hogwarts. Guests will even get a glimpse of the Sorting Hat.

The Innovation

This is more than just an attraction and it is unlike any theme park experience ever created. It’s a revolutionary, 360-degree theme park experience and first-ever combination of live-action, advanced robotic technology and innovative filmmaking – specially designed and developed for this brand-new adventure.

“We have created an entirely new way to place our guests into the heart of one of the most compelling stories of our time,” said Mark Woodbury, president of Universal Creative. “What we have done will forever change the theme park attraction experience.”

The attraction’s newly created ride system envelops guests in filmed action scenes and moves those scenes with them as they travel through the ride, allowing more time in the centre of the adventure and with their favourite characters. This fusion of robotic technology and filmed scenes has never been achieved until now. In some cases, technology had to be invented to achieve the highest level of guest experience. The combination of pioneering, state-of-the-art technology, innovative filmmaking and surprises around every corner make this attraction the embodiment of the Harry Potter book and film series—and the future of theme park entertainment.

So it seems the wait will be well worth it and will certainly give Disney something to think about - the gauntlet has well and truely been thrown down.

The attraction has been created in very close collaboration with J.K Rowling and the creative team whom have worked on previous films to ensure an unrivalled level of authenticity. The queue for the main ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, is part of the ride experience which lasts around one hour. Queues snake through the castle's dungeon up to the greenhouse then on through a corridor to the portrait gallery where characters from Hogwart's past talk to one another!

Another 2 outdoor rollercoaster rides for thrill seekers are also sure to be very popular together with the themed shops.

Tickets which include the Harry Potter attraction include the Universal 2 and 3 Park Passes and the Orlando Flextickets - all offering unlimited access for 14 days!

Well, well, well....

Its some time since we last posted and there have been some interesting development...

Attraction Tickets....
It appears some of our ticket competitors are getting a little hot under the collar at our prices - shame really! Clients have advised a certain attraction ticket company has been advising clients against purchasing through us as we are 'not authorised' - whatever that means! We would like to take the opportunity to point out that clients are actually more protected by purchasing through an ABTA bonded agency rather than an unbonded online ticket agent. For example, from the moment we take your money, clients can rest assured your money is safe but what happens if an unbonded ticket agent takes your money then ceases to trade the next day...before you have your passes - the client looses out. It's not worth the risk.

We do hold direct contracts with disney and also have close relationships with UK tour operators from whom we source the park tickets at hugely discounted rates.

Any clients whom have any questions, please do feel free to contact us

Cheap holiday deals inc attraction tickets

Well here we go, we have launched our full range of attraction tickets! As a travel agent, we can offer the CHEAPEST around as we are able to source from tour operators whom send millions of tourists every year. These are in voucher form, but they do offer savings of up to £40 (yes, £40!) per ticket to for a family the savings could equate to a few hundred pounds.

Once you arrive the the first park the redemption is quite straightforward - simply present the voucher and ID and the passes will be given. We can also offer hard copy Disney tickets which are competitively priced. Flextickets can also be sourced but the discounts are very small.

As for holidays, we have a few deals but we recommend looking at compiling customised packages as we have a range of suppliers whom can often be cheaper than package holidays.

Florida Escapes - an insiders view

Welcome to our new blog. This will be a hugely interesting resource for our customers to log the market, Florida attractions and our company in general. Furthermore, we will just have general chat and murmerings from the travel industry and life in general!

So what is a blog? Well, in its simplest form its an online diary and this is exactly how we will intend to use it (although not every day - we do have a company to run!).

As this is the first post, its only right we introduce ourselves. Florida Escapes are owned by Travelbuzz, an online travel agency (new, all singing, all dancing website coming soon!), and are specialists in Florida and specifically in bargain hotel only, cheap disney tickets and budget car hire.