Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
268
Tips
Shorter Days
Like Disney, Universal juggles park hours to adjust for varying attendance due to
seasonal shifts and holidays. The hours listed in this chapter are generally accu-
rate, but sometimes the parks close earlier, or some rides or shows open later. To
avoid disappointment, check the park's website at
www.universalorlando.com
,
or call
&
407/363-8000
for up-to-the-minute schedules.
HOURS
The park is open 365 days a year, usually at least from 9am to 6pm, though
it's open as late as 8 or 9pm, sometimes later, in summer and around holidays. The best
bet is to call before you go so that you're not caught by surprise.
MAKING YOUR VISIT MORE ENJOYABLE
Planning Your Visit
You can get information before you leave home by calling
Universal Orlando Guest
Services
at
&
877/801-9720
or 407/363-8000. Ask about travel packages as well as
theme-park information. Universal sometimes offers a promotion that adds additional
days free or at a deeply discounted price. You can also write to Guest Services, 1000
Universal Studios Plaza, Orlando, FL 32819-7601.
ONLINE
Find information about Universal Orlando at
www.universalorlando.com
.
Orlando's daily newspaper, the
Orlando Sentinel,
also produces OrlandoSentinel.com.
Additionally, there's a lot of information about the parks, hotels, restaurants, and more
at the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau site:
www.orlandoinfo.
com
. Two unofficial yet thorough sites worth a peek are
www.travel-insights.com
and
www.allearsnet.com
.
7
Information for Visitors with Special Needs
Guests with disabilities should go to
Guest Services,
located just inside the main
entrance, for a
Rider's Guide for Rider Safety & Guests with Disabilities,
a Telecommunica-
tions Device for the Deaf (TDD), or other special assistance. You can rent a standard
wheelchair for $12 or an electric one for $40 (both require a signed rental agreement and
a $50 deposit). You can reserve them a week or more in advance by calling
&
407/224-
6350.
You can arrange for sign language interpreting services at no charge by calling
&
888/519-4899
(toll-free TDD), 407/224-4414 (local TDD), or 407/224-5929
(voice). Make arrangements for an appointment with an interpreter 1 to 2 weeks in
advance. Information is also available at
www.universalorlando.com
.
Tip:
The
Rider's Guide
is also a great tool for parents, as it describes in great detail the
various rides' special effects, warnings, height requirements, and general guest services
information at both Universal parks.
Note that some of the park's best rides are action-based thrill rides, so your options are
limited if you're pregnant, are prone to motion sickness, or have heart, neck, or back
problems. The same applies to smaller children. Review the rides and restrictions on the
following pages or when you enter the park so that you don't stand in line for something
you're unable to enjoy. (There are stationary areas available at some moving rides. Check
your park guide under “expectant mothers,” as well as the boards in front of each ride,
and then ask the attendants for help as you enter.) A child-swap program (allowing
