Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
273
Value
Money Saver
You can save 10% off your purchases at many Universal Orlando gift shops and
restaurants by showing your AAA (American Automobile Association) card. This
discount isn't available at food and merchandise carts or on tobacco, candy, film,
collectibles, and sundry items.
Set in a parklike theater-in-the-round, this 25-minute musical stars the Purple One, Baby
Bop, and BJ. It uses song, dance, and interactive play to entertain the kids. This could
be the highlight of the day for preschoolers (parents can console themselves with their
kids' happiness). The playground adjacent to the theater has chimes to ring, tree houses
to explore, and lots to intrigue wee ones. The theater is air-conditioned, so if you must
endure this one, you'll at least be comfortable.
Disaster!
Frommer's Rating:
A
Recommended Ages:
6-adult
Replacing the popular (albeit dated) Earthquake, Disaster still rocks the Richter scale.
While the ride itself remains relatively identical to its predecessor, tweaks to the storyline
(placing you smack in the middle of filming for
Mutha Nature,
a fictitious action adven-
ture flick) and updated high-tech special effects add a unique interactive element to the
revamped experience. That said, you still climb aboard an underground train, when sud-
denly an earthquake hits—and a big one, at 8.3 on the Richter scale! As you sit helplessly
trapped, slabs of concrete collapse around you, a propane truck bursts into flames, a
runaway train hurtles your way, and the station floods (65,000 gal. of water cascade
down the steps). A tongue-in-cheek trailer, created from clips filmed during the ride, caps
off the experience.
Note:
Universal says expectant moms should skip this one.
E.T. Adventure
Frommer's Rating:
B for preteens and their families
Recommended Ages:
All ages
You'll soar with E.T. on a mission to save his ailing planet, through the forest and into
space aboard a bicycle. Along the way, you'll also meet some of the characters created by
Steven Spielberg for the ride, including Botanicus, Tickli Moot Moot, Horn Flowers, and
Tympani Tremblies. This family favorite is definitely a charmer. If there is a knock, it's
that there are two waiting areas—inside and outside. And wait you will.
Fear Factor Live!
Frommer's Rating:
B for most, D for those who can't stomach the stunts
Recommended Ages:
8 and older
The latest addition to USF's line up of shows is
Fear Factor Live!
Having debuted in the
spring of 2005, it's the first reality show (based on NBC's blockbuster hit
Fear Factor
) to
become a theme-park attraction. Audience members willing to sign up perform stunts
that test their courage, strength, and at times their stomach—similar to the stuff seen on
the hit TV show, but live in Orlando. You can catch the show in the venue set between
Jaws and Men in Black.
As a note:
At press time Fear Factor Live was operating only
seasonally.
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