Orlando J

Part V: Exploring the Rest of Orlando

Buying tickets and making reservations

You can choose from several ticket options and tours:

A one-day ticket costs $60 (plus 6.5 percent sales tax) for adults,

$48 for children 3 to 9.

A two-day, two-park, bonus pass, is $105 for adults and children.

These passes enable you to move between Universal Studios Florida

and Islands of Adventure (see Chapter 19) throughout the day so

you can go back and forth whenever you like. Note: For a limited

time, if you buy them online (www.universalorlando.com), you

get two more days for free, for a total of four consecutive days of

admission. Bonus passes also give you free access at night to select

CityWalk clubs (see Chapter 25).

Annual Passes (the Preferred Annual Pass and the Power Pass)

allow entry to the park for an entire year (some blackout dates

apply to the Power Pass; there are no blackout dates with the

Preferred Annual Pass). The cost is $180 and $120 respectively.

For more details check out www.universalorlando.com.

The FlexTicket multiday, multipark option is the most economical

way to see the various “other-than-Disney” parks. You pay one price

to visit any and all of the participating parks during a 14-day period.

A four-park pass to Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure,

Wet ’n Wild, and SeaWorld is $185 for adults and $151 for children 3

to 9. A five-park pass, which adds Busch Gardens in Tampa, is $225

for adults and $190 for kids. You can order the FlexTicket by calling

% 407-363-8000 or online by going to www.universalorlando.com.

Universal Studios Florida offers five-hour, guided VIP tours for

$100 per person for just USF, $125 per person for a two-park, six-hour

tour that also includes Islands of Adventure. Guided tours include

line-cutting privileges and preferred seating at several attractions,

and they start at 10 a.m. and noon daily. For more information on

the VIP tour, call % 407-363-8295. Note: The price of the VIP tour

includes neither the 6.5 percent sales tax nor admission to the park!

The park prices are not the only place you’ll wish you’d left your wallet

behind. Expect to spend up to $2.50 for a coke, $1.80 for a cup of coffee,

about $5 for a beer, $2.60 for popcorn, and $2.50 for bottled water.

However, you can save 10 percent on your purchases at any gift shop or

on a meal by showing your AAA (American Automobile Association)

card. This discount isn’t available at food or merchandise carts. Likewise,

tobacco, candy, film, collectibles, and sundry items aren’t included in

discounts.

For information about new travel packages and theme-park information,

call % 800-711-0080, 800-224-4233, or 407-363-8000; write to Guest Services

at Universal Studios Florida, 1000 Universal Studios Plaza, Orlando, FL

32819-7601; or visit its Web site at www.universalorlndo.com. Once

you’re at the park, just head over to Guest Services.

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Universal Orlando is located about half a mile north of I-4’s Kirkman Road/

Highway 435 exit. You may find construction in the area, so keep an eye

out for the road signs directing you to Universal Orlando.

The park is open 365 days a year. Park hours generally are from 9 a.m. to

6 or 7 p.m., though they vary seasonally and might close as late as 10 p.m.

during the summer and on holidays. Call or check online before you go

for exact times.

Locating special services and facilities

In case you forgot to bring essential items, or if you need special assis-

tance while at the park, here’s a list of services and facilities that may

come in handy:

ATMs accepting cards from banks using the Cirrus, STAR, and Plus

systems are on the outside and just inside Universal’s entrance and

in San Francisco/Amity near Lombard’s Seafood Grille restaurant.

You can find baby-changing tables in all men’s and women’s

restrooms; nursing facilities are at Family Services, just inside

the main entrance and to the right. (Family Services doesn’t sell

diapers or infant supplies of any kind, so be sure that you bring

enough of your own.)

Disposable cameras and film (and limited digital supplies) are

available at the On Location shop in the Front Lot, just inside the

main entrance. One-hour photo developing is available, but I don’t

recommend paying park prices. You can find many cheaper one-hour

or overnight places around town, including many near tourist-area

motels.

Universal has its own version of Disney’s FASTPASS, called Universal

EXPRESS. The system operates much the same as Disney’s does.

You feed your admission ticket into the machine at the EXPRESS

Distribution Center for a given ride (they’re usually located close

to the entrance of rides that accept EXPRESS passes) and you get

a second pass (along with your park ticket) stamped with a desig-

nated time window in which you can return to ride. At any time

within the window you can head straight for the shorter EXPRESS

line (usually no more than 15 minutes) and off you go. You can only

get one EXPRESS pass at a time, but similar to Disney, you can get a

second pass just two hours after the first one is issued — the time

you can obtain your next EXPRESS pass is printed on the first pass.

If you’re not willing to chance that there will be an EXPRESS pass

left (and they do run out, sometimes as early as noon during peak

periods) you can purchase the Universal EXPRESS Plus Pass. It

allows access to the Express line at each and every attraction that

accepts the Universal Express Pass without having to continually

obtain separate passes or wait for any time limits to expire before

heading to Universal Express line at the next attraction. The price

varies with the season, and I have seen prices as high as $39 during

262 Part V: Exploring the Rest of Orlando

peak periods. In addition, it is only good for one day at one park,

regardless of what type of park tickets you hold, and it can only be

used once at each of the attractions.

Universal offers a separate line-beating option as a perk for those

visitors staying at its resorts. All guests of the Portofino Bay, Hard

Rock, and Royal Pacific hotels have to do is to show their room

keys to get at or near the front of the line for most of the rides and

even most of the restaurants.

You can find first aid centers between New York and San Francisco,

next to Louie’s Italian Restaurant, and just inside the main entrance

next to Guest Services.

Rent lockers for $8 and $10 a day plus a $2 refundable deposit

across from Guest Services, near the main entrance.

Report lost children to any staff member and then go to Guest

Services near the main entrance or Security (behind Louie’s Italian

Restaurant, between New York and San Francisco). Make sure chil-

dren younger than 7 wear name-tags inside their clothing for easy

identification in case they get lost.

When parking in multilevel garages, write down your location,

including the character, level, row, and space number so you can

find your car later. Parking costs $9 for cars and trucks. Valet park-

ing is available for $16. After 6 p.m., parking is free. Universal’s

garages are connected to its parks by walkways and a series of

moving sidewalks, but reaching the gates can take a while.

The park provides car assistance, including battery jumps. If you

need assistance with your car, raise the hood and tell any parking

attendant your location. Use the call boxes located throughout the

parking garage to call for security.

Pet care for your small animals is available at the shelter in the

parking garages for $10 a day (no overnight stays), but you’ll have

to feed and walk your animals yourself. Ask the parking attendant

where you pay for parking to direct you to the kennel.

Rent strollers in Amity and at Guest Services, just inside the entrance

to the right. The cost is $10 for a single and $16 for a double.

You can rent regular wheelchairs for $12 per day in Amity and at

Guest Services just inside the main gate. Electric wheelchairs are

$40 per day. Both require a $50 deposit and a signed contract.

Package delivery is available for purchases made at park stores

(though not at the kiosks and carts). You can have your purchases

sent to the Universal Studios Store near the entrance to be picked

up on your way out. If you are a guest at one of the three Universal

Resorts you can have your purchased delivered to your room

(though delivery will be the following day, so don’t try this if it’s

your last day).

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If you find you have arrived home without that essential USF T-shirt

or all-important blaster gun, you can call % 407-224-5800 and the

Universal Mail Order Department will help. Just let them know

what the item is, where it is located, and they can arrange to have

it shipped to you house (for a fee, of course).

Exploring the Top Attractions

Universal matches Disney stride for stride, and in some cases is a half-

step ahead, when it comes to cutting-edge rides. Real and virtual thrills,

terrific special effects, mammoth screens, and 3-D action are all part of

its successful mix.

The rides and shows at Universal are located in six distinctive sets:

Hollywood, New York, Production Central, San Francisco/Amity,

Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone, and World Expo. The Front Lot serves

as the parks main entrance. Universal is much better than Disney at

keeping you occupied while you’re standing in line. There are entertain-

ing preshows, some of which are just as amusing or interesting as the

main event, and elaborate surroundings intended to create the feeling

that you’ve already begun your experience. Most of the lines are under

cover from the sun, with the occasional water spritzer or drinking foun-

tain nearby. Although these extras may not initially seem like a big deal,

it makes your time in line far more tolerable.

The “Universal Studios Florida” map, found on page 258, will help you

visualize the layout of the park.

Hollywood

Hollywood is to the right of the Front Lot, and its main streets include

Rodeo Drive, Hollywood Boulevard, and Sunset Boulevard, all lined

with ornate buildings in soft hues, much like you would have found in

Hollywood’s heyday so many years ago. Here’s a list of the best that

Hollywood has to offer:

Lucy — A Tribute. This show is a remembrance of America’s queen

of comedy, Lucille Ball. If you love Lucy, it’s a must, filled with memo-

rabilia and a really neat interactive trivia game, but if you’re pressed

for time or have a handful of smaller kids along, it’s skippable.

Terminator 2: 3D Battle Across Time. This attraction is billed as

“the quintessential sight and sound experience for the 21st century!”

and the park has little need to be modest about its claim. The movie’s

director, Jim Cameron, supervised this $60-million production which

combines 3-D film, live action, and sensory effects into a seamless

winner. After a slower start (the preshow sets up a pre-Terminator

storyline), it builds to one of the best action shows in Orlando. Live

actors and six giant Cyborgs interact with the Governator himself,

264 Part V: Exploring the Rest of Orlando

who appears on-screen (actually three huge screens). The crisp 3-D

effects are among the best in Orlando. (When liquid mercury falls

from the screen, cold water really hits your legs.)

“All the action was so cool, and the motorcycle and special effects

were amazing. I thought for sure the hand that came out into the

audience was going to grab me,” says 12-year-old Ryan. The show,

however, is rated PG-13, Universal’s way of saying violence and

loud noises may make it unsuitable for preteens. Younger children

may find the crashing and flying 3-D effects (in conjunction with a

few of the sensory effects) too intense.

Universal Horror Make-up Show. This show (loaded with corny

humor) gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the wizardry behind

Hollywood’s monster makeup. It also takes an up-close look at some

cinematic make-up masterpieces, including the transformation

scenes from such movies as The Fly and The Exorcist. It, too, is

rated PG-13, mostly due to the scary on-screen characters.

New York

New York is near the back of the park and includes rides and shows set

among mock-ups of 42nd and 57th streets, Park Avenue, and Delancey

Street. The premiere attractions in this section are:

The Blues Brothers. This foot-stomping revue takes to the street

(Delancey Street, actually) five times a day. Clap along as Jake and

Elwood, the “bad boys of the blues,” belt out a medley of their

greatest hits.

Twister . . . Ride it Out. This windy incarnation of Earthquake —

The Big One (discussed later in this chapter) packs quite a wallop.

Based on the hit film, the curtain rises on the movie town of Wakita,

where Universal engineers have created a five-story funnel cloud

by injecting 2 million cubic feet of air per minute. (That’s enough to

fill four full-size blimps.) The sensory elements are pretty incredi-

ble. Power lines spark and fall, an oak tree splits, and the storm

rumbles at rock-concert level as cars, trucks, and a cow fly about

while the audience watches from only 20 feet away. In the finale,

the floor begins to buckle at your feet. The only downside is that

you tend to get way too much water whipped at your face (it is a

tornado, after all).

“You don’t really ride anything as much as walk through it, but it

was pretty intense,” Nicolas offered. It’s similar to the Backdraft

attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood, though that California

attraction is (sacrilege!) actually a bit better than this one. Twister

doesn’t have a minimum height, but it carries Universal’s PG-13

rating, meaning it may be a little too intense for younger children.

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Hello Mummy!

Kongfrontation, long a fixture at Universal Studios Florida, closed in September 2002

to make room for the spring 2004 opening of Revenge of the Mummy in the New York

section of the park. Billed as a “psychological thrill ride,” the new $40-million indoor

roller coaster relies on speed, pyrotechnics, and robotics to induce screams as riders

hurtle through the elaborate Egyptian sets, passageways, and tombs in cars that move

forward and even in reverse. Even the preshow for the waiting victims — riders, I

mean riders — lends to the ominous atmosphere and includes several surprise inter-

active areas and a storyline that plays out as you get closer to boarding the ride.

The five-minute journey aims to prey on one’s inner phobias via encounters with over-

head flames, pitch-black darkness, insects, and a skeletal warrior that hops aboard

your coaster. Does it work? Yes — and how. Even the most-manly man in my coaster

car was screaming, though you’d have a fat chance of getting him to admit it after-

wards. The best confession I got was when a friend admitted that he hasn’t freaked

out on a ride like that since the first time he rode the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

(see Chapter 14) over ten years ago (and that was before the random sequencing). So

if you have any severe phobias or medical conditions, pay attention to the warnings

posted, and don’t even think about getting aboard. Coaster-lovers of all ages will likely

make this one tops on their list. You must be at least 48 inches tall to ride.

Production Central

Production Central is directly behind and to the left of the Front Lot. Its

main thoroughfares are Nickelodeon Way, Plaza of the Stars, and 7th and

8th avenues. Here are some of the area’s highlights:

Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast. Launched in 2003, this ride is

based on the movie Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. Here, you climb

aboard a Mark IV rocket and motion-simulator technology and

sophisticated computer graphics send you on a spinning, careening

adventure that includes a battle against Yokians — evil, egg-shaped

aliens. The attraction also features characters from several popular

cartoons, including Rugrats and Fairly Odd Parents. If you feel any

twinge of motion sickness, simply look at any stationary object

within the large theater.

“It was cool, just like being part of the TV show. The Chicken Dance

was pretty funny, too,” Nicolas (age 8) and his younger sister, Hailey

(age 6), were impressed with this very kid-friendly ride. That having

been said, kids do need to be at least 40 inches tall to ride. There is

a small area near the front for those who would prefer to skip the

moving spaceships.

266 Part V: Exploring the Rest of Orlando

Nickelodeon Studios. Tour the soundstages where Nick shows are

produced, view concept pilots, visit the kitchen where Gak and green

slime are made, and try new Sega video games at the Game Lab.

This 45-minute behind-the-scenes tour is a fun escape from the

hustle of the midway, and there’s plenty of audience participation.

One child volunteer always gets slimed.

The studio usually doesn’t open until 10 or 10:30 a.m. The Slime

Fountain is what the kids love to see, and it erupts every 30 minutes

or so (stuff tastes like applesauce from what I’m told — I couldn’t

stomach the idea of trying it). Occasionally Nickelodeon does shoot

here, so if your kids want to be on TV, call % 407-224-4233 to find

out how you can become a contestant or get tickets to a taping.

Shrek 4-D. In spring 2003, Universal opened this 4-D fractured fairy-

tale based on the hit movie Shrek. A 15-minute show, it can be seen,

heard, felt, and smelled thanks to 3-D film, motion simulators,

OgreVision glasses, and other special effects, including water

spritzers. The attraction picks up where the movie leaves off —

enabling you to join Shrek and Princess Fiona on their honeymoon

(which, predictably, gets interrupted by the evil Lord Farquaad).

Fractured or not, you know this one will have a happy ending, and

it’s similar in style to Disney’s It’s Tough to Be a Bug (see Chapter 15)

and “Honey, I Shrunk the Audience” (see Chapter 14). But, as with all

of the Universal rides, it’s a bit edgier all around. The preshow is one

of the funniest in the park and is as good as the show itself. The

line can stretch for miles — and the show doesn’t accept EXPRESS

passes — but at least you’ll wait under cover from the sun.

“Awesome! Except the spiders freaked me out,” 10-year-old Austin

giggled. Kids not into sensory effects may get freaked out as well.

This ride can also be rather bumpy, but the front row has station-

ary seats for those who need them.

San Francisco

San Francisco faces the waterfront, and its attractions line The

Embarcadero and Amity Avenue.

Beetlejuice’s Rock ’n’ Roll Graveyard Revue. Dracula, Wolfman, the

Phantom of the Opera, Frankenstein and his bride, and Beetlejuice

show up to scare you silly. Their funky rock musical has pyrotech-

nic special effects and MTV-style choreography. It’s loud and lively

enough to aggravate some older adults and scare small children,

and it carries Universal’s PG-13 rating. Young teens seem to like it

the most.

Earthquake — The Big One. Sparks fly shortly after you board a Bay

Area Rapid Transit (better known as BART) train ostensibly running

from San Francisco (the real one) to Oakland. The whopper — 8.3 on

the Richter scale! — hits as you pull into the Embarcadero Station,

and you’re left trapped as vast slabs of concrete collapse around you,

a propane truck bursts into flames, a runaway train comes hurtling

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Chapter 18: Universal Studios Florida

at you, and the station floods (65,000 gallons of water cascade down

the steps). Prior to the ride, you find out how Earthquake, the Oscar-

winning movie, was made and take a look at a $2.4-million set model.

You then shuffle off to a soundstage where seven adult volunteers

help re-create the big one for you.

Jaws. As your boat heads into a 7-acre, 5-million-gallon lagoon, an

ominous dorsal fin appears on the horizon (and the blockbuster

film’s famous score starts to run through your brain). What follows

is a series of attacks by a 3-ton, 32-foot-long, mechanical great white

shark that tries to sink its urethane teeth into your hide — or at

least into your boat’s hide. A 30-foot wall of flame caused by burn-

ing fuel surrounds your ride, and you’ll truly feel the heat at this

$45-million attraction.

The effects of this ride are definitely more startling after dark;

during the day, it’s too easy to see the shark coming. And though

the attraction doesn’t have any height limitations, you may want

to think twice before bringing along the 5-and-younger crowd.

Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone

Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone contains rides and attractions sure to

please the littlest members of your party. When you’re traveling with

young children, plan on spending plenty of time here. Highlights include:

A Day in the Park with Barney. This musical is Universal’s sadistic

answer to Disney’s It’s a Small World; one of those attractions that

eats the brains and ignites the nerves of anyone but 2- to 6-year-olds

and their loving parents. 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 deliver an environmental mes-

sage. This show can be the highlight of your youngster’s day. The

playground next door has chimes to ring, tree houses to explore,

and more.

E.T. Adventure. You soar with E.T., who is on a mission to save his

ailing planet, through the forest and into space aboard a star-bound

bicycle. You also meet some new characters Steven Spielberg created

for the ride, including Botanicus, Tickli Moot Moot, Horn Flowers,

and Tympani Tremblies. It’s a family-friendly charmer. A cool, wooded

forest serves to create one of the most pleasant waits for any ride

in central Florida, although you have to endure two lines before

you actually make it onto the ride.

Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster. This ride is the top

attraction in the KidZone, an 8-acre concession Universal Studios

made after being criticized for having too little for young visitors.

Sure, it’s a kiddie coaster, but the Nuthouse Coaster will thrill some

moms and dads, too. Although it’s only 30 feet at its peak, this ride

offers quick, banked turns while you sit in a miniature steam train.

It’s very much like The Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm in

Magic Kingdom (see Chapter 12).

268 Part V: Exploring the Rest of Orlando

The ride lasts only 55 seconds, and you can wait as long as 40 min-

utes, but your children probably won’t let you skip it if they see it.

It has a 36-inch height minimum, and kids have to be 48 inches or

taller to ride without an adult.

More to Do in Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone. Fievel’s Playground

is a wet, western-themed playground with a house to climb and

a small water slide. Curious George Goes to Town has water- and

ball-shooting cannons, plus a huge water tower that empties

(after an alarm), drenching anyone who doesn’t run for cover.

World Expo

The smallest zone in Universal Studios Florida packs a bunch of punch

in its two rides. World Expo is on Exposition Boulevard, between San

Francisco/Amity and KidZone. The top attractions here are:

Back to the Future: The Ride. This ride has more warnings than a

centipede has legs. Topping the list, of course: If you have a prob-

lem with motion sickness, don’t get on. If you don’t have a problem

with motion sickness, but do have a problem with other people get-

ting motion sick on you, you may want to invest in one of the rain

ponchos sold at most Universal souvenir stands. (No sense ruining

your new Mickey — um, Barney — shirt, right?) Other warnings are

posted for would-be riders who are pregnant or become dizzy, and

for those who are claustrophobic or have neck, heart, or back prob-

lems. These warnings are all justified.

Back to the Future offers you a chance at time travel in a simulator

made to look like the movie’s famous DeLorean. You are herded

into your car after a video briefing from Dr. Emmett Brown (actor

Christopher Lloyd). Biff the Bully has stolen another DeLorean, and

you have to catch him. The fate of the universe is in your hands.

Along the way, you’ll dive into blazing volcanic tunnels, collide with

Ice Age glaciers, thunder through caves and canyons, and briefly get

swallowed by a dinosaur in an eye-crossing multi-sensory adventure.

You twist, you turn, you dip, you dive — all the while feeling like

you’re really flying.

“Wow,” Ryan said, adding that he noticed that the taller people

were hitting their heads in the back row. If this describes you,

request one of the front seats that don’t have overhead cover.

By the way, riders must be 40 inches or taller to get aboard.

Fear Factor Live. Taking center stage at World Expo is the all-new

Fear Factor Live. Based in the hit NBC reality TV show, contestants

(who are actual Universal Studios guests age 18 and older and who

meet certain height, weight, and health restrictions) face some of

their greatest fears in front of thousands of people. They’ll go head

to head with other competitors, each trying to outdo the other in

order to be proclaimed the winner. The wild stunts, similar to what

you’ve seen on the television show, will test both their physical

and emotional limits — not to mention their stomachs. Leave it to

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Chapter 18: Universal Studios Florida

Universal to be the first to transform a blockbuster reality-TV show

into the hottest new attraction around.

Men in Black Alien Attack. You and your mates have to blast the

bug-eyes, or the end of the world may be at hand. You buzz the

streets of New York in six-passenger cruisers, using your “zapper” to

splatter up to 120 bug-eyed targets. You have to contend with return

fire and distractions (noise, clouds of liquid nitrogen, and such), any

of which can send you spinning out of control. Your laser tag–style

gun fires infrared bullets. Earn a bonus by hitting Frank the Pug

(to the right, just past the alien shipwreck). The four-minute ride

relies on 360-degree spins and some scary looking insects rather than

speed for its thrill factor. Near the end, you’re swallowed by a giant

roach (it’s 30 ft. tall with 8-ft. fangs and 20-ft. claws) that explodes —

dousing you with bug guts (actually warm water) — as you blast your

way to safety and into the pest-control hall of fame. After you survive

unscathed (well, maybe a trifle wet), Will Smith rates you anywhere

from a galaxy defender to bug bait. (There are 38 possible scores.)

Men in Black often has a much shorter line for single riders. If you’re

not alone but are willing to be split up, get in this line and you will

usually be able to hop right on a vehicle that has fewer than six

passengers.

“I loved blasting those gigantic bugs and the spinning made it

even more fun.” Twelve-year-old Ryan clearly didn’t end up as

bug bait. This $70-million ride-through video game has a 42-inch

height minimum.

Grabbing a Bite to Eat

Universal Studios Florida has more than a dozen places to eat, with

offerings that range from lobster to corn dogs. Quality-wise, things

inside the park are on the same level as those found in the Disney parks

(see Chapters 11–15), meaning that they are generally over-priced for

the quality you receive. Here are our favorites by category:

Best sit-down meal: Lombard’s Seafood Grille, across from

Earthquake, has a hearty fried clam basket, lobster, steak,

pasta, and burgers ($11–$30).

Best counter service: Universal Studios’ Classic Monsters Café is

one of the newer eateries in the park and serves salads, pizza, pasta,

and rotisserie chicken ($6–$15). It’s off 7th Avenue near Shrek 4-D.

Best place for hungry families: Similar to a mall food court, the

International Food and Film Festival offers a variety of food in one

location. With options ranging from stir-fry to fajitas, this is a place

where a family can split up and still eat under one roof. The food is

far from gourmet but a cut above regular fast food ($6–$11). It’s

located near the back of Animal Planet Live! near the lagoon and

the entrance to Back to the Future.

270 Part V: Exploring the Rest of Orlando

Best places for snacks: Grab a malt ($4) and enjoy the classic atmos-

phere of Mel’s Drive-In, located across from The Universal Horror

Make-up Show. The San Francisco Pastry Co., located across from

Earthquake, has a glass case full of sweet treats, including a large and

decadent chocolate brownie. Brody’s Ice Cream, in Amity near Jaws,

and Schwab’s Pharmacy, about halfway along Hollywood Boulevard,

both offer plenty of ice cream treats to cool you off on a hot day.

See Chapter 10 for the best places to grab a bite at Universal’s CityWalk.

Shopping at Universal Studios Florida

If Disney can do it, Universal can, too. Most major attractions at Universal

have a theme store attached. Just as at Disney, the prices are high, when

you consider you’re just buying a T-shirt, mug, or whatever.

More than 25 other shops in the park sell souvenirs ranging from

I Love Lucy collectibles to Men in Black souvenirs. Be warned, however,

that, unlike WDW, these shops are even more specific to individual

attractions — if you see something you like, buy it. You probably

won’t see it in another store even throughout the park itself. Here’s a

sampling of the more unusual gifts available at some of the Universal

stores:

Back to the Future — The Store. Real fans of the movie series find

plenty of intriguing stuff here. One of the more interesting is a minia-

ture version of the Back to the Future DeLorean.

E.T.’s Toy Closet and Photo Spot. This is the place for plush, stuffed

animals, including a replica of the alien namesake.

MIB Gear. Clothes, T-shirts, and everything else the well-dressed

alien should own. Oh, and the cool shades that are the staple of the

Men in Black uniform.

Quint’s Surf Shack. This is the place to go if you plan on hanging

ten in the future. It’s got all of the latest surfing apparel.

Sahara Traders. A wide range of Egyptian-themed items and

Revenge of the Mummy souvenirs near, you guessed it, the

Mummy ride.

Silver Screen Collectibles. Fans of I Love Lucy will adore the small

variety of collector dolls. There’s also a Betty Boop line. And how

can you pass up a Bates Motel shower curtain?

Universal Studios Store. This store, near the entrance, sells just

about everything when it comes to Universal apparel. It’s also the

spot to pick up your packages if you’ve had them delivered from

another store.