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Universal Orlando Resort is a theme park resort in Orlando, Florida. It is a joint partnership between NBC Universal and the Blackstone Group. The resort consists of two theme parks (Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure), Universal CityWalk (a night-time entertainment destination), and three Loews hotels. It is the largest property owned by Universal Studios Theme Parks, and is also the second largest resort in Orlando after the Walt Disney World Resort.

The resort began with the original Universal Studios Florida which opened on June 7, 1990. Expansion occurred in 1999, adding Islands of Adventure, Universal CityWalk, On-site hotels, and two multi-level parking structures. What was once a single theme park became a gargantuan resort destination much larger than Universal Studios Hollywood, as well as designed to be a head-to-head rival to Walt Disney World Resort. The resort was originally named "Universal Studios Escape" but the name was quickly changed to Universal Orlando Resort.

Universal Orlando is located at 28.475° -81.470, north of the International Drive resort area, on a parcel of land framed by I-4 to the south, Kirkman Road to the east, Vineland Road to the north, and Turkey Lake Road to the west. The resort is directly accessible from I-4 via Exit 74B, which empties eastbound onto Universal Boulevard and westbound onto Hollywood Way.

The resort features three official hotels: The Royal Pacific Hotel, the Hard Rock Hotel, and the Portofino Bay hotel. All three hotels have been given the AAA Four Diamond rating and are located in close proximity to the Universal Orlando theme parks. The hotels offer guests free water taxi or shuttle bus service to the Universal Orlando theme parks. Another benefit is that the guest room key works as an "Express Pass", allowing the guest to bypass the Stand-by line at any attraction with the "Express Pass" option. Theme park guests who are not staying at the Universal official hotels may be able to purchase "Express Passes" at an additional cost.

In 2007, Universal began considering the Wet 'n Wild park in Orlando, which it purchased in 1998, a part of Universal Orlando Resort. It is located adjacent to Universal Orlando property, across Interstate 4 at International Drive and Universal Boulevard.

Contents 1 Universal CityWalk 2 Universal Studios Florida 3 Universal's Islands of Adventure 4 Halloween Horror Nights 5 External links

Main article: Universal CityWalk

Universal CityWalk includes the 20 screen AMC Universal Cineplex, numerous restaurants, shops, and clubs.

Main article: Universal Studios Florida

Universal Studios Florida, opened On June 7, 1990, is a theme park that lets visitors "Ride the Movies." The theming in Universal Studio's is targeted at making guests feel like they are in a movie set with rides that are inspired by popular films. The park consists of six themed areas - Hollywood, Production Central, New York, San Francisco / Amity, World Expo and KidZone.

Main article: Islands of Adventure

Islands of Adventure opened in May 1999. The park is composed of six distinct "islands", each having its own theme. Visitors start off in the Port of Entry and make their way through the various islands - Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, Jurassic Park, The Lost Continent, and Seuss Landing. A new "island" themed to the popular Harry Potter film and book series was announced in May 2007, with a scheduled opening in late 2009.

Main article: Halloween Horror Nights (Orlando)

Halloween Horror Nights is one of the largest Halloween events in the U.S., presented annually at Universal Orlando Resort. From 1991-2001, the event was held at Universal Studios Florida. The Halloween Horror Nights was expanded to Islands of Adventure in 2002, but the event was moved back to Universal Studios Florida in 2006.

• Official Resort Site
• Universal Orlando Resort on Google Maps

v • d • e Roller coasters at Universal Orlando Resort
Dueling Dragons - Flying Unicorn - Incredible Hulk - Pteranodon Flyers - Revenge of the Mummy - Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster

v • d • e NBC Universal, Inc. (a subsidiary of General Electric and Vivendi)
Universal Studios	Focus Features • Islands of Adventure • Rogue Pictures • United International Pictures1 • Universal Animation Studios • Universal Studios Home Entertainment • Universal Playback • Universal Orlando Resort • Universal Pictures • Universal Studios Hollywood Theme Park • Universal Studios Florida Theme Park • Universal Studios Japan • Universal Studios Singapore • Universal Studios Theme Parks • Universal CityWalk
Broadcast TV Assets	NBC • Telemundo • NBC News • NBC Sports
NBC Universal Cable	A&E Television Networks (25%) • Bravo • Chiller • CNBC • MSNBC2 • Mun2 • NBC Weather Plus • Oxygen • Sci Fi Channel • ShopNBC • Sleuth • Sundance Channel (co-owned with Robert Redford and CBS Corporation) • Telemundo Internacional • Telemundo Puerto Rico • Trio • Universal HD • USA Network
CNBC Global Channels	CNBC (US) • CNBC World • CNBC Latin America • CNBC Europe • CNBC Asia • CNBC Africa
CNBC Europe Branches	Class CNBC • CNBC-e • CNBC Arabiya (according to CNBC Europe) • CNBC Nordic • CNBC Africa • TVN CNBC Biznes
CNBC Asia Branches	Nikkei CNBC • CNBC-TV18 • CNBC Awaaz • CNBC Pakistan • CNBC Australia • CNBC Hong Kong • CNBC Singapore
Sci Fi Global Channels	US • UK • Germany • France • Australia • Spain • Benelux
NBC Universal Television Group	NBC Studios • NBC Universal Television Distribution • Telemundo Television Studios • Telemundo of Puerto Rico Studios • Universal Media Studios
NBC O&Os	KNBC • KNSD3 • KNTV • KXAS3 • WCAU • WMAQ • WNBC • WRC • WTVJ • WVIT
Telemundo O&Os:	KBLR • KEJT-LP • KHRR • KDEN • KNSO • KTAZ • KTMD • KVDA • KSTS • KVEA • KXTX • WKAQ8 • WNEU7 • WNJU • WSCV • WSNS
ShopNBC O&Os:	WWDP
Spanish Independent TV Stations	KBOP4 • KWHY8
Internet Ventures:	msnbc.com2 • NBBC5 • iVillage • Television Without Pity • OUTzoneTV.com • getTRIO.com • BrilliantButCancelled.com • calamitygame.com
Other Assets:	qubo6 • EMKA, Ltd.
50%, with Viacom's Paramount Pictures. Co-owned with Microsoft in a joint venture (82% owned by NBC, 18% owned by Microsoft). The stations are co-owned with LIN TV in a joint venture (76% owned by NBC, 24% owned by LIN). KNSD also includes a repeater used for rebroadcast of Entravision's KBNT-CA. Owned by Commercial Broadcasting Corp., and operated by the NBC / LIN joint venture (see note 2) A joint venture between NBC Universal and its broadcast affiliates. Co-owned with Corus Entertainment, Classic Media, Scholastic Books and ION Media Networks The station is owned by NBC Universal, but is controlled by ZGS Broadcast Holdings. Sale pending.

Coordinates: 28°28′28″N 81°28′06″W / 28.47444, -81.46833