Universal Orlando
Orlando, Florida
In what may be considered America’s theme park capital, the properties of Universal Orlando offer a wide breadth of experiences for travel groups.
“Universal Orlando is a complete destination,” said Tom Schroder, the organization’s vice president of public relations. “We have two theme parks, four on-site hotels and an entertainment complex called Universal CityWalk.”
The two theme parks — Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios — are adjacent to each other, and both feature rides and attractions based on popular, current entertainment brands. Visitors can experience Spider-Man-themed attractions in the Marvel Superhero Island at Islands of Adventure or get a high-tech thrill on Transformers: The Ride-3D at Universal Studios.
One of the most heralded recent additions is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a 20-acre themed section of Islands of Adventure that re-creates the world of the massively popular book and movie series. The company is opening a similar area on the Universal Studios side called The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Diagon Alley, doubling the amount of Universal’s Potter-themed experiences. Later this summer, guests will be able to travel back and forth between those two park sections on the Hogwarts Express, a train meticulously fashioned to be nearly identical to the trains used in the Harry Potter films.
In addition to the parks, Universal offers numerous themed hotels, restaurants and shopping areas, as well as special services and perks available for groups.
“We can take everything here and customize it for groups,” Schroder said. “We can host a meeting that requires tech support, or bring in your group and make sure they have some private meals and character meet-and-greets. We can even get some dedicated ride time after hours.”
