Guests can now book reservations for Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, the new, 1800-room hotel at Universal Orlando Resort that will feature value-priced guest rooms and moderately priced family suites.

The hotel is scheduled to open in early 2014 – with reservations now being accepted for stays beginning on March 31, 2014.

The new hotel is the fourth hotel within Universal Orlando Resort and will evoke the classic, retro-feel of iconic beach resorts from the 1950s and 60’s.  An area located around the North Courtyard will open first, followed later in 2014 by an area located around the South Courtyard.  Each area will have a unique look and feel.

Families will have two options for experiencing the hotel – a value-priced standard guest room or a moderately priced, 430-square-foot family suite that sleeps six.  From the moment they arrive, they will be surrounded by the hotel’s bold design, period colors, neon and retro feel.  When complete, there will be two pool complexes with sand beach and interactive features, a themed lazy river experience and 10-lane bowling alley.  Family suite rates will begin at $174 per-night; standard room rates will begin at $119 per-night.  Package rates are available with savings based on length-of-stay; a family of four can stay for seven nights for $47 per person, per-day – including accommodations and tickets to both Universal Orlando theme parks.

“We believe Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort will offer an experience unlike any other in Central Florida,” said Alice Norsworthy, executive vice president of marketing and sales at Universal Orlando Resort.  “And at the same time, it will create an entirely new, value-driven option for families that want to stay within the Universal Orlando Resort.”

As with all Resort hotels, guests at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort will be just a brief walk from Universal Orlando’s theme parks and Universal CityWalk.  They will enjoy benefits that include Early Theme Park Admission, complimentary shuttle bus transportation to the theme parks and Universal CityWalk, complimentary delivery of merchandise purchased throughout the resort to their hotel and resort-wide charging privileges with their room key.  Guests can upgrade to one of Universal Orlando’s three deluxe hotels for additional benefits – including complimentary Universal Express Unlimited ride access.  Those hotels are Loews Portofino Bay, the Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort.

Each of Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort’s Courtyards will have a unique design and atmosphere.  They will share a highly themed, two-story arrival building that will also be home to a food court serving traditional American classics along with an ever-changing selection of international cuisine, a 10-lane “retro” bowling alley, a game room and a fitness center.

Universal Orlando Resort and its guests celebrated the five-millionth serving of Butterbeer – the incredibly popular themed beverage sold within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

One thousand guests were given complimentary Butterbeers to mark the moment, with many of them sporting “Butterbeer mustaches.”

Since first being served to guests in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in June 2010, Butterbeer has become one of the most anticipated and popular guest experiences at Universal Orlando Resort.  Since the grand opening, Universal has added a fourth Butterbeer serving location within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to accommodate the high demand by guests.

Butterbeer appears as a favorite drink in the Harry Potter books and films, and Universal’s creative and culinary teams set out to create the  beverage as yet another authentic experience within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

The recipe for the non-alcoholic drink is a closely held secret – but the taste is reminiscent of shortbread and butterscotch and the beverage is served cold or frozen.

“We created an authentic taste experience for our guests to complement all of the other immersive experiences The Wizarding World of Harry Potter would offer them,” said Ric Florell, senior vice president of resort revenue operations and the executive who oversaw the development of Butterbeer.  “We knew we had created something that tasted great and would be popular – but we have been surprised by just how popular.”

Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s compelling stories and characters, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is where the wonder, excitement and adventure of the Harry Potter books and films come to life.  For more information about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, visit www.universalorlando.com.

Imagine cheerful holiday music floating on the brisk air. Children marveling at giant, colorful balloons passing overhead. Laughter from the crowd as The Grinch and the Whos share their timeless story live on stage. Imagine families sharing the spirit of the season together, experiencing exciting rides and attractions. There’s no better place to be for the holidays this year than Universal Orlando Resort.

This Holidays event at Universal Orlando Resort runs throughout the month of December and offers guests incredible entertainment themed for the season at both its theme parks.

At Universal Studios Florida, the Macy’s Holiday Parade will fill the streets every evening with the same iconic balloons seen winding through New York City. The parade features colorful holiday characters, floats, balloons and a tree-lighting ceremony by Santa Claus.

At Universal’s Islands of Adventure, adults and children alike will be entertained when the popular Dr. Seuss book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is brought to life in Grinchmas. Guests can see a live stage show featuring The Grinch and The Whos from Whoville with an original recorded musical score by Mannheim Steamroller. Also, guests will have the opportunity to meet The Grinch and the strolling Whos, and on select dates, purchase a spot at a special character breakfast with The Grinch.

Guests can also enjoy the sounds of nightly a capella holiday music at Universal Studios. Guests can explore the nearby Holiday Village, filled with hand-blown glass ornaments, caramel apples, hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts and a cupcake decorating location.

The celebration continues at Universal Orlando’s three on-site hotels – Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort – all of which will glisten with holiday decorations. Hotel guests will be immersed in the spirit of the season with tree-lighting ceremonies, special musical performances, holiday “dive-in” movie presentations and holiday buffets and dining events.

All holiday entertainment is included as part of 2-Park or Multi-day admission to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. For more information on Universal Orlando’s holiday celebration and offers, guests can visit www.UniversalOrlando.com/holidays.

Get ready – it’s time to prepare for battle…

Universal Orlando Resort announced that its next blockbuster attraction will be the widely-popular TRANSFORMERS: The Ride – 3D. The groundbreaking ride – created under license from Hasbro, Inc. and based on its iconic TRANSFORMERS brand – will bring the intergalactic battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons to Universal Studios Florida in summer 2013.

Already a “must-see” at Universal Studios Singapore and Universal Studios Hollywood, TRANSFORMERS: The Ride – 3D is a mind-blowing, action-packed ride experience that you have to see to believe. You will come face to face with Megatron. You will dodge explosions and attacks by the Decepticons. You will fight to save mankind alongside Optimus Prime and the Autobots. It will be the greatest battle you’ll ever ride.

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Each step brings an eerie feeling that something horrifying is tracing your every move with lifeless eyes. You frantically search for a place to hide as a growling, flesh-hungry mob gains ground. Turning a corner, you breathe a sigh of relief… Until you look ahead. Screams pierce the night as you’re overcome. You never had a chance. There is no escape.

Beginning September 21, Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights returns for 25 nights as the nation’s best and most intense Halloween event. This year, once guests step inside Halloween Horror Nights, they will not be able to escape the horror that awaits them, including terrifying haunted houses featuring some of the biggest names in pop culture – like AMC’s “The Walking Dead” and Silent Hill. And, with a completely reinvented street experience, scarecators will seek them out no matter where they turn.

This year, guests will fight for survival from the flesh-eating walkers of AMC’s “The Walking Dead;” run to avoid the demonic beings from the universe of popular video game and motion picture franchise Silent Hill; try to escape Penn & Teller’s nuclear ooze-covered Las Vegas wasteland; and come face-to-face with the twisted concepts pulled straight from legendary shock rocker Alice Cooper’s most popular songs.

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Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort is scheduled to open in 2014 at Universal Orlando Resort. With a hip, vintage look, the resort will offer 1800 on-site rooms – including 900 family suites and 900 standard guest rooms – adding high-quality, high-value options for families wanting an affordable on-site experience.

Universal Parks & Resorts and Loews Hotels & Resorts will build a new hotel development at Universal Orlando that will add high-quality, high-value options for families wanting an affordable on-site experience.

Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort will offer two distinct experiences within the development’s multiple buildings: 900 family suites, capable of sleeping six, that include kitchen areas and 900 standard guest rooms – offering both moderate- and value-priced accommodations. It will be operated by Loews Hotels & Resorts and is scheduled to open in 2014.

The hotel will be themed differently than anything else currently available at Universal Orlando. It will evoke the driving vacations so many Americans grew up enjoying with their families – spending time at sweeping motor courts just off the highway, where families relaxed and played after a long day’s drive. The new hotel’s hip, vintage look will be accented with bold design, dramatic, clean lines, bright, period colors and touches of neon. Inside areas including the lobby, dining areas and large, comfortable rooms will follow suit. The hotel will have two themed pool areas.

“Our new hotel will give guests an affordable, incredibly themed on-site hotel experience unlike anything else at our resort,” said Tom Williams, chairman and chief executive officer, Universal Parks & Resorts. “Our new family suites and family-value pricing will give our guests on-site options they’ve never had before.”

The hotel will be built on a 37-acre site within Universal Orlando Resort and adjacent to Universal’s Islands of Adventure – just off Hollywood Way and Turkey Lake Road. Site work will begin soon. Pricing information, opening timeframes and room on-sale dates will be released over time.

The new hotel will allow families to choose between value pricing or the higher level of benefits and service that come with staying at other on-site Universal Orlando hotels – Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, the Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort. It will provide early park admission, proximity to Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios and resort-wide charging privileges – but will not offer complimentary Universal Express Unlimited Access.

“The Cabana Bay Beach Resort furthers our goal of operating special and distinct properties in important markets,” said Paul Whetsell, Loews Hotels & Resorts president and CEO. “This is another important step in our plan to expand the Loews system in major markets across the United States.”

Universal Orlando Resort’s brand new ride, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem grand opens on July 2, but the mayhem has already begun! The minions are taking over the entire destination!

On Tuesday, May 8, we celebrated the Grand Opening of Universal’s Superstar Parade & Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular — 100 Years of Movie Memories. And a few of YOU — our awesome Facebook fans — got to join us! Check out this video they helped us film of the Grand Opening event!