October is here and Halloween is right around the corner. The Orlando theme parks are ready for Halloween and so are we. Over at Halloween Horror Nights the scare zones and haunted houses are up and scaring the thousands of visitors that come their way. Universal Studios Orlando won a Golden Ticket for their Halloween Horror Nights event. That basically means it considered the best Halloween event in the theme park world. This year Universal is paying tribute to horror icons from the silver screen like Chucky, Saw, Wolfman, Dracula and Frankenstein. Along with the houses there are great scare zones featuring cannibals, World War II zombie soldiers and mutated humans. They also have a scare zone called Cirque du Freak.

The Scare Zone looks just like the name implies. It’s a sideshow-themed zone where bearded ladies and deformed humans roam around hunting for frightened victims. But this scare zone is also representing Universal Studios’ latest movie Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant. Yes, even Universal is getting in on the vampire madness that has swept America. But Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant is about a teenage boy that accidentally breaks a 200 year old truce between two vampire factions. He then has to help Mr. Crepsley, played by actor John C. Reilly, restore the peace between the factions.

This isn’t the first time Universal dedicates a section of Halloween Horror Nights to their movies. After all, we have a Saw house this year and the Wolfman house is about Benicio Del Toro’s movie, which comes out next year. But recently, John C. Reilly and other actors from Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant stopped by Halloween Horror Nights to talk to fans and promote the movie, which will be out in theatres October 23. You might recognize Reilly from some of the other movies he’s done like Step Brothers and Talladega Nights with Will Ferrell. The fans were excited to see Reilly and other actors from the movie before they headed into the park for some horror nights fun. Don’t forget the event runs all throughout October, so get your tickets now!

Fans of Christian Rock will love the Universal Studios Orlando Rock the Universe event. Rock the Universe is a 3 day weekend event of "Music That’ll Rock Your Soul" featuring the best groups from the Christian Rock genre, celebrity speakers, a candlelight service and a Sunday worship service to top off the weekend. The weekend will kick off Friday with bands like Switchfoot, Fireflight and Jeremy Camp playing two stages within Universal Studios Orlando. The best part about this weekend event is that the park closes at 6 pm for Rock the Universe ticket holders. You will be able to enjoy your favorite bands and check out the best rides Universal has to offer without such a big crowd—the choice is up to you!

Saturday the rock festival continues with bands like Third Day, Group 1 Crew and Casting Crowns. Make sure you check out famous rides like The Mummy and the brand new Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. Both rides will get your adrenaline going and get your ready to listen to your favorite bands rock out on the Universal Studios stages. There will also be a special Candelight Service lead by Dr. Jay Strack which will include inspirational messages of worship and guidance on life as well as music.

Sunday the fun continues with bands like Plumb, BarlowGirl and pureNRG rocking the stages as an added bonus after the featured Sunday Morning Worship Service. If you plan to attend the service you need to reserve your spot in advance as there is limited room and this event is highly in demand. Don’t forget to check out some of the other features of the Rock the Universe event. There will be celebrity speakers throughout the weekend telling you their personal stories about struggling and keeping the faith despite the various paths of their lives. Celebrity speakers include BMX champ and Olympic medalist Donny Robinson, BarlowGirls and Mark Stuart.

This is a great event for those with deep faith that want to have an event all their own at Universal Studios Orlando. You’ll be treated to three days of personalized fun just for you as Rock the Universe ticketholders are the only ones allowed in the park after 6pm. Mingle with crowds that share your lifestyle and state of mind while checking out the awesome rides this park has to offer.

After months of speculation Halloween Horror Nights fans can now stop guessing and start getting ready for the 19th year of this popular Orlando theme park attraction. With its Ripped from the Silver Screen theme, Universal Orlando plans to bring the scariest horror icons to life as you enter the world of the Universal Palace Theatre.

The entrance to Universal Studios will be converted to the façade of a 1920’s movie theatre where the main character or “host” of this year’s event, The Usher, will allow you into the parks. Universal has taken plenty of footage of The Usher and will be projecting him throughout the park to make sure you are on your best behavior and don’t break the rules of the Universal Palace Theatre. While many fans thought The Director would return for another show, Universal execs wanted to make it clear that this year’s theme wasn’t about making movies, it was about being trapped in them.

As for the haunted houses, there will be 8 great sites for you to get your scares. Silver Screams will be The Usher’s lair, so make sure you’re on your best behavior. Saw will take you through the twisted, demented world of the villain Jigsaw from the popular SAW movie franchise. The Wolfman will take you through a dangerous forest where werewolves lurk around every corner. Chucky: Friends ‘Till the End will put you face to face against the twisted toys of the Good Guys toy company and eventually Chucky himself. Dracula: Legacy of Blood will lure you into Castle Dracula on the night of “The Calling.” Dracula awaits a mortal woman to become his bride, but he will take male victims to feed on as well. In Frankenstein: Creation of the Damned, Dr. Frankenstein’s experiments have gone horribly wrong and now the creature he created returns to make the good doctor pay for the torture he underwent. The Spawning pays tribute to movies like Swamp Thing and The Creature from the Black Lagoon with strange creatures emerging from the waters of Wyandot, Ohio. Last but not least, Leave it to Cleaver puts a gory twist on a 1950’s butcher shop where they serve all kinds of meat, none of it animal related.

With all of these great haunted houses and scare zones featuring cannibals, WWII zombie soldiers and a dangerous abandoned drive-in, you’ll be cowering in fear at every turn. So make sure you get your discount Halloween Horror Nights tickets from OrlandoFunTickets.com to make this Halloween Horror Nights unforgettable.

The Fourth of July is over and summer has just begun, but that does not mean Universal Studios does not have Halloween in mind. This year, Universal Studios brings your biggest nightmares into reality with the 19th annual Halloween Horror Nights event. While details are slowly being revealed, OrlandoFunTickets.com can confirm this year’s theme will be “Ripped from the Silver Screen.”

With this year’s theme, horror fans can expect to see some of their favorite figures and villains from the silver screen roaming the streets of Universal Studios Orlando. So far, Universal has confirmed Chucky, Jigsaw (of the SAW franchise) and Wolfman as their main ghastly guests. Four or five themes have yet to be revealed. There have been official reports of modernized Dracula and Frankenstein characters joining the "Ripped from the Silver Screen" lineup, and some HHN fans are speculating the addition of a Freddy vs. Jason themed haunted house event. As for the host of the event, there are rumors of The Director making a return, but these rumors have not been confirmed.

The addition of a Wolfman house is a first for Halloween Horror Nights because it marks the first time Universal incorporates a character into the event before the character’s movie hits theaters. The Wolfman stars Benicio Del Toro in a re-telling of the classic werewolf tale, where Lawrence Talbot returns home and is bitten by a werewolf, thus becoming one himself. The Wolfman hits theatres November 6th, the weekend after Halloween Horror Nights ends. Rumors have also been circulating about another horror franchise: Final Destination.

Considering the ties the Final Destination movies also have to Universal Studios, could that be one of the yet-to-be-announced Halloween Horror Nights themes? Stay turned to OrlandoFunTickets.com for all of your Halloween Horror Nights and Universal Studios news.

Halloween Horror Nights was voted “The Country’s Best Halloween Event” by Amusement Today and “The Best Halloween Experience” by the editor of Fangoria magazine. The event will run on select dates from September 25th until October 31st. Discount Universal tickets to Universal Studios’ 19th Annual Halloween Horror Nights can be purchased through OrlandoFunTickets.com.

There is no better place to celebrate the Fourth of July than the Orlando theme parks! The parks are offering a bevy of Fourth of July celebrations, but one that stands out from the rest is that of Universal Orlando!

Spend the day at Universal Orlando and Islands of Adventure with tons of Universal fun! First, head to Islands of Adventure and experience the different islands that make up the park. Soar along with Spiderman, venture into Jurassic Park, live-out your favorite childhood story books, and more! Then, bounce over to Universal Studios, as the perfect ending to your day. Spend the rest of daylight enjoying riding-out your favorite movies, television shows, and more. Ride along on the Mummy, vacation with the Simpsons on an amazing simulator ride, face the jaws of, well, JAWS, and more!

And, if you are lucky, you may even get a glimpse of the soon-to-be-open Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit running test runs. This ride is going to be intense! We’re talking a full vertical lift, 90 degree drop, a double take loop, and the first-ever Treble Clef loop (to go along with the music theme, of course). Plus, as another first for coasters, the Rip Ride Rockit will feature video cameras, which can document your entire experience while on the ride. The ride was originally supposed to have its opening over Fourth of July weekend, but due to this ride being the world’s most technologically-advanced coaster they need to perfect it to a “T” before opening the ride to eager roller coaster enthusiasts! Patience is a virtue. This ride is going to be awesome!

As the sun sets and the rides come to a close, stay in Universal Studios theme park as the music heats up the night! With your admission ticket to Universal Studios, you can stay in the park for a free concert with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singers the O’Jays! As the singers to hit songs such as “Love Train” and the theme song to Donald Trump’s The Apprentice “For the Love of Money,” you can rock into the night.

As the concert comes to an end, head to the Universal Studios Lagoon where you will see the most spectacular Fourth of July display in Orlando! Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular will feature illuminated floating 360 degree orbs, displaying more than 100 clips of your favorite Universal films. The movie displays will be set to original music and laser & pyrotechnic effects. As the show begins to wrap up, it will switch gears over to a patriotic tribute to the good ole’ red, white, and blue with patriotic displays on the cinespheres and a dazzling firework display from three different areas within the park! The party doesn’t stop there! If you are looking to continue in your Fourth of July celebration festivities, head to Universal CityWalk, for free admission with your Universal Studios ticket.

For a rockin’ red, white, and blue time, there is no better place to be than Universal Studios Orlando on the Fourth of July. And, to get rockin’ discount prices on your Universal Studios tickets and Islands of Adventure tickets, make sure you hop over to OrlandoFunTickets.com!

It is tough to wait for the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit to debut at Universal Studios, except when it seems like the progress on the ride is actually going backwards and not forwards - they recently dismantled part of the track to install some new systems, for example. However, we’ve got some new details on the HRRR, as we like to call it, to tide you over until July 4, which is when the ride is expected to debut.

For the first time ever, pictures of the coaster’s vehicle have been released, in addition to information about how the ride’s technological elements come together. To refresh your memory, the Rockit will be a high-tech, high-speed combination of first-ever maneuvers, hit music, and specially created take-home videos starring each rider.

“This is where high-speed coaster meets outdoor mega-concert meets user-generated content – all shot on production-quality video,” said Mark Woodbury, president of Universal Creative. “No one has ever created such a sophisticated ride experience. And no one has ever used technology the way we have to pull it all together.”

Most of that technology is evident on the Rockit’s vehicle, which features a revolutionary new restraint system, industrial-grade touchpads, all-weather speakers, and a network of cameras designed to capture every second of the HRRR’s high-speed ride.

The fun begins when guests slide into the bucket seat of the Rockit’s X-Car, which features stadium-style seating so that everyone has an unobstructed view of the drops and turns ahead. Unlike many other coasters, there’s no over-head/pull-down restraint system. Rather, riders pull across a lap bar allowing for unprecedented freedom of movement and thrills.

Once guests are snug and secure, they’ll proceed to pick out their ride soundtrack on the car’s personal touchpad, which is mounted on the lap bar. Military-grade durable, waterproof, and connected to wireless servers, the touchpads allow guests to pick from songs representing five genres of music. And thanks to Polk Audio marine-grade stereo speakers, guests will be able to hear their musical choice at 90 decibels while never hearing the songs playing for other riders.

While coaster junkies rock out and scream to the tune of their favorite musical styles, their entire journey will be captured by 14 cameras – six on board each car and eight along the track. Smile real big, because these cameras are designed to provide production-quality footage under intense conditions. After the ride, each guest video is transmitted from the ride vehicle to a viewing kiosk, where guests can purchase a specially edited take-home version to share with family and friends.

From the ground, the HRRR is also ultra-cool; 36 different LED color-changing lights make it an ever-changing show for onlookers. And boarding the coaster is a snap, too; the Rockit is the only coaster in the country that keeps guests moving through the queue on a conveyer belt, ensuring that the lines keep flowing and the wait is never longer than it needs to be.

With all these intricate details and fun, high-tech elements, the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit just might give SeaWorld’s Manta a run for its money! Find out for yourself whether or not it stands up to all the hype when the ride opens this summer; get your Universal Studios tickets on OrlandoFunTickets.com to be ready for your first ride on the Rockit.

This summer, music lovers will not have to wait hours in line to nab tickets to that must-see concert - why would you when there is great music around the corner at Universal Orlando, and you only need a regular park admission to hear it? For the first time ever, Universal Orlando will be hosting a Summer Concert Series this season with performances by four of the biggest names in pop, hip-hop, and R&B. This won't be like concerts at other parks where the featured bands were big stars when your mom and dad were growing up - you've actually heard of these hitmakers, and they'll be rocking the brand new Music Plaza under the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.

Beginning Saturday, June 13, and running through every Saturday night afterwards until July 4, the Summer Concert Series will feature four chart-topping, multi-platinum, Grammy Award nominated and winning performers. The music and fun starts on June 13 with American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, whose self-titles album has sold more than a million copies. Sparks will be followed by hip-hop icon LL Cool J on June 20; the rapper has sold more than 15 million records and 20 singles on the Billboard charts.

Then on June 27, British songstress Natasha Bedingfield, who's sold more than 10 million albums, will perform, followed by Rock 'n Roll Hall of Famers The O'Jays, who'll close out the concert series on July 4.

The Summer Concert Series will be a great way to wrap up a fun day at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. And what's more, it's sure to be a fantastic concert experience what with the new addition of the Music Plaza, a state-of-the-art concert venue designed in the spirit of the legendary Hollywood Bowl. No matter where you sit or stand in the Plaza's 15,000-square-foot viewing lawn, you're sure to get a great view of the action on stage thanks to its two massive, 20-feet-tall projection screens, which sit beside a 2,400-square-foot performance stage.

"Our Music Plaza has quickly become Orlando's perfect place to enjoy great music outdoors," said Jim Timon, senior vice president of entertainment for Universal Orlando Resort. "Our Summer Concert Series will continue that tradition - and be an amazing experience for everyone from dedicated music fans to families wanting a great wat to end their day in the parks."

No extra ticket or expense is necessary to enjoy the great tunes of the Summer Concert Series; all you need is regular admission to the park. However, you can still save on that regular admission when you check out the discount Universal Studios tickets from OrlandoFunTIckets.com, making the Summer Concert Series an even bigger deal. So don't miss the sounds of summer - make your plans now to attend this great Universal event.

When the University of Florida Gators football team won the BCS National Championship Game on January 8th, making them the 2009 National Champions, you can be sure that all of Florida united in celebration. And in fact, the party still hasn’t finished! Gator fans who are still reliving every moment of glory from last Thursday’s game can unite at Universal Studios Orlando, when the Orlando theme park hosts Gators National Championship Celebration Day on January 17th. Fans can enjoy special savings and entertainment throughout the day in honor of their favorite sports team.

This Saturday, Universal Orlando will become Gator country with unique entertainment specially catered to Gator fans. There’ll be appearances from special Gator guests Chris Leak, James Bates, Elijah Williams, Chris Doering, Errict Rhett, Jeff Chandler, Earnest Graham Jr., and Fred Weary. The Florida Gator Cheerleaders will also make a special appearance, as well as the Florida Gator mascots Albert and Alberta!

The fun starts at 10 am, when guests can enjoy free Gator Face Painting until 12 pm at Port of Entry, the gateway to the five areas at Islands of Adventure. Also at Port of Entry from 11 am to 12 pm, fans will be able to line up for a photograph with the Gator Cheerleaders and the team mascots. Then, at 12 pm, head over to Finnegan’s Bar and Grill for lunch while you watch the re-airing of that momentous national championship game. At 2 pm, stick around to watch the Florida Gators face off against the Arkansas Razorbacks in basketball.

Then at 3 pm, gather up your team spirit for a special Gator Celebration Parade featuring the special Gator guests, the cheerleaders, mascots, Universal Studios characters, and members of the University of Florida Pride of the Sunshine Marching Band. Right after the parade, head to Hollywood Boulevard at 3:30 for the Gator Celebration Pep Rally, and get ready to cheer your loudest.

Gators National Championship Celebration Day will wrap up at Universal's CityWalk from 4 to 7 pm, when fans will really let loose at the After Party at Pat O’Brien’s. Anyone who bleeds orange and blue will enjoy drink specials and 10% off total food purchases.

So come be a part of the excitement, and don’t forget to wear your orange and blue this Saturday at Universal Studios, when the park will be swarming with Gators. Be a smart Gator and score discount Universal Studios tickets at OrlandoFunTickets.com, and you’ll really be able to make the most of Gator celebration weekend.