It seems that Orlando theme parks are joining in on the iPhone app craze. There are plenty of jokes going around on the internet which interject the phrase “There’s an app for that” as the Apple commercial loves to say. But now we can say the same about the newest ride at Universal Studios Orlando Resort, the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit! Yes coaster enthusiasts, there’s an app for that. The Pocket Rockit app, just 99 cents at the iTunes app store, is your personal sidekick to this great ride at Universal Studios.

The Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is a rock and roll-themed rollercoaster that features all new thrill ride technology and lets you choose a song that will serve as the soundtrack. They have everything from hip hop to disco. The five available genres each have six songs, making a total of 30 songs in the setlist. However, once people began to ride the new coaster it was soon discovered there were more than 30 songs. Somehow, someone tinkering around with the system discovered there were (as of now) 999 song possibilities on the Rockit. The internet blogs went wild posting lists and techniques on how to select the hidden songs which feature everything from Kermit the Frog to U2 and Megadeth.

The purpose of the Pocket Rockit app is to archive and confirm those song choices. With live update technology, you will be able to upload any songs you discover to the app’s list. On the other hand you can also see what other people with the app have uploaded and confirm or deny the accuracy of their song numbers. The Pocket Rockit has all of the confirmed songs, both the 30 original releases and any other songs that people have uploaded. All of the song listings can be organized by band or song like on your iPod’s regular system in case you want to ride the Rockit multiple times and want to experience a different song each time. The Pocket Rockit is constantly receiving updates, so if you’re an iPhone owner and want to go to Universal Studios soon, definitely download this beforehand.

When Ghost Hunters premiered on the Sci Fi Channel (now called SyFy) back in 2004 it quickly gained a cult following. But the show has now grown to be a franchise with magazines, merchandise and spinoff shows that bring in millions of dollars a year. Ghost Hunters follows former Roto Rooter plumbers Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson as they explore some of the most haunted places in the United States with their team of investigators. They’ve investigated places like The Stanley Hotel, which inspired Stephen King’s The Shining, to the Winchester Mansion as part of TAPS: The Atlantic Paranormal Society.

Grant, Jason and crew also investigate businesses, historical sites and personal homes claiming paranormal activity is going on. At the end of every episode they declare whether the site they just finished investigating with various ghost hunting equipment was haunted or not. TAPS uses equipment like thermal cameras, night vision cameras, electromagnetic field (EMF) detectors and regular point and shoot cameras. If you’re a fan of the show, all of that information is old hat.

But fans of Ghost Hunters may not know that this Thursday Steve Gonsalves and Dave Tango will be appearing at Universal Studios Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights. This year’s “Ripped from the Silver Screen” theme features awesome characters like Wolfman, Chucky, Jigsaw, Dracula and Frankenstein for an amazing Halloween adventure that hasall new scare zones and the ever popular Rocky Horror Picture Show tribute along with Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure.

Steve and Dave will be appearing Thursday, October 8th, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and then again from 10:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Fans will have a chance to meet Steve and Dave and get an autograph signed. Halloween Horror Nights is going on now but will only run through October 31st, so make sure you get your discount tickets soon. Steve and Dave aren’t the only celebs to have appeared at Halloween Horror Nights. Just recently, John C. Reilly was in town to promote his new movie Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant. Who knows who’ll stop by next? Ghost Hunters fans; be sure you head to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando this Thursday!

The kids are back in school and those with seasonal jobs are back to work. Retailers are preparing for the holidays and the Orlando theme parks are gearing up for Halloween events. What does this all mean for those of you thinking of heading to Orlando now? Shorter lines! That’s right, you can expect to find shortened wait times in all of the Orlando theme parks including SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and the Walt Disney World parks.

There are tons of big rides that have opened up as of late, especially over in SeaWorld and Universal Orlando. Already a hit with coaster lovers thanks to Kraken, the new Manta rollercoaster at Sea World had huge wait times when it first opened. After all, it’s the closest experience you can get to actual flying as you glide around the huge track face down with your arms and legs free to dangle or cling to the bars for dear life (depending on what kind of rider you are, of course).

At Islands of Adventure, The Hulk is one of the most popular rides and always a long wait right along with Spiderman (both of them located on Marvel Superhero Island). Spiderman is definitely a favorite and it even won a Golden Ticket Award for Best Dark Ride. At Universal Studios Orlando Revenge of The Mummy and the brand new Rip Ride Rockit are the big ticket thrill rides you usually need to wait in line for.

At the Walt Disney World Resort, you can always expect the “Mountains” at the Magic Kingdom to have long wait lines. Mission Space and Soarin’ at Epcot and Aerosmith’s Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster and Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios usually have packed lines, as well. Such is not the case this time of year. But you can also take advantage of two special holiday parties that will guarantee short lines on just about every ride! Both Mickey’s Not-so-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party allow only a certain number of people into the parks to experience holiday fun the way only Walt Disney World can. So if you’ve been thinking of coming to Orlando, check out OrlandoFunTickets.com for the best deals and take advantage of the slow season!

Who does not love a nice piece of cake? Whether you are having a birthday, celebrating a holiday or just having a craving for buttercream frosting or red velvet, there are plenty of cake lovers out there in the world. Disney and Universal fans, if you’ve never had a chance to catch the show Food Network Challenge on The Food Network, you are missing out.

Every now and then this great show comes up with challenges fans of the two biggest Orlando theme parks would love. About four or five of the best pastry chefs from around the nation compete in this show where they are given seven hours to make a three foot cake based on a the theme chosen for that show’s episode. Food Network Challenge has ventured into the world of Disney World magic and Universal Studios Orlando adventure with a number of episodes dedicated to characters from both of these beloved theme parks.

With their Disney Princess challenge, chefs were assigned princesses like Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Snow White and Cinderella and told to represent their stories the best they could in cake form. Belle was surrounded by her dinnerware friends and Cinderella was in her carriage on her way to the beautiful castle. Ariel was resting on the shore with seashells and her fishy friends as Snow White sang to the birds and Jasmine stood high above a hot air balloon. Another episode featured characters from Pixar movies like Toy Story, Cars, Ratatouille and Monsters Inc.

For the Universal Studios character challenge, we got to see Scooby-Doo, Popeye, Betty Boop and Curious George all brought to life using cake ingredients and the sturdy, edible fondant covering that helps these chefs build the huge cakes. They aren’t allowed to use any non-edible sources on the exterior of the cake, but they can use plastic rods and other items to help get height on the massive 3 foot structures. You always find yourself holding your breath when they have to move the large cakes to the judge’s table—they could easily fall!

If you want to tune into this exciting show that showcases just how difficult it can be to make incredible cake creations, check out the Food Network Sunday nights at 8pm/7c to see if one of the upcoming episodes is dedicated to one of your favorite Disney or Universal Studios characters. Other challenge themes have included castles, fantasy vacations and birthday surprises. What will be next on this great show? We’re thinking favorite theme park ride challenge would be awesome.

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.

When Islands of Adventure opened up in 1999 it stole some of the thunder from its predecessor Universal Studios. For the first time, huge roller coasters became part of the Universal family and started making headlines in the thrill-ride community for the record-breaking feats achieved by the Hulk and Dueling Dragons attractions. But this summer, Universal Studios is ready to start a sibling rivalry of sorts with its brand new coaster: the Rip Ride Rockit.

The Rockit is an X-Car Coaster and the largest of its kind in the world. The track is 3,800 feet long with video cameras situated along the track to capture the rider’s every scream and expression. The lift hill that takes you on your first ascent on the ride is a vertical climb 167 feet high. You are not strapped in with an overhead restraint! Despite the loops and twists, you are held in by a lap bar system.

Another feature that makes the Rockit unique is the passenger’s ability to select their own song to listen to while they are riding. Each seat is outfitted with speakers that will play the music at a loud enough level so that your own song selection is the only thing you hear. There are five genres and 30 songs available for you to choose featuring artists of all kinds, from Donna Summer to the Beastie Boys.

Already having gone through its soft opening, many are guessing the Rockit will be officially opening in the next few weeks. Others suspect it will open closer to Halloween Horror Nights in order to promote the horror-themed event. If you’re curious as to what the song selection will be, OrlandoFunTickets.com has the list below. Try to think of your selection in advance, as it has been said you will only have about 45 seconds to decide before you are sent off at 65 mph on your Rip Ride Rockit adventure. Stay tuned for news on the official opening of the ride.

Classic Rock/Metal
• “Gimme All Your Lovin’” - ZZ Top
• “Kickstart My Heart” - Motley Crue
• “Born to Be Wild” - Hinder
• “Paralyzer” - Finger Eleven
• “Rollin’” - Limp Bizkit
• “Bring Me to Life” - Evanescence

Pop/Disco
• “I Will Survive” - Gloria Gaynor
• “Bad Girls” - Donna Summer
• “That’s the Way (I Like It)” - KC and the Sunshine Band
• “U Can’t Touch This” - MC Hammer
• “Glamorous” - Fergie
• “Hella Good” - No Doubt

Country
• “Midnight Rider” - The Allman Brothers
• “All Night Long” - Montgomery Gentry
• “Guitars, Cadillacs” - Dwight Yoakam
• “I Can Sleep When I’m Dead” - Jason Michael Carroll
• “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” - The Charlie Daniels Band
• “Living in Fast Forward” - Kenny Chesney

Rap/Hip-Hop
• “Sabotage” - Beastie Boys
• “Don’t Phunk With My Heart” - Black Eyed Peas
• “Insane in the Brain” - Cypress Hill
• “Rock Star” - N.E.R.D.
• “Stronger” - Kanye West
• “Pump It” - Black Eyed Peas

Club/Electronica
• “Pump Up the Volume” - MARRS
• “Busy Child” - The Crystal Method
• “Keep Hope Alive” - The Crystal Method
• “Le Disko” - Shiny Toy Guns
• “Intergalactic” - Beastie Boys
• “Harder Better Faster Stronger” - Daft Punk

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.

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.

So there is good news and bad news - the bad news is that the opening of the new roller coaster at Universal Studios, the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, has been delayed. The good news, and perhaps it’s a purposeful distraction on the park’s part from the bad news, is that Universal has also released specific details on what riders on the Rip Ride Rockit can expect.

As opposed to its originally announced opening date of “spring 2009,” the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit (HRRR) will now open in “late spring/early summer,” according to Universal. It’s still a rather vague date, but most are interpreting the date change as proof that the rollercoaster will now open a good deal of time after SeaWorld Orlando’s Manta opens on May 22, meaning that June is likely the earliest the ride would open.

“Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is the most sophisticated roller coaster we’ve ever created, so we’re working to make sure it’s going to be an amazing experience for our guests,” Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said. “We're going to open it when we believe it’s absolutely ready.”

On the bright side though, roller coaster enthusiasts now have more reasons to look forward to the opening of HRRR as Universal has now revealed never-before-released details on the ride’s unbelievable maneuvers.

In addition to its high-tech audio and visual components, the HRRR will be the tallest, largest, and fastest X-CAR style roller coaster. What does X-CAR mean, you ask? It’s essentially a type of roller coaster vehicle that is more maneuverable than other kinds of vehicles and uses innovative restraints that are less restrictive, more open, and ultimately, more exciting. This kind of design also allows for more kinds of maneuvers that other roller coasters are incapable of performing.

Some of those breathtaking maneuvers on Rockit include a vertical lift that shoots riders at a 90-degree angle toward the sky at 11 feet-per-second. Once the coaster has scaled 167 feet to the top in just 16.5 seconds, riders will be at the highest point of any coaster in Orlando.

Afterwards, riders descend from the vertical lift at 65 mph and ascent into the Double Take, a first-ever maneuver and the world’s largest non-inverted loop at 136 feet tall and 103 feet in diameter. The coaster car zooms along the inside of the track until it reaches the top, where it twists to the outside of the track and rides over the top of the loop, then twisting back inside the loop for its descent.

Other first-ever maneuvers include the Treble Clef, where the steel track bends into a treble clef musical symbol. First sketched out on a paper napkin, this never-before-done coaster move even bursts through a building façade in the New York area of the park. There’s also the Jump Cut, a negative-gravity maneuver that defies tradition by spiraling instead of going straight up and down.

The RRR also features the Crowd Surfer, a 95-degree angle maneuver that flies the car over a crowd on the loading platform; Drop Tuning, a drop into an underground chasm; and the final maneuver, Plot Twist – an inclined loop with a 150-degree banking turn and a complete 360-degree turn.

And let’s not forget that this entire adrenaline-packed journey is accompanied by a musical soundtrack of the rider’s choosing, making it a really rockin’ experience – no pun intended.

Start planning your trip for the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit’s debut by checking out Universal Studios tickets from OrlandoFunTickets.com. And stay tuned to our blog for more info on one of the city’s newest and most exciting roller coasters.

Universal CityWalk has a big milestone to celebrate this month, but that milestone will pass by rather quietly for the thousands of visitors who enjoy the shopping and entertainment center each year. Believe it or not, it’s been ten years since CityWalk opened in February 1999. Part of the expansion that transformed Universal Studios into Universal Orlando as we know it today, the 30-acre entertainment complex was built over the former Universal Studios parking lot and entrance after five years of planning and construction.

Today, CityWalk is still going strong as one of the most popular attractions in Orlando, with ample shopping, dining, and entertainment options for both tourists and locals. Everything a person might need to pass an afternoon or evening is there; from the musical shenanigans of Blue Man Group to the Jimmy Buffet-inspired margaritas and cuisine of Margaritaville to the latest apparel and souvenirs of Fossil and Hart & Huntington Tattoo Company. CityWalk even has a 20-theater AMC Theaters Cineplex playing the hottest movies in state-of-the-art projection and digital sound.

With the closing of Pleasure Island last year at Downtown Disney, CityWalk can also look forward to a strong future. While Walt Disney World rethinks its plans for the nightclub area, CityWalk is now the only nightclub district owned by a theme park and quite possibly the busiest nightclub area in Orlando. Currently, the nightclub offerings include the groove, Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom, Red Coconut Club, and the newest offering, CityWalk’s Rising Star, a Karaoke Club featuring a live band and backup performers.

However, CityWalk thrives on a winning combination that attracts not only club-goers, but also several different kinds of customers throughout the day. In the morning and afternoon, the shops and restaurants attract theme park visitors passing through on their way to Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure. During the evening, diners who may or may not be headed to the parks come to enjoy unique restaurants such as Emeril’s and Latin Quarter. And later on into the night, club-goers flood in to enjoy reggae grooves at Bob Marley and dance hits at the groove, among other things. CityWalk also attracts sports lovers during big game days to restaurants and bars such as NBA City and the NASCAR Sports Grille.

Going into 2009, CityWalk plans to add more dining options, including a Burger King Whopper Bar, Panda Express, and a Moe’s Southwest Grill. A new surf and skateboard equipment and fashion shop, Element by Billabong will also open. And guests will be able to enjoy the fruits of recent improvements like a new outdoor stage and several renovated shops.

However, the recipe will stay mostly the same for the entertainment district – after all, why fix what isn’t broken? If CityWalk stays on the successful path it’s on now, we wouldn’t be surprised to see this mega-entertainment complex celebrating its 20th anniversary ten years from now.

If you haven’t paid Universal CityWalk a visit lately, drop by to see what you’re missing next time you score your discount Universal Studios tickets at OrlandoFunTickets.com. A great place to hang out at night or to take a break while you’re visiting the parks, there’s lots of fun and many ways to have it at Universal CityWalk.

With Valentines Day just around the corner, some of you might be scrounging around for last minute ideas to surprise your sweetie with on the holiday of love. Here in Orlando though, you need look no further than Universal Studios, where you can enjoy a day of fun and affection with your significant other. After all, what better place than the fantastic realm of movies and TV to make a dream date come true?

Kick off your Valentine’s Day festivities at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel on Friday, February 13, where the Universal resort will hold Harbor Nights Romantico, a wine tasting, gourmet food, and music event. From 6:30 to 9 pm, guests will be able to savor select wines, gourmet food samples, delectable sweets from a chocolate station, and live music by Nova Era, along with romantic arias and duets by Portofino’s opera singers.

Then the next day, head to the Universal parks for some thrills that will bring you closer together. Nothing achieves that purpose better than the rides at Islands of Adventure, where you’ll scream in unison on The Incredible Hulk Coaster, grab on to each other tightly during the Jurassic Park River Adventure, and laugh as you get soaked together on Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls. The other side of the park, Universal Studios, has similar fun for couples. You can take part in a honeymoon adventure along with Shrek and Fiona with Shrek 4D, and see who kills more aliens on the Men in Black Alien Attack, among other cool attractions.

When you’ve had your fill of the parks, there’s no better way to unwind from all those high-adrenaline amusements than with a couple’s spa experience. Head back to the Portofino Bay Hotel and step inside the world-class Mandara Spa, where a suite specially reserved for couples awaits to give you peace and relaxation. Side by side, you can indulge with a facial or ease away tension with a massage.

And after you’re refreshed and rejuvenated, be sure to stop by CityWalk, a great place to stroll hand-in-hand with your loved one while you browse the shops. While you’re there, stop in at the Hard Rock, where Reggae Love Fest 2009 will get underway at 9 pm. Featuring internationally acclaimed Freddie McGregor, Marcia Griffiths, Glen Washington, Tony Stephens, Pressure, and Munga, the Love Fest will have you feeling affectionate as you groove to one of the most understated genres of romance, reggae.

Then, at the end of the day, cap the evening at Chef Emeril Lagasse’s famous Emeril’s Restaurant Orlando; this modern and airy restaurant inside CityWalk makes a romantic setting with a wall of wine, an elegant metal staircase, plenty of open windows, and Gertjejansen artwork on the walls. You’ll enjoy chatting with your date about all the fun you had as you enjoy classic Creole cocktails and dishes.

So forget cliché or cheesy Valentine’s Day plans and go for a unique, fun, and romantic holiday celebration that will really wow your partner. You’ll make all the arrangements you need for the whole day when you purchase discount Universal tickets at OrlandoFunTickets.com.

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.

As the New Year approaches, resolutions will be made, diets will be broken, and vacations will be planned. And as we look forward to a new year full of new starts and experiences, it is important to look forward to what Orlando theme parks have in store for us in 2009. After all, it’s never too early to start planning a great Walt Disney World or Universal Studios Orlando vacation, right? In that spirit, we’re looking ahead to new attractions opening next year, namely the Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit Roller Coaster at Universal Studios. This monstrous record-breaking roller coaster is sure to thrill riders with a one-of-a-kind soundtrack.

Universal Studios announced their plans for the new Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit Coaster back in March. Scheduled to open in spring 2009, the Rockit will be the most technologically advanced roller coaster in the world, combining audio and special effects engineering, on-and-off-board video, and guest personalization for a truly wild wide.

On this adrenaline-pumping ride, guests will be able to pick their very own soundtrack to rock out to while riding the coaster. Before the ride launches, guests will be able to choose a song from five musical genres: classic rock, rap, country, pop, and disco. Then the ride starts, a 65 mph whirlwind that takes riders up 17 stories over Universal Studios. And when it’s all over, guests will be able to take home a video of their wild ride, which they’ll even be able to edit and post on YouTube.

“This is the perfect intersection of the digital age and theme park entertainment,” said Mark Woodbury, President of Creative for Universal Parks & Resorts. “Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit blends roller coaster intensity and guest interaction in a way where no two experiences will be the same.”

Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit will truly be a unique coaster, the largest of its kind in the world. With a vertical life hill that reaches 167 feet, the Rockit will be the tallest ride in the Orlando area. Ride vehicles will feature bright color changing LEDs, and with up to four on the tracks at any given time, the Rockit will be a visual spectacular from the ground. And though the Rockit will not have any inversions, it will feature several heavily banked turns as well as the world’s first non-inverting loop. Nicknamed the “double take,” this non-inverting loop seems like a regular vertical loop at first. However, the track twists around as riders go up, leaving riders upright as they go down again.

Construction began in December on the Rockit, which will be located near Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast. Guests going through the park near the Twister attraction might be able to see some of the already constructed tracks reaching into the sky.

Roller coaster fans can’t wait for this ride to be unveiled this coming spring, and neither can we! Expect to get more sneak previews on this incredible roller coaster as its opening approaches. In the meantime, be sure to start planning for that May vacation so you can experience the fast, musical fun of the Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit coaster. The easiest part will be getting discount Universal Studios tickets – simply check out OrlandoFunTickets.com.

To celebrate one of the most anticipated rides of the year, we paired up with Screamscape to host the “Simpsons Caption the Moment” Photo Contest. We challenged viewers to submit their best vacation photos of them and their family members at the Universal Orlando Resort. The photo that they submitted was required to have a cartoon bubble incorporated into their photo that quoted one of the best Simpsons’ quotes or catchphrases.

We were assigned the extremely difficult task of picking the winner. After sifting through tons of photos, we chose… Laura Witte!!! With her rendition of “Release the hounds Smithers!” Laura has won TWO ADULT – ONE DAY, TWO PARK TICKETS TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ORLANDO! Congratulations Laura!

At Universal Studios Orlando, you are invited to ride along with your favorite movies, TV shows, cartoons, and more; and the Simpsons’ Ride is no exception to that. Ride along with Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie as they venture into Krustyland. But, there is a catch! Sideshow Bob is loose from jail and is out to seek revenge against Krusty and the entire Simpsons family. What will happen as they ride the park’s beloved roller coaster? You will have to ride the ride to find out!

The Simpson’s Ride is located on the Universal Studios side of the Universal Resort Area, at the World Expo.

The holidays are filled with tradition and celebration, and this is even more evident as all of the Orlando area theme parks gear up for their own annual celebrations of the season. The Universal Orlando Resort is no exception, and they have pulled out all the stops to help you celebrate your holiday vacation this year. Decorations and special events can be found literally across the resort, with holiday shows, giant Christmas trees and carolers spicing up that seasonal atmosphere. OrlandoFunTickets.com is joining in the fun too. Everyone wants a good deal while holiday shopping, and discount theme park tickets are our specialty. We are your number one Christmas source for cheap theme park tickets, so let us make your holiday vacation happy and economical!

To help make your Orlando holiday trip even more special, Universal Studios has partnered up with one of the most famous names in holidays and shopping. The Macy’s Holiday Parade frolics through Universal’s own New York City streets each night. Guests will recognize the signature Macy’s balloons and authentic floats, as the Parade brings that New York City Thanksgiving feeling right into the heart of your vacation. Unique street performers and a variety of marching bands make this one of the most entertaining holiday events in town. Besides that, this year’s extravaganza features a brand new Simpsons family float and RV in honor of the expected 2008 opening of the new Simpsons attraction at Universal Studios.

Along with the parade, the holidays are celebrated in different ways on the live stages around the park. The Blues Brothers will be jamming to some rock and roll Christmas tunes and the snow will start falling down on Delancey Street. The KidZone Holiday Show has guests dancing and singing along to all of their favorite holiday hits. And the little ones will have their December dreams come true at Barney’s Christmas Show, where they can clap and sing along as Barney and his famous friends perform A Day In The Park With Barney™.

The Universal Orlando Resort is lighting up for Christmas and getting ready to party on through New Years Day. Their special holiday celebrations start on December 7 and run right up until January 1. OrlandoFunTickets.com has all of the tickets you will need for Universal and all of Orlando’s theme parks at the holidays and for the rest of the year too!