Universal Studios Island of Adventure will celebrate the grand opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter during the IBBA Conference for Professional Development on June 18th. This will be a huge event which will include cast members from the Harry Potter movies and a lot of fanfare.
What does this mean for IBBA Conference attendees?
First and foremost, if you have not done so already, book your hotel room now. To book a hotel room, please call (866) 360-7295. Almost all hotels in the area are sold out in anticipation of this event, and rooms at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort are only available through the IBBA until May 21, so make sure to book before that time.
As an added bonus to guests staying within the IBBA room block, your hotel room key will serve as a “fast pass” to the front of the line at the Universal Studios theme park rides. Why not bring your family and enjoy the theme parks before or after the IBBA Conference?
Tips for Florida theme-park visitors:
2009 IBBA Chairman, Andy Cagnetta, has provided some tips for a successful theme park experience:
- The parks are great early in the day and in the evening, so a mid-afternoon or lunch break via the water taxi back to your hotel is a life saver! Since the IBBA hotel is a Universal Studios property, you can come and go very easily.
- The original Universal Studios Park is a lot of fun for everyone. Islands of Adventure seems to be more of a thrill ride seekers park. This is also where the new Harry Potter section will be located.
- Disney’s Magic Kingdom (the original park) should be visited during the week as it is the most crowded and tough to navigate on the weekends. Save Epcot, Animal Kingdom and MGM for the weekend. MGM is a good rainy day park as many of the attractions are indoors.
- Disney also has a "fast pass" system for their most popular rides. You use your tickets to get a "reservation" for a ride. If a ride has the fast pass system, unless it is empty, don't wait in the standby line. Fast Pass it, and come back later; however, you can only Fast Pass one ride at a time. Many rides get sold out by afternoon and it gets hot and crowded by 2pm.
- If you don't have kids, don't miss Epcot. It is fun to eat and drink throughout Epcot's World Showcase. It is almost impossible to get a dinner reservation at a sit down restaurant if it is crowded, so again eat early or just snack all day. I like to walk clockwise through the World Showcase so one of the last stops is England's pub! Try to stay for the fireworks/light water show at Epcot, they are amazing, but find a seat or place to watch early.
- Downtown Disney is free and basically an outdoor shopping mall, but it is fun to visit and has Pleasure Island and a few clubs (House of Blues) that are fun to party at for adults. If you want to see a good show, Cirque de Soleil is always playing. Buy tickets in advance. (Like now!) Since the theater is relatively small, there is no need to buy the best tickets.
- Remember the basics too: Drink plenty of water, dress cool, wear a hat and sunglasses and have some spray sun block. Hit the parks as soon as they open, eat lunch early, get to your favorite rides first and bring your camera!
All in all if you have never been to Orlando, you need to come and bring your families! Enjoy the downtime before or after the IBBA Conference, June 17-19. We hope to see you there.