 | |
 Entrance to the theme park | |
| Location | Universal Orlando Resort, 6000 Universal Boulevard |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 28°28′31″N 81°28′01″W / 28.4752°N 81.4670°W |
| Opened | June 7, 1990 |
| Owner | NBCUniversal (Comcast)[1] |
| Operated by | Universal Destinations & Experiences |
| Theme | Show business and Universal entertainment |
| Slogan | It's More Than Magic. It's Real. (as Universal Orlando Resort) |
| Operating season | Year-round |
| Attendance | 9.75 Million (2023) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 15 |
| Roller coasters | 3 |
| Website | Official website |
| Universal Orlando |
|---|
| Theme parks |
| Water parks |
| Resort hotels |
| Entertainment district |
Universal Studios Florida is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida, that opened on June 7, 1990. Owned and operated by NBCUniversal, it features numerous rides, attractions, and live shows that are primarily themed to movies, television, and other aspects of the entertainment industry. Universal Studios Florida was the first of three theme parks to open at Universal Orlando Resort, joined later by Universal Islands of Adventure in 1999, and Universal Volcano Bay in 2017. In 2019, it ranked eleventh in the world – sixth in North America – for overall attendance among amusement parks with approximately 10.9 million visitors. A fourth park, Universal Epic Universe, is expected in 2025.
The success of its sister location, Universal Studios Hollywood, in the 1980s fueled the desire to build a similar park in the Orlando area to compete with Walt Disney World. Two of its early projects were partially developed by famed Hollywood director Steven Spielberg, and many themed attractions over the years were developed in close collaboration with the directors, producers, and actors of the films they are based on. An early layout and design of the park also incorporated active production studios, similar to the Hollywood location, which provided guests a behind-the-scenes look at film and television. As the interest to produce films in the Orlando area quickly faded, the design of the park transitioned to a more immersive, first-person perspective.
Universal Studios Florida operates a well-known annual event during the fall season called Halloween Horror Nights, where the park transitions to a Halloween theme featuring haunted houses and scare zones on select nights. One of the park's biggest draws is Diagon Alley, a Harry Potter-themed portion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter that opened in 2014. E.T. Adventure, another notable attraction, is the only remaining ride in the park which debuted with the park's grand opening in 1990.
- ^ "NBCUniversal completes takeover of Universal Orlando theme parks". Los Angeles Times. July 1, 2011. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2011.