Al's Blog – Advice You Can't Refuse

Only 2 days left to purchase Capone’s Dinner & Show tickets at their old price of $55.99/adult and $35.99/child. After June 21st the ticket prices increase by $4. You can still take advantage of the half price coupon which will make the new price just $29.99/adult and $19.99/child. When you purchase your tickets online today and tomorrow, you can use them for any date option listed on the website (up to 4 months in advance)!

With the new menu, including Chicago-style deep dish pepperoni and cheese pizza, Capone’s remains the best value when it comes to Orlando dinner shows. You get more bang for your buck and the show is a blast. Folks of all ages enjoy the show, so be sure to save a night for Capone’s Dinner & Show. You’ll be glad you did.

Universal Orlando Resort is now the most expensive theme park in America. This week, Universal raised the price of a one-day, one-park ticket to $88 before tax. That’s $3 higher than a similar ticket at Walt Disney World. Other tickets for Universal’s theme parks also went up in price. There is some good news though. People who buy their tickets online will still get a discount, and Florida residents are still rewarded with some great summer deals.

First, here are the current ticket prices for Universal (these do not include tax):

• SINGLE PARK
  1-day: $88 adult, $82 child
  2-day: $119.99 adult ($60 per day), $109.99 child ($55 per day)
  3-day: $135.99 adult ($46 per day), $123.99 child ($42 per day)
  4-day: $145.99 adult ($37 per day), $132.99 child ($34 per day)
• PARK-TO-PARK
  1-day: $123 adult, $117 child
  2-day: $139.99 adult ($70 per day), $129.99 child ($65 per day)
  3-day: $152.99 adult ($51 per day), $140.99 child ($47 per day)
  4-day: $159.99 adult ($40 per day), $146.99 child ($37 per day)

Now for a couple of Universal’s Florida resident deals. The 3 Extra Month deal offers just that, now through August 31, when you purchase a two-park annual pass, you’ll get three additional months. They are also offering Summer Vacation Packages which start at $95 per adult. You must book the package now through August 31 and travel prior to December 20, 2012. Upgrades are available, but the basic offer sounds pretty good and includes:

• 3-night hotel accommodations at a nearby Universal Partner Hotel
• 2-day base ticket to Universal Orlando theme parks
• One-day admission to Wet ‘n Wild Orlando waterpark – located just minutes away from Universal Orlando – featuring an all-new family water play area, Blastaway Beach, scheduled to open in June
• Access to live entertainment at Universal CityWalk
• Early park admission to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and, for a limited time, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man (valid for travel through June 30).

So while Universal Orlando Resort may be the most expensive theme park, they are at least attempting to make it financially easier on some of their guests. Unfortunately, Disney and the other theme parks usually follow suit, so expect an announcement in the very near future with their price increases. They may not make the announcement ahead of time, so buy your tickets now, if you’re planning on visiting soon. Here at Capone’s Dinner & Show, we too must increase our ticket price to keep up with the ever-increasing gas and food costs, but more on that in my next post.

Enjoy Orlando’s theme parks and remember, after a day at the park, our gang is here to welcome you with open arms (and a few Tommy Guns), great food (all-you-can-eat buffet) and loads of comedy before, during and after our show.

Gatorland is an attraction in south Orlando featuring thousands of alligators and crocodiles. They have reptile shows, a petting zoo, train rides and more. If you are a Florida resident, price for a day’s admission is only $9.99 through June 30. Normal price is $21.99 ($13.99 ages 3-12), so this is a great deal. It doesn’t matter what your age, if you are a Florida resident, you get this special price. Guests can pay an additional fee for the Screamin’ Gator Zip Line experience.

If you are a Florida resident, and you own a non-Florida (non-native) pet, you can bring it to Gatorland this Saturday, May 19 and the Florida Wildlife Commission will accept the pet with no questions asked or fines. Only exotic reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, invertebrates and mammals will be accepted. Domestic pets, including dogs, cats, ferrets, etc. will not be accepted.

It is Gatorland’s hope that you will not release a non-native animal into the wild. Florida is already home to more than 400 non-native species. This amnesty day is free and open to the public. Go to the attraction’s south parking lot entrance at 14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. this Saturday. While you’re there, you might as well enjoy the Florida resident deal!

For more information, go to www.gatorland.com or call 1-800-393-5297.

If you are a Florida resident and do not have an annual pass to Universal Orlando, you should check out the new Florida resident special that Universal Orlando Resort is offering. It is perfect for the Florida resident who is already planning to visit Universal before the end of June and wants to spend more than a day or two at the park.

An exclusive Third Day Free offer will allow Florida residents to purchase a 2-day ticket at $99 and get a third day free! Be one of the first to watch the Universal’s Superstar Parade and Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories as they will both be starting May 8th.

Universal has already re-launched the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man attraction which now features 4K digital high definition animation, a new music score and new high-tech 3-D glasses. The upcoming Cinematic Spectacular will be narrated by Morgan Freeman and celebrates Universal Pictures’ films on waterfall screens within the Universal Studios lagoon synchronized with music, fountains and fireworks. Universal’s Superstar Parade will entertain guests with some of their favorite characters and larger-than-life floats and hundreds of energetic street performers. You can also use your Florida residency to experience the new Blue Man Group show and their new finale and receive $35 off regular adult ticket prices.

What’s the catch? You must purchase your 2-day ticket before May 31, 2012 and use the 3rd day before June 30, 2012. You must have a Florida ID and purchase your tickets online. The tickets are not valid for separately ticketed concerts, shows, and special events.

It’s great to be a Florida resident when the deals are good. Take advantage of this spring-time deal. The summer crowds, heat & afternoon showers will be here soon, so get it while the gettin’ is good!

There are always lots of fun things to do in Orlando. This weekend is no different than any other. However, you might want to take advantage of these specials being offered only this weekend at a couple Central Florida attractions.

Friday and Saturday, Fantasy of Flight will host World War II bomber crew veterans as part of its “Legends and Legacies” symposium. “Unspoken Valor: The Bomber Crews of World War II” features veterans who worked on giant aircraft and gives guests the opportunity to ask questions and get autographs. Visitors will also be able to walk through a Flying Fortress, the model that was used in daylight bombings over Germany, and the P-51 Mustang, the B-17’s fighter escort. The forums will be at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Fantasy of Flight’s operating hours are 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. The events are included in regular Fantasy of Flight admission which is $28.95 general, $14.95 for ages 6-12. For more information, call 863-984-3500 or go to www.fantasyofflight.com.

The next few days are also a great time to visit the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex where the next four days will host farewell festivities for the Space Shuttle Discovery. Events include an exclusive Discovery bus tour ($20/adult and $14 for ages 3-11), astronaut meetings, “The Dream Is Alive” at The IMAX film theater and more. Regular admission is $45 general, $35 ages 3-11. Discovery is heading for its next destination at the Smithsonian, beginning Saturday, April 14, so see it here while you can. For more information, call 877-313-2610 or go to www.KennedySpaceCenter.com.

One of the BEST deals for the weekend includes Sunday’s special admission price into the Orlando Science Center. It will cost $5 per person on Sunday, April 15, “Walmart $5 Day.” This is a great deal since the usual admission is $17 for adults and $12 for ages 3-11. This discounted admission price includes all of the science center’s exhibits, big-screen films, the traveling exhibit “Bob the Building – Project: Build It!,” and the new film “Tornado Alley.” The Science Center is open on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 407-514-2000 or go to www.OSC.org.

Of course the best Orlando dinner show deal is a night at Capone’s Dinner & Show. Their special runs every night of the year and tickets can be purchased online at half the regular price. What other Orlando dinner show gives its guests an all-you-can-eat buffet, unlimited drinks, show, dessert, parking and more?

Enjoy the specials this weekend in Central Florida!