Do you have a podcast that discusses Disney or Universal theme parks? If so, we would like a word with you to discuss the development of the TouringPlans.com Podcast Network.

We are looking for a number of various podcasts to possibly form a new network which would combine the wonderful content that already exists in the podcasting world with the reach of a popular site like TouringPlans.com. No matter the style, format, or topics of your podcast, we would love to hear from you.

We’re looking toward the future…well okay, the Italy pavilion.

Very, very little would need to change about your podcast yet you would get the backing of a website that gets a few million hits a year (yes, this one). The basic idea is that your podcast, along with a handful of others, would be available via the TouringPlans.com Network feed. Listeners would get the benefit of finding great content all in one place and you would get the benefit of a very wide audience.

This could be a great opportunity for you as well as us and the theme park community as a whole. If you are interested in hearing all the details, please email Brian at Brian@TouringPlans.com by no later than Wednesday, May 22. Your email should include:

• The name of your podcast
• A brief description of what the podcast is about
• Any other details we should know (is your podcast only 20 minutes long, do you only record once a month, is it dirtier than George Carlin’s stand up, etc.)
• The name and email of at least one person from the podcast that we can contact
• A link to a fairly recent episode that you would like us to review for consideration

Simply applying is not a binding agreement so you can send us an email simply if you want to hear more about it and you can remove your application at any time. When we get all of this information we will review your podcast and give you all of the details about what we would expect and what you can expect from us should we decide to partner up. We are very excited to be starting this and we look forward to hearing from you. Thanks!

We Are Looking For Theme Park Podcasts! is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

While details are slowly being released, the Universal Orlando Resort announced today that it will offer the world’s first centrally themed, multi-park experience by expanding its Harry Potter assets to the resort’s original park.

The initial confirmation is from Universal Orlando’s official Facebook page and reveals some early details…

Building on the global phenomenon that is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. Entertainment today announced an expansion of historic proportion with the entirely new themed environment, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.

Scheduled to open in 2014, the world’s first centrally themed, multi-park experience expands The Wizarding World of Harry Potter across both Universal Orlando theme parks and allows Universal’s creative team to bring an unparalleled vision to this unique project. The new area will bring to life some of the experiences and places found in and around London in the Harry Potter books and films, offering brand-new adventures for fans and theme park guests from around the world.

Diagon Alley and ‘London’ will be located within the Universal Studios Florida theme park, which is adjacent to Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park, where guests now experience Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. The new area within Universal Studios will be just as expansive, immersive and authentic as the existing themed environment.

We’ll continue to update this post as more official details are released, but with a scheduled opening for 2014, it looks like The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley will be a fantastic new environment filled with fantastic new experiences including rides, shops, dining, and tons of detail!

Update:

The Universal Orlando Resort put out an official press release sharing a few more details on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, including confirmation of a new themed attraction based on the recognizable Gringotts Wizarding Bank.

Building on the global phenomenon that is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. Entertainment today announced an expansion of historic proportion with the entirely new themed environment, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.

Scheduled to open in 2014, the world’s first centrally themed, multi-park experience expands The Wizarding World of Harry Potter across both Universal Orlando theme parks and allows Universal’s creative team to bring an unparalleled vision to this unique project. The new area will bring to life some of the experiences and places found in and around London in the Harry Potter books and films, offering brand-new adventures for fans and theme park guests from around the world.

Diagon Alley and ‘London’ will be located within the Universal Studios Florida theme park, which is adjacent to Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park, where guests now experience Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. The new area within Universal Studios will be just as expansive, immersive, and authentic as the existing themed environment.

And – just like in the books and films – guests will be able to travel between ‘London’ and Hogsmeade aboard the Hogwarts Express.

Work on the new area is already underway. When complete, it will feature shops, a restaurant and an innovative, marquee attraction based on Gringotts bank – all directly inspired by the fiction and films.

More details on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley will be released over time.

To bring Diagon Alley and ‘London’ to life, Universal’s creative team is working closely with Warner Bros. and the production design team from the Harry Potter films – just as it did for Hogwarts and Hogsmeade.

“I’m so pleased that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has proved so popular to date, and I’m sure that the attention to detail in creating the new Diagon Alley area will make this an even better experience,” said J.K. Rowling.

“We are continuing the journey and adding an entirely new level of adventure,” said Tom Williams, Chairman of Universal Parks & Resorts. “And we are bringing the same drive, commitment, enthusiasm and innovation to this project as we did to the first.”

“We are thrilled to offer the legions of fans the opportunity to embark on this new journey and experience Diagon Alley as it was brought to life in the books and films,” said Brad Globe, president, Warner Bros. Consumer Products.

“Our vision is to create two amazing theme park experiences that combine into one, complete, magical journey,” said Alice Norsworthy, executive vice president, marketing and sales for Universal Orlando Resort.”

A new image was also sent out confirming the inclusion of an immersive, themed restaurant in the new realm, in addition to the need for a Park-to-Park ticket in order to experience the Hogwarts Express train ride.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley announced for Universal Studios Florida is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

In an exciting bit of news, Emeril’s Restaurant Orlando and Emeril’s Tchoup Chop have announced the addition of Mother’s Day menus (each unique to their respective restaurant) available for lunch and dinner on May 12, 2013. Both restaurants will continue to offer their standard menus on that day, allowing guests to partake in the pleasures of both lists.

Emeril’s Orlando at Universal CityWalk has crafted a bevy of indulgent starts including New Orleans Barbecue Shrimp, Creole Marinated Fried Calamari, an Oyster & Artichoke Dome and a Veal & Shrimp Stuffed Bell Pepper. Other starts such as the Smoked Wild & Exotic Mushrooms and the Poor Man’s Chicken & Biscuit served with Redeye gravy have certainly caught my attention.

Unique soups and salads added to the list include Rotisserie Chicken & Adouille Gumbo, Emeril’s Salad with sun dried tomatoes, brioche croutons, and pepper jack cheese, and Cornmeal Fried Oyster Salad (this one has me salivating).

Wood-Oven Pizzas highlight the classic Margherita along with a delicious-sounding White Truffle pizza with confit cremini mushrooms, Gruyere cheese and a truffle emulsion–the most sophisticated pizza I’ve read about in quite a while! Entrees such as the Pecan Crusted Drum, the Mushroom Duxelle Stuffed Quail, the Slow Braised Pork Chops (anything braised at an Emeril’s restaurant has been amazing in my experience) all sound delectable.

And to close out the meal are the Bananas Foster Pancakes, which if Tchoup Chop’s Banana Cream Pie is anything to base our expectations off of, this will be incredible!

I’ve already been thoroughly impressed by Emeril’s Tchoup Chop (see our lengthy, in-depth review of the normal menu here) so it should come as no surprise that the special Mother’s Day menu for one of my new favorites has my eyes watering just reading about it. A unique appetizer serving of Ragoût of Duck Pastrami Confit with a Coconut-Sriracha Biscut easily demands my attention. A Warm Spinach Salad served with five spiced pickled red onions (*drools*) and macadamia crusted goat cheese with a chorizo vinaigrette has all the right notes that I look for in a salad and I’m dying to know just what this will taste like!

Three new entrees have been created for this annual one-day occasion including the Fire Cracker Fish “Wok Fry,” served with sticky rice, papaya-serano salsa and a kaffir lime butter sauce. Seafood fans will surely go for the Pan Roasted Jumbo Sea Scallops with Mâche and a yellow curry-coconut lobster cream sauce. And knowing the impeccable record Tchoup Chop has in my book with meats, the Grilled Hangar Steak with a hoisin barbecue glaze, brabant potato hash and Chinese mustard will surely impress!

Tchoup Chop has also added a few items to its tasting menu (another aspect of this fabulous restaurant I hope to test soon enough) such as the Pan Seared Jumbo Sea Scallops.

Universal Food News: Emeril’s and Emeril’s Tchoup Chop Mother’s Day Menus is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

One of the things that separates Disney theme parks from others is their attention to detail and story. For example, have you ever noticed on Pirates of the Caribbean that one pirate who has his leg hanging off of the bridge over your heads? There’s hair on that leg! It’s such a minute detail, but Disney’s philosophy is “if it wasn’t there, people would notice.”

Well, Disney has gained competition in the past few years, and its name is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Nonsense, you say? No one could possibly measure up to Disney’s standards? HA is what I say back at you! Warner Bros. and J.K. Rowling made sure the grounds of Hogsmeade were painstakingly accurate with little nuances and hidden gems that the greatest Potter fans would be sure to pick up on. Don’t believe me? Well, let me take you on a virtual tour of Universal’s resident castle: Hogwarts.

THE QUEUE
At the entrance of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, you pass through the gates of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry under statues of winged boars. You won’t see it during a sunny day, but at night notice how the columns attached to the gate magically light up to reveal the title of the attraction.

Once through the gates and into the castle, you enter the dungeons. Here chaos ensues because you must put all bags of any size and pretty much anything you can’t fit in your pockets into a locker. Lockers are free for the time you wait in the queue, but do yourself a favor: have a non-rider carry all your stuff or pay the extra bucks and place your articles in a locker at another location such as Dragon Challenge to save yourself the hassle and keep your party together.

Once past the insanity, you wind through a dark path within the dungeon. Once your eyes adjust, take note of the many large pieces from the books and movies. The Mirror of Erisid from Year 1 is on your left. Notice the inscription along the top; when read backwards (or “mirrored”) it says, “I show not your face but your heart’s desire.” You may ask, “Why can’t I see anything in the Mirror of Erised?” it’s because you’re only a silly muggle, of course! The statue of the One-Eyed Witch on your right contains the secret passage to Honeydukes. Lean over the railing at the statue, and you’ll see Professor Snape’s office just to the left.

The dungeons lead you back outside into the gardens and greenhouse classroom. Here is where you will do the majority of your waiting on a busy day, and there’s not much to look at – just a bunch of plants. Usually right as you come outside there will be a stand selling drinks within the queue to keep you nice and cooled off. The keen-eyed fan might notice at the top of the hill a row of potted mandrakes. You can see an unearthed mandrake  (and hear it squeal!) down in Hogsmeade in one of the fake storefronts by the bathrooms.

After you’ve traversed row upon row of switchbacks in the greenhouse, you’re back inside in what is known as “The Oxford Corridor.” This is where any fan of Harry Potter will start geeking out over the scenery and props. On your right, you will pass statues of the architect and the first headmaster of Hogwarts, as well as the house points, which are large hourglasses containing colored jewels that represent each House and their standing in competition towards the House Cup. As would be expected, Gryffindor is in the lead.

Continuing through the Oxford Corridor, you will come across a large golden statue of a griffin that marks the entrance to Albus Dumbledore’s office and a large tapestry of a unicorn that marks the entrance to the Room of Requirement. Strictly speaking, in the layout of the queue, these are in the wrong locations in the castle regarding their respective rooms, but the average guest would not know this.

Moving along, we enter a gallery lined wall to wall with hundreds of pictures and portraits. Most importantly you will see moving portraits of the four founders of Hogwarts, each holding important items pertaining to them from the story: Godric Gryffindor with his sword, Salazar Slytherin with his locket, Helga Hufflepuff with her chalice, and Rowena Ravenclaw with her tiara. Before the attraction was built, these characters had been mentioned in the books but never seen in the films. Therefore the actors were cast specifically for the ride.

Through the portrait gallery, we enter the the headmaster’s office, where we are greeted by none other than Professor Albus Dumbledore, himself. He welcomes us to Hogwarts and warns us there is a dragon loose, but it shouldn’t be a problem. He invites us into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom to hear a lecture from Professor Binns on the history of Hogwarts which is sure to be, well… boring. Things to note before we leave are the Penseive, the Sword of Gryffindor, and Fawkes the Phoenix’s cage – all along the back wall opposite Dumbledore. Also another cool effect: look for a red book high on the shelf on the right. At one point, Dumbledore will summon it to magically switch places on the shelf.

Into the Defense Against the Dark Arts room, this place is CRAWLING with props from the movies. In fact, you can find at least one artifact from each Defense Against the Dark Arts professor Harry ever had- Quirrell’s traveling trunks, Lockhart’s autobiographies and the large dragon skeleton, Lupin’s spine candles, Moody’s walking stick, Umbridge’s Defense Against the Dark Arts for Beginners books, and Snape’s slide projector. Also notice the chalkboard in front. The lesson for the day is the Patronus charm. Might that come in handy later?

As we’re waiting for our boring lecture to begin, a door magically opens all by itself and we hear three familiar voices. From beneath the invisibility cloak appear Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who invite us to something a little more exciting – a Quidditch match! They’ll need to sneak us out, though. Ron tries to use magic but ends up altering the weather. Hermione corrects him and explains she has enchanted some benches to fly us out to the field and to meet her in the Room of Requirement.

One of the cool thoughts put into every room is that each “loop” has at least two different scenes. This is to help alleviate the problem of getting caught in the same place for longer than expected and seeing the same scene over again. I bring this up now because the Defense Against the Dark Arts room is the easiest place to spot the differences. In one scene, the students are worried about getting caught by Mr. Filch and Ron makes it snow in the classroom, while in the other it’s Professor McGonagall and Ron makes it rain outside.
Off to the Quidditch pitch! We take a shortcut through the Gryffindor common room where the Fat Lady’s portrait stands ajar at the entrance, giving us her two cents about letting every single muggle in without the password. Inside the common room, you’ll find three moving portraits – an etiquette teacher, an aviator, and a famous Quidditch player – all butting heads on the proper way to ride an enchanted bench and what you should and should not do. Farther down the hall, you will find the Sorting Hat giving out safety warnings for all who wish to ride. Fun Fact: The two poems that the Sorting Hat recites here are indeed written by J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series!

I’m also a big theme park nerd, so whenever I go through the castle I like to point out this part of the ride mechanics: everything at Universal is on a points system. So, for example, if the dragon isn’t blowing smoke, that might be like one point. Once you reach ten points, Universal shuts down the ride and starts fixing stuff. Because they are giving out safety instructions, both the common room portraits and the Sorting Hat are an automatic ten points. This is because if the safety instructions are not given, then it’s a hazard to guests. And you probably never listened to those portraits in the first place, did you? I bet now you will!

RIDE EXPERIENCE (Spoilers ahead!)
Once tight and secure aboard our ride vehicle – excuse me, “Enchanted Bench” – we are surrounded by dark mirrors and floating candles that represent the Room of Requirement. At the end of the room, Hermione waits above a large fireplace. We will be traveling by Floo Powder today, so on the count of three we all need to shout our destination: “Observatory”.

POOF! We’re off through the network of chimneys and a land in the astronomy tower where Harry and Ron meet us in their Quidditch robes, amazed at Hermione’s brilliance. They apologize for the crazy nature of the benches, but promise they haven’t lost anybody yet, “Not this week, anyway.” We pass Hagrid, the gamekeeper, who is still searching for that dragon from earlier. Oh, there it is! And, uh oh, she’s hungry! The dragon chases us around the grounds of Hogwarts and traps us in a covered bridge. As we make our way through, the dragon claws and tears apart at the wooden structure before it eventually collapses and we come face to snout with the larger than life creature and her smoky breath.

We narrowly escape, but not into better circumstances. We find ourselves racing through the Forbidden Forest, where the weather has apparently changed and there is now lightning. We are surrounded by many large spiders, led by the biggest of them all, Aragog. Hermione appears out of nowhere and tells us the Forest isn’t safe (as if that weren’t obvious!). She casts a spell that repels the arachnids and warns us of the Whomping Willow tree ahead. The Willow catches us and bats us us away, but luckily we land back on track – the Quidditch Pitch!

The game against Slytherin is already well underway as we watch Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy fight to catch the Snitch. Suddenly, a band of dementors appears! Harry tells us to follow him to safety. We dodge left and right through the stadium, but ultimately the dementors chase us into a dark cavern that turns out to be the Chamber of Secrets. We pass the basilisk skeleton, the large bust of Salazar Slytherin and- oh, no! – the Dark Mark that signifies Voldemort and his Death Eaters! That can’t be good.

More dementors surround us and try to suck out our souls, but then “EXPECTO PATRONUM!” Harry swoops in to save the day. He leads us out of the collapsing cave and back to Hogwarts, where apparently he miraculously caught the snitch in all that commotion because Gryffindor wins the game! As the celebration commences in the Great Hall, Professor Dumbledore invites us to come back anytime and reminds us to tuck our elbows in as we travel back through the Floo Network towards the exit.

Wow, what an amazing attraction, right!? Disney quality, wouldn’t you say? And that’s just one part of the whole Wizarding World of Harry Potter! What’s your favorite detail or reference in the entire land? Leave it in the comments below!

A Virtual Guided Walk Through of Hogwarts is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

A popular evening hotspot at the Universal Orlando Resort’s CityWalk, Pat O’Brien’s has long had a reputation for strong drinks and food with New Orleans flair. I discovered the establishment one day by happenstance when a group of friends invited me to join them, and while I only sampled a few of the appetizers they ordered during their late-afternoon visit, I was sold from that point on that I should return to try out a full meal and some drinks. I’m an admitted fanatic when it comes to New Orleans cuisine, as well as an active seeker when it comes to trying new mixed drinks, so this seemed like the perfect place for me!

I started by sampling some drinks… The Disneyland fan in me immediately gravitated to the Mint Julep, but the traditionalist in me knew that I must order the restaurant’s signature Hurricane. With my friend in tow I could indulge and try both without overdoing it—a wise decision, as I would find out that the alcohol content of these drinks is high, despite their well masked flavor profiles. The Mint Julep was totally clear (unlike the Scope-green syrup delicacies I love from the Mint Julep Bar in New Orleans Square) with a decent filling of ice, mint leaves, cherries and an orange. Despite the clear visibility, this drink is loaded with two ounces of strong Bourbon. This being my first alcoholic mint julep, I was a little surprised at how powerful the bourbon was in relation to the mint, but after a few sips it become much more smooth and pleasant to drink. If you’re not a mint or bourbon person, this isn’t the drink for you, but it is definitely a strong kick to start your meal with!

The Hurricane is a huge, 26 ounce serving with four whole ounces of Pat O’Brien’s Hurricane Rum mixed with the company’s Hurricane Mix (which you can buy to make your own at home). The Hurricane has a distinctly “hurricane flavor” with a fruity twang that masks the rum beautifully. An orange and cherry topper hangs above the glass but will likely sink to the bottom as you drink, or will be placed on the table to avoid the bulk in an attempt to get a greater sip. The Hurricane presents a dangerous prospect for the indulgent: the alcohol is almost invisible to the taste, meaning that the drink gives of the sense of being light on the booze. This may prompt you to want to drink more (and a few are fine), but this drink packs a hidden wallop that given time will come back to show its face. Be careful with this great drink and don’t be fooled by its taste. It is strong; you just won’t know it until the drink has set in.

The Mint Julep cost $8.99 and the Hurricane $11.49, the latter being the better deal in terms of the size of the drink. One benefit I neglected to realize until the end of the meal is that by paying the full price for the drink you are actually able to get the souvenir glass as a takeaway (a lower priced, smaller serving size is available without the glass). Even better, this isn’t just the case where they wash out your glass to return it to you to take out, still wet. Rather, after your meal has been paid for you can take your receipt to the gift shop counter outside of the entrance to the restaurant to redeem your glass, delivered brand new in a transportable box for safe keeping!

But we hadn’t come to Pat O’Brien’s solely for drinks and souvenirs… We wanted to indulge in some great “N’awlins” cuisine! We opted to share two appetizers and one entrée. Being the seafood lover I am (as is my friend), we had to go with the intriguing Crawfish Nachos, described as a serving of fresh tortilla chips covered with New Orleans-style Crawfish Etouffee and topped with melted Cheddar Cheese and Sour Cream. Save for the sour cream we ordered the plate as is, enjoying the rich flavor of the etouffee and the whole pieces of crawfish meat strewn about the nachos. This is a hearty serving to be sure with the right amount of cheese, meat and etouffee sauce to give this dish a surprising amount of balance. We left no morsel untouched, as it was just that great! I can honestly say I’ll be returning based on those nachos (and the Hurricane) with all other reasons simply a bonus at this point!

The New Orleans Spicy Cheese Fries sounded like a good idea as we were both in the mood for something with a little heat. Listed as “Pat O’s Spicy Fries Piled High, smothered with Cajun Cheddar Cheese Sauce, topped with Bacon & Sour Cream,” we were expecting a similar serving size to that of the crawfish nachos, with a good deal of cheese sauce, a decent amount of bacon and a reasonable amount of spice. Sadly we were mistaken on all accounts. The appetizer portion looked to be more like a side dish with a meager amount of cheese sauce and bacon included and the “piled high” fries being a layer or two thick in height. We inquired to our waiter as to why this wasn’t what the menu advertised and he simply replied “that it is a cheesy theme park cliché” to list them on the menu like that and that they are intentionally not spicy. It was a confusing answer but one that we weren’t going to argue. At the end of the day, the fries were pretty good as was the cheese sauce (where there was some), so it wasn’t like we hated what we received, rather it wasn’t what we expected. I’d probably avoid this one in favor of getting the crawfish nachos (or another drink), especially when the fries are $6.99 for an order and the Mint Julep is only two dollars more.

The final piece to our meal was the Jambalaya, “a combination of rice, andouille sausage, chicken breast, and shrimp cooked with Cajun spices, served with a sour dough roll. While not the absolute best jambalaya either of us had ever had, we were certainly pleased with the plate overall. The serving size while initially small to the eye ends up being more than enough as the rice is filled with tons of good proteins and vegetables. The rice itself was moist and clumped together like some of the good risottos and paellas I’ve had before—more stuck together than some of the other jambalayas I’ve had but it fit both of our tastes perfectly. Not listed but present were black eyed peas, scallions and diced green peppers all of which added to the great and variable flavor profiles found between the grains of rice. Overall, this was a great entrée that we would both happily order again!

Despite a disappointing spot with the “Spicy Cheese Fries,” we really loved our experience at Pat O’Brien’s and will undoubtedly return soon to get more of those delectable crawfish nachos and a Hurricane or two. The food and drinks are entirely affordable and a great meal can be purchased for a more-than-reasonable price. That coupled with a great atmosphere in the already wonderful evening setting of CityWalk makes Pat O’Brien’s a gem in Universal Orlando’s table service dining line up that some (myself included) seem to have overlooked in the past. But now this one is on my radar as a go-to place, to be added to my “frequent visits” list…

Universal Food Finds: Pat O’Brien’s is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Following up on my previous article regarding the hidden songs available to experience on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, I felt it would be appropriate to offer up my five favorite song recommendations for the ride for those who might not be sure what track might best fit their musical journey. I have compiled my top five songs for your consideration when next riding Rockit… Just a reminder, listening to any of the hidden tracks will prevent you from being able to watch and/or purchase your on-ride video of the ride, so keep that in mind.

Crocodile Rock by Elton John, Hidden Song #104: A child of the classics, this one intrigued me as soon as I saw it on the list, but since my first time listening to it on the ride, I’ve gone back to experience it several times over. Holding its own against some of the heavier rock tunes available for the ride, this song starts out at the natural beginning of the song and pairs up fairly well with the course of the ride. My favorite segment of the song (“la, lalalalala, lalalalala, lalalalala” and clapping) times up perfectly with the CityWalk/Blue Man Group portion of the ride… And seriously, if you’re riding with a group of people, it would be a blast to get them all to ride with the same song and clap along as a group. I couldn’t stop laughing the first time I clapped along with the song and I still get a kick out of it to this date. Call me crazy…

Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hidden Song #112: Few can resist the smooth and soothing tones of the first half of this iconic song, but the second half is undoubtedly far more wild. Naturally the folks at Universal Creative chose the more upbeat half of the song to pair with the chaotic motions of the ride’s first drop, non-inverting loop and the treble clef. The song matches up well with the coaster’s layout from the minute you exit the lift hill until you reenter the brake run, with the infamous triple guitar solo not letting up until the ride is over. For the rocker of any age, this song is a must try!

Float On by Modest Mouse, Hidden Song #301: A younger song for the list, but one of my more common go-to’s. The song plays unedited from the start of the lift hill and continues on uninterrupted until entering the brake run… And it is pure bliss. Not ironically, hearing Float On play as you float out of your seat (or in some moments are more likely ejected from your seat) just works perfectly. And this is another great song to sing (silently) along to while riding!

Movin’ Right Along by The Muppets, Hidden Song #901: You’re probably just as surprised as I was to see a song by The Muppets included on the hidden track list (or on my favorite song list for that matter), but something about this just works, and works really well! Ripped from The Muppet Movie, this song details Kermit the Frog and Fozzy Bear’s infamous cross-country trip to Hollywood and the sadly humorous antics and confusion that befalls them along the way. Despite the upbeat motions of the coaster, the song’s banjo backing keeps up well with the movements of the ride, offering a touch of comedy and heart to an otherwise thrilling attraction. This will forever be one of my favorite songs to choose, if not to merely change the pace in a list of songs that are almost all much more uptempo and serious.

Kickstart My Heart by Mötley Crüe: Okay… So this isn’t a hidden song, but I had to include it on my list. I am 100% convinced that this is THE song used by Universal Creative to originally sync up the onboard audio to the motion of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit’s twisted layout. It is amazing just how perfectly this song matches up with the ride. The opening guitar riffs start as the ride exits the station into the lift hill, continuing through the non-inverted loop and ending just at the edge of the first brake run, where the first lyrics arrive. Coming back towards the station in the Jump Cut maneuvers (see the embedded video to know exactly which ones I’m talking about), you get the “Whoa! Yeah!” just as you turn from side to side, angling ninety five degrees to the right over the heads of queuing soon-to-be-riders below. The song doesn’t let up until the end of the ride, finishing off with a seemingly perfect final riff. This is by far my favorite song for the ride and easily the one I select the most often to experience.

For a full list of instructions on how to access these hidden songs, as well as to see a full list of the hidden tracks available, be sure to visit my previous article on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit! Also see this promotional video from Universal to learn more about the ride.

So what’s your favorite song to Rockit to?

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit: Five Rockin’ Tracks to Try! is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

The Touring Plans crew recently had the chance to try out Emeril’s Tchoup Chop as a group, and as a result, I have plenty of great food to write about for you all! Disclaimer: I don’t normally try this many items on the menu in one sitting, but in the nature of the meal, we all agreed to order a large amount of food, allowing everyone to share and try it all—really a great way to broaden your culinary horizons if you are up for challenge.

One of two restaurants belonging to Emeril Lagasse at the Universal Orlando Resort, I’d heard nothing but rave reviews about this establishment for years, but had never worked out of my comfort zone that I’d mentioned previously of go-to restaurants on property to make my way over to the Loews Royal Pacific Resort to check it out… And I’m glad I waited, because I now know I couldn’t have appreciated this restaurant nearly as much as I do now—especially with my ability to try so much in one sitting (see the menu)!

Instead of the standard breads and spreads that serve as a pre-appetizer starter, we were greeted with tall cones filled with “shrimp chips,” delicious shrimp-flavored crackers that are first steamed then dehydrated to give the unique Styrofoam texture they sport. Served with a mild take on spicy mayo, the common note from everyone that the table was that the sauce was so tasty, it could be used on just about anything else. And there were no chips left by the time we were finished ordering.

We started out our meal with a large selection of appetizers… The Spicy Tuna Roll came out first; a decent-sized serving of fresh sushi that tasted exactly how you’d expect. I’m typically a skeptic about ordering sushi at a restaurant that isn’t necessarily known for it but the roll was satisfactory as it could possibly be—I’d recommend forgoing this one in favor of one of the more unique appetizers if you aren’t specifically craving sushi. Next up was the Tchoup Chop Crunchy Shrimp served with a Hot & Sour Chile Glaze. The shrimp was crunchy as advertised and tasted fine, but only one of us picked this as their favorite appetizer. An order of the appetizer crab cakes produced a duo of meatball-sized panko-crusted orbs accompanied by a light arugula salad. The starter was flavorful with a large concentration of crab meet and a tasteful balance of stuffing to fill.  The Pan Seared Jumbo Lump Crab Potsticker had our audience divided with its vinegary Toasted Garlic Soy Jus. Those of us with a feel for seafood with that strong “seafoody taste” were really happy with the dish, but others in the group found the crab too “fishy” for their preferences to have more. For me, it was one of the more unique items I’d tasted, and one of my favorites of the appetizer selections.

The Steamed Pork & Asian Vegetable Dumplings were especially tasty with a hearty filling and a perfectly paired Sake-Soy dipping sauce that brought out some of the more savory flavors beneath the dough. A trio of stuffed mushroom caps had the mushroom lovers at the table taking more than one bite—the stuffing proved to be moist but held together amidst our many cuts, an indicator of a good deal of breading—something I always look for in a good mushroom cap. The Kiawe Smoked Baby Back Ribs were coated in an Asian barbecue sauce that to me was most reminiscent of a hoisin sauce. The serving size for this appetizer was most impressive with every person at the table able to have at least one full rib with a few left over to claim for seconds—a great value for the $9 asking price.

A clear winner across the table was the Mongolian Glazed Slow Roasted Pork Belly served in Chinese style steamed buns with a spicy Napa slaw. Perfectly balanced in every way, the buns were soft and doughy as they should be. The pork belly tasted fantastic and the spice of the slaw blended beautifully into the overall sandwich. The serving size is two whole buns, so consider putting in a few orders if you have more than two people that aren’t looking to cut the buns in half—these will disappear from the plate fast and at least leave you contemplating ordering more. They were just that fantastic!

Moving into Entrée territory, we once again went all out… The Basil Seared Atlantic Salmon Filet was a good sized serving of the well-cooked fish accompanied by roasted purple potatoes (sadly no Figment blue potatoes here) with a corn and crab chardonnay reduction sauce. While not initially head over heels for the Salmon, the ensemble dish grew on me when I forked a flake of the meat with a healthy dip of the thick white reduction—my outlook on the dish changed immediately! The sauce is the champion of the plate and makes everything else presented go from good tasting to great!

The Hot Iron Seared Yellowfin Tuna Steak was served with a Thai sticky rice (a thinner, sharper rice grain from what I could discern) and Smoked Bacon-Wasabi Butter Infusion. I didn’t get any of the smoked bacon from the infusion, but the wasabi butter gave the dish a good bite that when hit the right way would send a flare through the sinuses as most good wasabis do. The tuna itself was fine—on par at best, but no one of us seemed overly thrilled with it to the point that anyone was scrambling to finish it. This one ranked towards the lower end of our list, not because it was unsatisfactory, simply because it was outranked by its more extraordinary competition that filled the rest of the table.

The Garlic Grilled Black Tiger Shrimp on Chinese style noodle cake and lemongrass infused wild mushroom crema was unique in that almost everyone preferred the accompaniment to the protein plated. The large prawns, served on a tiered set of skewers tasted like shrimp as they should, but they had no extraordinary flavor profiles that had anyone raving. The noodles on the other hand were finished quite quickly with the crema giving the side a savory element that seemed to thrill our palates.

The Cilantro-Cashew Pesto Marinated Tofu was tried almost out of default to find out if Tchoup Chop had found a way to give the hard-to-work-with protein an extraordinary flavor. Sadly this one didn’t surprise us with the tofu lacking the promised marinated profiles advertised. If you are a fan of tofu or rely on that as your go-to protein when eating out, you may find this one satisfactory (though not exemplary) but for a table full of meat eaters and seafood lovers, this one seemed to fall flat for our crowd.

The meats turned out to win the entrée category for us all with the Banana Leaf Wrapped Roast Pork Shoulder standing out as a clear winner. Served with taro root, sweet potato and baby Bok Choy, our table gobbled this tender dish up quickly. The portion size is hearty and wholly satisfying and you’ll definitely want more when it is gone. The Tender Sake Braised Beef Short Ribs also were a cut above with the caramelized onion mashed potatoes served with a burgundy veal reduction sauce. Exquisite to say the least, this plate was finished clean well before we were done. The last dish was the Tamarind Grilled Angus Beef Tenderloin, which tied with the Pork Shoulder for favorite dish of the night.

Closing out our culinary journey with desserts, we continued our adventurous streak by ordering a variety of options to end our meal on multiple sweet notes. The Chocolate Kahlua Cake was truly indulgent, served with a thick whipped cream topped with a chocolate straw and edible flower. The Crispy Guava & Cream Cheese Dumplings had me intrigued, as I’ve made homemade cheesecake potstickers before and was curious to see if the restaurant treatment would make better this recipe. Sure enough the dish was less cheesecake-ish and more like the dumplings advertised with an emphasis more on the guava than on the cream cheese. Guava lovers will enjoy this one profusely, but those with an aversion to the fruit best stay away. A warm apple strudel was another choice mandated by the majority of the table that turned out to be a hit! The light and flaky pastry surrounding the perfectly cooked apples were a clear win for everyone at the table, including myself, despite my typical hesitation to enjoy any particular kind of cooked fruit.

The Chef’s Featured Crème Brûlée came in the form of a trio of perfect vanilla mini-brûlées, and I mean PERFECT. This was quite possibly one of the best crème brûlées I’ve ever had and the sentiment appeared to echo around the table.

The final item and the absolute shocker of the evening was Emeril’s Signature Banana Cream Pie. Now I’ll be honest. I hate banana—the taste, the smell; everything about it turns me off of food that it is included in. But everyone at the table urged me to try it, and I can now say that I am glad that I did. While this dish didn’t make me a fan of the fruit itself, the flavor profiles of the dessert were stunningly delicious, despite the heavy tone of the banana itself. Light in texture and very creamy, this pie was an absolute success in every way for our group, turning even the naysayers (I wasn’t alone) around to grab a few more bites. That is dessert gusto if I’ve ever experienced it!

Emeril’s Tchoup Chop sits happily embedded in the beautiful Royal Pacific Hotel but somehow manages to outshine its host resort’s beauty with an even greater interior. Dramatic lighting, tiled/stained glass, high ceilings and modern furnishings envelope you in a peaceful setting that is charming and serene all at once. In the center of the main dining space is an overflowing pool complete with lily pads and pacific stones, adding another calm element to the themed environ.

So as I wrap up this lengthy review, I reflect upon the total experience Emeril’s Tchoup Chop offered us. While there were a few on-par items and one underwhelming one, there were some clear standouts to be had! The restaurant has a great ambiance to it, coupled with a strong menu of items, some of which change seasonally—one more reason to come back again! I was totally blown away by the overall quality of our gigantic meal and the restaurant has certainly earned the high praise it has received for years and I’m now one of those that will have to recommend it to others! I’m eager to return to Tchoup Chop in the near future, in the least to get some more of that amazing Roast Pork Shoulder!

Universal Food Finds: Emeril’s Tchoup Chop (In-Depth Food Review) is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

It’s probably the worst kept secret on the Internet that TouringPlans has been in the process of launching Universal Orlando content this year. Actually, the worst kept secret is about Tom Bricker and Brian McNichols and that time on “it’s a small world”…but I digress.

Universal Studios Florida (the park) and Islands of Adventure have become more than an afterthought to Central Florida vacations. They are destination parks with a lot to offer. The following are some things I really like about Universal:

1. Centralized bag check. Once you go through security at the entrance to CityWalk, that’s it. You’re then free to move from park to park without going through another bag check line.
2. Parking garages. No more getting into your sun-baked car at the end of your park day.
3. Generous Annual Pass discounts. Universal Annual Passholders get discounts on dining, merchandise, and the onsite hotels all the time.
4. Thrill rides. Disney may still be the master of telling a story with an attraction, but you don’t care when you’re screaming for your life on Hulk or Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.
5. No Princesses. No Pirates. That’s right – I said it. I’m over Aurora, Rapunzel, and Jack Sparrow. Bring on Harry Potter and Marvel (for now).
6. Lower crowds. In general, a slow day at Universal is less crowded than a slow day at Walt Disney World.
7. Team Members. I’ve have universally (see what I did there?) great experiences with the folks who work at Universal Resort. They are as friendly and helpful as the best Cast Members at that other resort.
8. Halloween Horror Nights. A Halloween event that isn’t afraid to be scary. If only Disney could give us something a little more adult-oriented (Donald’s Kinda Sorta Scary Halloween Party at the Studios maybe?).
9. Easy access to two parks with no transportation issues. Disneyland folks know what I’m talking about here. You want to go back and forth between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure? Go for it; it’s just a short walk.
10. Universal Express (yes, this will also show up on my “Things I Don’t Like” list). No return times to worry about – just show your pass and get in the shorter line.

That’s what I have for now. Have you visited Universal Orlando and think I’m way off base? Tell me in the comments. Are you considering a trip there and your curiosity is piqued? Check out the great new Universal content on the site and ask questions in the comment section. Stay tuned for the inevitable follow-up list of “Things I Don’t Like at Universal” in a future article.

Ten Things I Love about Universal Orlando Resort is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

In the many years I’ve been visiting the Universal Orlando Resort, I’ve had friends who have tried to convince me to try certain “favorite food spots” that haven’t necessarily fit my tastes. I’m admittedly a creature of habit when it comes to Universal (Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Margaritaville, Mythos, and Three Broomsticks populate my list of standard go-tos), but I do venture to try new options every once in a while.

My most recent visit to Islands of Adventure gave me the opportunity to branch out and try one of those specific items that many I know have raved about in the past. Found at Blondie’s in Toon Lagoon is the Dagwood sandwich (see menu), based on the sandwich of the same name from the classic Blondie comic strip.

While the comic lists some more unique ingredients such as sausage, pineapple and sardines, Universal has refined the offering to be a little more approachable for the less-adventurous eater. This pre-made sandwich sports baked ham, turkey, and roast beef with American and Swiss cheeses along with lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise, and mustard, all between three thick slices of onion and poppy seed bread.

As a pre-made sandwich, the portion sizes seem to be cut thin, but what this sandwich lacks in width it gains in its height. For those not favoring mayonnaise or mustard, you should be warned that the sandwiches are not served without it, but I simply could not taste either on the Dagwood, meaning their influence is minimal in taste. The top half of the sandwich features some lettuce and tomatoes, both of which surprised me in how fresh they tasted. Beneath the veggies sit the Swiss cheese, turkey, and a very thin layer of mayonnaise (again, undetectable to the palate—this coming from an eater that personally detests the condiment) and more bread. Further below is the ham, the American cheese, roast beef, and an equally thin layer of mustard. The sandwich is served with a sliced pickle and speared with a black olive on top. All of the cold cut meats tasted of a quality cut, better than I would have expected from a quick service dining location, but certainly a pleasant surprise.

Overall, the Dagwood was a surprise hit with me, even though it had some elements that I would not typically approve of in a sandwich. Priced at $8.99, the meal was surprisingly filling despite the slim cut of the Dagwood as it appeared when it was first pulled from the cooler. I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way for this sandwich, but it is certainly an option for someone roaming through the park and hungering for less typical fair than the standard hamburgers and chicken fingers.

Blondie’s also offers guests the chance to have sandwiches created with three unique, freshly baked breads, a choice of ham, roast beef, turkey, or tuna, and more of those fresh veggies I raved about above. Blondie’s also is home to a selection of topped Nathan’s hot dogs to fit the tastes of the more adventurous.

Be sure to stop in at Blondie’s when visiting Toon Lagoon—there are plenty of menu items to fit the personal palate, but there’s definitely one sandwich that covers all bases if you’re into that kind of thing!

Universal Food Finds: The Dagwood at Blondie’s is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Soaring onto the scene with its high energy maneuvers in 2009, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit changed the skyline of Universal Studios Florida in order to balance the park’s offerings for the rush of crowds set to flood the resort for the debut of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Promoted as a revolutionary new roller coaster sporting daytime-visible LED lighting and an onboard audio system that would allow each rider to listen to music of his or her own taste without hearing the tunes of adjacent riders, this was meant to be no ordinary ride.

Since its launch guests have discovered that the ride has a hidden layer of interactivity, allowing them to deviate from the preset set list of songs they can ride with and rock to. Hidden songs activated by a unique but simple set of actions on the in-built touch screen in each rider’s seat restraint unlock a huge list of choices to further personalize the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit experience to the guest’s musical tastes.

Guests start by holding down the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit logo for roughly ten seconds (I recommend holding it for a few more to be safe), after which a number keypad will appear onscreen. Riders must know the hidden song code they wish to activate before riding, as the window for the code entry begins as soon as they are seated and ends as soon as the ride vehicle departs the station. It should also be noted that by activating the hidden songs, riders will not able to watch or purchase the on-ride video recorded throughout their experience.

Featured below is the full list of known songs currently available from the hidden list of tracks, courtesy of Theme Park Review.

• 101 – Temples of Syrinx by Rush
• 102 –  Blues Before & After by The Smithereens
• 103 – Break On Through by The Doors
• 104 – Crocodile Rock by Elton John
• 105 – Do it Again by Steely Dan
• 108 – 8 Miles High by The Byrds
• 109 – Fantasy by Aldo Nova
• 111 – Unknown Guitar Solo
• 112 – Freebird by Skynyrd
• 113 – Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin
• 114 – Just Because by Jane’s Addiction
• 115 – Live by Lenny Kravitz
• 116 – Mexicola by Queens / Stone Age
• 117 – Eruption by Van Halen
• 121 – Tom Petty by Runnin’ Down a Dream
• 122 – Rolling Stones by Start Me Up
• 123 – Stockholm Syndrome by Muse
• 124 – Breaking Benjamin by Diary Of Jane
• 127 – Urgent by Foreigner
• 128 – Vertigo by U2
• 129 – Wheel in the Sky by Journey
• 131 – Klein Mandelbrot by Blue Man Group
• 132 – Drumbone by Blue Man Group
• 301 – Float On by Modest Mouse
• 302 – I Want You Back by Jackson Five
• 303 – In My Pocket by Cat Empire
• 304 – Still Rock ‘n Roll To Me by Billy Joel
• 306 – Lose Yourself by Eminem
• 307 – Ride Like The Wind by Christopher Cross
• 308 – Run to You by Bryan Adams
• 309 – Save Room by John Legend
• 310 – Vogue by Madonna
• 312 – My Everything by Barry White
• 508 – Pivot by Dry
• 701 – Cyanide by Metallica
• 703 – For Whom The Bell Tolls – Metallica
• 704 – Forever Down by Black Label Society
• 707 – Know your Enemy? by Rage Against the Machine
• 708 – Let’s Go by Ministry
• 709 – Mouth For War by Pantera
• 710 – Painkiller by Judas Priest
• 711 – Paranoid – Black Sabbath
• 713 – Wicker Man by Iron Maiden
• 715 – Wake Up Dead by Megadeth
• 718 – You’ve Got Another Thing Coming by Judas Priest
• 772 – Dance or Die by Family Force 5
• 773 – Mess of Me by Switchfoot
• 777 – Eastern Hymn by David Crowder Band
• 778 – Faceless by RED
• 901 – Movin Right Along from The Muppet Movie
• 902 – Rainbow Connection from The Muppet Movie
• 904 – Night on Bald Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky

For iPhone and iOS device users, I strongly recommend downloading The Pocket Rockit Rollercoaster Setlist from the Apple App Store. Available for $0.99, the app shows firsthand how to activate the hidden songs, also fully listing all tracks by their code, artist, or genre as needed by the user.

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit: Hidden Tracks Offer Even More Reasons to Ride Again! is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.