Going from “Boo!” to Blue at the Universal Orlando Resort

Kerry Camisa

15 years ago

Still working your way through the last of the Halloween candy, eh? Well, before we all totally transition away from trick-or-treating to Turkey Time, I’ll share a Halloween Horror Night-related story that you may have missed.

Do you recall the theme of this year’s fright fest at Universal Studios Florida? “Ripped From the Silver Screen,” right? Given that USF’s 2009 event celebrated monsters from the movies, it’s only appropriate that — during its last few nights of operation – this year’s HHN featured a “Coming Attraction” for its 20^th anniversary, which will run from September through October 2010 at the Universal Orlando Resort.

So, if you managed to make your way back to Sting Alley (Which is located in that theme park’s New York section) during the last few days of last month, you would have discovered the brand-new “Shadows of the Past” scare zone. In this scare zone, all sorts of hosts from previous Halloween Horror Nights including Jack the Clown from 2000’s “Not Afraid of the Dark? You Don’t Know Jack” and the Caretaker from 2002’s “Islands of Fear” turned out to terrorize attendees.

Should we consider this last minute addition to “Ripped from the Silver Screen” a taste of what’s to come in 2010? The folks in the Universal Show Development department aren’t talking. But given that they actually began planning for Halloween Horror Nights’ 20^th
anniversary back during the Summer of 2008, I think that it’s safe to say that USF has something spectacularly terrifying up its sleeve. So if you’re a fan of fright, you’d best make plans to be here next year between September and October. And – come to think of it – I think I know a company that can set you up with some discounted Halloween Horror Night tickets.

But that was last month. Now, the only odd looking individuals that you’ll find lurking around the Universal Orlando Resort is that trio of turquoise performers who appear nightly in CityWalk’s Blue Man Group show.

If you haven’t yet experienced this live stage show, well, words can’t really describe what Blue Man Group is like. There are so many truly surreal moments that – at times – this
live stage show feels like an elaborate piece of performance art. But at the same time, due to all of the live music and onstage silliness, a Blue Man Group performance is immediately accessible to people of all ages.

I know, I know. You hear that all the time when it comes to stage shows. But the Blue Man Group show (as it’s currently being presented at UOR’s Sharp AQUOS Theater) truly does have mass appeal. Kids ages 5 and up will enjoy all the drumming on PVC pipes as well as the lights, color and spectacle. The grown-ups in the group will enjoy Blue Man Group’s subversive humor and
social commentary.

Trust me, folks. After a day of traipsing around theme parks, where you stood politely in line to board the next ride, show or attraction before spending the night at CityWalk, experiencing the Blue Man Group, and letting this multimedia extravaganza wash you over is the
perfect thing to do mid-vacation. This long-running live stage show will re-energize you and make you think.

At the very least, Blue Man Group will now make it possible to sit next to Uncle Ed at Thanksgiving dinner (You know, that boring relative of yours who always talks ‘til he’s blue in the face?). Now all of his unending chatter will at least remind you of a spectacularly fun night that you spent in Orlando.

Okay. That’s enough talk of Halloween and Thanksgiving. Come back on Thursday and I’ll explain how some of Orlando’s biggest attractions are getting ready for Christmas.

Orlando Fun Tickets is located less than 2 miles from the Walt
Disney World Resort, 2 lights west of I-4 at 8472 Palm Parkway. Their
office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. EST Monday through Saturday, 10
a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. For further information, please call
866-225-4712 and/or check out the official Orlando Fun Tickets website.