Universal Orlando's "Year To Be Here"

Universal Orlando made some exciting announcements today about a slew of additions to the resort's original theme park, Universal Studios Florida, as well as a vastly improved ride experience at Islands of Adventure. Tagged as the "year to be here," the resort will be celebrating with new shows, rides, and entertainment.

Technically just outside the theme park's boundaries, the Blue Man Group show will undergo a complete overhaul creating a spectacle with new music, show environment, and technology.  The new show will open in February and will carry and overall theme of exploring the world's obsession with technology.

Inside Universal Studios Florida guests will be treated to Universal's Superstar Parade starting this Spring.

The parade will feature some of today's most recognizable characters from film and television, including the gang from Despicable Me, Hop, Dora & Diego, and SpongeBob SquarePants.  The parade will have interactive elements along with hundreds of performers.

Rounding out the additions is a new ride attraction, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.  The 3-D ride takes passengers on an adventure with the film's stars, including Gru, Margo, Edith and Agnes - and of course the minions.  At the end of the journey, which will feature the voices of the film's original cast,  guests will take part in a "minion-inspired" dance party.

Another exciting addition to the park will see the central lagoon transformed into a nighttime water show titled Universal's Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories.  The show will be narrated by Morgan Freeman and take guests on a tour through some of Universal's most emotional and iconic films using "waterfall screens" in the lagoon.  Coupled with colorful fountains and pyrotechnics the experience will be a wonderful way to end the day at the park.

As if the ride wasn't already fantastic, the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Islands of Adventure will reopen in March with all-new 4k digital high-definition animation.  Making the 3-D scenes crystal clear, the addition will make and already superb ride even better.  Additional upgrades to the ride's sets, new 3-D glasses, and updated lighting will round out the experience.

Elsewhere in the resort the Hollywood Drive-In Golf course will open, allowing families to take part in highly themed mini-golf courses in CityWalk.  A new retail store featuring all the SpongeBob merchandise you can ever want will also open in Universal Studios Florida this year.

Sounds like they really meant it when they said 2012 was the year to be here!